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marshmallowprotection · 3 years

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Kait’s Emotional Crisis and Analysis on Saeran’s After Ending

That’s right. it’s here folks! You’re here because we’ve managed to survive the waiting period that has been two-years in the making. Are we all happy that we have made it this far and survived the wait? Yes, yes, we are. You wouldn’t still be listening to me babble about how much I love Saeran Choi if you weren’t. We all know what we’re here for, so let’s get down to business.

THIS IS A VERY LONG POST. I’m not even joking this time. It’s a very long post.

Spoilers for Ray Route and Another Story!

I’ve been having to control the flappy hands when I see this photo so forgive me if my thoughts are all over the place as I talk about everything that has been on my mind. I literally had to pinch myself when I woke up to a flood of messages on the matter.

It’s him. It’s my boy. It’s my boy. It’s my boy! Mom, holy fuck! It’s my boy and he looks great. I’ve had a lot on my mind since I first saw the title screen so let’s get down to what I have to say about that. First of all, I’m in love with MC’s outfit. I’d wear that, that’s the fucking mood tonight. I’ve been frothing at the bit to be able to draw my MC wearing this outfit and I didn’t even wanna start doing something like that until they gave the official release to us.

What can I say? I’m a sucker for really frilly tops. Those pink jeans are a really nice shade of pink too. It’s not hot pink, it’s a nice bubblegum which is a good contrast to Saeran’s hair, haha! I just like seeing all the pinks around this boy and his MC, of course, has to be cloaked in those colors as well. It just makes me really happy. I love some of the other outfits that MC gets to wear in the game but oh, God, oh, Fuck. This has to be my favorite outfit that we’ve been able to wear thus far.

The little necktie? Perfect. Those sleeves? Iconic. The hand-holding? PURE AS FUCK. THE VIBES? CHECKED.

Now that I’ve covered my bases with MC, let’s go onto the Choi brothers and talk about them. I actually like that they’ve been drawing Saeran in more brown and pink outfits. It just feels very right for him.

It goes to show that his mental state is much better than it was in recent years, like, from Ray to Suit Saeran and to Unknown, we all know that they would dress in black and darker themes if they were given the chance. Ray’s outfit was given to him by Rika to wear, and Suit Saeran was the one that picked his suit out to wear. Unknown walked out of the clearance bin at Hot Topic and added those cowboy boots to enrage me. But, I digress. I’ll fight Unknown at a later date about that.

The natural and earthy tones that they’re going for here with him are very nice to see. He seems like he’s a lot comfier with himself here. He’s got a cozy little old sweater on and his posture is better than I’ve seen it in many photos. If his style is just cozy sweaters, then, well, I can vibe with that. I can see him working in the garden wearing that and I think that’s the point that they’re making with this style of his.

The loose collar is also nice. I’m used to seeing his clothes buttoned up and out of the way, making sure that he isn’t showing his body. So, seeing him play with his style and wearing something much looser against his body is a good thing as well. I think I saw someone call him a comfy grandpa in one of the posts that I’ve seen floating around. I chuckle at that mention.

Saeran doesn’t care that much about fashion, to be honest with you. He would, of course, choose something that’s minimalist and comfortable. These browns work with him very much so. I’m happy to see it! It’s in line with the style that I’ve had in mind for him after the Ending!

Can you see the way that he’s gazing at the player, though? Can we talk about the way that he’s looking at us?

The longing in that gaze... the way that it looks like he’s been getting some good sleep for once in his life because the discoloration of purple is gone! The way he has that tiny smile that only we know is a smile because he only shares that side of himself with us? His MC? God, I’m in love with you, you fucking bastard man why is your smile making me cry so much?

I could talk about his smile for hours. His expression. The longing. The way that I love you cannot be contained in words, Saeran. It’s far too strong. Just know I’m the person that can feel what’s going on his body from looking at him. He looks to be in a good place.

Anyways, onto Saeyoung.

Oh, my darling, Saeyoung. I’m used to seeing you in green palettes. It’s just a tried and true theory with your red hair and you lean heavily into being a walking Christmas palette. It’s rare to see you without your glasses, and I’m sure that a lot of people are swooning over you for that. You know you’re handsome and you will use that against those MCs that love you. I don’t have a lot to say about his outfit but I do think it’s really fitting for him.

It seems like a muted pull-over and some worn jeans, which seems in line with everything that I would style him in. He knows plenty about style himself and he knows how to make my head spin.

What is this somber look in his eyes? There’s a smile on his lips but there is this feeling to me that it doesn’t meet his eyes. Is he happy that we’re with Saeran or is he weighed by the fact that he wasn’t the one to save Saeran? Does he know what happens with Rika? Does he feel angry over that? What are we going to tell the RFA and him about this? I know that he would be happy that we saved his brother...

But the guilt in his heart is nothing to scoff off. He always blames himself for what happened to Saeran even though Rika is the one that broke his trust for good and forever. I feel like there’s something bittersweet in his eyes. Does he think that Saeran and the player are going to live happily while he’s not there?

I always intended to imagine Saeyoung living with Saeran and the player, because they can’t be separated again.

But does he feel like a weight and a third wheel? I don’t know. I’m scared to think about how he may feel like Saeran is happy now without him and he’ll try to pull away instead of adding anymore trauma onto Saeran’s life. I know that it’s not going to easy for recovery for either of them, but I want to have faith and care for the two of them.

Saeyoung, you better not self-deprecate. I’ll smooch your forehead too. I just really don’t know how I feel about that look in his eyes. It’s just matching the smile in my opinion.

I’m still screaming. I’ve been a pit of screaming for nearly three hours now and I know that I’ve still got plenty more to say today on the matter. But, I know why you’re here for real, you want me to analyze what I see in this picture and what I think will be in the AE from what we’re shown. I’ve had a few days to think it over and I’ve got my ideas.

Where are you Saeyoung? This title screen is not confirmation that Saeyoung is alive. For all we know, this photo could be more inspiration for the theme and the emotion that takes place in the After Ending.

I have to remind people that when we first played Saeyoung’s AE, it was a rouse and we were treated to a happy dream sequence that sought to talk about Saeran living with us and Saeyoung as he made a toy store. There’s a possibility that in the midst of the search for Saeyoung, we’re confronted with dreams and nightmares on Saeran’s end in regards to his brother.

It’s my biggest fear that Saeyoung isn’t alive. We don’t know if the Prime Minister took him or if an enemy took him, or if it was the agency, or a combination of all three of these options. I don’t know how I feel about it. I’ve considered that we won’t have the answer until the After Ending itself comes out but I’m interested to know what the answer is.

If it was Saejoong, well, I fear for Saeyoung’s health if we do find him alive. His emotional state... God, that was always his biggest fear. His and Saeran’s biggest fear that their mother always whispered. She was a monster to the two of them with her abuse but the unknown of what their father would do to them had to be even more frightening. Their mother always said that Saejoong would kill them if he caught them.

But, he could have honestly done a lot of horrible and twisted things. They could have become political pawns and a sob story that Saejoong could have sold if he wanted quite easily, and their mother could have been killed to silence that story. There was a lot of worse case scenarios. Saeyoung knows and has thought of all of them.

So the idea that he’s living his worst nightmare?

The fact that Saejoong could have killed Saeran without him being able to protect him?

The fact that he’d not be able to talk to V?

He sent a frenzied message to the chatroom for us to contact V for him. This only implies that he was trying to warn V to protect Saeran at the last minute, so it feels like it could only be Saejoong that took him. He panicked hard. He had to make sure that Saeran was protected even if he died. I think that was what he did with his message in the chatroom.

But, we all know how it turned out.

I felt like that sacrifice of panic on his part was.... it still hurts me to think about all of it.

My worst case scenario is a dream sequence and Saeyoung not... not being alive anymore. I don’t know what that would do to Saeran. He wants to make things right with his brother, he really does. The gaslighting and manipulation done by Rika is going to take some time for them to work past, and I know that he can make progress in therapy and as he challenge his intrusive thoughts as we stand by his side. He can see it through.

He is hopeful for his brother.

However, it’s going to be tested when he actually faces his brother in the game and that’s the real test. Therapy is one thing. Facing your fears is even harder than talking about them. Saeran is going to... be overwhelmed with everything and he may need to step away when push comes to shove.

I want Saeyoung to see us together holding hands and let him have that moment realization that even though Saeran went through a lot of harm while they were separated, he wasn’t alone through all of it. He never wanted Saeran to be alone in any way. If Saeran has to step away, then well, that would leave us with his brother in the process.

I can’t say how much I’d choke up if he thanked us for loving his brother. The guilt in his eyes as he cries and we reassure him. I think that’s one thing that I want the most with Saeyoung. I want him to know freedom from his chains and I want to help him too. There’s a lot that I want out of that and there’s so much of this potential that we can talk about in the AE.

There’s a lot with Saeyoung that I want to think about but so much of it makes me wanna cry.

I also fear for V and I’ve discussed many of my fears on that matter. I’ll repost my thoughts right here.

Now, in regards to what I sincerely don’t want is a repeat of what went down with V’s After Ending.

I’ve shared my feelings on that matter before and I understand that Cheritz was going for that moral high-road that many people take where they say that it’s better to forgive on your path to healing, and while that can be good for some people, it can leave a sour taste in the mouth of people who don’t pick to forgive the people that hurt them.

I don’t choose to forgive the people that hurt me in many cases. That doesn’t make me a bad person. The problem with the Forgive/Judgement ending is that it can make you feel ashamed for not forgiving someone who quite literally, took funds from the RFA’s first two parties (that’s the only way she could’ve gotten the money to fund Mint Eye, even coercion and manipulation of people on the level that Rika does wouldn’t give her that much ability), manipulated and gas-lit Ray and Saeran for years, deceived and drugged countless people, so on and so forth.

I hate that she’s never punished for her actions. She needs to be rightfully punished for what she did. I want her to get therapy, and I want her to learn that she was wrong for what she did to everyone. I want her to be able to get better for her own health, and I don’t think she should ever be contact with anyone in the RFA ever again. But, that’s up to the RFA if they choose to speak with her or interact with her, not mine. I don’t want her to die, I want her to learn what she did was wrong.

It’s not Mika (Rika Behind Story Spoilers) who went through the cult. Rika had every chance to stop while she was ahead but she kept doing it. I would not forgive Rika, and I would never want to be around her ever again if I were in the position of the RFA when the truth is made known.

The only action that Rika ever took that could be looked at with the filter of self-defense was when she panicked when the boy’s mother tried to get close to her and harm her in a drunken rage. She acted to protect herself in that situation, but that’s the only thing that she’s ever done that someone could look at and say, she was protecting herself. She felt threatened. She panicked, she blacked out and protected herself from harm.

Don’t get me started on V. I love V, he’s not perfect, he fucked up a lot and he shouldn’t have gone back to Rika. It feels like he saw us love, forgive, and stand by Saeran and thought that he could be able to do the same for Rika, but that is not what will help him or Rika. They don’t need to be together again. They need to be fair away. Rika and V literally burned down the boy’s childhood home and V was wearing his sunglasses, so I can only presume that Rika harmed his eyes after he went to her.

Saeran himself says that he wants to tell everyone about Rika and V, but he needs to be able to discuss it with V. Even Saeran understands that V is a victim to some degree and he wants to help him.

That was a big fucking comment on his part and I was proud of him for that.

But, V left for Rika and we don’t know if we’ll ever see him again. So, I really don’t know how that’s going to be handled in the slightest, Anon.

I don’t want Rika and V together, like, ever again.

I want Rika to be punished for her actions and caught. I want V to get away from her and start to learn to love himself again and grow. I believe in him but he’s in need of someone to cheer him on when that abusive relationship ends. I really don’t want a repeat of V’s After Ending.

Don’t make me forgive Rika.

Don’t make Saeran forgive her, either.

That’s my worst case scenario fear. I want Saeran to be able to grow and get healthier, for sure, but his final confrontation with Rika should be the last time that he ever thinks about her. He made his mind up and he made it clear that she was wrong and he would never be tricked by her again.

I want him to stand his ground on that. I’ll stand by him no matter what he chooses to do, though. So, I want this to be about Saeran and Saeyoung coming together again, and helping V get out of that relationship with Rika, as well as Rika facing punishment for her actions.

But, that might be asking a bit too much, haha.

Ideally, I want Saeran and the player to be able to reach out to V and help him get away from Rika as she’s taken down as well. We don’t know if she left Mint Eye for sure, we don’t know if she and V ran away. Who is running the Cult? Is the cult put to a stop or did Rika put somebody else in charge? It’s hard to say on that front and I’m still not sure how that’s going to end up.

V can open up and work out everything that’s going to fall out here as it did in the events of V Route with Rika. He’ll need to work out everything with Jumin and the others, but I have hope for him to be able to face what went wrong and not only get the help he needs, but get the support of his support circle behind his back as everyone rallies behind him.

I would love he and Saeran to be able to work out everything, Saeyoung as well, because even Saeran is willing to work with Jihyun. Rika to get some therapy, get punished for her actions and that to be dealt with is great. It never happens so. That would be a nice change.

Saeran knows that V is a victim in all of this too. So, it remains to be seen how this is going to be handled. I can only pray that Jihyun is able to be rescued as we rescue Saeyoung (hopefully, fingers crossed.) I’m still so proud of Saeran for doing that.

God.

I’ve talked about Choice and Saeran before in regards to the Secret Ending and his Good ending and... well, I’ll direct you to that post. To read about how important it was for Saeran to be able to choose what he wanted to do with his life instead of having options forced on him.

Can we discuss this photo as well from the Special Believer Box that I’m nearly about to buy at this point with whatever comes out with AE cause I need it?? I’m gonna go fucking broke. For you. Saeran. For you. I was saving my money for Christmas and now I’ve got a reason to live.

I still don’t know if this is the implication of what will happen in the AE or if it’s something that will just exist as a standalone image. I still don’t know why Saeran would be dresses as his brother for some reason, unless there’s a twin switch-a-roo plot somewhere in all of this? I mean, bold choice, but I don’t know. I just think I needed to say again how cute that I think Saeran is in Saeyoung’s outfit. He’s so tiny and slender in comparison to his brother.

I’m gonna fucking smooch his forehead. I don’t know, I want the CG title screen and this photo here to imply that the Choi boys will be alive and happy together once all is said and done. I can’t say that I know where we’re heading but there is bound to be an adventure to hunt down Saeyoung, but I’m not sure where it will take us.

A wild-goose chase alongside whatever mystery is left. I can’t wait.

My ideal ending is one where we get to live in a little house by the sea with a garden with Saeran and Saeyoung where we can visit and chat with the RFA whenever we want. But, we’ll have to see what happens. If you want to read more about some of the things that I think he wants to do with his MC now that he’s free check out this post.

Anyways.

Kait’s gotta go cry now.

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koutone-moved · 3 years

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Saeran/Ray After Ending: My Thoughts

Hey everyone! I’m not one to really go in-depth about stuff in here, but I really felt the urge to talk about this since Saeran is a character that is really dear to me and this After Ending was something that I and many, many other people had been looking forward to for a long time.

I’ll be talking spoilers about the entire AE below the cut, so please beware!

I wanted to start off with the things I really did enjoy.

Cheritz trying new things with the AEs for both V and Saeran was really great, in my opinion. They could have stuck with the previous format of just giving us sneak peeks into the respective couple’s life after getting together but instead decided to turn them into complete story expansions that felt more like Secret Endings. The effort and care everyone at Cheritz has put into these storylines is incredible and they deserve all the kudos and praise.

The chatroom format was a really cool idea and having the player influence the outcome was something I greatly enjoyed. Having the story be a romance/thriller combination was super fun and immersive, too. The prologue was a great hook in my opinion--it had my heart beating fast with anxiety from the very start lolol.

ALL THE SAERAN FLUFF AND CALLS, LORD ALMIGHTY. I ADORED EVERY SECOND OF IT! I totally picture Saeran being a really cheesy and adoring boyfriend, especially since MC is so precious to him. I think they hit the nail right in the head with this.

The CGs were BEAUTIFUL. I was shocked at how many we got for a 4-day story, and they all really brought the story to life. Huge props to Cheritz for the immense effort they put into them.

The first two days of the AE (though extremely anxiety-inducing and emotionally painful for most of their duration, lol) were super entertaining and how I had always envisioned the story going down. I think having the PM and the agency unite forces as the main antagonistic force was awesome, and I really wish the story had solely focused on them.

Now, the things I didn’t like.

The Rika drama. I totally understand why addressing and breaking down Rika’s terrible actions is important for Saeran’s story. But... why, why did we need to revisit the “actually Rika has always been a good person that did some bad things” plot point when it was already done to death in V’s AE and route? I’m sorry, but this makes my blood boil.

Rika abused Saeran so badly to the point that he had to split his personality into two different people to survive, drugged him into hating his own brother, constantly told him and made him believe he was worthless if he didn’t work his ass off 24/7, killed his fucking mother, etc. The list goes on. Not to mention: she broke and drugged the minds of many other people! Not just Saeran!

I understand that the story gives us options to call Rika and V out on this bs and it encourages us to do it, but... just the fact that we have to entertain the possibility of forgiving her and letting her get off scot-free truly, truly fucking floors me.

What really bothered me about this is that this subplot took an entire day out of the 4-day story. A whole ass day that could have been spent developing the PM-agency storyline (which, again, I truly wish they had focused on). It really sucked that we had to spend a day exclusively talking to Rika and V about the same thing over, over, and over again.

V. What in the hell did Cheritz do to his character, lmao? I don’t like V at all and the actions he’s chosen to take in regards to Rika and Saeran have always truly infuriated and baffled me. But, I’ve never thought of him as someone who would willingly hurt the RFA.

I was SHOCKED to see how selfish and twisted he was in this story, especially in Day 3. He said he would never try to change Rika again and hoped she would flourish as a result and become a better person. But. My good man, how in the hell did he ever think that kidnapping two grown ass adults and forcing them to be their children was a sane decision?

I was truly convinced until the very last moment that V returning to Rika was a red herring and that he had a plan all along to keep her in check and protect the RFA. But nope.

I may not be a V stan, but even I know that V would never act so selfishly.

The GE/NE resolution. It felt so rushed and is the main reason why I think Day 3 should have been handled differently. The truly bullshit thing that stood out to me about it was how a short confrontation with the illegitimate son he gives no shits about is enough for the PM to have a change of heart. LOL. The corrupt, greedy prime minister that has his entire life and career hanging on a line is suddenly enlightened on his evil ways and turns himself in. Am I too cynical for thinking this resolution is stupid and makes no sense? I know at this point it was basically impossible for him to not get arrested, but I really didn’t buy this and it felt like cop-out from Cheritz’s part, writing-wise.

How Saeran’s trauma was handled. I know I already expressed loving how Saeran was towards MC in this AE, but that does not include this part specifically, lol.

I understand a big part of Saeran’s story is learning to forgive and understand to find true happiness and freedom. And I love that, it truly is a beautiful direction for his character.

I know Cheritz is not great at writing realistic trauma recovery for his characters--that was already apparent in Saeran’s route. But, I never found it so unrealistic to the point of breaking immersion for me until this AE. It just felt so silly at some points that I couldn’t even convince myself that maybe it was possible.

It’s been two weeks since he escaped Mint Eye, and... he is completely fine with talking casually to Rika, trying to understand her, and being in the same room as her? He is fine with confronting the PM and telling him he forgives him because ‘he must have a tragic past’? Really?

Maybe he is just a better person than I am lol, but this was too much. I completely understand how someone could reach this level of inner peace and choose to forgive their abusers in order to heal. But. Two weeks. Although the circumstances were different, I think the Secret Ending handled Saeran’s recovery a lot better in this sense.

In Summary: LOVED Day 1 and 2, hated Day 3 and 4

I’m sorry if I got a bit too rant-y on the reasons why I disliked the AE LOL. I just had many feelings about it and couldn’t stop myself. If anyone wants to send me or comment their own thoughts, please feel free to do so!! I would love to read some different perspectives.

I don’t hate the AE as whole, but it really let me down in some big ways. I’ll probably try to replay it in the future and see if I change my mind about some aspects about it, though. It’s sad to say this, but V’s AE left me feeling more fulfilled in some regards than this lol. I really wish Saeyoung would have had more involvement in the story, too.

I did love the very final epilogue for both the GE and NE, which was the main thing I was hoping for--so there’s that, I guess.

Anyways, thank you so much for reading!

#mystic messenger #saeran choi #saeran after ending #ray after ending

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vgckwb · 3 years

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ML: Are They Worthy? Chapter 86: Unity!

The next day, Lila was in her hospital bed being visited by Lorenzo. They were reminiscing about their time in Italy and having a generally fun time. Their giggles were interrupted when someone else opened the door. Lila was expecting a nurse, a doctor, or maybe one of those miraculous experts she met the day before after Gabriel left, but was surprised to see that it was none of the above. “Alix?”

Alix walked in, pulled up a chair, and sat down next to Lorenzo in front of Lila. “Hey.”

“Hi…” Lila replied awkwardly.

After a bit of silence, Alix asked “Well, how are you doing?”

“Oh, um, I’m feeling alright,” Lila answered. “Well, I guess as alright as I can be.”

“Right…” Alix responded. An awkward silence permeated.

“Why are you here?” Lila asked, breaking the silence like a plate crashing to the floor. “I’ve done nothing but manipulate you and your friends.” She sunk into herself. “I don’t deserve your friendship.”

Lorenzo was shook. Alix simply smiled and said “Yeah. You probably don’t.” Lila looked up. “But whether it be kindness or foolishness, I think we’re willing to give it to you anyway.”

“Why?” Lila demanded.

“Well, I don’t know about anyone else for certain,” Alix explained, “but for me, it’s a case of I can spend time disliking you, or I can see that you’re trying and at least move on, if not help you try. And I don’t have the time to waste hating someone who is trying.”

Lila was stunned. She looked at Lorenzo who smiled and chuckled. She looked back at Alix and started crying. “Lila, are you OK?” Lorenzo asked.

“Yeah” Lila sniffed. She wiped her eyes, although tears kept coming. “I’m alright.” For so long, Lila was trapped in the darkness of trying to make herself seem like an amazing, untouchable, Goddess. She was pushing other people away to push herself upwards. However, it felt lonely, which is what she was trying to avoid in the first place. Yet she had a hard time realizing it until it swallowed her whole.

So when someone was reaching out to her honestly and earnestly, and she was fully committed to doing the same, it all hit her at once. She hadn’t felt like this in a long time, and she liked it. Lila looked up and smiled at Alix. Alix reciprocated the smile. Nathalie looked on, assured that things will be alright.

Meanwhile, Adrien came into Marinette and Emilie’s room. “Hey” he said upon entering. He looked and saw Marinette was alone. “Where’s my mother?”

“She’s beginning physical therapy,” Marinette explained.

“Oh” Adrien said, surprised and delighted by the news.

“Some of the doctors were worried, but she insisted she get a start” Marinette continued.

Adrien chuckled. “That’s mother alright.” The couple shared a giggle. “It might be better this way.” Marinette seemed puzzled. Adrien’s smile widened. “Someone’s been missing you.” He took out a box and opened it.

As the box opened, Tikki appeared. Marinette was overcome with delight. “TIKKI!” she gasped.

Tikki flew up to Marinette as fast as she could and hugged her cheek. “Marinette!” The two snuggled each other. Once the little hug was over, Tikki said “I’m glad you’re OK.”

“Me too,” Marinette responded. She averted her gaze for a bit. “I feel like I should have asked you.” Tikki was curious. “About the ultimate move thing. I mean, after what happened with you and the previous holder of the wolf miraculous…”

“Marinette, it’s fine,” Tikki said. “The lucky charm gave you the idea for a reason. In spite of needing to perform that move, both you and her are amazing Ladybugs, and nothing can change that.”

Marinette smiled and blushed. “Thanks Tikki.” Adrien stood there, observing but not interrupting.

As the days went by, the recovery process progressed for the patients, as well as Paris itself. While the city had seen a great deal of damage from Hawk Moth, the Nurushwa attack was on a whole other level. While the miraculous cure did its job, the city was still in shock, and it needed some time to readjust.

During this time, Gabriel was meeting constantly with lawyers to figure out the details of his case. He was making certain arrangements to make sure everything goes smoothly. Meanwhile, Marinette and Lila were getting visits from their classmates to make sure they were doing well, and in Lila’s case, assuring them that they could bury the hatchet.

One of the processes of Paris’s recovery was a self-imposed quarantine. This was an effort to maintain order, get accounts from everyone involved, and maybe trap this Nurushwa figure. However, this was a temporary process, and nearing its end. Among those set to leave Paris once this quarantine was over, Travis and Cassandra were some of the most anxious.

Vlad was meeting with them in their hotel room. “It sucks that we gotta leave soon,” Travis lamented. “I was getting used to having you being in the same neighborhood as us, just like old times.”

“Hm,” Vlad grunted. “I’m going to miss it too. But we’ll never be too far apart. We have cellphones and such.”

“Right…” Travis reluctantly agreed. “It’s just not the same, you know?”

“We can come visit whenever, you know,” Cassandra said.

“I guess that’s true” Travis said, cheering up slightly. He sighed. “Part of me wishes we could just move here, you know? Not only are you here, but the friends you’ve made are amazing.”

“Well, what can I say?” Vlad asked. “Only the best for me.”

Meanwhile, Cassandra chuckled. “Are you sure this isn’t about one friend in particular?” she insinuated.

Travis was caught off-guard. “Well,” he blushed, “I can’t say she isn’t one of the BIGGER reasons… But you must feel it too, you know? The general presence of Vlad’s friends here.”

“Of course,” Cassandra said. “I just can’t miss an opportunity to tease you.” Travis rolled his eyes.

Meanwhile, Kagami was doing some fencing training. Longg was watching her. She was working aggressively, and losing focus. Longg imagined it had something to do with the conversation they had when they got home after the attack and the incident with Katelyn.

Flashing back, Kagami walked into her room. She sat in front of her tv and started playing video games. Longg floated out beside her. “So, um, why did you tell Travis and Cassandra you’re Ryuko?”

Kagami shrugged. “I guess I felt like it.”

“It’s a little unorthodox,” Longg informed her.

“I know…” Kagami replied. She had just been defeated in her game. “Ugh. Fine.”

“Fine what? Longg asked.

Kagami sighed. “I think I’ve made my decision.”

“‘Decision’?” Longg inquired.

“Yeah,” Kagami answered. “And as amazing as Luka is, I think I actually like Travis more.”

“Oh” Longg said, realizing what Kagami was talking about. “So that’s why?”

Kagami nodded. “I figured if we were going to end up going out, he’d have to know the truth at some point or another.”

“So, if you don’t mind,” Longg began, “what was the deciding factor in all of this?”

Kagami smiled. “Like I said, Luka’s great...but Travis has this air about him. He’s just so passionate and free, and I feel like I want that out of a potential boyfriend, you know?”

“I see” Longg said. “So, when are you going to tell him?”

“That, I’m not sure,” Kagami said. “This whole time has been crazy...I want to wait until things settle down a bit before I go jumping into this.”

“That sounds fair,” Longg replied.

Back in the present, Kagami was making mistake after mistake in her training. She threw off her helmet and said “I can’t take it anymore!” She went to go change. Once she was finished, she stormed out of the house.

She started out walking, but then sped up into a run. She was on her way to Le Grand Paris, hoping that he’d be there. When she arrived, she stopped, caught her breath, and composed herself. She walked in, and calmly took the elevator up.

When she got to the floor they were staying in, she left and hurried down the hall. She arrived at their room. She hesitated at first, but she shook herself out of it and knocked. The knock was gentle, but forceful.

Vlad opened the door. “Kagami? What’s up?” Kagami brushed past Vlad. “OK?”

Kagami walked up to Travis. “You!”

Travis seemed confused over this confrontational Kagami. He pointed to himself and said “Me?”

“You!” Kagami repeated. She sighed and loosened her tension. “When I first came to Paris, I thought I was the best there ever was, the best there ever is, and the best there ever will be.”

“O...K…?” Travis said, confused. Vlad and Cassandra were looking on equally confused.

“But right away, I was made apparent of my flaws,” Kagami went on. “As time went on, I’ve slowly learned to overcome those flaws, or at least work towards that. Yet when we first interacted, you seemed to fall in love with me almost instantly. At a time where I kind of hated myself, and I took my anger out on you.” Kagami intensely stared at Travis. “Do you think I’m perfect when I’m not?”

Travis was puzzled. He looked at Vlad and Cassandra, neither of whom were able to help. He turned back to Kagami. “Well...that’s...um…” He sighed. “To be honest, being perfect is overrated.” Kagami was confused. “I didn’t say any of what I said because I thought you were perfect. I said what I said because I thought you were amazing. You still are. But perfect is a bit much to expect, you know?”

Kagami smiled. “Yeah. I do. Hm. Today, while I was practicing fencing, I started to lose focus.” Travis was stunned. “This was the first time since the battle against that Nurushwa thing that I did.”

“I’m sorry…” Travis said, unsure of what else to say.

“Don’t be,” Kagami said. “Because it was the first time since the attack that I had a focus to lose. That I can let my mind think about other things. That I don’t have to worry about a monster peering over my shoulder.”

“Oh” Travis said.

Kagami closed in on him. “I was thinking about you. I think you’re amazing too. So...um...will, uh, will you go out with me?”

Travis’s face was now beat red. Kagami was also blushing, but she looked a little more composed. Still, blushing, Triavis laughed a little. “Hah. Of course.”

Kagami grabbed the lapels of Travis’s jacket. “Oh yeah?” She pulled herself in closer, pressing her body against his. “Prove it.” She gave him a kiss. Travis was taken aback for a second, but wrapped his head around what was happening and focused. He wrapped his arms around Kagami, squeezing her tenderly.

Once the kiss was over, the two looked at each other. They noticed the other was blushing, and started giggling amongst themselves. Travis then said “Now THAT was truly amazing.”

“Congratulations you two,” Cassandra said.

They looked at Cassandra and Vlad, who were smirking, but supportive all the same. “Hm hm. Thanks” Kagami said.

The following day, Mylene and Ivan went to visit Lila, who was also getting a visit from Lorenzo, because of course. “Hi Lila. Lorenzo” Mylene said upon entering.

“Hey,” Ivan said. “How are you all doing?”

Lila giggled. “Well, I’m doing better with all of the visitors I’m getting.” She looked down. “It is nice. After all this time, all of this double-dealing, it is nice that there are people who are willing to give me another shot.”

“It happens to the best of us,” Ivan explained. “If you’re willing to change, people will be there to help.”

“Speaking of helping people,” Mylene said, “the food pantry’s been missing you for the past couple of days Lorenzo.”

“Ah ha ha” Lorenzo laughed. “Well, uh…”

“It’s fine,” Lila said. “I’m in good hands. You’ve been here enough to know that.”

“Right…” Lorenzo said. “It’s just...I’ve missed you...a whole…”

“I know…” Lila said. “I’ve missed you too. And I also missed me as well.” Lorenzo smiled, as did Ivan and Mylene.

Meanwhile, Adrien, Vlad, Travis, Cassandra, and Kagami were visiting Marinette. “Are you two really leaving tomorrow?” Adrien asked.

“Yeah,” Cassandra answered. “We figured we should visit before we’re off.”

“Well, it’s always a pleasure,” Marinette said. “Whenever you come here next, we should hang out more.”

“Hopefully you’re not laid up in a hospital” Cassandra replied.

“Of course,” Marinette responded.

“Let’s hope things aren’t as hectic either” Vlad noted.

“Yeah, there sure were a lot of ups and downs this time around,” Travis added. He looked over at Kagami. “But I will say, this trip went out on top.”

Kagami walked over and embraced him. “We have something to tell you.” Adrien and Marinette were curious.

Travis wrapped his arm around her. “Heh. We’re kind of going out.” Adrien and Marinette were stunned. Kagami gave him a kiss on the cheek to highlight that.

Marinette smiled. “Congratulations you two.”

Kagami turned to Adrien. “You’re not jealous, are you?”

Adrien smiled. “Of course not. I have a wonderful girlfriend, and you have a wonderful boyfriend.”

Kagami smiled back. “Thanks Adrien.”

After they left the hospital, Vlad looked at his cohorts. “You go on ahead. I’ve got something to do.”

“You sure?” Travis said.

“Yeah” Vlad answered. “If I don’t catch back up to you today, I’ll definitely be there to see you off tomorrow.”

“Well, if you’re so determined, then I guess we’ll seeya” Cassandra said. “And good luck.”

“Yeah,” Kagami added. She nodded. Vlad nodded back and left.

While Vlad was walking, Beyyo popped out. “Um, just out of curiosity, what are you doing?”

Vlad sighed. “Mr. Agreste, Lila, Kagami… heck, practically everyone. They’re all starting to move forward. And I need to do the same.”

At the Liberty, there was a knock. Juleka answered. “Vlad?”

“Hey” Vlad said with little emotion. “Can I speak with Luka?”

“Oh. Sure” Juleka said. She left to get Luka.

Luka arrived. “Vlad?”

Vlad tensed up. “Listen.” He stood silent. Luka waited patiently. “GAH!” Vlad vented. Luka flinched. “Sorry” Vlad said, calming down. Luka readjusted himself. “I just have to say it. I..sort of have a thing for you…”

“I’ve noticed,” Luka said nonchalantly.

Vlad’s face grew a little red, but he pressed on. “But I can’t keep holding out for a light that isn’t going to come. So, I need to know now: Is it possible that the two of us could go out? Or are you straight?”

Luka chuckled. Vlad was stunned. “I’m sorry. But that whole speech just now was incredibly adorable.”

Vlad’s face grew redder. “You-You’re not answering the question.”

“Isn’t he?” Beyyo asked.

“Let’sssss wait and sssssee” Sass responded.

Luka grabbed Vlad’s hand. “I’d say it’s more than possible.” He moved in and gave Vlad a kiss on the cheek.

Vlad’s face was entirely red. “Wh-Where did this come from?”

Luka rubbed the back of his head. “Well, I’ve been thinking a lot. About me, and what I want out of someone. I mean, I was a bit down when Marinette started going out with Adrien, but you can’t hang on to one person like that forever. Otherwise, you’re just a one-hit wonder, you know.”

Vlad was taken aback by Luka’s explanation. “I...was sort of thinking the same thing...I needed an answer, otherwise I couldn’t move on…”

“And it’s things like that that made me realize, you’re someone I’d want to go out with” Luka said. “Plus, your impassioned speech was, again, adorable.” Vlad turned his head, a little embarrassed. Luka smirked. “C’mon.” He grabbed Vlad’s head, turned it towards him, and gave him a kiss, this time on the lips. Vlad was surprised, but followed through almost instantly. A few minutes later, all of Vlad and Luka’s friends got a picture of the two of them announcing their new relationship.

The day after, Kagami, Vlad, and Luka were there to see Travis and Cassandra off. “Seeya!” Vlad said.

“Of course!” Travis exclaimed. “And congratulations yourself!” Vlad blushed, but Luka took his hand, and he calmed down. The two started to wave.

“Don’t have too much fun with us!” Cassandra said. The two started getting on the train.

Kagami called out. “Hey!” Travis looked at her. “Promise you’ll call when you get back.”

“Heh” Travis laughed. “What do you take me for?” They both smiled at each other. Travis and Cassandra got on the train, and it started going.

Meanwhile, Alya and Nino were visiting Lila. Of course, they also forgave Lila after Lila apologized. They were having a good time. But then Lila’s face went from happy to somber. “What’s wrong?” Nino asked.

Lila looked at the two of them. “Do you know if Marinette’s coming?”

“Marinette?” Alya wandered.

“Yeah” Lila said. “She’s the one I want to apologize to the most.”

“Oh, um, well…” Nino sputtered.

Lila sighed. “She’s not coming, is she?”

“No no, she’ll come,” Alya replied. “It’s just…”

“It’s fine,” Lila said. “I know a lie when I hear it. I can’t say I’m surprised. Marinette is the one I was the worst to. I can’t imagine she’ll forgive me.” Alya and Nino were awestruck. Lila turned back to them and smiled again. “But thank you two for coming. Honestly.” Alya and Nino nervously laughed.

A little later, Alya and Nino entered Marinette’s room. “Hey guys,” Marinette said.

“Um…” Nino pondered. “What are we telling people who AREN’T in the know?”

Marinette was confused. “Ugh” Alya groaned. “Lila wants to know if you’ll come and visit.”

“Lila?” Marinette wondered.

“Yeah, she’s upstairs,” Nino said. “Room 303.”

“And she’s resigning herself to thinking you won’t forgive her” Alya added. “Um, you will forgive her, right?”

“Huh? Oh, of course” Marinette said.

Alya said. “Good. Because I know you girl, and you got SUPER worked up about her.”

“Yeah…” Marinette said, embarrassed. “When I think of something, I’ll let you know.”

“Great!” Nino said. The three of them had a little visit, but Alya and Nino had to leave. Adrien hung around a little bit, but also left eventually.

That night, Marinette’s mind drifted towards Lila. From what everyone who visited her told her, she really was ready to turn over a new leaf. When she was through apologizing, she was pleasant and fun to be around.

She thought about what Alya told her. Lila really believed that she wouldn’t forgive her. Of course, Marinette had every right not to and then some, but darn it, that just wasn’t who she was. If she can forgive Hawk Moth on some level, she can forgive Lila.

Marinette looked around. Mrs. Agreste had already fallen asleep after another exhausting day of physical therapy. She decided to follow her lead and give it a go. She moved herself to hang her legs off of her bed. “Now or never.”

She gently flung herself downwards. She landed on her feet. She had only done so to use the in-room bathroom, and even that was a bit strenuous, since previously she had been unconscious for a week. She started moving to the door.

By the time she reached it, she was already breathing heavily. She proceeded to open the door. She had been in plenty of situations where she needed to move something heavy when she was Ladybug, and it felt like that. Still, she opened the door and continued to walk.

She had to lean on the wall for support. She was feeling the strain of every step. Yet she was determined all the same.

She made it to the elevator. She got in, pressed the buttons to head up, and leaned back against the wall. The elevator granted her a small reprieve. “You can do this.” The elevator opened. She lifted herself back up and headed out.

She didn’t have to go very far to find room 303, but it felt like a struggle all the way. She arrived at the door. She placed her hands on the handle, and began opening it, calling upon the same strength she used to open her own door.

When she slid the door open, there was a loud sound, which woke up both patrons of the room. Nathalie turned the light on. As soon as she saw a fatigued Marinette wandering into the room, she immediately pressed the “Call Nurse” button. Lila just looked at her in shock and said, “Marinette?”

Marinette looked up at Lila. “Lila…” That was all she could muster before passing out.

Marinette woke up back in her own bed. She was greeted by a doctor. “You gave us quite a scare, Miss Dupain-Cheng,” the doctor said.

Marinette looked down. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright” the doctor noted. “Frankly, I admire your drive, but we should work on baby steps.”

Marinette looked up and smiled. “You’re right.”

“I’m sure with your adventure last night, you’ll do great, '' Emilie said from her bed.

Marinette looked over at her. “Thank you Mrs. Agreste.”

The door opened up.It was Lila. She rushed over to Marinette’s bed. “Marinette! I’m so sorry.”

“Lila? What are you doing here? Marinette asked.

“Well, um, you did come to my room last night,” Lila said.

“Right…” Marinette replied. “I came because Nino and Alya told me that you were asking why I hadn’t visited yet.”

“Oh. That makes sense” Lila realized. “Well, don’t worry, Mr. Agreste explained everything.”

Marinette was confused. “He did?”

“He was here this morning,” Emilie jumped in. “After he heard about what happened, he came to make sure you were OK. When the doctors told him you were stable, he was relieved. He would have stayed, but he said he was busy with the upcoming case.”

“I see…” Marinette said.

“Marinette,” Lila began, “had I known he’d attacked you like that, I would’ve understood.”

Marinette was confused. Before she could say anything, Emilie said “Remember? You were offered the butterfly miraculous to continue Hawk Moth’s mission. And when you said no, he attacked you. Thankfully, Cat Noir, Judgement Wolf, and Ladybug figured him out just then and saved you.” Emilie winked.

“Oh” Marinette said. “Yeah.” She looked downward. “Lila. I don’t want you to think I wouldn’t forgive you. I mean, from what everyone has told me about their visits with you, you sound so sincere about wanting to make it up to everyone. I can’t be mad at that.”

“But you were the person I was the worst to,” Lila admitted.

“I know,” Marinette said. “And trust me, there were days where there was nothing more that I wanted than your complete humiliation.” Lila was stunned with this honesty, but understood it. “But I can’t live in that animosity. I just can’t. Ladybug is working so hard to fight for peace, and I want to be able to live up to that.”

Lila’s face was filled with mixed emotions. “I’ve been living in that animosity for so long. And I thought I enjoyed it, but it all came crashing down on me, and I realized I didn’t want that anymore. But I thought it was too late, so I kept running because that was all I was good at.”

Lila smiled. “But when Ladybug said she wanted to save me, I was overjoyed. She could have left me for dead, and I would have understood it. But she wanted to save me. So now I want to live up to Ladybug’s light too.”

Marinette smiled and reached out her hand. “Friends?”

Lila was about to shake her hand, but instead dove in for a hug. Lila started crying tears of joy. “Friends.” Marinette was startled by this hug, but returned it once the suddenness wore off.

#miraculous ladybug #miraculous ladybug fanfic #Marinette #adrien #alix #lila #Tikki #emilie #vlad #Beyyo #kagami #longg #sass #Luka #juleka #mylene #ivan #alya #nino

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pisceserena · 4 years

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The End (Part 2)

Part 1 here

A/N: So this is posted a bit late-r than I planned. But here is part 1 anyway! This is quite long, and I hope you take the time to read it. Thank you guys so much for reading my fics!

wordcount: 1,779

AndromacheTheScythianxReader

No one knows how long it’s been since Andy and (Name) have actually interacted. The two have resulted to going back to how they were before. Cold, and with walls greater than the Great Wall of China. The two only speaking when needed, they are still a team after all.

Behind the strong facade (Name) puts up, is a person who is broken inside. Only letting herself go in the comfort of her bedroom or her bathroom. After countless nights of tears, and the discomfort of not being able breathe well due to their nose getting clogged, they’ve decided getting over someone won’t be possible if they’ll always see Andy. Not to mention the fact that being with her in missions results to her losing focus. No matter what happened between them, they wanted her alive...for as long as possible, even if it won’t be with them. It was the day after that (Name) has decided they was done breaking down, Quyhn will live a long life, and Andy would be there till her last breath. They should move on. And distance is needed if they wanted it fast. It was the day after that, they decided to go on missions on their own. They could take care of themself. They didn’t need anyone.

“I want work alone Copley.” Not all for it at the start, but after a few persuading and the “Not like there’s much that can be done with me, I can’t die” line from (Name), he eventually gave in. When the team asked about it, all Copley saud was that it was they wanted and that his hands were tied. In his defense, (Name) could be scarily persuasive if they wanted to be.

“Copley wants to see you in his office.” The sound of the throwing knife hitting the bullseye echoes in the room. “Are you working on missions alone?” Joe inquires, concern etched on his face. Taking a deep breath, (Name) throws the knife, not bothering to look at the target. “ I figured it would be best to be as detached as possible.” Not knowing what to say, Joe lets them walk past him, seeing the knife they nonchalantly threw at the target embedded on the bulls-eye. They were strong, but so broken inside, everyone sees that, Andy just chooses to turn a blind eye. She was with Quyhn, and wasn’t it (Name) that broke up with her? She hasn’t realized herself that she was in denial.

Quyhn at first was clueless, she didn’t know what was going on, why there was tension and why the two acted the way they did. It took a few days, but she was finally able to pick up on what was going on. She didn’t mean to intervene. She didn’t want to be the cause the two didn’t end up together. When she confronted Andy, she’d always brush it off. Saying that they were broken up, and it was just a short thing.

“This is your mission-” Copley starts, handing her a file and and ipad with a satellite map pinned. “that warehouse, in the outskirts of London, just a few miles from here, is where 3 daughters of a very important person is being kept hostage.” Their brows furrowed. What is it with men always targeting women? They looked through the file. Seems pretty easy. “You just need to take out the men, and get the girls to the car that will wait for them outside the facility gates.” They nod in understanding. “How many men?” Copley stares at them handing over the keys that they’ll use to drive themself to the location. He decided that in order to keep the warrior’s profile lowkey and what they were were doing a secret, (Name) couldn’t be the one to take the 3 girls back to their homes, hence the separate car with a clueless driver.

He zooms in on the satellite map and points out the possible entries and exits. “There are 2 guards at a bird’s eye view that you need to take out before the 2 infront of the facility’s main gate. Otherwise, the rest will be alarmed and you’ll be out numbered-”

“Because being outnumbered can really do me some damage” They roll their eyes before sarcastically gasping “what if I get killed?” They joke chuckling to themself. Unimpressed, Copley sits down and rests his hand together on his desk. “There’s 3 in the 2 entrance and exit points of the warehouse. Once you get in, there will be 6 surrounding the girls.” He finishes “Should be easy enough” They say standing up, Copley following suite. “Get what you need and load up. Not that you’ll think of it as much but, Goodluck, and come back safe”

Grabbing a DLQ33, (Name) tests to see if the the scope was clear and in good condition. “Need some help with that?” Nicolo’s voice loud that she could hear, but soft that it does not echo in the room. “I got it” They reply continue to move around putting the weapons she needed in bags, strapping herself with her throwing knives and such. It was silent for awhile, Nicolo watched as the broken warrior attached an extended mag to their AK117 “You don’t have to do this alone caro” his pet name made them pause. Oh how they missed the team. But as quickly as it came, it was pushed back just as fast. “I can do this Nicky” They reply adding the stock for penetration and the red dot sight for better aim. Grabbing more bullets, and stuffing it in the bag, they stop to turn to Nicky. “I just need to let all of these feelings go Nick.This is the only effective way of me releasing all the bad thoughts and negative emotions. Let me cope...please” Their voice getting soft, pleading towards the end. Silence once again embraces them. Their eye contact breaking when (Name) zips up the bag and hauls it over their shoulder. They take one last look at Nicky before proceeding to head upstairs towards the garage.

“(Name)? You dropped this” Nile says handing to them the car keys. “Thanks” they reply walking faster and towards the car. “I can help you (Name) atleast take me with you” smiling and ruffling Nile’s hair, “I’ll see you when I get back champ” they smile reassuringly and unlock the car.

“Need some help?” Booker asks, being the one to load up the car. “You’re going against 17 men (Name)” His words not bothering them as they open the driver’s side and start the engine. Rolling down the window, (Name) smiles at Booker. “Don’t worry, I can handle it.” That was the last thing Booker heard before they drove out of the garage.

The phone connected to the car starts to ring. Not bothering to look at the caller, they still gotta drive safe, they press the answer button. “New updates?”

“Be careful. I want you alive more than you think” Andromache says before the call ends, not giving (Name) any chance to speak. This wasn’t the first mission they went on alone. What was up? Shaking it off, they focused instead on what lies ahead. The sun has just set, and night was falling upon them. Perfect.

Eyes sharp, their AK117 in hand, they enter the warehouse. How incompetent is the police, this door is waaay too easy to breakdown. Taking a deep breath, they knock the door down with a strong, hard kick. Bullets were flying, their knife, hitting another man’s chest. The screams of the girls adding to the noise pollution. Everything was going well until (Name) decided that the girls needed cover, pushing a table over they lead them to hide behind it. What they didn’t notice, was a man getting up and grabbing them from behind, locking their arms. Before they got to break free, another man got a hold of their knife, and without hesitating, plunges it into her side. Crying out in pain, and finally being able to break free, they tackle the man and stab him in the head. His blood, splashing on their face. Another pain ran through their body, and they realized that they’ve been shot. Having enough, they throw the knife, hitting the right spots, killing them instantly.

Silence followed. It was creepy, and at the same time comforting. Taking a step towards the girls, pain shot through their side. The stab wound didn’t stop bleeding. Their brows furrowed. Inspecting the gunshot wound, they see that it’s not clotting. Imposible. Brushing it off, maybe they weren’t healing as fast. Quickly gathering the girls and taking them to the car infront, they leave safely. As promised.

Getting into their own car as well, the pain becomes unbearable. This is impossible. “I’ve got to get back to Copley” they mutter thinking quickly. Driving was difficult, and their vision was starting to blur. The pin was agonizing. The car seats were covered in red, as well as every possible thing that could be used to cover their wounds. Perhaps they didn’t realize it, but there were cuts littered all over, their body, and the gun shot wound giving her a difficult time breathing. Damn those guards really got me. Was their last thought. Before they passed out, Andy’s blurred figure came into view. “Hey, I made it”

As soon as they all heard their car stop outside, they jumped to their feet to greet them. The team speechless at the sight before them. Andy was the first to reach them, just as they were about to pass out. “They’re not healing” Booker states. “They’ve lost too much blood.” Nile adds seeing the fatal wounds on their body.

Copley didn’t know how to tell the team. He himself was devastated. So, when he looked up from the mini recovery room in the safehouse, they all knew. Some went into shock, like Quyhn and Nile. This was Nile’s first tie losing someone who’s become like family to her since she joined...she didn’t know how to take it. She was devastated and angry and sad. She should have gone with them.

Nicky had his head in his hands, in denial about the news, Joe trying to reach him, trying to be strong for his significant other, but deep inside, he was crushed. They’ve lost a best friend.

Booker lost a drinking buddy, a laughing partner. They’re memories played in his head, and as the news sunk in, he collapsed into a nearby chair.

Tears fell from Andy’s eyes, her body frozen “I never got to tell them how much they actually mean to me...how much I wanted them back.”

#the old guard #the old guard 2020 #netflix #andy #quyhn #nicky and joe #booker #nile freeman #andromache the scythian #sebastian le livre #nicolo di genova #yusuf al kaysani #imagines #theoldguardimagines #reader #writer #pisceserenawrites

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chronicas · 3 years

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Wanted to infodump about the symbolism of Array of Cicadas more so I’m making a separate post.

Symbolism plays a big part of my art, even if a lot of my designs are more simplistic. However, Nora is a very symbolic character, her role in the story is one that represents great change, transmutation. The main theme of Array of Cicadas is change and transformation. My main influence stems from being trans and having to deal with the consequences of change.

Nothing stays the same forever, sometimes you become someone new, sometimes the people you love exit your life. Ultimately, that’s what AoC is about The cicada itself, is a symbol of transformation and change.

Akira is a character who is going through a lot of hardships at the start of the story. She’s dealing with grief and she’s struggling with connecting to her family and people around her. In this sense, Akira is me, she’s my struggles and my pain, but she’s also my hope.

Devan is the change in Akira’s life, he’s the positive change. He represents all my friends and also a piece of myself I lost a long time ago. He’s also one of the younger characters in AoC, which is to say, he’s the future. Akira might be the protagonist, but really the thing that helps her the most, is helping Devan grow into the real hero.

Colors play a big part in AoC also, there’s two colors in particular that I use in almost all the designs. Red is the most common color in all of my art, red and black are the colors of the Izebellian Emperor, they’re also the colors of the Machine God. Red is the primary color in Akira’s design. It represents a lot of things for me, but the primary meaning in AoC is pain. Pain that someone is feeling, pain that is inflicted on others. Of course, it also sticks with it’s usual theme of anger.

Akira’s anger is more subtle, it’s in her fighting and in her mannerisms. It’s an anger that’s hard to direct at anyone because it stems from her struggles and grief. Her pain is similar, it’s mostly pain that can’t go away, it’s prominent in her design because it’s something she has to live with. Grief especially isn’t something that goes away. Her story is more focused on how to live with that pain more than it is to get rid of it.

Leo’s red is more subtle in his design. He has lots of other colors and is less monochromatic than most of the main cast. Leo’s had it pretty good, his family always lived comfortably and he didn’t have too many hardships. His anger and his pain are both for his friends. Leo is very empathetic, he takes on a lot of the pain that Caz and Devan aren’t able to deal with. Leo is an adult, while Caz and Devan are both kids, he feels the responsibility to take care of them.

Izebel’s red is simple, she was created from anger, like, almost literally. She’s been forced to shoulder the burden of Circe’s rage since she was born. Her own pain is buried deep under mounds of denial, she doesn’t want to face things that are hurting her so she lashes out at others instead. Izebel doesn’t get a confrontation until much later on, so her story is focused more on her antagonist role than anything.

Vonstantine only has a little bit of red in her design, most of the colors in her palette are cool colors, contrasted only by one article of clothing. Which is, literally, not a part of her. She doesn’t have any reason to be as angry as she is, her actions aren’t justified. Vonstantine isn’t quote unquote “irredeemable”, she’s just spoiled. She’s used to getting things her way and she’s mad that things aren’t working out for her. She represents pretty much everything all the other antagonists aren’t. She wants power and pretty much doesn’t care about anything else. She was raised with legends about her ancestors and created a false image of Karma in her mind that she aspired to be like. She’s honestly one of the most two dimensional characters I’ve ever made. Which is on purpose of course, although a big theme of AoC is change and redemption, I also wanted to acknowledge that some people don’t change and stick to one mindset their whole lives.

Karma’s red is [REDACTED]... a uh, major plot point. I can’t really go into detail about it.

Teal is the other most prominent color. The main color palette of AoC is plum, teal, yellow, and lavender. (Like just look at my theme over on @noxsylvania if you wanna see the EXACT colors I always use) Each of them have their own meaning. They’re associated with four things that will come up a lot in the lore of AoC. Teal is The Cicada, Lavender is The Sky, Plum is The Chasm, and Yellow is The Eyes.

Teal, the color of The Cicada, has the same meaning as the cicada itself, change and transformation. It also represents growth.

Devan is like Akira design wise, pretty monochromatic. His teal is of course representative of his role as a force of change in Akira’s life, but also represents his growth and the change he goes through throughout the story.

Vonstantine’s teal actually represents... negative change. She’s going to get worse ON PURPOSE. For her, it’s more of a desire for change, but because of the kind of person she is, it’s unlikely she’d actually accept the change that she needs to make.

Caz is like Leo in that she’s much more colorful. The teal in her design is more of an accent than a prominent color in her design. For Caz, this color represents her growth and recovery from her grief.

Yellow represents power. It mostly comes in the form of gold. It accents a good amount of characters designs. Like Akira and Vonstantine. Only a few characters have it as a prominent part of their design.

Leo has a lot of yellow in his design that’s more representative of his... i don’t know a better way to phrase it other than “political” or social power. Leo as a member of the Lenoir family, holds a lot of high status. However, it’s not resemble as gold on his design because Leo is VERY humble, it’s more of just something that is a part of his life and he’s more casual about it.

Azar’s design is completely yellow and other warm colors. He’s basically a physical manifestation of power and cool magic shit. He’s the spirit of a warrior that lived like 300 years ago and lives inside a super magical ass sword. Him representing power should be self explanatory.

Lavender represents peace and Plum represents death. There’s not any characters with lavender in their design that show up before Cryptadia, so I’ll skip over it. Plum is an undertone in Akira’s design as well as Karma’s (temporarily).

For Akira, it directly and 100% represents Takara’s death. For Karma, it’s representative of fucking... all the regicide she’s committed. I mean, she’s called the Regicidal Regent. It’s kinda her thing. However, as I mentioned, for Karma it’s temporary, the cloak she wears throughout the story is ditched the second you face off against her during her boss fight. This represents a few things.

Every single Gjalleon wears a hood or something else that obscures their face. This doesn’t always have a deep meaning and is just a fun thing about their character design. Devan’s hood has the most symbolic significance. Devan doesn’t like being a Gjalleon and tends to hide this fact from everyone, the Gjalleon’s descend from the Dragon God, Gjalleon as well as Karma, who was SUPER infamous because she [REDACTED]. As a result of [REDACTED], the Gjalleon’s became pretty hated by most people. Vonstantine used this to make people respect her through fear. Devan could care less about the Gjalleon family and hasn’t even MET anyone else in the Gjalleon family besides his dad. So he wears a hood to hide his obviously Gjalleon features and only goes by his mother’s surname. His hoodie is ALSO his comfort jacket!!! VERY IMPORTANT DETAIL!! The hood doesn’t symbolize much for Vonstantine other than it being the soul source of red in her design, when she takes it off to fight Devan, it’s her removing her visage, that her anger everything else was just a lie to get what she wanted. For Karma, it’s the soul source of plum in her design, it basically represents malice. Removing it symbolizes that she has no malicious intent towards the gang, mainly because she sees them all as children.

Most other colors I use follow pretty normal symbolism and not every character with these colors has it in their design for a specific reason. For Morah, red just looks good on her.

Anyways if anyone wants, I will go into the symbolism of the Cryptadia cast also.

#IM SORRY THIS GOT SO LONG IT WASNT SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THIS!!!#long post #infodump #shut up kellington #array of cicadas

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jonthethinker · 4 years

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I’ve been thinking about what I would find to be the perfect ending for Critical Role Campaign 2, and I realize how far my ideal ending may be from where we will probably end up, and why that is.

This isn’t to denigrate our fine storytellers, but there’s some strong ideological differences between what I would find most beautiful and interesting and where they are likely to end up.

To the cast, I sense it seems this is a story of recovery and discovery of identity. Seven broken people find each other, perhaps by chance or, as Matt’s opening lines of the campaign suggest, Destiny. Regardless, they come together, and in that coming together, they help each other heal. This takes time, and comes with many conflicts and false starts and set backs, but slowly, they do indeed begin the process of healing.

As they heal, these lost souls begin to explore their identities safely in each others’ company. Each member of the Mighty Nein gets a chance to feel out who it is they are and want to be, all the while knowing that if they stumble and trip along the way, they have their dear friends to catch them. Eventually, they will have a firmer grasp on who it is they really are, deep down, and with that, be able to tackle the rest of what life has to throw at them head on. So far, if I am right and this is indeed what the cast believes, I completely agree with them. But things do begin to diverge on where they seem to want to take it, and where I wish it would be.

This divergence begins in the fallout of this healing and recovery. What happens next? Place and Purpose, of course. Once they know who they are, they are ready to find their homes; ready to find where they really belong. For now, that place is the Mighty Nein, but for some reason, this type of story never seems to be satisfied with that answer. There must be a new chapter, one in which the Mighty Nein, while remaining loyal and committed to one another as friends, each go their own way. They will have done what they set out to do with the group, and now they must build something new on their own.

You see this clearly in the two characters most aware of what kind of story they stumbled into, unsurprisingly played into by the two players least bothered by the fourth wall; Sam Riegel’s Nott The Brave/Veth Brenatto and Marisha Ray’s Beauregard Lionett. Both of these characters have been dreading the eventual closing of this chapter on healing and recovery, because of how comfortable they’ve become in their place within it, and how unprepared they feel for what surely must follow.

Nott was afraid of getting her body back because it would mean she may have to leave behind the first thing she’s ever felt good at, and grappled with how that must make her a terrible wife and mother to have those sorts of feelings. Once she does regain her body, Veth still grapples with these very feelings, even when she could have everything she thought she was fighting for all along, because the adventures of the Mighty Nein have so filled her with excitement and purpose and meaning like she’s never had before. She’s still waiting for that other shoe to drop, and the day her travels must end, because that’s the only way she feels she can satisfy the contradictions.

Beauregard was in her mind a loner, and only with the Mighty Nein has she ever started to question that self-diagnosis. In the Nein, for the very first time, she’s found a place for herself, and a group of people who can actually dull all her sharp edges. She has clear meaning and purpose in working with the Mighty Nein to overcome their personal obstacles, and maybe in doing so, leaving the world a little better than she found it. Before the Nein, those sorts of things weren’t even possibilities. She even felt she was assured a young death and thus no future to begin with. But when she realizes she could have a future, she wants it to be with the Nein... But as her ability to empathize begins to bloom, she realizes this may not be what everyone else has in mind. That some day, the rest of the Nein hope to put the Adventuring life behind them, and in that moment, Beau will have a future to decide for herself and herself alone, and that is terrifying. Because the main thing the Nein has taught Beau is how desperately she doesn’t want to be alone anymore.

As I said, I agree that this is a story about recovery and identity, but it is also much more that. For me, as just a humble member of the audience, the story of the Mighty Nein, above all, is a story about the consequences and possible solutions to isolation, loneliness, powerlessness, and above all, alienation. All seven of our great heroes have been forced through their particular backstories and their mutual adventures to battle with these very feelings over and over, and to me at least the solution to these problems is, well, the community, solidarity, and comfort of each other.

For me, it’s not so obvious that the Mighty Nein has to, well, end.

Sometimes it feels like the cast agrees with me, but usually only in their moments of greatest spontaneity, dealing with the struggles and heartbreaks right in front of them as they happen. I think of Fjord casting his falchion into the lava only to be pulled in closer by his friends. I think of Beau facing her parents, and then later with the fallout of her potential bargain with the Hag. I think of Jester preparing to confront her father, and the subsequent results of his apparent rejection. I think of Caduceus saving his family and his home, and deciding to stay with the Nein anyway. I think of Caleb confronted by Trent in Castle Ungebroch as a shield of his friends form around him. I think of all the Nein reassuring Veth they would accept and love her no matter if she was staying with them or not, but how much they’d miss her if she went. I think of how easily they accepted Yasha into the fold whenever she came back from her wanderings, and how hard they fought to get her back when she was taken from them.

The reason I come to the conclusion that the cast see’s the Nein as eventually having to end is the end for Vox Machina. You had seven people who helped each other heal and grow in ways they never thought they were destined for, experiencing a sense of belonging and purpose the world had never afforded them before the merry band formed. But as a would-be-God was locked away and a dear friend, lover, and brother faded from their grasps, they all drifted in their own directions. They all had a place to fill in the grand scheme of things, and it was time for them to grow up.

And its this notion of growing up that grates me. That these moments of camaraderie and companionship must be as ephemeral as our adolescence. The adventuring days and the bonds we form within them are only meant for our youth, and the meaning and purpose and place we find inside of them is only meant to help us through the confusing days of young adulthood, before we begin our real days as adults, which may only be tackled alone or with a lover. I simply don’t see it this way.

Adulthood should not be this singularly alienating experience that it has become. For most of the existence of humanity, it has not been. We are not meant for self-sufficiency and independence to the degree our society insists upon. Societies would not have formed in the first place without faith that a person can depend on others to provide for them. If the blacksmith also had to sow and patch their own clothes, she would never have time to blacksmith, just as a tailor can’t focus on sowing when she has to build and maintain her own tools. Poverty and deprivation can lead us to have to be more independent than we ought to, but in a world with equitably managed resources, we can afford to have faith the farmer will provide our food, the treatment plant will make our water safe to drink, and the carpenter will keep the rain off our head.

Think of how miserable most adults are today, and then think about how alone and alienated they all are. They are either spending each day working themselves numb only to go home and distract themselves with various entertainments, or if they have “community,” it’s so narrowly defined and judgmental that the gains made from your place within it are completely offset by how much you must cut yourself into shape to fit in. The greatest moments of our lives are often within our youth, because while you’re young you get to grow and stretch and stumble in the company of other people doing the same, and there is no expectation in doing anything else. But we’ve decided on some arbitrary point in which this time of personal exploration and safe company must end. If you’re old and want to expand your horizons, I hope you’re rich, because if not, it ain’t happening.

So for me, to imagine a world in which the members of the Mighty Nein might go a week, nonetheless months without seeing each other is beyond cruel. Think of the feeling of security and belonging the Nein have provided for one another, and tell me there has to be some arbitrary cut off date for their continued company. Think about Fjord breaking the habit of filing down his tusks because of the support of Jester and the Nein, a habit he performed into his early thirties, and tell me that one day, he needs to go out on his own because of reasons. They can take the lessons they’ve learned from the Nein, and still have the Nein, and not be unprepared to take whatever challenges life has to offer them, and in fact, may be better at tackling them all together with their family at their side every step of the way.

People prosper most when they decide they are better off working together than they are alone. To me, it’s abundantly clear this is true for the Mighty Nein. And I hope and pray when the time comes the cast will see it the same way. And I’ll accept and almost certainly enjoy whatever ending they end up having, in this strange form of improvised entertainment. None of this is to hate on the cast or me trying to tell them how to run their game or tell their story, I just have a lot of feelings on the matter. I am almost certainly overthinking something that may very well be a long way off from even happening. but after spending literally hundreds of hours with these fictional characters, I can’t help but want the best for them. And so far, the best for them is... well, each other. And no possible future they could have will be as good as one in which even in their golden years, they can look over and know, no matter what, they have the Mighty Nein.

#Critical Role #Long Post #The Mighty Nein #Beauregard Lionett #Nott The Brave #Veth Brenatto #Fjord #Jester Lavorre #Caleb Widogast #Yasha Nydoorin #Caduceus Clay #Good Lord have these thoughts been floating around my head for a while now #I just hope it makes sense

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let-fans-be-fans · 3 years

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STAR WARS Episode 8 - The Last Jedi

Only read after watching The Mandalorian s2 e8

Imagine a Lucasfilm Story Group that has actually worked as a group since 2015. Chuck Wendig’s draft of the first Aftermath novel has been roundly mocked and pulped before ever being committed to print. This isn’t about that, though. This is the germination of the story seed that is planted in The Mandalorian, so join me as we explore one of the possibilities that could have happened within the Star Wars universe: What If Grogu (the Child/Baby Yoda) first appeared in TLJ?

Ahch-To, the steps. Luke Skywalker regards his guest Rey with a quizzical expression, telling her simply but firmly “I can’t take that, but there is a place for it somewhere...” and the two move inside Luke’s little hut. Passing by a large levitating pod, Rey (and the audience) experiences mental flashes of meeting Finn. Smash-cut to Finn himself waking up in the recovery suit in the med-bay. Finn/Rose/whatever sub-plot (this post isn’t about fixing THAT car-crash, let it marinate) ensues, does what it does. This timeline’s Rian Johnson, however, is co-existing with LFL’s Story Group and especially Dave Filoni. They’ve cooked up one hell of an A-plot, and it continues thusly:

Rey never sees what is in the pod, and begins to wonder if Luke is messing with her or starting to go a little peculiar from isolation, on account of how he talks to it. In fact, something is starting to make her feel slightly more at ease. Maybe even a little guilty when Luke’s mood turns sombre and he says, “I know. About Han, and Ben...” We maybe even get a little nostalgia-boost by Luke opting to use the training remote and blast-shield helmet to start training Rey. It’s like poetry, it rhymes.

All through this time, Luke has not withdrawn himself from the Force out of shame. He has always kept himself open to it, learning from the spirits of his teachers. The night that Rey decides to leave and try to aid the Resistance (or to confront Kylo Ren for her own reasons) is the night that Luke receives a visitation from two very unexpected spirits.

That’s right, y’all. The first Force ghost appearance of a non-Force-sensitive character in the Saga. Padmé and Anakin show up to give Luke the news that some strange, dark figure has attempted to kill Leia by shooting at her private chamber on the Resistance flagship, only for Luke to not understand why they don’t know the attacker’s name. “You don’t need to hide it, to protect him. You know, as well as I do, that it was Ben!” Anakin shares a concerned look with the spirit of his wife, and the next thing he says would absolutely blow the cinema audience out of every single seat in the house. “Luke? Son, listen to me. Who is this Ben?”

That’s right. Anakin Skywalker, the former Sith Lord Darth Vader, has absolutely no idea that our sequel trilogy’s Vader-like antagonist (his own grandson) even exists. Even as the Force ghosts watching over Luke and Leia and their families for all this time, both Padmé and Anakin explain that from their perspective, something is bending the Force itself around Ben Solo, pulling him away from not only the Light side, but also from its Dark side. “The boy, Ben Solo, is living his entire life surrounded by a wound in the Force. This wound, it’s very subtly, slowly eating him!”

Luke is still in shock from hearing the ghosts of his parents telling him what is happening to Kylo Ren. Rey is trying to keep him out but the villain is urged by his twisted Master, the Supreme Leader of the First Order. Their telepathic communication is picked up on by Luke, who all at once sees what has truly become of his nephew. Ben Solo appears to his uncle, surrounded by tendrils that look like animated cracks in a pane of window glass. This is the wound in the Force, and its presence is felt most strongly by the eldest living Force-sensitive on the island of Ahch-To. A short cry splits the cracked and bleeding image of Kylo Ren and Rey wakes with a sudden start. Luke is frowning as he looks toward the floating cradle, then he makes his decision. We (and Rey) are about to meet the 100 % physical in-camera puppet. Cast and crew are made to sign an infinite supply of Non-Disclosure Agreements, Rian Johnson is talked into only letting Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley and the puppeteers onto the sets while everybody else is shooting their things.

The cradle pod swings back its protective lid slowly, and there he is making his debut before an audience that paid full movie theater (remember those?) ticket prices. Exuding full fucking “Gizmo in the box on the coffee table” energy, the Child glances sleepily between Rey and Luke. This is why the legendary Jedi Master left the civilized New Republic, he tells Rey. The massacre of his first generation of Jedi students, the betrayal by his nephew, all of it would have been for nothing if he couldn’t save one very important life. Rey is sworn to protect the Child, who is old enough now to speak his own name. “Grogu? Is that what he said?” “One of his protectors told me it’s his name, right before telling me how I looked just like my father. We had a pretty good laugh about that...”

Leia/Poe/Holdo subplot, and [THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH WILL ONLY INCITE SHOUTY BEARDO YOUTUBERS TO SCISSOR THE HEADS OFF ACTION FIGURES THEY BUY WITH THEIR OWN MONEY, THEREFORE IT IS CENSORED TO SHIELD THE AUTHOR FROM PROSECUTION]

Before the Holdo manoeuvre, the Hyperspace Karen or whatever you want to call it, Rey acts out the plan that she and Luke have concocted in secret so that Chewbacca in the Millennium Falcon can safely evacuate both Luke and Grogu. Rey hasn’t been told about the wound in the Force that swirls around Kylo Ren, but for some reason she can now see the same churning mass of tiny cracks in reality, and they spread out behind the Supreme Leader Snoke in much the same manner that Palpatine’s throne sat before the spiderweb-looking window of his tower on the Death Star. This is it, we think. Snoke is the wound in the Force drawing Ben away from his true self. Even as the lightsabre that Rey brought with her ignites and strikes Snoke dead, the audience is thinking along with Rey that the wound is going to close up.

IT GETS BIGGER. AND IT FUCKING CONSUMES SNOKE’S BISECTED CORPSE LIKE A SHADOW VERSION OF THE THING FROM THE 1982 MOVIE

So no. Rey sees it happen, but Kylo remains completely oblivious as he takes up leadership of the First Order. Something about the way he accuses Rey of the murder makes us think he really believes it too. As Rey narrowly escapes, haunted by the sight of the living animalistic wrongness that ate Supreme Leader Snoke, General Hux is rather confused. “Forgive me, ah, Supreme Leader. But you are the first Supreme Leader of the First Order. There was never a previous holder of that position, my Lord.” I know! Right!?

The Resistance’s last ships have limped along the supply line to the long-abandoned old Rebel holdout on the silicate world of Crait. The wreckage of Snoke’s flagship the Supremacy, hangs in space, permanently suspended in the wake of the Holdo manoeuvre. From the epicentre, a single pinprick of darkness begins to expand hungrily to devour the light from the hyperspace explosion. The great wound left in the Force crawls across the destroyed vessel, the thinnest tendril of its immense darker-than-space form now separated from Kylo Ren. Or, so it would seem, anyway... Reunited with Rey, Luke gives her an understanding nod when she informs him of how the lightsabre of his father was literally ripped in half by the destruction of Snoke’s flagship. Some of the elder members of the Resistance don’t have the slightest clue what Rey’s mysterious words mean. As far as they know, Kylo Ren has been the brutal enforcer of the First Order, only recently declaring himself the first Supreme Leader of the faction. Finn and Rose both speak up in defense of Rey, both of them surprised to hear that Leia also knew of Snoke’s death and the destruction of the flagship by her erstwhile friend, Amilyn Holdo.

Nobody can agree what happened, because a large subset of Resistance personnel share vague, half-formed memories of things as Luke, Rey or Leia tells them. No droids, or Chewbacca, share their recollections, and uneasy looks pass between members of the post-war generation and the Skywalker twins. It’s a quirk of the Force! Every sentient born after the death of Emperor Palpatine, the unfortunately waylaid Maz Kanata informs them via hologram, possesses a significantly higher potential for Force abilities than the generation who grew up on the fringes of the rise of the Empire, the clamp-down on Jedi and suspected Jedi.

It would seem that this Force baby boom did not extend to First Order space (being mostly disaffected ex-Imperials, their families would be more careful to weed out any aberrations in the bloodline and try not to be of interest to the Emperor) as only Kylo Ren, their rightful Supreme Leader and master of the Knights of Ren demonstrates any ability to touch the Force. That voice that only he can hear in the presence of Darth Vader’s ruined helmet tells him, its tone and pitch and cadence shifting (starting as the booming bass rumble of Vader’s synthesized voice before being joined by the harsh rasp of Snoke. The low, menacing tone of Maul and the cackling, wheezing Palpatine.) Power is the only thing worth holding onto. Let the past die, kill it if you have to. Cut out the weakness that keeps you bound to things like family...

“This is not going to go the way you think.”

Driven on by the maddening chorus of voices, Supreme Leader Kylo Ren has now managed to track his hated Resistance opposition to the deserted world of Crait. Ships entering the vicinity of the mysterious hyperspace blackout are slowly consumed, vanishing into the great wound and becoming officially non-existent. Alone against his crazed nephew, the Jedi Master Luke Skywalker steps out onto the crystalline plain before the bulkhead doors of the former Rebel base. He cannot be hit by the guns of the lumbering walkers that his errant nephew orders to fire on him. Kylo’s attempts to telekinetically barrage Luke with the salted earth of Crait simply do not phase the man. As he calmly reminds Kylo: “The Rebellion is reborn today. The war is just beginning. And I will not be the last Jedi.” Kylo Ren’s dangerously unstable lightsabre blade harmlessly passes over Luke as he ducks out of its reach. Finally, the angry young man seizes his moment and lashes out at Luke’s midsection. Nothing?

The Jedi Master nods his head slowly, the camera pulling back to reveal him sat in a meditative posture atop a flat-headed rock just off the shore of his home island on Ahch-To. Focusing his will through the Force, Luke appears not only in front of Kylo Ren, but also between Leia and Rey inside the base. The two of them in turn are surrounded by a loose semi-circle of the younger, more Force-sensitive recruits of the Resistance including Finn and Rose Tico. All of them, opening their conscious selves to the Force, are helping to shoulder the burden that Luke has taken on. Proudly, Luke slowly rises from his seat and sends a mocking salute to Kylo. “See ya ‘round, kid...”

The last supplies are loaded onto what few Resistance carriers and short-range fighters they have left, as well as the famous Millennium Falcon. Rey and Grogu both agree that their first priority is to properly re-establish contact with Luke Skywalker. Furious, Kylo retreats to his ship-board meditation chamber, pounding his gloved fists into the ashes surrounding the remnants of Vader’s helmet. Cursing the scavenger girl seems to spark some interest in the bizarre otherworldly whispers, the flash-image of Rey in the dark young man’s thoughts prompting the inner voice to remark, “We shall be re-united soon enough. Yes, you will see what new powers I possess in time, sister...”

SMASH TO END CREDITS!

#megapost #Star Wars #Baby Yoda #The Last Jedi #Luke Skywalker #basic story structure

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oikawasass · 4 years

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a little bit angsty fic where kirishima and his girlfriend get into a fight over the reader overworking herself during training to much? pleasee

anything 4 u

there isn’t a real “fight” between them here, I couldn’t really imagine him getting properly angry with his girlfriend over her being tired and overworked, but he does get worried. I’m sorry if it’s not what you wanted :(

take it down a notch.

‣ pairing : kirishima x reader.

‣ oneshot.

‣ synopsis : after noticing the way she’s been pushing and overworking herself, kirishima finally confronts his girlfriend on her recent behaviour.

‣ wordcount : 1.6k+

‣ warnings : mild angst, swearing.

Kirishima watched as she fought with yet another student out of class 1-A. Today’s opponent, Todoroki Shoto himself. Recently his girlfriend had been wanting to train with their classmates more and more, visibly pushing herself to her limits as she would go up against multiple people a day. Anyone who was willing to fight her, she would immediately accept. She’d been on those training grounds almost all week.

Adding this onto her now over three hour gym sessions, forgetting to eat with how focused on training she was, sleepless nights and sore joints, her boyfriend was obviously worried out of his mind.

Eijirou had tried to ask her to take it easier after the first two days of this going on, but y/n shut him down and insisted she was fine. He tried to push the topic, not really being all that satisfied with her answer, but a few kisses and a tight hug was enough to make him trust her.

But oh boy should he have pushed just that little bit more.

Now it had been a bit over a week since this all began and the girl had managed to make herself look completely beaten out of shape. It had gotten so bad even Bakugo had asked Kirishima if she was alright. He obviously didn’t directly ask that since his fat ass ego wouldn’t allow it, but Eijirou understood what he meant.

He couldn’t sit back anymore and watch her continue this unhealthy schedule. The only reason he’s even let it continue this long is that he knows how determined she is to become a great pro hero, and he did not want to be the one who held her back from working her hardest to do that. What kind of boyfriend would that make him if he tried to hold her back from working to achieve her goals, right?

But this was too much

“Y/n?”

Eijirou spoke up, walking over to the girl after she had finally finished her match against Todoroki.

“Hm?”

She’d only given a slight hum in response, occupied with crouching down to throw her things into her backpack. Kirishima was used to the short answers and small bit of acknowledgment by now, she’d been much more distant recently after all.

“I really think we should talk for a sec.”

He nervously worked towards bringing up the topic, not wanting her to try and shake him off again. His hands were shoved in his pockets as he stared down at his girlfriend with a worried expression glued to his face.

Y/n slowly rose to her feet, legs wobbling in the process. Her head slowly rose to meet his eyes as she threw her bag over her right shoulder, letting out a small sigh. Her and Shoto’s match had definitely tired her out completely, her stamina not being able to hold out as long as usual due to her current overworked state.

Lightheaded was an understatement, she knew she was on the verge of passing out.

“What about, Eiji?”

This was the first time all day he was able to get a proper look at Y/n, and only one thing came to his mind when he saw her current state.

She looked fucking exhausted.

Her skin had visibly paled, probably from the lack of nourishment she’d been getting, the beautiful e/c eyes he loved to stare into for hours had a dull, grey look to them, and she definitely had lost a good 5 or so kilograms.

Dark, heavy bags surrounded her eyes, it was obvious she hasn’t been sleeping. Kirishima almost flinched when he saw her, he’d never wanted to see his incredible girlfriend in such a worn-out state.

“Babe, you’ve gotta stop pushing yourself so much.”

He reached a hand out to push a piece of h/c hair out of y/n’s eyes. “I get you wanna be an amazing pro, and you know that I’m gonna be with you every long step of the way to do that! but this is doing you more harm than good.”

A frown made its way onto his lips. Y/n was the most amazing student at UA in his eyes. He thought she was perfect and absolutely adored her, so why she was pushing herself this far, he couldn’t quite wrap his head around

Y/n gently moved his hand from her cheek and laced it with her own, squeezing it about as tight as she could. Smiling the best smile she could muster up, y/n shook her head.

“I’m doing fine, Eiji. There’s no reason for you to worry about m-”

“I have every reason to worry about you, y/n!” He finally broke, taking both her hands tightly into his own.

“You’re not taking care of yourself, I know you’re forgetting to eat, I can see that you’re not sleeping, you’re taking this way too far! I wanna support you no matter what, and you know that. But I can’t support you hurting yourself like this anymore.”

Kirishima stared into her dulled eyes during the whole tangent, but he had a feeling his message didn’t exactly go through since Y/n had completely spaced out.

He heavily exhaled. “Cmon y/n, you’ve gotta listen to m-”

The boy was cut short when she suddenly collided with his chest. Her body had finally given out on her, it couldn’t keep up.

… …

Y/n felt sunlight beam onto her face as her eyes slowly began to flutter open. She raised a hand to rub her temple as a pounding headache began to shoot through her skull. After finally being able to fully open her eyes, y/n realized she was currently laid upon a bed in recovery girl’s office.

The creaking of a door could be heard as she slowly managed to sit up, her hair gently falling in front of her face and covering just about down passed her eyes.

“Hey you’re awake” Eijirou smiled softly as a wave of relief washed over him. Seeing y/n sat up and looking around after being out cold for a solid three hours was like heaven to him right now.

Y/n nodded slowly, adjusting her position to lean back against the pillows behind her, body still being incredibly sore. “What happened? The last thing I remember is….” She trailed off, trying to think back to what she had been doing before she somehow ended up here, but Kirishima answered before she had gotten a chance to think.

“You went too hard against Todoroki again.. pushed your body too far and ended up collapsing.” He began. “Recovery Girl said she’s surprised you haven’t been in here every day this week with how you look.” He sat in a chair beside her bed and crossed his arms, leaning back into it.

Y/n shakily exhaled and rubbed her temples, not knowing what to say.

“I told you you needed to take it easy, n/n. You’re lucky that nothing worse happened to you besides just fainting. And even then you fainted from pure exhaustion, that’s bad babe.”

He reached out to take one of her hands away from her face and into his own. “Why were you pushin’ yourself this much anyway? There’s gotta be a reason.”

Silence fell over the room, Y/n needing to find the courage to speak her mind and explain her feelings. A small sniff could be heard from her a moment later, a few unstoppable tears beginning to fall down her cheeks. “I’m… I’m sorry Eiji…i know I should have listened but,” She paused to wipe her eyes, Kirishima took this chance to sit on the bed and tightly pull her into his embrace, rubbing slow circles on her back. Y/n gently returned the embrace and continued, her cheek rested comfortably against his chest.

“I saw how fast you, and Bakugo, Midoriya, Todoroki, even Kaminari and the girls were progressing, and…and becoming really amazing at using your quirks and…” she let out a heavy sigh, her grip around her boyfriend’s midsection tightening. “I felt like I was getting left behind? I started overthinking and-” a quiet sob escaped y/n’s mouth. “and I knew I needed to catch up with everyone! so I started doing everything I could do work harder, a-and suddenly things just spiraled out of control…

I got too distracted, I guess? too focused on doing what I needed to, all the thoughts went to my head and-”

Kirishima shushed her quietly to stop her rambling “I get it, you don’t have to explain anymore.” He pulled y/n away from his chest and gently cupped her face, placing a gentle kiss on the tip of her nose. “Listen up, you’re every star in my freakin’ galaxy and I think you’re one of the best students here, you got that?” Eijirou spoke softly, a light-hearted yet still serious tone evident in his voice.

“I know I can’t make you tell me everything all the time, but you know you can always trust me with anything.

Come and talk to me if this kinda thing happens again, so I can remind you just how amazing you are!” He gave his girlfriend a reassuring smile, squishing gently at her cheeks so he would get the same response.

And of course, he did. How could y/n not smile even a tiny bit at her boyfriend beaming and squishing her cheeks? It simply wasn’t possible.

Y/n leaned up and placed a soft, chaste kiss to her boyfriend’s lips, smiling up against them as he wiped any remaining tears from her cheeks. A light-hearted chuckle fell out of y/n’s lips once they parted from Kirishima’s.

“I love you, Eiji.”

“I love you more!”

#kirishima eijirou #mha x reader #mha kirishima #kirishima x reader #boku no hero fanfic #boku no hero academia #bnha x reader #bnha fanfiction

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g00d1uckch4rm · 4 years

Text

Primal

Chapter 14: Expecting More Than Sabotage

Summary/Info Rated M CHAPTER WARNINGS: Sado is a huge fucking creep and is the cause for most of the following; Torture. Threats of Physical and Psychological harm. Animal Sacrifice. Blood and Gore (mild). Non-Sexual Non-Consensual elements, Bonding and Blood drinking. [This is the darkest point of the whole story]

Previously...

Link experiences first hand what the true affects of what this strange Malice can do. Strung around like a puppet, he injured many of his knights and tried to kill Sidon.

It takes three days before Link awakes, drowning in guilt and anger as he remembers everything. Sidon is there for him.

A simple council meeting attempting to go over the incident proves to be more as Link is shown what his unknown enemy is capable of, that Link's actions have not gone unnoticed. Link realizes that he must pick his next actions very carefully and that he may be running out of time. He Informs Sidon of the situation going on at the camp and ties to the members of the castle.

After the ordered 'month of recovery', Link sets out and in the process of making sure no one follows him, he follows platoon forty-eight. But the unexpected happens when Link's fever is triggered early by Ingo.

-Only obvious key points will be summarized. There are likely moments of an Unreliable Narrator or Sneaky Foreshadowing.- ____________________________________________________

“Misko? Am I saying that right?” Ingo asked as he awkwardly tried to eat around his mask. A simple, yet hearty stew Link had made them after the long and heavy conversation. One Link had taken a huge risk with. He told them everything, how Link found out about his body, these hidden and rare types of people. The months of work it took to make two forms of prototype suppressants. Of the truth behind the camp and that one of the council members was behind it all, along with an unknown number of knights. That the night at the barracks; when Link lost control of himself, was a warning, a display of what they could do. Which also led into explaining the mass fear of those like himself and Ingo that has been going on for hundreds; if not thousands, of years. Of what he remembered, what the small village had done to Judo, to someone just like Link.

Yet right of this moment; with good food and the topic now on Link's family, the mood began to lift and become usual chatter, no longer tense or uncomfortable. Currently, they spoke about his feisty, crybaby, little sister, Misko.

“I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before.” Mused Ingo.

Shad was quick to pipe up as it dawned on him, snapping his fingers. “The stories of the Great Bandit Misko! That's probably why it sounds so familiar.”

“But all tales of 'im, are about a man. Not some wee girl.” Madas added, having heard the stories as well, famous and popular among young and adventurous souls.

“You never know,” Senza said between sips of her drink. “given the time of the crimes, it could have been a woman disguised as a man. Makes hiding from any pursuers easier if they don't know the truth.”

Link smiled behind his mask, his little sister a tale of legend? A master thief was not something he could picture her becoming, but she might have turned out different with the Calamity looming over Hyrule for a century. [I'd like to hear more about this bandit, whether or not they are possibly my sister. It will make the ride go much faster.]

“Right... we're goin' to see these other allies to help Ingo with his little problem.” Madas glanced to his youngest teammate.

Whom curled in on himself while glaring daggers at his team leader. Guilt still weighed heavy on his conscious, even if Link had reassured him many times that it wasn't his fault. “Come on, Madas, lay off. How do you think I feel about it?”

“Could be worse, ya could be in the Cap's shoes.” He retorted, but then quickly realized that could have been taken as an insult and turned Link’s way. “No offence, Cap, this doesn't change a thing for us. But you bein' able to... ya, know... It's got to be hella weird bein' a man an' all.”

Link quickly shrugged it off as he finished his meal. Become pregnant? It was complicated, but this was getting too personal and Link didn't wish to share anything he didn't feel was necessary. Then he opened his vial case to grab the only two remaining suppressants and held one out to Ingo.

“Ugh... Is this going to taste as bad as the last one?” Taking the offered orange liquid, it sucked, but he wasn't going to refuse.

Link shook his head and shot back the elixir. [This one is a little sweet and it sort of burns going down. It will suppress the fever for about six to eight hours, longer if we're lucky, but it takes time to kick in. While the purple is instant relief, it will begin to wear off soon. Granted it lasts longer than before, which use to be twenty minutes. Both recipes are still lacking.]

As Ingo drank the thick, sandstone liquid, Shad couldn’t help but express his concern. “Will it last long enough until we arrive, until you can get more medicine?”

[Let's hope, I know that even if mine wears off, I still have periods where I can think straight. But I don't know how he will fair.]

~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~

The snowfall had been heavy well after sunset and Link had forbidden any torches in the darkness. The only light among them came dimly from the Sheikah slate as Link followed their position on the map. None of the Hylians could see each other, but they still talked quietly among themselves. The horses saw better at night than they did anyway and Link's horse was very familiar with night rides. It was the best way to avoid being followed, especially since the allies were civilians.

When they arrived at the small home hidden in the mountain's forest, Link was the first to dismount. The light coming from the porch lantern and the windows gave enough visibility for Link to speak. [You can dismount, but wait here and let me do the talking.] All the knights then acknowledged with a nod.

After giving the door a soft knock, he was surprised at who came to greet him. Link hadn't seen her in two months, but she was looking much better. Her curly, brown hair had gotten a proper cut and she had put on some healthy weight. The young Hylian woman's eyes lit up and she jumped the unprepared man, a hug that sent them both into the snow.

[Sorry.] She signed; again, surprising Link as she sat up atop his legs. But when she saw the four knights standing at the light's edge, she screamed and scurried back inside, leaving the door wide open. Link could hear R asking her what happened and something about weapons.

As Link stood, dusting the snow off and readying himself for the confrontation that was expected of him bringing company. An all too familiar voice called out to him. “You've got three seconds, voe.” The Gerudo woman was glaring at him with an axe in one hand and a bundle of logs in the other.

[Allies and we weren't followed.] He explained just as the other two women popped out of the doorway, armed with a bow and sword.

At least R was happy to see him, her serious expression fading into a relieved smile and she lowered her blade slightly. “Oh, Sir Link, I didn’t know you were here.” Nervously she glanced to her wife and then to the four knights. “Are... they friends of yours?”

Link nodded, but M was not satisfied. “Quite the horrible habit you've got. You bring nothing but trouble to my home and now the Hylian Guard!”

The little Sheikah woman gave M an unamused look at first. Though after putting the blade back in its sheath, she wore a more understanding expression. “Dearest, Sir Link has proven himself to be trustworthy and only wants to help those in need. A little trouble here and there is something we can handle. I know it's hard for you, so at the very least trust in me.”

M glared at each of the knights before setting her eyes on Link for a long moment, then she huffed and reluctantly set the axe against the house.

“Now,” R turned her attention back to the group. “why don't you all come in out of the cold and I'll put on some tea. We'll do introductions then.”

[Thank you and I’m sorry for the suddenness of this all. Things happened and I ran out of elixirs-] Link didn’t get to finish as the Hylian woman rushed back inside once more.

“Don’t mind her, now get in here before I turn you all into frogs.” R teased with a cheerful smile as she too, returned inside.

Link was the first one through the door. Followed by M, she only paused long enough to slip out of her boots and to announce to the group adding up in the entrance. “Leave your gear and weapons here. Don’t make a mess.”

It took a bit of time for the four to disarm and shed their gambesons, as it was too hot for it inside. While Link had already taken off the upper layers of the heavy Snowquill tunic and left it with his boots, he was now joining the others in the kitchen.

M was adding more cups to the table, when she snapped her head up, frozen as she looked to Link with a mix of anger and concern. But Link pretended not to notice and ignored whatever sort of taunt she was trying.

The very nervous and worried Hylian suddenly came running up to Link with two vials of suppressants. Honestly, he hadn’t expected her to grab these. [Are you fluent in hands?] He asked slowly.

[A little.] She said, her expression falling as she bit her lip. She looked ashamed. [Learning.]

[Deaf?] He guessed and she shook her head before pointing to the bandage around her neck. Link then nodded in understanding, he remembers the wounds she had suffered and how the Malice affected him. He had only suffered for a few minutes at best, but her… it could have been hours, days, weeks. Her voice must not have been able to recover. [What’s your name? You can call me Link.]

[K A T T A N] She spelled out slowly and carefully as she started to smile a little in return. [Thank you, Link. For helping me.]

[You’re welcome and thank you for these.] Link said as he took the offered vials and drank one. Just to be safe, and handed the other to Ingo as he entered the kitchen. Kattan actually hissed at him before hiding behind Link.

“I get it, don't worry, I’ll be sure to give you lots of space. Both you and the Captain.” Ingo ducked away as he double checked that his mask was still secure. It wasn’t until he sat down at the far end of the table did he finally drink the suppressant.

M scowled down at Ingo as she sat on the table in front of him. “What are you drinking that shit for?”

“Um, so I don’t lose control again? Capt--... Link said that I’m like you so-”

The Gerudo woman then whipped her head around to Link. “You. Down the hall. Right now.”

R groaned, becoming agitated. “Dearest, please. No fighting, our bean is sleeping.” She reminded her as she finished setting the extra chairs around the table.

M stood up and brushed past the other platoon members. “I ain’t going to fight, but we need to talk alone before I start anything else.”

Link held back a sigh and followed after her down the hallway. They ended up at the back door before the Gerudo woman turned to face him.

In a swift motion, she quickly tore off his mask and tossed it aside. Link didn’t even get a moment to demand what her problem was before M grabbed his shirt, lifting him off his feet. Twice in one day, Link has someone scenting his neck.

Her scent overwhelmed any remaining trace of mint and for a second, he feared that he would be triggered into a fever once more. Forgetting that he had just taken another round of suppressants and that M was bonded. Yet, M's scent was strangely... comforting, soothing, but there was something about it that didn't sit right with him. This felt far different than before.

Frantic, Link shoves her away, but stumbles into the wall when he’s dropped. Link braces himself against the wood surface and low enough that she would have to lean to grasp hold of him again, but not enough that he would be at any sort of huge disadvantage. His nerves firing off and muscles tight, readying for a fight or to run.

M's gaze was tense, but not malicious. “I thought I had been mistaken. With you being as cautious as you are and your progress on a suppressant medicine. But there's no mistake.”

Link hesitated a long moment before he brought his hands up to speak. [I don’t know what you are talking about.]

“No need to deny it, this isn't something you can lie to someone like me about.” She looked away from him, back down the hall. And then to their feet, before she could meet his eye once more. Link had never seen her hesitate like this before, M preferred to snap first and sort things out after. Her familiar bitter expression almost seemed remorseful. “It’s that boy’s, isn’t it?”

Ingo? Was she talking about the accident? Could M have found his scent on Link, was that something a person like her was capable of? [He may have lost to the fever, but he didn’t do anything.] That was simple to clear up.

“Someone else suffered a fever with you?”

That was a weird way of putting it. Link shook his head, this was the first time something like this had happened. Ingo was the only one that triggered a premature fever in Link.

“Oh?” M honestly looked surprised. “I see, that's... that's relieving to hear.” She relaxed a bit, but appeared to be worrying over something. “So... that boy. Is he here just to confide in someone else just like him or... are you here for my wife's help?”

Tired of M's odd phrasing and the unsettling vibe building in this situation. Link felt on edge; cornered almost. Like a deep long forgotten reflex waiting for the opportunity to strike. Link inquired, [Why would I need her help? Just what do you think is going on to ask such strange questions?]

Looking him over, she was expecting a joke or sarcasm, but she didn't receive any such thing. And thankfully, M went straight to the point, even if she now looked uncomfortable. “You're pregnant.”

With an amused huff and a smirk, Link shook his head. Relaxing, he stood up straighter and stepped forward from the wall. [That's ridiculous.]

“No, it's not.” M did not take kindly to Link's reaction and thus, dropped any built-up concern for the young man. The edge returning to her voice and gestures. Prodding him in the shoulder with a finger, she continued. “You know what your body is capable of. I even double checked your neck in case it was just a scent lingering on your clothes. You're likely more than a few weeks along if I can smell it, you possibly missed a fever already.”

[I haven't,] Then Link paused and his expression fell, because he just realized that he had no way of knowing for sure. After all, he was more careful now to take his elixirs in a timely matter and added mint to his clothing accordingly. He hasn't experienced a fever since today, since... all those months ago. [But my fever was triggered early.]

“Look, Link,” Even if she was becoming frustrated, she made sure to keep her voice down. “I've already told you I don't really know much about your kin. Maybe I'm wrong. I'm just saying, your scent has changed drastically. You smell like my wife did when she was pregnant.”

The young man still denied any of this. He had to. It was absurd, unbelievable, impossible. Right? Sidon was too different; a Zora, a race that laid eggs. If Link was a Rito, maybe there could have been a possibility. But that clearly wasn't the case.

“I'm not saying this to be cruel, Link. If I wanted to make you feel like a fool, I would have made a scene back there. The only thing I ask of you, is that if you want to get rid of it, please ask someone else. Don't ask my wife.”

Get rid of it? He couldn't. Could he? Link thought about the possibility, about his duty, about his purpose. If there really was something growing in his belly, what should he do? What was right? What was more important?

Then the memory of that awkward, yet tender moment when they laid hands over one another, came back to him. Sidon's gentle and warm touch over Link's bandages, that bashful joy across his lips.

But...perhaps, some part of me hoped that there was a chance.

Link grabbed his stomach defensively at the thought. If there was...

He acted out of impulse. Unstrapping the Sheikah slate was easily done in one motion, a reflex built up over time. He selected the Zora's Domain and tapped the confirmation box. However, the tablet slipped out of his hand and clattered along the floor.

Link's hands didn't shake, his body didn't so much as tremble. There was no frustration, anger nor grief, there didn't feel like there was anything. Just stillness and silence.

In the faint candle light of the hall, the slate felt like a beacon with the faded map of Zora's Domain still open.

Across the screen stated: Action rejected. Instant transportation cannot be done with more than one person.

~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~

“--, any more questions?” M grumbled as she poured herself another cup of tea. Wanting this ordeal to be over with, she didn't enjoy this personal of a topic and with an audience no less. But she supposed it was worth something educating Hylians that were willing to try and understand.

“No, I think I got everything, thank you.” Ingo finished adding the last of the notes to his journal.

“Actually, I have a question.” Senza raised her hand to further her insistence. “Not so much about my teammate, but something important none the less.”

“And what might that be?”

“Will you be assisting the Captain in the rescue mission?”

Both M and R glanced to Link at the other end of the table. He hadn't spoken much during this debrief, both deep in thought and pestered by Kattan. She wasn't comfortable with the knights and sat right next to Link so she could press against him or hang onto him as a safety net of sorts.

“No.” M stated flatly and sipped her tea.

“Now, now.” R quickly piped up and addressed the question properly. “The truth is, Sir Link hasn't shared any interest in either of us joining in on something so dangerous. It has only been recently that I have been given the suppressant recipe to help refine it. While effective, there are still some flaws, as the goal is blocking the drastic change in the body from effecting the person's decisions. This includes the scent factor, as consistently wearing masks of mint are unrealistic.”

Ingo fidgeted with his own mask from the remark and nervously glanced to Link as he no longer had one. But the captain had simply taken a seat after he returned without any proper explanation. Only briefly stating that he 'didn't need it right now'. Whatever that meant.

Senza then continued. “I see, and how close are you to perfecting this medicine?”

R smiled proudly and hooked an arm around Kattan, pulling her in close. Though she still refused to let go of Link completely, fingers pinching at his sleeve. “Thanks to my lovely helper and volunteer here, I believe I'm just about there! I think this next batch will be the one.”

Link snapped to attention and looked to the Hylian woman in concern. She's testing the new elixirs? I should be the one testing them. That's dangerous!

Kattan took notice of his quick reaction. She gave a timid smile, not wanting to cause any trouble and reassured him. [I'm okay. I want to help. Like you did for me.]

“So...” Shad began as he helped himself to another biscuit. “Are there any others that are a part of this secret operation?”

The Gerudo woman clicked her tongue in irritation. “Thank Hylia, no.”

Link tapped the table to draw in everyone's attention. [The head of the Sheikah is aware of my investigation and will give me aid. I plan to bring forth my findings within the next two days.]

“Lady Impa?” R beamed with excitement. “If she's backing you up, you'll have elite warriors at your side! That's wonderful!”

“I’d expect nothing less from you Captain.” Senza sat up a little straighter, a rare smile on her lips.

"Ya, well. That's not all!” Madas stood up abruptly with both hands on his hips. “The best knights of Hyrule will fight at his side! Myself and platoon forty-eight!”

“Hey! You're hogging the spotlight again, Madas!” Ingo pouted and threatened to throw a half-eaten biscuit at him.

“Wait, would it be safe for you to go, Ingo?” Shad questioned, worried as he remembered what happened this morning. As Ingo was about to defend his worth, he stopped and looked to Link. So did the other team members.

[No more dangerous than it will be for me.] Was the answer and everyone seemed to be all the more encouraged to take on the mission. All but M who cast a knowing look to Link, then to the table blocking the view of his lower torso and back up at him.

~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~

They were all grateful to the married couple for the hospitality, even if it had began with a rocky start. The night ended with warm food in their bellies from a late supper and more casual topics.

While it was cramped, R managed to find a place for everyone to sleep. Everyone was in agreeance that Link and Ingo shouldn't share a close space for the night. With the boys; Shad, Madas and Ingo set up in R's apothecary and study. Senza and Link would share a room with Kattan, but that had been an awkward situation in of itself.

Originally Kattan was completely against Senza being in the room, because she still didn't trust any of the knights. Even with Senza offering to be tied up for the night, it was still a no. M; of course, threw Link under the wagon. Suggesting that she snuggles up with him for safety and Senza sleeps on the floor.

So, here was Link, sharing the single bed with Kattan. He felt like her oversized teddy bear as she hugged him tightly and used his chest as a pillow, while she snored like an old dog. Quiet, mostly groans, but had the irregular whistle every couple minutes. How she was comfortable like this was beyond him, her right arm had to be packed with pins and needles by now.

A shared sleeping space was nothing new to him, nor was this position particularly unique. More than once, camping during missions turned into dog piles, whether due to lack of space or warmth. Sometimes it was for the feeling of safety for the one that was gravely injured. Link never once had an issue with any of the situations and this one was no different.

But of all the recollections passing through his mind, there was this one time that lingered. It had been such a deep, restful sleep and yet, there was a strange feeling of awareness. The occasional drop of weight across him; whether it be limb or tail. The night he had been caught up in Sidon's sleeping embrace. As the hero, a life full of struggle and fighting, Link had never felt as secure and relaxed as he did then.

This however, this was uncomfortable. A little painful even. With one of Kattan's arms underneath him, low down on his spine too, his back was arched at an odd angle. After about three hours of not moving, it was beginning to ache. And somehow it felt like he was being pinched by her head. Maybe if the bed had more pillows or the bed was soft enough to sink into, it wouldn't be so bad.

Not that Link was in any place to complain. He had slept in worse conditions; had dealt with far worse pain or irritations, and this was to help out someone in need. Facing knights that still hunted her thoughts, even if forty-eight meant no harm, was none the less a terrifying experience. The least he could do was offer Kattan some form of peace.

Kattan shifted and gave a small stretch, mumbling nonsense. However, when her arms returned to wrap around him, her hand went under his shirt and rested at the end of his rib cage. Link was not sensitive to contact, certainly not under normal means, manhandling came with the job on a daily basis. Be it knights, civilians or monsters. But the brief skin to skin contact over his stomach made Link flinch and his heart pound as his body seized up. If not for that, he was certain that he would have done something he would have regretted.

Because he was very familiar with what this feeling was. Such a highly defensive reaction normally occurred in combat. All he could do was picture every way he could get out of her hold or render Kattan unable to fight back. To hurt her or kill her, if need be. It was more startling than anything. Though the feeling did not last long nor did Link wake her up from the situation.

As Link took slow and even breaths to calm his racing heart. He chose to ignore any other thought and tried to pick something that would help him focus. My will and mind is of the people, the innocent. My body-

But his thoughts are interrupted by Sidon's voice. You matter, Link! Not as a hero, not as a warrior, not as a weapon. You matter as a person.

That was not helping right now. But try as he might, the prince and his words continued to run wild in his mind. Link's pulse wouldn't come down and he couldn't keep his breathing regular. So, he opted for a visual distraction and pulled the slate from under his pillow.

When the screen lit up the dark room, that message was the first thing he saw. He had forgotten that he had not closed anything and that the screen had simply turned off to standby. Link's mind was silent now and he wished for anything but. Because anything at this moment would be better than the reminder of these words.

Action rejected. Instant transportation cannot be done with more than one person.

Enough! Link told himself as he shut everything down and put the slate back. In all these months, all this time, not once had he suddenly felt nauseous as he did now. His heart thundered uncontrollably as he fought to keep his breathing silent and the rising bile of his stomach down.

Enough! Link draped an arm over his eyes as everything was starting to sting, every tiny movement hurt all over. Yet it did not stop him from using his free hand to press into his agitated abdomen. The slightly defined muscle was still firm as ever and while the pressure hurt, it brought some relief to reframe from being sick.

Enough. Link tried to will himself to pass out, but he could settle for a sleepless night if it meant his body wouldn't force him to purge dinner. So, he focused on the discomfort, the ache that rolled around his body and waited for dawn.

Rested or restless.

Link was going to leave for the Domain first thing, the moment everyone woke up.

~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~

In the hours before dawn, the waters are pleasantly cool around the shrine. The elegant luminous stonework that made up this cavern glowed softly and rang ever so gently with hums. The pink Zora mother sat at the edge of the pool, tenderly rocking her egg as if it was lulled by a current. But her eyes were set on the shrine and not her unborn child, aware that she was being watched.

“Little one keeping you up?”

She was not the least bit surprised by Rivan's attempt to approach discreetly or his comment, he wasn't necessarily wrong. Now looking down at her egg, Gaddison spoke somewhat awkwardly. “You could say that.”

Rivan moved to sit next to her before he replied. “Something on your mind then?” The brown Zora was already armed and ready for the rotation of the guard. With time to spare, he had gone on an aimless stroll and wound up at the shrine. To find Gaddison here of all places, it was quite the coincidence.

“Do you remember when your magic awakened?” Gaddison asked, looking back at the shrine.

Rivan followed suit as he chuckled and gave an awkward smile. “I don’t think Bazz will ever let me forget the time I thought I killed my mate just as their labour began.” That was so long ago and he couldn’t recall the last time any of them had talked about it. It was certainly funny in the aftermath of the event; a pair of bonded younglings having a typical maternal spat and then suddenly the baby decides to break up the fight. Only for Rivan’s magic to surge during the moment of panic and make everything worse.

“No, I mean do you remember what it felt like? Did you know right from the start or did it take time to notice it was there?”

The man was quiet for a moment and then stared down at his feet as they waded in the pool. “It’s difficult to say... I remember the moment our souls merged and the feeling of our bond becoming whole. But the power I gained from it? It could have been lost in the new experience for all I know; even as months passed, I was still overwhelmed by it from time to time. Feeling my mate’s pain, their joy from across the Domain. The way their soul could pull on mine like a leash. The weight of their soul on mine when I so much as touched their hand. So, I can’t say that I noticed a difference from before and when I used it for the first time.”

“Do you still feel your bond as you once did?”

“Since we ended our relationship? No. However, I do think that we’re one of the luckier ones. We can still go to each other to restore our strength without any problems, unlike so many other former couples.” They may not be lovers anymore, not even the closest of friends, but they clearly still care and respect one another. “It has grown weak, it has made my magic weak, but it will still forever be a part of me.”

Gaddison sighed. “I guess it wouldn’t be called a soul bond if it was possible for it to be destroyed.”

“And why is this bothering you exactly? It’s not like you’ve got one.” Rivan teased her with a bit of a smirk, yet when he saw her lips twitch into a frown; even for a second, he knew that something bad was coming.

“I think I might.” She said quietly, as if she was worried someone might be listening in on them.

His tone quickly intensifies. “You think? Gad!” He wasn’t trying to freak out, but with her not showing much interest in romance. Heck, he had never known her to have eyes for anyone. Rivan couldn’t help but fear for his friend. It had him jumping to a horrible possible outcome, that Gaddison had an unwanted soul bond.

There was more than just one method to make one.

The most common being practically instinctual, a deep bite along the shoulders or neck when the soul is visible, where the light is the strongest. Drinking the rich energy, the mana, the life force of another person and stoking your own soul. With this method so powerful, it does not require the other person to return the bite to complete the binding of souls.

As for the second form, it isn’t for the faint of heart. Even if it is used often in weddings. The person’s soul doesn’t need to be showing and it doesn’t require a bite either. All that is needed is an exchange of blood, as small as a glass of wine.

Less likely and least expected, is one forming due to strong reciprocating emotions. Whether it be joy or anger. However, it can take years to complete a bond this way. Making it unfavourable for those wanting it and unfortunate to those wanting anything but.

But as much as these soul bonds are a blessing; they could be just as much as a curse. They can be made with ill intent. As bonds are magical in nature and magic does not have emotion; it does not feel. No good or bad, right or wrong; only existence.

“Gad, are you sure?” Rivan pressed.

“I don’t know. I get a feeling every now and then, like I need to be somewhere. I’ve tried to follow it... I think? I can’t remember if I have, but it doesn’t seem like something I would just ignore.” Gaddison expressed her confusion with uncertain hand gestures and then curling up around the egg with her forehead on her knees. Groaning in frustration over her inability to put everything into words. “I don’t feel right, nothing feels right! I’m doubting myself, my sanity with every day that brings this egg closer to hatching.”

“The fear of becoming a parent I under-”

“Rivan!” She finally snapped, tensing up as her voice began to waver. Vulnerability breaking out with weak hysterical laughter as she lifted her head. “I don’t even know whose child this is. I barely remember giving birth and honestly, it’s the only piece of evidence that the egg is mine at all. Yet despite how frightening and messed up this is; I never once told anyone!? Not Bazz, not you? And to keep it to myself for over two years!? Does that sound like something I would do?”

Of course it doesn’t, it sounded like this was right out of a nightmare. Rivan grabbed her by the shoulder. “There is only one explanation, someone is manipulating your memories with magic. Is there anyone that you can think of that would want to hurt you?”

“No.”

If not to hurt her, maybe this was out of jealousy. Of her and whoever the sire of their egg is, of not being the one to have her. “Has anyone been trying to get close to you or your egg?”

Though he did not get an answer from Gaddison, her eyes seemed to become unfocused as she became very still. Like time had stopped.

“Something on your mind then?” The brown Zora was already armed and ready for the rotation of the guard. With time to spare, he had gone on an aimless stroll and wound up at the shrine. To find Gaddison here of all places, it was quite the coincidence.

“Do you remember when your magic awakened?” Gaddison asked, looking back at the shrine.

“You mean when Rivan became a living sponge?” Bazz burst out laughing, making the pair turn on him in surprise. Though he flinched when he realized Gaddison had already grabbed Rivan’s weapon. “Woah! Hold on!”

“Hylia, Captain, you scared the scales right off me!” Rivan quickly took his weapon back before Gaddison attacked Bazz with it.

“I wasn’t trying too! You two must have been having one deep conversation if you didn’t hear me.” Irritated at first, only for it to turn into smug pride. “Though, points for me for sneaking up on you, Gaddy! So much for your keen senses.”

“Jump off Shatterback Point, you over grown guppy.”

Bazz just laughed at her insults and continued to smile as he teased them. “So, what were you two really talking about? Love stories? Royal gossip? Or planning naughty things?”

“Nothing.” Gaddison answered flatly. “The conversation had barely begun before you rudely interrupted.” She just wanted to know...

Something.

But she couldn’t remember, so it probably was nothing important.

~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~

“Captain Bazz?” The prince's voice brought him out of his thoughts.

“Yes, Prince Sidon?”

The knight had been escorting him all about this morning in complete silence and was becoming greatly concerning. Sidon worried that there had been a fight between him and another, possibly a silver Zora. “You seem troubled, is everything alright?”

“Merely questioning what the future holds for us.” Bazz answered simply.

Sidon chuckled. “Quite the heavy topic. That's unusual for you.”

“What is that supposed to mean? Are you suggesting that I lack the mind for such things?”

“No, no, not at all what I meant by it. It is just unlike you to be so... serious and tense. You tend to stay on the lighter, more joyful side of things.”

The Zora guard hummed in reply before opening the door to the hall that Sidon would be attending the next meeting in. A gathering of elders, with a rather sensitive subject, Hylians; among other races, wanting to live in the Domain. “Well, let's leave it at that. I am sure the elders will be arriving shortly and I wish you the best of luck. At least you have my father on your side.”

“With the Demon Sargent, I am certain of victory!” Sidon did his signature pose as he had no doubt that this would all end well. As a bonus, he managed to earn a smile out of his friend.

“Only you,” Bazz scoffed in amusement and rolled his eyes. “only you, my Prince, could have complete confidence in facing such horrible odds of encouraging the elders into opening up to such change.”

As expected, the sounds of bitter voices could be heard coming around the corner. Bazz continued to hold the door open, while their prince happily welcomed them and addressed everyone by name. However, as he was greeting the last pair, someone completely unexpected came speeding around the corner.

“Link!?” Sidon shouted in shock as the familiar blond Hylian rushed towards him. “What are you doing here?”

When he came to a stop, Link nearly stumbled over, but despite the clear fatigue, he still managed to sign clearly. [You were right.]

Bazz glanced from Link to Sidon, but it would seem that he wasn't the only one that didn't understand what was going on.

“I'm-?” The red Zora had intended to say more, however the elders were already glowering at the intrusion of Link. Possibly the worst timing for this right now. So he held his tongue for a moment and changed the question. “Is this urgent?”

Sidon did not like the expression of uncertainty and unease Link gave him before looking to the other Zora still waiting at the door, as well as those already inside. When Sidon did not receive an answer, he had little choice but to accept it as minimum concern at the moment. The prince's smile returned, ushering the remaining guests inside and followed along afterwards. “I'm truly sorry, Link, I am currently attending to a prior engagement.”

When Sidon turned around to reassure him, that they would not be brushed off. It might have just been them still catching their breath, but the Hylian seemed to be shaking a bit. It was alarming to see the state his dear friend was in.

“I promise to speak to you the moment this meeting is over, it should only be a few hours. Please, feel free to use that room if you do not wish to wait here.” Sidon did his best to remain optimistic and smile, before looking to his guard. “Captain Bazz, if you please.”

The black Zora simply nodded and began to close the door. But in the last second of the door closing, Link seemed to panic and repeat himself. [You were right!] He said with wide eyes before grabbing a fist full of his tunic over his stomach.

Sidon did not misinterpret the suggestion. His heart sunk and with frightful eyes, his hand snapped over his mouth. And as he stared at the door, the prince didn't feel so confident anymore.

~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~

Bazz placed a hand on Link's shoulder, startling him and redirecting his anxiety. The Zora pulled away quickly, as it seemed to only make this circumstance worse. “Link, has something happened? Are you okay?”

[I'm fine.] He replied quickly and then slapped his cheeks, as if to help snap himself out of whatever was bothering him.

“You don't look fine. Is there something I can do to help?” Bazz offered gently, unsure of how to handle Link with him like this. “Or would you prefer to wait for Prince Sidon?”

[No. No, thank you, I'll wait in the study.] Link shook his head and took a step back. [Let him know for me, would you?]

“Sure, I can pass that on. But, which study?” There were more than three within the surface half of the palace. But he was not at all expecting Link to say it was the one that was made of wood. Bazz visibly stiffened, he knew exactly which room and he had to swallow a lump in his throat before he could speak again. “That... that is not a study.”

[What else could it be?]

There was no way that Bazz could tell him and certainly not like this. It should be Sidon who tells him, after all, he was the one that gave Link permission to be there. The room that had been made specially for Sidon and his... uniqueness. Yet another thing that was best told from the man himself. It had been built at the request of late Queen Shiel and it was also the very same room in which she died in.

“I know which room and I'll inform Sidon when he is finished.” He redirected and took up his post at the door. “I'll personally make sure he gets there as soon as possible. Take care, alright?”

With a nod and a wave, Link left.

~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~

The door opened so slowly that Link didn't realize that it was moving until it softly creaked to a stop. He merely glanced to acknowledge the movement, before tending back to the fire. Link could understand his hesitation or the unusual lack of enthusiasm. Sitting here and waiting, with only his thoughts, it had made him even more nervous and worried. Link even had to toss the Sheikah slate aside to stop himself from attempting other locations, as if expecting it to suddenly change.

So, he waited for Sidon to enter.

“Oh my.” A slow and amused voice spoke out, making the Hylian jump to his feet at the ready. The grip on the Master Sword was tighter than necessary; sparking, zapping pain shot up through his hand and his hair stood on end. Their eyes met and Sado purred with delight. “I was wondering what was taking you so long, but this is quite the interesting room.”

Link glared and released the weapon quickly; this was not a fight worth risking the blade’s backlash. [Get out!] Infuriated that the tall Zora would even dare come near him after what happened last time, let alone enter Sidon's study. [You are not allowed in this place.]

The silver chuckled and stepped away from the entrance, his freakishly long head fin slithering along behind him. “I can't understand your weird hand thing, little one.”

Refusing to give this man any sort of gratification, Link approached and shoos Sado with a simple gesture. [Did you get that or are you going to fake ignorance?]

“You know, I was lucky to overhear that you had unexpectedly arrived today. And I just couldn't pass up the opportunity. I've been following you ever since you left that clever, little black. Always knows when something is amiss that one.” Sado grinned and offered a hand out towards the door. “Why don't you come with me, little one? There is much to prepare.”

Link's glare intensified as he shook his head in reply and crossed his arms. With another soft chuckle, Sado crouched down and while he still towered over Link, it was closer to eye level. He reached out to put a hand on the smaller man's shoulder, but they were faster to retaliate and grab Sado's neck. Link's hand was far too small to wrap around entirely, but he could still get a good grip on their larynx and dig his fingers into the major arteries below the jaw.

“Oh, yes! Don't stop fighting, little one.” Sado's eye widened with glee, even if it was difficult to talk around the pressure and pain. “You're too perfect to let this end quickly.”

With a snap, a rush of heat, of nerves going haywire; Sado's surprised expression is the last thing Link sees before everything fades away to darkness.

~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~

Link is only vaguely aware, fluttering between a dream like state and numbness. He feels cool and wet, with his hair and clothing hugging his skin. While something seems to be moving around on the inside. A strange weight almost, swimming around his organs. Link flinches when it brushes past something in his chest, it didn't hurt necessarily, but it wasn't welcome, it was wrong. He relaxes once more when it moves away, but whatever it was, now grabs at his insides and begins to tear it from his body.

Link screams, shocked into consciousness as he tries to flee from whatever is attacking. Realizing that his arms are restrained above his head and his feet are bound together. He can feel a hand wrapped around his calf keeping him still.

Fighting through the pain, vision beginning to focus on his surroundings. Link discovers that he's in a cavern or dungeon from the looks of the smooth, carved stone room. Placed sitting upright with his back against a wall, on his left is a strange silver Zora he’s not sure he recognizes and an unusual, green haired Hylian on the right. They don’t so much as bat an eye at him waking, struggling and shouting. While the Zora holds him steady, the Hylian appears to be almost elbow deep through Link's snow tunic and just below his sternum.

“That was quite the strange room you were in.” Sado's voice snaps Link’s attention away, he couldn't be far off, but is out of Link’s sight. “I didn’t intend to inflict that much on you, but it felt like I couldn’t... disperse... like I normally could. So, most of it actually went to you. Ops!” Sado sounded like he was more impressed than regretful. But the anger it brought Link only aided his will to push aside the pain and fight back.

The Zora at Link's side grabbed hold of his shoulder and shoved him back against the wall. “Oh, please do continue speaking. I enjoy it when I have to work harder to block out your arrogance.” Hine spoke dryly and added more force to her grip on the blond. He was indeed stronger than he looked, it was like she was trying to pin down someone closer to her size. That’s even with the man shackled to the wall.

Within that moment a green glow began to emit from Link, more accurately, from where the Hylian had their hand digging around inside him. The torture only got worse, like barb wire was being threaded through his skin. A sensation like that of fabric tearing apart ghosted over his whole body. Link was screaming again, till his lungs ran empty, trailing off into strangled breaths. Even with Link’s vision turning hazy, he could see that a mass was being pulled from his torso. There was no wound nor blood. It was almost smoke-like or perhaps closer to fire? When the last strands finally left him, so did the pain. Leaving Link gasping and trembling in relief.

“This one was more difficult than the last.” The Hylian finally spoke, but his voice was vacant of emotion. He held the lively, shifting mass in one hand and a chunk of black rock in the other. He then brought them together like one would clap their hands and the wisps dissipated in a flash. When they open their hands there now sat a glowing emerald; the two had become one. “It is better to harvest the source.”

Sado groaned, likely rolling his eyes as well. “Yes, that would be just dandy, wouldn’t it? Well, tough. Finish the job, Kuu. There should be two more.”

“What if he dies?” Hine asked simply, like it would be a small mishap.

“He won’t~.” Came the purr of a reply.

Kuu didn’t say another word and as the emerald’s light flickered out, he set it aside. It was then that Link realized what they were taking from him, what was being so ruthlessly torn out. He could already recognize the lack of connection, just like before, he couldn’t feel her anymore. Urbosa was gone.

Link couldn’t think of a single word worthy of his wrath. It was you! You’re the one that hurt Mipha! You took her from me! Now, Urbosa!?

Before they could attempt to take the remaining two souls of the champions from him. A blast of wind was summoned forth, the gale twisting within the small room. Revali's power expelled the two away from Link with greater might than usual, as if the Rito’s spirit was sharing his rage through their connection.

Kuu gave a small pained yelp as he landed on his shoulder and tumbled back in a few bad rolls. Hine, though, was heavier and only landed roughly on her back. However, she was quick to scramble over to the Hylian, as distressed whines reached her ears. So quiet, it was something only she would be able to recognize in the scuffle. “Kuu!”

“Ah, shit…” Even with the torches threatening to go out from the wind, Link could now see Sado from where he stood in the corner. But now the tall man seemed to be preparing to jump into a fight with Hine. And Link did not hesitate to bring up Daruk’s barrier before the gift of wind ran its course.

As Hine looked over her claim for damage, Kuu trailed his hand over the small swell of his middle. While his face still wore no expression, his hands had a slight tremble to them. Kuu’s voice was smaller than before. “I didn’t land on your pup. They are fine, my warlord. I can continue, I will finish the task.”

Then Link’s eyes widened, shocked at what he was hearing and dreading the meaning of those words. Tempted to pray that he was misunderstanding the situation. As for Sado, he relaxed and sank back into his corner. Though he gave a small smirk when he realized Link that was now glaring at him. “Don’t break on me now, little hero.”

Bastard! Damn you to hell! Link gave his best snarl. The silver freak knew Link wouldn’t just give them what they wanted. But Link also wouldn’t knowingly put an innocent life in danger.

Defend the champions within him and fight back?

Or stop resisting and keep an unborn child from harm?

Link’s resentful eyes fell on the pregnant Hylian, a sickening feeling of guilt and fear settled within him. Unable to stop himself, he could now see Judo in Kuu and…himself. Link lowered his head in defeat and the ruby shield crumbled away.

Sado's deep, maniacal laughter echoed around the room. “Excellent! Marvellous!”

The next time Link lifted his gaze, it was to face the Hylian. He did not care that Hine threatened to kill him or watched his every move with a monstrous expression. What mattered was that he remained fixed on Kuu, a wordless promise that this wasn’t over, that he wasn’t simply giving in.

Kuu’s hand slipped into his chest like he was playing with a bowl of water. The clothing even seemed to ripple around the other’s hand. Watching how he did it and feeling this all happen at the same time made Link nauseous.

Try as he might to keep himself composed, to stay strong and prove he could take it. That they would have to do better to break him. And while it was true that it would take more than physical pain. The moment Kuu caught one of the souls he was fishing for. Link writhed and wailed once more. The brief minutes it took for the champion to be torn out felt so much longer than in actuality.

This soul was twilight blue, creating a deep sapphire.

Daruk... It was only the second extraction and it was already taking a huge toll on him. It was as though his strength had been cut in half with each loss. Feeling weaker, as though he was losing more than just their powers, their connection. Link didn't know if he could stay awake through the last one. Forgive me. Everyone. I promise, I will save you all and set you free.

As Kuu resumed and reached in to take Revali, Link readied himself for the pain, but felt none this time. Even before the light of the soul could emerge, Kuu stopped.

“What is it?” Hine asked, noticing his pause and that it meant more than something as simple as a break.

“He’s not screaming.”

Sado titters in amusement. “Having fun, are we?”

Not giving him any form of satisfaction by playing along, Kuu stated his find and ignored the question. “This soul is not tied to his. There aren’t only four souls in this body.”

Now this was a surprise. “A secret? With the records, there should only be three left as we took one months ago.” Sado approached to have a look, even if there wasn’t much to see.

“No. Unlike you, Sado, his body works.” Hine groaned in irritation, as this was just adding to her souse’s workload. “Though, I doubt you would have use for a premature soul.”

Link tensed up, but tried not to give any visual indication of how it affected him that they now knew he was carrying. The sickening amusement on Sado’s face was enough cause for alarm.

“My, isn’t this just precious! I could smell your building heat when we had that tiff in the square. Such a delicious taste lingered on my tongue for days.” He practically moaned with delight, voice rumbling in his throat. “I don’t doubt that he could have kept his hands off you. I dare well say, I nearly lost my mind. Little prince fucked you good, like a proper souse and even managed to pup you. Didn’t he?”

Still, Link managed to suppress any outward response, however no matter how he tried to ignore the vulgarity and keep his thoughts from wandering to Sidon. Sado was beginning to get under his skin; as much as he wishes to deny it, feelings of distress and shame were already on the rise. Not for what Sidon and he had done, but because he had got caught in possibly the worst situation right now.

“How long has he been mounting you, I wonder? It’s not common; even for a primal, to bring a souse of a different species to pup after just one heat or even a couple. Is that why you were in that room? His nest to routinely attempt to breed pups out of you.”

“A reason to challenge for the right of their pups would be problematic for your plans.” Kuu offered, bringing an end to the horrible ramble Sado was making before he could utter another word. “Fastest and easiest solution; removal of rival pups.”

Such a drastic suggestion caught Link off guard and irrationally tried to flee from Kuu’s reach, but Hine was expecting it. With one hand snapping around his neck, the force caused Link to hit the back of his head on the wall and left his vision swaying. Hine’s other hand grasping his thigh so roughly that he could feel her claws digging into his skin through his trousers. Trembling; from fear or exertion, the war of denial only aided his panic, his gaze snapping from the hand still submerged in his belly to Kuu himself.

Sado hummed dramatically in thought and paced about the small space, delighted over the idea, over the control he had in this very moment. “Just what are we dealing with?”

“I can’t tell what race without seeing the soul. Separating it even slightly will result in immediate death.”

“Numbers?”

“Unsure, I can only trap one soul at a time.”

“Surprises, surprises!”

Hine took her eyes off Link for a moment to glare up at the man. “Enough, Sado. Make a decision. If we’re caught by Yanun when she’s looking for you to start the ceremony, we’re all dead.”

“Fine, fine.” He sighed, annoyed that he couldn’t continue playing. Regardless if Hine was right. “I’ll let him keep it--them-whatever, if it even survives. Saves me some face if he is at least seen as bred in the first few months. Just get that other soul out and I’ll be on my way to prepare.”

Relief is not something he given much time to experience before Kuu releases the child’s soul to continue their task. Link barely manages to cling to consciousness after the last of the champions is turned into a gem. Peridot this time. He tried to embed the size, shape and colour into his memory, just like the others. Who knew if there was a way to tell them apart from normal gems so as far as he was concerned, every little detail was critical.

Sado took his trophy of jewels and left, though Hine would not be far behind. After she fixed Kuu’s black garments and hair, preening him so she was satisfied that he was perfect. She then pressed him against her, a trill growl came from Hine; protective and possessive. When Hine turned her gaze on Link, she flashed her teeth and tightened her hold on Kuu for a second, then she released him and left. Leaving just the two Hylians alone.

A minute hadn’t even gone by before Kuu asked an unusual question. “Does the primal treasure you.” Well, the words suggested one, but his voice remained hollow and almost ghostly.

When Link didn’t answer, Kuu placed his hand on Link’s stomach. It was unsettling, to feel such normal contact after all that. “Do you want to do this.”

Link struggled to lift his gaze to give Kuu a hard look. Was this some pathetic attempt to make amends? After baiting Sado like that? After turning the souls of the champions into trinkets!? This man would have to beg Hylia for forgiveness and mercy, because they wouldn’t get any from Link. But being left unable to answer, through the ache and exhaustion Link shifted as far away as his shackled wrists would allow. Curling his bound legs up to his chest and turning so his back now faced Kuu.

~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~

“Aw, don’t tell me you’ve gotten all shy on me now.” Sado teased softly and roughly yanked Link’s legs towards him. Link struggled, being hard to deal with, but not putting up a real fight. Some energy for resistance had returned to the Hylian, but from the feel of things, Sado guessed he had an hour or so before Link became problematic to handle.

Hine didn’t even look at Link, dropping a lump of black cloth within arm's reach and procured her souse. Cupping Kuu in her arm like one would hold a house cat. She was in and out under a minute.

As the silver Zora set Link’s bound feet on his lap, he began to click a pair of shackles together just above the rope. “Wouldn’t want you to get cold feet.” He said with a smirk and then sliced the rope with his claws.

With his ankles no longer crossed and tightly bounded together, it was far more comfortable. Link swiftly drew his legs back and kicked Sado in the gills with his heels. His back braced against the wall only aided his limited strength. As Sado gasped and wheezed in pain, Link rolled away.

Had tried to roll away, before the other caught him by the hip. “That… that was a dirty trick!” He was pissed, but also smiling with glee. “But.” Sado dug his claws into the thick snow trousers, eyeing Link carefully. Not that he was worried about what Link was up to next, on the contrary, he loved it. Mere moments from the ceremony, after all the suffering they put him through, and Link was still resisting.

“What now, little one? Wasted energy, I say. You should have saved it for a better opportunity.” His voice rumbled on the borderline of a growl and Link did nothing other than keep a firm glare. “How about we just focus on getting you ready, hmm? Yanun is particular about these ridiculous things."

Sado effortlessly ripped Link’s clothing to ribbons, rather than even try to remove them properly. As it was being destroyed, Link was no longer protected by its abilities and the sudden drop in temperature made him tremble.

“Hmmm.” Sado paused to fiddle with the trinkets braided into the blond’s hair, eyeing the feathers in particular. “I think I'll leave this alone. It might make her uncomfortable.”

The Rito headdress was the only thing that Link believed kept him from freezing to death, and it was also the only thing Sado left him. If the Zora’s plan was to humiliate him, he was failing, Link could care less if anyone saw him naked. What Link still didn’t know or understand was why his clothing had been soaked to begin with. It wasn’t to wake him up. None of them clearly cared about waking after he was brought to wherever here was.

The contact of honed points jolts Link into focusing back on Sado, on his clawed fingers, slowly going over the expanse of his stomach. Even if his instincts screamed and all Link wanted to do was get away or fight back again. Link knew better not to. “Tell me, as a warrior, do you still feel like a souse? Do you feel the joy and thrill in being bred?” Sado asked with great amusement and Link felt an ever so slight change in pressure. Sado’s roaming claws did not break the skin, but left a trail of stinging, white marks. “Does your body still sing with felicity in knowing you bear fruit for a primal, for the little Prince?”

Something horrible stirred inside Link, he felt sick, his nerves hummed in confused fear and excitement. Helpless in this twisted man’s hands, helpless in Link’s own darkening mind, for giving into this very feeling. But if it weren’t for them, for what was festering in his guts. This wouldn’t be happening. None of this would have led to this. Any words from today would hold no bite, no affect, he could fight back without having to second guess anything. This… this is why I-!

“First lesson.”

Link gasped in pain as Sado sliced diagonally across his stomach with one claw. Blood spreading like a thick brush stroke over his cold, pale skin.

“If I ask you a question, you answer. I don’t care that you’re mute, you nod or shake your head.” He held the Hylian’s ankles in a bruising grip, preventing Link from fleeing or guarding himself. Link maybe had another second; he barely was even able to reply with a scowl, before Sado cut him again. Creating a lopsided, bright red X.

Stop! He thrashed in Sado’s hold, Link wasn’t thinking clearly, he wasn’t able to. Danger, escape, protect, at any cost, at any risk. Another pained noise made it past Link’s lips as all five claws pierced into the flesh of his lower belly. He was going to be gutted! No, no! Link shook his head frantically.

The claws withdrew and Sado’s smile returned in mock sweetness, content with the reply. “There, now that wasn’t so hard was it, little one?”

Link shook his head.

“Better. Don’t think for a second that I won’t hesitate to kill whatever may be in here.” He said simply and flicked harshly at the wounds just to make Link wince. Then he leaned in closer, hovering over top of Link, face inches from the other. “Games of the flesh are effortless and offer no challenge for me. Understand this; I would find more pleasure in forcing you to pick which of your friends will get the shell of who you once were, when I’m done with you. Than something as simple as mutilating your body.” Sado seemed utterly annoyed and disgusted that the words came from his own mouth. Sitting back up, he reached out with his bloody claws to the bolt fixing Link’s shackles to the wall and yanked it free with a few sharp tugs. He let the metal chain fall on Link. “So, play nice and we won’t bore ourselves with the barbarous games. Are we in agreeance?”

Swallowing his emotions in effort to regain some semblance of control over this situation, Link nodded.

“Oh, come now, don’t be like that. It’s not as though I plan to kill you. Where’s the fun in that? If I have any say in it, I would prefer that your friend killed you out of pity. So, don’t be so quick to jump to conclusions, little one.” Sado playfully bopped him on the nose and then yanked Link to his feet by the chains like some dark marionette. “Now, behave and I will reward you with less pain.”

For the brief duration of whatever Sado was preparing him for, Link complied and didn’t act upon any hasty ideas. The black garment that Hine had brought them didn’t give Link much of anything. It wasn’t warm, the light fabric barely dried Link off and it didn’t cover half of his body. It had a triangular design, hanging from the loose, bone collar piece. The open sides were held together with three ribs each.

“Stop picking at it and clean the blood off yourself.” Sado ordered and stood up. Link did what he could and utilized the moment to skim through the remains of his Snowquill tunic. Unsurprising, they had picked him clean before he regained consciousness. For now, he made a temporary bandage from the scraps and then straightened the outfit before the Zora could demand more.

With the chains in hand, Sado led Link out of the room. As they walked down the passageway, Hine was waiting for them at a large door and followed along into a great open space. At its centre was a ten foot ring of water, a faint steam rising from the surface. Link had almost mistaken it for a hot spring, but the light coming up from the depths suggested otherwise. That’s when it clicked, he was in an underwater cavern and Link’s eyes widened at realizing just how close to home he really was. We’re still in the Domain.

Deep beneath the Zora’s Domain is a magma chamber linked to Death Mountain. Boiling waterways that the Zora people have learned to direct to their home as needed. It keeps the main lake from ever freezing over and the bottom comfortably warm even in the coldest winters. The surface; and even the waters flowing through the palace, are about as cool as a lake in spring, but no less dangerous for anyone other than a Zora to be swimming in.

“I thought I told you to get rid of that sword.” Link heard Sado hiss at Hine and she was quick to snap back.

“Not unless you want to remodel.”

With a quick glance up at the confrontation and then around the room, the Hylian spotted what sword they argued over. Resting just shy of the water's edge was the Master Sword.

“My patience is wearing thin with your remarks, Hine!” He warned and loomed over the smaller Zora.

“It cannot be moved! The belt tore- you should have just kept it on the souse!”

Link rushed for it, having forgot about the chains and they gave away his intentions. Sado was quick to yank him back from obtaining the weapon and Link landed harshly on his side.

“Ho oh oh! That was soooo close!” He laughed and began to reel the small man in like some sort of fish on a line. In a last resort, Link kicked his legs out and managed to hit the tail end of the scabbard. It spun and wobbled along the edge before slowly tilting and slipping into the water. “And there it goes. Well, you won’t be getting it now, little one.”

Sado let the chain go slack and left Link to get back on his feet. It took more effort that necessary, again seemingly wasting what little strength he had regained. Sado may believe that was unfavourable, but with things as they were, Link was going to need backup. There were plenty of Zora in the Domain that knew what the Master Sword looked like and who it belonged to. Hopefully, it would be found and the guard would be informed. Bazz or Rivan would know what to do.

Link's cuffed wrists were harshly tugged as the pair of silver Zora headed for the door on the right. He huffed in irritation, but it didn't matter, now it was a waiting game. All he had to do was survive. Upon entering, Link observed that this hall was vastly different than the corridor he woke up in. Tapestries covered most of the walls and torches spaced out in between. They were all red with erratic, black ink painted images of fearsome shark like creatures. Each design was different, yet held similar characteristics; the head shape of a spear and multiple fins.

“It is unwise to test my patience.” A woman informed the approaching group. Link recognized the voice before Hine moved aside, it was the silver princess. She stood on a low platform before a massive statue carved right out of the wall. It was like the tapestries, a monster of the water, only this one's body was mostly bone. Fish were posed swimming out from it's body with strips of flesh in their mouths. The beast's wounds and flesh were adorned with rubies, while the rest was left to be natural rock. Ribs, claws and pointed fins surrounded the beast. Its jaw was rigged to a pair of chains that went through passages in the ceiling and appeared to be keeping the mouth firmly shut.

Sado got down on one knee. “It was not my intentions, but the spirit of this souse put a bit of a delay on his preparations.”

Yanun hummed and cast her gaze on Link. Her expression of distaste betrayed the calmness in her voice. “Welcome, blessed one, to our shrine.” She then looked to Hine. “You are Sado's witness for his trials of Prima?”

“Yes, Priestess.”

“How amusing... First Sado renounces his place,” She glares at the man for a moment. “so that you may take his role as my Warlord. And, now,” Then her gaze returns to Hine with more ferocity. “you are here to help him obtain a right that belongs to you.”

They say nothing and she continues. “For a pair that is known for the hatred between them, you two seem to help each other out in the most monumental of times with little hesitation.”

Hine scoffed. “I give no aid to this man. I’m here for my own benefit, as my own conviction is being tested.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” Sado grinned at his witness and then turned to his priestess. “I have prepared all requirements for the ceremony and I declare that my conditions of my trials complete.” He said as he gestured to a large barrel sitting nearby with a small bundle resting on top.

Yanun didn't even spare a glance to what was presumably Sado's offerings. She had saw them when she came into the hall to prepare for all of this. Anyone else would have laughed at the mockery. This was it? 'A land of wealth that Prima once had'? Three months was not long enough to complete such a task and the bastard had the guts to call for the ceremony! As she bit back her outrage, she coldly asked. “Are you certain you wish to begin? You are aware that the punishment of failure is death.”

“Come, little one.” He yanked Link forward. “This will be over shortly, I assure you that.”

Without pressing the matter any further, Yanun extended her left hand towards Link. “Souse, your chains are unnecessary. Primals, remove them.”

Link was confused as to why they were now setting him free. He wasn't so foolish to believe that he could fight them off, especially in his current state. But he did feel more relaxed with full mobility and for that he was grateful. Though there something clearly messed up going on with these silver Zora; no doubt being hidden from the native Zora, from King Dorephan. The stonework looming over Yanun was setting off not only red flags, but giving him a horrible sense of déjà vu. Link kneeled as Yanun dropped her hand.

“Let us begin.” Yanun said and turned to Hine. “Witness to the trials, come forth and give your pledge.”

Hine approached, standing on the pedestal as Yanun stepped to the side and faced the statue. At first Link thought she was going to recite a verse, but she dug her claws into her hand with a simple clench of her fist and smeared her blood over the crest. Like a spear dipped in blood. Hine then moved to kneel next to Sado.

“By law of Prima, to earn rights to life, both your lives will be taken at the expense of the primal's failure.”

To which Sado answered. “To be unfit to Prima's laws of strength, is to be food.” He then stood. “I have not failed. I have proven my trial of strength long ago and my trial of faith; is that Prima will be greatly pleased with me in the wealth of land I offer and my proof.”

“Then, primal, bring forth your proof. A land of wealth equal to that of what Prima lost.” Yanun watched him as he moved to retrieve the wrapped bundle. She was angry with him. Not only because he blatantly failed, but because he agreed to continue and she was now in a horrible position. With the terms, both Sado and Hine were to be killed. Two of her best warriors! That left her army at less than half the strength! Over what? Some stupid little game, to attempt to make a fool out of her?

Sado stood before her and then kneeled, offering the bundle wrapped in cloth. Yanun was disgusted, he didn't even have the decency to put any effort into presentation. However, she took the item without a word and unwrapped it. Dropping the scraps, all that remained was a flawed amber. “What sort of a joke is this. You failed, but for what means?” She snarled and spat. “For a laugh!?”

He smiled simply at first, though after the clear pause, he put on the theatrics. “Oh, how your words wound me, my Priestess. Does exceeding the requirements count as a failure?” Sado grasped at his heart as he held his head in his other hand. “Had I known that, I would have gone for something smaller, perhaps less useful? Oh, please, I do beg for your forgiveness!”

She scowled, realizing that she was indeed being toyed with and glanced at the amber in her hand. “And what, prey-tell, is this flawed gem meant to be? What worth is it to Prima?”

Dropping the act and still, oh so delighted. “I give you, my Priestess, the key to turning; not just the whole Zora territory or the Kingdom of Hyrule, but this whole damned world into Prima's Domain. The key to Vah Ruta.”

Link expressed no reaction. But his mind was whirling in turmoil. Link couldn't believe what he was hearing. What!? Were they planning to overthrow King Dorephan this whole time? Was conquering all of Hyrule their end goal? Regardless, there was no such thing as a key to a divine beast! Each was bound to a champion soul worthy of their power every ten thousand years! There was no way-

Kuu. That Hylian had the magic to make that nightmare a reality and Link had kept all the keys they needed.

Yanun expressed her pleasant surprise with a slight smile and then quirked a brow. The soulstone of Mipha. “Where did you find this?”

“At the bottom of the East Reservoir.”

“You are fortunate to have found this key, I am well aware of that weapon's capabilities.” She paused for a moment and gave it a test. It was not the first soulstone she had the rare opportunity to play with and was easy for her to channel its power. The amber flickered to life, glowing brightly.

I refuse to be a pawn once more!

Link could hear her voice, Mipha was still conscious and trying to fight back. I have to save her! But his body refused to move, he didn't so much as twitch. At first he thought that it was due to shock or the logical side of his mind holding him back from acting foolish again. But no. Link honestly could not move, not a wiggle of his fingers or even the batting of his eyelids. It was like being in a memory, only this time he was aware. However, it was no memory, this was now. He was trapped within his own body.

When?! When had this happened? Is this Sado's doing- no, he would have done so before hand. As would Hine. Then Link recalled his fight with Sado, how Yanun had punished him by twisting his body. She had done it all with the simple raise of a hand. Raise of a hand. She... she had done this to me the moment before they released me? It frightened him all the more to know he had been under her spell and had not felt anything. Had she been the one to control me at the castle too?

The light vanished and Yanun hummed with curiosity, before looking at Sado still kneeling before her. “While you have merely brought the promise of lands and nothing else. The risk you placed on such an item shows faith. Prima is more than pleased with this offering. You pass both trials.”

“As I expected.” Sado replied with pride. “Now, may we continue to the final act?”

His attitude normally would have ruined any joy she had at this moment. But with such a wonderful surprise, she couldn't be bothered and also wanted to end this as swiftly as possible. Yanun had other matters to attend to, plans to put into action.

She looked to Hine. “Release Prima's jaws.” Then back to Sado. “Bring forth the sacrifice.” As Hine walked over to a particular torch, it was revealed to be a lever as she pulled it down. A low whining of gears was heard above and then a rustle of chains as the maw dropped open. It was large enough that Link could have laid across with only his feet sticking out. Rows and rows of sharp, white, real teeth lined the entire mouth.

Just as Sado was cracking the lid off the barrel, Yanun beckoned Link over. “Come, souse.” Link wanted to refuse, but his body rose to his feet. His heart didn't even skip a beat, calmly pumping along like all was right in the world. Just how much control did she have.

As he sat under the statue's jaw, facing outward and Yanun sat in front of him.

“Best hurry while she is still kicking.” Sado held a plump, black shark by the tail. Yanun looked the flailing animal over with an unamused scowl. “What? I thought her to be fitting, adorned with the proper colouring of a souse and all.”

“Set her here.” Yanun pointed to the space between her and Link. Sado plopped the shark down with the belly facing the priestess. Kicking and biting aimlessly, Yanun grabbed hold of their head with her sharp claws. With her other hand she then cut open the bottom half of the shark's belly and small pups came flopping about. Yanun sorted through them. “Six pups, a decent number for such a small creature. Let us hope that you can do better in the short years you have, souse.”

With that finished, Yanun forced her hand through the shark's gills and ripped out the shark's heart. While the shark finally laid still, the heart remained beating in Yanun's hand as she held it out to Link. “Swallow the heart.”

Like the puppet she made him to be, Link's body moved without hesitation to take it and put it in his mouth. It was difficult, even if he was being forced by magic, to swallow it whole. I'm going to be sick. Link thought as he swore that he could still feel the heart moving in his stomach.

Yanun then picked up the shark, leaving the weakly kicking pups at her feet and set the body across the bed of teeth in the statue's maw. At first Link saw Hine set the lever back into place, then the next moment there is a sickening crunch and Link is showered in blood.

“Now that you have been cleansed,” Yanun held out her left hand and Link stepped out from under the remaining droplets. She carefully brushed the liquid away from his eyes. “I welcome you into the clan, souse. May Prima have you bless us with many primals.”

Sado sighed in irritation, just soft enough to get her attention, but not enough to warrant punishment. Though she still scowled as she turned Link to face him. As the giant sat, he put his forearm in front of Link's face. “Don’t hold back now.” Sado smirked and looked to Yanun, whom only responded with the flick of her fingers.

Link lurched forward and chomped down on Sado's arm. His teeth and jaw ached from hitting bone, but even his reflex to recoil from the pain had been held back. Warm blood gushed into his mouth, dripping down his chin like a ripe melon's juices. He wanted to spit it all out, but Yanun's control had him swallowing by the mouthful and burning his throat with every gulp. Link's chest sears with pain, like he was suffocating or someone was prying his rib cage open. Like that bastard was digging around inside again. It was disgusting, what they had done, what they were doing to him. Stop, damn you!

When Link let the arm go, all he could focus on was the agony and foul sensation coursing through his body. For a moment he believed his body would purge his stomach regardless of the magic at play. Regrettably, it held.

A dark purple light brought Link to focus again on what was happening before him. Sado's eyes were glowing as his soul seemed to spiral over his skin, like a tornado or whirlpool. No.

Link's gaze is shifted away as his head tilts to the side, baring his neck in offering. Don't you dare. I'll kill you!

Sado grabbed the Hylian's shoulder and a handful of hair, both actions were unnecessary as Link wasn't able to resist anyway. The Zora then whispered into Link's ear with a twisted smile. “This would have been less boring if you had played nice. I did warn you.” Sado pulled back far enough for Link to get a good look at his teeth before snapping his jaws down on the smaller man's body. The bite covered from the base of his neck to the shoulder. Link wasn't even able to scream as Sado's pointed teeth marred his flesh and crushed his collar bone. Anguish storms about Link's mind. His skin bursts into blue light as the pain digs its way down to his soul. Sidon!

He can feel his blood being sucked out of him and his vision begins to darken. Link can't take any more, he's pushed himself beyond exhaustion, carried on through too much suffering. First the champions were stripped from his soul and now his soul is being bound to another. Sidon! Please-!

“Now you're mine.”

<<–Previous Chapter-^-Next Chapter–>>

#SidLink #a/b/o verse #Mpreg #Primal FF #Written Work #Rated M #Rated R

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meteorstricken · 4 years

Text

FFVII Rare Pair Week Day 5 Prompt: Words

“Argument”

**The following is an edited-for-excessive spoilers version of a scene that will occur several chapters into my ongoing Seph/Tifa multi-chaptered fic, Un-Guilty, where a pre-Nibelheim Sephiroth is thrown into a future where he must come to terms with both himself and everything his post-Nibelheim self did. As they say in the Remake trailers, "Developmental footage subject to change."**

*****************

Tifa herded the inebriated Reno and Elena, who'd overstayed last call by about an hour, out Seventh Heaven's front door waving, "Bye, guys."

"Hey, you sure you don't need a hand...an hand with..." Reno made a gesture over his forehead in the shape of arched bangs, tripping backwards into Elena.

"Don't worry about me, Reno," Tifa reassured him. "You two should get going and take care of yourselves."

"Yeah, c'mon, Reno. Tsheng said he's mentally non...not legal. Lethal. Probably," Elena slurred, making a stumbling recovery from her near-fall.

"Elena's right. No real problems here," Tifa said, quickly shutting and locking the door. She pressed a hand against it, tilted her head back, and sighed.

Between the Turks' babysitting and Cloud's surprisingly fast-blossoming life outside her own, it might not be too long before someone ate an undeserved fist. The Turks were just being Rufus' faithful lapdogs as usual, and were at least polite enough to order something whenever they stopped in to pry, but Cloud's near-dismissal of Sephiroth's renewed presence in their lives had come as a shock. He almost never asked about him, even though word was spreading that she was keeping an eye on their former and would-be nemesis. None of his old protectiveness had reared its head. It almost felt like he didn't care. For all they’d been through, weren’t they at least still friends? They'd separated on good terms, regretfully agreeing they didn't know how to stop smothering one another. There hadn't been any serious hard feelings, or so she thought. She'd expected it to be awkward for a while, but he still mattered to her.

Maybe he was just afraid and avoiding the situation for his own good. Maybe he was trying to give her space.

Or, she might have been more of a burden to him over the long haul than she realized. Maybe that's what he was figuring out—that he was angry with her in a way he didn’t know how to confront yet. She was too afraid to ask.

Tifa wasn't so sure what she was supposed to be doing to get ahead herself. She was just going through the motions, opening and closing the bar one day after the next, helping out with Reeve’s supply coordination plans on the side, going to bed at the end of the day and getting up to do it all over again. Occasionally, Barret would drop off Marlene, and playing or teaching her how to cook was a welcomed distraction from the grind, but that was it.

Barret, who still had no idea about her newest employee, she considered. That was another bridge to cross.

Sephiroth stepped out of the kitchen, finished with the night's dishes. "If necessary, I can start leaving earlier," he offered.

"Mm. No," Tifa replied tiredly. She gave him an odd look. He must have heard Reno. “We’d already be dead if you wanted to kill us. But here you are, cleaning my kitchen in exchange for meals and chump change. The man who burned down my...probably wouldn't..." She stopped, uncomfortable, squeezing her hands together in place of coherent thoughts.

"I'll be going in a moment," Sephiroth said quietly.

Tifa winced. Her and her big mouth. "Actually, no… Let's talk."

"About?"

"You. Me. Life. How things have changed. When Cloud and I were still...living…together, we weren't so great at talking."

"I know very little about…that".

"Not even a fling back in SOLDIER, huh?" Tifa blurted, and immediately regretted it, because of what she knew about him already, and what it might seem like she was implying.

Sephiroth narrowed his eyes at her. "If Reeve has shared as much of my past with you as he's conveyed, then you know I was raised and worked under S.R.D. and Turk surveillance. I had a fan club named for me as a result. I did not care for it. They did not care for me, though I suspect Hojo's purpose for them was ultimately procreative."

Tifa grimaced, pulled down a random bottle of booze from a cupboard, and poured two double shots. Offering one to Sephiroth, she said, "On the house. We could probably both use something to take the edge off."

"...I am not susceptible to liquor."

Tifa paused. "No, I guess you wouldn't be," she admitted, flustered, retracting his glass and pouring it into hers. "Soda?"

"Water is fine," he replied, fixing her with a calculating stare. "It pains you that Cloud doesn't wish to guard you anymore," he stated plainly. "However, it grew tiresome when he did. You told Elena and Cissnei as much."

Tifa frowned and took a deep breath. "Didn't have you pegged for an eavesdropper."

"Everything for Cloud's sake," he continued, "leaving nothing for your own purpose."

Tossing back half the glass, Tifa plopped down onto a barstool and leaned forward onto the counter, glaring at him, feeling her temper flare. Memories of how, when he'd lured them up north, his other self had mocked her, threatening to use her memories against Cloud poked at the forefront of her mind. "I can play that game, too, Sephiroth. You—"

"Everything for a mother I didn't know, and no longer wish to," he interrupted sourly. "Neither of them."

Tifa stared down at her drink, already feeling tipsy and somewhat surprised. Embarrassed, actually. So he wasn't trying to provoke her; he was making a sloppy, very Sephiroth- flavored effort to relate. Using some heavy scar tissue, no less. She felt ridiculous, but the words weaseled their way out after a groan, "I wanted a silly childhood promise to be enough. For him and me. Now I’m wondering if things would have been easier on both of us if we’d never made it."

"I thought the truth of my conception would free me from what I am," Sephiroth echoed bitterly.

"I suppose what we are to someone else was always supposed to be who we are," Tifa mused, taking another sip.

"'Who' is...difficult," Sephiroth replied. "I'd rather not think much of it."

Tifa's face softened. She knew that feeling too well. So long as she'd been there for her friends and especially Cloud, thinking about her own reasons didn't matter. It was just too big to tackle. "There's a hole where 'who' is supposed to be, and no matter what I try to put in there..."

"Nothing is enough," he finished for her. "And..."

Tifa eyed him expectantly when he failed to finish. "And?”

His brows creased; a deep scowl etched into his face.

"I was--I am the one who caused you this uncertainty," he said.

"You would have been," she corrected, but instantly averted her eyes when she said it.

He would have been, and he had been. They had to contend with both realities. There was no running from it. She wanted to be understanding and fair for this version of him, but the resentful, stubborn ache that formed in the pit of her stomach when she thought back to Nibelheim was steadfast as always.

"The consequences remain. It makes no difference." A small tremor entered his voice. He shook his head, seemingly scolding himself. “Perhaps I will seek employment elsewhere,” he said.

Tifa planted her forehead on the counter and grumbled, “How am I supposed to watch you if you aren’t around?”

“My presence harms you.”

She perked back up, offended. “…You’re wrong about that.”

“Am I?”

“My memory of what you would have done is what hurts, Sephiroth,” she retorted, raising her voice. “But you know what? Maybe I am waiting for the bottom to fall out. It has to be coming, right? No, I don’t trust you. You terrify me, but you act like a wounded, frightened child. How am I supposed to feel?”

Sephiroth lowered his eyes. “Do you not trust Vincent and Reeve to monitor me?”

“It has to be me,” she insisted.

“Why?”

“I don’t owe you an explanation,” she spat. “Look…I’m sorry. Quit if you want. The W.R.O. probably has something better anyway. I don't know why I…”

He stared at her for a long moment. “Do you want me here, Tifa?”

“I…would rather have you around than not,” she conceded. “You do good work. I don’t have to double check anything, and you never complain.”

“That hardly justifies it,” he pushed back.

“It’s enough for now.”

"…Until tomorrow, then," he relented, quickly grabbed his coat, and left.

#ffviirarepairweek #day 5 #seph/tifa #tifaroth #sephti #unguilty teaser #ffvii #sephiroth #tifa

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inevitably-johnlocked · 5 years

Note

I agree with your view on marys character, she wouldve been a fantastic villain, theres definitely buildup. Do you have some fic recs for villain!Mary?

Hi Lovely!!

YES I love a good evil / Villain Mary plot, if only because she had so much potential as one in S3 and just never fell through with it. I know a fic I DIDN’T put on this list because Mary was such a background character that she shows up in the penultimate chapter and her REVEAL as a villain was the “big spoiler reveal” in the fic’s climax, so rather than spoil that fic for y’all, I’ve omitted it all together; feel free to message me if you want to know which fic it was, LOL.

Anyway, hope you like what I’ve got for ya here!

EVIL / NOT-NICE / VILLAIN MARY

See also: Evil Mary (Alexx’s List)

Quite Contrary by Hollyesque (T, 1,805 w. || HLV Fic, Sherlock Whump / After Mary Shot Sherlock, Hallucinations / Flashbacks / PTSD, Hospitalization, Hurt/Comfort, Lestrade POV, ) – A short one-shot, alternate scene to Greg’s hospital visit in HLV. Instead of Sherlock disappearing, Greg is faced with an unexpected reaction to a hospitalized Sherlock and winds up figuring out something that he really would have rather not known.

BBCSH ‘Poor Mary’ by tigersilver (M, 1,839 w.|| HLV Fic, Canon Compliant, Sherlock Whump / Mary Shot Sherlock, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Pining Sherlock, Hospitalization, Missing Scene, Sherlock POV) – As the tin says above, this is a missing scene, set directly after Sherlock awakens in hospital after having been shot by his best mate’s wife. Minor angst, some pining, nothing nasty; please don’t be alarmed unduly.

Crisis Averted by Spartangal22 (T, 2,188 w. || HLV Fic, Missing Scene After Confronting Mary, Canon Compliant, Sherlock Whump / Mary Shot Sherlock, Family / Friendship, Hospitalization, Sherlock POV, Holmes Brothers) – Lying in the hospital, Sherlock receives some surprising visitors, and manages to deal with two problems he’s been having lately. A missing scene from HLV about a formal introduction that was never made and a visit that was never shown.

It’s a Dummy by Johnnlocked (T, 2,574 w. || Confessions, HLV-AU, Major Character Injury) – What if Mary had taken the shot?

Green Carnation by glenien (T, 2,616 w. || Sherlock’s Mind Palace, Meta-Fic, Angst and Fluff, Communication, Post-TAB) – John takes Sherlock home. Part 1 of It’s No Longer Eighteen Ninety-Five

The Trial of Sherlock Holmes by jenna221b (G, 3,015 across 3 works || TAB!lock, Metafic / TJLC, Victorian AU / 1895, Christmas, Sherlock’s Mind Palace, Oscar Wilde) – Scripts based on speculation that Sherlock will be put on trial in The Abominable Bride to parallel the Oscar Wilde Trials of 1895.

In the cherry blossom’s shade by Eliane (M, 3,934 w. || Post S3, First Time / Kiss, Sleeping Together, Pining / Obsessive Sherlock, Minor Char. Death) – This isn’t new. Sherlock has already done this – has gone through cities, and dingy hotels, and sleepless nights but it was different before. John wasn’t there before. They’re in this together.

Recovery by thesignsofserbia (T, 5,948 w. || HLV-Fix It / Rewrite, Villain Mary, Pining Sherlock, Major Character Injury, Scars, Self-Hatred, POV Sherlock, Doctor John, Friends to Lovers) – Set after the confrontation with Mary, and Sherlock’s cardiac arrest, John stays at 221B to aid Sherlock’s recovery, forcing them to confront wounds both old and new as they try to heal their damaged relationship.

Never Been This Swept Away by estalita11 (T, 8,531 w. || Post-TAB, Mary is Not Nice, Drug Use, First Kiss, Love Confessions) – Set immediately after TAB, Sherlock visits his brother to definitely not apologize about earlier and ends up finally learning a few things that would have been nice knowing about months ago. Mycroft never wants to deal with lovestruck idiots ever again.

Out of the Darkness by Irrevocably_Sherlocked (M, 12,165 w+ (WIP) || Death, Overdose, Heavy Angst, Whump, Mary is Not Nice, Post S3/TAB Compliant) – John Watson has long assumed Sherlock Holmes is immune to sentiment, “doesn’t feel things that way.” Sherlock, however, would do anything for the person he loves most in the world, including putting himself in danger while keeping John in the dark in hopes of keeping him safe. Tired of being left behind, John is running a strategy of his own. Unfortunately things do not go as planned for either of them. And as John lays bleeding, Sherlock finally allows himself to say the things he’s always meant to… This is the story of love, forgiveness and finally making right all the wrongs in these two men’s lives.

Barricade by stitchy (M, 14,127 w. || Friends to Lovers, Angst, Happy Ending, UST, Mary’s Not Nice, Pining Sherlock) – Sherlock has been struggling to keep his feelings at bay for everyone’s sake. Part 1 of Barricade

Dropping the Act by jadztone (T, 27,258 w. || Parentlock, Fake Relationship, Mary’s Family, Post-S4, Cuddling & Snuggling, Bed Sharing, Pining, Christmas) – Sherlock and John are quite happy living together with Rosie in Baker St. They might be even happier if they didn’t act towards each other like their love is only platonic. Mycroft brings troubling news in the form of Mary’s parents wanting to know just what their grandchild’s home life is like. The boys decide to spend Christmas pretending like they are in love in order to seem more like a “normal” family. It’s easy enough to pretend when all you’re doing is dropping the act. {{Background discussion of Mary who’s neither evil nor nice}}

Vena Cava by SilentAuror (E, 27,452 || H/C, Infidelity, Angst, HLV Fix-It, Romance) – Sherlock has been shot in the chest; John has been shot in the heart. Though everything is broken, they do their best to heal the wounds that Mary left on them both.

A Study In Auto-Signatures, Sniper Dolphins, and Sex Holidays by cwb (E, 32,690 w. || Case Fic, Post S3, Evil Mary, Dev. Rel., Honeymoon, Epistolary, Bottomlock, First Kiss / Time, Fluff, Secret Agents, BAMF!John) – John and Mary go on their sex holiday, and Sherlock is grumpy and pining about it. Part 1 of HOT DOLPHIN SEX

Pater Noster by SilentAuror (E, 34,256 w. || Case Fic, HLV+, Family Trauma, Sherlock POV, Villain Mary) – During the autumn that John is staying at Baker Street again after Sherlock was shot, he ruminates over the similarity between Sherlock’s shot and the one that killed his father when he was fifteen. Cold case meets series 3 fix-it. Part I takes place entirely within His Last Vow, Part II takes place starting at the end of HLV and continues after.

The Yellow Poppies by SilentAuror (E, 34,952 w. || H/C, Nightmares, HLV Fix-It, PTSD, Trauma, POV Sherlock, Doctor John) – Sherlock is threatened and assaulted in the hospital immediately after having been shot in the heart, first by Mary, then by Magnussen. As he recovers at Baker Street with John and plans the attack on Appledore with Mycroft, he fights to work through the trauma caused by these two visits. Set during His Last Vow.

Classified(s) by blueink3 (E, 36,153 w. || Wedding Date AU || Fake Relationship, Jealous, PIning, H/C, Idiots in Love, Happy Ending, Mary is not Nice) – Clara’s American father is the ambassador to some such territory that Great Britain probably used to own, but she (and Harry’s undying love for her) is the reason John is getting on a flight at 12:30pm, flying across the second largest ocean in the world, and pretending to be in a perfectly happy, healthy relationship with an undoubtedly perfectly coiffed stranger. See, Clara is not only American (and wealthy to boot), she’s also best friends with John’s ex-fiancée. Whom she’s placed in the wedding party. As Maid of Honor. And John just happens to be Best Man. Bloody brilliant.

Malediction by MapleleafCameo (M, 36,680 w. || Ladyhawke AU || Magical Realism, Romance, Curses, Eventual Happy Ending) – Cursed to a half-life, John and Sherlock must fight the forces of evil to be reunited once again.

Act IV by SilentAuror (E, 39,707 w. || First Person POV Sherlock, HLV Fix-It, Indifelity, Angst, Drama) – After Sherlock is shot, John moves back into Baker Street. They spend the autumn together as John tries to make sense of his life and make some important decisions about both Mary and Sherlock. Canon-compliant, excerpts from His Last Vow.

Scars by SilentAuror (E, 60,493 w. || Rape / Non-Con / Abuse, Gaslighting, Manipulation, Dub Con Elements, Homophobia, Angst With Happy Ending, Mary is Not Nice) – S3 rewrite, showing Mary’s manipulation of John as he realizes his love for Sherlock. Mary is not having it.

The Progress of Sherlock Holmes by ivyblossom (E, 62,006 w || First Person Sherlock POV, Pining, Angst, Slow Burn, Infidelity, Sherlock Learns About Himself, Happy Ending) – Sherlock struggles with his feelings for John, makes a mistake, and learns just how important he and John are to each other. Non-BBC Mary / John, but it’s a *complicated* relationship.

The Bells of King’s College by SilentAuror (E, 64,019 w. || Post-S4, Missed Opportunities, Angst, Fake Relationship, Case Fic, John POV, Jealous John, John in Denial, Travelling / Holidays) – It’s only been two weeks since Eurus Holmes disrupted their lives when Mycroft sends John and Sherlock to Cambridge to pose as an engaged couple at a wedding show in the hopes of solving six unsolved deaths… (Mary is only mentioned but she had a profound effect on John which is why I kept this one in)

The Moonlight and the Frost by CaitlinFairchild (E, 77,289 w. || Case Fic, Post-HLV, Self Harm, Virgin Sherlock, First Time, Oral/Anal/Rimming, Romance, Angst, Mary is Not Nice) – John has to somehow rebuild his life in the wake of Mary’s betrayal and Sherlock’s deceptions.

Not Broken, Just Bent by Schmiezi (E, 87,585 w. || Pining, Love Confessions, Torture, Hurt/Comfort, Heavy Angst, Villain!Mary, Suicidal Ideations, Main Character Death, Sherlock POV, Eventual Happy Ending) – “For a second, I allow myself to remember teaching John how to waltz. There is a special room in my mind palace for it. A big one, with a proper parquet dance floor. For a second, I go there. I remember holding him, closer than the World Dance Council asks for, excusing it with the fact that we are training for a wedding, not for a competition. For a second, I feel his hand on mine again, smell his sweat, hear the song we used. For a second, I allow myself to love him deeply. For a second, only a second, that love reflects on my face.” Fix-it for S3, starting at the end of TSoT. Evil Mary.

Sacré Coeur by Mamaorion (M, 95,236 w. || S4 Fix It Rewrite, First Kiss, UST / RST, Eventual Happy Ending, Coming Out, Holmes Family, Marriage Proposal, Husbands, Healing, Evil Mary, Beekeeping, Caretaker Sherlock, Mind Palace, Alzheimer’s Disease, Protective / Big Brother Mycroft, TD-12) – In this s4 fixit, John must piece together the gaps in his altered memory if he and Sherlock are to face the terror that has plagued Sherlock since childhood. As they untangle the web, seven years of hidden love ignite. (TO READ)

The Burning Heart by May_Shepard (M, 119,150 w. || Canon Divergence, Post-TRF, John’s Sexuality, S3 Rewrite, Pining, Angst with a Happy Ending, POV John Watson, John’s Gay) – When Sherlock dies, John Watson feels like his life is over too. He’s completely shut down, until Mark Morstan, a new nurse at John’s medical clinic, catches his attention, and helps him uncover the long buried truth of his attraction to men. Although he’s certain he’ll never get over Sherlock, John plans to move on, and build a new life with Mark, unaware that Sherlock is not quite as dead as he appears, and that Mark is hiding secrets of his own.

MARKED FOR LATER

(these are fics I have in my MFL list for future reading and have not read them yet. Read at your own discretion).

Stay for Me by Itsallfine (M, 17,310 w. || Post-TAB, Implied/Referenced Drug Use, Drug Withdrawal, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Hurt/Comfort, First Kiss/Time, Bed Sharing, Mental Health Issues, Not-Nice Mary, Divorce, Angst with Happy Ending, Parentlock) – 221B was packed into boxes and bins, and that was when John knew, really knew—Sherlock had planned to be gone forever.

Collateral Damage by SilentAuror (E, 24,952 w. || Post-HLV, POV Third Person Sherlock, Snipers, Drama, Villain Mary, Moriarty is Alive) – Upon learning that Moriarty is alive, Mary disappears, leaving Sherlock and John to work on the mystery of Moriarty’s survival on their own. Until Mycroft’s people find and bring her back…

An Everlasting Inferno by thatawkwardfriend (M, 35,011+ w. || WiP || Criminal AU || Different First Meeting, Minor Character Death, Gun Violence, Sherlock Whump, Friends to Lovers / Enemies to Lovers, UST, Mutual Pining) – Sherlock and John are both men who operate outside the law. John works for Mary and her hitmen in order to keep a roof over his head. Sherlock does anything his drug dealer asks of him in exchange for free drugs and housing. They meet one night in a darkened garage to negotiate a deal. But they soon find out that neither of their bosses are being entirely honest with them about their goals or motives. With a little poking around, they stumble upon something much bigger than themselves and discover that perhaps, it might be in their best interests to work together. (Loosely inspired by StartUp and Little Favour)

The Craving in Between by love_in_mind_palace (E, 69,349 w. || Wedding Planner AU || Infidelity, Romance, Angst with Happy Ending, Misunderstandings, Sexting & Texting, Alternating POV, Mary is Not Nice) – Sherlock Holmes, The wedding Consultant. Picky about his projects and a nightmare to work with. Rejects ninety percent of the couples after just having a look at them and can predict how long a marriage will last. But when unassuming, plain, John Watson reluctantly limps his way in his office, with his more than enthusiastic fiancée, Mary Morstan, instead of dismissing the ill-assorted couple on the spot, he promptly decides that the project, and the groom.. are definitely worth working on.

The Lost Special: Family Matters (As Do Relationships) by ShirleyCarlton (M, 93,848+ w. || WiP || S4 Fix It Fic, Unreliable Narrator, John’s Mind Bungalow, Friends to Lovers, Happy Ending) – WORK IN PROGRESS – Sherrinford is not really the name of some high security prison. That was just a figment of John’s frantic coma dream. And Eurus is not actually Sherlock’s sister. That’s just something random she said to John before shooting him. Sherlock and John were never actually estranged. That was just their act to cover up what really happened to Mary – or Rosamund Moran, as her real name has turned out to be. Sherlock does have a secret sibling, though, and his name is Sherrinford. After finally eliminating Moran – though in a rather dramatically different way than they had envisioned – and exposing the truth about Eurus, John encourages Sherlock to delve into his past and to find out whether the reasons to keep Sherrinford away from Sherlock were the right ones, and to discover what really happened in 1981. Along the way, Sherlock and John gradually, finally, stop keeping each other at a distance, and eventually become a proper family of their own.

A Ritual to Read to Each Other by weeesi (E, 101,463 w. || Post S3 / Post HLV, Pining, Alternating POV, Masturbation, John’s Nightmares, Mary is Not Nice, Love Confessions, Flashbacks, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, BJ’s / HJ’s, Shower Sex, Anal, John Deals With Feelings, Sherlock’s Mind Palace, Injury, On Holidays, Implied Mystrade) – After Mycroft terminated his exile but before Sherlock could escape from the infuriating plane, John and Mary were whisked away by car to an unknown location.Sherlock hasn’t seen them for an entire year. He doesn’t know when he’ll see John again – until one day, he does.But, of course, nothing is simple.

“Merry Christmas” I wrapped it up and sent it with a note saying “I love you” by starrysummernights (E, 136,580+ w. || WIP, chapter missing? || Post S4, Slow Burn, Mary is Not Nice, Christmas, Fluff, Smut, Angst, Parentlock, Past Torture / Rape) – John has moved back into 221B with his daughter Rosie after Mary was killed, but things are not exactly comfortable between him and Sherlock. After everything that has happened, they are trying to become friends again…and maybe something more. What better time than the Christmas season?! Takes place after TLD.

#steph replies #johnlock fic recs #villain mary #mary is not nice #my fic recs #Anonymous #long post

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roman-writing · 5 years

Text

no end in sight (6/7)

Fandom: World of Warcraft

Pairing: Jaina Proudmoore/Thalyssra

Rating: T

Wordcount: 8,302

Summary: Jaina goes to Suramar seeking aid after leaving the Kirin Tor. An AU exploring the events post-Theramore and Jaina’s recovery during Legion.

Read it here on AO3 or read it below the cut

“I’m a strange new kind of inbetween thing aren’t I

not at home with the dead nor with the living.”

— Sophocles, trans. Anne Carson; from Antigonick.

Even attempting a simple mirroring spell in a glass of water made her wince. Jaina tried twice before she finally gave up and just found a silver-handled mirror, small enough to hold in one hand. Surprisingly, it had not been one of Valtrois’ possessions, but Oculeth’s. Apparently he used it as an attachment when tampering with particularly fiddly apparati. That at least explained the dark remnants of grease caught in the handle’s engravings.

Wiping off the handle with the hems of her robes, Jaina held up the mirror to inspect her face. It had been months since she had last seen her reflection with any clarity. Her hair had grown longer; honestly it could use a trim. Her skin was paler from all her time in the night-washed lands of Suramar, wheredusk reigned even through summer. Most notably however were the tattoos engraved on her face.

After their confrontation a week ago, Thalyssra had performed the second to last procedure with an unprecedented gentleness. It had taken just as long as the others -- if not a little longer -- and Thalyssra had wielded the ink and copper-tipped bone needle like a painter’s tools, her fingers warm and soft against Jaina’s face.

Jaina traced the leylines with her own fingertips now. They curved along her neck from her collarbone, circled behind her ears just beneath her hairline, and then slashed from brow to jaw down both her eyes. With every heartbeat they seemed to pulse. Her eyes caught the light in an unearthly glow, like resin.

“You look fine, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

Jaina lowered the mirror rather quickly. Her hands were not as steady as she would have liked. She worried her lower lip between her teeth. “That’s not -” she almost said, but bit back the words. Instead, she lifted her chin and her voice was far more calm than she felt, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Oculeth replied, still bent over his lab table strewn with half-finished gadgets and scrawled notes.

“Though, I’d be much more inclined to believe you, if you’d actually looked at me.”

“An unnecessary step in the process, Lady Proudmoore. You always look stunning.”

“A charmer and a liar,” she drawled, “And here I thought I was the only one.”

Completely deadpan, Oculeth replied, “You’re in Suramar. You’ll find folk like us everywhere. Can I please have my mirror back now?”

Oculeth held his hand out towards her without looking up from the device he was working on, which appeared to be an armoured gauntlet that would occasionally twitch its mechanical fingers. Her enchanted mask was propped on one corner of the table, a dusky silk streamer trailing from the edge. They were safely concealed behind two screens, which blocked off a section of Shal’Aran for Oculeth’s private lab.

Jaina handed the mirror over. As she did so, she peered over his shoulder, standing behind him. “What on earth is that, anyway?” she asked, cocking her head at the mechanical arm that was responding to Oculeth’s fiddling.

Rather than Oculeth replying however, Valtrois’ voice sounded behind them. “It’s the armoured plating taken from a high-end security construct in the noble district.” When Jaina glanced around, Valtrois was already walking up beside her to stand behind Oculeth as well. She planted her hands on her hips in an impatient pose. “Are you still tinkering away? I need that to build an ephemeral mana-storm projector.”

“Patience is a virtue,” Oculeth murmured. He prodded at the armoured gauntlet’s interior with his tools, and the whole hand spasmed in response. “Fascinating!”

Valtrois rolled her eyes. “Just give it over, won’t you?”

“Do you know how hard it is to kill one of these things? When else am I going to have the opportunity to deconstruct a Chronarch Defender?”

“In the afterlife, at this rate.” Valtrois flicked one of Oculeth’s long ears, and he flinched, glaring at her over his shoulder. “Shouldn’t you be working on teleporting the Horde Champions into the Arcway?”

“I thought teleporting them to the bottom of the sea would be more fun.”

Valtrois flicked his ear again, and he swore under his breath.

Jaina’s eyes widened. “You’re going to what?”

“Oh, you didn’t tell her about the plan?” Valtrois asked Oculeth, far too sweetly to be truly innocent.

Rubbing at his ear, Oculeth grumbled something about ‘doubled security’ and a number of choice Shalassian curse words that Jaina did not know followed by Grand Magistrix Elisande’s name.

“Please tell me you’re joking,” Jaina said, looking between the both of them.

Valtrois’ answer was accompanied by an elfin, one-shouldered shrug. “Needs must.”

“And Thalyssra is alright with this?”

Oculeth blinked at her in confusion. “But of course.”

Jaina’s jaw tightened. She drew a deep breath through her nose, but the anger left a metallic, coppery taste in the back of her mouth. “Of all the hypocritical -! After that whole lecture about why I -! And not wanting people to risk their lives -! And now she’s -!”

Jaina choked on her indignation. She clenched her hands into fists. She could feel the heat rising up her neck. In the past this would have meant unpleasant splotches of colour in her cheeks. Now, a flicker of dark light flashed at the edges of her vision, blinding white, leaving purple streaks in its wake. It spread across her skin, washing over her in a shiver like a flash of water against hot iron.

She started in surprise, blinking away the afterimages, which lingered in her eyes. Her anger vanished, and in its stead a bewildered wariness. Slowly pointing to herself, Jaina asked, “What was that?”

Valtrois was staring at her. Even Oculeth had abandoned his tinkering in favour of watching Jaina with wide-eyes. They glanced at each other in a silent exchange. Then, Valtrois clapped her hands together once, bringing them beneath her chin in the pantomime of a thoughtful pose. “Oh! Well, you just went a bit -- you know -- incorporeal. It’s fine. You’re fine! See?”

To prove her point, she reached out and pinched Jaina’s cheek. Hard.

“Ow!” Jaina slapped Valtrois’ hand away with a scowl, and rubbed at the side of her face.

“You might even say the matter itself was ‘immaterial,’” Oculeth added. He offered Jaina a smile, which she did not return.

Valtrois shook her head at him, but tried to hide it.

“Too soon?” he asked in a small voice.

“Too soon,” Jaina growled, while Valtrois nodded and masked it as a straightening of her shoulders. “I thought these inscriptions were supposed to make me better.”

“They are. They will,” Valtrois assured her. “You’re just at your most unstable right before the last procedure. Think of trying to contain the flow of water through a pipeline that you have to install piece by piece. The pressure is going to be at its greatest right before the last pipe is put in place.”

Jaina rubbed at the lingering ache behind her eyes. “I understand the magical theory behind it. Is there nothing we can do to make it stop? I have four more days until my last procedure, and I rather like being tangible.”

At that, Valtrois merely shrugged. “Meditation? Calming music?”

“I can sing for you?” Oculeth offered.

“I’ll pass,” Jaina said.

From beyond the screens, there came a rising murmur of voices, and footsteps milling together in unison. The three of them glanced at one another, before Oculeth rose to his feet. As Valtrois pulled back one of the screens, Jaina had reached for the mask and was tying it place behind her head. The illusion draped over her, and she joined the others in seeing what the commotion was all about.

People had begun to cluster around the arcan’dor. All around the railings and even the lower level they gathered. From here, nothing about the tree seemed to have changed. Frowning in confusion, Jaina pushed her way through the crowd after Valtrois and Oculeth. When she reached the most central platform that circled the trunk, she froze.

There, Thalyssra gripped her staff in hand and was speaking in a hushed, grave voice to Farodin. Even as he listened, he shook his head with a worried furrow to his brow; his great weathered scythe was slung across his back. Behind them, the bark of the arcan’dor had begun to tarnish from its usual gleaming silver. Now, the trunk was the grey of corroded iron, and the jewel-like tones of its heartwood had begun to dim.

Closing his eyes, Farodin raised the palm of his hand over the trunk of the arcan’dor. Slowly, he let his arm fall, and gazed up into the perfectly symmetrical branches. “We have run out of time.”

Another concerned murmur swept through the watching crowd at those words.

“That can’t be right.” Thalyssra began to pace around the tree, as if the force of her glare alone might cure whatever sickness ailed it. “We were supposed to have a few more weeks before this stage. Why is it so far advanced?”

Farodin sighed, “I do not know.”

“You’re supposed to be the expert.” Thalyssra gripped her staff tighter, using it to gesture at him. “So? Explain.”

A weariness hung about Farodin’s broad, fur-clad shoulders. When he shook his head, it was accompanied by the clatter of bear claws strung around his neck. “I am sorry. Some things just are, Thalyssra.”

The muscles of her jaw bunched together as though she were clenching her teeth. She rapped the end of her staff against the ground in a series of nervous staccato taps, and for a moment she seemed deep in thought. Finally, she came to a stop beside him, and asked, “How long?”

“A few days. Maybe less.”

Together the two of them looked up into the high silvered branches. Then, Farodin placed a broad hand on Thalyssra’s shoulder. What he said to her next, Jaina could not understand; it sounded like Darnassian.

She shrugged his hand off and said in a low tone, “We can speak of this later.” Her voice sharpened. “Oculeth.”

Oculeth stepped forward. “Yes?”

She tilted her head slightly towards him, but did not look away from the arcan’dor. “How long until you can safely teleport us into the Arcway?”

Oculeth spread his hands. “I can have an advanced beacon prepared in four days, but after that we will need our Champions to use it to survey key areas around Suramar.”

“And the mana-storm projector?” Thalyssra asked.

To that, Valtrois answered, “Five days. But only if I don’t sleep.”

A tense silence followed those words. The others held their breath, waiting for the First Arcanist’s decision.

Jaina stepped forward. “Thalyssra -”

“No,” Thalyssra snapped. She did not turn to look at Jaina, instead firmly keeping her eyes upon the arcan’dor. “I don’t want to hear a word from you right now.”

It wasn’t that they were fighting, so to speak. It was just that they had not spoken much since Jaina’s last procedure. And by that, she meant they had not exchanged more than a few words in thirteen days. In all her years, Jaina never had gotten the hang of self-preservation.

“You promised,” was all Jaina said.

Thalyssra’s shoulders tensed. Her long ears twitched, tilting back. She turned her head slightly, just enough to give the impression she was glancing towards Jaina without having to actually make eye contact. “And I have a few days to keep that promise.” She started towards the stairs, every movement stiff, speaking in a brisk tone to Oculeth and Valtrois, “Use the last of the arcwine if you must. This is the end, whether we are ready for it or not.”

Neither of them wasted a moment on a sarcastic remark or any of their usual antics. Oculeth hurried back towards his area of Shal’Aran, while Valtrois was already in motion, joining Oculeth to retrieve her armoured plating. As Thalyssra began to descend the stairs to her own private lab beneath Shal’Aran, the crowd of Nightborne slowly dispersed, talking in hushed tones as though someone had died. They gave Jaina a wide berth, casting her curious glances. None were brave enough to approach her.

None save Farodin.

He waited, unmoving, until the crowd scattered. His golden-eyed stare was as intense as ever, tempered only somewhat by a considering edge. The blade of his scythe gleamed over his shoulders like a dark crescent moon.

Jaina had to brace herself when he walked towards her, as if waiting for a blow to land. “Can I help you?”

It was so reminiscent of their first interaction, that the corner of his beard twitched in a tell-tale smile. It did not look unkind on his otherwise stern face. “I believe we can help each other. As has always been the case.”

Jaina’s eyebrows rose. She had to stifle the urge to check and make sure her mask was still in place despite the fact that she could feel the illusion cottoning onto her like a second skin. She did not trust him. “Why should I trust you?”

If anything that only seemed to amuse him more, though he hid it well. “Why should you not? Because I know who you are? Your secret is safe with me.”

“No. Because I don’t know what side you’re on.”

The glow of the arcan’dor gilded him from behind as though all in silvered in moonlight, and his eyes burned, gold, uncanny, and druidic through the shadows of Shal’Aran. “Some ties grow deeper than whatever banner flies above the battlefield, Lady Proudmoore. I am willing to trust you, though I do not know you.”

Jaina’s face screwed up. Light, but she never could stand the vague proverbs of druids; they couldn’t just state something in good honest language. “Why?”

“Because she trusts you.” Farodin nodded towards the stairs that Thalyssra had just descended.

Jaina inhaled a sharp breath before she could stop herself. Her eyes flickered towards the staircase, then back to Farodin, who was watching her with an expression that was -- if anything -- understanding. Though what he understood, she could hardly fathom herself. Not yet, in any case. Not now.

Slowly, Jaina said, “You want the arcan’dor to reach maturity and bloom.”

Farodin inclined his head in agreement. “And you want to save your loved ones from a fate worse than death.”

Jaina gave a curt nod.

“Then I will speak to the First Arcanist on your behalf.”

At that, Jaina could not help but huff with wry laughter. “And how is that supposed to change her mind?”

“It isn’t.” He swept a hand to his chest in farewell. “Seek harmony.”

And without another word, he folded himself into the shape of a raven in a wisp of smoke, the undersides of its wings bearing a band of jade feathers. Jaina stared after the bird, which soared around the branches of the arcan’dor before vanishing. Then, shaking her head, she muttered to herself. “Damn druids.”

Halfway through day three, both Valtrois and Oculeth barely left their respective workstations. Valtrois’ usual scrupulous attention to grooming had completely dried up, and Oculeth only ever glanced up for a glass of arcwine infused with an herb stimulant that made his fingers tremble slightly while he worked. Jaina let them be. The one time she had tried to be helpful, Valtrois had snapped something at her in Shalassian that Jaina didn’t need to translate to understand.

Thalyssra approached Jaina’s partition before their final procedure with a potion of purging. When she rapped lightly on the partition, Jaina glanced up from a copy of the Arcanomicon written in Draconic, with two dictionaries open at different pages on the ground beside her. She had known that Thalyssra would come around with the potion, but somehow she was still surprised; somehow she had thought that one of the others might have been sent instead.

Thalyssra was many things, but a coward was not one of them.

Jaina marked her page, and shut the book, setting it aside atop one of the open dictionaries. “How are things progressing?”

Thalyssra pulled the screen shut behind her. Her posture was stiff. “Poorly.”

“I’m sorry to hear that," Jaina said with utmost sincerity.

For a long moment they just looked at one another. Then, Thalyssra approached, holding out the glass vial towards her. “You’ll be pleased to know this is the last of these foul potions you’ll ever have to drink.”

“Thank the Light,” Jaina sighed.

She leaned forward to take the vial, but Thalyssra did not let it go right away. Instead, both their hands lingered on the glass surface. Jaina froze, looking up from where she sat on her mussed bedroll.

Jaina opened her mouth to break the silence, when Thalyssra spoke first, “The wither has begun to spread to the arcan’dor’s roots. There is no more time.”

She let go of the vial, and Jaina was able to take it. The glass felt like a lodestone in her hand, weighing her arm down. Her mouth was dry. “Oculeth and Valtrois -?”

Thalyssra shook her head. “They’ve done all they could in the time given them. And now I have -” she paused, “- come around to the fact that we cannot wait any longer.”

Jaina took a moment to run her thumb over the textured glass of the vial. “What did Farodin say that made you change your mind?”

Thalyssra’s gaze was steady and unblinking beneath the shadow cast by her hood. “He didn’t. My mind was already made up. All he said was that regardless of my choice, I needed to reconcile the fact that I have come to value your life above theirs.”

Mouth dry, Jaina tried to think of some reply, but nothing seemed suitable.

Thalyssra turned to leave. She paused before pushing open one of the screens. “Tomorrow, should Oculeth and Valtrois not have their devices ready, I will need to call upon you and make good on my promise.”

Jaina’s grip tightened around the vial. “I’ll be ready.”

She wasn’t ready.

As usual, a broken night of sleep -- courtesy of the potion, the itching, and the near-constant headaches -- found Jaina muzzy and exhausted the next morning. She was half asleep when someone burst into her partition and shook her shoulder.

“Wake up.”

Jaina jerked. Squinting, she rasped, “What -?”

“It’s time,” Valtrois said.

It still took her a second to figure out what Valtrois was talking about. Then the adrenaline hit like a punch to the gut. Jaina scrambled upright, kicking off her blankets as she did so.

“Where are the others?” Jaina asked, running her hands through her hair in an attempt to tame it somewhat.

Valtrois gave a vague wave of her hand before rubbing at her eyes. “Downstairs, setting up the preparations.” She had to stifle a yawn.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m not the one you should be worried about.” Then Valtrois added, “You won’t need to get changed. Let’s go.”

Jaina let go of the clothes she had been rifling through. Valtrois was already stepping into Shal’Aran and waiting for her, and she didn’t have time to grab the enchanted mask. Instead, she grabbed her Kul Tiran cloak and draped it across her shoulders. She was tugging the deep cowl over her head as she stepped outside. As it turned out, this was all for naught; Shal’Aran was entirely empty of people. Signs of life were still scattered around, but everyone had presumably been herded to a safer place.

Clutching the cloak tightly around her, Jaina followed after Valtrois. They descended the spiral stairs beneath the arcan’dor. As they did so, Jaina dared to glance up at the tree. The once silvered bark was now gripped with streaks of iron that twisted all along the symmetrical trunk, and the ends of its branches curled with wither like leaves in autumn. Tearing her eyes away, Jaina quickened her step.

Two floors beneath the great, dying tree, the usual corner of the chamber where Jaina and Thalyssra performed their procedures had been prepared as it always was. A few screens. A low table stretched with cushions and fabric. A copper-tipped bone needle, and vial of moonglow ink upon the floor. Except this time, it was not only Thalyssra who was waiting for her. Oculeth stood with Farodin and Thalyssra near the centre of the chamber. All three of them fell silent and glanced up when Jaina came into view.

While Valtrois could walk across the chamber floor without any issue, Jaina grimaced and had to pick her way carefully, avoiding the complex web of leylines that merged directly beneath the arcan’dor. She lifted the hems of her nightgown around her ankles, and walked with bare feet. By the time she reached the very centre of the room, the others were all waiting for her.

“You’re looking radiant this morning, Lady Proudmoore,” Oculeth greeted her with a weary smile. His usually impeccable posture drooped somewhat.

“Thank you. It’s my natural pallor.”

He chuckled, and the corner of Valtrois’ mouth quirked though she made no remark.

“Let’s save the humour for later, shall we?” Thalyssra said. She looked towards Oculeth and Valtrois. “Is everything in place?”

“The projectors are ready,” Valtrois gestured to a number of squat metallic columns positioned around the room. “Once the mana-storm has been sparked, they’ll do the rest.”

“And I’ve set up a perimeter to catch any overflow,” Oculeth confirmed.

“Good.” Thalyssra nodded, then turned to Jaina. “All you need to do is set the storm in motion, at which point we will pull you out and complete your final procedure over there.”

“Right.” Straightening her shoulders, Jaina paused. “And if it all goes to custard, so to speak?”

Behind Thalyssra, she could see Oculeth mouth the word ‘custard?’ to Valtrois, who shrugged.

“Then we have Valtrois’ enchanted wrappings,” Thalyssra answered, her voice far too calm. She grasped Jaina’s shoulder warmly, her eyes even warmer. “You’re going to be fine. I’ll make sure of it.”

With one last squeeze, Thalyssra let go of Jaina’s shoulder and stepped back. She and the others went to stand along the very edge of the room. Jaina shifted her weight from foot to foot.

They were all watching her, waiting. She could feel the hum of energy vibrating against her ankles and calves, making the hem of her nightgown shiver. Jaina stood at the epicenter of the room, with every leyline in Suramar directed to the space just beneath her bare feet.

And nothing happened.

“What are you waiting for?” Oculeth called between cupped hands.

“I don’t know!” Jaina tapped the toes of one foot against the floor, sending little spirals of light curling into the air like steam. “Is it on?”

Valtrois glared at her. “I did not just hear you say that.”

“Well, you come over here and make a mana-storm, then!”

To Jaina’s surprise, Valtrois began marching across the room right for her.

Raising her hands in a gesture of nervous surrender, Jaina said, “I didn’t actually mean -!”

Valtrois did not stop until she was standing right in front of her. Then, she loomed over Jaina, her face dark with fury. “Is this on?” She rapped her knuckles against the side of Jaina’s head.

Jaina spluttered and knocked Valtrois’ hand away. “Excuse me -?”

“After all this time, you’re going to play the coward now?” Valtrois snapped.

Jaina’s mouth worked, but no noise came out in spite of herself. Indignation bubbled in her chest.

“This was your idea!” Valtrois pointed to the tree above them, then back at Jaina. “You practically begged us to let you do this, and suddenly you can’t?”

A flush crept up Jaina’s neck. “That’s not -!”

“This oversaturation of mana is all you have left of your pathetic little city!” Valtrois jabbed a finger against Jaina’s shoulder, at where the inscriptions had been carved all over her skin. “And you can’t even make the destruction of Theramore worth it, can you?”

The words knocked the wind right out of Jaina. She felt like she had been punched in the gut. The edges of her vision narrowed with encroaching light. She shook her head against it. “Stop it,” she said, but it came out as a feeble mumble.

Either Valtrois did not hear, or she did not care. Every word she spoke lodged itself in Jaina’s throat like a barb. “I suppose they all died for nothing, then. You absorbed some of that mana bomb, but you couldn’t save them. You weren’t enough. And you’re still not enough. You’ve come all this way, just to let everyone down once again.”

“Stop!”

Jaina shut her eyes, but all she could see was a vast, all-consuming white. Energy arced across her until she vibrated with it, until she could feel a seething burn rush along every vein. Instinctively, she flinched back from it. Her breathing came in short rapid gasps, but slowly the surge of mana faded to a manageable hum beneath her skin, waiting to resurface at the slightest provocation.

When she opened her eyes again -- one at a time, as though she were afraid of what she might see -- it was to find that Valtrois had backed up a few paces. Bright arcs of energy continued to race along the ground like lightning, occasionally sparking along Jaina’s legs and hands.

“Well,” Valtrois sighed, running a hand through her long hair. “Making you angry almost worked. I am sorry about that, by the way.”

Jaina was saved from responding by the sound of someone clearing their throat. Thalyssra stood to the side. She tilted her head back towards the perimeter of the room. “Thank you, Valtrois. Could you give us some space please?”

Valtrois went to rejoin the others with only an apologetic glance in Jaina’s direction. Jaina scratched at her arms, at her shoulders and wrists. The buzz of mana was almost unbearable.

Gently, Thalyssra took her hands to stop her from scratching. “What’s wrong?”

Jaina choked out a watery laugh. “What isn’t? I’m about to throw my life away for Horde sympathisers.” The more she thought about the whole situation, the funnier it became. She laughed again, shaking her head. “You know what the funniest part is?” Jaina pulled one of her hands free of Thalyssra’s grip to wipe at her eyes. “It’s probably the best decision I’ve ever made.”

“Jaina -”

"How will I know how to stop? Can I even stop once it starts? What if I can't? What if -?" Jaina cut herself off, and bit her bottom lip. She took a deep shaking breath. She couldn’t look Thalyssra in the face. "I don't want to be the bomb that destroys the last hope of salvation for your people."

For a long moment, Thalyssra made no reply. She dropped Jaina’s hand, and Jaina felt something burning in her chest.

“We have a saying in Suramar,” Thalyssra said a fluid Shalassian phrase, and then translated. “‘To lead is to stand alone.’ It means only those who bear the weight of leadership can truly appreciate it. But I have not stood alone these last few months. Nor do you stand alone now.”

She stepped close. She cupped Jaina’s cheek with one hand, and leaned her head down. For a fleeting, electrifying instant, Jaina thought Thalyssra was going to kiss her.

“I am here,” Thalyssra murmured. “Whatever happens, I am here.”

She waited for Jaina to nod, before stepping away. Thalyssra retreated to the walls with the others, leaving Jaina in the centre of the chamber once more.

The leylines hummed their eerie song, and to the south the Nightwell burned like a distant star. Rather than try to push the noise away, Jaina closed her eyes and let the sound sweep over her into a drone. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest, slowing with every deep, even inhalation, until it kept time with the Nightwell’s haunting song. She did not feel her hands unclench at her sides, nor the drift of cloth as the edges of her cloak stirred as if in a breeze. Eventually even the song faded in the wake of her heartbeat, until there was nothing else.

Energy hummed beneath her skin like a pulse, like a counter ticking away the seconds before the inevitable. The memory of that day lingered within her very blood even now, in this very moment, and for all moments that existed after. She would never be purged of it, the grief -- like groping in the dark for something that no longer existed. Always the seconds, the days, the years arrayed before her like a spectacle of knives, each no less sharp than the last.

She could not walk through the streets without people seeing a smoking crater at her feet, could not open her mouth without people hearing the names of the dead upon her every syllable. She was a ghost trailed by ghosts, dragging the souls of the past behind her, while far above a bomb would forever be falling from the sky.

The pulse ticked faster in her ears. All it took was a few seconds of exposure -- a stumble on the way through the portal, angry panicked words with Rhonin, being pushed even while trying to drag him through with her -- and now the bomb was in her hands. It was in her teeth. It was in her stomach, and in the cage of her ribs.

The pulse stopped, and absolute silence followed. Jaina’s eyes snapped open, and in every direction a far-reaching expanse of energy rippled outward. The world was washed with light.

And then nothing.

Every noise was an echo. The world was dark, as if cast in perennial night, through which shadowy shapes moved. Jaina was lying on her back. Her eyes were open, but she could hardly see, as if viewing the world through a layer of thin gauze. She squinted, but it didn't seem to help.

“Welcome back,” a warm, familiar voice murmured.

The silhouette kneeling over her bore only the barest resemblance to the Thalyssra Jaina remembered, a faint shadow with but the impression of a face.

Jaina struggled to sit up. “Did it work?”

A hand was placed on her shoulder, and gently pushed her prone again, until Jaina had settled back amongst the cushions. “It worked,” Thalyssra assured her. “There have just been some complications.”

“What -?”

“The important thing is that you’re alive and stable,” Thalyssra continued. She did not remove her hand from Jaina’s shoulder. Jaina could only faintly feel the warm weight of her hand, as if the touch were through layers of thick cloth. “After you triggered the mana-storm we needed, you slumped to the floor. We finished your final procedure as quickly as we could, and -”

“But the tree -?” Jaina tried to interrupt.

“The tree is fine. It is fruiting.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, Jaina raised her hand to her face. “Thank the Light. Can I get this thing off -?”

The hand moved to her wrist, pushing her hand away from the bandages covering her eyes and obscuring her vision. “No. Those need to stay for at least three more days.”

Jaina went very still. She allowed her arm to be lowered. “What happens in three days?”

For a moment Thalyssra did not answer. “We see if your body beneath has recovered, or if you require more enchanted wrappings to keep you from unravelling at the seams of existence.”

Jaina stared at her. Then, her eyes drifted downwards to her own body. The sheet that had been covering her had fallen away when she tried sitting up, revealing a torso swathed in strips of long pale cloth. The edges bristled with heat and cold pale light. Beneath, Jaina could just barely make out something more substantial, something that once was flesh but struggled to remember it.

“This -” Jaina cast about for an appropriate comment. Finally she settled on, “- could have been much worse.”

At that, Thalyssra laughed. It sounded watery, but then again everything in this state sounded watery, and Jaina could not properly see her face to tell what sort of expression Thalyssra wore.

When Thalyssra stopped laughing, she said, “Though it could have been better.”

“Well, obviously it could have been better. I’m an Ethereal.”

“Temporarily,” Thalyssra corrected her. “You’re a temporary Ethereal.”

“I bet all Ethereals think that they’re temporary Ethereals.”

“All Ethereals had their bodies completely ripped apart on a molecular level during the assault on K’aresh. I’m pleased to inform you that your body is very much intact.” After a pause, Thalyssra added, “For the most part.”

“Consider me reassured,” Jaina said, dryly.

“Ah, your sense of humour remains. That is an excellent sign.”

“Apparently, it’s all I have left.”

“You have more than you realise.” She gave Jaina’s hand a soft tug, as if to urge her upright. “Would you like to try to stand? I think you’re well enough for a walk, and the others would like to see you.”

For a brief moment, Jaina hesitated. It was enough.

Thalyssra’s voice softened. “If you would prefer to remain out of sight, that is your choice, of course. I will not force you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable.”

Her thumb was tracing a line across the back of Jaina’s hand. Jaina could hardly feel it. She stared down at the phantom touch of their hands. Thalyssra was a faint shadow, like the hollow impression of a person drawn from memory. Jaina’s own hand was light made flesh, searing bright through strips of enchanted cloth. The only things Jaina could see that had substance apart from herself were the inscriptions on Thalyssra’s skin, crawling with mana, and the staff over Thalyssra’s shoulder.

“Nobody knows except Oculeth, Valtrois, and Farodin,” Thalyssra murmured. “If anonymity is still what you’re worried about. Nobody will recognise you. Especially not like this.”

Steeling herself, Jaina nodded. “I’ll go.”

Thalyssra may have smiled at her, but Jaina could not tell. She helped Jaina rise to her feet. As the sheet fell away and Jaina stood, she stared down at her cloth-wrapped feet and legs. It was one thing to understand that the only thing currently keeping her body together were enchanted wrappings, and quite another to actually see it.

"Here."

Jaina glanced up to find Thalyssra's silhouette holding something out to her. Slowly, Jaina took the object, only to realise it was her Kul Tiran cloak. Like this, she could barely see the traditional Navy blue of the material, and the fur draped across the shoulders for additional protection against the weather of her homeland. When Jaina swung it over herself and drew up the hood, it did little to disguise what she was, but it did make her feel surprisingly better.

"Thank you."

Thalyssra inclined her head, "Of course. If you require anything else -"

"I'll let you know."

Jaina had to walk slowly. Every obstacle in her path just appeared to be another shadow. She stumbled on the first step of the staircase, and Thalyssra caught her arm to stabilise her. And yet the oddest part about the whole thing was that her toe did not ache despite stubbing it against the stone floor.

“Are you alright?” Thalyssra moved her hand down so that their fingers tangled together. Jaina had never wished she weren’t covered head to toe in cloth wrappings more than in that moment.

“I’m fine. It’s just difficult to see,” Jaina admitted.

Thalyssra did not let go of her hand as they continued up the stairs, and Jaina did her best to focus on the staff slung across Thalyssra’s back, leading her on like a lantern through the dark. Jaina followed, half-blind and sluggish. Like moving through water, the air always fighting back. At one point, she wondered if she pushed off the floor hard enough, would she drift towards the ceiling. She gripped Thalyssra’s hand tighter.

They stopped on the floor beneath the main level of Shal’Aran.

“Wait here,” Thalyssra said. “I’ll go get them, so you don’t have to walk through the crowd.”

In a brief panic, Jaina tightened her hold on Thalyssra’s hand before coming to her senses.

“I’ll be back in just a moment. Have a broken a promise to you, yet?” Thalyssra squeezed back, slowly disentangling their fingers, and then walking away.

Jaina huffed a joyless little laugh. “No,” she said to the empty air.

The floor directly beneath the arcan’dor was a latticework of leylines, like veins or roots plunged deep into the ground. The effect only gave her a sense of mild vertigo. Tearing her gaze away, she looked up, where the arcan’dor seared the air white with energy. The tree burned bright enough to make the rest of the world slough away into a dim soup.

It was like being back in the Sanctum of Order, beneath the spell of the Nightwell. Potent arcane energy flowed from the arcan’dor in crystalline eddies like a song. She could almost taste the mana in the air, pure and rich.

“I wasn’t aware the Consortium had a vested interest in Suramar,” a voice said.

Jaina jerked around, trying to find who had spoken to her. She squinted, but it did not help. A silhouette stood before her, broad-shouldered and with the faint mimicry of a face, like a smudged child’s drawing of facial features.

She tried to remember what Ethereals sounded like, and finally settled on, “Can I be of assistance?”

The figure may have smiled. She could not tell. “Only if you trade for gold.”

Jaina spread her hands. “I have nothing to sell.”

“That’s not very like your kind,” the figure chuckled, a deep sound. “But don’t worry. It’s information I’m after. I’m looking for someone. A woman. You may have seen her here. Lady Jaina Proudmoore.”

Hearing her own name, she hesitated for just a moment too long.

The figure took a step closer. “I see you know her.”

“Passably,” Jaina replied in what she hoped wasn’t too dry a tone.

“If you could deliver her a message, I would make it worth your while.” And with that, the figure held out something in their hand.

Hesitant, Jaina took it. A quick look inside revealed it to be a bag heavy with gold. She could just see the glint of light across the stamped metallic faces.

In truth, she had little need of gold, but appearances must be kept. She tucked the bag away into an interior pocket of her cloak. “What is your message?”

“Tell her Khadgar hopes she is on the road to recovery, and that she always has a place among the Kirin Tor, should she ever wish to rejoin us. I’d hoped to tell her myself, but the First Arcanist is surprisingly tight-lipped about her patient’s whereabouts. And fair enough, I suppose.” The last he sighed with a shake of his head. “If she should want to seek me out, I will be helping in Suramar as much as I can in the coming weeks.”

Jaina studied him for a long moment. Knowing now who he was, she could almost recognise him: the hang of his cloak, the cut of his hair and jaw. “I will pass along your message.”

Something about his face shifted, and he nodded. “A pleasure doing business. My best to Haramad.”

His form bent in upon itself and flew away. Jaina sighed to herself. She had always hated when druids did that; Khadgar, while not a druid, was no exception.

She was weighing the bag of gold in her hand, when she heard: “And what’s that you have there?”

Jaina turned to find three shapes walking towards her. One she recognised as Thalyssra only by the grace of her staff’s familiar arcane energy.

Jaina gave the bag a little bounce in the palm of her cloth-wrapt hand. “Someone has already mistaken me for a member of the Consortium.”

“Oh, good! You can raise some money for the cause over the next few days, at least.” There was no mistaking that was Valtrois.

“Yes, and it’s all going to Oculeth’s exemplary research,” Jaina said.

“What?”

One of the figures raised a triumphant fist into the air. “Yes!”

Thalyssra on the other hand sounded concerned, “What did this...client want from you?”

“Nothing I didn’t already have.” Jaina tossed the bag of gold towards Oculeth, and he caught it with a graceful mock bow in her direction.

"So," Oculeth leaned forward, and though his voice sounded excited, Jaina could not make out the expression on his face. "What's it like?"

Jaina thought for a moment before answering. "I don't itch anymore."

At that, Valtrois shrugged and made a noncommittal noise. “Better than nothing, I suppose. Though I was hoping for something a bit more -” she motioned towards Jaina “- substantial, given your current condition.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. What I meant to say was: For enough gold, I will reveal to you the secrets of the universe.”

“That’s more like it. Do I get a friends and family discount?”

“Yes. It’s twice the normal price.”

Valtrois made a rude gesture with her fingers.

The days passed in a blur. Jaina had very little grasp of the passage of time. She could only tell it was night when Shal’Aran fell quiet, and few people wandered the upper floor. The confrontation with Khadgar made her bolder; she braved the upper floor in the full confidence that she would not be recognised.

To her great relief, nobody else tried to approach her for trade with the Consortium, though she presumed members of both the Horde and Alliance continued to flow to and from the shelter of Shal’Aran. Even spending a few days as an Ethereal, she could not get used to faces and objects. Few dared speak to her directly. Those that did were usually after the latest news from Shattrath City.

A Nightborne child tried to speak with her once, but a parent quickly rushed over and dragged them away. Jaina would have laughed, had she not been so strongly reminded of Derek. Also laughing would have only made the situation worse. A lot worse.

It felt like only an afternoon. Like a single, long, unbroken day from the summers of her childhood memories. One moment, she was idly strolling beneath the arcan’dor’s branches with Farodin, discussing the finer details of the Emerald Dream’s connection to the arcane. The next, Thalyssra was leading her to the lower levels to remove the cloth bandages.

“Has it been three days already?” Jaina asked. Valtrois and Oculeth trailed after them, talking amongst themselves in low tones.

Thalyssra gave her an odd look. “It’s been nearly four. I thought it best to err on the side of caution.

Back in the chambers beneath Shal’Aran, Thalyssra shut Valtrois and Oculeth out from the partition despite their complaints.

“What if you need help?” Valtrois insisted.

“Then you’ll be the first to know,” Thalyssra said, shutting the screen so that she and Jaina were left in relative peace. She took Jaina’s cloak and hung it. As she did so, Jaina sat upon the low table, where she had spent so many hours toiling beneath Thalylssra’s needle. Cushions sank beneath her weight.

When Thalyssra turned to her, she knelt at Jaina’s feet. Carefully, she untucked the first strip of fabric from around one ankle. Then she paused, and glanced up. “Are you ready?”

Jaina’s hands tightened around the edge of the table. She nodded.

“Tell me if you feel anything strange.”

“Define: ‘strange.’”

Already starting to slowly unwind the cloth, Thalyssra shrugged. “These are uncharted waters, I’m afraid. Even if it’s an odd feeling, or upset stomach -- don’t hesitate to tell me.”

“Right,” Jaina breathed.

Thalyssra did not hasten. She guided her hands around Jaina’s leg with utmost precision, making sure to neatly roll the strips even as she unravelled them. One leg was revealed. Thalyssra pinned another roll of cloth shut with a small needle, and set it aside with the others on the ground. Another leg was unwrapped without incident, but Jaina blinked when she stared down at her bare ankles.

“They’ve -” she nodded towards her own legs. “- gone dark. Like a light dimming.”

Thalyssra stopped. She held up a pin between thumb and forefinger. “Can you feel this?”

Reflexively, Jaina flinched when Thalyssra prodded her still wrapped arm with the needle, but the expected pinch of pain never came. She shook her head.

“How about this?”

When Thalyssra poked at her ankle, Jaina jerked her foot back.

“Ow!”

Thalyssra placed the needle aside. “I’m going to take that as a good sign. Let me know if anything else changes. Could you stand for me, please?”

Jaina stood until Thalyssra had unwrapped her up to the waist, at which point she was allowed to sit back down. As each strip was unwound, more of her skin was revealed, and the cold air prickled.

“Here.”

Jaina felt a blanket being draped across her lap. She pulled it over herself with a grateful shiver.

When Thalyssra had finished unravelling Jaina’s arms, Oculeth’s voice said from over the screens, “Can we at least come in for the final reveal?”

“It’s nothing we haven’t seen before!” Valtrois added.

Thalyssra looked at Jaina, but made no move. “It’s up to you.”

“Let them in, or we’ll never hear the end of it.”

Standing, Thalyssra made her way towards one of the screens. She pulled it back and stepped aside. She said something in Shalassian that may have been a warning or simply an instruction, for both Valtrois and Oculeth immediately stood quietly on the outskirts of the partition. One of them gave Jaina a little wave, but with her face and shoulders still wrapped, she could not tell which.

As Thalyssra returned, she started with a strip of cloth wound around Jaina’s chest and shoulders. “Almost there,” she murmured. “Still nothing?”

Jaina shrugged the blanket a little higher as each ribbon of enchanted cloth revealed more skin. “Just a little cold.”

Thalyssra worked her way up, peeling away layer after layer. Jaina kept her eyes squeezed tightly shut, wary of any sudden change that might overcome her the moment it was all finished. She could feel her hair trickle loose down her back and around her shoulders in strands as it fell free of its bonds. As the last strip was removed, Jaina braced herself, shoulders tense, face screwed up, eyes closed.

Someone tapped her shoulder, and she opened her eyes. The world still held a trace of darkness, like shadows clinging thickly to the corners of a page, but she blinked it away and soon everything came into focus.

Three unfamiliar faces gazed down at her. They were all of them Nightborne, city-sleek and appearing as though they were ready to attend a royal court at a moment’s notice. Jaina was suddenly very aware that she was very naked beneath the blanket. Clearing her throat, she discreetly tugged the velvety cloth just a little bit higher up her chest, and held it more firmly in place there.

“Don’t go all bashful on us now,” one of the Nightborne said in Valtrois’ voice. Scythe-like ornaments made of pure beaten gold arced over her shoulders. Jaina could read the runes stitched into the woman’s long robes that enchanted the ornaments to float in midair. The woman smiled, revealing long, sharp ivory teeth. “I won’t stand for human prudishness after all we’ve been through. Besides, who do you think helped wrap you up in the first place?”

“Now, now, Valtrois,” said the man in Oculeth’s distinct timbre. “If you want to make our guest blush, that’s not the way to go about it.”

And with that he swooped down to clasp Jaina’s face between his hands and kiss both of her cheeks. Jaina spluttered and blinked as he pulled away. He was grinning down at the flush that had risen to her cheeks, and said, “Forgive me, Lady Proudmoore, but I have been waiting to do that for weeks.”

“It’s fine,” Jaina said faintly.

“That’s quite enough, you two,” the last Nightborne admonished her colleagues, and Jaina started at the sound of her voice.

Wide-eyed, Jaina turned to look at the last of the three standing over her. The woman held her head at a tilt as she watched Jaina. Her hands were clasped, and her fingers bled with silvery arcane energy. Beneath the hood she wore, which cast her face in partial shadow, her eyes gleamed like pale starlight.

Jaina swallowed; she recognised the robes this woman wore -- rich, and heavy, and plum-dark. When the robes had been in Jaina’s possession, she had never imagined what they would look like when worn. Now, she had to jerk her gaze away from the slits in the fabric that revealed a generous length of thigh.

“How are you feeling?” Thalyssra asked.

“Fine,” Jaina answered. And for the first time in a long time, it was not a lie. She touched her own chest with one hand, letting herself grow accustomed to the idea that she was not merely bound light and energy. The tattoos glowed faintly with every heartbeat. Jaina stared at the back of her hand, at the elegant patterns engraved upon her arms and shoulders. Perhaps she was still light and energy, knit together by magic and sinew. Perhaps she was something else entirely. “Good. I feel good.”

Behind them, Valtrois said in a smug tone, “I told you it would work.”

Thalyssra smiled warmly. As she leaned down to gently grasp Jaina’s shoulders, Jaina froze, gripped with the sudden thought that Thalyssra was going to do as Oculeth had done. Instead, Thalyssra placed a soft kiss on her brow. “It’s good to have you back.”

#jaina proudmoore #thalyssra #first arcanist thayssra #jaina proudmoore/thalyssra #world of warcraft #wow #roman writes #no end in sight

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