#tree wall decal

[dearestdecals]

Tree Wall Decal for Scout Sets :Dearest Little Decals

Create a magical nursery with Dearest Little Decals' enchanting tree wall decals. Our neutral designs add a touch of nature to any room, perfect for calming and inspiring little ones.

[puppixel]

Kids Room - Transitional Kids

Kids' room design for a mid-sized transitional girl with a medium-toned wood floor and white walls.

[punkr0ckkid]

Traditional Bedroom - Wallpaper Inspiration for a huge timeless master medium tone wood floor, brown floor, tray ceiling and wallpaper bedroom remodel with gray walls

[marlynnofmany]

Exciting update on the "Making the House Awesome" front:

(The cat has already tried to use the mock-stonework as a scratching post, but not the door, which actually looks like wood. Cat logic.)

Anyways, this is looking great, and we're very excited.

[mermazeablaze]

Saw this vaguely threatening wall decal at Dollar Tree earlier.

[buyitnowww]

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[felixandresims]

This is the third part of the Estate Set. This time, it's a mix of items. You will get items for the garden, and I finished a few objects for the interior, too.

You will get:

Garden Furniture, including an armchair, loveseat, lounger and a parasol

Wrought Iron Gate and Fence

Hydrangea Bush and Potted Hydrangea

Cone-shaped Topiary and Potted Version

Different Hedge Pieces

Potted Citrus Tree

Timber Panelling

Plaster Walls with Trim

Adam Style Wall with Decals for extra Decoration

Curtains for all three Wall Heights

Several people have contacted me because the wallpapers haven't been showing correctly in their games since the DirectX 11 update. This update is in beta; I think the mistake might be on the EA's end, and I believe this will be fixed once DirectX 11 is appropriately released. If you are playing on DirectX 11, there is a fix. You can Download the latest version of Sims4Studio and run a Batchfix. Go to Content Management -> Batch Fixes -> Misc -> Update images for DX11. That should do the job and fix your wallpapers.

This is the final Part of the Estate Set for now. I enjoyed working on this subject and will likely continue this Set in the Future. Don't worry if you liked this content. I shall stay in the same world for the coming months, but it will be Cottagy instead of estate. I enjoyed making the Plants and Vines in the Estate Set, and I think a Cottage Garden would be an excellent continuation from there :)

This Set is on Early Access and will be available for everyone in November :) And you will find it here

Thanks again for your support and lovely comments; I appreciate them!

Lots of Love,

Felix xxx

[hometoursandotherstuff]

I stumbled on this article about 29 Western Gothic Nursery Ideas and I'm so impressed. These ideas can be used for baby, but why not for inspiration for older children's room and adult decor? You gotta see these. This one is called "Mythical Creatures." According to the article, it introduces fantastic beasts like griffins and unicorns into a nursery. Deep jewel tones mixed with soft pastels create a magical yet calming space, perfect for stimulating imagination.

Moonlit Haven brings the peaceful charm of a moonlit meadow indoors. Soft blues and silvers mimic the glow of the moon, while plush moon-shaped pillows and serene meadow-themed wall art enhance the tranquil atmosphere.

Twilight Magic captures the whimsical charm of twilight. Deep purples and blues set a mystical tone, while twinkling fairy lights and mythical creature toys spark curiosity. 

Starry Enchantment brings celestial wonder, combining deep navy hues and silver accents. Star-patterned walls and a night sky ceiling inspire dreams of galactic adventures, while plush star-shaped cushions add comfort and charm.

Mystic Moonlight creates a dreamy nursery, using pale colors and silvery moonbeam motifs. Delicate, floating fabrics and lunar landscapes inspire a sense of wonder and calm.

Gothic Grove brings the charm of an ancient garden indoors. Rich greens and earth tones, paired with floral and vine patterns, create a lush, calming atmosphere. Dark wood furniture and soft lighting enhance the theme’s historic feel.

Eclipse Dreams features a theme inspired by the mystery of an eclipse. Dark colors contrasted with gold accents mimic the sun’s corona, while celestial patterns create a cozy, restful space.

Nightshade Nursery embraces deep purples and soft blacks, creating a secret garden vibe. Subtle botanical prints and shadowy decor inspire storytelling and imagination, while plush rugs ensure a cozy, magical space.

Willow Whispers brings the gentle grace of willow trees. Soft greens and earth tones create a serene atmosphere, while willow branch wall decals sway peacefully, making it the perfect setting for a soothing nursery.

Windy Whispers captures the gentle flow of the wind. Airy fabrics and soft, flowing designs bring a dynamic element to the room, while soft blues and grays create a serene space.

Celestial Dreams brings the night sky indoors. Starry patterns and glow-in-the-dark ceiling stars create a soothing, cosmic environment.

Fairytale Dungeon offers a playful twist, transforming the space into a whimsical medieval fantasy. Castle-like furniture, dragon toys, and soft, ambient lighting create a space full of adventure and charm.

Gargoyle’s Lair incorporates mythical Gothic elements with gargoyle figurines and rugged textures. Stone-gray tones and plush gargoyle toys create a unique space. 

Castle Dreams transforms a nursery into a storybook castle with royal murals, plush thrones, and regal fabrics. Purple and gold accents add a touch of nobility.

Midnight Meadows features calming nocturnal murals. Large wall art depicting moonlit scenes sets a peaceful tone, while indirect lighting enhances the magical nighttime atmosphere.

Gothic Spires draws on cathedral architecture, incorporating pointed arches and soft gray tones for a serene, collected space. Angelic motifs and stained glass details add to the calming environment.

Enchanted Sanctuary creates a magical nursery filled with mystical books and lantern-like lighting. Soft, muted colors and luxurious textures make the space feel warm and enchanting.

Ghostly Playroom introduces playful ghost motifs that create a fun, cozy atmosphere. Soft, pale colors and plush ghost-shaped pillows add whimsy without being spooky.

Lavender Maze brings intricate patterns and soft purples. Labyrinthine designs on wallpaper or rugs add a touch of charm, while simple furniture keeps the room calm and soothing.

Wraith’s Playground is a whimsical take using light, ethereal fabrics to create an airy, magical space. Pale colors and ghostly motifs make the room playful and calming.

Shaded Comfort focuses on muted grays and soft blacks, creating a subtle, shadowy atmosphere that’s perfect for quiet comfort. Soft, plush materials provide both coziness and sophistication.

Cheerful Spirits brings friendly, playful ghost motifs. Bright accents and ghost-shaped pillows add fun to the room, creating a stimulating yet cozy environment.

Twilight Cuddles captures the soft light of dusk. Dusky purples and shimmering fabrics evoke a peaceful, twilight sky, perfect for soothing before bed.

Storybook Charm brings classic fairy tale elements. Deep colors, ornate frames, and vintage toys create an enchanting, adventure-filled space.

Peaceful Tombs embraces the serenity of Gothic architecture. Arched doorways, soft lighting, and muted earth tones create a tranquil, retreat-like environment.

Mystical Reflections uses mirrors to create a sense of depth and magic. Reflective surfaces paired with enchanted forest-themed decor add an element of surprise and wonder.

Raven’s Haven brings the mysterious beauty of ravens into the room with dark, rich colors and plush raven toys. Artwork of ravens in moonlit trees adds a touch of Gothic elegance.

Sapphire Dreams creates a Gothic nursery with deep, calming sapphire hues and silver accents. Dark wood furniture with Gothic detailing completes the serene, magical space.

Gentle Guardians softens the traditional gargoyle motif into playful, friendly figures. Stone-gray tones and whimsical gargoyle toys create a balanced, inviting space.

https://learncalifornia.org/western-gothic-nursery/

[valiasims]

WIP #63

Hey everyone!

I'm here to show you the next WIP! I didn’t get as much done as I hoped since my sister came to visit and we spent a few days together.

The first thing I did was redoing the UV map for the rattan chair. Someone suggested I shold make a loveseat version and I always try to link the textures between similar items, so I had to adjust it for that.

Next up, I wanted to make a wallpaper and I won’t lie, I spent so much time on it because I just wasn’t happy with how my early attempts looked. I almost gave up and thought about leaving it out of the set, but I really hate giving up on things, so I kept pushing through (even though I didn’t have much time.

The version you can see in the picture above is what I finally came up with, and I’m somewhat satisfied with it. It gives off the vibe I was going for!

This was one of my earlier tries, but I really didn’t like the quality, so I decided to separate the cracks into decals and go for a “cleaner” base wall instead. I do like the colors though, so I’ll include some swatches in this style!

And lastly, I made the crack/damage decal. I’ll work on a few more tomorrow. I really love using the in-game ones, they can add so much character to a building.

Also, I wanted to show you the other side of the door because I’m really liking how the hardware turned out.

Next up: I really need to do the windows and finish the texture for the citrus tree. I also want to make a table to go with the patio furniture. So many tasks, so little time! :D

At this point, I can already tell I won’t have time to finish everything I had planned for the outdoor theme in this set, so I’ll continue it in the next part as well. I want to make more plants and gardening pieces, but that’ll come later!

[villainintern]

... is an upcoming Choicescript interactive fiction game! You can follow development updates on the dev blog here, view the forum page here, and play the demo here.

Villain Intern is currently right at the end of Chapter One: Onboarding as of 5/18/25, sitting at just over 58,000 words.

[FAQ Here and character introductions here, for the newer villains!]

Play as an aspiring supervillain interning at UnderHand, a legacy criminal corporation. Start from the bottom and navigate a world where everyone has it out for you, leveraging your strange superhuman abilities and your knack for manipulation. Make a name for yourself as an executive villain (with your own swanky corner office!), or turn against your higher-ups and usurp the company,…or throw away your promising career for the greater good, I guess...

Powers and Customization:

Choose from two different ability trees. Play as either a homemade cyborg with (painful looking) mechanical augmentations of your own design, or a genetically mutated freak with mysterious, bizarre abilities derived from animal genes. Choose 3 of the 9 unique abilities available for each power type, which update (or mutate) to scale as you get stronger. Climb walls, perfectly mimic any voice, rotate your head 360 degrees, talk to the AI assistant in your brain, etc etc! As a rule, you start out villainous, but whether you’re charming or sinister, sniveling or demanding, and backstabbing or frontstabbing is up to you.

______________________________________________________________

Key Characters and Relationships

Relationship progression tracks two major stats- your connection with a character, and your rivalry, which are not mutually exclusive. So you can romance your greatest nemesis, backstab your closest friend, that kind of thing. Or both at once, with the same person, even..

Fellow Interns:

👾 Peter Hyde is your cubicle neighbor, a geeky slackoff who’s fond of novelty ties. Unlike you, Peter doesn’t really want to be here, but he seems for some reason unable to quit. Laid-back, conflict avoidant, and generally easy to manipulate, he’s easy minion material for the MC- but his attitude belies a volatile, monstrous secret. Which can be a great asset or a major risk, depending on if you can maintain your control over him.

🤖 T9-670 is a seven-foot tall ex-war machine. Once a military member conscripted to UnderHand’s private security decal, its contract didn’t end when it died- the soldier’s brain was transplanted into a humanoid steel frame with a dark glass plate for a face. T9 is doing some soul searching- it’s not totally sure if it even has one left, but it would like to have a purpose beyond fixing printers and mowing down UnderHand’s enemies with its plasma gun.

🔬 Dr. Dr. Elaine Foster is an up-and-coming mad scientist, assistant to the esteemed Dr. Shrink. Don’t bring up the fact that she has two doctorates and is still an intern. She’s a genius prodigy, but otherwise has no superhuman abilities, which causes her to be overlooked by your superiors. Passionate and inscrutable, she’s obsessed with making it to the top her own way, and will remain one step ahead of you if you aren’t careful.

🧪 Reid/Reney Sullivan (gender selectable, nb included) is your nemesis, or at least they think so. They’re employed by OverSight, the subsidized hero-corporation that works in tandem with the government. An interning hero with impressive telekinetic powers, they are nonetheless as much of an amateur as you, and so you find yourself on even footing with one of the most promising superheroes in the business. Earnest and witty, they genuinely just want to help people. Eventually, they become fixated on “figuring you out”, which can lead to them getting sucked into your schemes. That, or their meddling could be your downfall. Worst of all, they might even succeed in reforming you.

There’s also 👁️ Blink, a rogue superhuman- some say vigilante, others say independent villain. Completely anonymous, they wear a unique suit of tactical gear that allows them to turn completely invisible, the first of its kind. Quippy, chipper, and sauntering, they tend to use their powers for ridiculous, showy things like popping up behind newscasters on TV. An invisible superhuman that loves the spotlight, Blink is full of contradictions. And secrets, big ones, that pertain to you.

… plus a cast of older, more established villains and heroes- including The Man, UnderHand’s enigmatic CEO. A faceless, hollow man in an empty suit. Actually, nobody’s ever seen anything but the suit, so he might just be the suit.

______________________________________________________________

FURTHER READING: 🌃THE PINTEREST BOARD 🎧THE PLAYLIST

TAG ORGANIZATION: VI Updates - The big stuff, new demo content VI Info - The info posts, development news VI Asks - Anything coming through the inbox VI Characters - Character related info/bonus content VI Sketches - Doodles and concept art Lore - What it says on the tin. Anything worldbuildy The Fridge - The place of honor for fan art! Pinned to my imaginary fridge with a digital magnet

[thawme]

vampire!gojo satoru who knows from the moment he sees you cross that threshold that you're a hunter. the dim lighting of the bar is no problem for him—sharp, icy eyes follow you, watch how your own eyes slide around the space with intent, always prepared for anything. they see how, at just the right angle—just barely—a small silver decal of your family crest gleams on the hidden holster at your hip. there's no doubt that anybody else would miss it, but gojo satoru is not anybody else.

it's why he saunters up to you and buys you a drink.

and you're not stupid, either—you've grown up in this world, were born and raised to be a hunter. it's in your blood, the roots of your family tree. you know exactly what he is. when your hands brush and you feel the cold skin of his fingers, it's not accidental. he wants you to know.

it's a game of cat and mouse, but who's the cat? the mouse?

you're both enjoying it too much, both rightfully confident in your abilities. at first, you dance around it. method acting, like either one of you could ever be a normal, regular person. purposely acting oblivious as if at a moment's notice, something couldn't shift and end with one of you choking on your final struggled breath.

the game continues, escalates—

satoru pushing you up against the wall, panting into your open mouth with eyes such a clear, unnatural blue that they're almost see-through. your palm firm against him as you force him flat against the bed, straddling him—

the wooden stake you trail lightly, teasingly down his toned chest. his teeth bared in a wicked grin, fangs protruding, head tilted upwards enough that they graze the soft skin of your throat. he fucks you better than any human ever has, ruthless, hard snaps of his hips like neither of you will live to see another day—

but somehow, you always do. you'll kill him eventually, you think. he's sure he'll kill you, too—but while you both wait for the other to strike first, is it so wrong to keep enjoying the game?

[dearestdecals]

Fairy Garden Wall Decals and Wallpaper: Create a Magical Nursery

Create a magical nursery with fairy garden wall decals & wallpaper. Explore nursery wall art ideas & motivational tree designs by Dearest Little Decals.

[incognitopolls]

We ask your questions so you don’t have to! Submit your questions to have them posted anonymously as polls.

[spleenthecat]

ok i have another ford headcanon. what? its nwhs birthday still? ohhh. yeaah. this is totally related to that. happy 10 years of ford or whatever. this is definitely for that and i planned this ford pines is a trinket guy. this man has 12 shelves full of just little things. figurines, stickers, posters, prints, pins, magnets, plushies. he has it all. tardis figurines. doctor who posters. star trek posters. mothman plushies. pine trees everywhere. even mcguckets inventions that hes gifted to him (THEYRE MARRIED) are put on display. he loves having stuff to look at. he loves collecting shit. every little gift hes ever received is lovingly placed on a shelf or wall. you cant see out of the back window of that mans car from the amount of stickers and decals (probably to the point where its technically illegal but that never stopped him). you cant trust that man unsupervised in a store because he WILL be making impulsive purchases (or just stealing them. you know his pockets are filled to the brim with random stuff everytime he leaves a place.) he loves it. he loves it so so so so so much. he probably has a fuck ton of piercings and accessories and jewelry too. he loves decorating himself. its so much fun for him are you kidding. stan wears flashy shit for the sake of showing wealth. ford does it for the love of the game.

[hamsterbellbelle]

CC list #2 for Messy Christmas Apartment🎦:

CC list #1 HERE

Towel (bathroom) || Video game console || Vinyl clutter - A - B || Vinyl crate || Wall board || Wall flyers || Wall shelf || Wall stickers/decal || Wallpaper/ladder/paint can || Wallpaper - A - B || Washing machine || Water kettle ||

🐹             🐹             🐹             🐹             🐹 

Animated holiday tree || Animate maneki neko || Ashtray || Chair with clothes || Coat rack tree/stringed lightbulbs/coffee table/Fireplace TV || Cyberpunk poster || Cyberpunk samurai album || Cyberpunk wall decal ||

Door gate deco || Door || Elevated microwave || Fridge || Newspaper || Piano || Plastic table || Stool || Wall duct || Wires ||

[theflashdriver]

Droids and Dens (A Silvaze D&D Fanfic)

After weeks spent braving freezing temperatures, foraging in venomous swamps, and cleaving through deadly jungles, Silver the hedgehog had finally arrived at the last bastion on the far eastern fringe of the continent- a tavern known as the Oaken Foxhole. This inn took the form of a hollowed tree, greater than any the adventurer had ever seen, maintained with brass patchwork, brightened by stained glass windows, and decorated with colourful bulbs shaped like acorns. Beyond it, the sunset to his back, the hedgehog could see the grim mountain he'd sought- even miles away it seemed to loom over the great tree with a menacing intent. A large part of him wanted to skip this right of passage, to head straight for his quarry and begin this adventure, but he knew this next step was not to be taken lightly.

A bell chimed as he pushed the door open, revealing a surprisingly homey interior. The trunk interior had been almost completely hollowed, looking up revealed a spiralling staircase that surely led to a variety of within distinct upper branches of the tree. On ground level however tables made from oversized polished gears were surrounded by more traditionally crafted wooden chairs- all the decor seemed to mix nature and metal in near even measure. Blazing away to itself on the right side of the room sat a furnace that would have better suited a factory, but was being used to both heat the space and cook a bubbling stew. Oddly, despite the space being so large and welcoming, there was only one patron in the premises- a hooded figure sat on a stool at the bar top.

Quickly, his eyes were drawn past that person and to the far wall. Beside shelves containing liquor and cutlery, there was a large cork board with posters tacked upon it. Stepping closer revealed them to be a variety of missing person notices; all offering rewards for information and seeking answers, each with a drawn depictions of the lost individual. Among them were a rugged looking red echidna, a pink hedgehog wearing a winged headdress, a jackal with a crooked mask, a rabbit with a prominent pink horn, a raccoon who looked like a pirate, and countless others. There were so many that some had plainly been crowded out and covered.

The newest of the posters, judging by its position atop many others, was in full colour and carried with it a more significant reward. Unlike the others, Silver had seen this poster in almost every tavern during his journey- Princess Blaze, heir to the land, had disappeared while in transit more than a month ago. He'd heard countless rumours about what had happened, ranging from kidnapping to romantic rendezvous. The most common theory was that a mechanical monster had snatched her, just as they had so many others...

"Make yourself comfortable, I'll be with you in a moment!" A youthful voice chimed from somewhere above.

The psychic claimed a barstool three seats down from the sole other patron and tried to stealthily shoot her a glance. Despite being inside, she had her hood up- a purple piece of fabric with holes for her ears and ponytail, seemingly completely detached from the robes she was wearing. Fiery decals were etched in into her purple cloak in a way that matched its cyan trim. Across her garb were also occasional leather and metallic features. Her fur was midnight black with blue highlights and red flourishes. There was also a strange red gem at the centre of her forehead, surrounded by silver etching like that on her clothes. On sight alone, Silver was confident that she was some sort of specialised spellcaster.

Then again, perhaps that was wrong to presume- despite the glowing sigils on his own hands, he couldn't get by on magic alone. Silver's own adventuring gear didn't look nearly as well put together as hers- being mostly salvaged. The longbow slung over his back had been repaired just yesterday, and the quiver that accompanied it contained a mismatch of different styles of arrow. Ill-fitting dark leather armour made a checkerboard with his white fur, just about matching his boots. By his waist hung both a short sword and a scimitar, made by different blacksmiths, and the cuffs that channeled his magic were self-crafted from woven mistletoe springs. He liked to think he looked rugged, but the cat looked quite professional by-

Out of the corner of his eye, the traveller noticed the feline's tail snap to attention. Despite her not so much as looking at him, the hedgehog felt like he'd been caught staring and quickly his attention dropped to the lacquered wood of the countertop. Given their position at the edge of civilisation, making enemies probably wasn't the best of ideas. She hadn't even turned around when he arrived; the cat plainly didn't want to be social.

"Ah yet another adventurer graces my humble tavern, welcome to the Oaken Foxhole," Silver's gaze raised just in time to watch a yellow fox descend from above to land behind the bar, slowed by his pair of spinning tails, "I take it you want a room for the night?"

The fellow wore an apron, but looked to be much more of a mechanic than a barkeep. His clothes and gloves were stained with dark oil rather than the cooking sort, and a set of goggles sat atop his head. Once he'd landed, he immediately started to rummage behind the counter.

"Yes, a room and..." Silver's brow furrowed, "Wait, another? There have been others?"

"Oh yeah, lots of folks stop here before setting out," The barkeep set a key on the work surface before turning to point toward the missing person posters, "Just about everyone on that board stopped here before taking a trip to the Den of Iron. Did you think you were the first?"

"I thought a couple might've, not that many though," He answered, "That's a lot of people..."

"Some say that they're all alive somewhere up there, that they have some sort of settlement hidden up in the mountains, but that's just speculation. I've never heard it from folks retreating though and, trust me, those who do escape tend to talk a lot about what they've seen," The barkeep recounted, "Are you planning to head up there alone?"

"I was," Silver nodded, "But I take it that's a bad idea?"

"Groups of people tend to have better luck coming back alive," The fox grimaced, "Of course, even then, there are exceptions... the Den of Iron really is a dangerous place," A curious look overcame the fellow's prior regret, "If you don't mind me asking, why are you heading up there?"

"Well, I've been in villages raided by machines from the mountain. I've fought them off before but they just keep coming- stealing away people, destroying lives and families," Silver answered, hearing the seriousness in his voice, "I'm here to do what needs to be done. I'm going to stop the machines at the source- no matter what it takes!"

"Oh wow, most people are just here chasing rumours of treasure or trying to find their missing friends. You've set an even more difficult goal," The fox seemed excited, "I've only met one other person with that mission..."

"Really?" The hedgehog blinked, "W-

Cutting off the hedgehog's ask, the cat's stool squeaked against the floor. Before the hedgehog could turn she was already looking down at him; her icy blue eyes deep into her yellow set. Almost instinctively, the hedgehog's hand grasped the handle of his short sword in preparation to fight.

"This isn't some day trip for fools with flowers in their hair," Her tone was icy cold, "You're going to get yourself killed."

"Flowers in their..." Silver reached up with his free hand, his fingers found stems interlaced with his quills, "Oh, no, I didn't do this, it just sort of happens to me. I must have forgot to brush them out," With a tug he removed a handful of forget me nots from his fronds, "It's a side effect of my magic. Apparently different people end up with antlers or horns... I got these."

The cat didn't look impressed as he held the small bouquet up to her, "You should go home."

"What?" This stranger was trying to look out for him, but now a growl had now entered in his tone.

"This is not your battle," She reiterated, "Go home and defend those villages, look after your own rather than throwing your life away."

"I'm done defending, it's time to strike back!" The ranger snarled, rising to his full height, "Who are you to tell me what to do. Sure, you look professional, but there's not a mark on any of your kit. I bet you've never even been in a fight before."

"How often I've fought is none of your concern," There was no anger in her voice, but that only served to frustrate Silver more, "Ending the metallic madness is my duty. By turning you away, I shall make you the first person I save from-

"I don't need saving!" As he shouted, accidentally crushing the flowers in his grasp, "I've come this far, you can't make me turn back- I'm going to the Den of Iron, whether you like it or not!"

"Then you will be rendered no more than a statistic, yet another fool who dashed themself against the metal mountain. You'll leave nothing but a missing poster behind, pleading for an explanation of your misspent life," The mage spat up at him.

This time, her words were sharp enough to give him pause. Who did this stranger think she was? People had told him to give up before, but none with this ferocity. Others had always suggested it out of concern for the ranger, or a selfish want for him to defend them rather than risk his life to save others. This was different, it was as though she wanted to take his struggles for herself. If that really was her intent, she was even more foolish than him!

"You didn't even know that other adventurers have braved the mountain," Her words snapped him free from his thoughts, "Regardless of your righteous intentions, you're plainly unprepared for this task."

"Neither are you! No one knows what's in the den, you're just as ignorant as I am," Maybe that wasn't true, but it felt good to say, "You don't know if you're going to succeed; you might end up captured or even killed! I don't care if you think this is your so-called duty, I'm going to give this my all and save everyone."

"Both of you, please!" Silver had forgot the fox was even present, "I won't have fights breaking out in my tavern. You two should-

The jingling of a bell cut the barkeep off and pulled the trio's attention to the doorway. Framed by the black of night, a truly bizarre form had stepped through the doorway. They were nothing but a torso and four limbs- glowing on the front of its chest were a pair of squinted eyes and a jaw-like vent beneath it, both glowing an intense red. The mechanical form was as tall as a man, with its yellow and black paint scheme only occasionally breached by hints of metallic grey.

Static crackled from the figure, "Seize them!" It seemed to shout.

The sound of glass shattering threw the adventurer's attention skyward just in time to see eight more mechanical forms had breached the upper floors of tavern. Their bodies were spherical rather than cubed and red rather than yellow- each wielded a nasty looking axe with gear-like teeth on its blade. Rather than red light, the energy glowing from their venting mouth and eyes yellow. That glowing aura seemed to be allowing the mechanical warriors to fly.

Before he could react, the black feline hissed an incantation beneath her breath and clawed her fingers. From her outstretched palms, three bolts of flame shot toward the skyward intruders. Two of the drones were struck before they could react- Silver expected their parts to tumble to the ground, but instead they completely vanished in a flash of yellow light. The third managed to block much of a scorching ray with its axe, only taking a small amount of damage. Silver made a mental note that it didn't seem to be enough to engage whatever emergency protocol had teleported the other two away. When he looked back down to the spellcaster she was weaving her hands together, was she preparing to channel even more magic!?

Unwilling to let her show him up, the ranger drew both his short sword and scimitar- charging the only foe on ground level. As he darted across the tavern, magical energy feeling his blades thrum in resonance with his magic. All that was to say, it was pretty disappointing when his first swing went wide and completely miss. Despite that failing, he harnessed the momentum to swipe his scimitar across the robot's chest-face. As the gash was struck, he felt a surge of psychic energy travel with the attack to cut even deeper!

As the warrior locked eyes with the machine, he realised it would take a lot more than that to deactivate it. Almost immediately, the cube-shaped droid was on the offensive. Its metallic hands balled into hammer-like fists and began to swing wildly. The first punch almost knocked him from his feet, but that thankfully put him in position to dodge the following two strikes. Unfortunately, the fourth still managed to catch his nose and force the hedgehog into a defensive stance.

In the aftermath of his pummelling. the hedgehog threw a glance back to the cat just as the floating droids were starting their assault. Their maw-like vents stretched wide and from each a serrated spinning gear was shot down- all aimed at the feline mage. The pyromancer managed to weave around three of them, but the fourth sliced her right forearm, the fifth caught in her shoulder, and the sixth scored down her back.

Time seemed to slow as the cat took damage, with the last strike tearing the hood from her head. As she winced in pain, her pitch black fur lost its azure highlights before rapidly brightening. What had once been black and blue was quickly replaced by white and purple. When her eyes reopened, they'd gone from icy to warm amber! Her appearance had been the result of a spell, one that did more than merely disguise her beneath an illusion- she had fully altered her form. The sorceress was none other than the missing princess, Blaze the cat!

Before Silver could process what was in front of him, the cat brought crossed her forearms and grabbed her shoulders. The energy she'd been channeling before manifested as flames dancing across her body; fire pushed the saw blade from her shoulder and licked along her wounds. Excess fire was gathered in her hand and thrown skyward, finishing off the droid she had already wounded. Likely anticipating another assault from above, she slid down to hide beneath one of the tables.

"Get to cover!" She hissed over at him, glancing to find the barman had done the same.

That wasn't going to be easy, stepping back would surely provoke an attack from the red robot! He scoured his mind for a spell, there was only one option. If he could land a blow, he could make this work!

First he attempted to pierce with his short sword, but the blow was deflected by the droid's still writhing form. Silver didn't hesitate- he thrust his scimitar for the figure's core... and it was a hit! The contact was shallow, but it would be more than enough. Cyan light raced along the edge of the blade, spreading across the machine's metal body. Prickly bands of psychic energy bound the droid, stopping it from flailing and tangling its arms close to its chest. It lurched as Silver stepped back, but the machine's attempt fell short! He managed to join the princess beneath the table.

"Are you okay?" He instantly asked, "I can heal you-

"I'm fine," She curtly responded, "Do you know any other spells?"

"Only a handful," Not only that, concentrating on the cube-droid's bindings further limited his options, "Nothing that will really change this situation."

"I've got a few more prepared, but I've spent my most powerful ones. I'm close to relying on cantrips," From the depths of her robes the cat drew out a large purple gemstone and a gilded dagger, "These aren't like the robots I've fought before."

"Me neither," He professed, "I was expecting a metal dragon or a-

Metallic footfalls surrounded them on all sides- the yellow droids had landed, there was no time to talk! With a hiss Blaze held out her gemstone; a roaring cone of flame stretched out, catching two of machines. The damage was sufficient, the droids vanished in a flash of yellow light. She followed her flames, escaping their position beneath the table.

Not to be outdone, Silver threw himself after her with blades in hand. He emerged to find three circular robots on the far side of the table, with that remaining red one still ensnared by the doorway. The adventurer slashed in a flurry, swiping with all his might... only to completely miss twice.

As if they were feeling sorry for him, or thinking little of him for having not destroyed any robots, the trio of spherical automatons focused their attacks on the princess. Bright yellow light flashed in their false mouths as three razor sharp disks were launched in her direction. She managed to parry the first, another simply missed, but the third buried itself in the cat's clavicle.

In frustration at his uselessness, Silver's fists clenched tightly around his weapons- that effort manifested on the ensnared robot by the doorway; sharp psychic barbs dug into the droid, and it writhed in response to the damage. Sparks flew as the machine forced itself to take a step forward and, with a stretch, it managed to break Silver's mental hold. In moments it would be charging for them, they had to act quickly!

Tearing the gear from her neckline, the cat uttered an incantation. To the ranger, it looked like the sorceress was converting more magical energy into another form. Her amber eyes seemed to flash as she simultaneously held up her gemstone and tossed her dagger toward Silver's marked quarry. The flames she unleashed were strong enough to demolish one of the remaining circular droids, but another managed to mostly duck out of the way and her blade found itself lodged in the doorframe rather than a foe. Two red robots and the single yellow one remained.

Her robes had gone from spotless to bloody, they were in danger here! The hedgehog threw his blades aside and drew the bow from his back, nocking an arrow as he turned to the red android. It'd given a command at the start, maybe it was some sort of leader? There was a chance that destroying it would deactivate all of the remaining machines!

Since he wasn't concentrating on the droid's bindings anymore, he had the opportunity to swap spells, "You!"

As he called out to the square robot, a cyan sigil (just like the ones on his palms) manifested between its eyes. The psychic pull of the mark would aid his shot- if he struck true, the damage would be huge. He pleaded with the universe as he loosed the arrow, begging for it to strike true!

A hole tore through the bullseye of the cyan circle, oil spurted into the air as red light engulfed his enemy. In a flash the machine was gone, only a dark stain on the tavern's floor remained. Well, that and the arrow which had dealt a critical hit!

Before the hedgehog could celebrate, his hypothesis was quickly proven false. The two remaining androids rushed around the table, forcing he and Blaze back to back. Gear themed hatchets swung, Silver felt himself collide with Blaze as he took the blow in the forearm- gritting his teeth to maintain concentration. Judging by the impact, the warrior princess had been struck as well!

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her snatch his scimitar from the ground. The sound of metal on metal filled his ears, but no yellow light followed. It was still two on two! He dropped his bow to sweep up his short sword just as a cyan circle manifested on the droid's faceplate. As Silver drove his blade into that spot the damage was more than enough, this droid had already caught the edge of the pyromancer's last burning attack! As it disappeared in a flash of yellow, Silver spun to find Blaze and the machine locked weapon to weapon. Blaze had cut into droid, but it must have pushed back!

He reacted on impulse, putting his hand on top of hers and sending psychic energy along the weapon. The two of them pushed with the last of their remaining might, driving the edge of the cutlass back into the gash the feline had made. With one last push their combined might split the robot's axe in two and drove the blade deep into the droid's spherical head.

In a flash of yellow light their last foe vanished, sending the two warriors tumbling to the ground. As they lay sprawled over each other, struggling to catch their breath, the adventurer couldn't help but assess the wounds of his impromptu companion. On a scale of one to twenty, she looked to be at one. Silver wasn't fairing too well himself, sitting at a nine on a scale of up to twenty five, but he only had the strength to cast one more spell...

"Is it over?" She groaned from beneath him.

"I think so," Silver rose to his knees, letting the cat flip onto her back, "Hold still."

The ranger reached down, pressing his hand to the gash beneath the cat's neck as he uttered an incantation. Cyan light traced across her frame, cleaning away the blood and sealing up wounds. Most of her injuries were swept away in less than the blink of an eye, leaving only faint lines through her fur.

"Thank you," Their eyes met, "Do you still intend to journey to the mountain?"

"Of course," He answered without hesitation.

"Very well," Her tone matched his determination, "Then we will go together."

In that moment, the tension was just too much! Silver leaned in. Their lips clashed as passionate-

"Marine, you can't just take charge of our characters," Blaze cut the youngster off, rolling her eyes, "They're the one thing we have control over."

In an instant, Silver was brought back to reality. Himself, Marine, and Blaze were sat in the grand meeting room at the heart of the royal palace. Atop the finest table in the land, surrounded by portraits of royals dating back centuries and relics from the kingdom's history, the three of them had been rolling dice for what must have been hours. They'd read up on the rules, filled in character sheets, and began a campaign that Marine had reportedly been writing for weeks. Despite that claim, she had arrived with fewer notes than Silver or Blaze- no notes at all in fact.

The young raccoon was sat at the head of the table, upon an extravagant throne typically reserved for Blaze's use. She'd begged the two of them to play this game with her for almost a month now, after first experiencing it during a stay over in Sonic's section of time and space. They'd agreed after she'd first asked, but scheduling time when he wasn't off saving his world and Blaze wasn't focused on royal duties had proven difficult.

"I'm the den master, what I say goes!" Marine insisted, "Silver the ranger swept the princess off of her feet, Tails the tavern keeper threw them a room key. He took off into the air, soaring up the Oaken Foxhole in search of room number-

"I can't fly in this game Marie," He reminded the youth.

"That's what you're taking issue with?" Blaze huffed.

"What I say goes! If I say you can fly, then you can fly!" The raccoon yelled, "Honestly, you were already cheating with your rolls, how is this any different?"

"What do you mean? I wasn't cheating," Silver picked up a twenty sided die, "You literally made these dice; if they're weighted, it's because you made them that way."

"You're a psychic," Marine crossed her arms and sat back in her throne, as if revealed some undeniable evidence.

"Just because I could have manipulated the rolls doesn't mean I did," That was a poor choice of response, he was giving her more credit than she deserved, "I don't think I would have missed quite so much if I was cheating..."

"Yes, but then you rolled that twenty and destroyed my strongest robot," The girl countered, "Just when it looked like you guys were in serious trouble."

"There's a five percent chance that any roll could be a twenty, Marine," Blaze reminded her, "Besides, that-

"Never tell me the odds!" She slammed her fists on the table, "And don't you start Blaze- I heard you meta-gaming towards the end. You were at a one on a scale of one to twenty? Could you be any less subtle?"

"I don't think that's an excuse to take our characters out of our control Marine," Blaze bluntly responded.

Silver tried to be softer, "It'd be one thing if you used a mind control spell or something, but-

"Strewth, you guys flying off to that room is important to the plot, there was going to be all sorts of hints left by the robots about what's going on in the mountain, but if you're not going to play properly then I'll take my genius and go!"

In a fussy strop, the raccoon snatched her dice from the table and leapt down from the throne. Stomping as she went, the den master left the meeting hall- slamming the door behind her. Truth be told, the two of them had together hypothesised that the game might end this way.

"It was going well for a while there," Silver broke the quiet that'd entered as Marine left.

"Oh, yes, absolutely," Blaze quickly agreed, "I wish she'd let us make characters rather than play as versions of ourselves, but I was really getting into it."

The feline had very much got into character as an on the run princess, particularly when the two had argued over his ambition to end the robotic scourge impacting Marine's fantasy land. They hadn't spoke to each other like that since back when they were fighting Iblis, risking life and limb against a truly unstoppable force. Through these versions of themselves, despite them being in some ways different, it was as though they were experiencing anew the beginnings of their relationship. He hadn't needed reminding, but this brief time spent rolling dice had reminded Silver precisely why he cared for and trusted Blaze above all others.

"Should I go out and check on her?" The time traveller offered.

"I'll do it, I started this by cutting her off," Blaze took responsibility, rising from her chair. As she turned to make for the door though, she hesitated, "I think I could play for a couple more hours," Her gaze broke from him, she seemed to get flustered at herself, "If you're feeling up to it and she's still willing, of course."

"I'm more than happy to," Silver beamed, before realising he'd responded to quickly, "As long as we're okay playing along with her... fantasy interpretation of our relationship?"

"I think I can put up with that," She more softly answered, "Can you?"

"Absolutely," Again he'd spoken too fast, he could feel the heat on his cheeks.

As the cat exited, he slumped in his chair. His eyes fell to his character sheet. When they had been toiling in the ash of Crisis city, fighting to survive each hour of each day, his fantasies had been limited to defeating Iblis and finally seeing the blue sky that hid above. Here though, by his partner's side and an entire reality away from the apocalypses that were his home, he was free to dream in a way he truly hadn't been before. What did he want to do with that freedom? It'd be nice to see how this freedom reshaped he and Blaze's relationship. Well, their characters' relationship...

Perhaps there was more to this game than he had considered.