#I even made fae added spells they could use...

[floof-of-the-mind-variety]

Ace attorney DND game

I'm going to be running an ace attorney dnd game soon, I have most of it planned out, but does any other person have some experience they could oh so kindly share?

#pretty please? #AA DND #AA #ace attorney #d&d #dnd #dnd help me please oh goodness I can't do shit by myself #I would share some assets I have but then my friend would find me #and I cant do spoilers #phoenix wright #:0 #How to dnd #how to aa dnd when a person playing is trying to not have fay/grimien blood but still use magic\ #I even made fae added spells they could use... #:(

[invisibleanonymousmonsters]

chapter xv - gust & flame

Eris Vanserra x Reader

Eris Vanserra has been a prisoner in his own home since the day he was born. He has done what he had to in order to survive and protect the few he loves. And he is playing the long game. Waiting, waiting, and waiting for the right time to make his move, to usurp his wicked father and become High Lord of Autumn Court. But things become even more complicated when a human girl drops into his life. Perhaps Eris can wait no longer to take his throne.

Word Count: 4,300+

Warnings: violence, suggestions of sexual assault

masterlist

Feyre watched her boys from across their breakfast nook. Nyx was babbling happily in his father’s arms. His wings were now strong enough to reflect his emotions. They flapped lightly when he was happy – like now. They sagged when he was sad or tired. And they folded tight against his back when he was angry. 

Rhys was feeding him patiently as he tried to also read reports that Azriel had dropped off late last night. 

She should’ve known something was going to ruin their peaceful morning. 

The front door being thrown open was so loud that they didn’t even need their fae hearing to catch it. 

Cassian, Feyre and Rhysand both said into each other’s minds, while also sharing a look. Only the giant Illyrian would be so noticeably loud with his entrance. 

They heard every one of his steps as he marched his way towards them. 

To their surprise, Cassian opened the door to show that Azriel had been right on his heels.

“What is it?” Rhys asked seriously, knowing from their expressions alone that something was very wrong. 

“Y/N is gone,” Cassian answered hurriedly. 

“Gone?” Feyre repeated. She and Rhys both stood from their seats. 

Nyx eyes sensed his parent’s tension and whined in his father’s arms, eyes filling with crocodile tears.

“Her room was empty when I went to escort her to her shop this morning,” Cassian explained. “Drawers were left open and her belongings were strewn about. She packed lightly, left almost everything behind.” 

“Her shop hadn’t been opened for the day. Her scent was nowhere to be found there,” Azriel chimed in. 

“We’ve searched all of Velaris,” Cassian added.

Rhys turned his attention to his Spymaster. “Azriel, I thought you had your shadows following her…” 

Azriel bowed his head with shame. “It’s as though she…vanished. She must have cast some sort of cloaking spell.” 

“Brother, can you hear her?” Cassian asked Rhys and then looked to Feyre for help on the matter as well. 

But Rhys shook his head before the question was even finished. “Once she understood our daemati abilities, I believe she created an amulet to block us.” He shrugged, “Evidently, it made her uncomfortable.” 

Cassian cleared his throat and took a step forward. “There’s something else you should know. But you must promise to control yourself.” 

Feyre took their son from her mate. 

Rhysand’s gaze darkened. “What happened?” 

But Cassian stood his ground. “Promise me.” 

“Fine,” Rhys cooly. “I promise.”

“Last night, Nesta told Y/N the truth about Eris.”

Feyre closed her eyes and let out a long, frustrated sigh. 

Nyx let out another whine, earning him a gentle kiss from his mother. 

“Did she tell her about the deal?” Rhys asked. 

Cassian shook his head. 

“But we should assume she still knows – with her ability to find out information the way that she does,” Azriel commented darkly. 

“Does my sister not understand the risk she took?” Feyre asked exasperated. “If something happens to Y/N while she is still within the border of Night Court, the blood oath could finally claim what its owed!” 

But to everyone’s surprise, Rhysand comforted his mate. “Y/N deserved to know the truth, Feyre darling.” 

“She most likely left last night,” Azriel added. “Which means she’s probably halfway to Day Court as we speak.” 

“She wouldn’t try the mountains,” Cassian thought aloud. “Probably stuck to the coast this entire time. Y/N would know that’s the safest route.” 

“Both of you, search the eastern shores,” Rhysand ordered. 

Suddenly, Nesta burst into the room, breathing heavily. “She bought two horses. A stableboy in the city told me she was there late last night and paid him in fine jewelry.” 

The males all shared a look. “If she’s on horseback, she is already in Day Court,” Cassian explained. 

Feyre let out a breath of relief. Fae bonds were specific and rigid things. Rhys had promised Y/N’s safety to Eris as long as she resided in Night Court.

But that didn’t mean Feyre was done worrying about Y/N.

“How do we know she’s heading south?” Nesta challenged. 

“The Mortal Lands are the only home she knows. That is where she will go,” Azriel explained quietly. 

Nesta’s gaze narrowed. “But what if she is going to Eris?” 

Feyre was the one who answered. “I don’t think she is, Nesta.” 

Nesta exhaled, knowing her sister was most likely right. To mortals, the mating bonds of fae felt…overwhelming and somewhat terrifying. All Y/N knew was that Eris felt something toward her, something that she was completely oblivious to. It could all be so confusing.  

“But what do we tell him?” Nesta asked. “What do we tell Eris?”

“We tell him nothing,” Rhysand answered curtly. “At least, not yet. We must search for her first. Otherwise, Eris could possibly lose all reason, and his father will surely be suspicious then.” 

“I’m going with Azriel and Cassian,” Feyre announced. 

“Elain and I will stay with Nyx,” Nesta announced. 

“I will send word to Helion,” Rhysand nodded. “He be wary that we are asking about a mortal. And he will annoy me with far too many questions. But we must risk it.” 

Everyone started to take their leave. 

Feyre slowly handed her son to Nesta. “For what it’s worth, I believe you did the right thing telling her. I just wish you would have come to us first.”

Nesta scoffed. “All of you would have only tried to stop me.” 

And perhaps she was right. 

“Now, go and help them find her.” Nesta nodded towards the front door that her mate and Azriel had just left through. 

But once she was alone with her nephew, Nesta began to wonder: what would they do once they found Y/N? Drag her back to Night Court? Clearly, Y/N had no desire to be here any longer. So, would they force her back? Truly make her a prisoner? 

Cauldron, what must Y/N think of all of them now?

–🍁–🍁–🍁–

One Week Later…

Eris had felt a weight in his stomach that had been making him nauseous for nearly a week now. 

Something wasn’t right. His heart told him it was Y/N. 

Eris noticed his mother’s concerned looks during the few times he’d been in the same room as her.

But his father had been keeping him so busy with last-minute commands that there was no way for Eris to sneak off to the Night Court to check on Y/N or even speak to his mother. 

Now he found himself in a rare moment alone in his chambers. And he couldn’t even find the patience to sit.

Instead, he paced back and forth beside the giant fireplace. 

It was storming outside, a common occurrence in Autumn Court. But as the night went on, the lightning and thunder became more frequent, more aggressive. What was it leading to? 

Eris tried to think of way to sneak off without Beron or his spies noticing. Dare he even risk such a thing when his father seemed hidebound on keeping him close. 

There was a tension beneath his skin, scrapping against bone and muscle. It left him restless. It left him aching. 

Something was coming – whether it was coming for him, Eris did not know. 

But he was pulled form him inner turmoil when a letter appeared out of nowhere and floated down, right before his very eyes. 

Eris swore his heart stopped. 

Surely whatever Rhysand had to say would answer this gnawing feeling Eris could not get rid of. Had Y/N been attacked again? Was she hurt? Had that bastard shadowsinger made her cry again?

Eris held his breath as he opened the letter from the High Lord. 

She knows. She knows who you really are to her. And she ran when she found out. We have been looking for her for a week. She must be cloaking herself. We expect that she is heading for the Mortal Realm. Eris, we need your help. She needs your help. 

Eris swore he saw red. 

Y/N knew. She knew and she ran. Why would she do such a foolish thing? She was safe in the Night Court. 

“Fools,” Eris hissed to himself as he scrunched up the paper in his fist and then lit it aflame, not releasing his grip until it was only ash. 

All of them were fools. 

What had they said o make her flee? She’d built a life for herself in Night Court. And she had abandoned it so swiftly. Was the thought of being his mate so horrific? Did Y/N think all of them would eventually force her to be with him? 

Eris’ mind raced with hundreds of questions. 

He had to join the search – immediately. 

Suddenly, someone knocked on his door. 

“Leave me be!” Eris growled. 

But they knocked again, even harder this time. 

Eris marched to the door, preparing to harm whoever dared disturb him. 

When he threw open the door, one of Beron’s most loyal advisors stood before him.

“What?” Eris hissed. 

“The High Lord requests your presence in the throne room, my lord.” 

“I must decline,” Eris forced the words out. 

To ignore his father’s request was to play a most dangerous game. 

“The High Lord will not except a declination.”

It was a warning. Eris understood that. 

What he was trying to figure out was how much he cared at this moment, when Y/N was treading through the most dangerous territory in the Fae Realms - alone! 

Eris snarled before physically shoving past the advisor so harshly that he almost knocked the male off his feet. 

Eris didn’t wait for his escort as he stomped to the throne room. 

Whatever his father wanted, hopefully it wouldn’t take long. Then Eris could flee and find Y/n. 

——

“Why do you act as if you are scared?” Amren asked Rhysand. 

The letter was sent. 

Soon Eris would know what became of his mate. 

And the Court of Dreams stood in the foyer of the River House, wracked with guilt and worry. 

“I do not fear Eris,” Rhysand corrected. “But you do not understand what this will do to him: to lose one’s mate. I only fear what this will do to him.”

“She isn’t dead,” Nesta corrected him harshly, her arms crossed. 

“We cannot be sure,” Feyre sighed shakily. 

“Y/N is not some weakly!” Nesta defended. “She survived on her own out there years before we ever met her. She’s a Valkyrie.” 

Feyre was wise enough to look guilty. She should’ve never doubted Y/N’s survival. 

“Will he come here? Eris?” Cassian asked. “Or will he go on his own hunt for her?” 

But before anyone could answer, all windows were thrown open. 

And a tornado flew in from outside. 

Rhysand went to stand beside Feyre. Cassian rushed to Nesta, blocking her from any attack. Amren and Azriel unsheathed hidden weapons. 

But no one stood before them. Only wind that roared so loudly, they were all forced to cover their ears.

It screeched so harshly, that all of them fell to their knees in pain. 

“Y/N NEEDS YOUR HELP! SHE IS IN GRAVE DANGER! GO! NOW! TO THE AUTUMN COURT! TO THE FOREST HOUSE!”

–––

Eris hid his surprise when he found that the throne room was filled with courtiers. It was far too late in the night for them to be in attendance. 

Then he caught sight of his three brothers. They all sneered at him, proving that they knew something he did not.

Now Eris understood his father planned to make a spectacle of him if his brothers had dropped their duties just to witness whatever this was. 

Everyone else refused to look him in the eyes as he arrived. They feared him nearly as much as they feared their High Lord. 

The High Lord who sat upon his throne with a wicked smile. 

Eris stepped forward, only stopping until he reached the bottom of the stairs that led to his father. He kneeled, and kneeled deeply. He had been whipped for less. 

It wasn’t until Eris peaked and saw his mother’s expression that he knew something terrible had happened. 

She knew how to school her features in front of Beron. She played her role well, and left nothing for others to be able to decipher. 

Eris rose from his bow. “You wished to see me, High Lord.”

Beron tilted his head to the side as he looked down at his eldest son. “You are in charge of guarding this court’s borders, are you not?”

Eris nodded, “I am, High Lord.” 

“Then why was it I who found a witch wandering through our woods?”

Eris swore his fire blood turned to ice. 

There were other witches in Prythian. It could be someone else. Please, let it be someone – anyone – other than her. 

“Witches are cunning creatures,” Eris began cooly. “It is not surprising that one could pass through Autumn Court undetected.”

Beron seemed amused by his son’s response. 

The High Lord snapped his fingers. 

As if on cue, lightning and thunder struck just a second after. 

And a door behind the throne opened. 

Eris had to stop himself from becoming feral when he saw her. 

Y/N was dripping wet, being dragged by two men as both her hands and feet were secured with iron chains that scrapped across the wooden floors. 

There were bloodied scrapes and cuts across her skin, right alongside dozens of bruises. And Eris could see all of them due to the fact that Y/N was only wearing a sheer, white slip. And it was just as drenched as the rest of her, making it completely transparent and practically exposing her nudity to the entire hall. 

If Eris unclenched the fists at his side, everyone would see that he was trembling with rage. 

The males dragged Y/N until she was also at the bottom of the stairs of Beron’s throne. And half a dozen surrounded her with their weapons drawn, showing that they all saw her as a threat. Then one kicked at the back of Y/N’s legs, forcing her to fall onto her knees and face all of Autumn Court. 

Y/N was now mere feet away from Eris. 

When she finally found the strength to raise her head, she locked eyes with her mate. She schooled her features well, not even slightly looking at Eris with any recognition. But he wondered if it was because she was in so much pain. 

Both nostrils of her nose were still bleeding. The right side of her lip was swollen and split. Her left eye was almost black and bruised. And there was a cut on the right side of her forehead that drew a line of bright red blood down the side of her face. 

Y/N had put up a fight, that much was clear. 

“Do you know what makes a witch powerless?” Beron asked casually. “Iron. Many have forgotten this weakness. But witches are powerless, unable to cast – so long as they are shackled with iron.”  

Eris’ jaw was clenched tightly to stop himself from saying anything at all. 

“Yes, it is been quite some time since I have fallen upon a witch,” Beron continued as he stood from his throne and stepped down. He didn’t stop until he was directly behind Y/N. 

Eris wanted to lunge forward when Beron took Y/N’s wet hair and pulled it behind her, exposing her shoulders and neck. 

Beron hand ghosted over Y/N’s neck and then he roughly gripped her chin from behind her. Y/N winced and closed her eyes. 

Eris could clearly see that she was shaking.

“Our ancestors once kept witches as their slaves. High Lords would use them for coitus rituals, on display for all the court to see. I have heard the power these High Lords felt from it was…euphoric.” 

Beron walked around so that he was in front of Y/N, blocking Eris’ view of her. 

“But this one…has already put up quite the fight. She took out ten of my company before they were able to finally seize her.” 

Beron was bating Eris. That was obvious. Which meant he had to know who Y/N was to him, what she meant. But Eris was still figuring out how. Surely his scent wasn’t on her. He hadn’t see in her weeks. 

Eris didn’t move a muscle and composed his face to remain neutral. But on the inside, a war was raging. His instincts were screaming at him to attack, to protect his mate and rip her far, far away from his treacherous father. 

But that was clearly what Beron wanted. 

And Eris refused to give it to him. Not like this. 

Beron walked around Y/N again until he was behind her. Gripping her right arm, he jerked Y/N to her feet, exposing her entire body that showed through her wet and thin underdress. 

“But she is rather stunning, is she not?” Beron asked as his hand gripped her bottom harshly. 

Y/N hissed and tried to lurch away, but Beron’s other hand choked her neck. 

Eris watched as Y/N’s eyes filled with tears. 

“Perhaps we should renew our ancestors practices,” Beron whispered into Y/N’s ear. 

“Beron, that is enough!”

Everyone’s eyes whipped to their Lady of Autumn. The woman who had become more and more broken the longer she stayed in this court. The woman who submitted to her husband and never spoke out of turn. 

Eris tried to give his mother a warning look, but she wasn’t looking at him. No, she was glaring at her husband. 

But Y/N saw this as a moment of distraction.

She brought Beron’s hand that rested around her neck to her mouth and bit – hard. Until she tasted blood. 

Beron howled in with fury and pain. 

Y/N whipped around and lifted her knee to his groin – despite her ankles being chained. Her strike had the High Lord keeled over. But only for a moment. 

“You stupid bitch!” And Beron backhanded her so hard that Y/N flew to the ground. 

But it got her away from him, and Eris had his window. 

Moving his hands, he gathered a ball of flame and threw it, knocking Beron yards back. When he landed, his head slammed back against the floor. 

But when Beron rose to his feet, he was laughing. “You were always pathetic.” The High Lord immersed his entire body in flames. “Do you really believe you stand a chance against me, boy?” 

Eris said nothing as he drew the sword at his side and it too ignited in flames. 

With the wave of his arm, Beron unleashed a monster from his flames – a dragon, made entirely of fire. It lunged for Eris with its jaw open. 

Now the courtiers wailed in fear, knowing their High Lord cared not for their lives and was more than willing to risk them as collateral damage. 

Eris sliced the fire dragon’s neck with his sword. 

But then a whip of fire wrapped around Eris’ throat, scorching the delicate skin. Out of instinct, he tried to rip it from his throat, which only resulted in burning his hands. 

Beron pulled the whip toward himself, forcing Eris onto his knees. 

“Do you wish to know how I realized that she meant something to you?” Beron spit as he leaned towards his son. 

One of his guards dropped a bundle on the floor to the right of Eris. It was the bow and knife Eris had gifted Y/N. But the thing that surprised Eris was his cloak, the one he had thrown over her shoulders that night he’d found her crying. She had been traveling with it? 

Beron leaned even closer. “Did you truly believe I would not recognize the work of our royal blacksmith?”

Eris roared as he unleashed a wave of his own power, breaking the fire whip his father controlled. It knocked Beron back far enough for Eris to regain his footing. 

Beron cackled as he brushed off the attack. “Tell me, boy. Is she your lover? Or did you plan on using the witch to usurp me?” 

Eris only glared, refusing to feed this taunting with any response. 

Beron stood straighter and opened his arms. “Go on. Try your best.” 

But before Eris could do so, the throne room was thrown into shadow. 

The courtiers wailed in fear:

“I can’t see!” 

“What is happening?” 

A second later the shadows dispersed to reveal that all of Beron’s guards who were guarding the exit had been slaughtered. 

And the High Lord’s evil smirk was finally wiped from his face. 

Eris turned to find Azriel, Cassian, Nesta, Vassa, Jurian, and his youngest brother, Lucien. 

With the understanding that he was no longer alone, Eris had a newfound strength. Even if he fell, they would get Y/N out of here. His life no longer mattered. Eris would either take out his father or distract him long enough to save his mate. 

Eris roared as he sent a wall of flames at Beron. 

Azriel shot for Y/N, taking out any guard that stood between them. When he reached her, his shadows made work of her shackles and broke her free. 

“Can you stand?” He rushed. 

“I can do more than stand,” Y/N growled, and she rushed for the weapons that had been stolen from her. 

She started firing arrow after arrow, killing all the males that had attacked her and dragged her here. 

Then she took in her chaotic surroundings to find Lucien, Vassa, and Jurian holding back the three other Vanserra brothers. Cassian and Nesta were back to back, taking out any soldiers loyal to Beron. Azriel was close to Y/N, covering her back as she had fired off her arrows. 

But then Y/N caught another head of red hair. A beautiful, female High Fae who was throwing flames at anyone that tried to help Beron take on Eris.

His mother. It must have been Eris’ mother. 

All of her allies allowed Y/N to turn her full attention to Eris who was fighting his father with his all power. But he still wasn’t strong enough. Beron was a High Lord and had all the ancient magic of Autumn Court behind him. 

With swipe of both Beron’s hands, a wall of fire smacked into Eris, who didn’t have time to block it. And he was knocked onto his back. 

The sight infuriated Y/N. 

And something deep within her, that she didn’t recognize, rose up to the surface. 

Before she even knew what she was doing, Y/N had sprinted forward and put herself between Eris and Beron. 

“No! Run! Get out of here!” Eris yelled out – no, he begged her – as he struggled to get back to his feet. 

But Y/N ignored him. Because something was taking her over. 

Y/N’s hands reached out to the side. 

She started chanting words that no mortal or fae would ever understand. 

Beron stood and watched, about to laugh at whatever sad attempt this witch had at taking him down. 

But Y/N’s words grew louder, stronger. 

And that’s when the wind rushed into throne room. 

It shattered the every single window with it’s arrival. It caused more screams from the courtiers who failed to flee.

Y/N’s eyes were no longer her own, but covered in white and glowing as if there were two moons.

Her arms raised higher. 

The wind carried the shattered glass from the windows and pelted Beron like tiny they were tiny knives. 

The High Lord underestimated her so much that he hadn’t been prepared to block such an attack.

He hissed in pain as the glass cut across his entire torso. 

But Y/N wasn’t finished. Her chanting turned into a bellow. The words and rhythm had changed into something else. 

In response, the wind now circled around Beron, capturing him in a tornado. But it wasn’t just keeping him in place, it was sucking the air from his lungs as if he was caught in a vacuum. 

Beron gasped for breath, clutching at his neck as if it would help. As he failed, he fell to his knees. 

And while Y/N attacked the High Lord, Eris, Lucien, and their mother had formed a wall behind her, waiting for the moment when Y/N would need backup. 

“NOW!” Eris bellowed. 

Together, the three of them stepped in front of Y/N and heaved fire onto Beron. It all entered the tornado of wind, keeping it contained and concentrated.  

Beron’s cries filled the hall, loud enough to be heard over the wind and tornado. Despite being a wielder of flame himself, it burned him. 

Yet Y/N was growing weaker, she had never tapped into this much power and it was starting to take a toll on her body. 

The other three didn’t see as Y/N’s arms dropped and her eyes rolled back. She collapsed. 

Azriel rushed forward, catching Y/N’s body only a moment before her head could slam to the ground. 

Eris roared as he threw even more fire at his father, stepping even closer to Beron than Lucien and his mother. 

Beron’s skin was scorched to black, half his clothes burnt right from his body. 

Lucien and their mother paused their attack, as Eris marched to his weakened father as he unsheathed a hidden knife. 

Not underestimating Beron or his power, Eris immediately grabbed his father by the neck and pulled him up. 

Eris put his mouth close to his ear and whispered, “Her name is Y/N, and she is my mate.” 

And he drove the knife into his father’s heart. 

Eris then ripped it from Beron’s chest. And with one fluid swing, sliced off Beron’s head completely.

Only mere seconds after the decapitated head hit the floor, raw power filled the throne room. So potent that all fighting ceased. No one could ignore its feeling. 

Beron’s loyal soldiers finally realized their High Lord had been killed. 

And all that power moved to the heir of Autumn. 

The impact of it brought Eris to his knees. He groaned as he felt it take over him entirely and then fell to his hands. 

No one so much as breathed as they saw their new High Lord take over the throne. 

When the power finally stopped transferring, Eris slowly lifted his head. 

His eyes widened. “Y/N!”

And he whipped around to see his mate unconscious and beaten, in the arms of the shadowsinger. 

-----

I have had a really terrible last couple of weeks at work. And then I got really sick, which is how I had time to write this. But most importantly, I worked extremely hard on this chapter. So please, please, please write a comment. Or, as I always say, write me a book report. 🙏

Chapter XVI

#gust & wind #acotar #a court of thorns & roses #lady of autumn #beron vanserra #autumn court #eris vanserra #eris x reader #eris acotar #eris vanserra x reader #lucien vanserra #gust & wind chapter 15 #eris fic #eris vanserra fic

[ramonag-if]

I was going through some old game files for The Hedge Witch and stumbled across a hedge witch guide and recipes that I created which was originally going to be used in the Choice Script version of the game 😅 I thought I'd share them with you, considering they won't be added to the Twine version. Yes, I had way too much time on my hands when I wrote these 😂

I've added the deleted scenes under the cut because it is quite a long read. Please do not try the recipes - they are all made up and will probably poison you.

An Introduction to Hedge Magic Welcome young hedge witch to the 4th edition of A Hedge Witch's Encyclopaedic Guide to Magic. In this book, you'll learn the basic concepts of casting your spells, making those herby potions and hexing those who displease you. Remember, hexing is reserved for those that are very dastardly. Any abuse of hexing should be reported to your local hedge witch society.

Spellcasting: Spellcasting is necessary when you decide to become a hedge witch. Every good hedge witch should know a few basic spells, including the all important healing spell. When casting your spells, make sure to use the exact measurements for ingredients. Anything more or less or even using the wrong ingredients can result in catastrophic results. Pronunciation of incantations are of utmost importance. If a syllable is stressed for too long, it will affect the nature of your spells. Particularly strong hedge witches do not need to incant spells when spellcasting. Never cast a spell if you're unsure in your abilities as a spellcaster. A good hedge witch knows not to cast a spell without proper preparation and knowledge. Always ask your mentor for help if you're ever in doubt!

Potions: Potions are the very reason that we, hedge witches, exist. From herbal tinctures to soothe nausea to bitter concoctions to cure the cold, potions are one of the oldest form of a hedge witch's magic. When creating potions, always make sure to have a clean workspace and that all ingredients and properly prepared. Using a dried out herb when a recipe calls for fresh herbs could result in incurable illness, vomiting and even death. If you suspect a hedge witch of making sub-par potions, it is your duty to report them to your local hedge witch society!

Hexes: Hexing another requires a strong mind of a hedge witch. While not illegal, hexing by a hedge witch is limited to extreme cases including hexing to stop disaster, hexing to stop death and hexing to stop anyone standing in the way of the greater good. All hedge witches that wish to hex freely must be authorised to do so by their local hedge witch society. Hexing for entertainment purposes, for laughs or just out of sheer boredom is forbidden and any hedge witch caught violating this rule will have their powers revoked.

Recipes from your Mentor: Dear Apprentice, as promised, here is a list of fun recipes that I picked up along my travels. Some are strictly for your familiar - use them at your own risk! My personal favourite is a Seelie dish called honeyed truffles. Make sure to feed yourself every now and then, even a hedge witch needs to eat.

Honeyed truffles: Honeyed truffles are a delicacy favoured by the Seelie Court. Both sweet and meaty, this dish serves as an excellent starter or appetiser at fae gatherings. It takes no more than a sun's wink to cook and it'll boost your reputation as a great cook! To make this dish, you will need the following ingredients: 2 cups of finely diced pixie truffles. 50ml of Seelie bee honey. 80g of holly leaves. 1 tsp of selkie salt. 5g of star anise. Method: Lightly fry the pixie truffles in a wide pan. Once the truffles have been evenly fried, add in the Seelie bee honey and mix together until the truffles are completely coated. Fry the mixture for around 5 minutes to let the honey seep into the truffles. Lastly, add selkie salt for taste and both the holly leaves and star anise to give your truffles an extra kick to it. Braise your truffles until the mixture is thick and gooey. Once done, enjoy it with a cup of tea!

Spiced Snow: Spiced snow is a popular dish in the Unseelie Court that has recently risen to popularity in the Seelie Court. A spicy bite, this treat is excellent to serve on a hot, summer's day or for dessert. This dish takes at least half a day to make, so make sure you're fully prepared for the hard work and patience you will need to make this dish. To make this dish, you will need the following ingredients: 150ml of spring water. 2 tsp of dragon fire. 1 bottle of a freeze-now potion. 3 tsp of toad slime. 20g of sparrow tongue or sugared ginger. Method: Mix the dragon fire into the spring water until the water turns a dark shade of red. Depending on the dragon fire you use, shades of red will vary from mixture to mixture. Once fully diluted, add the toad slime to give the mixture a thicker consistency. Stir it until you're happy with the consistency. The more you stir, the thinner the consistency will be. If you prefer thicker spiced snow, stir in the toad slime only until it's diluted partially. Once the ingredients are mixed, use the freeze-now potion to instantly freeze the mixture. The spiced snow is now ready to eat! For an extra crunch, you can add in lightly fried sparrow tongue or sugared ginger to the top of your serving.

Fae Wine: Fae wine is a type of drink that is consumed by both fae and mortal alike! While toxic in large quantities to many mortals, fae wine is still a sought after drink in the mortal realm. Fae wine is a great drink to bring when you're attending a faery ring soiree, just make sure to drink it in moderation! Fae wine takes at least seven moons to properly brew, but you can skip this wait by enlisting the aid of a mortal-portal to distort time. You will need the following ingredients: 500l of juniper berry juice. 250ml of poison ivy juice. 250ml of goblin spittle. 300ml of asrais essence. 50g of black cherries. Method: Pour in juniper berry juice into a large pitcher and slowly stir in the poison ivy juice until fully diluted. Once diluted, let the mixture set for two sleeps of a pixie's flutter. The mixture should now be a deep red and have a strong, acidic aroma. Now, add in the goblin spittle, making sure to stir it until the mixture has thickened slightly. Lastly, add in asrais essence. Once everything is mixed, put your pitcher in an ice bank or river to set for seven moons. You can skip this if you make use of a mortal-portal. Holding the pitcher, walk through the portal for seven times until your mixture is a deep red and the texture is runny and thin. You can now add in your black cherries for an extra garnish. Your fae wine is now ready to drink! Remember to drink responsibly.

Sabbath Stew: It's always time for Sabbath stew in any fae home. A popular dish especially in those winter months, Sabbath stew will offer you the heartiness of the nutritions you need to keep you strong on those cold nights. Sabbath stew is fairly simple to make and takes no more than a flower's bloom to make. And the best part? You can add in as many ingredients as you want. For this recipe, we'll provide you with a base recipe which you can tweak to your liking. You will need the following ingredients: 750ml of spiced broth. 50g of redcap mushrooms. 50g of starchy potatoes. 100g of pickled yams. 2 tsp of wart's eye. 8g of garlic cloves. Method: First, pour in the spiced broth into a large cauldron. Make sure to heat your fire until the spiced broth is bubbling. You can find spiced broth in your local fae bazaar or you can make your own by adding cinnamon, chilli and pepper to 750ml of spring water. Once your broth is bubbling, you can start adding in your vegetables. Let them simmer for a few minutes and when the vegetables are partially cooked, start adding in your wart's eye and garlic cloves. Remember, you can add in more vegetables if you want and even add in some meaty ingredients if you're so inclined! Let the stew broil until the broth has reduced into a thick mixture. It's now ready to eat!

Familiar's Lunch: Do you have a familiar? Are you planning on getting a familiar? Then this recipe is for you! Familiar's lunch is a chef-made dish that was requested by the Seelie Queen herself for her very own familiar. Created to strengthen the bonds between an owner and familiar, Familiar's Lunch contains all the goodness to replenish your familiar's essence and takes as long as a hop in the woods to make. You will need the following ingredients: 10g of hound fur. 3 tsp of eye of newt. 2 sphinx claws. 5g of crushed alder. 20g roasted almonds. 500ml kelpie water. 1 tsp of sea salt. Method: Lightly fry the eye of newt and crushed alder together. Once it reaches a light golden hue, add in the almonds and kelpie water and simmer for a few minutes. Gently, add in and stir the hound fur to the pan. Make sure to stir thoroughly so that the hound fur dissolves properly. Add in the salt and sphinx claws for seasoning and bring the mixture to a slow simmer. Once all ingredients have been cooked, you can serve Familiar's Lunch as a side to your familiar's regular lunch or as a gravy.

#the hedge witch #extras #deleted scene #game lore #recipes #guide book #I have an unhealthy obsession with witches and spells #if you can’t tell

[thegatesofinfinitespace]

you. grabs you. popular/staple dishes and/or cuisines in Soul-Bound. how do these vary by region? what about culture? what about class/status -- is there a difference? what is considered a delicacy or luxury food item?

DISHES ASDASDSADASDASAAA

Okay! So,,, to start: the current timeline of Soul-Bound is a lot like that of our modern-times, but with magical elements added in. That means you see a lot of the same foods and meals that we do in our own world and countries (ex: Vesper is technically Welsh, on his mother's side, so he enjoys those kinds of dishes).

The cultural system is similar, with minor differences in how society treats itself more than the foods they eat. I'd say that this concept is common with most of the works Kara and I make, since we'd prefer writing societies where social concepts like queerness doesn't really get mistreatment and confusion, it's just a staple of life and thus does not matter to the environment as a whole. Being a shapeshifter and being trans is like. Basic. There's no hate against whether you like the same gender or something else, gender is a loose concept anyways, you get the idea.

Tangent aside, random foods from pizza, ramen, beef wellington, pasta, to salsa and chips, brownies and cake-- all these things still exist and are still made regularly, but! The biodiversity is what has changed. The ingredients are more diverse. There are plants and animals that may have gone extinct or don't exist in reality, that still exist in Soul-Bound.

So while the recipes and foods conceptually are very similar to the foods here per region, what goes into them may change more so than their general makeup. For instance, a meatloaf, but one of the meats is ground griffon meat compared to simply beef may occur due to a population of said creatures nearby.

(I only recently got into Dungeon Meshi, but I'd say that what ingredients are used in that series are very comparable to Soul-Bound. Things like regular iceberg lettuce exist and can be used towards food, but you could also say, use mandrakes to make up your salad too. As Kara puts it, "You make a familiar recipe with unfamiliar ingredients.")

As for what cuisines are considered delicacies versus normal, that absolutely matters on your species. I'd say humans are the most adventurous in terms of eating odd foods, but demons will eat anything yet absolutely adore things that have an insane level of magical potential in their makeup (souls, being the most obvious thing here, but eating the spells from a grimoire is equally something appetizing for them).

Cannibalism is also, a thing too in terms of like, not everyone has the response humans do to eating their own kind. Some are like snakes and don't think twice about eating other snakes, a demon sure doesn't care about eating other demons. Mers will eat fish despite being half fish. It's also abhorrent to do this with some species and totally fine to others, even varying on the individual level.

Eating another intelligent species sometimes doesn't matter; though it can become dangerous depending on the properties. Something can still be toxic to one species but not to another, and sometimes there are bonuses to eating certain cuisines. A human eating a mermaid's flesh could achieve immortality, but also said human could turn into a grotesque undying monster that lives forever in eternal agony! :) You never know!

Class and status affecting foods also depends entirely on the species too. Centaurs, being larger creatures, may have trouble traversing cities, and thus 'richer' centaurs may value such casual things as human street foods as something that could belong in a high end restaurant. Mermaids may like sushi and land-based meats because how the hell do you get beef in the ocean??? Fae may only enjoy fruits grown from trees that have only been watered using the most purified of water, and the most natural of soil (or they may only like soil that has been using compost from demon remains. crazy stuff).

#everlastiingiimmortals #[Headcanons: Soul Bound] #;necro novaling #;deep blue crush #overx #~bleed magick~

[jasmariswonderland]

Shining Hearts Chapter 10 ~ Metamorphosis

Chapter 1 |  Chapter 2 |  Chapter 3  |  Chapter 4  |  Chapter 5  |

Chapter 6 |  Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 |  Chapter 9

Chapter Summary: After coming together to rescue one of their own, Danica wonders if her team can come together once again to do the unthinkable. 

Word Count: 7939

Warnings For This Chapter: Violence, kidnapping, slight blood and mentions of Vidaria’s less than stellar past.

~~~

The evening had become surprisingly foggy, to the point it was difficult for the girls to make their way through the forest. But Iman explained that this was a tact of fae native to where Vidaria was originally from, a world which itself was cloaked in mists that kept it hidden from the rest of the world. And they had planned accordingly, Yuulan and Taima ventured deeper into the misty forest, with the latter using her unique magic to clear the fog for as long as they could. They also possessed the most skill in physical combat and along with Grim, would confront Vidaria’s assailants head-on if needed.

Iman, Danica, and Ione each went in separate directions so in case they ran into any students or faculty, they could have better deniability about what was really going on. Because of the fog, they tried to stay close and before setting off, the girls had made a visit to Sam’s shop to pick up something that would come in handy for their plans. Back in October, Ione and Taima had learned of a special mirror pendant that could show the wearer anything they wished to see that could be used as a means of communication.

They didn’t want to risk the sound of phones tipping off the mist fae and of course, Sam had multiples of these pendants in stock. Iman purchased one for each of them, including Grim, along with several vials of potions, a panacea tablet, and three daggers, one made of steel and the other two crafted of iron. The latter of these items raised the concern of the normally laid-back shopkeeper.

“I’m not going to ask any questions since I know you five are pretty nice kids who tend to stay outta trouble,” he said. “But what I will say is whatever is going on, please be careful. Don’t go getting involved in something way over your heads!”

Sir, we are about to go on a rescue mission which very likely will involve fighting fae! I think it’s a little too late for those kinds of warnings! T hese were Yuulan’s thoughts, but she didn’t voice them. Instead, she promised Sam that they would be safe and while these purchases seemed suspicious, they planned to use them with only the purest intentions.

“We’ll be fine, Sam! We promise!” Taima grinned. “So don’t worry about us!”

“And don’t forget, charge my personal account for this stuff!” Iman added. “I don’t want my parents to know about this, ‘kay?”

~~~

Meanwhile, four male fae dragged their royal captive deeper through the forest, her hands bound in front of her as she was dragged like a dog on a leash. Her voice was under the influence of a powerful silence spell. They made their way to the cliffs, where Vidaria knew there was a checkpoint to a portal that would take them directly across the sea, back to Briar Valley. Her heart was pounding and tears streamed down her face. Unfortunately, for all her crying, she knew no one was able to hear her.

How many times would she have to endure this? How many times did she have to escape them before she would cease being tormented? By her own people no less. Whatever the circumstances that brought her into the possession of the Draconia’s, Vidaria had accepted her fate. All returning her home would do is exacerbate a violent situation long pacified by her consent to marry Malleus, risking further bloodshed between both of their kingdoms. Was freedom truly worth such a thing? 

Her back tingled with a burning sensation that was her instincts telling her to try and flee, before they took her to a place she wouldn’t be able to easily return to. A place where Iman wouldn’t be able to easily find her. Vidaria didn’t know why she was thinking about this, the last time she attempted to use this escape attempt, it had gone horrifically wrong and had decades long ramifications. Still, it was the only thing she could think of. Closing her eyes, she paused and focused all of her energy on her back and felt the sensation burn with more intensity, exactly what she was hoping for. Her captors noticed she had stopped moving and yanked on the rope binding her. 

“Keep moving, your highness!” one of them barked at her. “There’s no one here to help you so make things easy on us, and yourself and just…wha…WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!”

He turned around and realized why Vidaria had stopped moving when he saw how her body radiated with a golden glow, bright enough to cut through the mists. A second captor quickly planted his foot into her back, roughly knocking the wind out of her lungs and forcing her to her knees. She fell face first to the ground with the golden glow vanishing from her body. 

“Stubborn girl, but clever no doubt!”

“How dare you?! We were told not to harm her!”

“She was summoning her wings, idiot!” The second captor grabbed her by her ponytail, dragging her back to her feet with one hand and taking the robe binding her with the other. “I told you we should have knocked her out!”

“She’s a daughter of the house of Cherith!” said a third captor. “And the only hope for the Land of Mists! Don’t you think the Draconia’s have traumatized her enough?!”

Then what the hell do you call this?! 

Vidaria suddenly felt a surge of anger rushing like fire through her veins. With all the strength she possessed, she shook her body out of her captor’s grasp. And when he used the rope to yank her back into his grasp, she sank her fangs as deep as she could into his arm, piercing through his clothing and tearing into his skin. The sudden taste of blood filled her mouth as he shrieked and released the rope in a moment of agony. She spat into the ground to show her contempt as well as to get the bloody taste out of her mouth. 

“Your highness, please!” The fourth captor tried to plead with her. “We don’t wish to hurt you, we are trying to save you! You and our kingdom from Draconia tyranny!”

“Fuck being nice! We have a job to do!” The second captor had enough of Vidaria’s resistance and was ready to take a more violent route to achieve their goals. “If she won’t accept her fate, we must force it upon her!”

With gloved hands, he whipped out a pair of large iron chains and lashed them at her, his fatal error. Vidaria jumped back and dodged them with ease, but the sight of the chains caused all the blood to rush from her face as she tried to catch her breath. No, she had seen chains like that before, she could never forget them and in an instant, a flood of horrid memories seized her. Nightmares about a similar encounter in a forest not so unlike this one, a nightmare from her childhood that she wished she could forget and bury in the past forever. 

This captor had just signed his death warrant.

She took several steps back and with all the force her body could muster, stamped on the ground, causing the ground to immediately begin to shake. Her captors tried to get closer to her but she stamped the ground again to increase the magnitude of her quaking spell. Such was the force of her magic that the ground beneath them began to crack.

Her voice was still gone but the fire in her eyes told her captors all they needed to know. The earth crumbled and large pieces dropped and crashed along the rocks along the sea. The second captor who had pulled out the iron chains was the first to meet his demise under the crumbling earth and while his comrades were preoccupied trying to save him while trying not to fall themselves, Vidaria sprinted off in the opposite direction. Back into the forest and back towards NRC. 

~~~

Even from their place several meters away, the girls had felt the after-tremors of Vidaria’s earthquake. Yuulan and Taima quickly ducked under bushes and once the ground shaking had passed, Taima pulled out her mirror pendant to get in contact with Iman and the others. 

“Did you feel that?!” She asked. “The Isle of Sages never gets earthquakes!”

“I know, me, Dani and Ione felt it too!” Replied Iman. “That’s Vidi’s magic!”

“Does that mean she’s still in this area?” Yuulan asked. 

“It must mean that, you guys keep searching on your own, we’ll meet up with you soon!”

Just as Iman said this, she saw a bright golden light cut through that heavy fog. Blinking like a beacon, guiding their way. Her heart jumped and she grabbed Ione’s hand, pulling her in the direction of the light as Danica followed them. 

“She’s here! She’s still here!” 

“What a relief!” Ione sighed. 

“Once we find her, we’ll bring her back to Pomefiore,” said Danica. “Vil thinks we’re rehearsing there late so no one will know about this.” 

Vidaria’s light slowly faded and soon vanished all together, but they continued to follow its direction. The sky was quickly getting darker but the fog had begun to dissipate, making it a little easier to see where they were going. A loud rustling sound forced them to stop, followed by voices that sounded nearby. They didn’t recognize the voices, nor understand the language they were speaking, but Iman heard Vidaria name called and quickly ran ahead. 

“Show me Vidi, where is she?” She whispered to the mirror. Immediately she was shown an image of her friend cowering in a bunch of bushes, biting at the rope binding her hands. Iman had a burning feeling that she was nearby and as soon as the thought passed her mind, she heard another rustling sound. 

“I feel like she’s close,” Iman communicated to everyone else through the pendant. “Everyone stay sharp! If she’s really here that means the mist fae are close too!”

Danica and Ione followed Iman and saw as she crouched into the bushes ahead of them. When Iman didn’t emerge right away, they knew what it meant. Ione came a little closer and in the darkness could see two shadows in the bushes. They had found their companion. 

“Oh, thank Sevens!” Iman whispered loudly as she took one of the daggers and cut through the ropes binding her friend. Vidaria smiled but made several wide motions with her mouth. Iman understood and felt around in her pocket before finding the small red panacea tablet and slipped it in her mouth. “Don’t worry, this will bring your voice back!”

Vidaria swallowed the tablet and wasted no words. “They’re still pursuing me! Please tell me you’re not alone!”

“I’m not, the other swans are with me, Yuulan too. We’ll get you outa here so don’t…”

Vidaria quickly shushed her friend, pressing her hand to her mouth for good measure. They were close, she could sense them and from the place where they hid, she and Iman could see two figures coming towards them. Her heart stopped but she gave a silent sigh of relief when she realized it was just Danica and Ione. Iman was about to call them over but Vidaria pressed her hand harder at what she saw next. 

Danica and Ione stayed close to each other, frequently bushing hands against each other so neither would get lost. Ione thought she heard Iman’s voice but before she could act on it, she felt someone tap on her shoulder. 

And the quick squeeze Danica gave her hand told Ione that it wasn’t her. That’s when her eyes immediately locked with Iman’s, seeing through her and Vidaria’s hiding spot. Ione swallowed a gasp and Iman’s eyes silently begged her not to accidentally betray them, and whatever courage she had gained during the training camp, she would need every ounce of it now. 

“Who are you?” Ione asked the fae towering above them, already knowing the answer. Her voice was shaky as she tried to take on an imperious air similar to Iman. “You aren’t a faculty member. What are you doing on school grounds?”

“Greetings, humans,” he said to them. “I am searching for someone and my search has brought me…”

“That doesn’t answer my question!” Ione cut him off. “Who are you? And how did you get past the school gates?”

“I came through the school gates the same way you two did,” he replied, forcing a smile. 

“You came through the gates?” Ione raised her eyebrow, “In spite of the fact that the gates leading into NRC are protected by magic?”

“A magic that only our headmage knows?” Danica added, joining in on the ruse. “We take it Crowley is aware of your presence on campus then?”

“Ah, yes, Dire Crowley!” The fae grinned. “Indeed I am…visiting him. We are old friends.”

“Hmph, well in that case, you have no reason to be wandering the woods like you are.”

“And what about you, humans?” The fae asked slyly. “Are you not doing the same? What are two hapless humans like yourselves doing all alone on a winter evening like this?” He looked around them, noticing how Ione and Danica’s eyes kept shifting to the bushes where their companions hid. “Hmm, I wonder if all alone is really the correct phrase…”

“Uhhh…I…we…ummm” Ione suddenly hesitated as out of the corner of her eye, she saw Iman and Vidaria slowly moving out of their hiding place. She took a deep breath, she only had to continue this charade a few moments longer. “Sir, we are NRC students, we are far from hapless! And unlike you, we actually belong here!”

“But you’re right about it being cold,” said Danica. “We’ll take you to the headmage now if you wish.”

“After all, for someone claiming to be visiting him, you’re pretty far from his office!” 

Ione did not wait for him to reply before boldly grabbed his hand to pull him away from the bushes. The fae humored her and allowed her to lead him further away but his senses remained locked onto the bushes, looking for any hint that something might be amiss. 

“He’s still looking this way,” Iman whispered to Vidaria. “We might have no choice but to bolt.”

“But Sister…”

“It’s four of us and one of him, and Yuulan and Taima are around here too!”

“Yeah! You guys can’t hide here forever!” 

Grim emerged from behind them, scaring them both. His loud tone was more frightening than the fact he had snuck up on them. He would surely give them away if he didn’t lower it. 

“Hush you blasted cat!” Iman hissed. “We’re hiding from Vidaria’s kidnappers! And why isn’t Yuulan with you?!”

“I told you I’m not a cat!”

“GRIM!!”

“I knew you were hiding something from me!” 

They had been discovered. And just like that, the two other fae suddenly emerged, one from the bushes and another from up in the trees. This had been a trap all along. The one following Ione yanked her away from him but Ione, in a fit of boldness, jumped in front of him. He smacked her to the ground but she quickly got back up, summoning her pen. 

“How dare you?!” Ione ran after him. 

“Out of my way, human!” He snapped. 

He gave chase to Iman and Vidaria but they had begun running off in the opposite direction. Grim was lagging behind them and tried to create a diversion by summoning a wall of blue flames. His fiery magic separated the girls from the fae, but also encircled them and prevented further running. They screamed. 

“Ha! Try getting through that?!”  The cat smirked with satisfaction.

“Damnit Grim! We’re trapped!” shouted Vidaria. 

“Yeah, but he mist fae can't get to you now! And…MYRAH?! What the…” 

“Hmph, pathetic.” The fae scoffed when he made the flames vanish with the wave of his hand. The smug look on Grim’s face quickly melted. “Such unrefined magic.”

“And such futile efforts,” as the flames faded, the other two fae appeared and one grabbed Vidaria’s arm. “Playtime is over, your highness! You’re coming with us now!” 

“I think not!” 

With the force of a strong and violent gale, Taima and Yuulan arrived on the scene, ready to defend their friends. Ione and Danica had caught up to them as well and Iman and Vidaria took the opportunity to run back in the direction of the campus. One of the fae gave chase to them but Grim jumped up on his head and began viciously biting at his face. 

“Uh…at least he’s enthusiastic,” Yuulan couldn’t help but giggle at her cat companion’s efforts, even as her heart trembled at the sight of the second fae towering in front of her, Danica and Ione. She took a deep breath and for good measure, pulled out the dagger she had hidden in her jacket pocket. “I don’t know what you want with Vidaria and frankly I don’t even care!” 

“Don’t make her use that! Said Danica. “Cause what happens next will be on you!”

“You wanna take Vidaria, you’ll have to walk over our coffins first!” Added Ione. 

“Damn, Ione, that’s pretty hardcore!” Yuulan grinned. 

“Uhh, I just thought you guys sounded cool and I wanted to sound cool too,”  Ione smiled a little. 

“Silence! We’ve had enough of this!” The second fae pulled out a large magipen of the likes neither had seen before. “As for walking over your coffins, keep standing in our way and there won’t be anything left of you to bury!” 

The girls squeezed hands and Ione and Danica put themselves in front of Yuulan, being the only magic users of the three. With one fae occupied with Grim and the other fighting Yuulan, Ione and Danica, Iman and Vidaria watched from a distance. Vidaria wanted to help them but one look at her very blotted magipen quickly made her forget that idea. She was already very distressed and didn’t want her unstable magic to cause unintended damage. 

They decided that they would try to run back to campus as soon as they could but when they finally decided to make a run for it, the third of the fae tried to block them. Taima immediately came to their aid, grabbing him by the waist. Despite being much taller than her, she was able to quickly drag him to the ground, a useful skill from her martial arts training. He engaged with her but called out to his two comrades. 

“Don’t let Princess Vidaria escape!” Getting back on his feet and glaring down at Taima. “And you! Stay out of our way and you won’t be hurt!”

“Ha! Implying you can hurt me!” 

She cloaked herself in a protective whirlwind that prevented the fae from getting too close to her. As they fought, she held in her hand one of the daggers made of iron. When her shield began to fade, he grabbed her by the hair and she immediately slashed at his arm. He jumped back, grabbing his arm and Taima took advantage of his current state to deliver another kick to his skull, making him fall again. 

“Now, Dani! While they’re all occupied! Use your unique magic!”

Danica closed her eyes and sang out an incantation that, if done correctly, would render the fae unconscious and magicless. 

“Silenced to my whim, enchanted to your ruin. A cursed serenade, my beloved…”

The fae fighting Grim finally managed to pull him off her face, throwing him against a nearby tree and knocking him out. He grabbed Danica by her hair, also throwing her against a tree before she could finish her spell.      

Yuulan screamed and went to pick Grim up and make sure he was alright. Holding his unconscious body and seeing the fae approach Danica while she was struggling to stand enraged her and she quickly got back up. 

“Ione, hold Grim, give him a potion to help him wake up,” she said before taking out her dagger again and calling out to Taima. “Get him!”

At once, they charged him, sinking their daggers into his back. He screeched loudly, loud enough to deafen them, and turned to Yuulan, smacking her against a tree. 

“Feckless, human bitch!” He grabbed her neck with a violent grip that she quickly found impossible to escape. “Your end is here!”

Taima helped Danica up and they tried to help her but the other two fae blocked them. Yuulan tried her best to break free but she quickly found herself becoming lightheaded as she struggled for air. But her eyes were becoming heavy and soon she couldn’t feel anything as her vision went black. 

“MYRAH?! Oh no!” Grim had regained consciousness and gasped at what he saw. “Yuulan! No! He’s going to kill her! Ione, we gotta do something!”

But Ione stood frozen, terrified at what she was seeing. She knew fighting fae would be far from simple but it astonished her how quickly everything was going wrong. Their magic was on a whole different level compared even to the third year students and she briefly wondered if she could ever acquire enough magical skill to be even half as proficient. Looking around her, she saw that Iman and Vidaria were nowhere to be seen and she prayed that they had somehow made it to safety. 

Yuulan…he’s choking…no! He’s going to kill Yuulan! But what can I do? I can’t fight him! I’m not strong enough! No! I’m never strong enough! Worthless weed! Worthless weed! 

“No…”

Ione was weak, she was awkward and her existence in this world had only ever brought others misery or cruel amusement. She was the weakest member of Danica’s VDC team and she had been powerless all of her life. She wasn’t like the others, she wasn’t stylish and she wasn’t cool and she certainly wasn’t strong. And on top of all of that, she was apparently stupid because here she was, watching one of her classmates being choked out and all she was doing was standing there, stupefied and afraid. 

“No!” 

Yuulan is going to die! Worthless weed! Worthless weed! 

She squeezed her eyes shut as they overflowed with frightened, angry tears. No, she couldn’t let this happen. Ione couldn’t be a worthless weed now. 

Worthless weed! Worthless…

“NO!!!”

She screamed, dropping Grim as her entire body felt as if it were ablaze. Something strong and powerful was coursing through her, magical energy unlike any she had ever felt before. It was pulsing and relentless, demanding her to act on it. 

“LEAVE US ALONE!!!”

As she spoke these words, several large roots unearthed themselves, grabbing Yuulan’s assailant and his companions. Yuulan was released and she immediately began gasping for air as Grim gaped at her and Ione. 

“Ione! How are you doing that?!”

“I don’t know!”

“What?! What’s this?!” The fae seemed just as shocked and confused by Ione’s sudden new found sorcery as Ione was summoning it. “Unhand us! Vile roots!”

But the roots would not relent and Ione quickly abandoned her shock at what she had done and began using it to her advantage. She pointed at the fae with murderous intent and more roots answered her call, coiling around them like large snakes. 

“I don’t know how I’m doing this, but it doesn’t matter now!” 

With her fears melted away and her confidence in full bloom, Ione directed the roots around their necks. And with incredible force, the roots dragged the fae screaming and thrashing, squeezing tighter around them. They would soon get a taste of what they had just put Yuulan through. 

“Choke them! Strangle them! See to it that they never try to harm Vidaria again!” Ione spoke to the roots, demanding them to destroy the fae, and giggled as she saw them fall under the influence of her new, spectacular magic. The others watched her with equal parts surprise and awe. “I told you to leave us alone! It’s your own fault for not listening to me!” 

Soon enough, the fae were rendered unconscious and the roots released them, leaving them on the ground lifeless and limp. Grim cautiously threaded over to them, smacking them with his tail to ensure they were not responsive, and grinned when he realized they weren’t. 

“That was awesome!” He shrieked. “So, awesome! Ione! I never knew you had magic like that!”

“N…neither did I…” Ione replied, down from her powerful high and gazing at the result of her magic. “What…how did I…”

“You can contemplate that later!” 

Iman and Vidaria had stayed close to keep the fae away from the campus. Now they reappeared to reunite with their friends. 

“That was amazing!” Vidaria smiled. “Thank you, Ione. Whatever magic you now have at your disposal, in this moment, it was our salvation.”

“Never in my life did I imagine you’d have it in you, Wallflower!” Iman grinned. “And the way you spoke to them! That was so courageous! I told you, you have a lot more to give and for once, you gave a thousand percent to this situation!” 

“Come on, guys!” Danica started heading in the direction of the campus, looking over her shoulder at everyone else. “Let’s get out of here, soon before they regain consciousness. IF they regain consciousness!”

“She’s right,” Taima followed behind her and the others soon followed suit. “Let’s get back to Pomefiore.”

~~~

Danica brewed some of the herbal tea Violetta had given her and offered it to Vidaria. She drank it slowly, breathing deeply in and out as her mind and body left survivor mode and she realized that she was truly out of danger. Soon enough, the blots on her green magestone faded, and they would all be safe.

“I’m sorry, everyone,” she said. “Forgive me for putting you all in such a harrowing situation. It was bad enough that Iman had to endure that over winter break. But you all, no one should have to go through what I’ve gone through.”

“You’re talking about this like this was your fault,” replied Taima. “From what Iman told us, you’ve been dealing with terrorists from your homeland for years.”

“It’s my fault for trying to come back to Ramshackle on my own,” Vidaria shook her head. “I went back to Diasomnia with no trouble, but Malleus…he…we got in a quarrel with Lilia because I gave my VDC passes to Silver and not him. Malleus also wasn’t too keen on me being in the VDC either so this just made him even more upset and in a fit of frustration, I ran out of the dorm and wasn’t even thinking! I just wanted to get out of there! I wasn’t thinking, I wasn’t thinking at all!”

“Vidi…” Iman could see the tears coming and she placed her arm around her friend. It was all too much for Vidaria and she quickly buried her face in Iman’s chest, weeping as Iman stroked her hair. “It’s alright, Vidi, everything’s alright. You’re safe now.”

“No! I’m not! This is only going to continue until I marry him!” she looked up at her friend with glittering eyes. “And who knows? This may even continue well until our coronation! I’ll never be safe! Never!”

“Vidaria,” Ione spoke up. “Why would those fae not want you to marry Malleus Draconia? I thought he was crazy-powerful. Wouldn’t it be good for your kingdom too to have a…”

“Ione, hush!” Iman hissed, not wanting to see her friend further distressed. But Vidaria gazed at Ione with sympathy.

“It’s a very long story, but the short version is this: a long time ago, our kingdoms were at war. But once they came to a stalemate, it was decided that the eldest princess of one of the kingdoms would marry the eldest prince of the other, thus uniting them. And that prince and princess are…”

“You and Malleus…” Danica sighed. “Yes, we understand now.”

“But there are some in my kingdom who don’t want peace, they think they can still defeat the Draconias and so every few months, they try to take me as leverage to end the current ceasefire. I have to be under constant guard because of it! I can never be alone, I can never travel without escorts, I can never be normal!”

“So that’s why Lilia wanted the Diasomnia students to stay here,” Taima said. “To protect Vidaria.”

“It gets so tiring!” Vidaria cried. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve been trapped in this arrangement with Malleus, unable to do anything about it lest more blood be shed between our nations! I wanted to join the VDC because I thought it would be fun and maybe, just maybe, I could have the experience of a normal girl! But I couldn’t even have that without them targeting me! It’s a nightmare I’ll never wake from and what’s worse, there’s another person I want to marry, and guess what? It’s not Malleus Draconia!”

“WHAT?!” Iman gazed at her friend with shock. “Vidi! You never told me…”

“What is there to tell? It doesn’t matter anyway! He’s a human for one, and whatever my feelings are on the matter, I have to marry Malleus to keep the peace between the fae nations! The fact that I’m in love with another counts for nothing!”

“But what about Malleus?” Yuulan asked. “It might be possible that Malleus loves someone else too. Couldn’t your two kingdoms come to some kind of understanding that doesn’t involve a marriage of state?”

“I don’t know what is in Malleus’ heart,” said Vidaria. “But he is not in mine, and sadly, this situation is past the negotiation point. I will be the next queen of Briar Valley, and I am powerless to change that.”

“Powerless…”

Danica had been listening to Vidaria’s lament but had little to say, instead, she listened and began to wonder for what reason did Sidonie hate her so much. Vidaria was in a remarkable situation that she probably did not ask for and she couldn’t help but feel sympathetic. And her profession of feeling powerless made Danica further wonder if they were really so different after all.

“You’ve gone through so much,” she went on. “But the fact that you are still here is a testament to your strength, Vidaira. You’re far from powerless.”

“I wish I could believe that,” Vidaria sniffed. “I gave up believing I was strong a long time ago. What I am is stubborn. I don't want to die. I still wish to live even when it’s very painful. That’s not strength.”

“Yes it is!” Taima said. “Cause it means you haven’t been broken yet! It means you can’t be broken!”

“For once, I agree with Taima,” Iman nodded, giving Vidaria another hug. “Vidi, you are one of the strongest beings I’ve ever known, person or fae. And you can’t let those bastards take that from you.”

“We shouldn’t let anyone take that from us,” Danica sighed. “You aren’t powerless Vidaria, none of us are. We all worked together to help you. And Ione realized her UM, we aren’t powerless.”

“My UM?” Ione looked up at Danica. “UM? You mean…my…my…unique…”

“It’s the only thing that it could be,” Danica replied with a little smile. “Congratulations, Ione. You’ve found your unique magic!”

“WHAT?!” Ione’s jaw dropped, looking at her magipen and then at her companions. “My unique magic?! Really?! I…I…”

“Yeah!” Iman grinned. “Way to go, Wallflower! You’re already ahead of more than half of the freshman!”

“And even some of the sophomores,” Vidaria smiled in spite of herself. “I haven’t discovered my unique magic yet either.”

“I can’t believe it!” In an excited fit of frenzy, Ione began jumping up and down saying it over and over again. “My unique magic! My unique magic!”

The others congratulated Ione and for the first time since they began the VDC training camp weeks ago, Danica could see true camaraderie between her teammates. They had come together to help Vidaria, set aside their differences, and now they were truly getting along. Even with all that happened that day between her and Vil, she couldn’t help but feel a giddy sense of joy. And at that moment, she was feeling extremely bold.

“We can come together when we need to,” she said. “And when we do, we can do incredible things.”

“We are all pretty incredible. Aren’t we?” Taima smiled. “All of us, even Iman!”

“What’s THAT supposed to mean?!” Iman asked, laughing.

“But we should all be as incredible as we can possibly be,” Danica continued, with a little sigh. “And we shouldn’t have to hold back how incredible we are, not for anything, or…anyone.”

“Hmmm?” Taima noticed the look in her friends’ eyes and her interest was piqued. “What do you mean, Dani?”

“I’m done hiding, no more hiding!” With new confidence, she stood up and called for everyone’s attention. “Guys, there is something important I need to tell you all. It’s about our performance for the VDC.”

“We’re listening, Danica,” said Ione.

“First, I want to apologize to Iman. She was right when she implied I wrote our song because of Vil-san. I did, and the lyrics reflected how I felt about him at the time.”

“No need to apologize, Danica,” Iman smiled. “It’s been two years now, I’m sure your feelings have matured. Now that you’re older and you know him personally.”

“ Were, not are,” Danica hung her head with sadness. “What my feelings were. But after today, after several weeks, I don’t know if I can honestly say I still have those feelings anymore.”

“Vil-san has been pretty hard on you,” Taima said. “And half of the time, he’s mean to you for things that aren’t even your fault. I feel like if he knew how deeply you cared for him, he would try to be nicer.”

“Weather he would or not is no longer relevant,” shaking her head. “Whatever you guys think of Sidonie, she has been my biggest support in Pomefiore. Forcing her off the team was the final straw for me. I can’t abide by his wishes anymore in good conscious.”

“What were his wishes?” Iman asked.

Danica hesitated, she felt her heart beginning to race as she thought about how to answer her. She was standing at a crossroads now, and very close to a point she would not be able to return from. The river’s current was flowing fast and unrelenting, and what she said next could very well determine whether she would find her way to safety, or drown altogether.

You cannot fight the current, cherie. And you cannot fight what you truly know in your heart to be right.

What I know in my heart to be right…yes…what I know to be right…

“I…I’m not sure I can explain this in words,” she said at last. “I think it’s better if I just show you, and then you guys can decide if you agree with me.”

~~~

Thankfully, Farron was still awake and was more than happy to let Danica into his studio so she could retrieve what she was looking for and make quick alterations.

“Farron, before you return to your room, do you mind coming into the ballroom with me? I want you to be there when I show this to the others, but I also want to ask you something afterward.”

“Oh? Is it something you can’t ask me right now?” He asked as he removed the last few pins.

“No, but you’ll understand when we go to the ballroom.”

Farron thought this odd, but cheerfully agreed and took Danica’s hand as they walked back to the ballroom where Yuulan, Grim, and her four remaining teammates were waiting for her. Immediately, Iman gasped as her eyes took in the stunning black stage outfit Danica was wearing. Taima squealed with delight, reaching out to touch the black feathers adorning the bodice, and Vidaria and Ione also made their approval very clear.

“Such a beautiful dress,” said Vidaria. “Elegant and sleek, I love it!”

“Me too!” added Ione. “I’m not sure I would be able to wear something like that, but it suits you very well, Danica!”

“See? Why can’t we wear something like this for the VDC?” Iman asked. “I love this a thousand times more than what we’re currently wearing!”

“Farron is an amazing tailor, no doubt!” Vidaria agreed, “But I feel like that is more suited to our style. Our song, maybe not, but if we were…”

“That’s the point!” Danica cut her off.

“Originally, Danica had a whole different song in mind for the VDC,” Farron said, smoothing out the fabric of her skirt. “And together, we designed this outfit to match.”

“Well okay then!” Iman nodded. “Why couldn’t we do that song?”

Danica sighed, her face suddenly becoming warm with a mix of embarrassment and fear.

“For that song, Taima and I also created choreography to go along with it. I showed some of it to Vil-san and he hated it. Well, hate might be too strong a word but he certainly disapproved. He said it was too sexy and he didn’t want me being provocative on stage.”

“Seriously?! So that’s why we’re stuck with what we have now?! Because Vil-san was afraid of OTHERS slut-shaming us?! What you’re wearing is not even all that racy!”

“It’s more flirtatious than provocative!” added Vidaria. “But flirtatious doesn’t always mean trashy!”

“He didn’t even want us to be flirtatious!” Danica sighed. “He compared this situation to the black and white swan and how I needed to remain a white one. He said we should all be sweet and graceful white swans instead of alluring and bold black swans. He’s worried if we…no…if I were too provocative, public perception of me would vilify me as a black swan forever. And I would never be able to break from that role or be anything else.”

“Oh, Cygnet…”

This was the first time Farron was hearing any of this. While it initially surprised him when Vil told him to design a whole new outfit for Danica, he had no idea how deeply this all ran. In her eyes, he saw sadness and the inner conflict of someone creative being forced to be something they weren’t. A conflict he knew all too well. He softly placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her while the others listened. But Iman let out a loud scoff.

“Merciful sands, I thought we as a society had progressed past such ideas!” she said.

“What do you mean?” Danica asked.

“Where I’m from, the only people who have such backward ideas about girls are bitter old men way past their glory days!” she went on. “I’ve heard some of the things Vil has said about gender, so I thought he’d be above such ideas too!”

“It does seem a tad unfair,” Ione admitted. “Even though I like our song and costumes, it seems a little hypocritical considering the boys definitely look appealing when they perform together.”

“It IS unfair!” Taima added. “And it IS hypocritical! No one is gonna bat an eye at what our boys do! Hell, no one bats an eye at what other boy groups do on stage either, and sometimes they can get very raunchy!”

“But sevens forbid we wanna be a little coquettish,” Vidaria rolled her eyes. “Humans never cease to amuse me with their stupidity sometimes. Why should we have to tailor ourselves based on what stupid people think?!”

“YES! RIGHT ON THE NOSE!” Danica jumped. “That’s EXACTLY what I’ve been thinking since we’ve begun this training camp! I knew from the beginning what I wanted for us! I trust Vil-san, I listen to him for the most part, but this never sat right with me! You know, in ballet, the white and black swans are usually danced by the SAME woman! Why should I have to be one or the other?!”

“You SHOULDN’T have to!” Iman replied. “That’s the point! Why can’t we be a little sexy too?”

“None of you have a say over what you’re doing, what you’re singing, or even what you’re wearing!” Yuulan shook her head. “If you ask me, that is true powerlessness.”

“Well, I’m sick of it! I’ve done everything Vil-san has asked of me, but he still doesn’t see how hard I’m working! He doesn’t understand! And even if…” Danica stopped herself to bite back a few tears. “Even if my feelings were recuperated, it wouldn’t matter because in the end, the black swan is the villainous foil to the white one. And only a white swan is worthy of the love of a prince.”

“I don’t believe that,” Taima said. “And if you ask me, Vil-san has been far from princely! You clearly care about him and yet he can’t even trust you to give the performance you want! You deserve better than this, Dani!”

“The more you all talk, the more I’m inclined to think we should change our VDC performance to be more like what we ALL really want!” Iman replied.

“There is just one issue,” Danica sighed. “We have literally eleven days before the VDC and if learning new lyrics and choreography weren’t enough…” She turned to Farron who was looking at her with concern. “We wouldn’t be the only ones who would have to work together on this. So sadly, I don’t think…”

“I’m going to stop you right there, Cygnet,” Farron said, taking her hand. “Let me tell you something that Vil said to me during my freshman year. He told me, when something calls to you, you can never forget it. No matter how hard you try, you will be compelled to answer that call sooner or later,” he gave her hand a gentle squeeze.  “You are an amazing performer, you have a clear vision of what you need to do to win the VDC. Vil means well but this time, he’s clearly in the wrong and I can’t ignore how unfair he’s been to you. I will help you in whatever way I can.”

“But Farron…”

“All my work for the film research club is finished for the time being and anything that comes up, I can just give it to the other freshman.”

“And I’ll help him!” Yuulan stood up. “My sewing skills still need work, but Farron has been helping me improve so it’s only right I help him now!”

“Thank you, Yuulan,” Farron smiled. “See, Cygnet? Yuulan and I will create new outfits for your black swan quintet. Outfits that will be just as gorgeous as yours!”

“Black Swan Quintet…” Danica murmured, smiling to herself. Yes, a fitting name, she couldn’t have thought of a better name herself. “Yes, Black Swan Quintet! That’s what we’ll be from now on!”

“So…does this mean what I think it means?” Ione asked.

“Yes, Ione,” Danica grinned, her power had returned at last. “We are changing our performance! We aren’t even going to tell Vil-san about it! He will find out the day of and by then it will be too late to turn back! We’re still going to win the VDC, but we’re going to win on my own terms! In my own way!”

~~~

It was easy to convince Vil that they had spent the rest of the evening rehearsing and he said nothing when they returned to Ramshackle later than usual, too preoccupied with his own thoughts to really give any extra to what was quickly happening right under his nose. Much later that night, when it was time to return to their rooms for bed, Danica called for her teammates to come to her room where she played Guilty Kiss for them for the first time. If they were eager about changing their performance before, they were ecstatic now after hearing the fun and catchy electro beat and profound lyrics.

Danica decided that she would change the lyrics slightly to better highlight her current dissatisfaction with Vil, and how in spite of everything, she still cared for him. The new version of this song would be titled: Guilty Heart.

The following morning, after the boys left for rehearsal and they were alone, Danica showed off some of the dance moves she and Taima had come up with for the song and Iman was especially excited about them. Vidaria and Ione on the other hand were warier but Danica assured them that she would tailor their performance to suit each of them and that they would mostly have to focus on singing.

“I believe Iman, Taima and I are the best dancers in our group anyway,” she had told them. “So I think we will have the most intense choreography and what I give you guys to do will still be lovely but not as involved.”

After weeks of dancing and learning to dance, it was surprisingly easy for everyone to shift to the new choreography Danica made for them. And there was something to be said about how their new enthusiasm made learning their new performance all the easier. For the first time in weeks, Danica was beginning to truly feel confident again in what she was doing.

Meanwhile, Farron and Yuulan worked on the new costumes. It was easier to do this since Farron’s studio was off limits to most other students and Vil was out of the dorm most of the day except for rehearsal with the NRC Tribe. And when Vil was around, they simply placed their work back in the closet away from sight, going right back to their work the second he was gone.

“Such a shame though,” Farron said to Danica one day during a fitting for Vidaria’s costume. “I do like the white costumes I made. Even if you guys don’t end up using them.”

“Honestly, I like them too,” Danica admitted. “I just don’t like what they’ve come to represent. But maybe once this is all over and done with, we can find a use for them. Maybe for next year’s VDC if we decide on a sweeter performance concept.” She giggled. “Wouldn’t that be rather ironic?”

“I think as long as it’s something you actually want, it shouldn’t matter what your concept is.” Yuulan said. “Who cares if it’s ironic?”

“You’re right, Yuulan,” Vidaria smiled, looking at herself in the full mirror, admiring her costume. “But I really love this dress, and I hope…” quietly. “I hope he likes how I look too.”

“Oh?” Danica looked up at her. “Who? You don’t mean Malleus-sama do you?”

“I don’t,” Vidaria winked. “But that’s a secret only for me!”

The hardest part of this transition was that they were still expected to continue practicing their original performance. Since Vil still had no idea of what was going on, and Danica did not want him to get any ideas, they still devoted time to perfecting Our Happily Ever After. So even if they practiced Guilty Heart for two hours, they still devoted at least the same amount of time to Our Happily Ever After . This was especially important since Vil would soon be giving them one final evaluation before the VDC and a lot was riding on this one.

If Vil could be satisfied with their performance, then it was likely he might let Danica off the hook for a little while and not be as involved in their progress. Making their ruse easier to pull off. And that evaluation came a few days later when Vil gathered the girls in the Pomefiore ballroom to see their progress. They were fully dressed in their white costumes and in spite of practicing two very different songs at the same time, they were determined to pass their final evaluation. And Danica was determined that after today, she would never sing Our Happily Ever After ever again .

~~~

#twisted wonderland #twst fic #twst writing #twisted wonderland oc #twst oc #shining hearts ~ melodies and melancholy #things i write #IONE GETS HER UM IN THIS CHAPTER!!! <3 <3 <3

[rosie-b]

How Marinette Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Ball

Chapter 3: The Heirs' Ball (Links to Ch. 1, Ch. 2)

Summary: Marinette crosses into the fairy realm for the first time and attends the heirs' ball, where the prince's soulmate will be announced.

As always, you can read the whole chapter below or on AO3 using the links above!

On the evening of the ball, Marinette spent about two minutes getting dressed and ready. 

It would have taken her even less time, but the instructions written on the tiny acorn she’d gotten in the mail were a bit hard to decipher, and Marinette wanted to make she didn’t say the wrong thing and accidentally tamper with the premade spell’s effect on her outfit, so she spent a minute and a half checking to make sure she had all the words right.

Standing in front of her mirror and wearing only what she wanted underneath the gown, Marinette took a deep breath and pictured her hopes for the dress one more time. With a single whispered sentence, she unlocked the enchantment in the acorn, and as Marinette held it, it began to grow, stretching out to become a long bolt of red fabric, which wrapped around Marinette and began to shape itself into an elegant gown. On Marinette’s feet, two slippers formed, and when she looked in the mirror, she saw that they were made from a red-hued crystal, strong and unbreakable but comfortable to wear. Marinette allowed herself a private smile. She knew getting an outfit from the fae would be exciting!

The fabric continued to shape itself around Marinette, spreading out into a sleeveless A-line gown with a Queen Anne neckline. The bodice was made of a red silk taffeta with black diamonds sewn in it, reminiscent of the ladybug-inspired dress Marinette had designed all those years ago, the first time she met Chat Noir. As the taffeta ruffled out and ended just past Marinette’s hips, a black tulle layer formed under it, creating the base of the full skirt. To finish, a golden glow of magic rushed up past Marinette’s shoulders, twisting her black hair into a low inverted bun and adding a thin layer of makeup to her face. The magic tucked a golden flower pin into her hair, and then it rushed down again to Marinette’s hands, manifesting as a thin card with her name on it. Marinette knew from the second letter she’d gotten from the castle, after she sent a letter accepting her invitation, that this card was to be presented at the main fairy gate, where she’d meet her assigned Seelie guard and cross into the fae realm for the very first time in her life.

Marinette felt a thrill race through her as she thought about it. For all her years interacting with Chat Noir, Alya, and various other fairies or mixies, Marinette had never yet had the chance to visit their home realm. 

There’s nothing that special about it, Marinette told herself. It’s just that everyone there has magic, and you might finally get to meet the real Chat Noir, who you are in love with, and his family after you leave the ball. Yeah. No big deal.

Brushing an imaginary speck of dust from her dress, Marinette headed downstairs, where her parents were waiting to see their little girl off.

“Marinette! That must be the dress they sent you, isn’t it?” Marinette nodded shyly at her papa’s question. “I had trouble believing that an outfit could grow from that acorn, but here the proof is in front of my own eyes! You look so grown-up,” Tom said, wiping a tear from his eye.

Nodding her head in agreement, Sabine pulled her daughter into a short embrace, pulling back and resting her hand on Marinette’s cheek. “You look simply beautiful, Marinette. I’m so proud of you,” she said.

Cheeks turning a light pink, Marinette looked down at her mother with a smile. 

“All I did was get a random invitation, Mama,” she insisted. “I didn’t even have to do anything but accept it.”

“Maybe, but the fact that you might be the prince’s soulmate speaks for itself!” Tom boomed excitedly. “I’m sure he’ll fall in love as soon as he sees you. But you don’t have to marry him, sweetie,” Tom said earnestly. “If he turns out to be a jerk like Chloe, dump him and come straight home. Okay?”

“Okay, Papa.” Marinette said, turning to give him a hug too before she left.

“Ah-ah! Hold on, Marinette, we need a picture before you leave! That dress is absolutely stunning, and you look gorgeous in it,” Sabine said, walking over to grab the camera from off the table.

“Mama,” Marinette protested, but she stood still for the pictures anyway, a radiant smile on her face. Afterwards, both her parents encased her in another warm hug, offering to walk with her to the gate and making sure she had a ride home after the ball, since they both had to go to bed soon after she left so that they could the bakery on time the next day.

Finally, Marinette was on her way to the fairy gate. A collection of about a dozen or so girls was already gathered by the gate, some of whom she recognized and most of whom she did not. One blond girl with a pixie stood out from the crowd, though.

“Rose?” Marinette asked when she drew close enough to confirm her suspicions. “You got invited, too? I thought you were dating Juleka.”

Rose turned to face Marinette, a bright smile on her face. “Marinette! You look gorgeous,” she exclaimed, running her eyes over the details in the red dress. “I am dating Juleka, so we both figured that I’m not the prince’s soulmate. Even if I do turn out to be his soulmate, I’d obviously choose Juleka over him anyway. I’m just here for the ball,” Rose laughed. “There are going to be so many pretty dresses to admire, and I’ve heard the palace ballroom is full of famous art. I promised Juleka I’d take pictures.”

“That was nice of you,” Marinette smiled. “I have to admit, I’m mostly here for the dresses, too. Although, I have a friend in the fae realm I’d like to meet when all of this is done,” she admitted.

“Oh, that’s right! Alya Cesaire, the mixie you introduced me to! She made me a potion for my throat after it got sore from practice once.”

“That’s her,” Marinette said, unsure if she wanted to keep up this facade or not. Technically, it wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the whole truth. “She promised to guide me back from the fae realm, actually.”

“That’s so sweet of her,” Rose cooed. “Oh! Marinette, you have to meet Celestine; she came all the way from Duxford, England when she got her invitation. There are girls here from all over the world!”

“Hello, Celestine,” Marinette said, offering the redhead a hand to shake.

“Pleased to meet you,” Celestine said, taking the proffered hand. “I was really excited to get the chance to come here. Even if I don’t turn out to be the prince’s soulmate, this is still a great chance to see the fae realm! Parisians are so used to having their own fairy gate, but the rest of the world has to wait for the fae to visit them, or come here if they want to cross realms. I’m thrilled to be offered this chance.”

“I’ve never crossed realms before, either,” Marinette said. “It can be dangerous without a Seelie guide. It’s true that Parisians have it easier than most, but we’re all very lucky to have this opportunity!”

As the town square’s clock struck seven, the Seelie guides arrived through the gate, finding the girl they were assigned to escort and crossing with them to the fairy realm.

“Celestine?” a dark haired guide called. Celestine raised her hand, and the guard stepped over, checked her name card, and bowed, offering an elbow for Celestine to hold as they crossed realms. As they headed through the gate, another guard appeared by Marinette, tapping her shoulder to get her attention.

“Hello?” Marinette asked, turning around to see who it was.

“Hello, Marinette,” a voice belonging to a boy who looked to be about her age. Greeting her with a warm smile, the guide held out his hand, waiting for Marinette’s card. She handed it to him, eyes searching the guide’s hazel eyes as she wondered how he already knew her name. “Alya told me all about you, but I don’t think she’s mentioned me by name to you yet. I’m Nino Lahiffe, guard to the prince, Seelie guide on the weekends, and recently promoted to being Alya’s boyfriend.”

Marinette’s eyes widened as Nino briefly checked the card over and released the spell on it, leaving a magicless acorn in his hands. The dress remained on Marinette, a permanent gift from the Seelie rulers.

“Oh, that’s how you knew my name! Alya did mention you to me, but she refused to tell me who her new beau was until after the first date. Did you have fun together?”

Nino smiled, tucking the acorn into his pocket with a far-off look on his face. 

“I think we did,” he said wistfully. “She agreed to meet me again on Tuesday for coffee, so it can’t have been a bad date, right?”

“I don’t think Alya would have agreed to another date with you if it was,” Marinette laughed. Taking Nino’s elbow, the two of them stepped through the fairy gate, and the human realm vanished behind Marinette as she entered the fairy realm for the first time.

The gate stood in a park near the Seelie palace, partially to show the humans’ acknowledgement of the fairies’ right to rule the realm and partially to cut down on the number of Unseelies that came through the gate. Not many of them fancied going near the Seelie palace, but sometimes one or two would pass through to the human realm and cause some mischief. A misplaced wallet here, a possessed goat there, the damage was recorded and undone by the Seelies as soon as it was caught, but the gate’s placement helped to cut down on the frequency of these incidents. Since the palace was so close to the gate, the girls’ guides were really only a formality. Still, you never know when an Unseelie will pop up, so it is best that we stay on the safe side, Marinette mused.

Stepping through the elaborate gardens that made up the south part of the park, Marinette admired the different kinds of flowers and shrubs that were carefully trimmed and kept by magic. All kinds of songbirds made their homes in the arboretum nearby, their songs filling Marinette’s ears with sweet music. 

This is definitely more impressive than the human side of the gate, she thought with a trace of embarrassment. Maybe she could bring the issue up to the mayor sometime and try to convince him to improve the town square a little to show more respect for the alliance.

As Nino and Marinette left the park and approached the palace itself, she stared unabashedly at its size and grandeur. The white brick walls were decorated with gold designs, and the doors were made of a strong mahogany. Several turrets stood on the outer walls of the palace, and Marinette walked by a large fountain near the front gate of the palace. Nino opened the door for her, and she took a step inside, but before her slipper could touch the soft carpet on the floor, Nino pulled her back. 

“Wait,” he said. “There’s a quicker way to get to the ballroom.” Touching the doorframe, Nino closed his eyes and concentrated, and a green glow surrounded the pair. 

“There,” Nino said, brushing off his hands. “Now, when we step through, we’ll transport right to the ballroom. After that, you’re free to enjoy the ball. Alya’s mom was in charge of catering, so you’ll get a chance to try some of her special recipes while you’re here”

Marinette cautiously stepped over the glowing threshold with Nino, marveling as the scenery around her changed once again to a large ballroom with violet-painted walls and fine art.

“Woah,” she whispered, turning to admire the room. “This place is gorgeous!”

Nino smiled at her tourist-like wonder. “It is a pretty cool palace,” he said in agreement. “Hey, if you get bored during the party, you can come find me and Alya; we were invited as guests since we work here. Just don’t forget to meet the prince before you leave the ball,” Nino said with a wink. “I have to get back to the gate now; there are a few other girls I’ve been assigned to guide over. Enjoy the party!”

Marinette smiled. “Thank you,” she said, eyes shining in the candlelight of the ballroom. “I think I will.”

Nino turned to leave, and Marinette walked over to say hi to some of the other guests she knew. The music hadn’t started yet, since Marinette was one of the first guests to arrive and was technically early. The refreshment table was already set up, so after Marinette greeted Alix, who was wearing a suit and had somehow influenced the magic to give her shoes with collapsible roller blades, she wandered over to try the crudités. Oh, they have asparagus! Marinette noted. It’s out of season in Paris right now, but I guess with magic, they can grow it whenever they want.

As Marinette sampled the various appetizers and mini foods, the rest of the guests arrived, and the band finished tuning their instruments, beginning to play a soft waltz as the guests mingled and waited for the prince and his parents, the queen and king, to have their grand entrance. As the guides and other guests arrived, a few couples began to dance, Alya and Nino being one of them.

Eventually, a swell in the music signaled that the royals were arriving, first the king in purple robes, then the queen in an elegant blue feathered gown that swept down to the floor, and last of all, the prince, all announced by a fairy who stood by the band and used magic rather than a microphone to make their voice carry across the room. Though Marinette was already in love with Chat Noir, she had to admit that the prince was handsome. His bright golden hair was swept back in gentle waves, and the green accents in his black suit complemented the grass green of his eyes. His gaze swept over the crowd as he made his way to the small dais in the far corner of the room, and as his eyes seemed to catch and linger on Marinette, a radiant smile spread over his face, leaving a gentle pink blush on his cheeks. Marinette fought the shivers running down her spine and furiously reminded her treacherous heart that she was already in love with one boy, and that was hard enough for her to deal with, thank you very much.

“Each invited guest will have the opportunity to meet the prince in turn, one by one, until Prince Adrien’s soulmate bond forms and the conditions of the kwamis’ blessing are fulfilled,” the announcing fairy boomed. “This Heirs’ Ball, you will be going in alphabetical order. Because there are so many of you here, we ask that you please wait to join the line by the dais until there are only a maximum of five girls ahead of you. To aid with this, I will cast a spell which will allow you to see your place in the queue written over the back of your left hand. As the queue moves along, the number will change accordingly. While you are waiting, we have a table with refreshments set up by the west side of the room, and of course, you are more than welcome to dance along with the music provided by our talented band! I hope you all enjoy the rest of the ball!”

Breaking off the spell that had allowed her to increase her voice’s volume, the fairy spoke another spell, and Marinette turned her left hand over to see a golden ‘9’ appear over it, like a tattoo in a fancy font. It seemed Marinette didn’t have long to wait until she got the chance to meet the prince.

She’d played down her excitement in front of Chat Noir when he talked about it, and certainly she didn’t care about the possibility — which was really no possibility, Marinette thought — that she was the prince’s soulmate. But Marinette couldn’t deny that it was exciting to meet the future ruler of the fairy kingdom. Prince Adrien Agreste was not very well known in the human realm, and he’d only visited Paris twice in all his eighteen years, once last summer, and once the winter before, on diplomatic meetings with his mother. Queen Emilie was a more familiar face to the humans, and she met frequently with the rulers of the human world. Her taste in fashion was impeccable, and Marinette had always looked up to the designs she wore. Marinette had heard a rumor that King Gabriel, her husband, had designed them all, but she didn’t know if it was true or not.

Marinette finished her cup of sparkling lemonade and returned the glass to a waiter, smiling her ‘thank you’ to them. As the number on her hand switched to an eight and then a seven a few minutes later, Marinette felt grateful that she had an early place in the queue. It meant she would get to sneak out sooner to find Chat Noir. The last time they’d talked, he’d seemed tenser than usual, especially when she insisted that she’d rather spend time with him than stay to talk with the prince for longer. She’d managed to get him to agree to meet her in the main courtyard sometime past eight, but now she was feeling nervous. What if he couldn’t slip away from his father? Or worse, what if he didn’t want Marinette to meet him at all while he wasn’t disguised as a cat? What if he was embarrassed to be friends with someone like Marinette, who didn’t want to fall in love with the prince?

Marinette stole a glance at him over the heads of those dancing in the middle of the ballroom. He seemed nice enough, but a bit distracted. As the girl he’d been chatting with bowed and walked away, a sad look on her face, Prince Adrien’s eyes lifted, and happened to meet Marinette’s. Shocked, Marinette’s face turned red as she realized she’d been caught staring, but the prince quickly recovered from his surprise. Raising one of his brows at her, his mouth twisted into a smirk. Marinette’s mouth fell open at his audacity, but then a pair of dancing girls whirled past her, obscuring her view. Marinette took advantage of them and disappeared into the crowd. A few minutes later, the number on her hand shrunk into a five.

On the other side of the ballroom, Alya and Nino were keeping an eye on both Adrien and Marinette as they danced across the wood floor in a style that theoretically resembled a waltz. 

“Do you think he’s going to tell her?” Nino asked, his voice a whisper against Alya’s ear.

“Oh, he definitely will,” she said, lifting her arm to let Nino know to twirl her around. “They’re both smitten,” she remarked after her skirts had finished flaring out and back down again. “Adrien isn’t even trying to hide it. He’s taking as little time to meet with the other girls as possible, and his father is starting to catch on. He won’t last a minute without telling her,” she laughed.

“Hopefully he won’t need that long,” Nino said. “Once their soulmate bond forms, she’ll have to figure it out, right? I’m still new to this star-crossed romance of theirs, but I think that telepathy would be a fitting bond for them to have.”

“That way, he can tell her everything without his father’s influence, before she panics and has the chance to run away,” Alya mused. “Not a bad idea, Lahiffe!”

“Alya, we are literally dating,” Nino said with a roll of his eyes. “Are you really going to keep using my last name?”

Alya grinned. “Yes,” she said with a mischievous glint in her eye.

The pair waltzed past Marinette as she looked down at the three on her hand, working up the courage to go over and join the short line of girls by the prince. It’s okay, you’re still being loyal to Chat, she told herself. You’ll be able to look into those emerald eyes and smile and not fall in love. Easily.

Taking a deep breath, Marinette walked over to stand in front of the dais, waiting nervously behind the only other girl in line. As soon as Marinette took her place, three other girls walked up behind her, making Marinette blush as she realized she’d forced them to wait longer than they’d wanted to to join the queue.

 Soon enough, the fairy in front of Marinette was walking up to greet the prince, who was standing on the first step of the dais, his parents watching from their thrones on the top level. The girl bent into a deep curtsy and waited for the queen’s signal to rise. When Emilie raised her hand, the girl straightened and stepped closer to the prince, taking his hand in hers to kiss his signet ring, a silver band bearing the crest of the Agrestes. 

The announcer, who was standing to the left of the dais, motioned for the girl to introduce herself, and she gave her name to the prince— Victoria Dubreuil, daughter of Eloise and Maël Dubreuil from the Southern province.

The prince greeted her politely, and Marinette realized she was close enough to hear their conversation, though she tried to tune it out in politeness. She supposed it was too late to move the entire line back now. That probably meant the girl behind her would be hearing her conversation with the prince, too, Marinette thought in mild panic. Everyone would be able to know if she slipped up! She should have studied fae etiquette more carefully before the ball.

Overwhelmed by her anxious thoughts, Marinette nearly missed the end of Victoria and the prince’s meeting. As Victoria left, a bit disappointed by how rushed the conversation had felt, the king motioned to the announcer, who motioned to Marinette that she should move forward. Catching her signal, Marinette took a lurching step forward, her heel catching on her long skirt as she moved. Eyes widening as she pinwheeled her arms in a desperate attempt to regain her balance, Marinette realized that she was going to fall, here at the dais, in front of everyone… including the king and queen! And the prince!

But Marinette didn’t fall very far before she was saved from hitting the floor. 

“Falling for me already, Princess?”

Marinette’s head snapped up as she looked around for the source of the familiar nickname. But the only person in front of her was Prince Adrien Agreste, smirk back on his face as he supported her with both hands on her upper waist. He’d stepped forward to catch her, resulting in Marinette falling with her hands squarely on his chest. She stammered an apology as she pushed herself off of him, face turning red as she realized that this was much, much closer than she’d ever thought she’d be to the fairy prince.

“You’re sorry, I mean I’m sorry, Your Highness! It’s chest— just! I’m so clumsy, oh kwamis, I am so sorry—”

Adrien chuckled, a warm, deep sound that sent a thrill through Marinette. “It’s all right,” he said. Reaching down, he gently took her right hand and raised it to his lips. “I’m pleased to officially meet you,” he murmured as his lips brushed over her skin.

“Guh,” Marinette said intelligently, staring down at her hand. Where Adrien’s lips had been, a dark mark was beginning to form, and Marinette scrunched her brows together as she looked at it. Was it some sort of magical sign, to say stay away from this girl and do not let her into the fairy realm ever again, she committed crimes of klutziness against the crown prince ? Marinette shuddered at the thought of being tossed out of the fairy kingdom, a dark stain against her reputation literally on her hand for the world to see. What would she tell Chat?

Then the dark swirl on her hand began to clear, and Marinette blinked. It wasn’t a sign, after all! There were no words forming on her skin, only a silver tree with rust marking the edges of its boughs. A silver fairy gate, like the one hidden in the woods.

“W-what?” Marinette breathed, pulling her hand out of Adrien’s to look at it more closely. Sure enough, there was the secret gate, down to the rusted keyhole in the center! “What is this, what does it mean?”

Brushing his hand against hers, Adrien locked their fingers together, looking down at Marinette with a reverent expression.

“It means we’re soulmates, Marinette,” he said. 

Marinette’s mind went blank. Stepping away, she pulled her hand out of his, hardly sparing a cursory glance at the prince, who looked like a kicked puppy. 

Flexing her right hand, Marinette looked down at her mark again, her hand shaking slightly as she stared at it.

“We can’t be soulmates,” she whispered. “How could we be soulmates? Unless…” The mark on her skin had to mean something. Why would a picture of a rusting old gate make the prince think he was her soulmate?

“Princess,” floated through her mind. Adrien had called her Princess when he caught her. But that didn’t make sense. Only one person called her that!

“Marinette,” the prince said again, his voice soft and tentative. And that was wrong, too, she hadn’t had the chance to introduce herself! He shouldn’t know who she was yet… but he did.

Marinette paused, looking up at the prince’s open expression, his green eyes that seemed to be familiar, somehow, echoing the expression Marinette often saw on Chat when he talked about his hope for the future; how fragile it was. She looked behind the prince, at his parents, responsible for raising and protecting the country’s only heir. Wouldn’t they want to keep him where they could know he was safe at all times? Inside the palace, where the secret gate’s entrance was, hidden in one of the courtyards. Marinette inhaled sharply, peering closely at the prince, her lips forming a question she already knew the answer to.

“Chat Noir?”

Adrien’s face brightened suddenly, smiling hopefully as he looked at Marinette.

“Yes, Princess?” 

There was no doubt about it now. The prince’s cadence was just like Chat Noir’s, every inflection was exactly the same. 

“Oh, kwamis,” Marinette breathed. “It’s really you!”

Adrien laughed, glancing back at his mother, who was leaning forward in her chair with a hand on her chin, intrigued by their meeting. “Is that a bad thing?” he asked, a flash of uncertainty showing through the smile glued to his face.

Marinette stared at him. “No, but there go all my plans for the evening,” she said, trying to wrap her brain around the fact that for over six years, the crown prince of the fae realm had followed her around Paris and pretended to be her pet cat. He purred , she realized. Prince Adrien Agreste purred.

“Well, I think that we can make accommodations for whatever it is you wanted,” the queen said, rising up from her throne. Giving her husband a poke in the shoulder, she urged him to get up and meet their son’s soulmate. “Adrien, darling, could you remind us of your sweetheart’s last name again?”

“Dupain-Cheng,” Adrien said with a smile. “One member of the best family of bakers I’ve ever met. No offense, Marlena,” he said, and the woman, who’d come closer to the dais with the rest of the crowd, smiled and waved a hand dismissively.

“None taken,” she said with a laugh. “I know where my strengths lie. And I’m still the best chef this country’s seen.”

“That’s the truth,” Queen Emilie said with a laugh. “Now, Marinette,” she said, her voice falling to a lower volume, “About those plans of yours? We won’t take up much of your time with formalities tonight, though in the future you can expect a good deal more of them if you agree to marry my son. I’ve gone through this too, you know, I’m not planning to overwhelm you with duties. What was it you were hoping to do tonight?”

Marinette swallowed. “Um. I-I was going to steal your son away,” she said sheepishly.

Standing by Emilie’s side, King Gabriel looked taken aback. “What?”

Marinette smiled awkwardly. “I didn’t know who he was then,” she said, as if that explained everything.

“Because you wouldn’t let me tell her,” Adrien said, slinging his arm around Marinette’s back as they faced his parents together.

Emilie sighed. “You have to admit that it was for a good reason, son,” she said. “At first, at least, when we didn’t know much about the strange girl you’d met in the forest. And then, our rule was necessary to hold you back. Your soulmate bond hadn’t formed yet, but that extra distance between you and Marinette, your secret identity, was the only thing keeping you from throwing three thousand years of tradition away for the chance to date a human girl. Not that we hold it against you, dear,” she said, turning to Marinette. “We don’t have any problems with you being human, either. My son is just a little impatient sometimes, and it is our duty to make sure the kingdom survives.”

Marinette pursed her lips. “I see,” she said simply. “You’re talking about the kwamis’ blessing, aren’t you?”

The queen nodded. “It can feel like a curse sometimes,” she said, ”but it keeps our country strong. I apologize for any strife it has caused you and my son.”

Marinette bobbed her head in a jerky nod of acknowledgment, aware of the crowd’s stares like daggers at her back. She wasn’t sure how to feel about the way his parents had gone about it, but it was obvious that they thought they were doing what was best for Chat Noir. For Adrien.

Finding his hand by her side, Marinette took it in her own and squeezed it tightly. “So, now we know what my soulmark is,” she said, turning to look up at Adrien (and not down at Chat Noir. This was weird.) “But what about yours?”

“My guess is that it looks just like yours,” Adrien said, raising their joined hands to kiss hers once again. “But it hasn’t shown up yet, which means ours is probably a kiss-triggered bond. Wherever you kiss me for the first time is where my mark will show up.”

Marinette blushed. “Oh,” she said, feeling her cheeks become flaming hot. “W-well, where do you want it, then, kitty?” Marinette realized too late that that was probably an inappropriate nickname for the crown prince, but if the smile on his face was anything to go by, he didn’t mind it at all.

“In the same place as yours,” he said softly. “That way, anytime I look down to sign a paper or reach for another bite at dinner, I’ll be reminded of you.”

“You’ll carry me with you wherever you go,” Marinette said, heart pounding in her chest.

Adrien smiled warmly at her. “I already do,” he said, his gentle voice soothing the last of Marinette’s fears away.

“Silly kitty,” she said as her blush deepened again. “Just give me your hand.”

“In marriage? Gladly,” he grinned, presenting her with his right hand. Behind them, a few coos rose from the crowd as they watched.

Taking Adrien’s hand in hers, Marinette pressed a quick kiss to it, marveling as the silvery mark appeared over his skin.

“We really are soulmates,” she breathed.

“We are,” Adrien said, sounding immensely happy and a little relieved as he clasped both of Marinette’s hands in his and looked into her eyes.

Emilie stepped over to the two heirs, placing one hand on either of their shoulders. “Are you ready?” she asked with a smile. Adrien nodded, and Marinette decided to trust him, giving his hand a squeeze as she agreed. Loosening his hold on one of her hands, Adrien turned with Marinette to face the crowd as Emilie stood beside them, raising her hand to show them off in a grand gesture.

“Fairies and humans, I present to you the kingdom’s heirs!” she said in a strong voice. “Adrien Agreste and Marinette Dupain-Cheng. May the kwamis’ blessing keep them strong, and may this kingdom continue to know peace and stability into the future.” 

A healthy round of applause rose from the crowd, and Marinette blushed again at the attention, wanting to hide her face in Adrien’s shoulder. At the front of the crowd, Alya and Nino were cheering the loudest of anyone, and Alix caught Marinette’s eye to give her a grin and a double thumb’s up. Standing beside her, Rose had to pause her clapping to wipe a tear from her eye as she smiled for her friend. I just love romance, she thought happily.

Adrien bent down to press a kiss against Marinette’s cheek, and a smile spread over her face. She pulled him back down for a second kiss, her lips brushing against the edge of his mouth. They stared happily into each other’s eyes as someone in the crowd started a second round of applause and the king came down to stand on the other side of his son. Emilie gave him an approving smile as cameras and magic began to flash, capturing the image for future years.

The realm’s future was in good hands.

__*__*__*__*__

Several years in the future, Adrien sat on a velvet couch in his room with Marinette. She rested halfway across his lap, hands caressing her belly as they took advantage of the first calm moment they’d had since announcing to the kingdom that they were expecting a child.

“What do you think you’ll name them?” Adrien asked, pressing a kiss to Marinette’s cheek.

Marinette turned her face to her husband, pressing a chaste kiss to his lips. “I suppose it depends,” she said. “Your grandparents got rid of the old naming conventions, so there aren’t any rules for us to follow. Now, there are almost too many options for us to choose from,” she said with a laugh.

“I have to admit, though,” she said slowly, her hand over Adrien’s as it rested on top of her barely-there baby bump, “When I was younger, I had three names picked out for kids, in case I married you.”

Adrien grinned. “You did? Princess, that’s adorable,” he cooed, pulling his wife close as she struggled in protest. “Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“It’s embarrassing,” she groaned. “And I knew you would tease me about it.”

Adrien gasped. “I would never make fun of my wife,” he said in false outrage. “That would make me nothing but a royal pain!”

Marinette giggled. “That wasn’t even good,” she said, poking Adrien’s arm.

“What do you mean?” Adrien asked, grinning up at Marinette. “That pun was my crowning achievement!” At Marinette’s unimpressed look, Adrien chuckled and rubbed the back of his head, loosening his grip on his wife as she slowly pushed herself off his lap.

“If you’d rather keep punning than listen to my name ideas you seemed so interested in, I can just go,” she said teasingly, making as if to leave the room.

“Nooo, Princess, come back,” Adrien whined, dragging her back down onto his lap. “I want to hear all about the names you came up with for our babies!”

Marinette smirked as she let her husband fold her tightly in his arms. “It’s just that there are so many of your ancestors with this name already,” she said with a sigh. “I never knew it was so popular. Seventy-four rulers named some variant of Louis in just over a hundred generations? You have to admit that’s a little ridiculous.”

Beneath her, Adrien froze, his arms loosening their grasp around her. “You were thinking of naming our daughter Louisa?” he asked, green eyes fixed on Marinette’s.

Marinette frowned. “We don’t know their gender yet,” she said. “But yes. If it was a boy, I wanted to name my firstborn Louis, and either Louise or Louisa if they were a girl. But I won’t be doing that now.”

“Princess, I’m telling you it’s going to be a girl,” Adrien said confidently. “I might not be able to see the future, but I can feel it in my bones. Comes with being a cat for so long, you know. And I think Louisa is a fine name,” he said. “It is a little weird that it’s popped up so often in our history, but it’s a good name. I had a theory about it as a kid.”

Marinette raised her eyebrow, settling herself into a more comfortable position on her husband’s lap. “Really?” she asked. “A theory? I want to know all about it.”

Adrien blushed. “It wasn’t a very detailed theory,” he said. “It was just, in history class we kept learning about all these Louis figures, and I figured it must have something to do with the kwamis’ blessing. They made the deal with the very first Queen Louisa,” he said. “Maybe that’s why so many of the heirs they secure are named in a similar fashion. The magic still recognizes who the original pact was with, so it influences the king and queen’s minds so that they’re more likely to choose Louisa for a name. If it’s a boy, then the name becomes Louis, and if it’s a girl but the parents want to follow Parisian naming trends, they’ll choose Louise as a name, instead.”

“Really,” Marinette said, pursing her lips as she considered the possibility. “Well, I guess there’s no point in trying to change my mind, then,” she remarked. “This poor baby was doomed to be named Louis since the magic influenced my name choices in collège.”

Adrien smirked. “You had their name planned since collège, you say?” he asked, nuzzling his nose against Marinette’s. “We were still so young and you already wanted to have a family with me! You’re right, that’s embarrassing,” he said, a teasing lift to his voice.

Marinette scowled and pushed his face away. “See, I knew you’d tease me about it,” she said with a huff. “Although, do I need to remind you that you’re the one who fell in love with me first? You weren’t even a teenager yet,” she said with a grin on her face. “ That’s embarrassing.”

“How is falling in love with your soulmate embarrassing?” Adrien asked with a laugh. “I’m just lucky that you fell in love with me right back. You know, I dreamed of having a family with you, too,” he said, lashes tickling Marinette’s cheek as he pressed a kiss to her jaw. “I wanted four kids, all with gorgeous blue eyes and dark hair like yours. That way, they’d be as pretty as you are.”

“Flatterer,” Marinette said, tilting her head back to give Adrien better access as he trailed kisses down her neck.

“An honest one,” Adrien murmured as a rumble like a purr started up in his chest. He kissed the hollow of Marinette’s shoulder. “And only for you.”

Lifting his head back up, Adrien pressed a lingering kiss to Marinette’s lips, smiling as she eagerly deepened it. 

“I love you,” he said breathlessly, after she eventually pulled back.

Marinette smiled, looking radiant in the light from the afternoon sun as it streamed through the window in the room.

“I love you, too,” she said. “And… I think that four kids sounds like a lovely idea.”

Adrien’s eyes widened in shock. “Really?”

A smile tugged at Marinette’s lips. “Really,” she said. “But first, we have to see how raising Louisa goes. You have to prove that you’re a good father.”

“I’ll be an amazing father,” Adrien said, cupping his right hand over her cheek. “I’ll even let my kids jump down a well, like I did. As long as I’m there to catch them.”

Marinette laughed. “They’d be hard-pressed to find a well to jump down,” she said. “Your father closed off the old gate for good, remember? Now all that’s left of it is a pile of magic dust.”

“And our soulmarks,” Adrien said, holding Marinette’s hand out so that the light shone on the image of the gate.

“Yeah,” Marinette said wistfully. “We do have our soulmarks.” She watched as Adrien pressed a kiss against her hand, smiling.

“When I ran off from the palace all those years ago,” he said, “I wasn���t expecting my little escape attempt to work. I didn’t even know the gate existed; I just remembered about the old well and decided it would be a good place to hide from my guards. But they were starting to check the courtyards, and I knew my cat disguise wouldn’t fool them for long, so I took a chance and tried the gate to see if it would work. And, Marinette,” he said, “I’m so glad I did. I know I would have met you anyway because of the kwamis’ blessing, but spending those six years alone, waiting for a soulmate and hoping that they’d be easy to love, instead of seeing you every weekend and falling more in love with you each time, like I got to do? It’s unimaginable.”

“I’m glad you found the gate, too,” Marinette said, brushing a kiss against her husband’s lips. “Looking forward to seeing you every Saturday was the highlight of my teen years.”

“Really?” Adrien asked. “Because you have a very impressive résumé from those years. Designing for Jagged Stone, interning at Style Queen’s Paris location, starting your own online boutique… you have quite a lot to be proud of. I’m honestly surprised I was able to convince you to marry me,” he laughed.

“Adrien, I’ve been in love with you since we were fourteen and you know it,” Marinette said with a smirk. “I’m only surprised it took you so long to propose.”

“Well, everything had to be perfect,” Adrien defended himself. “And I wanted to make sure you were comfortable enough with where your career was going first.”

“I have to admit, becoming co-ruler of the fae kingdom was never on my list of dream jobs as a kid,” Marinette agreed with a laugh. “I’m happy I was able to keep designing on the side.”

“Me too,” Adrien murmured. “I’m glad you have a job that makes you happy.”

“You make me happy,” Marinette said, smirking as she looked deep into Adrien’s eyes and lazily traced his chest with one hand. She leaned in for another kiss, the golden sunlight from the window bathing the couple in its warm rays.

Adrien closed his eyes and wrapped his arms tight around Marinette, unwilling to let go of this perfect moment. It had taken over a decade of dreaming and hoping, but against all odds, he had this happily-ever-after with the woman he loved. It was better than anything he could have imagined, Adrien thought, and he tilted his head to deepen the kiss.

#rosie-b writing #ml fanfic #lovesquare #adrienette #adrinette #ml au #fairies #soulmates #royalty #ml leak free #miraculeakless #miraculous ladybug #I lost my beta for the very last scene due to schoolwork so I hope it's good! #let me know what you think!

[the-scribe-and-her-scribbles]

iwcb | chapter 11. it's almost time to let go

it will come back | chapter 11 | fae!prussia x reader

it will come back Masterlist and Summary

chapter summary: Gilbert isn't telling you everything.

word count: 3.8k

content warnings: mild swearing, making out, angst, YEARNING

(if you want to be added to the tagging list, please reply to the pic or message me)

ch 11. it's almost time to let go

Gilbert hasn’t been to the western edge of his woods in years, even before he was locked away. The time he spent with Antonio and Francis was something he looked back on fondly. He had met them years ago, when he was young and wild, and a lot more stupid. 

Gilbert was driving out invaders at the time and had met Antonio and Francis when they were doing the same. They ended up getting along, and an alliance between the three of them formed. Toni and Francis became some of his closest advisors, and he respected what they had to say. It was them who’d suggested he try the Find Soulmate spell and when it came up blank, and when Gilbert spiralled, they had tried to keep his head on his shoulders. 

(“What are you doing?” Toni had said. 

Gilbert rubs his eyes, bleary and barely awake. He hadn’t slept well that night. “I’m trying to focus, for fuck sakes.” He mutters. “I can’t think with you two babying me.” 

Francis stands not too far behind them. “You shouldn’t be doing this right now, mon ami.”

“And what should I do instead?” he bites out.

“Take a moment to process, to think.” Antonio sighs and Gilbert rolls his eyes. 

“There’s nothing to think about. I tried the spell, but it didn’t work. There’s no point in dwelling on it.”

“Ancients! Nothing to dwell on? Can you even hear yourself? This is your soulmate!”

Gilbert barks out a laugh. “The problem is the lack of soulmate, Francis.”

Francis growls. “I could punch you right now.”

“What do you want from me? To weep like a little kid? To wallow in self-pity?”

“I want you to admit that you’re disappointed. That maybe, somewhere in that black heart of yours, you wanted to find your mate so that you could be with them! Not just use them as some cheap spell charm!”

“Well, you always were a romantic.” He sneers.

“You know what? Fine. You want to be an imbecile. You want to rush into the fire without taking a second to fucking think? That’s fine, but I’m not gonna watch you bring yourself to ruin. Go ahead, try to take on Arthur’s court, try standing to the North Islands’ raiders. See how well it ends for you!” Francis bites out, before turning in a swish of his expensive blue shirt and storming out of the war room.)

Gilbert tries not to wallow in the past. He makes his choices and doesn’t look back to wonder what he would have done differently, or whether he made the right choice. He dug his grave and he’d lie in it. But as he leads you out of his woods and through the familiar grassy plains of his friend’s homeland, he can’t help but think of all the mistakes he made at the end. 

He sounds like one of those philosophers you study. The withering old humans who sit and ponder things like fate, chance and how small decisions trickle into overwhelming consequences. 

Francis was right back then. He should have taken a moment, listened to him and Antonio, Elizabeta and Roderich, and even his own brother, Ludwig. Maybe he could have held off Arthur with empty treaties and diplomacy long enough to find another way. Maybe he would have never been locked away in the the first place, never had to pull you into this mess. 

Maybe he never would have gotten the chance to meet you. 

Gilbert watched you weave through the tall grass, the seeds and pollen sticking to your skirts and hair. You look at him. You’re slightly breathless and you’re skin glows in the warmth of the setting sun. 

“You know,” you say to him. “I’m getting really tired of all this fucking walking. Characters in books make this shit look easy! My feet kill!”

Gilbert snorts. Maybe it’s good that he doesn’t dwell on the ‘what ifs’. 

I'm somewhere outside my life, babe

I keep scratching 

but somehow I can't get in

Francis has a villa close to the border of The Woods. Gilbert remembers Francis moving to it every year in late Autumn.  The two of you follow a dirt road around the outskirts of a small town, that cuts through the fields and farmland all around you. It's dark now and you walk, and up ahead, Gilbert sees the fight light of lanterns hanging from a rod-iron gate. 

You reach the entrance and try to push open the gate.

“Don’t bother, it’s locked,” Gilbert says. He moves Gil-bird from one arm to another before pulling off one of his gloves with his teeth. He places his hand on one of the bars. His fingers turn soot-black with magic. The gate hums before a resounding click unlocks the gate and it swings open with a creak. 

“M’lady,” he gestures as you walk in first. 

Despite the sun setting nearly an hour ago, Gilbert can see clearly that Francis hasn’t changed the place at all. The courtyard is still lush and opulent, with perfectly manicures flower beds and walking paths. Lamps light up the main path towards the house, and faerie glamour makes the red and white roses grow even as the first frosts of winter approach. 

You go to walk up a set of wide, marble steps to what looks to be a front door, but Gilbert stops you.

“Here, this way.” 

He leads you towards a section of brick where the ivy shimmers slightly out of focus, nearly unnoticeable to anyone who didn’t know what they were to look for. 

“That’s a wall,” you whisper behind him. 

“Just watch.” He reaches through the illusion, his fingers staining the tips of his fingers with inky black, as he swipes at the bricks with a little bit of magic. The black spreads out, like ink droplets onto cloth, slowly eating away at the illusion to reveal large oak doors. 

“Oh, that’s cool,” you whisper, your mouth shaped into an ‘o’ and your eyes wide. 

The door opens, and Gilbert swallows. Gilbert feels the nerves build in his stomach. He knows how badly he left things seventy-five years ago. So much for not wallowing in the past. He pushes the door open to see a figure standing on the top of the grand staircase. 

Francis hasn’t changed much either. The blond man’s wearing an expensive white shirt and black trousers. He stands completely still for a moment, looking down at Gilbert with his mouth pressed into to thin line. 

“Hey, Fran.”

He doesn’t say anything. That’s not good. Francis normally never stops speaking. Francis descends the steps and Gilbert tries to get a read on his old friend. 

“I’m not gonna apologize,” Gilbert continues. “You’ve known me long enough to know that..”

Francis continues to close the distance between them. As Francis takes the last, long strides before reaching him, Gilbert braces for impact.

Instead, the blond’s arms wrap around him in a tight hug, a hand patting him on the shoulder. 

“I’m glad you’re ok,”  Francis mutters as he pulls away, and the tension in Gilbert’s chest releases. “Toni! Get down here!” 

Antonio pokes his head out from around a corner and a grin splits his face. He lets out a jovial laugh and all but leaps down the stairs. 

“Took you long enough!” He says clapping Gilbert on the shoulder with maybe a little too much strength but Gilbert can’t find it in himself to care too much.

“Do you guys…like…need a minute?” You pipe up from behind. Antonio and Francis perk up to look at you, a pretty girl, a human, that they’ve never seen before. “Because I can wait outside, it’s no big deal.” 

And tell me if somehow some of it remained

How long you would wait for me?

How long I've been away?

Francis immediately enters host mode. Food and drinks are brought out by unseen servants and you and Gilbert are guided to a back sitting room while you’re grilled about your journey so far. Gilbert lets you tell your version of events, letting himself watch as you pull your feet under you on your half of the couch with a small cake, while you go over all you’ve been through in the past five days. 

Time is a strange concept for the Fae. It moves faster when you’re facing down eternity, he supposes. Days and weeks pass with the swiftness of rushing water. Five days ago he met you and you’ve trekked around most of the Wandering woods with him. Five days ago you crashed into his life and as he watches you chat with his old friends, laughing and drinking as Francis and Toni fight for your attention, you look time you’ve known them for years. Gilbert realizes that despite only knowing you for less than a week, it feels like you’ve always been there.  

That’s horrifying. 

It scares him to realize that you’ve taken the swift passage of time and slowed it down so significantly. That you’ve made 5 days with you feel like a blissful life of knowing you. 

“So all we have to get is one more thing of the West side of the woods, and then I’ll be headed home.”

Gilbert comes back out of his thoughts to catch the last bit of what you’re saying. 

“You’re heading back to the Mortal Realm? You must be excited?” Toni says. 

You nod, “I left kind of suddenly, so I’ll have a lot of explaining to do.” 

Gilbert watches as your face takes on a more serious look, and tries to avoid the confused look that Francis shoots him. He fails, and shoots Francis a look that says “drop it.” 

“But it will be nice to get back to my house, sleep in my bed, go back to class. I’m probably behind in most of them.”

“You go to a university, what do you study?” Francis takes over the conversation. He’s thankful for that because suddenly, Gilbert needs to excuse himself for some air, maybe a drink. 

He slips out of the room. The halls are quiet, with no one in them to see him realize that this is almost over. Gilbert had told you that first night together that if you helped him, he’d send you back. And now, with only one of Gilbert’s tokens left to retrieve, your time together is coming to an end. 

That thought makes his stomach sink. 

Gilbert hears footsteps behind him and turns around. Francis has snuck up behind him in the hallway. Gilbert nods to him, swallowing as Fran faces him with a stern gaze. 

“What did you do?” He says with a sign, and Gilbert tells him everything.

I can hope how this will end

With every line a comedy

That we can learn to love without demand

But with unreserved honesty.

Francis shakes his head. “Ancients, Gilbert. What you thinking.”

He groans. He honestly couldn’t tell him. Maybe he thought that he’s been able to keep his distance, but that plan went out the window the moment he kissed you in his prison. “I know,’ he says. “I know, I wasn’t thinking but I didn’t know what else to do.”

“You can’t keep this hidden from her.”

“If I tell her now, she’ll never forgive me. She’ll get scared and she’ll leave as soon as she gets the chance.” 

Francis gives him a stern look. “She has every right to.”

Those words settle in Gilbert's chest and trigger something to rise in him. It’s something feral and desperate and ugly. It claws at his chest with dirty claws, It howls and paces around his heart. 

“I just…” he takes a deep breath, pinning the hungry, possessive creature inside him under his imaginary boot. “I’m not ready yet. I need more time.” 

If he was a good person, he would tell you this. He’d tell you everything, damn the consequences. But Gilbert isn’t a good person, even by fey standards.  He’s arrogant and cruel, and he is selfish and determined and a down-right bastard. 

 You, on the other hand, are kind and good and so incredibly clever, and he’s in love with you, Gilbert finally admits to himself. 

He resigns himself to that fact. Despite his best efforts, he loved you the moment you fell into his prison, the moment you looked at him in the cool eerie light of that hell-hole, the moment you smiled at him and laughed at something he said. 

He was an idiot for thinking that he wouldn’t fall in love with you, his curse-breaker, his soulmate.

Gilbert’s craves you. He wants you. He’s desperately, completely obsessed with you and this is terrible. It’s terrible because Gilbert’s a fae, and when the fair-folk loves someone, it consumes them. 

 Gilbert loves you, and he knows in his soul that he can’t let you go yet, and soon enough, he’ll be forced to. 

As Gilbert stands in the hallway with one of his oldest friends, he is unable to come to terms with that fact yet. He looks back to the room where he left you and notices it’s now quiet. 

“Where is she?” He asks Francis. 

“Toni was taking her to look around the library when I left.”

“He’s alone with her?”

“Don’t start that with me, Beilschmidt. I could have been the one to give her the tour.” 

And Gilbert doesn’t know which one of those options was worse. He thinks that any scenario where you’re off on your own where he can’t see you is torturous. He shakes his head. 

“I should go find her,” he nods to himself. 

“To tell her the truth?” 

Gilbert looks at the blond fey and Francis pinches his brow in frustration. He sighs. “I need a drink.”

Cause I can see how this will end

In all its bitter tragedy

I'll give you all I have to spend

And you'll give nothing back to me.

Francis had left Gilbert behind to go get something to calm his nerves, leaving Gilbert alone in the halls of his villa. Gilbert can feel the tension that’s settled in him but didn’t take up Francis’s offer to drown it in expensive wine. He has the sneaking suspicion that alcohol won’t be able to soothe him anymore. 

Gilbert walks down the hallway until he reaches the doors to the house’s library. It’s dimly lit by glamour-powered lamps that hang off the walls. He pushed open the door a crack and looks in. 

A lantern sits on a table in the centre of a semi-circle of couches, and to the side, you and Antoni talk while you walk along the tall bookcases. He can only see the back of you from where he’s standing but Toni notices him come in right away. 

While you’re distracted with your browsing, Antoni wiggles his eyebrows at him and leans just a bit too close to you. Gilbert glares and motions his head towards the door.  Go!

Toni rolls his eyes and shoots him a look that says, “don’t be so jealous,” before he leans towards you and whispers his goodbyes. You nod and whisper a thank you, and Toni quietly walks away. 

 “She nice,” he whispers to Gilbert as he slips out the door. “She’ll be good for you.”

The door closes behind him with an audible click you turn from the shelf to notice his arrival. 

“Where did you run off too?” You ask him. 

He’s fae, so he’s forced to tell you at least part of the truth. “Just into the hallway. Francis and I talked.”

“Well, sorry I didn’t wait for you. Toni didn’t give me a chance to tell you where we were headed before he dragged me to see this place.” 

You continue browsing through the aisles, getting lost in your thoughts. The lantern gives you a faint orange glow as you shuffle along the bookshelf with your back turned to him again. It gives him the chance to look at you more, a pastime he can’t stop doing the longer he spends with you. 

“You don’t have to stay here, you know.” You say softly. “I’m sure you’d rather be drinking with your friends, catching up.”

There’s no way he could do that. 

When Gilbert looks at you, his heart aches. He feels like he felt when he was locked in his prison. Hungry, ravenous for any bit of you that he can get. His nerves feel like they’re set on fire.

Gilbert feels himself step closer to you. His shoulder leans against the bookshelf, his slim figure loom just beside you. 

“Do you not want company?” 

“It’s not that..” 

You look up at him through your lashes and his mouth goes dry. That thing in him stirs. He itches to just grab you. He imagines tangling his hands into your hair, pulling you close, and never letting you go. You pause and swallow something in your throat. “What are you doing, Gil?” You whisper. 

Gilbert’s found himself leaning closer to you, crowding you. he tries to pull away. He can’t quite bring himself to do it. 

He clears his throat. “Tomorrow we’ll take the Standing Stones to the other side of the Woods. We’re almost done.” 

You nod slowly, your brows pulled up into a soft, worried expression. “I know.”

Gilbert swallows, and can’t stop his next words from leaving his mouth. “When this is over, you’d be welcome to stay.”

“I’m sorry?”

“You could stay here,” he repeats, more firm before quieting down to add, “if you’d like.” 

A soft breath leaves you and you purse your lips. “You know I can’t do that,” you say, so softy his ears barely hear it. You back away and turn down another aisle of shelves. Gilbert follows after you. 

“You could.” He leans in. Your eyes shine in the dim candlelight of the library, your features only slightly illuminated in this tucked-away area of the room. It's quiet. It’s so quiet that Gilbert can hear your breath catch.

“What do you want from me, Gil?” Your eyes drift from his, down his face and then back up. 

You said that to him before once, that first night you met him. Inside his prison, under cold, blue light instead of this warm orange, you had asked him what he wanted from you and you told him what you had wanted in return. In the rows of bookshelves inside his prison, similar to the scene playing out now, the two of you made your deal, and to seal it, he’d kissed you. 

And now, history’s going to repeat itself. 

“Gil?” He leans in more, and you are backed into the shelf behind you. Your eyes droop and you lick your lips. “This is a bad idea.” You say. 

“Then tell me to stop.” 

Tell me to go and I will. Tell me you don’t want this. Tell me you don’t feel this pull like I do.

You tilt your head up to him. Your throat bobs. “Gil-“

He kisses you. He brings both hands up to cup your face and he kisses you as he did all those days ago. You make some delicious noise and he can feel your hands slide up his chest and around his neck. When that makes him breathe out just a little too heavy, he can’t bother being embarrassed. He couldn't care if he was panting and moaning like a virgin. He can feel you touching him and he can feel his soul sing, the magic that flows through him hum. Why the fuck didn’t he do this sooner?

One of his hands trails down your back and settles firmly on your waist. Your breaths mingle together, his teeth catching at your bottom lip. His hands rove over your hips and squeeze into your thighs before he lifts you and wraps them around his waist. Suddenly, you’re spinning around and he sets you on a small table in the corner. 

Your teeth clink together, and your taste permeates him. Gilbert’s starting to think that your kisses could make him drunk. His fingers thread through your hair and he tugs your head back, exposing the smooth skin of your neck. 

You gasp. “Gil-“

He trails down your kissing some spots and nipping others. He feels your hands trail into his white hair. You grab the strands and pull his face back up. 

 “Gil!” 

He can’t even think about that. He kisses you again, your lips are swollen but you still kiss him back, and it’s so good and sweet and lovely. So lovely and beautiful that he can’t stop mumbling those things under his breath in between the kisses. 

He breaths, the fevered pace he’s set slows down until his mouth is far more gentle, and he leans is slower and softer, and your hands are still tangled in his silver hair. 

“Gilbert.” He pulls away, one final time. A string of saliva connects the two of you and all the two of you can hear is the gasping for breath in the dim corner of the library. 

“We can’t do this.” You whisper. 

He presses his forehead to yours. 

“Yes, we can.” He says. “You can. Stay, please.”

“I can’t. I have people waiting for me. I have a life. I might not be magic, or fae, or a warrior but I have things, people waiting for me in the Mortal World. I have to get back to them.” You place the palm of your hand and push his way. It’s gentle, not harsh or cruel, just the firm decision of someone who’s always done the right thing, always followed her mind instead of her soul.

You push yourself off the table where Gilbert had placed you, and walk towards the door. He reaches to stop you from leaving you. He can’t help himself. He has to try. His pale hand wraps around your forearm.

“Don’t.” You look back at him and your eyes are watering.

“I’m sorry.” Gilbert let’s go. He doesn’t want you to cry.

“It’s okay, really. I’m not mad. I just…” you sigh. “Tell everyone I’ve headed to bed, okay?” 

You turn away and scurry out the door, disappearing into the hallway. Gilbert is left in the library alone. He bends down and leans on the table. He rubs his face and left out a sigh. He feels like kicking himself. 

Why the fuck did he do that?

Everything I’ve ever let go of 

Has claw marks on it

author's notes

I am so sorry for this. This chapter wasn't beta-read so im sorry that it's probably not very good. Also this was my first make out scene I’ve every written so I hope it was okay!

Weeee! I did it! I am so sorry that my writing is so slow, but I’m glad I got this done!

quotes

1. Sedated by Hozier

2.As It Was by Hozier

3. This Will End by The Oh Hellos

4. This Will End by The Oh Hellos

5. Quote by David Foster Wallace

tagging list: @jtownraindancer, @redrosesociety1, @xxruinaxx

#aph prussia x reader #fae!prussia x reader #gilbert beilschmidt #aph prussia #hetalia fantasy au #iwcb #prussia x reader #hetalia x reader #fae hetalia au #iwcb!fic #iwcb fanfic

[honeybeewhereartthee]

Crystal Hearts

Previous || chapter seventeen || Next

»»————-　i love candies　————-««

»»————-　**6*　————-««

Your head hurts. You don't know what's going on at all. It seems you keep forgetting something important everytime you wake up.

"Haku-tan..."

"Kokoko, It's hanii. Omae" Kohaku corrected you. As he flick your forehead but not that hash but a playful one.

"...I think I'm forgetting about something, hanii." You giggle as you follow what he wish to be called.

He held your hand as the two of your walks around the garden of his family estate.

"Hmm? If you forget about it, then it's not worth remembering ~" he added. The two of you went to the pond and he step on one of the rocks and guide you to follow after him, to go to the middle of the pond with him.

You follow his steps on the slippery rocks. Almost slipping if not for him holding on to you and his great balance.

"be careful, omae~ " he says before he thought about it.

"Ahaha~ your so clumsy~ I'll carry you instead~ it's more safe that way ~" sweeping you off your feet to his arms, he skip on the remaining rocks to the middle small island with a small Sakura tree planted.

"This world is beautiful isn't it, omae?" He ask you suddenly as he and you seat beside the tree. He made you seat in his lap as he circle his arms around your waist. Leaning his head on your right shoulder, he secure his hold on you.

"H-hey what are you doing?" You were picking on the flowers when he suddenly nom on your shoulder blade. "D-did you just bi..." you were flabbergasted when you felt sharp pain for a moment when he bite down. "Geez. I don't know your a vampire..." You chuckle not knowing what to say about what he just did.

He chuckle when he heard what you says,

" I'm either a spider, or a bee. Or what that emperor-han says-- a hornet.

[ I injected sweet, sweet poison~] " he ended with a singing tone... As if casting a spell. But why would you think that?? Spell... How could that be real??? Isn't kohaku a human... Like you...??? Why... Is there other beings...???

[ In this mad dream, let's enjoy it~]

Not remembering many things, looking at kohaku eyes that glows a dark purple ring and his right eyes show mark of chaos but not able to gaze it anymore as he lean in to give you a sweet, sweet kiss. Closing your eyes, you slowly forget all your worries and things you use to remember.

In this mad dream~ where only the two of you~ where his not a fae nor your one. No burden to handle ~

The moment he gain seed of chaos and claiming the ability of Helter spider and borrowing certain doll one.

His purple eyes gaze at certain three people in the sideline, inside one of the room of the estate. His orbs meet with three set of eyes of certain other bees.

'Love-han... Bees work as a colony...' he thought as he lean away and stare at your sleeping form. "Omae. You been through a lot. I will erase your burden away. This time... Even in the after the end. I will accompany you." Kissing your forehead, he happily hugs you.

.

.

.

" Over and over again. We will have our love story. In all genre you want in this world. After all, in this domain... This [ mad dream ]... I will never let you escape."

.

.

.

»»————-　YOU PEST!! HOW DARE YOU!?　————-««

.

.

.

"The screens is cracking..." Hiiro mumble as he saw the screen of phone cracks as bunny ears appear on top of Aira's head. His avatar outfit seems to change as well.

"H-how cute..." Chaos commented while being locked by Tatsumi with binding spell. "E-eh..?? Why am I handicapped??" He shrieks in realization.

" For your crime of course~" (tatsumi) " began fiend..." He then proceed to spray holy water to Mayoi who shrieks in pain. "HICCCCCC!!??? SSSSORRRYUU!!"

(( That... Sly... Bug... ))

Sweet, sweet murderous voice of a mad rabbit says.

" Aira ???" The alkaloid leader ask in worry but the phone start to burn, burning in intense heat that made him drop it to the floor, the moment it landed to the distorted world and the screen fully crack, the spell that bind him in the cage dispel, soon the unlucky rabbit stand beside them. Holding a huge mallet, he proceeded to swing it back and smash it to the distorted world.

"I really... Need to go back... Shall we proceed to the last destination~?"

The distorted world start to shake uncontrollably, soon a hole appear below them. Soon they all come falling to the new au.

"How L-O-V-E-L-Y~!" The mad rabbit giggle with his emerald embrace the symbol of eternity and chaos.

"Oh my... It seems this is two trouble in our hand." Tatsumi can't help but chuckle as he realize what comes over their dear friend.

"Ah? Chaos butterfly-san...??" As they fall, he notice chaos disappear from the bind spell and no where to be seen.

"Over there!" Hiiro point out the fast falling mayoi toward the green house.

" I'll be going there, to make sure nothing bad happened to people of this world..." Tatsumi followed the direction where the chaos went.

" You should go and see what Aira is up too, hiiro-kun. A lone rabbit prone to self destruction you see~" soon the stigma of diamond disappear from the view. Hiiro free fall toward the same direction where aira went to.

...

"Your full of shit. Kohakuchi Oukawachi" Hiiro heard Aira cursing as he press a screen in front of him while his other hand is crushing bees and his feet stomping on spiders.

He watch him in worry as aira proceed to destroy a beehive and throwing the hive after getting one bee out. To the wall, crushing it to pieces.

"Aira, that's animal abuse..." The young Amagi commented after long silence. Aira's fluffy ears stand up from the sound of hiiro voice but he don't turn to look at him.

"Hiirochi... If I were not to take my anger out of those bees. I will take it out to this world." The mad rabbit mumble almost inaudible to Hiiro of how low he spoke those.

"... You can tell me again, if something bothering you."

"Amagi Hiiro. You see." Certain fae stared at his direction with deranged smile. "I don't care about the multiverse~ I only did my task because I am trusted by my mc. The world around mine could fall to chaos to it's despair... It doesn't matter to me. " Putting his hand over his waistline after dusting himself from innards of bugs and honey that went to his clothes. His chaos emerald orbs stare at his blue one.

"I seen the world fall over and over again. It's a norm to me now~! I even have fair share of it's destruction--"

Hiiro punch aira face when he heard it, it was auto reflect when he thought his seeing the chaos butterfly in place of aira

"..." Holding his painful cheeks, aira takes time to process what hiiro just did.

" Aira-- I'm sorry! I don't mean too!" He quickly apologize for his action. " Let me heal--"

*Smack.

" I don't care." Aira slap his hand away as he stare at him dead in the eye. "A punch won't change anything." He rolled his eyes and turn his back to Hiiro. "You should try hitting me with all you got. After all, for what I did to you. This pain.. won't bring me back to my sanity..."

"A hole will be made from the dead plains and corrupted files will take over this world." He told him what is to come to this world. "Amagi Hiiro (hero) since you want to revive your dead world. You should prevent the deleted files to be deleted again. Your dear oniichan will parish. As double deletion means gone for good." He chuckle before he walk away as he said that the sky start to crack.

"The mc of this world. This au. Can delete things you see? with a woosh~ A perfect match for our dear monarch~" he chuckle as he says that fact.

"AIRA!! COME BACK HERE!" he worriedly wanted to ask more but his eyes widen as he realizing something is falling from the sky. Endless dots... Those are corrupted files.

"NIISAN!!" he sense his dead brother and the people from his au and quickly went to that direction. Giving one look to where Aira went, he decide he would check on him later as Aira could handle himself with that attitude of his.

»»————-　note　————-««

(1) if you notice the nickname mc use. It show which personality is up with aira. Or how mad the person is. Hint: when kohaku call you MC-Han, it's like his kokoko laugh :p since he would usually call you more close pet names for spouses. So in a sense even if he don't remember anything before he gain sentient, his instinct says otherwise.

(2) this new au theres a reason why the ability of the mc of the world is like that btw. (if want to be tagged pls comment or Send mail) Tag List : @valeriele3 @yinenovica

#ensemble stars #ensemble stars x reader #enstar x reader #enstar #Kohaku Oukawa x reader #Aira Shiratori x reader #Kohaku Oukawa x reader x Aira Shiratori #chaos butterfly #crystal Hearts AU

[silverdragon-imagines-blog]

The Great Traveler Fairy - Hyrule

I forget when this was originally brought up or talked about, but I think it was on LU Main Discord Server a few years ago. So the general idea is that Hyrule is part fairy, which is why he can learn so many spells and has as much magic ability as he does. Then the idea for him being able to become a Great Fairy, but not one who is stationary at a Fairy Fountain. So from these ideas, I’m adding my own ideas, though I seriously don’t remember who came up with the idea first. Under a read more cuz I rambled

So, I’m thinking this could take place either during Hyrule’s second adventure or after it, or even potentially post-LU. In an earlier post I made about the Great Fairies, I said that Ganon’s power and influence ravaged the land, making it hard for fairies to get the power they need to survive. Fairies still exist, but Great Fairies pretty much died out because of Ganon. How Hyrule fits into this is because of his innate magic and fae heritage, he can communicate with the fairies and gain their respect. 

He becomes considered a Great Fairy and then he learns more. He can use and replenish the magic from the land, which helps to get rid of the remnants of Ganon’s influence. He can then bestow gifts, like how other Great Fairies do. His gifts aren’t quite the same though. He can’t give magic abilities like the fairies in Ocarina of Time, nor can he upgrade items or armor like in Breath of the Wild or other games I forget. His gifts are more passive. 

He’s the Great Traveler Fairy, and earning a gift from him means that you will have a safe journey to where you need to go. You will have all of the necessary supplies to make the trek and won’t run out. Any danger you come across will pass you by and leave you unharmed and you will never lose sight of your path. The way that you earn his gift means that you have to see him while you’re traveling. Be kind to him and share what you have, show that you mean no harm. If he judges you to be as you say you are, then you will have earned his gift, and he will leave with a small ‘thank you’. 

That’s all my thoughts about this, cuz I can’t think of anything else at the moment. It’s a fun idea, and feel free to use it in your own stuff. I’d love to see it ^u^

#linkeduniverse #linked universe #linked universe headcanons #linkeduniverse headcanons #silver headcanons #lu hyrule #great fairy hyrule #great traveler fairy hyrule

[vampyrsutton]

SSD Day 6~Undead

Summary:

Dullahan Dabi takes advantage of having a detached head.

Ao3 Tags:

Undead, Oral Sex, Blow Jobs, Anal Fingering, Anal Sex, Dullahan Dabi | Todoroki Touya, Fae Takami Keigo | Hawks, Dabi | Todoroki Touya Has a Big Dick, Dabi | Todoroki Touya Has Genital Piercings, Plot What Plot/Porn Without Plot

"Shit! Wait, Dabi, wai- Fuck!" Hawks throws his head back on a moan as a cold, misty mouth slides down the length of his cock, enveloping it in a weird feeling that Hawks couldn't exactly say that he hated. It was definitely weird watching your boyfriend who usually used his shadows to keep his head on his neck just pop it off to deep-throat you.

Turquoise eyes look up at Hawks in amusement as the Dullahan tongues at the fairy's slit while his hands mess with the lube.

You good? Dabi signs with lubed fingers since his mouth is currently engaged elsewhere.

"Ye-AH! Fuck, yeah I'm good just a lo-Dabi~!"

Dabi's head chuckles around the cock in his mouth, making the fairy keen from the vibrations.

Gonna start opening you up then . He signs again before a long finger makes its way down to the fairy's hole to slip inside.

Hawks makes some noise that almost sounds like bells in a windstorm that makes Dabi freeze before it fades into a whine that urges Dabi to continue.

You fairies and your weird noises. Dabi has to finger-spell some of it since one hand is occupied. 

"Aren't-nnn-aren't you technically fae, too?" Hawks asks, gasping when a second finger is added. 

Depends on the legend you look at. Dabi shrugs.I was for sure at one point.

Hawks tries to fathom what could have happened to turn what must have once been a beautiful fairy into an omen of death. But these thoughts are quickly dismissed by a nudge at his prostate.

Hawks moans, squirming a bit even as he gives Dabi a look for trying to distract him before throwing his head back once more when the head on his dick swallows around him. "Fuck!"

That's the plan. Dabi signs despite Hawks not looking at him but the side eye he gets tells him that Hawks could sense the sass.

"I don't know what you just said, but shut u-UP! Ngnn~" Dabi slips in a third finger and another terrifyingly beautiful sound rips itself from Hawks' throat in lieu of a moan as talons grip the sheets beneath him. "Fuck it, I'll figure out your mysterious bullshit later." Hawks groans, wings fluttering beneath him. "Just fuck me already."

Dabi's head smirks as best he can as his body pulls their fingers out, drawing a moan from the fairy beneath him.Impatient aren't we?

"Shut-fuuuuck~!" Hawks groans as the Dullahan's pierced tip lines up with his hole before pushing inside. "Big." He hisses.

Should add my shadows sometime. A laugh travels down Hawks' dick to make him whine.Really stretch you out .

Hawks nods rapidly, definitely down for that idea, but right now, he's more concerned with the barbells catching on his rim as the Dullahan goes slow enough that he's positive this counts as torture. "Dabi~! Moooove~!"

Dabi pulls his head up enough that Hawks can see the smirk in his eyes before he gives a hard thrust and fills the fairy to the hilt.

Hawks cries out, moaning loudly as he wills his body to adjust faster but there's a piercing pressed against his prostate and mouth and throat working his cock and he's so fucking full just-

"More~ please, Dabi, fuck me~ please just fuck me alreaDY~ Ahhhh~!" 

Dabi pulls almost all the way out before pushing his head back down as he slams back in, keeping the actions in sync with each other and watching how Hawks' eyes roll back in his head with a scream. His wings are fluttering like crazy and they will definitely need new sheets again after this thanks to the fairy's talons carving into possibly even the mattress this time. His moans have started bleeding into more of those inhuman horror noises that would've made Dabi take pause given how long it's been since he's heard them, but with Hawks' ankles wrapped around his waist to hold him close, he's pretty sure they're still good. Hawks would say otherwise. 

"Fuckfuckfuckfuckfu-Ahhh~! Dabiii~ Close! So close!" Hawks eventually whines in a language almost forgotten by the Dullahan, but he can get the gist. 

Come on, baby. Dabi finger spells with mischief in his turquoise eyes as shadows fill his mouth to help him suck and stroke the fairy's cock.Cum for me.  

Too much! It was all too much. He could last a while of Dabi's head moving up and down on his dick, throat swallowing around him as his tongue worked the shaft and tongued the slit. He could usually even handle the addition of the shadows creating a sort of cool suction around him though usually, he came even faster with those. Dabi, of course, also knew what he was doing with his dick by now, making Hawks moan and whine as the barbells carved their way to mark Hawks' ass as Dabi's.

Now add them all together, and the low growl Dabi sends down the length of his cock?

Yeah, Hawks didn't stand a chance.

Almost as soon as Dabi gives the go-ahead, it only takes a few more thrusts before Hawks is cumming down Dabi's throat and into whatever void is connected to it. He moans and chitters as Dabi swallows around him, not letting a single drop escape. His whole body shakes with it and his toes curl, but it soon becomes too much.

"Dabiiii~ Too much, hurry." He whimpers in sensitivity, whining when Dabi pulls his head off his cock with a pop.

"Almost, baby," Dabi smirks, holding his head over his neck once more until his shadows reconnect into their usual staples pattern. "Fuck, you're so tight." He groans.

Now that he doesn't have to hold his head, Dabi grips Hawks' hips, speeding up his thrust now and cursing when the fairy tightens around him. "Fuck, yeah, close, shit, baby good. So good-" 

Dabi lets out one final groan as he cums hard inside Hawks, grip tightening around the fairy's hips and shadows shooting out everywhere before condensing back around Dabi as he catches his breath. 

"Fuck, Hawks." Dabi pants, pulling out slowly before collapsing next to him, careful of the delicate wings fluttering behind the other. 

"Yeah…" Hawks sighs before whacking the Dullahan with his wing. "And warn a guy before you just go popping your head off next time, will ya? That was freaky as hell." 

Dabi just snorts, pulling the grumpy fairy to him, and snickers when he complains about the cum starting to leak out of his ass. "Come on, baby. How many guys can fuck you and blow you at the same time? You gotta admit it was hot." 

Hawks flushes, pouting at him for teasing him. "Still freaked me out." He huffs.

"Sorry, baby," Dabi smirks, kissing him. "Want me to make it up to you?" 

Hawks flushes darker, but his wings flutter all the same. "What do you have in mind?" He hums before whining when a shadow wraps around his cock. 

"Hmm, I think you'll like it."

#dabihawks #hotwings #hotwingz #bnha dabi #bnha hawks #todoroki touya #takami keigo #bnha #dabi #hawks #mha smut #dullahan!dabi #fae!hawks #twitter event #spookyscarydabiweek

[maskedemerald]

Worldbuilding Music and Magic

There is a certain magic in live music, last week I got the chance to see Final Symphony and it was amazing. On the way home my mind started thinking about music and how it might work in my worlds where magic is involved. Specifically in A Curiosity Piqued and Magic Act. Magic Act for a series of chapters involving a ball and for A Curiosity Piqued well world building whatever I feel like is kind of the point.

!! Music in A Curiosity Piqued A Curiosity Piqued is an alternate magic as a science version of our world so from a sound perspective the types of music are probably very similar to our world. No matter the world people are going to be creative, music is going to happen, the question becomes how is music made different by magic. At the most basic most of what we do for music with technology would probably be done with magic. Getting a bit more complicated however what about…

!!! Music as Magical Language In A Curiosity Piqued magic use is triggered by language and intention, language without intention does nothing under normal circumstances. Something I've been thinking about is the flexibility of that rule. What constitutes language essentially. Spoken, written, and even sign languages already count but what about music. Music with lyrics can definitely be used to invoke magic but I think some especially clever composers could get the playing of instruments to count as language. With a whole orchestra of people powering whatever spell it could be quite powerful and cast without them knowing what they are casting… damn okay… I guess I'm going to be drabbling that this week. Orchestra mystery is happening. Look out for that on Sunday probably.

!! Music in Magic Act !!! So Magic Act, the big question is really what makes fae music different? A little bit of background first, Magic Act's main setting is a pocket dimension home to fae and other folklore creatures. Their interactions with human society have been low since the 1800s. Both of these things are going to impact what music sounds like. The sound I'm thinking of is classical music however with an eerie off tune but strangely still aesthetically pleasing. Its not a sound I've encountered often but I have heard it be done a couple of times. Its rather fitting for the rather eldritch and unsettling horror kind of fae and folklore I am going for.

However we haven't added magic to it yet. How does the music feel? Are there any fae rules for our protagonist Magician to navigate? I think music would have more than just sound, in the same way as the foods in the story are already described to have more than just taste. A visible light and a pressure on the skin. Then come the rules, with fae music there is a compulsion to keep time. Dancers flow around keeping time and moving to the influences of the music. Rather than music being up to interpretation it gives of a specific emotion that can influence the behavior of people. Basically the audience is as much a part of the art as the music itself, they may be set to a certain timing, dance, mood or even in case of songs with story they may even act out the steps. In the same way as food though all of these fae rules can be gone if the performer or creator wants that.

Feel free to send me things to ramble through the world building of in any story I have that is relevant and if you liked this consider hoping over to my patreon where you can find more sneak peeks at Magic Act, A Curiosity Piqued and anything else I'm working on.

#writing #creative writing #amwriting #worldbuilding #fantasy writing #magic #music #A Curiosity Piqued Series #magic act novel #writeblr community #Fae #folklore

[zeydaan-isabella]

Zeydaan and Isabella in the Boiling Isles - The Titan's Champion

Personal piece based on Luz's excellent design in the finale of the owl house. One of my favourite shows from recent years. With a story from Metroid711.

The human world is such a vast and well recognized place, although it contains a secret hidden in the forests of an unspecified part of the US. An old house renovated, with a recently updated ‘For Sale’ sign, would sit in this part of the forest, sporting a bright red door with a large star glowing on the front. When one opens it, a child-like voice exclaims: “Welcome to the Boiling Isles! Watch your step! ~” And stepping through would reveal an entire new world, the world of Owl House, more specifically the Boiling Isles. It was the corpse of a mystical and powerful creature known as a Titan, where an entire civilization of magical beings of all shapes and sizes made it their home.  This was what Isabella had recognized on their trip to this vibrant new world that had only very recently been opened up to the public. The fae-dragon had earlier that week found the door and entered it into what many called the Owl House, or the place where they taught “Wild Magic.” They ended up meeting a colorful cast of characters, getting to know a few of them, especially the two most interesting to them. The headmaster of the magic college being the first; an eccentric, vibrant, one-armed woman who was very interested in how Izy looked given the humanoid animals were rare even in this oddity of a dimension. Besides her, the most interesting creature Izy had met was a tiny little furry monster called King. After being explained what the Boiling Isles exactly were, they’d be surprised to find that King was the baby of the titan that made up the island. A baby of exponentially off-the-charts magical energy and the most adorable thing Izy had ever seen. The more they talked with the two, the more they learned just how fascinating this world was, and most importantly about Luz Noceda. After some time exploring the world and learning from the inhabitants, Eda and King approached Izy with an offer. “So, with King’s powers and magical language getting stronger, we’ve been tryin’ to test out some different glyphs to help teach the school em.” The owl woman would state, albeit a bit nonchalantly.  “And for Luz to try out when she visits, nyeh!” King would end up adding, hopping up and down excitedly at the prospect. Izy would chuckle as they walked with them into a larger portion of the magic college,  “Well I wouldn’t mind helping if I can, yall have been so kind to me since I got here, couldn’t hurt to return the favor.” King would end up clapping his little clawed hands in excitement as Eda clarified,  “the spell itself is a full magic transfer, it’s supposed to allow someone to use a particular magic for a small period of time.” King would look to the side a little sheepishly, twiddling his small claws, “Sooooo, I haven’t done many full magic transfers before…” Izy would peer down at him with a raised brow, staring around the building further as the trio walked outside to the front lawn.  “Then I’m the guinea pig?” King would blankly stare at them for a moment, stating somewhat bluntly,  “I don’t know what that is.”  Izy couldn’t help but snicker and shrug, paying attention once more as he continued: “But it makes sense, right? You’re a shapeshifter! So any reaction could be reversed, yknow, in case you end up a bit too Titan over Titan-powered.” Izy would be clued in now, he was going to try and replicate his abilities through their form, although Eda looked to the side a bit concerned.  “Yeahhhhh…that happened last time we tried this, let’s not repeat that.”  Izy could only imagine what she’d be referring to, but the fae-dragon would smile and stand still as they looked over the two. “I mean, I’ve been through a lot worse, and have handled just as bad, sooo I’m sure it’ll go alright!”  King would be in the process of drawing some sort of large glyph in the dirt around the anthro dragon, and once he was done, he would give her a clawed thumbs up to signify he was ready. “Okay…hit me with it!” Izy would exclaim, fingers curled in a meditation-like pose, as King would lift his small bapper up and smack it down on the circle.  “Then accept the Demon King’s noble power! Weh!” He always made that cute noise whenever he did something magic based. Izy didn’t know why, but before they could think about it further, they would feel the sensations of intense magical energy flowing like a conduit up their left leg. That of which would instantly flourish under the energy as their fur and toeless socks would instantly smooth away and vanish in place of blackened sleek hardened skin. With their paws and toes all pushing together like clay into a set of two large claws. Although they were more like hooves in shape, with bone-like armor they were comprised of wrapping and forming out of their ankle and calves. With the black skin traveling up their leg, they would close their eyes to keep focus. Izy would feel the magic trail up their body as the magical lines from the glyph swam up their form. They soon poured into their eyes as the fingertips that were curled into the expression of focus started to shift. Their once black claws would soon extend further into a set of brown ones, as the black smoothed skin would take them over, with Izy attempting to focus further as the power grew. “That’s…. a lot. But it feels … it feels … WOAH!” Almost like a firework of magical energy had gone off in their body, Izy’s eyes would shoot open, their once red and white coloration of their eyes had completely flipped. The whites had darkened into a pitch black, as their reds had taken on a bright sensational yellow color. Already besides this they felt the magical effects molding their very head and face, with the spots under their eyes and over their cheeks flattening down. The fur in those spaces melted away to reveal soft tanned human skin, as they felt their sharpened canines jut out even further. The spiked choker they wore would snap and almost disintegrate into nothing. Izy ended up breaking the position their hands were in as this explosion of magical changes occurred, especially as their hair began to get poofier and more unkempt, expanding out from their already messy style. As this happened, a mix of dark purple and blinding lightning-yellow energy would flow and swirl in front of Izy, King looking a little embarrassed as he poked his claws together. “Ah shucks..looks like yer turnin’ into Luz. It’s still a little too transform-y I guess, specially’ since I had her on the mind. Ya wanna call it a day and try tomorrow?” Izy considered it for a moment, but their curiosity on this process was far too strong to just end it here now. As they held their hands up, the smooth black skin now getting bushier and fluffing out into a thick coat of black fur that was swallowing and replacing their own. Out of sight, their expanding hair would be getting a gradual tone change. From the roots of their hairdo, a royal purple color was quickly spreading and overtaking it follicle by follicle. And with a slight pinch, they would feel the sensation of their horns beginning to shift around on their head. They felt their lashes flutter and get slightly longer as their eyes would round and grow a bit more human-like in shape. This was followed up by the soft and tan skin pouring from below their eyes down their neck, rapidly swallowing up and smoothing away any fur they had. But Izy would be quick to react to his statement: “Are you kidding King? Cmooon we’re pioneers! So what if I go a lil’ Luz? Pump up the juice and hit me with all ya got! I have to see where this goes. ~” And their wish would begin to be granted as they lifted their changing hangs up, the dark and light magic flowing from them like ink from a pen. Their clawed fingers now hardening and smoothing as they became more Titan-like, segmented like bone with a smooth greyness to them. The fur would only thicken around their arms as it crawled up them, shortening them a tad as the soft, tan skin crawled up more of the sides of their face and head. The fur it replaced being completely removed as their hair was growing further pats their shoulders, the purple only extending. It would be apparent as well, as the tan skin crawled closer to where their ears would be, Izy’s simple reptilian ones would rapidly begin to grow, though still be covered by the ocean of purple hair they were obtaining, with their horns growing sharper and taller. Along with this, their legs had fully hardened over into the mix of fur and bone, acting like natural boots and armor, with their thighs smoothed over into what seemed to be a light purple spandex almost. They felt their spine tingling as their tail was shrinking into their rear. They would notice the sensation of their shrinking height as well, not by much but enough to be noticeable. Around their hips, instead of the fur smoothing over, it would almost shudder and flourish out, like a flower in bloom. A set of cape-like tassels flickering out, attached to their hips and merged up their torso. They looked like clothing, but they felt like natural fur, with them being a smoother texture, but black just like the rest. The edges being a silvery pale color would make it more thematic and stylized overall, especially as Izy felt something pushing out the top of their head. They clenched their eyes and grit their sharpened teeth as parts of the hair were detaching around the horns and flowing out into a pastel purple and black furred mix. The shape it was taking on was that of a witch’s hat, with its long brim that took on a full circle, although it had bits of fluff around the edges to signify its natural part of Izy’s body. They felt their eyebrows take on the purple color as they smoothed over, tilting their head down as they felt the tan and soft human skin slowly inching down their face towards the last dragon part of them, their snout. The rest of their torso and body would soon be covered by the thick black fur, around their waist they’d have more of the bone armor, in the shape of a set of ribs somewhat.  Izy held their breath as the skin would swallow up their muzzle, with it rapidly flattening and sinking into their face, nose detaching from their mouth and becoming small and rounded in the middle of their face. Their cheek bones shifting to a human skull shape, as they would let out a loud gasp, cupping their face as it would fully shift into that of none other than Luz the Human, eyebrow scar included. As the magical rune would form over their chest, smaller ones dancing in the palms of their furry hands and bony fingers, Izy couldn’t help but feel the urge to say a cool one liner. “I … am Isabella Jem! And I am adopting the mantle of the Good Witch Luz, Chosen Champion of- …” And Izy would open their … or rather her yellow and black eyes. Her mouth curled into a sharp-fanged smirk. “ -The Titan King!” And she felt all that magic practically flow through her body like natural, holding out her hand as a copy of Luz’s Palisman staff took shape. She would squeeze her fingers around it as she tipped her fluffy hat. King couldn’t help but pump his little fists in the air, despite it not being what was supposed to happen, he was excited to see this form of Luz’s again with him exclaiming a little, “That’s me!” on Izy naming herself in his favor. Even her voice was a perfect mimic of Luz’s, as she twirled the staff around, dark magic flowing behind it, she would strike a confident pose.  “Now then, my adorable Lord of the Boiling Isles, let’s see what your magic can really do!”

#the owl house #toh #spoilers #titan #luz #transformation #king #eda #witch #the #owl #house #magic #magical #isabella #isabella jem #fey #hybrid #dragon #draconic #wings #luz noceda #owl house luz #titan luz #noceda

[kiasnocturnality]

Hi! Sorry if you have answered this before but, how do you go about picking characters' names? Do you have any advice(because the ones you pick are very pretty)?

It really depends on the characters background! Alois, for example, I chose from a list of popular French names from the 15th century (along with the rest of his family). I like to delve into the meanings of names too and they can either set me on or put me off the name. For example, his sister Yvonne was going to be called Blanche but then I realised I couldn't call her Blanche Leblanc 'White TheWhite'. I liked how Alois means famous warrior bc he comes from a renowned family and is the only surviving heir to it.

Nasana was made from a name generator (big up Fantasy Name Generators, I love you) and I just really likes the sound of his name! Something about the consonant, vowel, consonant, vowel pattern made his name sound slithery almost? Which I thought suited him as a naga.

Takeshi was honestly just from a list of Japanese names that I found and liked and edenspetals said she was fond of the name so, true friend I am, I let her make that final decision for me on Take's name.

Desdemona was just pure interest of the Shakespearian heroine. I spent two years studying Othello and I really liked Desdemona! Her and my own Des are two very different women but I like the tragic connotations of the name (ill fated/unfortunate) as it's believed sirens are born from tragic/violent deaths. I was actually torn between the names Desdemona and Adrienne (fittingly meaning 'dark lady from the sea') but I left the final choice down to my friend itseivwhore who went for Desdemona!

Aphaeleon is just a different spelling of the astronomical term Aphelion which is simply a word meaning when something is at its furthest point of orbit away from the sun. I like the idea of Aphae's design centring around solar imagery (where the sun represents what is good and holy) while his name means he is the furthest point away from the sun (and therefore holiness) but he tries to act as though this actually means he is even holier, refusing to see that he is at his Aphelion from holiness while he talks about how he is purer than even God himself. (sorry I said holy a lot lmao)

Va'ariniel took me an hour to come up with. It's a completely mad eup name but I knew I wanted her to have a strong or even slightly uncommon letter as a main feature in her name such as a T, V or Z. I was also set on the fae siblings having apostrophes in their names because it's quite uncommon in everyday life and I think it helps to express the differences/distance between our own world and the fae court. I wanted her name to have lots of vowels to make it sound softer and more dainty/elegant like a faerie and the -iel ending I took from female Tolkien elves because I think he created an idea that that name suffix in fantasy is quite feminine. Va'ari's gender plays a key role in her life as she can be overlooked as a woman so I wanted to highlight something feminine in her name for that very reason.

Taruqu'uinel took me half the time to come up with and I had help from itseivwhore again. I've always loved the name Taruhuinn since I read Children of the Water on Wattpad years ago and I just really likes how such an elegant/fantastical name could be shortened to something as sweet and almost childlike as Taru. Taru as a nickname sounds much more playful than Va'ari and I wanted to use that to express how much more serious his sister is as he's still much more naïve than she is. I then wanted to make the name sound more serious so I added on a harder sound like the 'k' sound that is caused in the -uqu- part of his name. The apostrophe I have explained above in Va'ari's name explanation. The -inel was then similarly taken from Va'ari's name but for different reasons than why Va'ari has that very feminine-sounding ending. itseivwhore suggested that I make their names sound more similar to express their familial relationship and so it seemed appropriate that his name contained a similar sound/ending to his older sister.

I hope these individual explanations helped you a bit! Lists of names from time periods, name meanings, name generators, friends' opinions, existing character names, focuses on different sounds and their connotations all play key parts in how I name my characters!

#✧･ﾟby the stream #I am so sorry if this makes little sense #I've just been meeting new ppl at uni and have had a bit to drink #I hope this is coherent enough lmao

[eyyawe]

Chapter Six

Embers

Smiling softly, she turned her head away from him instinctively. He approached the pot to where his face was extremely close to her.

"I don't think I've seen anything like it. The rare times I have seen a fae, even they couldn't control powers like that. Why didn't you use it before to escape?" He asked.

She peaked her head out of the flora, looking into his eyes. "I'm sick." She said it plainly. There wasn't anything else to it.

"Oh, so it's temporary? That has to be pretty bad timing, then." He laughed.

"No, no,  it's always going to be like that. It happened when I had my run-in with a god. I didn't know how to use my powers anyways."  Her hair had gotten impressively longer, and her skin had completely healed. That was the magic of water with the nymphs. Aconite found it strange that she was conforming to him. This was always such a personal subject she never usually talked about, except with Tara. Even then, she couldn't explain it all to Tara. By some weird spell, she always feared Apophis would return to take her. That he could hear her every word, and her power "illness" was a secret.

"A god? Wow, I thought nymphs were supposed to stay far away from them. I mean- what you did to them and what they did to you. Isn't that a good reason to stay away?"

"I didn't do anything." She hissed. "That was a long time ago. Thousands of years ago." She released that she was barking at this giant being- in her eyes and quickly stopped.

"Guess you are right. But there are still cases of the nymphs doing it. I-"

"P-Please, sir, I don't want to talk about this."

He sighed. "Apologies." He rocked back and forth. Everything he had been taught about nymphs was awful. In his bedtime tales, they were ruthless beings who killed the mighty gods who didn't deserve it. Not like Whiro Colossus, the god of chaos and destruction, it was gods and goddesses who brought light to the world, in some cases, literally. Some sillier tales of lesser importance described nymphs as tiny thieves who stole gifts from children and chalked the moth-bitten holes in clothing down to them robbing the fabric. Whether these were real or not, the damage had already been done.

Aconite crawled out of the pot and let her long hair drape behind her. For a long second, she stared into his pools of green. His eyes reminded her of the mossy ponds and the green grass. They were beautiful to her. After an awkward second of staring, she shook her head and turned around. "I-If you don't mind. Could I see the window?"

    Tilting his head, he nodded. "Of course, do you not believe me?" She didn't respond. Instead, she lowered herself down the counter using some drawers that had been left open. "Wait, wait! I can take you there!" He ran around the side and watched her climbing. He reached out his hand to grab her.

    "No, no. Please. I have got this." She barked.

    Florian didn't complain. Besides, if she would be a temporary guest here for quite some time, she would have to get used to it. He stepped back, allowing her to continue. Whether he knew it or not, he made so much noise to Aconite. The slightest step caused the floorboards to wine under the weight, and the slightest tapping sounded like a drum. Aconite thought about it, adding to her view of him.

    "So oblivious." She thought to herself. She had finally managed to make it onto the floor. His figure stood like a mountain in front of her. She walked around his legs and over to the wall where the window was. Maybe there was no way up without his help. He crouched down beside her, smiling,

    "Need some help there?" He teased.

    "No..." She trailed, huffing.

    "Then how will you get up? Or would you prefer to watch the window from here?" He placed his hand beside her. "You chariot, m'lady." Aconite glanced at his hand. She saw it as some evil trick. He hadn't asked her this before; it was unwillingly. Apart of her saw the excitement in it. Defying fear. Taking risks. All of it excited her. She looked at him. Had she not noticed what he had even looked like before? He had auburn hair and a freckled face with round glasses on his nose. To her, he didn't look hostile at all. His face was inviting and soft compared to the harshness she had seen before. She even considered him handsome. The way he talked was charming too. He made little jokes but didn't overstep his boundaries.

    "Hmm?" He sounded. Aconite carefully crawled onto his hand. It was soft and warm, like a lovely bed. Her feet felt like a butterfly's on his palm, delicate and light. She worriedly grabbed onto his thumb for support. It was almost as long as her.

    "Be careful, please you-"

    Florian interjected, "I know. I hurt you. I won't do that ever again. I promise." He gently raised her to the windowsill, tipping it to let her off. She graciously accepted and walked to the glass, shocked by the sight of a raging winter storm.     "But spring was supposed to be coming soon!" She cried. "Oh, my gods-"

    "I'm sorry. I know you think this is awful, and you have every right to believe that, but I will try to make you as comfortable as possible."         A rush of cold air hit Aconite from the window, and she shivered. She sat next to the wall, hugging her knees, and began sobbing. Guilt rushed over her. Tara was probably worried about where she was and had sent people to look for her. She just wanted to return to her home with Tara and the village. The tears started to consume her, and she couldn't stop them until suddenly, she felt a warm embrace. Florian's hands gently cupped around her, providing warmth, but they didn't touch her.

    "The heat doesn't reach right there. You looked cold." He didn't comment on her crying. He figured his "scariness" could make it worse. "I could set you by the fire unless you want to look outside some more." His voice was gentle and soothing. Aconite turned to him.

"Could you? Please?" She wiped the tears from her eyes. He set his hand down again, and she climbed on, taking in the warmth.  He stepped carefully toward the fireplace where he had placed her near. "I'm going to read. Let me know if you need anything." His steps were softer now. Still loud, but like he had taken some care into thinking about it. He sat down and began reading a hard-covered book.

After some time, he fell inevitably asleep. The winter cold had made Florian's home cozy and perfect for sleeping, although it wasn't even near nighttime. It was that the events of yesterday had caused him to become tired. Aconite didn't sleep; instead, she nervously watched the fire embers, thinking about everything she had done. Behind her, something fell to the floor. It was Florian's glasses. They had slipped from his bridge as he read and, consequently, on the floor. She would have left him but seeing how clumsy he was, she didn't think it was a good idea. She walked over to the glasses and began to move them. His legs were positioned so she could drag them onto his lap, so at least there they would be near his hands on a blanket. It took her a while to get to his lap, but eventually, she did it.  Warmth radiated from his body onto her, and she decided to stay; she couldn't watch the embers forever. His chest moved up and down steadily, and his breathing was slow like faint waves. It comforted her, and she needed someone right now. It wasn't just this situation that put her in such a distraught state of mind. She sat down and rested her head. She tried to match her breathing to his, lowering her anxiety. Eventually, her eyes heavied, and she fell into a deep slumber.

Outside, the storm raged on, covering the land in mass amounts of snow. It had brought them together as a curse, but maybe it would be a blessing...

[hoarding-books]

Book Review- Faeries, Elves & goblins The Old Stories

By Rosalind Kerven

I picked this one up knowing faery stories date back centuries, that there were probably stories from all over Britain, but I'd only ever read anything about them in children's and YA fiction- there may have been more lore in Melissa Marr's series than Julie Kagawa's, but they still include a couple of things mentioned in the stories in what will be referred to, from here on, as simply 'Faeries'.

The book itself contains 25 individual stories, generally between 6-8 pages long, split into 5 sections ('Of Faeries, Elves and Goblins', 'Sightings', 'Some Faery Tribes', 'Dealings Between Faeries and Mortals' and 'Spells') accompanied by illustrations. Besides this, there are 39 pages of notes on the stories themselves, 6 of sources/consulted works, and obviously picture credits

The stories themselves were pretty short and interesting, even if a few felt pretty similar, but it didn't feel like there was much point to dividing them into sections, besides maybe adding a more comprehensive summary of lore and variations, and some of the introductions to each section felt a bit tedious to read

In addition, I didn't always feel like the illustrations, beautiful though some may be (and ugly when the sprites were) actually fit the tales they were paired with

Overall, though, this was a pretty pleasant reading experience, and I managed to finish it within a month- start to finish. It's one of those books where, once you've read through the sections at least once, you can just pick it up, open to a random story, and that's it

I will say, however, that certain tales directly reference abductions, an almost-execution, child abuse (beating one for losing his sister to the faeries') and other violence (non-descript, but apparently some of the mortals in the stories aren't against treating the Fae roughly to try and get what they want and underage drinking. There's also mentions of slavery, mostly in terms of the Fair Folk claiming mortals as such, along with a woman being pressured into sex, so I would personally be wary about the idea of reading very many of the tales to very young children, no matter how whimsical the cover*

Overall, certainly not a bad book. It was interesting enough, and if you're bored of the same old myths, wanting to branch out into something more like folklore, it could be a good starting point (Kerner is said to have published plenty of other books, including one on Arthurian legends, in the Author's summary)

*Edit made the morning after: This is totally up to any parents, but there is rarely a 'happy' ending, end no-one is really depicted as a 'good' guy, but maybe I'm underestimating these things, considering there used to be nursery rhymes about serial killers, or how the rumours about the origins started circulating around the schoolyard when I was maybe 7, at most. Or Hansel and Gretel, in general. Children can still like darker stories, as fairy tales show. Besides, according to the notes, there are variations of some of these stories dating back to the middle ages- even to Celtic mythology, supposedly. Just bear in mind how children love copying things

#book review #books #my thoughts #folklore #Legends #faerie #Faery tales #illustrated book #illustration #british folklore

[i-became-the-lady-of-the-blog]

Here is an idea for yandere Dire Crowley, as expected from thot blog, it has sex in it. Read more is added because the length. No beta

——

MC had been asking the same questions over and over again, when she can go back to home, what’s his progress in finding a way to home, ya da ya da ya da

Dire had it enough. But that’s not all. He had MC, gave her clothes and a place to sleep. Instead of worshipping the he walked in, she wanted to leave! How ungrateful she was!!! On top of that, she was wasting the things he gave to her on her friends

This had to end...

Dire cooked up a plan and was sure it would work

Dire said “I have found a way for you to return home but there is an issue with one of the ingredients.”

MC was elated to hear she could go back home “What’s the ingredient? I’d climb Mount Everest to get it!”

He didn’t understand what she meant but she walked in his trap “One of the ingredients is the mixture of body fluids of spell caster and the user”

MC was embarrassed to hear but also so desperate to return home “I can bring some next morning”

“It cannot be mixed outside the bodies. If you do it, the spell won’t work and it has to be done by fortnight. And we need to gather as much as we can for spell to work” The magic was crazy for her and it didn’t have to make sense as he made her rush to the decision

MC was reluctant at first but she had no other choice. Dire was not going to ravish her in the dorm where ghosts would know what they do. He teleported them to his room.

He took off his gloves, hat and jacket leaving them on his dresser. He turned to see how nervous MC was which excited him even more. He grabbed a bottle from his drawer and handed it to MC, telling her it was just contraceptive potion. After drinking the potion, she told him she is ready.

He could have taken out all of their clothes with magic but he wanted to savour the moment. He slowly took off her clothes, his hands grazing her skin as the article of clothing fell to the ground one by one, leaving her in her underwear. Then it was his turn.

“If you please help” She nodded, her hands found their way to his vest and stated to unbutton him, followed by his shirt. Another time she might have enjoyed the appearance of his toned body but as of now it was nerve wrecking and it was about to become worse since she had to remove his pants too.

Dire already took off his shoes, was waiting for her to unbuckle his belt and take off his pants. He felt himself harden when her hands unzipped his pants and she knelt on her knees to remove the rest of it. When it was done, he saw her face his clothed cock, seemed surprised to see the bulge. He barely held himself from thrusting forward. She got up and reached to his mask, was stopped by his hand. “Later” he said before reaching towards her bra “We need to normalize seeing each other’s naked body or this week won’t pass” She nodded, letting him do as he pleased.

He unhooked her bra, freeing her breasts. He let her bra fall to the ground as he admired her chest, how good they would feel if he were message them and lick her nipples. It would be real in a few minutes. He then took off her knickers and told her to remove his. They had plenty of time to admire those parts later.

He removed the duvets with magic. “This might hurt but as kind person, I’ll be as gentle as possible.” Dire said, pushing her down on his bed.

“I had sex before. Yet, we still need to have foreplay so I won’t be harmed” Well that was bummer but her past doesn’t matter.

He dimmed the lights with his magic before he took off his mask and threw somewhere in the room. He didn’t want MC to see his face yet while thanks to his nature he would see all of her reactions. She would feel his face soon either way.

“Call me Dire when we are alone, MC” He said wanted her to sing his name as he brought pleasure beyond her wildest dreams. He pressed her to the bed, giving her a deep kiss and leaving her surprised. His lips move from hers to her jaw, her neck then her chest. Taking one nipple to his mouth, his hand moves to message the other one. Her breathing hitched, unintentionally pushing her chest forward Dire, letting out a soft moan. His ear picked it up as a smirk formed on his face. His stimulation was working and her moan just encouraged him further. He suckled her nipple more until moving on to the next one, giving the same attention to it.

He could smell her arousal but he was not done yet. MC asked for foreplay then Dire shall deliver it. When he deemed it was enough nipple play, he kissed his way down to her crotch. Spreading her legs further for better access, he took a good look at her cunt. What a pretty little thing, he thought. He started to kiss from his inner thighs to the main dish. He sucked her thigh, leaving hickeys that no one but them would see, he graze his fangs along her skin, he felt her tense whilst thrusting her hips. He continued to give attention to her thighs all while looking at MC’s face. She was covering her mouth with her hand, suppressing her moans. That was not going to do so he pulled her hand away “There is no shame here. Let your body sing” She nodded, letting out loud moan when he continued to kissing her thighs, moving towards her vagina.

When he reached her slit, he slid his nose like credit card before his tongue playing with her clit. He moved down to her vagina and without wasting any time he slammed his mouth on her vagina, his tongue exploring it while his nose brushed her clit. With one hand he was gripping her leg, moving it for better angle while with the other one he was messaging her breast. Soon she tried to clamp her legs together, squeezing Dire in between but that didn’t stop him. His tongues dwelled as much as it could, touching as many places it could. His fangs was brushing against her pussy time to time but it was just making her more excited. Her hand dangled in his hair, pressing her further while her hips her thrusting against him. It was euphoric and soon she felt her orgasm coming, her toes clenched as her back arched.

Dire did t want to waste time by waiting for her to come down from her high. Normally, he would expect oral in return but right now, he just wanted to cum inside her. He crawled over MC, positioning her legs for deeper penetration, her legs clasped around his chest. He looked at her face, how needy she looked, he was such a kind person to fulfill her needs. Without further ado, his cock penetrated her vagina. A deep moan left his lips as he felt her vaginal walls around his cock before he could stop himself. He just wished he could have felt this divine feeling before.

Dire was not alone in the pleasurable feeling as MC moaned as well. He brushed her hair out of her face before kissing her as he started to thrust forward. He didn’t stop thrusting his hips and soon he and MC were in synch. He was kissing her neck and jaw then mouth when she let another moan out which was silenced by his mouth.

Dire felt MC arching her back as her walls started to tense, understanding that she is close to her release, he sped up. Her walls clenched around his cock as she cummed, making him release too. Both were panting, trying to catch their breaths but Dire recovered faster.

“Sh-should we gather our cums now?” She asked.

“It’s better to gather when there is more. I am not taking my cock out so our cums won’t leak out” He reasoned with her and she nodded in agreement. When Dire recovered enough for second round, he started to move again. It had been so long since he had had sex. He is unsure if he had ever felt this way before. It had to be MC’s doing and he was glad for every moment of it.

The next two weeks went the same way. The only difference was MC was less embarrassed to be naked in front of Dire. When it was the day to cast the spell, Dire convinced her to have more sex as to get more cum mixture for the spell.

MC was so tired after so many rounds that she just closed her eyes for 5 seconds.

—

She opened her eyes, it was dawn, the sunrise was lightening the room. Where she was didn’t register with her at first. After blinking a few times, she realized she was still in Dire’s bed. She turned to her side and saw him facing the other way while his hand was thrown over her. Did he forget that he was suppose to cast the magic at dawn?

MC shook Dire awake, he was being mumbling under his breath, telling to let him sleep. There was no time to waste so she shook him more harshly.

Dire turned to face her, he was not wearing mask nor the dark was covering his face. His eyes stood out as a confirmation of his fae genealogy. She didn’t expect him to look this good but she couldn’t focus on that now. “What is it, my dear?” She was baffled to be called my dear but there was no time now.

She changed to sitting position, readying to leave the bed “You have to cast the magic before sun rises completely!” She tried to get up from bed but his arm over her didn’t budge. “Dire! Hurry!”

Dire chuckled, standing on his elbow. “Oh my dearest,” he took the hair in front of her face and tucked behind her ear with his hand that was over her. “Did you really think there was a spell such that?” He smirked as he brushed her cheek.

“B-but”

“You brat are not going anywhere. Now go back to sleep.” He swung his arms over her, pushing her back to the bed. She tried to remove his arm and get away but it was no use. “Besides why would I let the mother of my child get away?”

That shocked MC. “WHAT?! You gave me contraceptives!”

Dire laughed cruelly. “That was to increase fertility and stamina.” He lifted himself up lightly, moving the sheet and getting closer to her belly. “Maybe you are already pregnant from our first night together. It takes 2 weeks for impregnation of your kind.” Kissing her belly, “Hey little one!”

Dire straighten himself on the bed and pulling her harshly, he spooned her. “You should rest, my love. This might be the only time you’ll be able to rest.” He kissed her cheek and let his head fall to the pillow.

MC struggled to get away from his grip but it was impossible and was tiresome. Her nails dug into his hands, thinking that pain would cause him to let go but it was impossible.

All MC wanted back was the big house with red door, the lemon tree outside her window...

——

Kudos if you understand the last line’s reference.

#twst #twisted wonderland #dire crowley #twst mc #twisted wonderland mc #yandere twst #yandere twisted wonderland #yandere dire crowley #twst yandere #twisted wonderland yandere