#this happened shortly after another iced shell attempt

[mavikiu]

Gray: I swear on my life

Natsu: Bitch, you're suicidal. Swear on something else!

[littlexdeaths]

fever pitch - r.b.

softball player robin buckley x cheerleader fem reader

18+ ONLY MDNI

warnings: all characters are 18+, oral (f receiving), fingering, public sex, thigh riding, secret relationship, allusions to sex, bullying, mean!dom robin, little bit of mean reader, jealous reader

this is a collab with the absolutely brilliant @undead-supernova !! i literally had so much fucking fun writing this with you august, and it might be my favorite robin fic i’ve ever written. i feel like our brains collided and made a gay ass baby and i’m so proud of us. we hope you enjoy xx.

word count: 3.7K

“Shhh, don’t want us getting caught like this do you?”

Robin’s voice is hushed but stern, now lifting her head from between your trembling thighs. The blonde has you spread out on a bench in the dugout, skirt shoved up around your hips as her tongue laps up everything you have to offer.

That is until a broken moan leaves your lips, unable to stop it as her fingers curl up inside you. The sound breaks through the silence, the only thing heard above the soft hum of cicadas.

“What would your little friends think, hmm?” she taunts, brow raised as she looks up at you, dirt still smeared across her cheeks from the game. “Knowing a loser is the one making you feel so good?”

In that moment you can’t find it within yourself to care anymore, gripping her hair in your fist to guide her back between your legs. “Let them.”

Robin hums, her lips drifting lower to nip at the tender skin of your thighs. The action causes another loud whimper to leave you. “You sure about that, honey?”

“I don’t care,” you admit out loud for the first time, thoughts completely overwhelmed with all things Robin.

“Fuck, I don’t care anymore,” you sigh.

Never in your wildest dreams would you think tonight would turn out like this.

You’d been watching her from the sidelines as she attempted to slide into homebase, coming up a little short. You’d never gotten to see her play before, your extracurriculars usually running at the same time. But today had been just your luck, with Chrissy spraining her ankle, immediately being rushed off to get it iced. Coach ended practice shortly after—no use continuing without the star of the squad there, right?

It gave you the perfect opportunity to watch her without raising any suspicion—two of your teammates by your side, laughing as Robin struck out. You took your lower lip between your teeth, trying not to gawk as she rose to her feet. Dusting the dirt off her thighs when she caught your eye, biting back a smirk as she made her way towards the dugout.

But not before stopping by where you were leaning against the bleachers. Right there, in front of everyone for the first time.

See, this has been going on for months. The sneaking around, the feigned rivalry.

If only they knew what was really happening behind closed doors.

You first noticed her late one afternoon, walking to your car after cheer practice. Robin hadn’t even crossed your radar, barely a glance in the hallway. Too wrapped up in your own world to notice. But there was just something about the warm glow of the sunset laying against her flushed cheek. The way she found your eyes, like she knew your secret, before she spit out the shell of a sunflower seed. Chuckling as she grabbed her bat and walked off.

All you knew after that was you desperately wanted to know more. And boy, did you.

You quickly learned through word of mouth that she had been caught hooking up with some girl in the band room after school. That confirmation prompted you to start dropping her little hints. Longing glances when no one was paying attention, nods in the hallway. Sneaking out of practice early just so she’d notice you walk by. And, sure, she noticed.

But Robin wasn’t going to come easy, was she?

No, she wanted to make you work for it. To prove to her you were serious, not just another girl looking to make out with her for the thrill of it. Or some sick joke conjured up by the cheer squad to humiliate her more.

You quickly realized that your subtle hints were not going to get you what you wanted. Her.

One day you’d finally had enough, boldly slipping a note in her locker between classes. Coaxing her to meet you in the secluded alley between the gym and the cafeteria. A place you’d only used to meet a certain super senior when you wanted to buy some weed.

A spot unknown or used by the majority of the students of Hawkins High, knowing you wouldn’t be seen or heard by any curious passersby.

Part of you was worried she wouldn't show, becoming increasingly more nervous as time passed. Any lingering qualms were squashed when you saw her striding down the narrow path towards you. She looked good, her dark jeans hugging her hips just right. A button-up shirt tucked loosely into them, the top few buttons left open.

You wanted nothing more than to lean forward, closing the short distance between your bodies. Leave a trail of blues and purples along her exposed skin. And that terrified you, to know that one girl could mess you up in such a monumental way.

“So,” you mumbled, kicking a pebble with the tip of your sneaker.

“So,” she answered, crossing her arms over her chest.

Without hesitation, you introduced yourself but Robin gave you a confused look.

“Yeah, I already know who you are.”

“You do?”

“Well, we’ve gone to school together our whole lives…” she paused, running a hand through her hair, “and when a girl is practically eye-fucking you in the halls, it’s hard not to notice.”

“Oh, right,” you replied, looking down. Embarrassment washed over you. “Sorry, I guess I misinterpreted this whole thing.”

You carefully pushed off the wall, ready to walk away and pretend like this whole thing never happened. Save yourself the humiliation.

But her soft voice stopped you in your tracks.

“I wouldn't say that.”

“Then what would you say?” you asked, more confident now.

“You’re the one who asked me here,” Robin pointed out, turning the focus back to you.

And just as quickly as your confidence had risen, it fell. So you looked down again, now fiddling with the hem of your skirt.

“I don’t, um,” you struggled. “I don’t really know how to say it. I just…I…”

“Oh, just spit it out already.”

You looked up at her exasperated expression, narrowing your eyes. “Fine! Fine. Whatever. I like you, okay?”

“Like me? We’ve never spoken.”

“Don’t give me that when I’ve seen the way you look at me too.”

Robin’s hardened expression fell. “Touché.”

Silence fell between you, Robin lifting her head to look at the sky. You couldn’t help but squirm again, feeling a desperate urge to breathe in her scent.

You sighed. “So, what do we do now?”

“Hell if I know,” she replied, looking back at you. “I thought you were stuck up like the rest of your prissy friends.”

“Not when I’m around you,” you admitted, barely above a whisper. “You make me feel…different, somehow.”

“I could make it much worse for you, you know,” Robin replied, a smug grin reaching her lips as she stepped closer to you. “All you have to do is ask.”

“Please—”

“Actually, no,” Robin interrupted, fingers inching towards your hip. “You should beg.”

“Please,” you said without hesitation. “Please, Robin. I need you.”

Robin knew she shouldn’t. And so did you. But there was just something there, pressing against your chests as Robin pressed you against the brick. And when she kissed you the first time, you nearly whined in contentment, mewling softly against her mouth.

That kiss left you feeling desperate, eager for her to show you more. However, Robin wasn’t going to chase you, forcing you to take matters into your own hands. You sought her out one night after practice, pulling her into the equipment room outside the gym. Backing her body against the door, lips meeting once you heard the lock click into place.

“Just couldn’t stay away now, could you, baby?” she mumbled against your mouth, pulling a soft whine from you as she nipped at your lower lip. The noise caused her to laugh softly.

“I want you, Robs.”

She hummed in response, letting her lips trail across your jaw. “Want me how?” she prodded as the tip of her nose skimmed along your collarbone, rendering you utterly speechless.

“Show me,” she breathed, further stealing the breath from your lungs as she kissed you deeply. Taking control as she flipped your positions, enclosing you against the door.

You’re pliable under her soft touch, guiding her fingers up and underneath your pleated skirt. The blue of her irises nearly swallowed whole by her pupils as she gazed at you hungrily. That look ignited something within you, feeling emboldened as you reached forward to undo her pants. Exploring each other in a way that was unfamiliar to you, her skilled fingers helping to guide you with ease.

After that, it was just your little secret, with no one being the wiser. Why would they? You were on the opposite ends of the food chain, fractured by the Hawkins High hierarchy. Leaving little glances across the cafeteria, brushes of your fingertips in the hallway as a secret reminder of what you two had. It didn’t hurt that you could sit in class, practice, or even the shower and think about how they’d brush against your breasts later.

Of course, you couldn’t help but wind her up whenever you could be overheard. As she would gladly put you in your place in private.

But you knew as she approached you on the field with that familiar glint in her eye— you were really in for it this time.

“What’s so funny?” Robin asked, removing her gloves. You let your eyes linger on her fingers for a moment as she gripped the leather. Quickly shifting your gaze elsewhere as you pressed your thighs together.

Something the blonde didn’t miss. Holding back a smug smile as she looked between the three of you.

“You’re just such a loser,” Carol snickered, snapping her gum between her teeth.

Heather joined in with a giggle. “Yeah, maybe you should look into joining the t-ball team. Seems like a much better fit for you.”

Heather knew she struck a nerve, pleased with herself as Robin’s jaw clenched in anger.

“Oh, yeah?” Robin said, ready to egg her on. “And what do you know, Holloway? I’d like to see you do something other than shake your ass at Billy Hargrove during games. Don’t you find it pathetic how desperate you are for his attention?”

“Oh, fuck you,” Heather snapped back. “As if you are getting any. No one even knows your name.”

“You’d be surprised,” Robin replied, her eyes shifting towards you as if on instinct. “You know, I don’t recall ever seeing this one with a guy.”

“You better get back to that pitch before you strike out, Buckley,” you bit back, shooting her a warning look. “Again.”

With a shake of her head, Robin glanced behind you at your “friends” before scoffing and turning. But not before she took her cleat and scuffed up dirt onto your shiny white sneakers.

“Oops.” She laughed, giving you one last look before walking away.

Not missing a beat, Heather turned to you with a bewildered expression. “You know her name?”

You raised an eyebrow. “It’s on her uniform.”

“Oh— right,” she murmured, the conversation quickly forgotten as they discussed their plans for the night: yet another kegger at the Harrington residence. It was something you definitely weren’t interested in attending.

Though they begged you to join them, you merely shrugged and told them to go without you. They didn’t even blink before heading off, their laughter fading as quickly as it started. But you soon found yourself lost in the chatter of the crowd and the roar of the umpire.

You decided to move up, leaning against the chain-link fence, pom-poms thrown to the dirt as you watched your girl stepping up to bat again. The score had been tied, this being Hawkins High’s last chance to win the game.

As always, Robin found you again. She gave you a wink before you heard the sharp crack of the bat. You gasped along with the crowd at the sight of the ball shooting through the sky and into the parking lot.

You couldn’t help the loud cheer erupting from your lips, clapping along with the crowd as she sprinted through each base with ease. And as she slid into home and was declared safe, her eyes met yours. They followed you as she picked herself up, sweat dripping as she removed her helmet. Shaking her dampened hair out with a wide grin.

There was no longer anything inside you that beckoned you to be malicious. You could feel a swell of pride inside you, wanting nothing more than to show her just how incredible she was. How much you cared about her…and you planned on it.

Her teammates were quick to surround her, lifting her up onto their shoulders as the crowd continued to cheer. Robin was clearly embarrassed by the sudden swarm of attention, her cheeks beautifully flushed as they carried her across the field. Soaking in the glory for a few more moments before they were called to line up, shaking hands with the opposing team.

But as everyone began to clear out, you noticed Beth Wildfire hanging back, laughing near the dugout with Robin. As you moved closer, you could make out the way Beth was checking out Robin’s ass as she bent over to grab her glove.

Robin lifted her head slightly, noticing you making your way over.

“Nice win, Buckley,” Beth said, popping in a piece of gum. “We should go out and celebrate.”

“Oh, yeah?” Robin asked, a devious smile on her lips as she rose. You couldn’t stop the jealousy beginning to surface. “You think we should invite the team?”

She was making you work for it, wasn’t she?

“Actually, I thought maybe you and I could—”

“Hey, Robin,” you said, directly in Beth’s line of sight now.

Beth gave you a look, clearly annoyed by your interruption.

Good.

“Hey,” Robin greeted. “What’s up?”

“You still need that ride?” you asked, clutching your pom poms tighter in your fists.

“I’d almost forgotten,” Robin replied smugly.

“Well, uh,” Beth said, taking a step closer to Robin. “I could always take her home after heading to Benny’s.”

“No, that’s alright,” you said curtly, faking a smile as you also took a step forward. “I think I’ve got it from here.”

You and Beth exchanged glances before her eyes widened, flickering between you and Robin who was only looking at you. Beth said nothing, opting instead to give you both a quick nod. But the clear disappointment on her face brought you more joy than you cared to admit.

“I’ll see you later, then,” she said. “Again, nice win, Buckley.”

Even as she walked away, Robin never broke eye contact. “Thanks, Beth,” she called out, a grin widening on her lips.

“Ready to go, mon chéri? I’m starving.”

Hook, line, and sinker.

And that’s how you ended up here, your legs draped over Robin’s shoulders as her tongue circles over your clit. One hand buried in her hair and the other clutching onto the chain link fence behind you. Her blue hues never leave your face, taking in each and every reaction she pulls from you.

“You know, you’re pretty cute when you’re jealous.” She grins, flicking the tip of her tongue over your swollen clit. Enjoying the way your body twitches with every motion.

“I wasn’t jealous.”

You breathlessly try to deny it, but you both know you’re lying. Once again letting your pride get in the way, prompting Robin to remove her tongue from your center.

“No— Robbie, please,” you whine as she pulls away fully, resting her cheek against your inner thigh as she continues to slowly thrust her fingers inside you.

She revels in the way your walls grip tightly around the digits, almost as if you’re trying to keep them trapped inside. And as much as she loves feeling you, she loves making you beg even more.

So she slips her fingers out of your dripping cunt completely. Standing up to hover over you as she brings them to your lips.

“Please what, princess?” she taunts, her fingers now slipping into your mouth. Your tongue eagerly swirling around the digits until they’re devoid of any trace of you.

Robin removes them just as fast, trailing the saliva-coated digits down your jaw until they wrap around the base of your throat. “Answer me,” her harsh tone only further dampening the area between your thighs.

“Please don’t stop,” you plead without hesitation, rocking your hips up against her thigh. A look of desperation flitting across your features as you clutch onto her shoulders.

“Aww, you wanna cum, pretty thing?” Her tone is laced with condescension, finding yourself nodding almost frantically as you gaze up at her.

“I don’t know, baby… you were pretty mean earlier.” She paused, a small pout forming on your lips as she traced over them with her thumb. “You think you deserve it?”

You nod as if on instinct, whining as she pulls away from you completely. Rising to her feet once again, grabbing your hands and pulling you up off the bench. Your breasts press together as she whispers softly in your ear, “Prove it to me, then.”

You eagerly reach for the buttons on her uniform, tugging the zipper down. Impatiently yanking her pants down over the curve of her ass as you take back control.

“Sit,” you demand, resting your hands on her shoulders. Coaxing her to take your previous position on the worn bench.

“So bossy,” she teases, gripping your hips as you swing your leg over her thigh.

Taking a seat as you slip your fingers past the elastic of her underwear, moaning at the wetness you find there.

“This all for me?” you muse, your thumb brushing over her bundle of nerves with ease now. Having become quite familiar with every inch of her body over the last three months.

“I mean… Beth was looking good tonight—”

You cut her off with your mouth before she has a chance to finish her sentence. That surge of jealousy coursing through your veins as you kiss her deeply.

“She can’t have you,” you mumble against her mouth, before taking her lower lip between your teeth and tugging. “You're all mine.”

Robin curses softly as you begin to grind your hips against her thigh, slipping two fingers into her awaiting heat. Pumping them in tandem with each rock of your hips, as she mewls against your mouth.

“Please.” Now she's the one doing the begging, despite your hips continuing to grind down against her thigh. The mixture of her saliva and your juices making a mess on her bare skin.

You giggle softly as you increase the pressure on her clit with your thumb, burying your fingers deeper inside her. “Say it again.” She moans as you attach your lips to the base of her throat.

The blonde tilts her head back to expose more of her neck as you greedily suck on her flushed skin. A feeling of pride washes over you as you leave blotches of red and purple in your wake.

“You’re mine, Robin.” Your tone is overly possessive, enjoying how her body trembles beneath you. Your words being the thing to finally send her over the edge as she pulls your face back up to crash her lips against yours.

Her fingers dig harshly into the skin of your hips, encouraging you to keep grinding on her thigh. Lifting her leg to increase the pressure on your core. “That’s it… such a good girl.”

She pulls back slightly to watch you with hooded eyes, lips lifting in a genuine smile.

“My good girl.”

Her words elicit a bigger response than either of you expected, your thighs tightening around her own as you loudly cry out her name. Her hands continue to guide you along her thigh, working you through each wave of euphoria that crashes over you.

You’re both panting as you begin to come down from your highs, nuzzling your face in the crook of her neck. “Wow,” you breathe out, lightly tracing over the darkening love bites on her neck.

“Jeez, I think the whole town heard you,” Robin teases, running her fingers along your back.

“Well,” you start, pulling back to look at her. “I’m just trying to congratulate my girl on her big win.”

“Your girl?” she teases.

You bite your lip, trying to hide your smile. “Mhm.”

“Admit it,” Robin says, lifting her eyebrows, eyes tracing the lines of your face. “You were jealous.”

“Maybe I was,” you finally admit, earning an amused smile from her. “But I don’t think I have to worry about anyone else.”

“No?”

“Mm-mm.”

You press a quick kiss to the corner of her mouth before standing, helping her to her feet. Leaning back against the fence as she wiggles her pants back up over her hips.

Robin is still fastening the buttons as you walk out onto the field. Her eyes follow your figure as you reach the pitcher's mound. A fond look falls over her features as your eyes flutter shut, letting the last glow of the setting sun soak into your pores.

Feeling the weight of her stare, you turn back around. Flashing her a beaming smile as she finally reaches you on the field.

“So… Benny’s?” you ask, twisting your skirt back into place. “I’m actually starving now.”

Robin looks at you in utter disbelief as she places her hat back on her head, the brim facing the opposite direction. “Wait, you’re serious? What if someone sees us together?”

You can’t stop the giggle that leaves you, now closing the few feet separating you from her. Cupping her face in between your palms as you press another kiss to her lips.

Right in the middle of the open field.

“I told you,” you say, louder this time. “Let them see us. I don’t give a fuck anymore.”

You slip your hand into hers, lacing your fingers as you begin leading her towards your car. A sight to see, her bat and glove in her unoccupied hand. Your pom-poms in yours.

“You were still an asshole earlier, you know that?” Robin says.

As you share a laugh, you swing your intertwined hands back-and-forth. You’re practically skipping as you pull her along, light-hearted and winded.

“And you ruined my sneakers,” you counter. “Are you gonna clean them for me?”

“Only if you’re good, mon chéri.”

“I think I can manage that,” you reply as you venture further into the twilight. “At least for a little bit.”

tagging some moots 💕

@xxbimbobunnyxx @babygorewhore @impmunson @voyeurmunson @eddiesxangel @taintedcigs @strangerstilinski

[thecomicsnexus]

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #24-25 MAY 2011 - MARCH 2012 BY ANDREW MODEEN, GARY CARLSON, ROSS MAY, WILL TUPPER, ARSENIY DUBAKOV, FRANK FOSCO, DONNA G. OMO, DENNIS KENNEDY, A. C. FARLEY, DAN BERGER AND RED HERRING COLOR. WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO MARK PELLEGRINI (TMNT ENTITY)

SYNOPSIS (FROM TMNT ENTITY)

Flying the Triceraton aircar through the skies above New York, Don’s cyborg body suddenly goes on the fritz. Apologizing to Zog, Don crashes the aircar in the streets.

At the current HQ of the New York branch of the Foot, Cheng addresses the Lady Shredder. He informs her that his spiritual tether to Splinter via the Astral Plane has proven most beneficial and that the two “surprises” she ordered for the Turtles have been prepared. An Elite Guard orders Cheng to leave so that the Lady Shredder can psychologically prepare herself for the coming battle with the Turtles.

The Lady Shredder, actually Tang Amaya, remembers back thirty years, to her youth in Japan’s Chihaya village. There, she met a young Oroku Saki, who was training in the art of ninjutsu to slay the killer of his brother: Hamato Yoshi. Saki told Amaya that after killing his brother, Yoshi kidnapped her sister, Tang Shen, and fled to America. This shared tragedy bonded the two and together they gained entrance into the Foot Clan. They spent many years training together, and at age 18, Saki was elected to lead the New York branch of the Foot Clan while Amaya was selected to join him as a member of his Elite Guard.

Nineteen years ago. After learning the location of Hamato Yoshi and Tang Shen, Saki (now going by the alias “the Shredder”) left to gain his vengeance, forbidding Amaya from accompanying him. Saki returned, having slain Yoshi, though he arrived too late to save Shen from a deadly beating at the hands of Yoshi. As a token, Saki gave Amaya the gauntlet he used to slay Yoshi.

For a time after that, Amaya took on the identity of “the Headhunter”, a mercenary taking contracts out on other underworld figures. This was all a ruse to help her weed out traitors within the Foot as well as enemies attempting to assassinate Saki. Impressed even more with her skill, Saki selected her to lead Goseico (a profitable business front for the Foot) following the death of Gosei Kenji.

Years later, Saki was killed by a freakish ninja clan trained by Hamato Yoshi. Swearing vengeance, Amaya donned the gauntlet Saki had given her and prepared herself to hunt down the “turtles”. However, her vengeance would be postponed once the Foot Mystic Mashima resurrected the Shredder as a blasphemous creature stitched together by worms. Amaya rejected the Worm-Shredder as merely an imposter of Saki even if he retained all of the original Saki’s memories. The Worm-Shredder then revealed that he knew that Amaya had secretly bore Saki’s child and had given the girl up years ago. Amaya refused to divulge any further information, not that it mattered, as shortly afterward, the Worm-Shredder was decapitated by Yoshi’s clan.

More years passed and Amaya (now going by "the Mistress") eventually had her first reckoning with the Turtles at the Goseico building. Though she lost Goseico in the battle, a sleeper agent within the company informed her that one of the Turtles was parading around in Saki’s armor. Enraged and ready to take her rightful place as leader of the New York Foot, Amaya used her contacts with the Oroku clan still among the Japanese branch of the Foot to solidify her leadership (though she feared such tactics might dishonor her in a manner similar to Karai). She then arranged for the duel between Raphael and Pimiko, two others claiming leadership of the New York Foot, as a means to draw her enemies out.

Back to the present.  Now going by the name Lady Shredder, Amaya dons her armor and prepares for her final assault on Yoshi’s clan.

At the mausoleum HQ in Westwood Cemetery, the Turtles and Pimiko spar and prepare themselves for their impending battle with the Foot as Splinter and Dr. X look on. All are unaware that the Foot gather just outside; Cheng’s spiritual bond to Splinter having led the ninja to the cemetery.

Down in the sewers, a badly malfunctioning Don has reached his secret lab and reactivates the imprisoned cyborg remains of Dr. Baxter Stockman. Don implores Stockman to help him, though Stockman has a price: he wants Don’s living nanite-infused metal. Don refuses, knowing Stockman will use it to resurrect himself, but the Turtle is running out of time.

On the Utrom Homeworld, Security Officer Yat escorts Leatherhead to the presence of Ambassadors Klag and Korobon. The Triceraton that had been teleported alongside Leatherhead has been dealt with and Leatherhead rescued. The Ambassadors thank Leatherhead for his previous service to the Utroms, defeating the Illuminated Utrom Alliance. Leatherhead, still suffering his mental conditions, remembers nothing of that adventure. The Utroms disregard his mental troubles and offer him a new challenge: to bring his friend, Dr. X, back to the Utrom Homeworld.

Back at the mausoleum, Mike tries over and over again to call Sara “Horridus” Hill, but there’s no answer. Suddenly, Splinter senses the presence of enemies. Outside, Lady Shredder orders the strike to begin and several rocket launcher-toting Foot Soldiers proceed to obliterate the mausoleum.

Down in the lab, Donatello finally concedes defeat and willfully gives up his living metal to Stockman. As Stockman begins to reform himself, he lets the helpless Don know that they’re about to have “a little bit of fun”.

In his secret lab, Donatello wakes to the sight of Baxter Stockman hovering above him, inserting cables and tubes into his body. As it happens, Don’s natural immune system is rejecting the cybernetic parts and if they remain, he will die. Stockman is using his own cyborg body as “life support” for Don while he siphons off the nanite-infused liquid metal. As it happens, though, as the nanites recede, Don’s own mutagen-enhanced healing factor is now able to progress unimpeded. His shell has already grown back and he’s gradually returning to normal.

At the mausoleum, Leo, Raph, Mikey, Splinter, Dr. X and Pimiko have survived the explosion set by the Lady Shredder, Cheng and the Foot. As they escape through the streets and into the sewers, a Shredder Elite sees them and alerts Lady Shredder. In the tunnels below, Leo sends Splinter to hide and protect Dr. X while he, his brothers and Pimiko stand their ground against the final assault.

At the Jones apartment, Casey is icing his head from the beating he took at the bank when his check bounced and he pitched a fit. April soothes him, assuring him that they’ll make ends meet and he’ll find another job. They’ll just have to save up a little bit longer for their wedding. Shadow awakens from bed and comes to see her parents, having had a bad dream about Uncle Mikey.

In the sewers, the battle begins. Hordes of Foot Soldiers fill the tunnels and overwhelm the Turtles. Leo orders everyone to retreat back to their original Lair. Meanwhile, Cheng unloads his “surprise” from the back of a van at the behest of the Lady Shredder.

Don comes to once again in his lab and finds that he is rid of nearly all traces of the liquid metal, which Baxter has absorbed and used to repair himself. Don resigns himself to the fact that Baxter will now be able to escape, but such isn’t the case. Only being a brain, there wasn’t enough organic matter for the liquid metal to bond with and Baxter crumbles back to his previously dismantled state. Baxter thanks Don for the fun, anyway, and asks that after he puts him back up on his shelf… he give April his regards. Don leaves with a suspicious look on his face as Baxter laughs maniacally.

In the sewers, Cheng’s surprises reveal themselves: the two surviving mutant Shredder clones the Turtles thought they killed years ago. The clawed Shredder clone and the midget Shredder clone, fully healed, attack. Cheng is pleased with his work, certain that by perfecting Mashima’s mystic worms, he’ll be able to create whole armies of the creatures. There’s another surprise on the way, though, as King Komodo returns amidst the chaos to finish Leo off. King Komodo kills the clawed Shredder clone so that he can have an unobstructed match with his one-handed foe.

Cheng and the Lady Shredder finally enter the fray, with Cheng leading a pair of Foot Mystics in mystically enhancing their army’s strength. Lady Shredder prepares to take Raph off guard when Pimiko intervenes. Raph confronts Cheng as Leo continues his battle with King Komodo and Mikey takes on the midget Shredder clone. With all the extra Foot Soldiers around, things look bad until Don returns to lend a hand. Grabbing a staff from one of the Foot, he offers to give explanations later and proceeds to fight by his brothers’ side. In the battle, King Komodo bites off Leo’s prosthetic stub-blade, revealing a re-grown hand beneath. Komodo is perplexed and Leo uses the distraction to decapitate the monster. Taking a cue from his brother, Mikey wraps his nunchaku chain around the midget Shredder clone’s neck and squeezes until the creature’s head pops off. Meanwhile, Raph kills the two Foot Mystics with shuriken and stabs Cheng with his sai. Raph believes that by killing Cheng, his astral tether to Splinter is now severed. While that is true, Cheng assures the Turtle that he has already dealt their father a fatal spiritual blow. Angered, Raph kicks Cheng’s corpse.

Lady Shredder and Pimiko continue their duel and it becomes apparent to Lady Shredder that Pimiko is her daughter. Pimiko won’t believe it and, protecting Raph from the Lady Shredder’s gauntlet, impales her through the stomach with her katana. In the skirmish, the Lady Shredder delivers a decisive strike to Pimiko as well, piercing her stomach with her gauntlet. As they both lay dying, they remove their masks and the truth is revealed. Lady Shredder, Tang Amaya, tells Pimiko that she left her with Warlord Komodo in the hopes of sparing her the life of an assassin and is truly saddened to see that her daughter could not escape her fate. Even sadder, she regrets that she was unable to avenge her sister, Tang Shen, or her beloved, Oroku Saki. Hearing this, Splinter exits from the Lair and places his hand on Tang Amaya’s head. He shows her the death of Tang Shen as he saw it through his own eyes (as a normal rat) and Amaya finally knows what really happened. With her final breath, she curses Oroku Saki and tells Pimiko she loves her. Pimiko attempts to tell Raph something important, but her life gives out and she dies, too. Removing his bandana, Raph cries through both now-healed eyes.

Their leader dead, the surviving Foot Soldiers retreat into the darkness. Only the last surviving Shredder Elite remains. He approaches the Turtles and, cursing them, pulls out his katana and commits seppuku. With the circle of blood that has plagued them and the Oroku family finally complete, Splinter tells them that the feud that has lasted their whole lives is over.

The next day, Karai arrives in New York via helicopter. As it happens, her whole “disgrace” was nothing but a ruse to weed out the last remaining Shredder-loyalist dissenters amongst the New York branch of the Foot. She addresses the two shamed heads of the branch and the surviving Foot Soldiers: The need for a “Shredder” is over, the Council of Five from the Japanese branch has her back and she is now in complete control.

In New York harbor, Leo and Raph cremate Pimiko’s body on a funeral pyre as they did her father many years ago, though they wish her peace in the afterlife. Confidentially, Raph tells Leo that he sort of had a thing for Pimiko; a real thing, not like the “romance” Leo and the others chided him about having with his friend Lucindra. Leo understands and, also confidentially, tells Raph that he and Radical have been seeing each other, lately. On that romantic note, April and Casey deliver Mikey the good news: his novel “A Rose Amongst Thorns” has gone for a third printing and is a best seller. Mikey’s muse, Horridus, stops by to visit and Mikey can’t wait to share it with her. Horridus, though, reveals that she’s developed a thing for Dragon and that she’s staying with him, now. Heartbroken, Mikey throws his typewriter across the room in a fit of rage.

Later, the Turtles, Splinter and Dr. X reconvene at the Lair, where Don finishes picking the last of the liquid metal from his skin. Suddenly, Leatherhead arrives through the transmat to complete his task; sending Dr. X back to the Utrom Homeworld for a debriefing. Dr. X is surprised that her assessment of the transmat’s functionality was incorrect (while Leatherhead is surprised to learn that Dr. X is actually female) and bids her friends a fond farewell (Leatherhead opts to stay on Earth).

At Puzorelli’s apartment, the mob boss finds the severed head of his nephew, Joey, on his bed along with a terrible message on his answering machine: the Foot Clan has rallied and are aggressively taking the city back from the mob. Even worse, the assassin Razorback is rumored to be back in town. Puzorelli pours a drink and considers that, in the end, it is better off that Shadow is with a family that can keep her away from the mob violence that has consumed his life and murdered his family. Right on cue, several Foot Soldiers invade his apartment and assassinate him.

With all the insanity of the past year finally behind them, the Turtles and Splinter take a much-needed retreat to the farm in Northampton.

On the Utrom Homeworld, Ambassadors Korobon and Klag debrief Dr. X on her extended mission to Earth. Dr. X reveals that she believes the Earthlings to be ready for “first contact”, though a few more years are necessary before they can make their move.

At the Halls of Lost Legends, Merlin talks with his pet owl, Archimedes, who wonders if the Turtles are ready to join them in the Hall. Merlin discards the notion, as the Turtles won’t be ready for quite some time.

REVIEW

Volume 3 is not canon. That was Peter Laird’s decision when he started TMNT volume 4. So if you were a fan of this volume and you wanted to know the end of the story... well, too bad.

Years later, it was finally possible to offer fans some sort of closure. But in a way that you could say, puts everything back into Mirage continuity. So in a way, these two indie comics, that are not published by Mirage or IDW, closed all the plots and even managed to connect the series to volume 4. Which is impressive, and made possible by many stories from Tales of the TMNT vol. 2.

Now, is it good? At certain points you feel like a deviation was needed to throw backstory at you. At other points you feel like certain developments are too convenient (like Puzzorelli’s fate, or the reptile healing factor). But for the most part it feels right.

Having said that... because IDW is adding three new issues to volume 3, through “Urban Legends”, this ending is not canon... for the non-canon volume.

Nevertheless, I feel the effort makes this a worthy read and it’s free.

The art deserves a special mention. The style doesn’t match the style from volume 3, which you would think is a bad thing. But it does remind you of the original TMNT issues and a bit to the next volume, so in a way, you could think of these issues a transition, even in the art.

I am glad this exists. Let’s see what Gary Carlson does with “Urban Legends” in 2020.

I give the story a score of 7.

[dragonleesupporter]

Philanthropy (Paradigm Series)

WARNING: (VERY deep concepts and messed up actions and implications or utter disgraceful morality. Also, VERY GRAPHIC. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.)

“I can’t believe it! I can’t believe it! This is all my fault!” Shasta cried into his hands, his mother confusedly rubbing his back in attempts to comfort him.

             “What’s your fault?” His mother asked.

             The prince grew quiet, not wanting to talk anymore, surprising the queen.

             “I… won’t push you, son. You can talk to me when you’re ready. But at least let me say that she’s never coming back here. Hopefully that gives you some comfort. Come to me if you need.” She gently kissed his forehead and walked out, not knowing what else to do as her husband tried to comprehend what was to come next.

             It had been a truly traumatic day. After Shasta had woke up late from his date with Alo out in the pool, he realized that today was special. They had a visitor that day.

 Another queen from a faraway kingdom who stayed a little longer than what she was welcomed to. But Shasta’s parents were confrontational, and couldn’t think of a nice way to make her leave. She was very impolite, and some of things she was saying caused his parents to cover Shasta’s ears, for some reason. Her name was strangely familiar to Shasta, but his brain was foggy from the lack of sleep, and he tried to avoid making nonsensical connections in his dazed state. His parents had at least dismissed the prince early from the dinner table at his request, to go meet his soulmate unbeknownst to them. Alo had showed up on time with some Wishing the Moons, and Shasta had rushed forward to give him a kiss. They were in the midst of their normal playful banter, Shasta about ready to introduce Alo to chocolate, when they heard a commotion from downstairs. Then they heard footsteps thundering up the steps. Before either of them could react, the visiting queen flung open the door to the prince’s room.

             Shasta remembered the shriek of terror that had escaped his lover as the queen locked eyes with him. Her eyes became slits as she started growling.

             “There you are… THERE YOU ARE!” She reached forward just for Shasta to stop her, confusion clouding his better judgment as he only blocked hesitantly. But when Alo whimpered out her name pleadingly, it all suddenly made sense.

             “R- Ritah… P-please no…” Alo covered his head and started to tremble uncontrollably as his high-pitched sobs cut into Shasta’s heart like gnarled quills, twisting and ripping it to shreds.

             “YOU.” The prince’s eyes became equally as reptilian as the queen’s.

             “STEP ASIDE, SERVANT. THAT BOY IS MY PROPERTY. GIVE HIM TO ME!” Ritah clung onto him and dug her claws into the golden one’s shoulders.

             “BACK OFF, YOU VILE BEAST!” Shasta spat in her face. “HOW DARE YOU?!” He threw his head forward and started to bite the hateful queen on her neck.

           By now, two hurried sets of footsteps were making their way upstairs.

             Shasta turned around to see a final glimpse of his love before Alo took off out the balcony.

             “SHASTA?!”

             “SON! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!”

             He heard his parents call from just down the hallway as he could feel the impacts of their feet thud against the floor.

             “THIS QUEEN JUST ATTACKED ME! SHE CAME INTO MY QUARTERS AND LUNGED AT ME!” He heard the footsteps quicken tenfold as he finally calmed down enough to return his eyes to normal, holding the queen in place as she thrashed.

             “I’m sorry, Queen Ritah, but please do not come back or else our guards will spear you.” Shasta’s mother uttered, almost apologetically, as she threw out the pink grecken. “You’ve disrespected us as kingdom, and your actions have consequences. I never thought excusing you to the bathroom would ever intend for you to attack my son.”

 …

             Shasta flashed forward to the present. He was all alone. His parents were off to go notify neighboring kingdoms of the possible threat of Queen Ritah, while his partner was nowhere to be seen.

             “What if he never comes back?!” The prince’s thoughts started to race. “What if he never forgives me for letting his tormentor in MY PALACE?!”

             A third dreadful thought struck Shasta, this one shattering his already-weak heart.

             “What if she finds him again? … She knows he’s here…”

             However, his heart didn’t break completely… He gritted his teeth. Why were his fists clenched? He had to clear his head; he was breathing so hard… A different heat was overtaking him. A heat he didn’t like. Burning coals replaced the organs in his chest, and his skin started to steam as a mind-numbing pain overtook him.

             “I’m going to go find him.” He whispered to himself, taking off his prince attire. “I need to. I need to give something back to him. After all we’ve been through... all the secrets we’ve told... He’s given me so much. I can’t let him down, now.”

             He stiffly walked over to where his makeup stand was. Once an embarrassment of his, now used to his advantage.  

             He hesitated at the balcony edge. He knew he could fly, but he didn’t know how… He could glide at least. With his new grey makeup on, his sword in its scabbard, and a few deep breaths, he jumped.

             Shasta couldn’t have been more right.

             After Alo had run away, pounding the ground until his lungs burned, he was quickly discovered at the abandoned bar. Ritah had seen him flee after she was kicked out. Shortly after, she caught the interest of a few alchemists on the street and asked them to follow her.

             Alo panted, unable to calm his spazzing heart as he entered the bar. He sat, trying desperately to control his breathing. He couldn’t think of anything else… Just those white, narrowed slits of eyes staring at him with so much hatred that pierced and dissolved his heart like paper in water. He still couldn’t believe his mother had traveled so far, and just so happened to find him. Or maybe she was tracking him all along? Was he safe nowhere?!

             Alo shook his head back and forth, trying to force the terrible memories and voices out of the depths of his mind. Everything was crashing down around him, the horrible world opened its mouth to devour whatever sanity he had left.  In the midst of his internal drowning, he hadn’t even realized three figures had entered the bar.

             Before he knew it, he was pinned in a chair and had his wrists and ankles bolted to it as he sat there, shell-shocked.

             “Please…” He whimpered, his cracking, high-pitched voice making him sound just like the scared child he once was. “Please… no…” his numb voice echoed with no reply.

             “Undress him.” Ritah commanded with a smirk.

             Alo’s crying pleas fell on deaf ears as he was forced out of his hoodie and jeans. The alchemists started collecting samples of his blood and tears through painful means, wordlessly obeying the queen. Holding his mouth open, and scraping tissue off of his tongue, cheeks, and the top of his mouth, making it bleed as he cried more.

             “In order to absorb all of what you want us to… we’ll need... even MORE of an adrenaline rush, but he just seems numb at this point.” One of the alchemists put down her gear with a frustrated huff.

             “Oh. I think I know what to do…” The queen began to undress herself.

             “NO!” He screamed, just putting in effort to form the word caused his mouth and arms to bleed more.

             “Oh yes, that’ll do it.” The second alchemist commented with an evil grin as the tormentor got closer.

             Alo had never felt so scared in his life. Dread was crushing him from the inside out, almost as if his insides had been replaced with stones and balls of ice as the queen drew nearer. He also realized one of the alchemists getting a bit too close to his eye with a needle.

             Then it all clicked.

             They wanted his soul. His essence. His own mother was going to force it from him using the same act of torture done to his father… the same way Alo was created… forced bonding. (Or in the human world, rape.)

             The alchemists positioned the needle, ready for the perfect moment to extract. The queen forced herself onto the squirming grecken and started to stimulate him. It was about to start when-

             “NO! DON’T HURT HIM! DON’T YOU DARE HURT HIM!” A red, fuming, grecken stormed into the building and tackled the first alchemist, knocking her out cold before turning to the two surrounding Alo.

             “LET HIM GO. NOW.” His eyes became slits as a demonic voice pierced the air.

             “Or what, peasant?” The queen would not let up, pounding even harder into the helpless thief. “You going to kill me?”

             “OH NO. KILLING WOULD BE MERCIFUL COMPARED TO WHAT I’M GOING TO DO…” The red grecken charged the remaining alchemist who tried to fend him off with a lowly needle, only to fall unconscious like her counterpart after having her head smashed against a brick wall.

             The queen now grew nervous as she silently got off of a begging, hyperventilating Alo.

             The red stranger showed a deranged smile before leaping onto the pink one.

             “I’M GOING TO MAKE SURE YOU NEVER DO THIS AGAIN.” He said, ripping off her crown which was still on her head. “YOU ARE NOTHING… YOUR DAUGHTERS WILL FORGET YOU… AND IF YOU DO HAPPEN TO CROSS THEIR MIND… THEY’LL LAUGH. AT. YOU. YOU’RE HELPLESS. YOU NEED TO BE GIVEN WHAT YOU’VE DISHED OUT.” Still with a deranged smile, and now glowing eyes with only the slits being visible, the stranger drew a sword from his belt and threw the queen backwards.  

             Alo watched in splitting, numbing, horror as his rescuer reached inside her and ripped out the queen’s tool of forced bonding, her screams never-ending, and her eyes popping out of her skull with a look of intensified desperateness as her reproductive organs were tore apart in front of her. The stranger then took the sword and stabbed both of Ritah’s eyes, the sword going all the way through her head to pierce the floor behind it. Yellow blood went everywhere as he cut off both fins on her arms and used his blunt nails to make more scars on her chest, shredding off her secondary tool of pride; her attractive beasts.

 He then picked her up, and threw her out of the bar to stumble about and blindly cry for help to an empty road. Surprisingly, it wasn’t enough damage to kill her, but it was enough to make her wish it would. Blinded, in immense pain, and with all of her feministic qualities stripped off her, she was now nothing but useless scraps of living flesh. As a finishing touch, the red grecken cast an unholy spell on her that would force her to live on in this agony, unable to die, until he decided her punishment was over.

             The red beast turned to look at Alo, and for a second, the thief thought he might be next, but then the slitted eyes softened and filled with tears. The red went away and left behind shades of grey makeup applied to golden fur.

             “SH-SHASTA?!” Alo cried as the prince fell to his knees.

             For a second, the prince couldn’t hear. All he could do was stare at his stained, trembling hands as he tried to comprehend what he had just done. His terrified expression slowly turned and looked at the hostage. His eyes filled with tainted blue tears, threatening to spill as Alo watched helplessly. The trembling prince fell to the floor, hands covering his head as he sobbed out apologies and desperate pleas for forgiveness.

             “Seah!” He cried. “Seah, forgive me!” His hands clenched tighter and tighter to the point of drawing blood from his head. “I’m sorry!”

             “SHASTA!” Alo suddenly called from behind him. “SNAP OUT OF IT!”

             The lost prince looked up at the thief, eyes and face wet, lip quivering. “B-but… look at what I did! … I’m a monster!”

             “Shasta, you are NOT a monster. I’ve met enough of them to know, and you are no monster.” Alo reassured, voice quaking from the trauma, and saw Shasta’s breathing start to normalize, though still reasonably shaky.

             “But then… what am I? I’m definitely not the happy, gentle prince my parents raised me to be.” Shasta bent over to rub his head before slowly getting up. “What was that burn? It wasn’t like Heat… it hurt more… and had no relieving feeling. It just kept getting deeper and deeper… it hurt so much… I…” Shasta, at this point had unscrewed the purple grecken’s metal bonds in the midst of his ranting and the other had hugged the prince.

             “It’s called Wrath of Dolangs.” Alo explained, caring for his soulmate and rocking him back and forth as he let out the rest of his tears on his shoulder. “It was named by our ancient ancestors. When one must protect another against a great threat in vengeance, or when someone must be punished in general, sometimes, they take the shape of a legendary creature. Dolangs, even farther back in time, were hideous red demons that used to terrorize the lands. After a group of queens begged Seah to take the demons away, Seah explained to them that, as long as there was creation, there must also be destruction. The queens then pointed out that greckens, themselves, destroy things all the time. Seah granted their wish, but legend says that, in return, she took away a great deal of creation from her own hands, including the Chistix; living angels on our planet’s surface... Letting the world have its own destruction and creation. But, as Seah still guides us once in a purple moon with a hidden Chistix, Dolangs still come back from deep inside of us on rare occasions. That redness was not you. It was a Dolang. You unknowingly agreed to let it take control of you, your hatred of my mother being strong enough for it to get through to control your body. But also remember that Dolangs used to destroy as orders of Seah to keep the balance. She controls them. Whatever you did with the Dolang’s power, it was Seah ordering it to. Seah WISHED it. Or else she wouldn’t have given it to you.” This finally got Shasta to stop crying.

             “But I still feel bad…” He sulked.

             “It happened for a reason. Let it be. Come on, your parents must be worried- AH!” Alo cried in pain as soon as he tried to stand up.

             “Oh no… no, no, no… Please don’t tell me she got you…” The prince shivered and looked down at Alo’s exposed vulnerability.  

             “No. She only started to… but it still hurts…” Alo looked up at the golden grecken to realize he was staring at his crotch, where he had been abused.

            “Here... let me help you...” Shasta offered a hand to his soulmate.

…

             “No!”

             “Come on, please?”

             “I said no! I’d throw everything off for you and your parents!”

             “But if you don’t stay here with me, I might have a panic attack!”

             Alo stopped, unable to argue with the prince. He sighed.

             “Fine.”

             “YAY!” Shasta instantly hugged him from behind and started planting small kisses on his neck.

             Alo started to giggle and scrunch up his shoulders. “Hehehehey!”

             “Oooo! Give me more of that!” Shasta pushed his muzzle into his soulmate’s fur and nuzzled him, getting a squeak as a reward. “I love your laugh!”

             “Sh-hahahaha! G- gahahaha!” Every time Alo tried to speak out in protest, Shasta playfully nibbled on him, making him spurt out gibberish through his cackles.

             After a while of playing that game, mostly to get Alo’s mind off of his recent abuse, Shasta saw Alo’s yawn and started to gently pull him towards his bed with no protest.

             Alo fell right asleep in his lover’s arms as he dozed off on the softest bed he had ever slept in, and Shasta, after internally screaming at how adorable his soulmate was, decided to close his eyes as well, protectively wrapping his arms around him.

Despite the traumatic day for both of them, they never felt safer than with each other.

[mooleche]

A Tale of Ink and Venom

A/N - All I gotta say is I’m so sorry to mobile users for this lmao This is a long chapter so I’m posting it at 4AM to try and save people from it’s length.

If you’d like to be tagged for the upcoming chapters lemme know!

Also another big thank you to @leo-writer for reading beforehand. I super, super appreciate it and appreciate YOU!

Chapter Two: Heart to Heart

“No no no, I’m so late!”

I shot out of my room like a bat out of hell, a jumble of keys in one hand and helmet in the other as I took to the morning bustle of the college sidewalks. Outside the scenery was a mixture of many things; remnants of winter slush that spring was finally beginning squash with a faint warm breeze. Not to mention the familiar scent of Brooklynn streets containing the disappointing waft of piss and alcohol it was so well known for. Or maybe I had just grown used to it in the year I had been here. 

I stopped abruptly at a covered up bundle and ripped the cover off hastily to reveal a shiny black Vespa beneath and beamed. Her name was Queen of the Night, Queenie for short, and what she lacked in speed she made up for in aesthetic. She was the last thing my parents had gifted me before I had started college. A way for them to feel at ease about me being on my own, or so they said. I think they just didn’t want me to use door dash on every little thing I needed at all hours of the night. Regardless, she was my pride, my joy, and I was finally able to ride her again after the harsh winter months had kept us separated for so long. 

My thoughts wandered as I got my belongings situated to head to work. About Bambi’s words, the news article, but also the strange group text Bambi’s sister had sent out as I had left:

‘There’s a big bad out. Stay safe.’ 

I wish I could say that wasn’t a normal occurrence for her, but Benni Banks had a knack of sending things just ominous enough to make you extremely suspicious of whatever she was saying. The only thing more suspicious was when she would walk with a startling pace out of our dorm with laptop in arms saying ‘This is fine, this is absolutely fine ’ on repeat. If you knew Benni like we did that usually meant one of her cockamamie hacking attempts had backfired and things were certainly not fine. Despite this, we loved her, even down to the cryptic warnings she sent us while submitting to her insomnia sleeping habits that left us more curious than cautious.

A villain like that could have meant anything. Hell, we had just seen Lizardman take on the town before he stopped on his own accord. A malfunction with the machine he used to keep himself human, or something to that degree. And not a single hero came to help during that situation. I slumped forward at a red light and sighed. Despite New York being a hot zone for superheroes and villains alike, it was apparent that the villains were just becoming too much for them to handle. But that was something I couldn’t begin to think about, because I had arrived to work and there were more pressing matters at hand.

Like how I was about to be reamed for being 20 minutes late.

I stopped in front of an ordinary-looking business building not far off from the campus itself and removed my helmet. My hair fell in loose lazy curls around my face as the braid I had made was all but destroyed. Flecks of blue and black melded over my face as I tried to hastily tie it back into its original style, but failed miserably. Giving up I shoved my hands into my hoodie pockets, listening to the leather of my gloves squeak with discomfort before fishing out a flashy looking access card for the entrance. On one hand, I didn't know why I or anyone else needed one of these. Most of the sections inside of the building were offices doing god knows what. On the other hand, the lower levels were a different story entirely. I waited 3 seconds for the light to flash green before I stepped in, immediately greeted by a security guard I knew simply as Barry who nodded curtly to me as I took to the steps nearby. 

“A little late today, Miss Knight,” I heard him chuckle, fading away as I entered the basement. This was where all of the action happened, a steady hum of electronics and murmurs of people lost in conversations of studies they were working on. Some made brief pleasantries with me as I zipped through the small groups of lab coats huddling to discuss, while others seemed to eye me with disapproval. 

They didn’t matter though. The only person that mattered currently stood hunched over one of many counters in his lab as I watched from the glass window that separated us. I pressed my face against the glass to try to get his attention but he ignored me, making my nerves rise as I stepped within the sliding doors and opened my mouth to apologize.

“You’re late, Knight,” 

I closed my mouth and puffed my cheeks out. He always had a knack of catching me off guard. 

His name was Professor H. D. Renato, a man who I suspect would not reveal his initials to anyone until he was on his death bed. Even then that was being generous. He was a man of science and cleanliness, and the two coincided together nicely in his lab that he kept in pristine shape. It was ordinary for the most part. No colorful beakers, no boiling concoctions of evil ooze to take over the world with. Just a man with incredible dreads hunched over his desk studying something intensely. 

I don’t know how our strange relationship came to be, especially when our first encounter involved him walking in on me attempting to delete student debts with my powers. I was lucky enough at the time that despite the criminal act I was committing he was intrigued by my mutation and wanted to work with me on the promise that I never try a stunt like that again. I was even luckier that I had somehow gotten a job out of it instead of making a call to my parents from the Deans office explaining how I got kicked out of college for trying to show up Robin Hood.

He now turned as if sensing me studying him and folded his arms, dark eyes studying me back with amusement.

“What’s your excuse this time then?”

“Would you believe traffic?”

“I would not,”

“How about saving kids from a burning building?”

“Try again,”

“Fine,” I rolled my eyes, setting my bag down on one of the empty tables taking up the majority of the room. “I got side-tracked talking to the girls,” I admitted before joining him behind his desk to get a glimpse of what his attention had been so caught up on. “Seems I’m not the only one distracted today though, huh?”

“You know me, I always have to see what fresh hell is destroying Brooklynn,” he muttered before turning the laptop to me. “You’ve seen it already, haven’t you?”

“Oh, no. Benni mentioned it before I got here but...” I whispered as I joined him in looking at the screen. The shots of whoever, or whatever it was were blurry. Though, it wasn’t hard to see the giant black humanoid looking creature completely demolishing a group of police vehicles like they were children's toys before the reporter I had seen so many times appeared on the screen. She had the same tense face on as always. Not that I could blame her, I’d look the same way if I were placed in a somewhat dangerous situation like this. And yet, she spoke in a strangely calm tone to give what little information she had on the matter:

" ...suspect is assumed to be a high-level threat that was one of few said to be lost in the recent events of the Ice Box criminal transfer after destruction hit- "

"Hang on, that was months ago. They still haven't found the convicts that escaped?" I asked in surprise. He shook his head in response.

"Apparently not. The majority were assumed dead at the scene of the crime but…” he motioned to the screen again as we watched another brief blurry clip of the creature climb onto one of the surrounding buildings as heavily armored police got involved.

I whistled in response.

“I really don’t think you should go out on deliveries today, Nina…” he admitted after a short pause as he turned to me, folding his arms like he always did when faced with a tough subject. I could only roll my eyes in response.

“Don’t think I’m capable of holding my own?”

“Really? You’re asking me this in a ‘Hangover Hoodie’?”

“Huh?” I asked with a confused frown but realized all too quickly what he was talking about. In my hurry to leave this morning I had shoved a blind hand into my wardrobe and picked out whatever hoodie I could find. Renato now stared at me with disappointed disapproval and sighed. It was no wonder his peers looked at me how they did now.

“I have always had the utmost faith in you, it’s your health I’m concerned about. You know this,”

“How could I forget when that’s all anyone ever talks about?” I answered shortly, watching his expression quickly fade to guilt. I knew he hadn’t meant anything by it, after all, it wasn’t his fault that my body was the frail shell of what it used to be. Like I said, I tried the vigilante lifestyle once. It hit me harder than what I was ready for and now I paid the price. 

The result left me unable to use my powers without intense strain on my body, and a group of family and friends treating me like I was made of glass as a result.

He hovered his hand over my shoulder before reluctantly pulling back. Renato might have been a genius but his social cues were lacking in the compassion department. Or any social department in general for that matter. Instead, he did what he did every time there was an awkward situation and began furiously cleaning his glasses that had been sitting neatly on top of his head. 

“I just...you know I worry. And with your parent's trusting me-”

“What they don’t know won’t hurt them. But also, I’m almost 24, dude. Avoir une certaine foi,” I added with an innocent smile. He was not so taken with it

“You know I don’t speak French,”

“Have some faith,”

“That’s easy for you to say, you don’t have to be the one to deliver the news if something happens,” he responded shortly, striking my own guilt in response. Renato, despite his eagerness to take me under his wing, was still a cautious man. So cautious in fact that he had contacted my parents before solidifying his offer to work with me. They weren’t bad people, probably the farthest thing from that, they were just so overprotective. I couldn’t blame them after the chaotic introduction into parenthood I had given them, especially after being the first mutant in our family. There was just a point where it was too much.

There was a heavy silence between us as we both struggled to find something to say before he sighed and directed my gaze to the packages resting beside the counter.

“Alright, I’m trusting you with this, Nina. You’re lucky we have such a backlog to get through otherwise-”

“Otherwise you wouldn’t allow this, yes I know,” I called as I carefully scooped the boxes up and inspected them curiously as if the blank outer packaging would reveal their secrets.

They did not.

“Be careful with those. I put fragile on there for a reason,” he added as he tapped the large black font with a stern look. As part of his side job he was always cooking up interesting concoctions for his clients, considered the mutant savant by many because of how serious he was to learn how to help us function in everyday society. I had never seen a regular human so dedicated to helping our cause and I wasn’t about to make him regret hiring me to help with it. 

Especially when it meant one day he could help me be myself again.

I scoffed at his words and tiptoed carefully to the exit to avoid more of his harping while I could. “I got it, I got it. Shoot me the addresses?”

“Already in your phone, make sure you get all of the signatures this time, Knight.”

“Yes, dad,” I mocked before shuffling out of the lab, careful to avoid any collisions with anyone out in the hall. Barry held the door open for me like he did every time I came up packed to the gills with boxes and we shared our usual polite nod to one another. 

Ten frustrating minutes of getting everything bundled up tight on Queenie and I was finally off to do the real work of the day. 

-

Being a courier was a fairly easy job. Renato excelled in helping mutants with noticeable mutations by creating temporary serums and little do-dads to aid in his search of making us feel more welcomed in society. Since the clients themselves didn’t usually want to be seen by people other than their kind it was often a quick in and out job. The hardest part was getting to them. Renato may have been science savvy but where he excelled in knowledge he lacked in direction, and it made me ever so thankful for GPS as I rounded the same corner I had been through multiple times in the last 15 minutes.

Thank god these weren’t timed deliveries.

Most of the stops weren’t an issue, usually consisting of an out of the ordinary mutant that just needed some basic supplies. My favorite was a man with red skin and facial hair that rivaled Jack Sparrows. He was charming and straight to the point, and yet his tips were always more than accommodating. His name started with an A but the scribbled signature never revealed the rest.

Others however were... strange. Some left specific instructions in order for me to get confirmation signatures; knock two times on the door to wait for someone to knock back, more than a few required me to face the other way so I couldn’t see them but when I looked back the papers were signed, sometimes tip attached, sometimes other odds and ends. I once received a large quill-like spike as a tip for my efforts. It still sat on my desk to this day.

Before I knew it my final client had come and I rode lazily in the familiar streets of Brooklyn to find the location. His was always my favorite to go to, settled in a small suburb area with people that always seemed to be out and enjoying life without a care in the world. I parked in a vacant area up the street and started towards a cozy-looking home that had seen better days. Not that it was in bad shape, it was just old and in need of some serious case of TLC that its owner was unable to give.

I stopped at the sun stained red door and rang the buzzer once.

No response.

Twice.

Nothing.

“Mr. Lee?” I called, pressing my ear against the door to hear if he was making his way to answer. I was greeted with silence.

I began a hail mary of mashing the buzzer in a last desperate attempt until a soft chuckle interrupted me and I turned. An older man in dark shades sat at a bench nearby and waved to me, beckoning me towards him and I followed.

"Hey! Buongiorno!" he called merrily from his peaceful-looking seat and I laughed softly.

"That's Italian, Mr. Lee. But bonus points for trying,"

"Ah, can't win 'em all I suppose." he chuckled before patting the seat next to him and I obliged, holding his delivery patiently in hand before he smiled warmly and stared forward. 

"Relax a little, something on your mind, kiddo? You seem tense!"

Mr. Lee always had a knack for sensing these types of things. He was one of Renato's oldest clients, and he wasn't even a mutant. Renato just enjoyed this old man's zest for life so much that he helped him with simple tasks and now the occasional french tutoring on the side that I gave him during my trips.

"Ah, no. I mean, kind of..." 

"Go on then, I've got some time," he chuckled as he nudged me playfully.

I sighed sheepishly in response. I couldn’t exactly tell him my life story. He knew bits and pieces of it, but I was still on the fence about revealing my mutation. Instead, I tried to word it rather poorly, tugging at my gloved hands as I struggled to find proper words.

“I just...I want to be something more, y’know? I worked so hard for this...thing when I was younger and now I’m just this...this burnout of a courier wasting away at college!” I started, unable to control the flood of commentary that was spilling out. “I wanted to be like...like Spiderman! Or the Avengers! Something! I have a gift, my friends tell me every day that I have the means to overcome this... this fear of breaking myself again but I know deep down my body can’t take it...that I can’t be this person they think I can be. And now everyone’s just waiting for me to break again like I’m glass! I hate it!”

There was a heavy silence and I snapped out of my stupor, now standing with hands held over my head in what was once frustration. I didn’t even know where all of it had come from. Like I said, Mr. Lee had a strange gift.

I shot them down sheepishly and took to sitting back to a quiet Mr. Lee who’s bushy white mustache seemed to wiggle with thought.

“I’m sorry…” I quietly apologized before he turned to me, brows wrinkling under his shades with a frown plastered on his face.

“Don’t you ever apologize for expressing yourself,” he ordered gently, resting a hand on my shoulder with a small squeeze. “Life is never completely without its challenges. But that’s what keeps it interesting.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah! Listen, kid. I think you should do what your heart is telling you to do, 'cause deep down it knows that you'll do the right thing.”

“You think so?" 

“I know so. I've been in the industry long enough to know a hero when I see one." he chuckled, a warm encouraging smile spreading across his face now. “You can't force these feelings out, kid. It’s got to come from inside of you,” he said while poking his chest proudly. 

"Inside me..." I whispered, looking down at my hands in wonder. I knew what he meant, but what could someone like me feel when I wanted to do these things but couldn't? I knew in my heart of hearts what I wanted.

But would that be enough?

Before I could ponder more he stood and stretched his back, resting his weight on his cane. “Give it some thought, you’ve got time,”

“You’re leaving?”

“You’re not?” he teased before he pointed up to the sky and beamed. “I got a date with the universe soon, kiddo. Can’t keep her waiting.”

“Uh-huh…” was all I could muster as I stood and extended my hand out to him. I didn’t know if he was trying to be funny about his days being numbered or if he genuinely was expecting to travel the universe. Events in Brooklynn made it hard to shoot down either idea and Mr. Lee had a look so believable that for a second I actually believed him. “Well, if I don’t see you for a while...J'espère que tu trouveras ton aventure parmi les étoiles.” 

“Oh?”

“It means ‘I hope you find your adventure among the stars,’”

“Ah! Mer...mer...merci!” he stammered before taking my hand in his and beaming at me, a feeling of pride radiating off of him at his accomplishment. 

“You hang in there, kid. Your own adventure is going to find you soon enough! Remember,” he added, pointing to his chest once more before pointing to me. I nodded and smiled like some solemn promise had just been made between us and in some strange way, it had.

We said our goodbyes shortly after, a broken ‘au revoir’ from Mr. Lee as he sauntered into his home with delivery in hand while I took to Queenie with a little less weight on my shoulders. I was well over the time allotted for the drop-off, but I knew Renato would understand. It was why I always kept his deliveries for last after all, to have deep conversations that always kicked me back on track to the path I truly wanted to be on.

The path that would set things in motion not even an hour later.

[decideroffate]

Since my Fates fan fiction is going down an entirely different path I really wanted to share the original plan. Clearly not all every detail is here, but the key stuff is.

A few things to note that applies to all routes a lot of this still remains true to the current fan fiction, so slight spoilers.

Mikoto is the mother of Takumi and Sakura

Azura is not all-knowing. As much as I like her I could make a drinking game with all the plot twists she spews that comes straight the fuck out of nowhere

Scarlet and her rebellion are a joke. I hate the Cheve chapters because, what the fuck are the rebelling against exactly?! Raised taxes? The equivalent of police brutality? What?! At least the Ice Tribe has justification with Flora and Felicia.

Izana has himself a lady named Mine, who is with child. Whether or not Izana and Mine are married, or if their child is born depends on when he’s met in the route (he’s married and his child is born in Conquest, but not Birthright) At the end of Conquest and Birthright they’re likely married though.

Lake travel is tweaked a little in order to keep traveling somewhat consistent. To get to Valla via lake you need to be from Valla, to get back from Valla it’s… not necessary, but helps to have a Vallite with you. Or at least someone who used to lake travel, for no other reason than keeping calm.

There’s no Deeprealms. Birthright and Conquest take place over the course of ten years.

Birthright

Almost after the battle, the repricautions of Vaiana’s choice hit hard. Not helped by Hinoka treating it as a victory for Hoshido, which leads her and Sakura to have an argument over it (probably not the worst out there, but still jarring considering it’s Sakura). Jakob is the only one Vaiana wants to see. A day or so later there is a bit of discussion about Jakob’s presents in Hoshido, but Vaiana lays down the law, either he stays, or they go.

Shortly after Vaiana is relocated into an empty fort, with the only other people living there with her being Sakura, Tsubaki, Hana, and Azura. She’s kept there for about three years and the fact that she’s gone from one gilded cage to another is not lost on her. Vaiana even outright says that Garon was never cruel enough to tease her with the size.

Vaiana decides she’s had enough when she hears about a border village under the attack of Faceless. Gathering anyone willing to go with her Vaiana marches to the village only to find they’re too late, there are no survivors. Mozu’s dismembered body joins the rest of her village in the funeral pier.

Throught the route Iago (and later Garon) express disappointment in Vaiana and her apparent understanding of the situation. And the meeting with the Rainbow Sage happens far sooner. Throughout Azura is not treated with the same respect as she does in-game, making it clear that she was never really considered a part of the family.

The Chevios rebellion is treated as an utter joke. As Jakob and Vaiana are quick to point out, they have no reason to rebel. As it would turn out, the ‘rebels’ are just a bunch of bored, untrained, over privileged children, who are very much aware that if Scarlet agrees to Ryoma’s alliance, they’re going to march to their deaths. Because of this, a few members of the Chevios rebellion abduct Vaiana with the intent of weaponizing her dragon form. All this earns them is a rogue dragon the Hoshidan army has to subdue before Vaiana loses herself.

The ordeal leaves Vaiana bitter and no longer feeling safe. When Scarlet tries apologize, she makes the mistake of saying she had no part in her attack. Vaiana, using her partial transformations, nearly causes the building they’re in to collapse during her beat down of Scarlet. Scarlet’s soldiers abducted Vaiana because they were afraid of dying because they were untrained. As their leader Scarlet should have done better, she was just as much responsible for Vaiana’s attack as her actual attackers.

Around the same time, Jakob, furious that Hoshido has hurt Vaiana far more than Nohr ever did lays down a mighty Reason You Suck Speech (in the vain of Last Midnight from Into the Woods). It’s because of this that Ryoma refuses an alliance with Scarlet he goes on to lead the frontline while Vaiana tries to recover from her physical and mental injuries from the ordeal. It’s mentioned that the Nohrian armies put an end to the Chevois rebellion and Scarlet was killed via public hanging. What’s left of the rebellion disbanded and went on to live quite lives.

After a slight time skip, Vaiana is still left rather jaded and is only just beginning to feel safe around strangers.

After Kaze dies Vaiana is screaming at Saizo to take it out on her. He doesn’t, only saying Kaze went above and beyond the call of duty, something Vaiana feels is worse than had he actually yelled. It’s not helped at all when Kagero explains that the ninja are taught not to get too attached, or show outward emotion.

Jakob has no sympathy for Flora, calling her pathetic, and a coward. Vaiana realizes just how much he hated her. Jakob sympathies do go to Felicia as she had lost everything and has little means to take care of herself because of it.

In the Woods of Forlorn Niles goes as far as to claim that Vaiana has done worst than he could ever do to Leo. He even applauds her talent. The backtrack to the Rainbow Sage doesn’t happen as it happened during the intial cross to Nohr. Nor dose

Camilla and Leo are very much aware that just talking things out isn’t going to work. Far too late for that. But both decide it’s something Vaiana and Elise need to learn for themselves. They both expected Elise to live, though. After Elise dies Xander’s far more blatant about his suicide attempt, taking things into his own hands when Vaiana refuses to fight. Xander’s passing leaves Vaiana a shell of her former self and adopts the mentality of ‘I’m going hell, might as well get ready for the take-over.’ Laslow and Peri were also killed.

Azura’s husband is present for Azura’s death. (Well, okay, obviously not Kaze but you know…) Despite the pain she’s in Azura both wants to see her children one last time but doesn’t want them to see their mother die in front of them.

As opposed to Ryoma’s coronation, the Hoshidan’s witness Leo’s coronation. Takumi always thought Nohr wasn’t picky when it came to gender. And they’re not, but Camilla claims that a vengeful queen is the last thing Nohr needs as she would surely drag Nohr and Hoshido to hell after everything they’ve done. All with an unnerving smile. Hinoka awkwardly states that she always thought Camilla had no sense of humor. According to Vaiana, Camilla wasn’t lying.

It’s noted that Odin resigned as Leo’s retainer and explained that he was old friends with Laslow and likely returned to their unknown homeland. The implication being that Owain returned to Ylisse to inform Olivia and her husband (in this case Lon’qu) of what happened to Inigo. It’s also mentioned that of the Awakening Trio, Selena’s staying in Nohr, even after Camilla abdicated her royal title and essentially reclassed into a Witch. Camilla is essentially roommates with her old retainers.

When meeting Azura at the lake Vaiana’s convinced she was just imagining things. To her, it’d make more sense for Azura’s ghost to stick around her children. It’s also noted that Vaiana’s holding on to the pendant. She and Azura’s husband will later decide who to give it to.

Vaiana, broken by war, stars dulling her pain by drinking. It’s implied she’s also gone to self-harm. The people of Nohr have started pressuring Leo to retaliate against Hoshido for that they’ve done in the war. The subject of marriage has come up in an attempt to ease tensions, however, Hinoka is already married with a child on the way. Leading Vaiana to suggest she offer herself.

Ryoma and Yukimura talk about it in private. Yukimura mentions that, though it’s through marriage, Vaiana is still a princess of Hoshido. And he would not have been surprised it Sumeragi and Mikoto discussed the idea. However, Vaiana, looking to talk to Ryoma about her suggestion, suddenly appears inside asking what Yukimura meant when he called her a princess through marriage. Slowly, her reeling mind figures it out herself, she’s not Sumeragi’s child.

Both men try to explain it, no she’s not Sumeragi’s daughter, but he was there where her real father wasn’t. He was there since she was born. Vaiana, however, demands to know when they planned on telling her. Neither Yukimura nor Ryoma has an answer for her. Not only does Vaiana realize Ryoma had absolutely no intention of ever telling her, she get’s it in her head that Mikoto was never going to tell her either (having no proof, either way, muddles it just a bit).

Realizing she had no more obligation to Hoshido than she did Nohr finally pushes Vaiana over the edge. She puts her all into destroying her dragonstone, and like steam released from a pot, her troubles are gone. Vaiana’s mind deteriorates, consumed by one thought alone; the continent was not worth saving. Allowing the beast to completely take over, Vaiana sets her sights on bringing an end to Hoshido and Nohr.

Conquest

The earliest changes in this comes in Jakob essentially taking Silas’s place when explaining things to Vaiana. And, skipping ahead a little, there is a bit of discussion between Silas and Vaiana when Vaiana made Kaze her second retainer over  Silas. The fact of the matter is, Vaiana really does not like how Silas refuses to acknowledge that things have changed, and REALLY doesn’t like how he’s essentially using her to make himself feel better. She’s had enough of that with both sets of siblings.

Unlike Birthright, Mozu is actually saved by Leo. When they do meet, Vaiana offers to take her in. And when Garon and Azura do meet, Garon ends up having something akin to a heart attack

After defeating Hinoka in Notre Sagesse, Kaze switches sides, noting that Mikoto was very much aware that Vaiana may want to return to Nohr, and only asked her children to respect it. The only one doing that is Sakura. Meanwhile, Rinkah, realizing that Vaiana’s been avoiding deaths, and having warmed up to her while bringing her to Hoshdio, informs Hinoka that the Flame Tribe will no longer cooperate with Hoshido.

A little later Vaiana and Kaze have their talk about what happened the night she was taken, something they never had until the last moment in Hoshido.

Elise and a few other members of the group end up getting sick. Vaiana is far, FAR angrier with Ryoma for the tact he’s using, even saying he would fit in pretty well in Nohr just to get a rise out of him. Meanwhile, Kaze tries to explain his reasons for defecting to Saizo, and Kagero. Kagero is a bit more willing to listen.

A reoccurring theme is that Vaiana will not allow herself to be bullied into feeling guilty for leaving Hoshido. Especially since she barely knew them. Takumi was unwilling to give her a chance, Hinoka was unwilling to get to know Vaiana as she is now over the girl she was then, and Ryoma was busy. The only person who get’s any guilt out of her is Sakura, the only one she really bonded with and the only one who really has Vaiana’s happiness in mind.

As is the case with Birthright Scarlet’s rebellion is a joke, and Garon’s finally had enough for their mischief and the people coming to him about raising taxes because of their actions (property damage, wasted food that could be harvest). And as is the case with Birthright Scarlet ends up being put to death in a public hanging. This time, however, Vaiana get’s to see the public reactions, and she does pity Scarlet slightly as no one’s going to miss her.

In Cyrkensia Azura dose her ritual in an attempt to purge Garon of Anankos’ influence. When that fails, rather than ordering the performers killed, Cyrkensia is searched for the singer. Unfortunately, some maidens who bare a passing resemblance are also brought in for further questioning.

When Vaiana follows Azura into Valla Azura starts to suspect that Mikoto may have been from Valla. But before she can dwell on it too long they’re met by Gunter, prompting Azura to explain that she struggled to get him out without the risk of getting them both killed. Then there was the issue of finding the lake. In private Azura explains that she has when she looks at Garon. And the fact that the castle healers couldn’t find a definitive answer to what was ailing Garon when he had his ‘heart attack’ which further causes unease. She had hoped that she could find something of use in the surviving archives of Valla, but she decides not to push her luck for the time being.

Beruka finds the three shortly after they return to Cyrkensia. Garon was attacked while they were gone, the only thing witnesses could agree on was the assailant has short, vibrant red hair. While the princesses follow Beruka to Garon, Gunter stays behind and mentions that things were going according to plan.

All of Cyrkensia is on alert after Garon’s attack, the king himself is in the infirmary with Iago, leaving Xander to lead the search parties. Vaiana asks if it was really Hinoka, and while Xander agrees she fit’s the description, he chooses to believe that she isn’t stupid enough to do something like this without covering her most promenade feature. Meanwhile, Iago starts muttering to himself, wondering why Hinoka hasn’t been caught yet. Garon, speaking quite clearly for someone who was just attacked, isn’t all that concerned. The last thing Iago smells is death before an ax flashes.

The search goes on for hours, and it’s only after the royals regroup do they hear one of Cyrkensia’s healers scream. The scream in question came from Garon’s room. Xander and Leo find the healer dead on the floor beside Iago, and Slime Garon standing above them. Whether or not Garon’s attack put a sort of enchantment over him is unknown, but Garon starts attacking without rhyme or reason. It’s noted in the description that the stench of decay follows Garon wherever he goes, and in certain lighting, one could swear they can see bones under the slime. Though the royals try to talk sense into Garon, Xander is forced to realize that it’s a losing fight and kills Garon in the hopes he’s released of whatever claimed him.

As an ‘epilogue’ of sorts it’s revealed that Garon’s real attacker was the late Queen Ikona as a Vallite Soldiers and that the recently deceased Iago has been resurrected as one such soldier. Some bits of Iago’s original personality remains, as he’s giddy as soon as he realized what Anankos’ plan was. With everyone thinking Hinoka was the one responsible for Garon’s attack and subsequent madness Xander will be pressured into retaliation.

Sure enough, sometime after Xander’s coronation the people of Nohr are demanding Hinoka answer to her alleged crime. Xander, however, is not so quick as to call for Hinoka’s head just yet and tries to set up a meeting with Ryoma to talk things out, he refuses every time until Xander is left with little choice but to invade.

From then on what happens for a while happens as it dose in-game. Sakura is captured, but Elise tries to explain that they initially just wanted to talk things out with Ryoma and Hinoka, even get an alibi. But Sakura counters with the fact that it’s too late now. Nohr’s people are convinced.

I’m going to have to cut this part short as I’m actually reusing it for the revised version.

Revelation

I actually never got around to writing an outline for this one, but I do know of some points that were going to be in it.

While it’s true for the other two routes, Vaiana suspects she isn’t Sumeragi’s daughter as she realizes she did not inherit anything from him. Likewise, she figures out her relation to Anankos on her own.

Izana dies, and Mine takes over until their child comes of age. The child is born by the time of Vaiana’s corrination

After the battle with Xander and Ryoma’s forces in Nestria Azura and Vaiana return to Valla to talk freely, but as it turns out, Takumi followed them. Vaiana realizes that Mikoto had to have been from Valla because of it.

The Rainbow Sage is confirmed to be Vaiana’s paternal grandfather (likewise the case with Lilith, who already knew).

This is the only route Scarlet scurvies, ironically, because she doesn’t go along on the adventure. The one who takes her place to die however is either Yukimura or Flora. I hadn’t fully deiced either or, both work, and both wouldn’t have been so painfully obvious.

Fuga and Flora would have had a Big Damn Heroes moment, arriving during White Flames.

Ryoma and Vaiana actually talk about what happened when she was taken. And during Ryoma’s support with Xander he decides to put his trust in Xander by revealing Vaiana’s true origin to him (or at least what he knows).

[margoteve]

Day 2: Hurt/Comfort

Ship: Licky (Lev x Original Character [Ricky]), M/M

Rating: T

Summary: placed in Knight AU during the final battle. While Iris and her friend fight for Ephedia, someone else is trying to save what’s important to him.

A/N: with dedication to @followmetoyourdoom and @maybeawriter6 who just made this ship and somehow here it is XD. Brace ya self guys.

On AO3

The Ephedian castle was shaking at its foundations. The final battle for Ephedia was raging on outside - one last fight between the forces of evil and good. And it wasn’t pretty.

Ricky waited for the worst tremor to pass so far, before reaching inside the cell.

“We have to go,” he grabbed Lev’s arm, pulling him out.

Lev nearly fell out of his cell, stumbling to his feet, Ricky breaking the fall.

“We have to help the others,” Lev insisted, looking back.

“There’s no time for this! This place is gonna blow any minute now!” Ricky pulled at Lev’s shoulders, trying to drag him along.

“No,” Lev stopped, shaking his hands off. “We have to help.”

Ricky groaned. “Why?”

“Because it is the right thing to do.” Lev stared at him, unmovable in his conviction.

Ricky moaned, frustrated with his friend’s stubbornness.

“Fine! But I am not doing it for free! I still have an evil persona to uphold!” Stars above, the things he was doing for his-... his friends! Melzors only knew he didn’t have many.

“Thanks,” Lev smiled then turned around and went to open every cell holding a prisoner.

“Maya is going to have my head for this!” Ricky hissed helping him out, brushing off every attempt at thanking him by the imprisoned people.

“If things go the right way, you won't see her ever again,” Lev pointed out.

“Yeah, somehow I doubt that! Lady's nuts.”

They worked for a while, going cell by cell as fast as they could. Ricky complaining about how many damn cells there were in that entire damn dungeon. Meanwhile the walls shook a couple more times, giving everyone something akin to small heart attack.

“This is the last one!” Lev called.

“Finally! Now can we get the bartzik out of here?” Ricky turned to his friend, ready to bolt.

“Yeah.”

They ran, pushing through the crowd they just released. Suddenly the ground shook so strong the floor below them opened. Ricky jumped forward using his magic, trying to avoid the falling rocks. He looked over his shoulder expecting Lev to have done exactly the same but he hadn't.

The platinum blond was helping some woman run. Ricky watched them, trying to comprehend Lev's thought pattern, but he couldn’t. Then he saw, too late, a loose stalactite falling toward Lev, who spotted it soon enough to push the woman away. Unfortunately that move cost him precious seconds and the rock injured him, debris falling over his body.

Ricky felt as if hot ice had filled his insides, eyes going wide in panic. With a yell he dove down after Lev and started tossing the rocks away.

“I. Am. Not. Built! For. Physical. Exercise!” He tried to move out one of the bigger ones but then gave up, unable to even budge it. “Screw this,” he hissed before shouting a spell at the offending rock.

It exploded into smaller pieces and finally he could see Lev underneath it all.

“Lev! Lev, wake up you asshole!” Ricky started slapping his friend’s cheeks, to snap him into awareness.

Finally Lev groaned, cracking his eyes a little. “Dick?”

“Sure, anything you want, buddy,” Ricky chuckled both nervous and relieved. “I’m getting you out. Don’t move.”

“Sure, not like- I have anywhere to go.” Lev croaked and coughed.

It took him a good while but Ricky finally managed to dig him out from under the rocks, but then hissed at the state Lev’s legs were. To put it shortly - not pretty. To elaborate a bit on that - the legs were broken, trousers torn and there was too much blood around. Ricky felt sick.

He had no idea about first aid, there was no one who could give it - or would willingly at least. That’s what he convinced himself to believe.

“Okay, princess, on three up we go,” he mumbled, wrapping Lev’s arm around his neck and putting an arm under Lev’s knees. “One, two… three!”

Ricky whined, lifting Lev up, his knees bending a little. “God, you need to lose weight,” he complained breathlessly.

Lev smirked at him, barely conscious. “Or you need to start working out.”

“Shut up.”

Ricky managed to carry Lev out of the dungeon, outside of the Ephedian castle, stumbling and complaining the entire way. Then he set Lev down.

“Oh my Melzors, I am never doing that again!” He cried out as he stretched, back protesting.

Not wasting more time, he summoned a dark crystal beast, shaped like a pterodactyl. He loaded Lev onto it and, once safely seated, ordered it to fly back to Maya’s castle. He was sure there were some medical books there. To be perfectly honest he was 100% certain there were some - it was only that he was not interested in them before.

Now he had no choice.

He told the crystal creature to hover by the tower where the library was, casting a spell to reduce Lev’s weight so he could levitate him inside. Once there, he pushed all the books off the table to the floor, heavy hundred year old tomes cluttering on the ground. Then he placed Lev on the table, who had passed out again during the flight.

“Wait for me, for a bit, okay?” Ricky didn’t wait for the reply just went to get the books. He only had to find them.

Finding books was one thing, using the knowledge from them was another. Ricky had never practiced healing magic before. Why should he? Villains didn’t need it!

Well there was no point on whining now. He prepared everything he had. Mixed some painkilling mixtures, stopped the bleeding and now was one of the most important part - setting the broken bones in casts and healing them.

Ricky bit his lips stretching his arms forward. Damn it all, he cursed and closed his eyes gathering his magic, trying to squeeze as much light as he could out of himself. Then released….

“You okay, there?”

Ricky’s words woke Lev up from a not a very pleasant daydream. He shook his head, rubbing his eyes.

A couple hours had passed since they'd escaped from the main battle. They were still in the library, though earlier Ricky had helped Lev move onto a faint chair with more comfortable cushions than an old wooden table.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Lev stretched his neck and back a little. “Were you saying something?”

“You know, normally I don’t give a damn for other people, you could at least pretend to be honest with me,” Ricky rolled his eyes, setting down a tray with a potion for Lev to drink.

“Sorry,” Lev ran his hand through his hair and leaned over the backrest. “I guess, I just can’t believe it’s finally over.” He stared at the floor blindly, his mind still in a state of disbelief. “I mean - I doubt this will change much for me. I’ve always been a thief, even before Gramorr… That's all I've ever known. Then Iris happened and then - you,” he looked at Ricky. “I mean I guess Iris is a much better influence,” he smiled impishly and they both laughed. “I’m used to going with the flow, but all of this,” he gestured to the window where the lights of magic illuminated the sky. People were most likely celebrating now. “Is happening really fast. You know what I mean?”

“Of course I do, I work for Maya, that takes certain adaptation skills,” Ricky sighed sounding exasperated then winked at Lev. “It’s going to be fine, regardless of who won. We can take care of each other.” He put his hands on Lev’s shoulder, smiling.

Lev returned the smile and their eyes met. A spark jumped between them, something that probably has been there from the start. Lev cleared his throat, faint pink staining his cheeks as he turned his eyes away. “Thanks, that’s-mph?”

He was cut off when Ricky grabbed his chin and promptly kissed him. Lev went rigid for a moment, his eyes wide - what the heck just-?! His brain short circuited for a brief moment before a ‘this is nice’ passed through his thoughts and he relaxed, bringing Ricky closer, sinking his fingers into his hair. He didn’t notice when the kiss deepened. The transition smooth and oblivious to him.

It was getting hot in there, both needing a bit more closeness…

“Ouch!” Lev hissed in pain, pulling away.

“Sorry, sorry!” Ricky stepped back. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine.” Lev rubbed his legs. They felt a bit hot, and not just because of what transpired.

“Shit, I spilled your drink.” Ricky picked up the knocked down mug. “I’ll be right back,” he promised. A stupid grin plastered on his face and a deep flush painted over his cheeks. Hair totally messed up and shirt wrinkled.

“Yeah,” Lev tossed him a glance, looking not much better.

Another pang of pain shot through his legs. “Damn it!”

“Okay, I’m ba~ack,” Ricky sing songed, fresh mug of potion in his hand.

Suddenly he stopped, the mug slowly slipping through his fingers, the shell breaking to pieces and the liquid once more spilling over the floor. His eyes widened slowly and his heart stopped. His legs now heavy as he tried to force himself to take another step.

“L-lev?” He called, his voice shaky. One step forward. “Hey, Lev, you okay?” Two steps. Pause. Three more steps. “Lev, don’t tell me you’re sleeping again, hey…” his voice swelled in his throat as he knelt by the faint chair.

Lev was unresponsive, his eyes empty. His face was streaked with black, rigid lines, his skin was cold. Ricky took his hand, rubbing his fingers, trying to bring the warmth back to them. But those hands were black and on Lev’s legs, where the bones were broken - black crystal, like flower bloomed all over.

“N-no… No!” Ricky shot up to his feet and grabbed Lev’s shoulders. “Wake up! Wake. Up! ...please…” he dropped down unable to stand. He curled up, pulling his knees to his chest as a broken sob escaped his lips.

There was no one left for comfort.

[arkus-rhapsode]

How I would do Fairy Tail’s Ending

Okay were getting to the end of Fairy Tail shortly and it doesn’t look like it’s going to be what any expected. But given everything that’s happen I really don’t know if it’ll be satisfying and chances are it won’t be. So this is how I would end FT in what I’d consider satisfying.

With universe one dispelled and Magnolia returned to normal the DS are all meeting up in it while fighting off Alvarez Soldiers. (Hey plot convenience still exists)

Natsu meets Zeref again (No lost Iced Shell or Gray meeting) and Zeref with no more spriggans knows he no more guards and Acnologia will be arriving and kill him.

Acnologia looms over Magnolia and all DS assemble to meet him and he reverts to human form.

The DS attempt to rush him at once with attack after attack but Acnolia brushes off. The Cobra says they have to act smart and from what he heard from Acnologia’s thoughts is he keeps expecting just barrages as that’s all anyone has tried on him.

Natsu and Laxus charge forward and attempt to take Acnologia head on as they are the physically strongest at base and Wendy enchanting them to boost but even then, Acnologia can take it.

Out of the shadows pops Rogue with Gajeel and Sting in shadow modes going for a sneak attack. Acnologia jumps back to dodge saying he’d bet they’d try something only to be taken by surprise when Cobra comes in over head (boosted by Wendy to increase his speed) and strikes Acnologia saying he could hear each of his thoughts and was a step ahead of him.

The 7 DS the release a 7 way roar blasting Acnologia but Acnologia enters dragon form and describes the might of the Magic Dragon Slayer.

He reveals his technique called “King Roar” which is basically firing a roar into the air then it dispersing and raining down on battlefield (kinda imagine Draco meteor from pokemon)

The Ds realize they can’t stop all their teammates from being hit with this rain of roars however, Gildarts use crush on one roar yelling that they can fight for themselves and the DS can handle Acnologia

We get every character contributing to countering a roar, Lucy using Metria on one, Gray using Devil’s rage, Erza in the adamantine armor, Minerva using territory, Lyon making many ice shields etc. (This is a way for everyone to be involved in war because well, it’s war.) This faling roar is realized by the wizard saints who are limping back to the battlefield.

The DS all try to use their dual modes on Acnologia but find it barely keeps him back. Cobra while seeing all these dual dragons wonders about why he’s here, he was only suppose to fight Zeref but now he fights Acnologia.

Getting some introspection on Cobra’s part he thinks how he’s been traaded around from one cause to the next, from finding Nirvana, to sttopping dragons because the council ordered it, and to joining to fight Zeref. Cobra yells that for the first time he’ll do what he wants and that’s protecting people and killing Acnologia.

Utilizing his sound magic he meets Acnologia head on latches on to his back but Acnologia in a burst of magic brushes him off as he lays on the ground. It looks like Cobra’s attack was pointless but the poison got into Acnologia and while it won’t kill him, it is slowing him down putting all the DS on equal footing.

Laxus seeing Cobra fall is reminded of Makarov and thinks about his journey and now that Makarov is gone it’s his job to look after all these children he left and Laxus releases a new secret technique (Because lets be real “Roaring thunder” was lame) but he’s over stressed his injuries he passes out.

The remaining 5 still use their dual forms to fight back but all Acnologia does is taught them. As we cut away to Mest who sees this battle and he teleports using direct line and makes it to the saints and asks that since they’re council members they can release satellite square.

Hyberion says that they can’t use etherion as there is no one to bind the elements need for it and states that even if they could everyone would be caught in the blast and die. Mest tells him he doesn’t want them to use etherion but just fire the raw ethernano, and at first they are confused but Mest explains that he saw Wendy go into dragon force in tartaros from the amount of ethernano in the air.

They Fire the ethernano and it hits, Acnologia thinking this is a joke but the DS being eating the ethernano and go dragon force.

While This happens, Zeref is sitting alone in FT and just hoping Acnologia will finish up and then kill him. But Brandish (remember she’s still around) walks into the guild hall asking what’s Zerefs doing.

When she hears his pessimistic response she slaps Zeref in the face telling him he’s an idiot. That he’s their emperor, he is the symbol Alvarez, he is their spirit, and that this is why ishgar won, they stood for their beliefs. So how could Alvarez  win when they stand for a man who won't lead and is ready to die.

Zeref does the usual “you wouldn’t understand” but Mavis arrives and tells him that she suffers fro the same problem as he does but she is still able to live her life. She asks him if he loves her and he says yes and Mavis says that’s proof of him controlling his life, he can find love so it’s possible he can find happines.

Mavis asks Zeref to help her come up with a way to use Fairy Heart so it won’t destroy everyone and only Acnologia.

In dragon force the DS are busting out all the stops, from enchantment, to unison raid, to secret arts. We get to see Sting and Rogue even say they consider themselves at Natsu and Gajeel’s level, their not just fan boys of theirs.

Acnologia just keeps pushing back but realizes there is a strategy going on between Natsu, Wendy and Gajeel as well Sting and Rogue. Natsu is attacking the most while Gajeel defends and both are being enchanted by Wendy increasing these stats. Sting and Rogue are similarly attacking but always hiting spots on Acnologia that he’s not defending from Natsu.

The twin dragons break Acnologia wings but the are injured in the process

Acnologia reveals a magic he’s crafted over the years call “King’s Feast” which allows him to eat all the ethernano in the atmosphere similar to the Dorma Anim.

All powered up it’s harder for Gajeel to defend but he says not to worry.

Wendy has finally had enough and says that she must fight even if it means sacrifice as she thinks of Chelia. Wendy uses the power of dragon force to use Deus Sema (a weaker one but still a big meteor) Dropping it on Acnologia.

Wendy can’t stand anymore and gives out as Natsu says he can’t lose heree as it be disrespectful to everyone who got him here. Acnologia tells him he’s alone but Natsu says he’s not alone because even if he dies then all of Fiore will fight back but Acnologia laughs saying only a dragon slayer can kill a dragon.

Natsu channels what he’s got into a fire dragon’s iron fist but Acnologia just charges magic into his fist and when the 2 collide Natsu is swatted away.

Natsu is on the ground as Acnologia uses King's Feast but expands it to encompass almost all of fiore. Acnologia laughs and states not only did Natsu fail but everyone has barely any magic left from the first roar to survive another and since the atmosphere is drained they only have the little that remains inside them.

As Mavis and Zeref are working out how to use Fairy Heart on Acnologia the book of END opens since lack of an atmosphere with ethernano

Natsu (END) gets up but only to delay Acnologia with his demonic power he fights back but Acnologia has so much Magic he can release another king's roar and wipe every on out this time.

Suddenly Mavis, Zeref, and Brandish appear and state Mavis is Fairy Heart and he couldn't absorb it cause it was internal and an infinite source of magic.

When Fairy Heart is activated Acnologia laughs at how weak the release is, but it's revealed that it isn't small cause it's lack of power but rather Brandish decreased the mass so releasing it wouldn't wipe out everything

The attack blows apart Acnologia's mid back and wings, (Now he looks similar to Igneel when he was ripped apart)

Acnologia is on his back but states that only a slayer can kill a dragon he’ll just activate King’s feast and find a way to escape.

END stands up and begins to walk towards Acnologia and punches Acnologia's left pectoral but his hide is tough and the fire barely scratches it. He keeps trying but is failing to break through

Acnologia just states as dragons they are beasts, and in their world the strongest is king and there can only be one strongest in that world.

Natsu yells that this isn’t the same world 400 years ago and that a world where only one is at the top is over, this era was made out of people helping each other and sharing this world.

Gajeel joins in the scratching away at the hide saying that he’ll help and other DS recover trying to tear away the hide.

They use what little they have and unison raid with all 7 punching Acnologia’s heart at once.

Gray, Lucy, Happy, and Erza arrive (What just cause the Acnologia fight is over doesn’t mean the endings over) crying and saying it’s over and Natsu says it’s not. He’s END and he will most likely become like Acnologia and destroy everyone.

He knows that he’s got some time before he become that vile demon and asks Gray to kill him now. Lucy yells no and tells Natsu that this has to stop, he is not allowed to act selfish anymore. Erza joins in saying he's going against what he taught her in tower of heaven. Gray says he won't do it either as he can’t kill his friend, one he already tried to kill.

Natsu says he knows that all he's been is selfish, but now it's time for him to grow up and think about everyone else and that's why he should die. Natsu asks gray if he can sit through the pain of losing Juvia again or does he want to lose the new family he created for himself because that's what END will do. Gray remembers how hard it was to kill silver and can't bare anyone having to kill their family but Gray yells he doesn't want to kill a member of his family to protect all of it.

Lucy yells at Erza to talk sense into Natsu and Gray but Erza explains the days of her babying them is over they are adults now it's their descion (she says while holding back tears)

Gray finally breaks down and says he will do it and walks towards Natsu, Lucy is crying but remembers what Aquarius taught her in tartaros.

Gray uses Ice Devil's zeroth long sword to impale Natsu. But before we see the damage Natsu says "Guess we finally settled it"

Due to freezing Natsu's body is cracking and in his final moments he thinks of everyone in FT and says he loves them all. He the see's what looks like light and then only he sees fairies floating above him. He mutters "They really do have tails" and it's a signal that journey is over and he knows the answer 

The war ends when Lucy walks to Zerfg and the two size up and Zeref kneels before Lucy and says the war is over and Alverez admits defeat.

Happy Picks up Natsu's scarf as people look at the guild and Laxus says they can just rebuild.

Here is a one year timeskip and the last chapter cover page is a group of all those who have sacrificed themselves in FT (like Simon, Ultear, Makarov) and it has Natsu holding a sign that says thank you for 11 years of publication (Hey I think it be cool last cover)

The time skip shows Lucy has written a story about FT and says even though the book is at an end and people have come and gone, the dream of Fairy Tail will never END

 We see other people’s endings (i’m not doing any ship crap, just imagine it yourself) We see Zeref in a similar lumen histiore crystal in prison. We see he appointed Brandish as the new head of Alvarez and will rule in his place.

Then Happy comes to Lucy saying Bora is back in Hargeon and Lucy laughs saying lets kick his butt as they run off and in Lucy's book it's open to the dedicated to page and says "Natsu, Gray, Erza, Wendy, and all the friends I've made along the way."

The End. Yeah that’s how I’d end the series. I feel that it be the best way to do the climax and ending and felt it stayed true to FT. I hoped you enjoyed.

[tokyotheglaive]

my buddy my pal. i'm sorry to bug you but i'm having a v difficult night and i understand you're looking for prompts. can i trouble you for a robot fluff if you've got it in you? as many or few children as you'd like to include. just something fluffy. thanks

@cosleia who requested Kipper at the beach ages and ages ago. At the time I couldn’t come up with anything that wasn’t the absolute angstiest of the angst, but this did the trick.)

“So,” Nico said, sipping something violently pink as he leaned against the wooden railing.

So. A loaded word. Matt watched him out of the corner of his eye, fighting the instinct to shy away. Nico was standing too close, and it was hot in the heat of the sun. Ahead of the pair of them, the beach extended out to the ocean, where good-sized waves rolled and swayed. Matt might have thought they indicated a storm if the sky hadn’t been perfectly clear. Their beach day was safe from inclement weather.

He could see Kipper down by the shore, dancing and swinging his arms merrily in the spray. He’d gone in much deeper earlier, and Linus had nearly thrown himself into the water after him, terrified that he’d drown.

Matt could see Linus, too, lounging under a beach umbrella, slathered with sunscreen and miserable in the heat. Getting Linus to come with them had been no small miracle, one of those things that only Kipper could rightly pull off. Try though Linus did to put on a sour face, in these moments when he thought no one was looking, he seemed relaxed, even happy. Matt hadn’t seen him this pleased or loose-limbed in quite some time.

Nico was waiting for him. Matt was stalling.

“So,” he said finally.

Nico took another long sip of his drink. Matt didn’t think it was alcoholic, but then again, maybe it was. It was certainly sweet. Matt could smell the sugar almost as clearly as he could hear the clink of the ice.

“Have you ever been to the beach before?” Nico asked.

Matt frowned as he looked back to the shoreline. There was Kipper. Matt was worried to look away from him. For some reason, Nico seemed to be deliberately not looking, and that was all the more worrisome.

“Yeah,” Matt said. “Years ago. We’d come down in the spring.”

Nico nodded and said, “Water’s cold then.”

“Yeah,” Matt said again. “It was. Everything’d be closed and you’d get those odd squalls but we swam anyway.” He pushed back from the railing, intending to escape wherever this conversation was going. He’d go to Linus—he should have stayed with Linus, but Linus had told him to quit bothering him and go for a walk, and he had even though he’d known that it was Linus’ attempt to keep Matt from sticking by his side for the duration of the trip. He was always worried Matt would feel obligated to stay, as if he would suddenly stop wanting to.

“Matt,” Nico said, voice stern. “I need to talk to you.”

Damn. There went his escape plan.

“Yeah?” Matt asked.

Nico shifted his weight, his joints creaking. Matt instinctively glanced around them, but no one paid them the slightest bit of attention. That was the beauty of a crowd; no one looked too hard, and no one asked any questions. The most attention they’d got was from a six-year-old kid who’d fallen in love with Kipper’s hair shortly after they arrived. Kipper had played with the kid for over an hour before the child’s parents decided it was time for ice cream, and perhaps another drink.

“It’s about Kipper.”

Linus wasn’t looking for Matt. He wasn’t. Matt had gone for a walk, just like Linus had asked him to do. He was going for a walk, and then he was going to come back.

Linus sank his toes into the sand and breathed deeply. He—he didn’t believe what he was thinking, but he did, and wasn’t that strange? He felt good. Matt could not come back—there was the possibility—but was it really a possibility? Would he really just leave? Linus wasn’t worth coming back to, but would that be enough to keep Matt away?

He wanted to laugh, or maybe get himself checked out for sunstroke. Instead, he continued to lay under the umbrella, lazily scanning the beach. He could see Kipper, which helped, and Kipper looked happy, which helped more. After the incident earlier where Kipper nearly drowned, Linus insisted he stay closer to the shore, and Kipper seemed to agree. Linus liked when things went his way. For a day he hadn’t planned on having, today was working out remarkably in his favor.

He sipped at his water bottle—brought from home, packed by Matt before Linus even had to ask—and lay his head back. It was blessedly warm, even under the umbrella, and while no part of him stuck out, he imagined he could feel the sun on him, warming him from the inside out. He didn’t know how he’d write about this on his blog—his few followers might think that he’d gotten himself a ghostwriter.

Let them, he thought. He was having a good day. When was the last time that had happened by itself, without Matt to orchestrate it?

(Or Kipper, he admitted. Kipper was oddly good at that, and getting better every day.)

The crash of the waves against the beach lulled him, and against all odds, Linus thought he might fall asleep. He fought it, if only because he wanted to be awake when Matt returned, or if Kipper ventured farther into the water than was safe for his level of swimming expertise.

Maybe Linus could teach him. It had been years, but something was better than nothing, right? Linus could teach him how to float, at least. Humans were good at that sort of thing, and he vaguely remembered something about not being able to unlearn things like that. Maybe that was just bicycles, but Linus had never learned how to ride one in the first place.

Crash and recede, crash and recede… The sea drew itself up and forward and back in a constant cycle, and Linus’ thoughts were rising and falling to match it. Don’t sleep, sleep, don’t sleep, sleep…

A curse followed by a thud startled him, and Linus’ eyes swept open. Matt now sat beside him, a scowl on his face as he glanced over his shoulder to the boardwalk.

“What happened?” Linus demanded, good mood evaporating.

Matt’s gaze snapped to him, and his scowl softened until it disappeared entirely.

“Nicholas Finch,” Matt said, straightening out a towel so he could lay beside Linus, “is a dick.”

Linus could only stare. Matt, calling someone…?

“I told him,” Matt said, “I told him, he’s got to stop fixating on this, but he’s had one too many I guess and he just wouldn’t stop.”

“What did he do?” Linus asked, shaking with fear and rage and what had Nicholas said to Matt to make him this upset?

“He’s afraid for Kipper,” Matt said, running a hand through his hair. “He thinks that he’s not good for him, that he’s going to do damage. He asked if we’d look after Kipper when he’s gone.”

Linus could only stare for a moment. The reaction that belatedly followed was hardly appropriate: he began to laugh.

“What?” Matt asked.

“I thought,” Linus spluttered, “I thought—he didn’t—”

Matt looked horribly confused, and if Linus could stop laughing, he’d be able to explain. Slowly, he began to pull himself together.

“Are you feeling all right?” Matt asked, reaching out. He stopped short, and Linus took his hand.

“Wonderful. Superlative,” Linus said. “This was a great idea.”

“I’ll tell Kipper,” Matt said uncertainly.

“I’ll tell him myself. I’m just glad, that’s all.” Matt was clearly waiting for an explanation, and Linus took in a deep breath to displace the rest of the laughter from his lungs. “I thought he was hitting on you,” Linus said. “I thought you were going to tell me that he didn’t take no for an answer.”

Matt’s eyes were wide as saucers. “He—no, no, not at all,” he said. Linus watched as Matt moved closer so that they were hip to hip and shoulder to shoulder. Linus nudged him to tell him it was okay.

“What did you tell him?” Linus asked.

“Hm?”

“About Kipper,” Linus said.

“I told him he was being an ass,” Matt said.

“Those exact words?”

“No, but under no uncertain terms.”

Linus exhaled.

“I know how he feels,” he said.

“You—what?”

Linus frowned and sat up. “I feel like I’m using you, half the time,” he said. “You—you came back. You always come back.”

“Of course. I love you,” Matt said. “You come back to the people you love.”

“I knew you’d come back today,” Linus admitted, “and I thought—I thought maybe that was bad.”

“That I’d come back?” Matt asked, voice neutral—careful, Linus thought. Matt was always so careful.

“No, that I expected you to,” Linus said. “I felt good in the certainty that you would but I was afraid that meant that I’d finally finished the act—tricking you and tricking myself.”

“You haven’t tricked anyone,” Matt said. “I love you as you, in spite of nothing and because of everything. You are…” he looked up and down, then said, “you are perfect to me.”

Linus smiled.

“Kipper would say the same about Nicholas, don’t you think?” he said. Matt didn’t respond. Kipper was making his way up the beach, now, looking for their umbrella. He had a bunch of shells in his arms and sand all over his legs and he looked fit to combust with joy. “Is that love, or have we programmed you to give us that response?”

“No,” Matt said. “You haven’t.”

Linus shrugged. “There’s no way for us to know,” he said, “Nicholas and I. We’re damaged people with perfect partners. It doesn’t seem real.”

“You’re not damaged.”

Linus frowned. Kipper was drawing closer.

“Nicholas is, though,” he murmured. Matt squeezed his hand.

“I’m not going to let him run away from Kipper, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Matt said.

“I’m not,” Linus replied. “Kipper’s far more possessive than I am. He’d follow Nicholas to the ends of the earth of that’s what it took.”

Matt squeezed back, unable to say anything else as Kipper drew up, eyes bright.

“Look!” he squealed, just a little too loud. “They’re all so pretty!”

[hencethebravery]

“The Pirate and The Oyster Shell,” 2/3

Summary: Queen Emma, sole ruler of Misthaven, lives a life of isolation in an enormous, imposing castle on the outskirts of her kingdom. Killian Jones is the one-handed pirate captain who sees the world for her. AU.

Notes: I am very sorry it took me so long to post the second chapter. Here is the second chapter. There will be one more, but I’m not certain when it will be posted due to some other writing obligations (CS-related, of course). Thanks to Kat (@abbadons-little-witch) and Chinx (@seastarved) for all their help! Also on Ao3. Chapter 1 is also on Tumblr, here.

“She believes that, for the first time, her heart is kindling, her body a brightening blaze. For the first time, her fingers and toes are no longer numb, her heart no longer frozen in the confusion of youth. Her heart is a little oyster shell, opening, opening.” – Amber Sparks

+ On the first morning he is forced to admit to himself that he can no longer keep track of how many days it’s been since he left Misthaven (for the final time, it would seem), he would swear that he can hear the waves breaking against the rocks beneath his window. As a boy, his mother had kept a large conch shell at his bedside, white with a vibrant shade of pink lining its insides. When he couldn’t sleep, she had told him, hold the shell up to your ear; listen to the waves, the sea, and the calls of all the men that will venture out, never to return. “But your father will return,” she had reassured him one evening, long, long ago. “He’ll be back soon my love, I promise.”

She hadn’t broken that promise, his father had returned to them. A little worse for wear, his pockets perhaps a bit lighter than they should have been, but he returned just the same. His mother, however, had not been there to welcome him home, and Captain Hook’s sad story continued on as it was always meant to.

The last afternoon he had left Misthaven, a few days before his ship had been ravaged and coveted by The Dark One and his armies, they had gotten into a terrible fight. Worse than when he had barely known her, only because there were harsher truths to reveal, barely healed wounds to pick over and pry apart. All of her intelligence revealed the same truth, that The Dark One was finished with waiting, he was coming for her kingdom, for her and her magic.

Of all the times he had imagined confessing his love for her, this had never been it. The clouds had been heavy and dark that morning, a storm brewing in the harbor and he knew he would have to set off shortly if he wanted to avoid the full brunt of the poor weather. A foreboding omen to be sure. He had dropped the right words at the wrong time like an anchor offshore; he could feel the aftershocks in his bones as if he were made of nothing more than planks of wood swollen with water.

“I will not allow that monster to destroy one more person I love.”

The fire had been crackling on the hearth to ward away the chill of the coming winter, and it seemed to resonate with a strange, deafening loudness after his secret had been mistakenly revealed. Her arms had been wrapped tightly around her midsection. Whether she was shielding her heart or trying to prevent its escape, he couldn’t quite decide.

She answered with a soft gasp of heartbreaking disbelief. More breath than voice, it floated across the drying air between them, her hair curling around her shoulders and chin, getting long enough to wrap around her head and torso like a long, silk scarf.

“What?”

He can remember feeling the unique chill of the castle’s stone walls seeping into his skin despite the many layers of fabric he wore in preparation for the trip. He wished for that fire now, the warmth of her skin, the blankets getting heavier every night, piled on, one right on top of another in anticipation of a coming hibernation. He should have answered her when she had asked, should have rushed the question back into her mouth and placed his fingers against her lips and repeated himself until there could be no doubt in her mind.

“I love you, Emma,” he should have whispered the words into her mouth, over, and over, and over again.

“I love you.”

1 YEAR EARLIER.

The first treasure he brings her is a “book,” and he cannot help but be charmed at the bluntness of her disappointment. She attempts to quickly mask her displeasure, but he smiles and stares at the sudden, lovely blush in her cheeks. He has to silently remind himself that he will not be falling in love with her.

"This is... unexpected," she begins tentatively; running her hand over the worn, leather bound cover.

"I would imagine so, Your Highness. Expecting The Holy Grail on the first go, were we?"

Yet another blush blooms in her cheeks and down her neck and he cannot help but wonder how far it travels. Whether it simply ends at the top of her chest, or moves further down, towards the soft skin of her belly, down to her knees; to her feet that are, quite curiously, almost always bare.

"You are a pirate," she lightly insists, and he returns his gaze to the playful sparkle in her eyes.

"Well observed, my lady, but not all treasure is silver and gold," he takes a small step forward, "If I may?"

She returns the book into his waiting hands, it's heavy binding and stiff, yellowed pages acting as a thick barrier between their fingers and he feels a strange, restless twitching. The compulsion to brush his hand against hers is all in his head. Not real. But she's standing at his shoulder and he hears, feels, her intake of breath as he cracks it open, smells the flowered perfume lining her neck.

Vivid colors are splashed across its pages; sophisticated and complex illustrations line the margins, with thickly written script sandwiched in between. He knows that it’s a religious text, and he thinks it hails from somewhere to the south of Misthaven, but it’s hard to know with a manuscript this old.

He doesn't think she intends to whisper, or even speak for that matter, and if she hadn't been so close he might not have heard her surprised, "It's beautiful," or noticed the slight hitch in her breathing.

"An illuminated manuscript, drawn by the most boring monks of the medieval age."

She raises an eyebrow, "Boring?"

"Oh yes, Your Majesty. Some of the stuffiest lads you'll ever meet, saying nothing of their infallible piety."

"You sound bitter, Captain," she observes humorously. She reclaims the book from his hands, running her own fingers across the bright reds and blues across the top of the page.

"I would never stoop so low," responding in kind, a brief quirk of his lips, and he is absolutely not flirting with a Queen.

The light of the late afternoon sun floods the throne room, and with it he feels a sudden shifting of the air, the mood of their exchange taking on a new and intriguing shape. Their flirting cadences suddenly snuffed out as she pauses in her exploration of the text.

He cannot know if she expects him to answer, so he remains silent at her question, "How did they do it?"

Her eyes suddenly meet his and he is again struck by the unreal color, the flecks of gold within the pools of green.

"Locked away in their temples? Captain?"

"How did they do what, Your Majesty?"

"Create something so beautiful, having seen so little of the world?"

When he had found the manuscript, he hadn't really considered the implications as far as her own life was concerned. But now, looking at her awed perusal of the text in her hands, he can't quite bring himself to regret it. He had spent too many hours standing at the bow of his ship, imagining how she might look at his side, golden hair waving in the breeze, eyes eager and bright.

A small, hopeful part of him wonders if he’s planted a seed in her mind. A desire for more than this castle, these same rooms. He finds himself suddenly anxious to return to his ship, to find more, bring her more, to show her that the world is nothing to be afraid of.

“I’m certain I don’t know, Your Highness,” he responds politely, carefully, “would you like to see more?”

The first time that they touch, he's not entirely sure it's an accident. Because he has been steadfast in resisting the urge to brush his rough, dirty fingers along the soft skin of her knuckles, and she hadn't initially seemed the type to act impulsively.

But it's the look in her eyes afterwards, a kind of "I should have known," introspective stare that she briefly casts his way, and it's tinged with a longing and regret that he recognizes all too well. It's branded along the walls of his heart and when he sees that same pain from the outside looking in; he didn't realize it might hurt worse, but, here we are.

It's early winter and he hasn't seen her in quite a few weeks. She's wearing shoes for once, as they walk silently, side by side through the courtyard. The last time he had been here it had been lush with abundant greenery, no cultivation to speak of, just wild and rich and untethered. It's all grey and brown now, with bare branches and frosted stone, and even the Queen looks paler; her hair nearly white, her lips a pale pink, cheeks barely flushed. She doesn't look ill by any means, but he's seen her in the heat of mid-summer and he can't be certain, but "flourishing," seemed like an apt term at the time.

She "trips," and when he goes to catch her, their fingers touch. She's draped in furs, but she wears no gloves and that's his first inkling; that maybe she wanted this to happen. He's never been much bothered by the cold. He might button up a bit more, but he's never been the type for gloves and hats. It's probably impractical, he'd probably save himself a lot of grief later on if he put more effort into protecting his vulnerable bits from the ice and wind on the deck of his ship, but he's never been one for practicality.

Her hands are just as soft as he had imagined, but the strength of her grip had been unexpected. She put on a good show, certainly, but he had envisioned her bones as hollow as a bird's; felt his heart skip a beat when he watched her glide down the stone steps of the palace and wait for her to slip and shatter at his feet.

"Thank you, Captain," he hears her murmur in between the rapid beats of his heart.

He can't remember the last time he'd known an intimacy like this, however fleeting it would appear in his memory later that night. In the hundreds of years since Milah, his expectations of physical interactions had dwindled; his needs were met (and he was sure to meet the needs of others), but it was also perfunctory and business-like. In the time since he had lost Milah, he often craved the feeling of salt and ocean-spray against his skin more so than the touch of another.

And now his timeline has suddenly shifted; with one carefully placed twist in her step, he has "in the time since the Swan Queen," and the warmth of her touch melts the dried salt away.

"Of course, Your Majesty."

He notices a subtle clenching of her fist afterwards, a visible discomfort at his touch, and when she makes to wipe her hand along the front of her cloak, the small, insecure boy inside him has difficulty resisting, “No need for fear of lice with this Captain, I can assure you.”

At the very least, the Queen has the decency to look embarrassed, and she clasps her hands together before they can touch the pure white of her cloak, “My apologies, Captain, that was not—”

In the brief stretch of her silence he hears the loud, obnoxious cawing of a raven and observes the wheels turning in her head, the careful way she answers, “It’s not important, I do apologize.”

A rare smile blesses her features, and he feels his own shoulders drop at her graceful change of subject.

“What have you brought me this time?”

When he returns to the palace a few months later with a new treasure to show his Queen, it’s slightly stained with a few drops of his blood, but he doesn’t think it any less beautiful. The thick layers of snow and ice have finally begun to thaw, and the world is wet. The colors of the palace and the surrounding grounds are muddy and vibrant, and he can smell the earth with every breath.

As he limps down the long hall towards the throne room he notices that all the windows have been thrown open, and a fresh, cool wind wafts through the dusty tapestries and heavy, ornate rugs that line the floor. As he approaches the closed door at the end of the hall he takes a moment to envision it, Her Majesty, draped in the heaviest finery she can afford, her deceptively strong arms casting aside those cumbersome, depressing curtains and lifting the ancient latches of the large, imposing windows.

“Captain!”

He was so lost in his thoughts he hadn’t heard the door open, but she’s suddenly making quick, long strides towards him, a dress of pale lavender flowing gracefully behind her; hair done up in a variety of intricate braids, as if she were too busy to handle its messy length in the early whirlwind of the warmer weather.

“It’s so nice to see you,” she speaks rapidly, her face flushed, and she seems almost immediately abashed, as if sensing that she may have spoken out of turn.

“I just mean,” she takes another breath, slower now, and there’s no way in hell he would be able to stop himself from smiling when she finally says, “It’s been a while, and I have been eager to see what may have kept you so long.”

“Ah,” he begins, the red of his own face deepening with her curious gaze, “that is something of a sordid tale, I’m afraid.”

When he pulls the long, heavy sword from the scabbard at his waist, she gasps in surprise, not in admiration of the jeweled handle as he had expected, but at the alarming stain of red which has begun to dye the fabric of his tunic.

Appearing concerned, she places a gentle hand on his forearm and he feels himself involuntarily flinch, which only pulls on the mediocre stitchwork in a less than helpful fashion. “You’re hurt!”

“Nothing to concern yourself with,” he insists, “I’ve had worse scratching my nose with the wrong hand.”

His attempts at levity appear to fall flat as a serious scowl mars her lovely features, and all he wants is to see her smile again. “I insist that you get it seen to,” she replies, “follow me.”

He tries to keep the obviousness of his slow, meandering steps to a minimum in an attempt to keep her from worrying, but it becomes especially difficult as she leads him down a long, winding staircase into a part of the palace he has yet to see. The door is made of a dark wood, like so many of the others, and when she pushes it aside to allow him past he finds his senses immediately assaulted with the earthy, alcoholic burn that so often accompanies herbal remedies.

He wasn’t sure what he had expected to find, perhaps some kind of doctor or weathered old woman with gnarled, experienced hands, hunched over a large, thick tome filled with a wealth of healing secrets. In point of fact, the room was fairly bright for being so close to the dungeons, and it was entirely devoid of old crones.

“If you’ll take a seat there, Captain, we’ll have you patched up in no time.”

She points one delicate finger towards a high-table positioned at the back wall, and he notes the dried herbs and flowers hanging overhead, the burning candles which seem to be floating at various points throughout the room. There’s an alchemist’s table, naturally, and with each table, bench, or bookshelf there seems to be a carefully organized selection of various bottles, books, and salves. Impressed, he takes a slow, careful seat atop the table to which she had directed him, and held his hand tightly against his side, desperately trying to ignore the rapid, leaking warmth oozing from his insides.

“A fine setup, I must say, Your Majesty,” he tries to smile, but the concern in her otherwise bright eyes would seem to suggest that the usually tanned shade of his skin has grown quite a bit lighter in the last few minutes.

“Please, Captain,” she returns steadily, “Emma will do just fine.”

“Emma,” he whispers softly, and she sees fit to bless him with a genuine smile as she returns to his side with a small bowl filled with water, a clean rag draped over the edge.

The removing of his coat and tunic is far less mortifying than either of them had expected, given the worsening state of his injury, and it’s only when he feels the sudden heat of her hand against his side, catches sight of her smooth, pale flesh, bathed in the red of his wound that he lifts a hand to stop her.

“It has to be disinfected and re-stitched, or it will fester, Captain.”

“It’s Killian,” he answers softly, his eyelids getting heavier, “you can call me Killian.”

The first time they kiss, it is only slightly an accident, and it is entirely his fault.

He’s been a guest at Misthaven for two weeks, and he can feel the uneasiness of remaining behind the thick, stone walls weighing heavier on his heart with every passing day. It’s not as if he’s ungrateful for the Queen’s (Emma’s) assistance. He’s absolutely certain, without her insistence that his wound be mended, he would have died in a manner of days. But he had been entirely unprepared to spend so much time in her presence so soon, if anything, he had hoped that after a few more months of treasure-gathering and storytelling, that he might be able to convince her to take a short trip with him. Just around one of the nearby islands, nothing too strenuous, but now he was in in her company every day, and lest he forget, in her debt.

Of course, the Queen was very adamantly opposed to any kind of “debt” to be repaid, she had simply been acting “honorably.” He had heard the painful echo of Liam’s voice in his head when she had spoken the words, an unsettling reminder that had him brooding and despondent for a long, uncomfortably silent few days. The weather had managed to get even warmer in the time since his rather dramatic arrival, and they had taken to walking the palace grounds together when neither of them had been able to come up with anymore excuses as to why they shouldn’t.

The bright, happy sound of her voice when he had first arrived, “It’s so nice to see you,” seemed to persist in a maddening loop inside his head, and although she had apparently quelled such excitement now, he desperately wanted to see it again, hear it, feel it.

The sun had only just begun to set as they approached the nearby lake, and his ability to walk without feeling as if his guts might come loose seemed to have improved significantly. He had taken a closer look at her work after his bath, and the stitches were near perfect in size and length, the flesh itself pulled together with an unworldly seamlessness, which he suspected was the result of some small magicks on her part. There was simply no logical explanation as to how quickly he seemed to be healing otherwise.

“You seem to be walking much better, Killian.”

The sound of his name on her lips was still a satisfying one, no matter how many times he had heard her say it the past few days, still resisting the urge to fidget nervously whenever she uttered the word. “I suspect that has more to do with your work, than me, Emma.”

The modest blush in her cheeks paid a perfect compliment to the pale, warm colors of the late afternoon sky. The palace grounds at Misthaven were impeccably kept, and again, he suspected magic. There were few people at the palace, besides Emma, and he had only ever seen them flitting in and out of doorways; they didn’t behave as if they were regularly staffed. He paused in thought at the base of an exceptionally large, ancient looking tree, its flowers barely budding at the end of its long, thick branches. Where was the palace staff?

“Are you in pain, Killian?”

The lovely yet mildly despondent face of the Queen appeared suddenly in his vision, and he shook himself from his idle, meaningless thoughts. “What was that, love?”

The endearment slipped quite unexpectedly from his lips, and he nearly cursed himself, although he couldn’t quite bring himself to regret it, not with the enticing shade of pink in her cheeks.

“I asked if you were in pain, Captain, you seemed… concerned?”

“It’s nothing, Your Majesty, I assure you,” he smiled, but yet again, his attempts at deception seemed to do little to deter her current line of questioning.

In the silence of his affirmation they observed the final few moments of the sun, the deep, orange light falling over the horizon, giving the appearance of a forest enveloped in flame. The insects began their nightly chorus as the birds and wildlife returned to their dens for the night, and he took a deep, calming breath. For all its beauty, he couldn’t help wishing for the salty tang of the ocean against his lips, the smell of it pervading his nostrils.

“I simply worry, Captain—”

“It was ‘Killian,’ mere moments ago, Emma,” he interrupted cheekily, “Have you forgotten our new arrangement so soon?”

For so remarkably formidable a woman, she certainly blushed a great deal, to his immense detriment.

“Forgive me, Killian,” he noted the nervous wringing of her bare hands, “I only wished to make my gratitude… evident,” she paused for breath and continued, “I realize that a man such as yourself probably has greater… ambitions, and I feel as if I never gave you much choice in the matter—”

“It’s truly no trouble at all, Emma—”

Their hurried voices and careful words fumbled over and under one another, uncertain yet entirely without deception. The urge to clearly convey their feelings to one another having seemingly reached its tense end beneath this large, imposing tree; the wind at his back, the smell of the sea distant and faint.

“I’m overwhelmed. Killian. By what you’ve brought me… it’s indescribable. And I would hate… I would hate for anything to happen to you for my sake. It’s not worth it. I’m not worth such a sacrifice.”

Killian started, his eyes widening as he took in her tightly wrung hands, her eyes cast uncomfortably towards the lake over his shoulder. He forced a small, tight smile, if only for her sake, the urge to make her reconsider her worth roiling in his belly. And to say that she was worth anything was a gross misstatement, for worth implied a material value, something that could be measured. And as he had quickly learned, Emma was… invaluable.

“Ah, well, just to see your smile, ‘Your Highness,’” and he winked cheekily, “would be worth any amount of pain or bloodshed I might endure at your pleasure.”

Regardless of his attempts to keep their exchange light and playful, he could see the rather serious effects of their conversation on her mood and behavior. Her returning smile was just as tense as his own, and he could observe a slight, uncomfortable pinching of her lower lip between her teeth. He suspected that royalty rarely, if ever, nibbled nervously upon their own flesh; a physical betrayal of the highest order, Emma was remarkably talented at keeping her true feelings hidden, but it was in these small, charming ticks, that she revealed herself.

Before he could reconsider his current course, he brought his thumb to that telling overbite, lightly dragging it over her lower lip in order to free it from her grasp. “Emma,” he whispers on a breath of much needed air, his own heart beating uncomfortably in his chest, “I promise—”

Whatever he had been about to say (and he’s long since forgotten), is lost in his sudden fall towards those same, reddened lips. As first kisses go, it wasn’t quite his best work, by his own or any other woman’s standards, but he couldn’t quite help himself, could he? There was an unusually careful quality to this particular kiss, a gentle pressing of his lips against her own that he thought he had forgotten how to execute. But it had been so very tempting, these last few days, what with all the blushing and concern. The soft words and the sound of his name, “Killian,” not “Captain,” not “Hook,” but the name his mother had given him; the name his brother had used.

His lips landed against the corner of her own, and her breath tasted of violets. The sound of the wind gently rushing through the early leaves and flowers of spring would play over, and over, and over again in his mind, much in the same way her enthusiastic words of greeting had slowly driven him towards this very moment. When he comes to his senses, intending to move quickly away, possibly far away, running, no, sprinting back to the harbor, he’s surprised to find that he’s quite firmly affixed to her side.

Her light, strong hands grip the lapels of his coat, her eyes shut tightly against the sudden intrusion of his kiss. “Your Majesty,” he begins, softly, “I am truly so—”

Again, an interruption, a thought half made in a moment not yet formed, and before he can take a breath her lips have returned with a surprising amount of force (although, he thinks, frantically, he should have learned to stop underestimating her by now).

“Please don’t apologize,” she pleads, fiercely, and it’s enough to make a strange, unfamiliar wetness gather at the corners of his eyes. He’s not certain how long they remain, but enough time passes that he can see the moonlight shining around them, and while it makes little sense, it seems as if the boughs of the tree have grown longer, sheltering them against the wind. The air smells floral and rich, and were it not for the coolness of the air, he would have thought it midsummer.

“A strange magic, Emma,” he smiles against her lips, with little trepidation, and he feels her own sigh of relief against his chest, “wonderful indeed.”

Queen Emma of Misthaven has never felt this light before. She knows that it’s a lie, of course, the heaviness will inevitably return, as it always does. He tries to hide it, but, she sees his restlessness, feels it in the tug of his hand within hers. He’s going to ask, she knows, and she wants, more than anything she’s ever wanted, does she want to answer, to release a breathless, “Yes,” in between a rush of kisses and an enticing loss of fabric.

They’re not lovers, not yet, but the thought of it plays maddeningly slowly in the periphery of her vision, and she can’t discern whether or not she’s glimpsing the future or merely daydreaming. She wishes she was as strong as her kingdom, as Killian, believes her to be, but late at night, when he’s left her, cheeks flushed and legs shaking, the doubt and the cowardice creeps in.

She could hear Aunt Ruby’s voice in these moments, her face unseasonably warm from his attentions, warning her, urging her to see reason.

“But how could it be?” she had asked, imploringly, “you know how much Regina appreciates dramatics. If it had been her, she would have made it known.”

“What are you trying to imply?” Emma had answered, angrily, hands curled into fists, “that I did this to myself?”

“Emma,” Ruby insisted, firmly, her hands gently cupping her face, “it’s alright, your parents—”

“My parents are gone.”

The conversation never got very far, Emma retreating into the familiar haven of her anger, Ruby too afraid of possible dismissal that she ignored her own instincts and refrained from pushing the issue.

“If it’s not Regina,” Emma continued logically, “it’s The Dark One, and I will free myself eventually.”

Eventually. How could she tell him? This strange, wonderful man who had shown her brief, marvelous glimpses of a world she had never seen, how could she keep him trapped, miserable, at her side?

He’ll leave, she thought, an attempt at consolation, he’ll leave like they always do, and I’ll break their curse as I was always meant to. Alone.

[esprit-de-corps-magazine]

Canada & Russia’s Common Legacy: Victory over Nazi Germany

by H.E. Ambassador Alexander Darchiev - Embassy of the Russian Federation in Canada

As Hitler’s lair in Berlin fell to the Red Army, and Nazi Germany unconditionally surrendered to the USSR and the Allied powers on the night of May 9th, 1945, the cruelest and deadliest war in the world’s history came to an end. 

This year we celebrate the 75th anniversary of this glorious date by paying tribute to our fallen heroes, and to the many millions of victims tortured and exterminated by the Nazi death machine.

For the Soviet people it was the Great Patriotic War and the epic battle for survival. According to Hitler’s Generalplan Ost, the European part of the USSR should have been completely cleansed of Jews, Russians and other “non-Aryan” ethnicities labeled as subhumans to provide Lebensraum (living space) for eventual Germanization of this conquered territory.

By amassing a massive invasion force and mobilizing the military-industrial potential of conquered Europe, Nazis arrogantly put stakes on a surprise blitzkrieg assault upon the USSR in the early hours of Sunday, June 22, 1941. The scale of the attack by German and Axis powers’ forces was unprecedented as it erupted along a 2900-kilometer front with more than 4 million troops, 4,600 tanks, up to 5,000 aircraft and 50,000 artillery pieces.

Over a series of fierce battles, starting from the border - where Soviet defenders of the Brest fortress continued fighting for almost a month, even after the German frontline had pushed a hundred kilometers eastward – Germany’s self-confidence in its invincibility faded away. During the initial offensive, the Nazi forces failed to capture Leningrad and they were stopped on the outskirts of Moscow just 25 kilometres short of the Kremlin. 

The whole world breathlessly waited for the outcome of the Moscow battle. Highly inspiring was the traditional November 7th, 1941 military parade on the Red Square which demonstrated to everyone that Russian capital remained unvanquished. Shortly after this the Red Army delivered a devastating blow to the previously undefeated Wehrmacht in a major counteroffensive which pushed the Germans back.

By the spring of 1942, the Germans changed their strategy and attempted to crush Soviet defenses by seizing the Caucasus and Caspian oilfields as well as cutting vital supply routes from the south to Moscow. Hitler took aim at Stalingrad, a key industrial and transportation center on the Volga river. 

The battle of Stalingrad which lasted from August 23, 1942 to February 2, 1943, was the largest and bloodiest clash in the history of warfare, with an estimated 2 million total casualties on both sides. Together with almost 100 thousand German troops, 24 generals and their commander Field Marshal Paulus were taken prisoners. As a result, Hitler’s dreams to defeat the USSR miserably failed and the tide of war turned westward.

Amidst fierce fightings in summer 1942, as German tanks were rushing toward the Volga river, with the Soviet troops struggling hard to shore up their crumbling frontline, Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King sent encouraging greetings on behalf of men and women of Canada to “the gallant peoples of the Soviet Union”. Stressing that “today our nations fight side by side”, Mackenzie King praised the “forcefulness and determination” of the Red Army “which have aroused the profound admiration of the civilized world”.

It was in this spirit of solidarity that the USSR and Canada established diplomatic relations on June 12, 1942.

Canada’s contribution to the war efforts of the anti-Hitler coalition was widely known and appreciated in the Soviet Union. The weekly magazine “British Ally” published in Russian by the UK Ministry of Information offered stories about Canadian operations, including the dramatic Dieppe raid in August 1942 (intended to test waters for a future landing in France) and the liberation of Sicily in August 1943.

A special praise and admiration has always been extended in Russia to the heroic Canadian sailors who braved the perilous Murmansk Run convoys to deliver weaponry and supplies in support of the USSR. These important missions from the sea ports of Saint John’s and Halifax to the Russian Artic harbours of Murmansk and Archangelsk took a heavy toll. Eighty-five Allied merchant vessels and 16 warships were lost to heavy German attacks. One particularly ill-fated convoy – PQ17 – lost 24 out of 35 ships at a cost of 153 lives. 

Alex Polowin is one of those Canadian heroes. He joined the Navy in 1942 at the age of 17 and he currently resides in Ottawa. In 2013 Polowin was recognized for the noble service with the Russian medal which is named in honour of Admiral Fyodor Ushakov.

Mr. Polowin, whose name is now given to one of Ottawa’s streets said in an interview that “he’s fiercely proud of his contribution” to the war effort.

Another important Canadian input to the USSR’s war effort was the delivery of 1388 British designed Valentine infantry tanks which were assembled under licence in Montreal at the Angus railway shops. They took part, along with the famous Soviet T-34 tanks, in many of the Red Army operations, including the largest ever tank battle at the Kursk Bulge in July 1943. Kursk was the largest tank battle in history, and when the dust settled the Germans had suffered fatal defeat. From that point onward the Wehrmacht could only retreat.

By the end of 1943 the ground was literally burning under the feet of Nazi invaders. Around one million USSR citizens, young and old, men and women, who were located in the Nazi occupied territories were actively involved as partisans in a fierce underground struggle. This spirit of resistance and Red Army battlefield victories inspired prisoners of Nazi death camps and Jewish ghettos to revolt against the torturers and butchers of the Holocaust. Their anthem was the “Partisan song” which includes the lyrics “never say there is only death for you” penned by Girsh Glick, a young poet who escaped the Vilna ghetto and was later captured and executed by Germans. Most notable and the only successful uprising of its kind was the one at Sobibor concentration camp in 1943 which was led by the courageous Soviet officer Alexander Pechersky.

Symbolizing the courage and stamina of these defenders of the Motherland, their deep conviction that “ours is a righteous cause”, as proclaimed by Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov in his radio address on June 22, 1941, was the heroic death of General Dmitry Karbyshev. Starting his service in the Russian Imperial Army, he was later promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General of the Corps of Engineers in the Red Army. His manuals on the theory of engineering, battlefield operations and tactics were mandatory reading for Soviet commanders.

Captured by the Nazis after being rendered unconscious in combat in August 1941, General Karbyshev was held in succession of concentration camps. He refused to collaborate with his captors and despite his advanced age, led the camp’s underground movement. On February 18, 1945 Germans executed him at the notorious Mauthausen death camp by dousing him with ice water and then leaving him to expire in the freezing cold. This inhuman murder was witnessed and later testified to by a Canadian Army Major Seddon de Saint-Clair who survived captivity at the same place and unfortunately died a year after his liberation in a UK hospital.

Starting in January 1944, ten strategic Soviet offensives along the huge frontline from the Arctic to the Black Sea drove the Nazi forces out of the USSR’s territory paving the way for the liberation of Eastern Europe. The Wehrmacht’s resounding defeat near Leningrad fully relieved that long besieged city’s barbaric blockade during which close to one million inhabitants died from shelling and hunger. The Nazis and their satellites were expelled from the Soviet Ukraine and the Baltic states, with Finland, then a German ally, exiting the war. The 1944 Soviet victory in Belarus wherein 28 of 34 German divisions were completely destroyed, allowed the Red Army to secure a bridgehead for the final strike on Berlin. 

The Hitler regime found itself between a rock and a hard place, with the Western Allies having finally opened the long awaited second front in Europe when they landed  on June 6, 1944 in Normandy. Once ashore, the allied expeditionary force pushed through France, Belgium, the Netherlands and started to advance towards the German Rhineland. Overcoming heavy German resistance, Soviet troops successfully forced the Nazis out of Romania, Poland, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Austria and Czechoslovakia. After two weeks and two days of massive storming Berlin fell on May 2, 1945 to the Red Army.

Symbolically, on this very day the first direct contact between Russian soldiers and Canadian paratroopers from the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion happened in the northern German city of Wismar. Several days earlier, on April 25, 1945, the historic encounter of Soviet and US troops occurred at the Elbe river marking the long-awaited link-up of the Allies' Eastern and Western fronts. Despite later biased interpretations influenced by the Cold War politics, these were the true and unforgettable moments of unity and happiness that the common deadly foe was finally vanquished. 

Germans signed the instrument of unconditional surrender in Karlhorst, Berlin on May 9th, 1945 at the ceremony presided over by Soviet Marshal Georgy Zhukov in the presence of US, British and French generals. This date which is sacred and deeply meaningful for every Russian family has been celebrated ever since as Victory Day in Russia and most of the former USSR. Remarkably, Israel has also made it a national holiday expressing the gratitude of Shoah survivors and the Jewish people.

The Victory was won at an enormous price. The Soviet Union lost 27 million lives, of whom only one third were military losses, while millions of civilians became victims of mass brutal killings, bombardments and hunger both on occupied territories and in concentration camps. 

Without the bravery and solidarity of the USSR and the Allied nations, Nazism would have never been destroyed. Echoing other world leaders, Prime Minister Mackenzie King congratulated Joseph Stalin on May 13, 1945 with the warm message stating that Canada will never forget “the tenacity and the heroism of the armies and the peoples of the USSR”.

Let us remember well this important history lesson that global challenges can only be overcome by acting together putting aside political divisions, phobias and short-sighted ambitions. WWII experience should not fall victim to pro-Nazi revisionism or be thrown into oblivion. For the sake of peace and the well-being of future generations.

[bi-apps]

Accepted - James Potter

niceonejxmes

submitted:James Potter app

OOC Information:

Name/Age/Timezone- Becky / 26 / GMT

Activity Level- Please let us know from 1-10 how active you think you will be- 7/8. I work full time, but can be around most evenings and sometimes at the weekend.

Ships/Anti-Ships- These are not a guarantee- James / Lily is a big ship for me, but anything with chemistry and that keeps in line with canon will go. I don’t really have any anti-ships.

Did you read the rules?- Yes

IC Information:

Character Name- James Potter

Age/Birthdate- 18 / 27th March 1960

Faceclaim- Check taken and please include at least 3 options in order of preference- Grant Gustin, Bob Morley, Penn Badgley

Occupation- If left up to player. Click (here) if you need some ideas!- Despite the fact James had always said he wanted to play Quidditch for the professional leagues, and certainly had the talent, he couldn’t bring himself to do that with everything that was going on around them. So instead he applied for the Auror training programme once he finished school in June, and is currently going through it.

Blood Status- Pureblood

Traits- Include at least 3 positive and 3 negative-

Positive:

·         Loyal

·         Passionate

·         Brave

·         Protective

·         Quick witted

Negative:

·         Reckless

·         Hot-headed

·         Stubborn

·         Cocky

Patronus- Click (here) if you need some help!- Stag

Boggart- When James had been younger and they had studied Boggart’s during Defence against the Dark Arts, his boggart had been a spider. Looking back now he feels silly, because whilst he still doesn’t like them, them being his worst and most horrific fear had been childish and immature when there were so many more horrors in their world. It’s been a while since he’s had to face a Boggart, but now he is fairly certain it would come in the form of his friends’ betrayal and losing those that are closest to him.

Key Points- Must include at least 3-

James Potter was born an only child to elderly couple Euphemia and Fleamont. His parents had tried for years to conceive a child, and it was only once they had given up hope of widening their family that they discovered Euphemia was pregnant. Both delighted by the news, they doted on James from the moment he was born, and thus he grew up to be pampered and spoiled, not wanting for a single thing—except for maybe a sibling, which unfortunately was the one thing Euphemia and Fleamont weren’t able to give him.

There was never a moment of doubt in anyone’s mind when it came to James’ magical ability, he had started showing signs from as early an age as two years old. When he was five his father went out and bought him his first broom to get him going with flying—they found that flying often improved his moods and helped him to burn off some of his excess energy, which was something he carried with him into his teenage years.

Both Euphemia and Fleamont were sad to say goodbye to James on 1st September 1971, but James couldn’t  have been more excited—most of his childhood had been spent with predominantly his parents for company, due to their age when they had James none of their friends had children a similar age to their son, and whilst he was very close with both his mum and dad and he loved them to bits, he was looking forward to making some proper friends. He was barely thirty seconds into the train journey before he met Sirius Black, and the two hit it off right away. Bonding over their mutual love of mischief and a proclivity for ridiculousness is what brought them so close, and by the time October of his first year rolled around he couldn’t imagine life at school without his best friend. Eventually they befriended the two other boys they shared a dorm with—Peter Pettigrew, who always seemed quite in awe of James and Sirius, and Remus Lupin, a much quieter boy who’s shell was a little harder to crack. Before long the four of them were inseparable, and James felt like he finally had the brothers he had always wanted when he was growing up.

James was fourteen when Remus had first accused him of fancying Lily Evans; his sandy haired friend had found the whole thing all too amusing as James hastily and insistently denied it, telling Remus he was completely off his rocker and that the only thing he felt for Evans was irritation. Of course he thought she was pretty, with hair so red it seemed impossible, and she could be funny, when she wasn’t hanging around with ol’ Sniv. It wasn’t until he was fifteen that he realised perhaps Remus had been onto something after all, but of course this only served to complicate things as it meant James no longer knew how to act around her. Before, he had enjoyed teasing her—he still enjoyed teasing her, enjoyed seeing her react to his teasing, he liked the constant back and forth they seemed to have, but the trouble was now he seemed to over analyse things, worrying if he was coming across as flirty or weird.

After their Defence exam in fifth year was when it all seemed to come to a head, and the confrontation down by the lake had resulted in James asking Lily out in such a public manner—he hadn’t meant to, but it had slipped out, and almost instantly he had wished that he could take it back. He knew he had embarrassed her and he hadn’t been at all surprised when she had got angry. And despite the fact he tried to appear unbothered by it all, her words had hit him harder than he liked to admit.

A lot happened over the summer between his fifth year and his sixth year, the main thing being Sirius officially moving in with him and his parents; seeing the state Sirius had been in when he had turned up on James’ doorstep that night had shattered James, he didn’t understand how a parent—someone who was supposed to love you unconditionally—could treat their own child in such a manner, he didn’t understand how anybody could treat another human being in that manner, full stop. His parents had taken Sirius in without warning, and from that moment James was fiercely insistent that Sirius was his brother, and he was fiercely protective of him.

Over the course of James’ sixth year, a lot of people seemed to notice a change in his behaviour—sure, he still enjoyed mucking about with his mates and he still had a big love for mischief, but there was much less hexing others for his own amusement and less skiving off from classes, even those he deemed unnecessary like History of Magic. Despite the changes he made, it still came as a shock when he received his Head Boy badge shortly before commencing his final year at Hogwarts.

The thought of returning for his final year was a daunting one, he struggled to come to terms with the fact that in 9 short months he would be walking out of the Hogwarts gates for the last time as a student and thrown into the middle of a full blown war. He knew what side he was fighting on and he knew that he would be fighting alongside his friends, and whilst he was excited to begin really, truly contributing to the war efforts, he was terrified. He feared for the safety of his friends, his family, and of course, Lily Evans, his now-girlfriend and the absolute love of his life. He had no idea what the future held for him, but he knew that whatever was thrown at them he could face it with her by his side.

Changes/Extra Info- Connection changes have to be approved by current players. All changes are up to admin approval- Nope!

Para Sample- Show us your best work and don’t be afraid to ask for some prompts if you need help

“I love you.”

The words had slipped from his mouth so easily, so effortlessly, and it hadn’t at all been how he had planned to do it. Sometimes he thought he would tell her one night whilst they were stargazing up in the Astronomy Tower, he thought he would hire a band to play her favourite song in the moments leading up to the big reveal—was it a big reveal, though?—or maybe he would have planned a perfect date and taken her for a moonlit walk at the end of it where he would get down on bended knee and recite the million and one things he really, truly loved about her. That sounded like something pulled straight out of one of the romance novels he knew his Lily enjoyed reading.

He had never imagined he would tell her like this, one rainy Sunday afternoon when they were both sat up in James’ dorm, James’ nose red raw from all the times he had blown it in the last twenty four hours. He had come down with a horrid cold after a rather treacherous Quidditch practice in the horrid January rain a few days prior, and Lily had fairly quickly taken on the role of his personal Healer and she had vowed to nurse him back to health.

The words were still hanging in the air as the silence ticked on following his confession, and James felt daft; he saw the surprise on her face, knew that she hadn’t expected that one when they had only officially been together for a little over 6 weeks, but James supposed those words had been true for quite a while—for him, at least—and he wouldn’t take them back, he didn’t want to take them back, because he wanted this fantastic woman to know just how strongly he felt about her, and just how much she meant to him.

The seconds continued to pass—five, ten, fifteen—but eventually Lily smiled. It was a brilliant smile, his favourite in fact, it was the kind of smile that met her eyes and really lit up her face, and James felt like if that was the last thing he saw then he would die a happy man.

“I love you too.” And with that she leaned in, attempting to close the distance between the pair of them, which was made all the more difficult as James leaned back and away from her. Her brows knitted together in confusion and James mentioned something about not wanting to make her poorly, to which she shook her head and responded with an amused, “I don’t care, you idiot,” before she leaned in once more, and this time he stayed put.

[lbat1901]

Eddbusters Chapter 10

Help From The Skies - (Chapter 10) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Destroyer was starting to get tired after being constantly thrown or knocked into things. It doesn't help for the fact that he was wasting mostly his energy on fire breathing. The Destroyer took the time to rest for a bit before getting smacked in the face by Satdahrikan's tail. Satdahrikan eventually placed the Destroyer into a headlock in an attempt to stab him with his horn. However, Satdahrikan was interrupted once the Destroyer took a bite at Satdahrikan's stomach. Meanwhile at the top of Big Ben, Hellucard and Crash Zoom were both seen watching the fight unfold. "It seems that both the Destroyer and Satdahrikan are equal in strength. If this keeps up, all of London will be destroyed in the next half hour" said Hellucard. "I'm fully aware of it, Hellucard. However there is nothing to worry about. Surely the Ghostbusters will come up with a way to kill him" said Crash Zoom. Suddenly a bright flash of light appeared right behind them as it took the shape of a large bird with golden feathers. "Oh great, another deity that has the desire to use me to destroy the world. I'll take care of you right now" said Crash Zoom. "Ah, so you are the witch with world destroying powers after all. That explains a lot thanks to your attitude after all. Anyway, sorry for the inconvenience. I am Cendera, one of the three bird kings and yet the strongest who hails all the way from East and Southeast Asia" said Cendera. "Cendera. Hmm....that name does sound familiar. What business do you have with me?" asked Crash Zoom. "Business with you? Ha! I've came all the way to the UK upon hearing a call of help. It seems that you have quite the monster on your hands" said Cendera. "Uh yeah, I do. Is there a way to kill this beast or not?" asked Crash Zoom. "There is only one way, but it requires a setup that is very hard to pull off. Fortunately for you, the other two bird kings will distract Satdahrikan long enough for it to work" said Cendera. Back on the streets of London, Edd and Matt were seen blasting Satdahrikan with photon streams one at a time. Satdahrikan didn't seem to like and decided to chase after them. "Edd?" asked Matt. "What is it, Matt?" asked Edd. "I have been thinking that we should cross the streams" said Matt. "You can't be serious right? Remember what Tom told us? If we were cross the streams than it would be disastrous" said Edd. "Yeah, I know, but it's worth a try" said Matt. "Fine" said Edd. Before the two could do anything, they were suddenly picked up by talons and were placed onto a roof of building. "What the?" asked Edd. The boys looked to see two birds, one had orange and red feathers while the other one had white and blue feathers. "Who are you?" asked Matt. "There's no time for a full explanation, but to keep it short, I am the bird king of fire, Gero" said Gero. "And I am the bird King of water, Tayu. We have came all the way to the UK, just to help you deal with Satdahrikan, a phantom that was responsible for killing millions" said Tayu. "Satdahrikan killed millions?" asked Matt. "Yes. Please take these" said Tayu. Tayu gave a piccolo to Matt while Gero gave a flute to Edd. "We know what you're probably going to say and yes, they're instruments, but not any ordinary instruments. They are sacred tools used to combat against Satdahrikan" said Gero. "Cool, but we don't know how to play instruments though. Uhh.....Edd, do you know how to play a flute?" asked Matt. "I think I do...." said Edd. "Same goes for me, I guess" said Matt. "Regardless if you can play them or not, a tune will come out from them smoothly and loud enough for Satdahrikan to hear. Now if you excuse us, we will give you time to play them" said Gero. Both Gero and Tayu took to the skies to fight Satdahrikan while back on ground level, Tord and Jon were greeted by Cendera who gifted Tord a sword. "You need to understand that a spear like that won't be able to kill Satdahrikan" said Cendera. "And why not?" asked Jon. "Long ago, Satdahrikan was once a statue that was apart of a temple where he acted as a demigod. His purpose was to clean the souls of those who committed sin and those who or didn't have a pure heart. Despite all of this, Satdahrikan was an unfortunate target for black magic turning him into a being known as "The Terrible One" or according to most storytellers, "The Great Horned Demon King". He became violent and ended up killing off many villages before seemly killing off half of the population of both East and Southeast Asia. How he managed to do this is by hunting victims at night and by eating their flesh. He eventually gained the ability to drain souls away" said Cendera. "Yikes! That sounds terrible. What did you do to stop him?" asked Tord. "By hearing the prayers of those who were scared to death and believing that things would become hopeless, I along with my brethren came to the rescue. We used two sacred objects to enrage Satdahrikan long enough to hold him back as a dragon managed to slice Satdahrikan right in half with the same sword that you are holding right now. Once Satdahrikan was sliced in half, I've used two stone jars that were capable of sealing both of his halves away. After that, we were tasked to keep the jars far away from each other due to the fear of Satdahrikan becoming whole again" said Cendera. "I see. So...that's the purpose of those two jars then. It's all my fault. If I haven't known that before finding them none of this would've happened" said Jon. "It's not your fault my child. We all make mistakes, but we learn best from them in order to solve them" said Cendera. "You're absolutely right" said Jon. "So what's the plan?" asked Tord. "I'm hoping that both Gero and Tayu have given your friends a flute and a piccolo to them respectively so that Satdahrikan will be weaken. Once that happens, I will create another jar and seal Satdahrikan within it" said Cendera. "Sounds like a plan" said Tord. Matt begins to play the piccolo as a tune came from it which seemly made Satdahrikan angry. This was a sign for a flame covered up Gero to breathe fire which pushed Satdahrikan back. By doing this, Tayu who's body is all ice fired off an icy breathe which freezes Satdahrikan's lower body leaving nothing but the tail. Before Tayu could cover Satdahrikan in even more ice, he was suddenly struck forcefully by Satdahrikan's tail which destroyed his body. However, it turns out that the ice around Tayu's body was a shell for his watery body form. Tayu then regenerates his icy body within a matter of seconds. As Matt continued to play the piccolo, Satdahrikan was eventually standing in place as Gero approached him with a jar in his talons. "For the past 2,000 years, all you've done was cause nothing but harm. You've killed millions of innocent lives. You've even destroyed homes and entire villages. What have they done to deserve such a punishment like that? Exactly....nothing" said Cendera. Satdahrikan roars as he tried to back away from Cendera but ended up received a stream of fire to the face by Gero not shortly after getting frozen into place by Tayu. As Matt kept playing, Cendera used his all of his power to seal Satdahrikan into the jar. Once doing this, Cendera came down to where Tord and Jon were at. "Are you okay?" asked Jon. "Yes, I'm fine. Quickly Tord, I want you to use the sword to destroy the jar along with me" said Cendera. "What..?...But...but why?" asked Tord. "There's no time for questions, unless you want Satdahrikan to keep destroying things" said Cendera. "O-Okay....I'll do it" said Tord. Tord takes the sword out of its stealth as Jon gave him an uneasy look. "Thank you Tord. Thanks to you and your friends, there is still hope in the world" said Cendera. Tord readies himself to strike Cendera along with the jar, but he stops the blade just a few inches from Cendera's neck. "I...I..I can't do this! I'm really sorry, but I can't kill you. Not like this" said Tord as tears started to flow from his eyes. Before Cendera could say anything to Tord, the jar suddenly started to shake rapidly before exploding, releasing Satdahrikan in the process. Satdahrikan, who was free, immediately grabbed Gero with one of his bare hands before swiftly taking out Tayu with his tail. As Tayu caught himself from falling, he wasn't prepared to have Gero thrown at him as the two crashed into a building. "I think we've made him angry...." said Matt. "Yeah, no kidding!" said Edd. Out of nowhere, the Destroyer throws a bus at Satdahrikan which made him roar even more angrier. Tord then climbs up the Destroyer's back where he now stands on his head which surprised the Destroyer a bit. "Tord, what are you doing?" asked Edd. "What does it look like I'm doing? Guys, he has a weakness. If we just make him angry, he would be opened for us to attack him" said Tord. "Tord's right" said Matt. "We need to play the instruments, but this time together" said Edd. Both Edd and Matt played the flute and the piccolo as Satdahrikan roared again. "Hey, Satdahrikan! Come get us, if you want to die that is" said Tord. Satdahrikan roars at this and takes charge at Tord which the Destroyer dodges, but one of Satdahrikan's nails managed to cut the right side of Tord's cheek. "Ooh....struck a nerve?" asked Tord. Satdahrikan roars again as he attempted to hit Tord with a fist, but the Destroyer manages to catch it. "You call that a punch? I can't believe you call yourself "The Terrible One" and yet you punch like a weakling? You have to do a whole lot better than that" said Tord. Satdahrikan recoils back as he roared taking what Tord said as an insult. "Awww....how cute. Are we admitting defeat already? Don't quit now, we're just getting started" said Tord. Satdahrikan gives Tord an angry stare of death as he roared not really taking what Tord said to heart. "That's right. Just keep on roaring. I just want to remind you that I'm still alive!" said Tord. Satdahrikan goes in for another punch at Tord, but this gave the Destroyer an opportunity to move forward as Satdahrikan's fist made contact with the ground. As the Destroyer was close enough to Satdahrikan, Tord uses the sword to make a slashing movement which manages to cut the flesh of a shocked Satdahrikan's torso and stomach. The cut was wide enough to cause a stream of golden energy to put a large hole through Satdahrikan's stomach as Satdahrikan roars in agonizing pain. Not long afterwards, the golden stream that was going through Satdahrikan formed into a golden dragon and not just any dragon, it was the same dragon that Cendera gave the sword to. The dragon wraps itself around Satdahrikan's entire body before it fired of a jet wave of fire causing a huge explosion. It took awhile for the dust to settle down, but once it cleared, Satdahrikan and the Destroyer were nowhere to be seen. The only thing that was left were now the two charcoal bodies of Malrido and Holvisk and rubble of destroyed buildings. Tord and Jon walked around as Edd and Matt who came down. Suddenly, something comes up from the rubble revealing Tom. "Tom!" said Matt as he ran over and gave Tom a big hug. "What the?" asked Tom. "It's great to see you again. Where were you? You've missed all the action" said Edd. "Ah really? ......Lame" said Tom. "Thank you Ghostbusters. It's because of you, Satdahrikan has reverted back into his original form as a statue" said Cendera. "Absolutely no problem!" said Jon. "We won't be needing the sword or the instruments. They are now under your supervision as a sign of our thanks" said Gero. "Farewell. We hope to cross paths with you again someday" said Tayu. And with that the three bird kings took off into the sky and off into the distance till they couldn't be seen. As they were gone from everyone's view, a groan was heard. The Ghostbusters turned their attention to the dead body of Holvisk as Jon approached it and used his hands to break the weakened flesh off. It turns out that by doing this, Jon actually freed an unconscious Eduardo. "Oh my god, he's alive" said Jon. "Help! Someone? Anyone? Please get me out of here. It's dark and scary. I want to go home......" said Mark. "It seems that Mark needs to be rescued" said Edd. Edd, Tom, and Matt ripped the flash off of Malrido thus freeing a panicking Mark. The next day, the Buckingham Palace was surrounded by the citizens of London who were all waiting for something to come out of the doors. A few minutes later, they all cheered once they saw the Ghostbusters walking out along side with the queen and the mayor. The Ghostbusters were then awarded medals of honor by the mayor shortly before they walked towards the Ectomobile and placed their photon packs into a side compartment. Out of nowhere, Jon was trying to get to Edd, Matt, Tom, and Tord as the police officers took him away along with escorting Eduardo and Mark to a medical team. "Hey wait, I'm one of them. I'm a hero you know" said Jon. "Oh shut up Jon....." said Eduardo. Edd, Tom, Matt, and Tord all waved towards the crowd as they gave people their autographs plus some got a selfie with Matt. Afterwards, the four got into the Ectomobile with Tom at wheel before taking off with sirens going into the sunset.

[we-tinycollectionhideout-blog]

Asian Styled Restaurants in Montreal

Asians symbolize about 33% of the entire Maui population, and Maui Asian eating places supply the unique and piquant dishes from different Asian groups. Some of the Asian restaurants in Maui embrace Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean, and Thai restaurants. Although not all Asian dishes could also be supplied by a restaurant, expect to get mouth-watering, authentic Asian dishes in top rated Maui Asian Eating places together with the two beneath.

Some of the in style Japanese eating places in Maui, Tokyo Tei is positioned at 1063 Lower Important Road. Serving Asian dishes since 1935, Tokyo Tei offers all kinds of Japanese dishes with a Maui aptitude. During WWII, the restaurant's name was changed to Rainbow Grill but was modified again to Tokyo Tei shortly after the conflict ended. On the wall of the restaurant hangs a photo of John F. Kennedy, who visited the restaurant in 1959. Tokyo Tei's menu contains dry mein, teriyaki, miso fish, sashimi, somen, and tonkatsu. Drinks include wine, beer, iced teas, whiskey, and Japanese scorching sake. Dishes and drinks are all budget-pleasant, starting at $7.seventy five. Tokyo Tei provides catering providers as well.

Within the southern a part of Maui in Kihei at 2349 S Kihei Road, Maui Thai serves spicy Thai meals. Maui provides totally different ranges of spiciness, so visitors can order delicate, medium, hot plus, and hot plus plus. Maui Thai's menu consists of Thai spring roll, inexperienced papaya salad, tomu yum, ginger coconut, Thai beef steak, pad thai noodles, pan fried noodles, different types of rice (Jasmine, wheat brown, and Thai sticky rice). Totally different curries that the restaurant serves embody Thai inexperienced curry, red curry, yellow curry, peanut curry, matsaman curry, and red pineapple curry. Maui Thai also serves a whole lot of fish dishes and vegetable dishes. The restaurant also gives particular discounts and different promos so you get to take pleasure in their genuine Thai meals at cheaper costs.

If you visit Montreal, you will find a wide variety of Asian restaurants to select from. Whether or not you're seeking some amazing restaurants serving your private favorites like Sea Bass or sushi, one can find an unlimited number of Asian styled restaurants to meet your pallet.

Most Asian eating places in Montreal are identified finest to serve in a peaceful and relaxed environment, displaying an informal grace of their very own. Plates are normally served with utmost care that serves to be the feast for both your pallet and eyes.

Usually, Asian delicacies styles are divided into different regions which have its roots in the cultures and folks belonging to these areas and regions. The key delicacies kinds involve East Asian which finds its origins in the modern Korean peninsula and Japan. One other in style delicacies fashion is that of the Southeast Asia that encompasses varied areas, together with Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei and Philippines, and Vietnam.

The South Asian regional cuisine model contains states which once made up the entire of British India, together with Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India and Burma. There are several other nations on this continent, Middle Jap and Central Asian.

Let's now find out a few of the top Asian restaurants in Montreal that offer diverse Asian cuisine kinds to serve all tastes.

Le Palais Imperial

The Imperial Palace Restaurant is just not all about meals; it's about good style and quality service. This Montreal Asian restaurant welcomes you to get pleasure from some delectable and alluring Thai and Szechwan cuisines always in well-liked demand. Go to and luxuriate in a number of the opulent Oriental cuisines served with excellence.

Kam Fung

The La Maison Kam Fung restaurant focuses on serving you particular Cantonese and Szechuan delicacies. It is fashionable among the locals and the guests and boasts of serving the perfect Dim Sum within the city.

Bato Thai

Positioned in Ste-Catherine East, Bato Thai is among the hottest Asian restaurants in Montreal. It serves a variety of skillfully ready dishes to cater to the taste of various folks. Come and luxuriate in quite a lot of seafood dishes, noodle and vegetable dishes, hen satay and spring rolls.

Hong Kong

Situated within the heart of the Chinatown, Hong Kong is understood to offer you an excellent variety of the normal dishes like sea bass, soups, dumplings, lobster and crispy chicken. Get one of the best of Chinese cuisines at an inexpensive worth. This restaurant is finest for traditional Chinese dishes and nice soups.

Kaizan

Situated in the coronary heart of Downtown Montreal, Kaizan is a highly admired restaurant and Sushi Bar of town, in service to give you great meals and a contemporary ambiance. It options the freshest seafood and fish recipes, sashimi, lambas, maki, kobe beef, seafood soups and oysters tri afeller. Out right here you can enjoy an amazing number of dream desserts and a wonderful choice of imported sakes and wines. Enjoy some vibrant music and dwell jazz on the evenings (Sunday to Tuesday) whereas enjoying great food on this world-class restaurant.

When you find yourself on the lookout for something new to strive in a restaurant, you could be fascinated by looking for out Asian delicacies. There are various kinds of Asian food that do not resemble the Chinese food that you are accustomed to in your local restaurant. There are a selection of Asian restaurants within the Los Angeles space that will give you a complete new outlook on Asian meals.

Japanese meals is a very totally different type of Asian meals that is nothing just like the Chinese language meals that you're used to consuming. Chinese food was developed for an American viewers and is not the identical meals that is eaten in native Asian international locations. If you wish to sample other Asian food that may be very genuine, Japanese delicacies is an efficient place to start out. Not solely will you will have the experience of consuming genuine food, however the mastery of the chefs is on full display in a Japanese steak home. The chef will usually prepare dinner the meals right in entrance of you so you may see precisely what's put in your meals.

Thai cuisine is one of the other Asian cuisines that it is best to attempt to get an genuine style of the meals of Asia. It's well known for being sizzling and spicy, but actually Thai food is an excellent mix of each style sensation including bitter, candy, sizzling, salty, and bitter. The foods mix together phenomenally and many people find this cuisine their very favorite when on the lookout for Asian food.

The meals of Vietnam is another style deal with that you need to look for when you are looking out different Asian delicacies within the Los Angeles area. The focus of this food kind is on recent greens and herbs which might be an vital a part of each meal. There are dipping sauces for many of the dishes that provide an extra added zip to the meal. Seafood is featured an ideal deal in conventional Vietnamese dishes.

Korean meals is an ancient cuisine that has developed over a few years. The meals of Korea usually are native to every province, but there have been some regional dishes that have been more national and are well-known all over the country. In case you are on the lookout for one thing completely different and other Asian foods to attempt, Korean must be in your listing.

Los Angeles is residence to a number of the most numerous cultures and cuisines. On any night of the week you can find foods from everywhere in the world served in the many eating places on this world class city. While you desire a break from the Americanized Chinese language meals that is typically handed off as Asian, you need to attempt among the other Asian meals which might be obtainable. Just a little experimentation and sampling of those numerous cultures will show you all that you've been missing in Asian food. The herbs and spices which are utilized in Asian dishes from numerous international locations are bold and contemporary to many American style buds. It is nicely worth the effort to take advantage of the big selection of foods which can be available in the Los Angeles space.

Among the finest kosher eating places just occur to be Asian restaurants. This will simply be an attention-grabbing coincidence but perhaps there is something extra significant at play here. In fact the fact that a conveyor belt sushi restaurant would be among the many finest kosher restaurants in an space has lots to do with the immigration patterns of the United States via out the 20 th century. You see these restaurants tend to coalesce no less than in their infancy around neighborhoods in New York and in California it is because these are the locations that Asian immigrants descended upon. These also happen to be the locations that Jewish Individuals settled as effectively. Areas in Brooklyn and Manhattan have long served as the house of large Asian and Jewish populations. Some cross over was positive to happen.

It is extremely simple for a sushi restaurant to be something but kosher. They can fill their menu with kinds of shell fish and make themselves pretty unappealing to anybody keeping kosher. Yet due to the close nature of those urban terrains and the mutual understanding of those two cultures many sushi restaurants and purveyors of conveyor belt sushi are kosher. Sushi spots usually are usually among the many most creative, in style, and admittedly finest kosher eating places in these areas. They offer striking new innovations, half Japanese conventional half American experimental. It's as if the cohesion of a variety of cultures makes these Asian eating places into multi-cultural meals laboratories.

Crossing cultural lines is a great way to construct a thriving enterprise. Asian restaurants in New York and California, specifically San Francisco, have definitely built a cachet on interesting to a large swath of the inhabitants whereas remaining somewhat true to their tradition's culinary identification. It allows new sushi eating places to return in to city every year and turn into very important meals scorching spots. Kosher cuisine and Asian delicacies seem to go hand in hand in New York.

The history of the United States of America is, in many ways, the tales of different cultures being driven collectively by commerce and tradition. The cross pollination of concepts is what has created the wealthy tapestry of sights, sounds and tastes in this nation. We're a nation outlined by the space between our variations that we find some widespread floor and we develop collectively. It is the fusion of the kosher culture with the sushi tradition that defines many conveyor belt sushi eating places.

Looking for Asian styled restaurants in Montreal? The town of Montreal is without doubt one of the oldest cities in North America and particularly known to supply a outstanding fusion of the vibrant and outdated-world attraction. In the present day, the city of Montreal is considered as one of many thriving metropolis which is nicely-appreciated for providing a wealthy cultural variety. Montreal enjoys a better cultural tie with Asian and South-east Asian cuisines. Due to this fact, Asian restaurants in Montreal are easier to seek out in every single place within the city. Asian-fusion eating places featuring the standard Asian dishes are standard as properly.

With an unlimited choice of Montreal Asian restaurants to select from, it will not be a troublesome job to look for Asian styled restaurant in Montreal to match up your pallet. Most Asian restaurants in Montreal supply a relaxed ambiance to enjoy good food. Plates are served with utmost care and convey you a feast for both pallet and eyes.

Given below are few Asian styled Montreal restaurants. These are outlets which Asian Restaurant offer you a group of conventional and fusion Asian cuisines to choose from.

Le Palais Imperial

Properly, Le Palasis Imperial is not only about meals, it is also in regards to the ambiance and the refined style. With effectively-skilled cooks and years of enterprise experience, this is among the hottest Asian restaurants in Montreal which deliver you the delectable and refined taste of Thai and Szechwan cuisine.

Kaizen

One of many extremely acclaimed restaurant and Sushi Bar in Downtown Montreal, Kaizen has re-incarnated itself into a complete new means. It features the freshest of seafood, fish, Sashini, Lambas, Seafood soups, Afeller, Sushi and Maki. The Kobe beef and the dream desserts change into the key fascination.

You should definitely get attracted by the great selection of the wines and the opposite imported sakes served to company. There is no doubt that Kaizen is one of the world-class Asian eating places in Montreal which give you dwell music and entertainment all by way of Sunday to Tuesday evenings and an exquisite Sunny outside terrace. Come and try out some gourmand sushi and creative cuisines.

Kam Fung

La Maison Kam Fung is found to focus on Cantonese and Szechaun delicacies. One of the standard eating places with locals and guests, the La Maison Kam Fung boasts of the perfect Dim Sum in Montreal. You will be able to get pleasure from their signature dishes and favorites like Peking Duck, oriental BBQ, market fresh seafood and fish dishes. Overall, its artistic dishes and pleasant providers calls for an incredible treat proper on the coronary heart of the enthralling Chinatown.

[carterthornton]

The Third Wave | Chapter Nineteen: Capture the Flags (Final)

        Jace cursed to himself as he stared at the ground, hoping some kind of god would smite him where he sat as he listened to fighting in the distance. "Fuck me, I should be out there helping!"

       "Jace, don't beat yourself up of over it. You did the smart thing staying with us," Brick piped up, trying his best to reassure the morally torn man. "They'll be fine."

       "But what if they aren't fine, huh? What if they're getting their getting their asses kicked back there?!" Jace snapped at Brick without thinking, then wandered over to a nearby spruce tree, sighing to himself as he set his head on the rough bark and leaned forward. "Sorry, Brick, I just-..." Jace turned around, resting his back against the rigid wall of wood. "What kind of a man am I to just stand back and watch the fight? I feel like a piece of meat."

       "You're scared, Jace, you shouldn't be ashamed of that," Mura added as she broke away from her group's cluster to comfort her comrade. "Fear is a natural response."

       "Oh yeah? Then how come I haven't seen you flinch even once since I met you? You didn't even show an ounce of worry in our fight!" Out of frustration, Jace dug his hands into the dirt, gripping firmly onto bundles of soil in his clutches. "I'm not some fearless knight like you, Mura."

       "If I'm so fearless, how come I'm here with you and not fighting with those two?" Mura mentioned, sitting down in front of her troubled teammate. "I'm not fearless, I just know fear well."

       "Then why don't you-?! Ugh, never mind..." Jace huffed as he stood back up, shaking the dirt from his hands. "I'm just gonna stay here for a bit."

       "Do what you feel is right, Jace, it's not my place to stop you," Mura advised her comrade as she walked back to the group, bowing her head slightly.

****

       Varg may have been disadvantaged against Yuko's advanced strength and speed, but he was easily able to exploit her weakness as an inexperienced fighter, using submission holds and arm locks to use Yuko's strength against her. He held Yuko in a Full-Nelson, restricting her movements entirely, causing her to panic and flail about. Varg stood firm, tightening his grasp on Yuko, but even he knew he couldn't hold giant woman forever; he only needed to buy enough time for Alistair and Louise. Eventually, Yuko managed to sneak her elbow past Varg's grip, and it slammed into the wolfman's face, crushing his left cheek bone.

       "Fuck!" Varg snarled as the bones in his face realigned. "You fuckin' bitch. I'm gonna enjoy knockin' your block off." Varg sucked in a huge amount of air, gesturing to any nearby comrades to plug their ears.

       "Huh?" Yuko raised a brow at Varg's strange action, unaware of his intentions.

       With a harrowing howl, Varg released all the built-up air in his lungs, disorienting Yuko with the unbearable volume of his bark. Before Yuko could even react, Varg launched a punch that crashed right into the side of Yuko's jaw. "You've got spunk, kid, but you're too green!" Varg chuckled as Yuko, who was now seeing stars, fell to the ground. Taking advantage of the time he now had, he rushed over to an unconscious Camila, only to be stopped by a panicked Aiko, desperate and exhausted. "Outta my way, girly!" Varg shouted as he smacked Aiko across the face with his left hand, knocking her down. "Stupid girl." Just then, Varg felt something tug at his ankle; it was a stone hand, Aiko's armoured hand. "What the fuck is-?"

       "Made you look..." Aiko gave him a cocky grin as blood trickled out of her mouth.

       Yuko's fist glided across Varg's face with minimal resistance, and he felt the impact rock him immediately. Varg roared in pain as his jaw dislocated, his beast rage fully consuming him. He grabbed Yuko's arm and tossed her into a nearby tree, snapping it right in half, then he began to crush Aiko's stone armour in his grasp, causing her to wail in pain.

       "Aiko!" Yuko went into overdrive, attacking Varg with all the ferocity of a sister protecting her own kin.

       Yuko drove her fist into Varg's forearm, shattering the bone and forcing him to drop Aiko. The giant metal woman then she slid into Varg's guard, worming her right leg around and lunging her hip into Varg's gut. Recalling her teachings at Combat Training, Yuko performed O Goshi, grabbing Varg and slamming him into the ground. With a few seconds to spare, Yuko picked up Aiko and an exhausted Abian, leaving Varg dazed and confused in a heap.

       "Hey, you did an O Goshi..." Aiko let out a hoarse laugh as she clutched her left arm, now purple from the pressure of Varg's grip.

       "Are you guys okay?" Yuko asked Aiko and Abian as she set them both down, ducking behind a tree for cover.

       "I'll be fine; it isn't broken, I don't think," Aiko insisted as she got back on her feet. "Sorry for getting in your way there— guess I got a little cocky."

       "I'm alright— just spent all my decoys. I won't be of any use to you guys as I am now. My Mark can only do so much," Abian admitted, clenching his fists. "I can move at least."

       "You shouldn't be apologizing, Aiko," Yuko shook her head as they both stood there. "I should've stuck with you." Yuko then turned to Abian, hoping to cheer the young officer up. "I think you did great!"

       "Yeah, yeah... thanks, lady," Abian chuckled lightly as he got up, trying to hide the intensive labour of simple movements in his drained state with a gritty bravado. "But I'm no hotshot like Roddy or Bhang."

       "We did the right thing splitting them up, Yuko," Aiko reassured Yuko as she poked her head out, watching as Varg ran towards Damian with Camila on his back. "He doesn't seem to be coming after us; he only wanted to rescue that gun-lady. Thank God."

       "Maeve's not far, we should go help her!" Yuko sprang back into action, dragging Aiko and Abian along with her like a worn out rag.

       "Are you crazy, lady?" Abian shrieked, manhandled like a doll.

       "H-hey! Watch the arm!" Aiko cringed as she felt her forearm throb.

****

       Maeve, Roxie, and Thomas held off Reika as best they could, but Reika became precise with her intangibility, so much so that Maeve couldn't even touch her with dragon fire. Although Reika had a weakness to fire, it would only affect her upon contact, and thus, Reika found ways around Maeve's fire. She would create physical holes in her body for Maeve's fist to pass through, evading the flames with minimal effort. Growing frustrated, a pillar of fire escaped Maeve's mouth, threatening to scorch Reika. Quickly, Reika's body dissolved, coating the ground beneath Maeve's feet in a layer of snow. Roxie attempted to screech and blow it away, but the snow expanded beneath her feet, entrapping her legs and then her chest in a tough shell of ice. Thomas tried to pry Roxie out of her snowy prison, but it was no use; there was no way for Thomas to free Roxie without causing her damage.

       "Dragon-girl! Over here! Officer Webber's been trapped!" Thomas shouted over to Maeve, who was occupied with multiple snow copies of Reika. "Dammit!" Thomas pounded on the ice as it spread across Roxie like a virus, trying to suffocate her. "For the love of God, someone-!" Thomas' prayers were answered quickly, as a metal hand punched a hole in the ice, shattering most of it. "You two? What happened to Varg and Camila? Where's Abian?"

       "I'm here, Tom, don't worry," Abian replied, barely able to stand up straight.

       "We retreated, but Varg left with Camila," Aiko explained as Yuko dug Roxie out of her prison. "We thought you might need our help."

       "Well, thanks..." Thomas nodded as Roxie awoke in his arms, grateful that his comrades were still alive and kicking. "You okay, Foxy?"

       "I'm okay... thanks, Tom," Roxie gave him a smile as she picked herself back up. Tuckered out from nonstop fighting, Roxie took a moment to assess the situation. "Help will arrive shortly, but in the meantime, you three should go help that dragon-girl. My powers can't deal with someone like this; it's best I leave this to you guys. I'll head back to the gathering point with Abian and rally the students."

       "Sounds good," Thomas agreed, letting Roxie and Abian run off into the woods. "Please, be careful!"

       "I could use some help!" Maeve interrupted them as she knocked the head off of one of the snow duplicates.

       "Yuko, let's go!" Aiko shouted as she brushed her hand up against a nearby rock, hoping to get another piece of rock armour. Sadly, she was only able to muster enough of her energy reserves to create a rock glove. "Huh... seems to be a limit to the extra stuff I can make." Regardless, Aiko charged ahead of Yuko, flicking one of Reika's clones in the face with her enhanced hand. Even with just a glove, the added strength was substantial enough to blast apart the clone's face, causing it to crumple into a powdery pile on the ground. "One of these things ought to be her! Keep smashing them!"

       "As good a plan as any," Thomas laughed as he drew another feather from his pocket and grabbed a large, nearby rock, swapping weight characteristics of the objects. "Heads up!" With little strain, Thomas chucked the stone and readjusted its weight, causing it to tumble on the ground. The boulder crushed many snow doppelgangers as it sped forward, only stopping once it impacted a giant spruce tree. "Strike!"

       Maeve's draconic senses went into high-gear, trying to sniff out the differences between the remaining snow duplicates. Upon closer inspection via way of punching, Maeve noticed that the clones all had white eyes. However, there was one whose eyes were deep green. Once the real Reika realized Maeve was onto her, she hid within the crowd, and each snow clone pounced on Maeve and Yuko, trying to envelop them in their icy bodies. With her titanic strength, Yuko pushed her way through the ice and snow, grabbing Maeve out of the dog pile. Yuko jumped, soaring high into the air and landing right on top of Reika. The snow-woman saw this coming, and she managed to go intangible. However, Maeve made sure she left her mark as well, and she slid her fiery hand through the veil of snow, causing Reika immeasurable pain. Reika staggered back as her body reformed, clutching her steaming hot arm.

       "Rrrragghh!" Reika exclaimed as she turned her attention towards Damian. "We need to leave, Damian, now! Varg and Camila have retreated; we're the only ones left!"

       "I know, Reika, I know," Damian replied as he backed up against Reika, covering her. "But Alistair hasn't given us the signal yet."

****

       The bunker door swung open frantically, making way for Varg, who held a barely conscious Camila in his arms. He rushed over to the living room, placing her down on a couch before running to Louise and Alistair. "Al! Louise!" He shouted, only to receive a garbled response from the basement. Varg raced downstairs, looking for his dear friend and beloved companion. "Lulu...?" Varg entered the control room, immediately greeted by a warm hug and a kiss from Louise. "Are you okay?"

       "Don't ask silly questions like that, Varg. Of course, I'm alright," Louise stroked Varg's mane of hair, noticing how brittle and charred it was in patches. "You went all out again, didn't you...?" She sighed, realizing that Camila wasn't with him. "Where's-?" Louise was about to panic, but Varg grabbed her hands.

       "She's alright— just seeing some stars right now," Varg quelled Louise's worries, giving her a quick peck on the forehead. "I set her on the couch; she'll be alright, Lulu." Varg then made his way down the hall over to Alistair, who was packing everyone's belongings in the downstairs living area. "Al, you almost done? Reika and Damian are still out there."

       "Reika is-...?" Alistair trailed off for a moment, placing books and other knick knacks in cardboard boxes. "Y-yeah, I'm almost done. Where's Cammy?"

       "She was knocked out by that kid from the pub, but she'll be fine. I've got her upstairs on a couch," Varg answered, grabbing a mountain of boxes. "We best get these upstairs as soon as possible. We gotta leave this place, and fast."

       "Yeah, alright, I got everything here," Alistair stated as he picked up a few boxes, half to himself and half to Varg. "Louise, did you prep the evacuation protocol?"

       "Of course," Louise nodded, almost insulted by Al's question. Though, regardless, Louise understood Alistair's worry for Reika; he was simply making doubly sure that the plan would go as smoothly as possible. "Once we get these boxes up, you send out another pulse, like always."

       "Yeah," Alistair grunted as he lugged the rest of the boxes up to the entryway with Varg. "Is that all of them?"

       "I think so..." Louise sighed as she took one last look at the home she so briefly dwelled in. "Out of all of our homes, I kinda liked this one the best."

       "I hear the Nanaimo one isn't so bad," Varg chimed in, attempting to cheer her up. "It's got a big bed for me and you."

       "I suppose so..." Louise let out an exasperated laugh as she gestured to Alistair. "Fire away, Al; I'll start looking for Reika's door." She closed her eyes, focusing on a specific energy signature.

       "Aye, aye!" Alistair saluted her as he rushed upstairs, giving his body a few seconds to charge. "Plug your ears!" Just then, Alistair's body began to let off a pale blue light. "Electro Pulse!"

       The whole bunker was consumed in Alistair's light as the energy from the pulse began to travel outside, affecting the entire park once again. Damian and Reika smiled as they saw his light in the distance, now hopeful of their family's future. Damian redirected oncoming projectiles from Maeve and Roderick, and Reika shielded them both from Thomas' tumbling boulders and Ms. Wendell's claws. Reika laid another blanket of snow along the ground, then she lifted it up and molded it around them, forming a hard-packed dome of snow as hard as concrete.

       "Good work, Reika," Damian commended her as he ran his hand through his frosty hair. "Now, let us depart."

       "Hopefully this will buy us some time," Reika rushed over to Damian's sunhat that had been caught in her ice shell, gently placing it on his head. "I'll make us an exit." Reika's used any remaining snow she left on the ground to form a snow door. "We'll have to give Louise a few seconds." She said uneasily, hearing explosions all around her.

       "Damn! This thing's a tank!" Thomas gawked at the ice shell as his boulders bounced off it like mere grains of sand.

       "We'll have to melt it!" Roderick shouted over to Maeve as they both placed their hands against the dome, slowly eating away at the construct. "We're halfway through!"

       "Aiko, where are the other two?" Ms. Wendell wondered as she stood back, watching Roderick and Maeve vaporise the snow.

       "They both retreated," Aiko filled her in. "I knocked out the girl, but the other escaped with her on his back. Should we go back?"

       "No, it's best we let them go. I think chasing them should be left to the reinforcements," Ms. Wendell replied.

*

       "Louise, can you see anything?" Varg asked, watching as Louise waved her hand around, searching for a door.

       "Uh, um..." Louise trailed off, closing her eyes and focusing her senses. "Y-yes! I see it!" Without hesitation, Louise reached out with her ability, linking the door Reika constructed with the bunker door. "Got it!"

       "Louise, do hurry," Damian muttered to himself uneasily as he felt the heat building within the ice shell.

       "Damian, the door!" Reika tugged at Damian's cuff, directing his attention towards her snow door, which led into their bunker; Louise and the rest of The Kin were on the other side. "Come!"

       "There they are!" Varg shouted, reaching for Reika's hand. "C'mon, guys!"

       With a single jump, Damian and Reika hopped through the door, disappearing just in the nick of time. The ice shell entirely disintegrated as Maeve and Roderick broke through it with their fire, and they then proceeded to scour the area for the two criminals. Alas, there was no trace of them, save for a pile of snow in the middle of the liquefied dome where the door once stood.

       "Dammit! We were so close to catching them!" Roderick kicked the pile of snow with his boot, taking in a few deep breaths before slowly running his hand through his long locks.

       "What do we do now?" Thomas asked as he walked over to Roderick.

       "We relay the new info to HQ once a relief team arrives— tell em' all we learned about The Kin," Roderick ordered Thomas, simultaneously turning to face Ms. Wendell and her two rogue students with a seething rage in his eyes. "And these students of yours, Ms. Wendell..."

       "They'll face punishment, I can assure you," Ms. Wendell insisted, standing in front of her two students, almost as if she were shielding them. "I'll tell the Headmaster of the incident, and he'll have them penalized accordingly."

       "Wait, but we-!" Maeve tried to speak up, but she was silenced by a glare from Ms. Wendell.

       "You did good work, your two," Thomas added, trying his best to cheer the two girls up. "But no amount of heroism can make up for disobedience. Sorry, that's the way things go."

       "He's right, Maeve, we shouldn't have intervened," Aiko tried to convince Maeve, but she was far too stubborn and hot-headed to listen.

       "Without us, they would've all been injured, or worse!" Maeve exploded, mistaking Aiko's comment for an insult.

       "No one is denying that, Maeve. This isn't the time to argue," Aiko pleaded with Maeve, who couldn't keep a filter on her big mouth. "We messed up, and that's that."

       "When was doing the right thing considered 'messed up'...?" Maeve grumbled, nudging Aiko as she walked past her and Yuko with a cold expression. "Imbeciles."

       "Why is she so mad?" Yuko muttered to herself as she watched Maeve storm off.

       "I think that's one question I can't answer, Yuko," Aiko replied, letting out the content of her lungs that had been built up over the course of their long day.

       "Don't mind her, you two. Maeve has always been like this since day one of the first semester: cocky, brash, arrogant..." Ms. Wendell placed a hand on Aiko's shoulder, her pleasant smile lifting the two sister's spirits by just a hair. "She's a brilliant young student, but she acts without thinking so often. It's hard to see her like this."

       "What's going to happen to us once we get back?" Aiko inquired, dreading the possibility of expulsion for her folly.

       "In light of your actions, Headmaster Colter will be far more lenient with you three, I assume," Ms. Wendell comforted Aiko and Yuko, taking a moment to let them get regain their composure. "But above all other things, I'll have Ms. Fawkes take care of that arm of yours, and we'll have Maeve's leg checked out as well." As they all followed Maeve back to the rallying point, Ms. Wendell stared up at the verdant canopy with a serene look to her. "I'm angry at you three, but nonetheless you performed admirably. As much as Roderick hates to admit it, you aided his team's efforts today, and they certainly would've lost without your help."

       "Thanks," Aiko smirked, tucking her hands into her blue jean pockets.

       "I think you'll make a fine member of the IMOP someday, Ms. Schmitt," Ms. Wendell nodded, her cat eyes still watching the trees wave in the wind.

[readbookywooks]

The sun rose slowly, as if it wasn't sure it was worth all the effort. Another Disc day dawned, but very gradually, and this is why. When light encounters a strong magical field it loses ail sense of urgency. It slows right down. And on the Discworld the magic was embarrassingly strong, which meant that the soft yellow light of dawn flowed over the sleeping landscape like the caress of a gentle lover or, as some would have it, like golden syrup. It paused to fill up valleys. It piled up against mountain ranges. When it reached Cori Celesti, the ten mile spire of grey stone and green ice that marked the hub of the Disc and was the home of its gods, it built up in heaps until it finally crashed in great lazy tsunami as silent as velvet, across the dark landscape beyond. It was a sight to be seen on no other world. Of course, no other world was carried through the starry infinity on the backs of four giant elephants, who A'ere themselves perched on the shell of a giant turtle. His name – or Her name, according to another school of thought – was Great A'Tuin; he – or, as it might be, she – will not take a central role in what follows but it is vital to an understanding of the Disc that he – or she – is there, down below the mines and sea ooze and fake fossil bones put there by a Creator with nothing better to do than upset archeologists and give them silly ideas. Great A'Tuin the star turtle, shell frosted with frozen methane, pitted with meteor craters, and scoured with asteroidal dust. Great A'Tuin, with eyes like ancient seas and a brain the size of a continent through which thoughts moved like little glittering glaciers. Great A'Tuin of the great slow sad flippers and star-polished carapace, labouring through the galactic night under the weight of the Disc. As large as worlds. As old as Time. As patient as a brick. Actually, the philosophers have got it all wrong. Great A'Tuin is in fact having a great time. Great A'Tuin is the only creature in the entire universe that knows exactly where it is going. Of course, philosophers have debated for years about where Great A'Tuin might be going, and have often said how worried they are that they might never find out. They're due to find out in about two months. And then they're really going to worry . . . Something else that has long worried the more imaginative philosophers on the Disc is the question of Great A'Tuin's sex, and quite a lot of time and trouble has been spent in trying to establish it once and for all. In fact, as the great dark shape drifts past like an endless tortoiseshell hairbrush, the results of the latest effort are just coming into view. Tumbling past, totally out of control, is the bronze shell of the Potent Voyager, a sort of neolithic spaceship built and pushed over the edge by the astronomer-priests of Krull, which is conveniently situated on the very rim of the world and proves, whatever people say, that there is such a thing as a free launch. Inside the ship is Twoflower, the Disc's first tourist. He had recently spent some months exploring it and is now rapidly leaving it for reasons that are rather complicated but have to do with an attempt to escape from Krull. This attempt has been one thousand per cent successful. But despite all the evidence that he may be the Disc's last tourist as well, he is enjoying the view. Plunging along some two miles above him is Rincewind the wizard, in what on the Disc passes for a spacesuit. Picture it as a diving suit designed by men who have never seen the sea. Six months ago he was a perfectly ordinary failed wizard. Then he met Twoflower, was employed at an outrageous salary as his guide, and has spent most of the intervening time being shot at, terrorised, chased and hanging from high places with no hope of salvation or, as is now the case, dropping from high places. He isn't looking at the view because his past life keeps flashing in front of his eyes and getting in the way. He is learning why it is that when you put on a spacesuit it is vitally important not to forget the helmet. A lot more could be included now to explain why these two are dropping out of the world, and why Twoflower's Luggage, last seen desperately trying to follow him on hundreds of little legs, is no ordinary suitcase, but such questions take time and could be more trouble than they are worth. For example, it is said that someone at a party once asked the famous philosopher Ly Tin Weedle 'Why are you here?' and the reply took three years. What is far more important is an event happening way overhead, far above A'Tuin, the elephants and the rapidly-expiring wizard. The very fabric of time and space is about to be put through the wringer. The air was greasy with the distinctive feel of magic, and acrid with the smoke of candles made of a black wax whose precise origin a wise man wouldn't inquire about. There was something very strange about this room deep in the cellars of Unseen University, the Disc's premier college of magic. For one thing it seemed to have too many dimensions, not exactly visible, just hovering out of eyeshot. The walls were covered with occult symbols, and most of the floor was taken up by the Eightfold Seal of Stasis, generally agreed in magical circles to have all the stopping power of a well-aimed half brick. The only furnishing in the room was a lectern dark wood, carved into the shape of a bird – well, to be frank, into the shape of a winged thing it is probably best not to examine too closely – and on the lectern, fastened to it by a heavy chain covered in padlocks, was a book. A large, but not particularly impressive, book. Other books in the University's libraries had covers inlaid with rare jewels and fascinating wood, or bound with dragon skin. This one was just a rather tatty leather. It looked the sort of book described in library catalogues as 'slightly foxed', although it would be more honest to admit that it looked as though it had been badgered, wolved and possibly beared as well. Metal clasps held it shut. They weren't decorated, they were just very heavy – like the chain, which didn't so much attach the book to the lectern as tether it. They looked like the work of someone who had a pretty definite aim in mind, and who had spent most of his life making training harness for elephants. The air thickened and swirled. The pages of the book began to crinkle in a quite horrible, deliberate way, and blue light spilled out from between them. The silence of the room crowded in like a fist, slowly being clenched. Half a dozen wizards in their nightshirts were taking turns to peer in through the little grille in the door. No wizard could sleep with this sort of thing going on – the build-up of raw magic was rising through the university like a tide. 'Right,' said a voice. What's going on? And why wasn't I summoned?' Galder Weatherwax, Supreme Grand Conjuror of the Order of the Silver Star, Lord Imperial of the Sacred Staff, Eighth Level Ipsissimus and 304th Chancellor of Unseen University, wasn't simply an impressive sight even in his red nightshirt with the hand-embroidered mystic runes, even in his long cap with the bobble on, even with the Wee Willie Winkie candlestick in his hand. He even managed to very nearly pull it off in fluffy pompom slippers as well. Six frightened faces turned towards him. 'Um, you were summoned, lord,' said one of the under-wizards. 'That's why you're here,' he added helpfully. 'I mean why wasn't I summoned before?' snapped Galder, pushing his way to the grille. 'Um, before who, lord?' said the wizard. Galder glared at him, and ventured a quick glance through the grille. The air in the room was now sparkling with tiny flashes as dust motes incinerated in the flow of raw magic. The Seal of Stasis was beginning to blister and curl up at the edges. The book in question was called the Octavo and, quite obviously, it was no ordinary book. There are of course many famous books of magic. Some may talk of the Necrotelicomnicon, with its pages made of ancient lizard skin; some may point to the Book of Going Forth Around Elevenish, written by a mysterious and rather lazy Llamaic sect; some may recall that the Bumper Fun Grimoire reputedly contains the one original joke left in the universe. But they are all mere pamphlets when compared with the Octavo, which the Creator of the Universe reputedly left behind – with characteristic absent-mindedness – shortly after completing his major work. The eight spells imprisoned in its pages led a secret and complex life of their own, and it was generally believed that — Galder's brow furrowed as he stared into the troubled room. Of course, there were only seven spells now. Some young idiot of a student wizard had stolen a look at the book one day and one of the spells had escaped and lodged in his mind. No-one had ever managed to get to the bottom of how it had happened. What was his name, now? Winswand? Octarine and purple sparks glittered on the spine of the book. A thin curl of smoke was beginning to rise from the lectern, and the heavy metal clasps that held the book shut were definitely beginning to look strained. 'Why are the spells so restless?' said one of the younger wizards. Galder shrugged. He couldn't show it, of course, but he was beginning to be really worried. As a skilled eighth-level wizard he could see the half-imaginary shapes that appeared momentarily in the vibrating air, wheedling arid beckoning. In much the same way that gnats appear before a thunderstorm, really heavy build-ups of magic always attracted things from the chaotic Dungeon Dimensions – nasty Things, all misplaced organs and spittle, forever searching for any gap through which they might sidle into the world of men. [1] This had to be stopped. 'I shall need a volunteer,' he said firmly. There was a sudden silence. The only sound came from behind the door. It was the nasty little noise of metal parting under stress. 'Very well, then,' he said. 'In that case I shall need some silver tweezers, about two pints of cat's blood, a small whip and a chair —' It is said that the opposite of noise is silence. This isn't true. Silence is only the absence of noise. Silence would have been a terrible din compared to the sudden soft implosion of noiselessness that hit the wizards with the force of an exploding dandelion clock. A thick column of spitting light sprang up from the book, hit the ceiling in a splash of flame, and disappeared. Galder stared up at the hole, ignoring the smouldering patches in his beard. He pointed dramatically. To the upper cellars!' he cried, and bounded up the stone stairs. Slippers flapping and nightshirts billowing he other wizards followed him, falling over one another in their eagerness to be last. Nevertheless, they were all in time to see the fireball of occult potentiality disappear into the ceiling of the room above. 'Urgh,' said the youngest wizard, and pointed to the floor. The room had been part of the library until the magic had drifted through, violently reassembling the possibility particles of everything in its path. So it was reasonable to assume that the small purple newts had been part of the floor and the pineapple custard may once have been some books. And several of the wizards later swore that the small sad orang outang sitting in the middle of it all looked very much like the head librarian. Galder stared upwards. 'To the kitchen!' he bellowed, wading through the custard to the next flight of stairs. No-one ever found out what the great cast-iron cooking range had been turned into, because it had broken down a wall and made good its escape before the dishevelled party of wild-eyed mages burst into the room. The vegetable chef was found much later hiding in the soup cauldron, gibbering unhelpful things like The knuckles! The horrible knuckles!'