#beast wars ice age au | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

kimthwariru · 2 years

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☾ Smoke and Dust {Yoonmin au}

masterpost here

Genre: smut, angst, old kingdom au

Note: I know the term ‘Maiden’ is usually used for girls, but unfortunately due to societal double standards, there is not a specific term needed for a male virgin, so in this au the word will be used neutrally.

ao3 link here

Chapter 1

"They found Finley this eve, just outside the Blood Forest, dead."

Jimin looked up from his cards and across the crimson-painted surface to the three men sitting at the table. He had chosen this spot for a reason.

He...felt....nothing from these men as he drifted alongside them between the crowded tables earlier.

No pain, physical or emotional.

Normally, Jimin didn't prod to see if someone was in pain. Doing so without reason felt incredibly invasive, but in crowds, it was difficult to control just how much he allowed himself to feel. There was always someone whose pain cut so deeply, was so raw, that their anguish became a palpable entity that Jimin didn't even have to open his senses to feel—and he couldn't ignore and walk away from. They projected their agony onto the world around them.

Jimin was taught from an early age to ignore. To never speak of the gift bestowed upon him by the gods and to never, ever go beyond sensing to actually doing something about it.

Not that Jimin always did what he was supposed to do.

Obviously.

But these men were completely fine earlier when Jimin reached out with his senses. He specifically sat here because he couldn't feel a great pain coming from them, which was surprising, given what they did for a living.

They were guards from the Rise—the mountainous wall constructed from the limestone and iron mined from the Elysium Peaks. Ever since the War of Two Kings ended four centuries ago, the Rise had enclosed all of Masadonia, and every city in the Kingdom of Solis was protected by a Rise. Smaller versions surrounded villages and training posts, the farming communities, and other sparsely populated towns.

What the guards saw on a regular basis, what they had to do, often left them in anguish, rather it be from injuries or from what went deeper than torn skin and bruised bones.

Tonight, they weren't just absent of anguish, but also their armor and uniforms. Instead, they donned loose shirts and buckskin breeches. Still, Jimin knew, even off duty, they were watchful for signs of the dreaded mist and the horror that came with it, and for those who worked against the future of the kingdom. They were still armed to the teeth.

As was Jimin.

Hidden beneath the folds of the cloak and the thin gown he wore underneath, the cool hilt of a dagger was sheathed against his thigh. Gifted to him on his sixteenth birthday, it wasn't the only weapon he'd acquired or the deadliest, but it was his favorite. The handle was fashioned from the bones of a long-extinct wolven—a creature that had been neither man nor beast but both—and the blade made of bloodstone honed to fatal sharpness.

Jimin may yet again be in the process of doing something incredibly reckless, inappropriate, and wholly forbidden, but he wasn't foolish enough to enter a place like the Red Pearl without protection.

"Dead?" the other guard said, a younger one with brown hair and a soft face. Jimin thought his name might be Airrick, and he couldn't be much older than Jimin. "He wasn't just dead. Finley was drained of blood, his flesh chewed up like wild dogs had a go at him, and then torn to pieces."

Tiny balls of ice formed in the pit of Jimin's stomach. Wild dogs didn't do that. Not to mention, there weren't any wild dogs near the Blood Forest, the only place in the world where the trees bled, staining the bark and the leaves a deep crimson. There were rumors of other animals, overly large rodents and scavengers that preyed upon the corpses of those who lingered too long in the forest.

"And you know what that means," Airrick went on. "They must be near. An attack will—"

"Not sure this is the right conversation to be having," an older guard cut in. Jimin knew of him. Phillips Rathi. He'd been on the Rise for years, which was nearly unheard of. Guards didn't have long lifespans. The man nodded in Jimin's direction. "You're in the presence of a Lord."

A Lord?

Only the Ascended were called Lords, but also Jimin wasn't just anyone, especially not someone that people would expect to be inside the Red Pearl. If he was discovered, he would be in...well, more trouble than he's ever been in before and would face severe reprimand.

The kind of punishment that Dorian Teerman, the Duke of Masadonia, would just love to deliver. And which, of course, his close confidante, Lord Brandole Mazeen, would love to be in attendance for.

Anxiety surfaced as Jimin looked at the dark-skinned guard. There was no way Phillips could know who Jimin was. The top half of Jimin's face was covered by the white domino mask he'd found discarded in the Queen's Gardens ages ago, and he wore a plain robin's egg blue cloak he'd, uh.... "borrowed" from Britta, one of the many castle servants who Jimin had overheard speaking about the Red Pearl.

Hopefully, Britta wouldn't discover her missing overcoat before Jimin returned it in the morning

Even without the mask, though, Jimin could count on one hand how many people in Masadonia had seen his face, and none of them would be here tonight.

As the Maiden, the Chosen, a veil usually covered Jimin's face and hair at all times, all except for his lips and jaw.

Jimin doubted Phillips could recognize him solely on those features, and if he had, none of them would still be sitting here. Jimin would be in the process of being dragged back, albeit gently, to his guardians, the Duke and Duchess of Masadonia.

There was no reason to panic.

Forcing the muscles along his shoulders and neck to ease, Jimin smiled. "I'm no Lord. You're more than welcome to talk about whatever you wish."

"Be that as it may, a little less morbid topic would be welcomed," Phillips replied, sending a pointed look in the direction of the other two guards.

Airrick lifted his gaze to Jimin's. "My apologies."

"Apologies not needed but accepted."

The third guard ducked his chin, studiously staring at his cards as he repeated the same. His cheeks had pinkened, something Jimin found rather adorable. The guards who worked the Rise went through vicious training, becoming skilled in all manner of weaponry and hand-to-hand combat. None who survived their first venture outside the Rise came back without shedding blood and seeing death.

And yet, this man blushed.

Jimin cleared his throat, wanting to ask more about who Finley was, whether he was a guard from the Rise or a Huntsman;a division of the army that ferried communication between the cities and escorted travelers and goods. They spent half the year outside the protection of the Rise. It was by far one of the most dangerous of all occupations, so they never traveled alone. Some never returned.

Unfortunately, a few who did, didn't come back the same. They returned with rampantly spreading death snapping at their heels.

Cursed.

Sensing that Phillips would silence any further conversation, Jimin didn't voice any of the questions dancing on the tip of his tongue.

If others had been with Phillips and had been wounded by what most likely had killed Finley, Jimin would find out one way or another.

He just hoped it wasn't through screams of terror. The people of Masadonia had no real idea exactly how many returned from outside the Rise cursed. They only saw a handful here and there, and not the reality. If they did, panic and fear were sure to ignite a populace who truly had no concept of the horror outside the Rise.

Not like Jimin's brother Ian and him did.

Which was why when the topic at the table switched to more mundane things, Jimin struggled to will the ice coating his insides to thaw. Countless lives were given and taken by the endeavor to keep those inside the Rise safe, but it was failing—had been failing—not just here, but throughout the Kingdom of Solis.

Death....

Death always found a way in.

Stop, Jimin ordered himself as the general sense of unease threatened to swell. Tonight wasn't about the tragedy outside the walls. Tonight was about living, about...not being up all night, unable to sleep, alone and feeling like...like he had no control, no...no idea of who he was other than what he was.

Another poor hand was dealt, and Jimin had played enough cards with Ian to know there was no recovering from the ones he held. When Jimin announced that he was out, the guards nodded as he rose, each bidding him a good evening.

Moving between the tables, Jimin took the flute of champagne offered by a server with a gloved hand and tried to recapture the feelings of excitement that had buzzed through his veins as he'd hurried through the streets earlier that evening.

Jimin minded his business as he scanned the room, keeping his senses to himself. Even outside of those who managed to project their anguish into the air around them, Jimin didn't need to touch someone to know if they were hurting. He just needed to see someone and focus. Physical pain was almost always hot, but the kind that couldn't be seen?

It was almost always cold.

Bawdy shouts and whistles snapped him out of my his own mind. A woman in red sat on the edge of the table next to the one he had just left. She wore a gown made of scraps of red satin and gauze that barely covered her thighs. One of the men grabbed a fistful of the diaphanous little skirt. Smacking his hand away with a saucy grin, she lay back, her body forming a sensual curve. Her thick, blonde curls spilled across forgotten coins and chips. "Who wants to win me tonight?" Her voice was deep and smoky as she slid her hands along the waist of the frilly corset. "I can assure you boys, I will last longer than any pot of gold will."

"And what if it's a tie?" one of the men asked, the fine cut of his coat suggesting that he was a well-to-do merchant or businessman of some sort.

"Then it will be a far more entertaining night for me," she said, drawing one hand down her stomach, slipping even lower to between her—

Cheeks heating, Jimin quickly looked away as he took a sip of the bubbly champagne. His gaze found its way to the dazzling glow of a rose-gold chandelier. The Red Pearl must be doing well, and the owners well connected. Electricity was expensive and heavily controlled by the Royal Court. It made Jimin wonder how this much luxury was available so far from the Castle.

Under the chandelier, another card game was in progress. There were women there too, their hair twisted in elaborate updos adorned with crystals, and their clothing far less daring than the women who worked here. Their gowns were vibrant shades of purple and yellow and pastel hues of blue and lilac.

Jimin was only allowed to wear white, whether he was in his room or in public, which wasn't often. So, he was fascinated with how the different colors complemented the wearer's skin or hair. Jimin imagined he looked like a ghost most days, roaming the halls of Castle Teerman in white.

Here, some people also wore domino masks that covered half their faces, protecting their identities. Jimin wondered who some of them were. Daring wives left alone one too many times?Young princes who had grown tired of their duties? Servants or women who worked in the city, out for the evening? Did they come here for the same reasons Jimin did?

Boredom? Curiosity?

Loneliness?

If so, then they were more alike than Jimin realized, even though they were probably normal, ordinary second daughters and sons, who just wanted a night of fun.

And Jimin....he was Park Jimin of Castle Teerman, Kin of the Balfours, and the Queen's favorite.

He was the Maiden.

Chosen.

And in a little under a year, upon his nineteenth birthday, he would Ascend, as some others did .

But Jimin's Ascensions would be much different, it's meant to be the largest one since the first gods' Blessing that occurred after the end of the War of Two Kings.

Ordinary people were allowed to go out, have fun with friends and play games, yet if Jimin were to be discovered here, he would face severe punishment from The Duke.

Jimin's lips thinned as a kernel of anger took root, mingling with a sticky residue of disgust and shame. The Duke was a pestilence of overly familiar hands and had an unnatural thirst for punishment.

Whatever, people like The Duke didn't scare him, or was he worried about being disciplined. He had learnt to take it

Dragging his gaze from the table, Jimin noted that there were smiling and laughing women and men in the Pearl who wore no masks, hid no identities. They sat at tables with guards and businessmen, stood in shadowy alcoves and spoke with masked women, men, and also those who worked for the Red Pearl. They weren't ashamed or afraid to be seen.

Whoever they were, they had freedom Jimin deeply envied.

Jimin searched for independence tonight, because masked and unknown, no one but the gods would know he was here. And as far as the gods were concerned, Jimin had long ago decided that they had far better things to do than spend their time watching him. After all, if they had been paying attention, they would've cleared the monsters that lived in the shadows, and brought peace to the Kingdom.

So, Jimin could be anyone tonight.

The freedom in that was a far headier sensation than he imagined. Even more so than the unripe poppy seeds provided by those who smoked them.

Tonight, he wasn't the Maiden. He wasn't the Royal secret. He was simply Chimmie, a nickname he remembered his mother using, something only his brother Ian and very few others ever called him.

As Chimmie, there were no strict rules to follow or expectations to fulfill, no future Ascension that was coming quicker than he was prepared for. There was no fear, no past or future. Tonight, Jimin could live a little, even for a few hours, and rack up as much experience as he could before he was returned to the capital, to the Queen.

Before he was given to the gods.

A shiver tiptoed down his spine—uncertainty, along with a bite of desolation. He tamped it down, refusing to give life to it. Dwelling on what was to come and could not be changed served no purpose.

Besides, Ian had Ascended two years ago, and based on the monthly letters Jimin received from him, he was the same. The only difference was that instead of spinning tales with his voice, he did so with words in each letter. Just last month, he wrote about two children, a brother and sister, who swam to the bottom of the Stroud Sea, befriending the water folk.

Jimin smiled as he lifted the champagne flute, having no idea where Ian came up with those things. As far as Jimin knew, it was impossible to swim to the bottom of the Stroud Sea, and there was no such thing as water folk.

Shortly after his Ascension, on the orders of the Queen and King, Ian had married Lady Claudeya. Ian never spoke of his wife.

Was he happy at all in his marriage? The curve of his lips faded as his gaze dropped to the fizzing, pinkish drink.

Jimin wasn't sure, but they'd barely known each other before marrying. How was that long enough when you'd presumably spend the rest of your life with a person?

And the Ascended lived for a very, very long time.

It was still odd for Jimin to think of Ian as an Ascended. He wasn't a second son, but because Jimin was the Maiden, the Queen had petitioned the gods for a rare exception to the natural order, and they had allowed Ian to Ascend.

Jimin wouldn't face what Ian had, marriage to a stranger, to another Ascended, one who was sure to covet beauty above all else, because attractiveness was seen as godlike.

And even though Jimin was the Maiden, the Chosen, he would never be viewed as godlike. According to the Duke, Jimin wasn't beautiful.

He was a tragedy.

Without realizing it, Jimin's fingers brushed the scratchy lace of the left side of the mask. he jerked his hand right away.

A man that Jimin recognized as a guard rose from a table, turning to a woman wearing a white mask like he was. He extended a hand to her, speaking words too low for Jimin to hear, but she answered with a nod and a smile before placing her hand in his. She rose, the skirt of her lilac-hued gown falling like liquid around her legs as he led her from the room toward the only two doors accessible by guests, one at either end of interconnecting chambers. The right went outside. The left door led upstairs, to more private rooms where Britta had said all manner of things occurred.

The guard took the masked woman to the left.

He'd asked. She'd said yes. Whatever it was they did upstairs, it would be welcomed and chosen by both, regardless of whether it lasted a few hours or a lifetime.

Jimin's attention lingered on the door long after it had closed. Was that another reason he had come here tonight? To...to experience pleasure with someone of his choosing?

He could if he wanted to. He'd overheard conversations between the Lords and Ladies in the Wait, who weren't expected to remain untouched. According to them, there were...many things a woman and a man could do that brought pleasure while retaining their purity.

Purity?

Jimin hated that word, the meaning behind it. As if his virginity determined his goodness, his innocence, and its presence or lack thereof was somehow more important than the hundred choices he made every day.

There was even a part of him that wondered what the gods would do if Jimin went to them no longer an actual maiden, no longer a virgin. Would they overlook everything else Jimin did or didn't do simply because Jimin was no longer a virgin?

He wasn't sure, but Jimin hoped that wasn't the case. Not because he planned to have sex now or next week or...ever, but because jimin wanted to be able to make that choice.

Though, he wasn't quite sure how he'd find myself in a situation where that option would even arise. But Jimin imagines there'd be willing participants who'd want to do the things he'd heard the Ladies and the Lords in Wait speaking about here at the Red Pearl.

A nervous flutter beat in his chest as Jimin forced himself to take another sip of the champagne. The sweet bubbles tickled the back of his throat, easing some of the sudden dryness in his mouth.

Truth be told, tonight had been a spur-of-the-moment decision. Most nights, Jimin couldn't fall asleep until it was nearly dawn. And when he finally did, He almost wished He hadn't. Three times this week alone, Jimin woke from a nightmare, with his screams ringing in his ears. And when they came like this, in clusters, they felt like a harbinger. An instinct much like the ability to sense pain, screaming out a warning.

Drawing in a shallow breath, Jimin glanced back to where he'd been looking before. The woman in red was no longer on the table. Instead, she was in the lap of the merchant who'd asked what would happen if two men won. He was inspecting his cards, but his hand was where hers had been heading earlier, delved deep between her thighs.

Oh, fuck.

Biting down on his lip, Jimin pulled away from where he stood before his entire face caught on fire. Jimin drifted into the next space that was separated by a partial wall, where another round of games was being played.

There were more guards here, some he even recognized as belonging to the Royal Guard, soldiers just like those who worked the Rise but who protected the Ascended instead. This was why the Ascended also had personal guards. People had tried to kidnap members of the Court before for ransom. No one was usually hurt too seriously in those situations, but there had been other attempts that stemmed from far different, more violent reasons.

Standing near a leafy potted plant that sported tiny, red buds, Jimin was unsure of what to do from there. He could join another card game or strike up a conversation with any of the numerous people who lingered around the tables, but he wasn't all that good at making small talk with strangers. There was no doubt in his mind that he'd blurt out something bizarre or ask a random question that would make little sense to the conversation. So that was off the table. Maybe he should head back to his chambers. The hour had to be growing late and—!

A strange awareness swept over him, starting as a tingling sensation along the back of his neck and intensifying with every passing second.

It felt like...like he was being watched.

Scanning the room, Jimin didn't see anyone paying much attention to him, but he expected to find someone standing near. That was how potent the feeling was. Unease blossomed in the pit of his stomach. Jimin started to turn toward the entrance when the soft, drawn-out notes of some sort of guitar string drew his attention to the left, his gaze landing on the gauzy, blood-red curtains that swayed gently from the movement of others in the establishment.

Jimin stilled, listening to the rise and fall of the tempo that was soon joined by the heavy thump of a drum. Jimin forgot about the feeling of being watched. He forgot about a lot of things. The music was...it was like nothing he'd heard before. It was deeper, thicker. Slowing, and then speeding up. It was...sensual. What had Britta, the servant, said about the kind of dancing that took place at the Red Pearl? She'd lowered her voice when she spoke of it, and the other maid Britta had been speaking to had looked scandalized.

Making his way along the outskirts of the room, Jimin neared the curtains, reaching out to part them—

"I don't think you want to go in there."

Startled, Jimin turned at the sound of the voice. A woman stood behind him —one of the ladies who worked for the Red Pearl. Jimin recognized her. Not because she'd been on the arm of a merchant or businessman but because she was utterly beautiful.

Her hair was a deep black, thickly curled, and her skin was a deep, rich brown. The red gown she wore was sleeveless, cut low across her chest, and the fabric clung to her body like liquid.

"I'm sorry?" Jimin said, unsure what else to say as he lowered his hand from the curtain. "Why wouldn't I? They're just dancing."

"Just dancing?" Her gaze drifted over his shoulder to the curtain. "Some say that to dance is to make love."

"I...I hadn't heard that." Slowly, Jimin looked behind him. Through the curtains, he could make out the shapes of bodies churning in time with the music, their movements full of mesmerizing and fluid grace. Some danced alone, their curves and forms clearly outlined, while others...

Jimin sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes swinging back to the woman before him.

Her red-painted lips curved into a smile. "This is your first time here, isn't it?"

Jimin opened his mouth to deny that statement but could feel the heat spreading across every visible part of his face. That alone was telling. "Is it that obvious?"

She laughed, and the sound was throaty. "Not to most. But to me, yes. I've never seen you here before."

"How would you know if you had?" Jimin touched his mask just to make sure it hadn't slipped.

"Your mask is fine." There was a strange, knowing glint to her eyes, which were a mix of gold and brown. Not exactly hazel. The gold was far too bright and warm for that. They reminded him of another who had eyes the color of deep citrine. "I know a face, whether it's half-hidden or not, and yours is one I haven't seen here before. This is your first time."

Truly, Jimin had no idea how to respond to that.

"And it's the Red Pearl's first time also." She leaned in, her voice lowering. "As we've never had the Maiden walk through the doors."

A wave of shock rolled through Jimin as his grip tightened on the slippery champagne glass. "I don't know what you mean. I'm a second son—"

"You are like a second son, but not in the way you intend," she cut in, lightly touching Jimin's cloaked arm. "It's okay. There is nothing to fear. Your secret is safe with me."

Jimin stared at her for what felt like an entire minute before he recovered the use of his tongue. "If that were true, why would that kind of secret be safe?"

"Why would it not be?" she returned. "What would I have to gain by telling anyone?"

"You'd earn the favor of the Duke and Duchess." Jimin's heart thumped.

Her smile faded as her stare hardened. "I have no need of a favor from an Ascended."

The way she said that, it was as if he'd suggested that she was courting favor with a pile of mud. Jimin almost believed her, but no one who lived within the kingdom would waste the chance to earn an Ascended's esteem unless they...

Unless they didn't recognize Queen Ileana and King Jalara as the true, rightful rulers. Unless they supported he who called himself Prince Casteel, the true heir to the kingdom.

Except he was no prince or heir. He was nothing more than a remnant of Atlantia, the corrupt and twisted kingdom that had fallen at the end of the War of Two Kings. A monster who had wreaked havoc and caused bloodshed, the embodiment of pure evil.

He was the Dark One.

And yet there were those who supported him and his claim. Descenters who had been a part of riots and the disappearances of many Ascended. In the past, the Descenters only caused discord through small rallies and protests, and even then, that had been few and far between due to the punishment that was meted out to those who were suspected to be Descenters. The trials couldn't even be called that. No second chances. No long-term imprisonment. Death was swift and final.

But things had changed of late.

Many believed the Descenters had been responsible for the mysterious deaths of high-ranking Royal Guards. Several in Carsodonia, the capital, had inexplicably fallen from the Rise. Two had been killed with arrows through the back of their heads in Pensdurth, a smaller city on the coast of the Stroud Sea, near the capital. Others had simply vanished while in the smaller villages, never to be seen or heard from again.

Only a few months ago, a violent uprising had ended in bloodshed in Three Rivers, a teeming trade city beyond the Blood Forest. Goldcrest Manor, the Royal Seat in Three Rivers, had been burned, razed to the ground, along with the Temples. Duke Everton had died in the fire, along with many servants and guards. It was only by some miracle that the Duchess of Three Rivers had escaped.

The Descenters weren't just Atlantians who were hidden among the people of Solis. Some of the Dark One's followers didn't even have a drop of Atlantian blood in them.

Jimin's gaze sharpened and zeroed in on the beautiful woman. Could she be a Descenter?Jimin couldn't fathom how anyone could support the fallen kingdom, no matter how hard their lives were or how unhappy they may be. Not when the Atlantians and the Dark One were responsible for the mist, for what festered inside of it. For what most likely had ended Finley's life— had taken countless more lives, including his mother's and father's, and had left Jimin's body riddled with the reminder of the horror that thrived inside the mist.

Pushing aside his suspicions for the moment, Jimin opened himself up to sense if there was some great pain inside her, something that went beyond the physical and stemmed from either grief or bitterness. The kind of pain that made people do horrible things to try and alleviate the anguish.

There was no hint of that radiating from her.

But that didn't mean she wasn't a Descenter.

The woman's head tilted. "As I said, you have nothing to worry about when it comes to me. Him? That's another story."

"Him?" Jimin repeated.

She moved to the side as the main door opened, and a sudden gust of cool air announced the arrival of more patrons. A man walked in, and behind him was an older gentleman with sandy blond hair and a weathered face, colored by the sun—

Jimin's eyes widened as disbelief thundered through him.

It was Kim Seokjin. What was he doing at the Red Pearl?

Oh, gods.

Jimin didn't want to think about the purpose for Seokjin's visit any longer. Seokjin

was a seasoned member of the Royal Guard, a man well into his fourth decade of life, but he was more than that to Jimin. The dagger strapped to his thigh had been a gift from him, and it was Seokjin who broke with custom and made sure Jimin not only knew how to use it, but also how to wield a sword, strike a target unseen with an arrow, and even when weaponless, how to take down a man twice his size.

Seokjin was like a father to Jimin.

He was also Jimin's personal guard and had been since Jimin had first arrived in Masadonia. He wasn't Jimin's only guard, though. He shared duties with Rylan Keal, who'd replaced Hannes after he'd passed in his sleep a little less than a year ago. It had been an unexpected loss as Hannes had been in his early thirties and in prime health. The Healers believed it to have been some unknown ailment of the heart. Still, it was hard to imagine how one could go to sleep healthy and whole and never wake up again.

Rylan didn't know that Jimin was as well trained as he was, but he knew Jimin could at least handle a dagger. He wasn't aware of where Seokjin and Jimin all too often disappeared to outside the castle. He was kind and often relaxed, but Jimin wasn't nearly as close to him as he was with Seokjin. If it had been Rylan here, Jimin could've easily slipped away.

"Dammit," Jimin swore, turning sideways as he reached back and pulled the hood of his cloak up over his head. His hair was a rather noticeable shade of blonde, but even with it hidden now and his entire face obscured, Seokjin would recognize him.

He had a sixth sense that only belonged to parents and made itself known when their child was up to no good.

Glancing back toward the entrance, Jimin's stomach dropped as he saw Seokjin sit at one of the tables facing the door—the only exit.

The gods hated Jimin.

Truly, they did, because there was no doubt in his mind that Seokjin would see him. He wouldn't report him, but Jimin would rather crawl into a hole full of roaches and spiders than attempt to explain to him, of all people, why he was at the Red Pearl.

And there would be lectures. Not the speeches and punishments the Duke loved to deliver, but the kind that crawled under Jimin's skin and made him feel terrible for days. Mainly because he had been caught doing something he deserved reprimand for.

Jimin stole another peek and—

Oh, gods, a woman knelt beside Seokjin, a hand on his leg!

Jimin needed to scrub his eyes.

"That's Sariah," the woman explained. "As soon as he arrives, she's at his side. I do believe she carries a torch for him."

Slowly, Jimin looked at the woman beside him. "He comes here often?"

One side of her lips curved up. "Often enough to know what happens beyond the red curtain and—"

"That's enough," Jimin cut her off. He now needed to scrub his brain. "I don't need to hear any more." Seeing the only father figure he had in a brothel was enough for one night.

Her laugh was soft. "You have the look of one who is in need of a hiding place. And, yes, in the Red Pearl, that is an easily recognizable

look." She deftly took Jimin's champagne glass. "Upstairs, there are currently unoccupied rooms. Try the sixth door on the left. You will find sanctuary there. I'll come for you when it's safe."

Suspicion rose as Jimin met her gaze, but He let her take his arm and lead him toward the left. "Why would you help me?"

She opened the door. "Because everyone should be able to live a little, even for a few hours."

Jimin's mouth dropped open as she gave him a wink, and closed the door.

Her figuring out who Jimin was couldn't be a coincidence. Repeating back to Jimin what he's been thinking earlier? There was no way. A rough laugh escaped his lips. The woman may be a Descenter, or at the very least, she wasn't a fan of the Ascended. But she might also be a Seer.(a which, a fortune teller)

Jimin didn't think there were any of them left.

And He still couldn't believe that Seokjin was here—that he came here often enough that one of the ladies in red liked him. Jimin wasn't sure why he was so surprised. It wasn't like Royal Guards were forbidden from seeking pleasure or even marrying. Many were quite...promiscuous since their lives were rife with danger and often far too short. It was just that Seokjin had a wife who'd passed long before Jimin even met him, dying in childbirth along with the baby. He still loved his Camilia as much as he had when she lived and breathed.

But what could be found here had nothing to do with love, did it? And everyone got lonely, no matter if their heart belonged to someone they could no longer have or not.

A little saddened by that, Jimin turned around in the narrow stairwell lit by oil wall sconces. Jimin exhaled heavily. "What have I gotten myself into?"

Only the gods knew, and there was no turning back now.

Jimin slipped his hand inside the cloak, keeping it close to the hilt of the dagger as he climbed the steps to the second floor. The hallway was wider and surprisingly quiet. He didn't know what he expected, but he had thought he would hear...sounds.

Shaking his head, Jimin counted until he reached the sixth door on the left. He tried the handle and found it unlocked. Jimin started to open the door but stopped. What was he doing? Anyone or anything could be waiting beyond this door. That woman downstairs—

The sound of a male chuckle filled the hallway as the door beside him opened. Panicked, Jimin quickly backed into the room in front of him, closing the door behind him.

Heart pounding, Jimin looked around. There were no lamps, just a tree of candles on a mantel. A settee sat in front of an empty fireplace.

Without even looking behind him, Jimin knew the only other piece of furniture had to be a bed. Jimin drew in a deep breath, catching the scent of the candles. Cinnamon? But there was something else, something that reminded him of dark spices and pine. He started to turn—

An arm curled around his waist, pulling him back against a very hard, very male body.

"This," a deep voice whispered, "is unexpected."

Caught off guard, Jimin looked up. A mistake that Seokjin had taught him never to make. He should've gone for the dagger, but instead, Jimin stood there as the arm around his waist tightened, and the man's hand settled at his hip.

"But it's a welcome surprise," he continued, sliding his arm away.

Snapping out of his stupor, Jimin whirled to face him, the hood of the cloak remaining in place as Jimin's hand went for the dagger. He looked up...and then up some more.

Oh, gods.

Jimin froze, utter shock rippling through him, shorting out all common sense when he saw the man's face in the soft glow of the candlelight.

Jimin knew who he was, even though he'd never spoken with him.

Min Yoongi.

Everyone in Castle Teerman knew when the Rise Guard arrived fromCarsodonia, the capital, a few months ago. Jimin had been no different. Jimin wanted to lie to himself and say that it was due to his striking height, placing him nearly a foot taller than Jimin. Or it was because he moved with the same inherent, predatory grace and fluidity that belonged to the large, gray cave cats that normally roamed the Wastelands but that Jimin had seen once in the Queen's palace as a child. The fearsome, wild animal had been caged, and the way it continuously prowled back and forth in the too-small enclosure had equally fascinated and horrified him. Jimin had seen Yoongi pacing in the same manner on more than one occasion, as if he too were caged. It could've been the sense of authority that seemed to bleed from his pores even though he couldn't be much older than Jimin was—maybe the same age as his brother or a year or two older. Or perhaps it was his skill with the sword. One morning while Jimin stood beside the Duchess on one of the many balconies at Castle Teerman, overlooking the training yard below, she'd told Jimin that Yoongi had come from the capital with glowing recommendations and was well on his way to becoming one of the youngest Royal Guards. Her gaze had been fixed on Yoongi's sweat-slick arms.

So had Jimin's.

Since Yoongi's arrival, Jimin found himself hidden in the shadowy alcoves more than a few times, watching him train with the other guards. Other than the weekly City Council sessions held in the Great Hall, it was the only time Jimin saw him.

The younger's interest could simply be because Yoongi was...well, he was handsome.

It wasn't often that could be said about a male, but Jimin could think of no better word to describe him. He had dark, thick hair that curled at the nape of his neck and often fell forward, brushing equally dark brows. The planes and angles of his face made Jimin yearn for some talent with a brush or a pen. His cheekbones were high and wide, nose surprisingly straight for a guard. Many of them had suffered at least one broken nose. His square jaw was firm, and his mouth well formed. The few times Jimin had seen him smile, gums would show, and a deep dimple appeared. But his eyes were by far his most captivating feature.

They reminded Jimin of cool honey, a striking color he'd never seen before, and he had this way of looking at someone that left them feeling stripped bare. Jimin knew this because he felt Yoongi's stare during the Councils held in the Great Hall, even though he'd never seen Jimin's face or even his eyes before. Jimin was sure the man's regard was due to the fact that Jimin was the first Maiden in centuries.

People always stared when Jimin was in public, whether they were guards, Lords and Ladies in Wait, or commoners.

Yoongi's stare could also just be a product of Jimin's imagination, driven by the younger's small, hidden desire and hope that Yoongi was as curious about him as Jimin was of him.

Perhaps it was all those reasons why he caught Jimin's interest, but there was another one that Jimin was a little embarrassed to even acknowledge.

Jimin had purposely reached out with his powers when he saw Yoongi.

Jimin knew it was wrong to do when there was no good reason. Nothing to justify the invasion. And Jimin had no excuse other than wondering what often made Yoongi pace like a caged cave cat.

Yoongi was always in pain.

Not the physical kind. It was deeper than that, feeling like chips of sharp ice against Jimin's skin. It was raw and it felt never-ending. But the anguish that seemed to follow him like a shadow never overwhelmed him. If Jimin hadn't used his senses, He would have never guessed it. Somehow, Yoongi kept that kind of agony under control, and Jimin knew of no one else who could do that.

Not even the Ascended.

Only because Jimin never felt anything from them, although Jimin knew they felt physical pain. The fact that he never had to worry about picking up emotional pain from them should make him seek out their presence, but instead, it gave Jimin the creeps. Why didn't they feel anything?

"I wasn't expecting you tonight," spoke. He was giving Jimin that half-smile of his now, the one that showed no teeth, made the dimple in his right cheek appear, but never quite reached his eyes. "It's only been a few days, sweetling."

Sweetling?

Jimin opened his mouth and then clamped it shut as realization rose. Jimin blinked. He thought he was someone else! Someone he'd obviously met here before.

Jimin glanced down at his cloak—the borrowed garment. It was rather distinctive, a pale blue with an edging of white fur.

Britta.

Did he think he was Britta?

To be fair, Jimin wasn't the manliest looking man. He had luscious shiny blonde hair and big plump red lips. His skin was smooth as silk and once covered entirely in cloak with his mask on, people had mistook him for a woman once or twice. It happens.

Jimin's gaze swept over Yoongi. He wore the black tunic and breeches that all guards wore under their armor. Had he come straight here after his shift? Jimin gave the room a quick once-over. There was a small table beside the settee, where two glasses sat. Yoongi hadn't been alone in here before Jimin arrived. Could he have been with another? Behind Yoongi, the bed was made and didn't appear as if anyone had...slept in it.

What should he do? Turn and run? That would be odd. Yoongi would be sure to ask Britta about it, but as long as Jimin returned the cloak and mask without her knowing, Jimin would be in the clear.

Except Seokjin was most likely still downstairs, and the woman was, too—

Dear gods, she had to be a Seer. Instinct told him she had known this room was occupied. She'd sent Jimin here on purpose. Had she known that Yoongi was here and likely to mistake Jimin for Britta?

It seemed too unreal to believe.

"Did Namjoon tell you I was here?" he asked.

Jimin's breath caught as his heart started pounding like a hammer against

my ribs. Jimin thinks Namjoon is a guard on the Rise, one around Yoongi's age. A dark haired fella, if heremembered correctly, but he hadn't seen him downstairs, so he shook his head without making a sound

"Have you been watching for me, then? Following me?" he asked, sighting softly under his breath. "We'll have to talk about that, won't we?" There was an odd threat to his voice, one that gave Jimin the impression that he was not all that pleased by the idea of Britta following him.

"But not tonight, it seems. You're strangely quiet," he observed. From what Jimin knew of Britta, she was rarely ever demure.

But the moment Jimin would speak, Yoongi would know he wasn't Britta, and Jimin...wasn't ready for him to discover that.

He wasn't sure what he was ready for. His hand was no longer on the dagger, and Jimin didn't know what that meant. All he knew was that his heart was still racing.

"We don't have to talk." Yoongi reached for the hem of his tunic, and before Jimin could take another breath, he pulled it over his head, tossing it aside.

Jimin's lips parted and his eyes widened. He had seen a man's chest before, but he had never seen his. The muscles that flexed and bunched under the thinner shirts the guards trained in were now on display. He was broad of shoulder and chest, all lean muscles and pale skin. Probably soft to the touch.

Jimin's gaze dipped even lower, and heat returned, a different kind that didn't just flush his skin but also invaded his blood.

Even in the candlelight, Jimin could see how tight his breeches were, how they gloved his body, leaving very little to the imagination.

And Jimin had a vast imagination thanks to the Ladies' frequent tendency to overshare, and his frequent tendency to listen in on conversations.

A strange curling sensation hit his lower stomach. It wasn't unpleasant. Not at all. It was warm and tingling, reminding his of his first sip of bubbly champagne.

Yoongi stepped toward him, and Jimin's muscles tensed to run, but he held himself still by sheer will. Jimin knew he should've stepped away. He should've spoken and revealed that he wasn't Britta. He should've left immediately. The way that man prowled towards him, his long legs eating up the distance between them, told Jimin his intent, even if he hadn't removed his tunic. And while Jimin had little—all right, absolutely no experience—He inherently knew that if that man reached him, he would touch him. He may do even more. He might kiss him.

And that was forbidden.

Jimin was the Maiden, the Chosen. Not to mention, he thought Jimin was a woman, and he'd obviously been in this room with someone else before Jimin got here. That didn't mean he'd been with someone, but he could've.

Jimin still didn't move or speak.

He waited, his heart beating so fast he felt faint. Tiny tremors racked his hands and legs.

And Jimin never trembled.

What are you doing? whispered the reasonable, sane voice in his head. Living, Jimin whispered back.

And being incredibly stupid, the voice countered.

Jimin stood there.

Senses hyperaware, he watched as Yoongi stopped in front of him and

lifted his hands, gripping the back of Jimin's cloak. For a moment, Jimin thought he might pull it back, and the charade would be over, but that wasn't what he did. The hood only slipped back a couple of inches.

"I don't know what kind of game you're about tonight." His deep voice was husky. "But I'm willing to find out."

Yoongi's other arm came around the younger's waist. A gasp left Jimin as the man hauled him to his chest. This was nothing like the friendly embraces he had received from Seokjin. Jimin had never been held by a man like this. There wasn't an inch between Yoongi's chest and his. The contact was a spark to Jimin senses.

He lifted me up onto the tips of my toes, then clear off my feet. His strength was staggering since Jimin wasn't exactly light, at least not as light as Britta was. Stunned, hands landed on his shoulders. The heat of his hard skin seemed to burn through Jimin's gloves and the cloak and thin white gown Jimin usually slept in.

Yoongi head slanted, and Jimin felt the warmth of his breath on his lips. A tight tremor of anticipation coiled its way down his spine at the same moment his stomach dipped with uncertainty. There was no time for the two warring emotions to battle.

In a matter of a few stuttering heartbeats, Yoongi was guiding them down to the bed, his grip strong but careful, as if he were aware of his strength. He came down over Jimin, his hand still behind Jimin's head, his weight a shock as he pressed Jimin into the bed, and then his mouth was on the younger's.

Yoongi kissed him.

There was nothing sweet or soft, like Jimin imagined a kiss to be. It was hard and overwhelming, claiming, and when Jimin sucked in a sharp breath, Yoongi took advantage, deepening the kiss. His tongue touched Jimin's, startling him. Panic flared in the pit of his stomach, but so did something else, something far more powerful, a pleasure Jimin hadn't experienced before. He tasted of the golden liquor he'd once snuck, and Jimin felt that stroke of the guard's tongue in every part of him. It was in the shivers that erupted all over his skin, in the inexplicable heaviness in his chest, in that curling, tightening sensation below his navel and even lower still where there was a sudden, throbbing pulse between his legs.

Jimin shuddered, his fingers digging into the man's flesh, and He suddenly wished He hadn't worn gloves because He wanted to feel his skin.

The man's head tilted, and Jimin felt the brush of his oddly sharp—

Without warning, he broke the kiss and lifted his head. "Who are you?"

Thoughts oddly slow and skin humming, Jimin blinked open his eyes. Dark hair fell forward onto Yoongi's forehead. His features were shadowed in the soft, flickering light, but Jimin thought Yoongi's lips looked as swollen as his own felt.

Yoongi acted too fast for Jimin to track the movement, tugging Jimin's hood back, exposing Jimin's masked face.

Yoongi's brows lifted as the haze cleared from Jimin's thoughts. Jimin's heart jumped around in his chest for a whole different reason, even though his lips still tingled from the kiss.

His first kiss.

Yoongi's golden-eyed gaze rose to Jimin's head, and he shifted his hand out from behind the younger's neck. "You are most definitely not who I thought you were," he murmured.

The man seemed to be unfazed over the fact that Jimin was a male.

"How did you know?" Jimin blurted out.

"Because the last time I kissed the owner of this cloak, she damn near sucked my tongue down her throat."

"Oh," Jimin whispered. Was he supposed to have done that? It didn't sound like it would be something enjoyable.

The man stared down at him, gaze assessing as he remained with half his body atop of Jimin's. One of his legs was thrust between the younger's, and Jimin had no idea exactly when that had happened. "Have you been kissed before?"

Jimin's face caught fire. Oh, gods, was it that obvious? "I have!"

One side of his lips kicked up. "Do you always lie?"

"No!" Jimin immediately lied.

"Liar," he murmured, his tone almost teasing.

Embarrassment flooded Jimin's system "You should get off."

"I was planning to."

The way he said it made Jimin's eyes narrow.

Yoongi laughed, and it was...it was the first time Jimin had heard him do so. When Jimin saw him in the Hall, he was quiet and stoic like most guards, and he'd only seen that half-grin of his while he trained. But never a laugh. And with the anguish Jimin had sensed lingered below the surface, he wasn't quite sure that this man ever laughed.

But he had now, and it sounded real, deep, and nice, and it rumbled through Jimin, all the way to the tips of his toes. Jimin was slow to realize that this was the most He'd heard that man speak. He had a slight accent, an almost musical lilt to his tone. Jimin couldn't quite place it, but Jimin had only ever been to the capital and here, and it was not often that many spoke to Jimin or around him if they knew he was present. The accent could be quite common for all Jimin knew.

"You really should move," Jimin told him, even though he liked the weight of him.

"I'm quite comfortable where I am," he added, still unfazed by the fact that Jimin was a man

"Well, I'm not."

"Will you tell me who you are, Prince?"

"Prince?" Jimin repeated. There were no Princesses or Princes in the entire kingdom beyond the Dark One, who called himself such. Not since Atlantia had ruled.

"You are quite demanding." He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. "I imagine a Prince to be demanding."

"I am not demanding," Jimin stated. "Get off me."

He arched a brow. "Really?"

"Telling you to move is not being demanding."

"We'll have to disagree on that." He paused. "Prince."

Jimin's lips twitched in wry humor, but he managed to hide the smile. It felt annoying being amused by him "You shouldn't call me that."

"Then what should I call you? A name, perhaps?"

"I'm...I'm no one,"

"No One? What a strange name. Do young boys with a name like that often make a habit of wearing other people's clothing?"

"I'm not a young boy," Jimin snapped.

"I would sure hope not." He paused, lips curling down at the corners. "How old are you?"

"Old enough to be in here, if that's what you're worried about."

"In other words, old enough to be masquerading as someone else, allowing others to believe you're another person and then allowing them to kiss—"

"I get what you're saying," Jimin cut him off. "Yes, I'm old enough for all those things."

One eyebrow rose. "I'll tell you who I am, although I have a feeling you already know. I'm Min Yoongi."

"Well Min Yoongi, Hi" Jimin said, feeling foolish for doing so. He couldn't have thought of something witty and clever on the spot.

The dimple in the man's right cheek deepened. "This is the part where you tell me your name."

Jimin's lips nor his tongue moved.

"Then I'll have to keep calling you Prince" His eyes were much warmer now, and Jimin wanted to see if the pain had eased but managed to resist. Jimin just thought that perhaps his pain had gone away. If so...

"The least you can do is tell me why you didn't stop me earlier" the man said before Jimin could give in to the curiosity and reach out with his senses.

Jimin had no idea how he could answer that when he didn't fully understand it himself.

One side of the man's lips quirked up. "I'm sure it's more than my disarming good looks."

Jimin wrinkled his nose. "Of course." He said in an obvious ironic tone.

Another short, surprised-sounding laugh left Yoongi. "I think you just insulted me." He looked at Jimin from top to bottom, almost as if he was admiring him "You've wounded me, Prince."

"I highly doubt that. You have to be more than well aware of your fine appearance."

"I am. It has led to quite a few people making questionable life choices."

"Then why did you say you were insulted—?" Realizing the man was simply teasing Jimin and feeling foolish for not seeing that right away, Jimin pushed at his chest once more. "You're still lying on me."

"I know."

The younger took a breath. "It's quite rude of you to continue doing so when I've made it clear that I would like for you to move."

"It's quite rude of you to barge into my room dressed as—"

"Your lover?"

He raised a brow. "I wouldn't call her that."

"What would you call her?"

Yoongi appeared to mull that over while still sprawled halfway across Jimin. "A...good friend."

Part of him was relieved that Yoongi hadn't referred to her as something derogatory like he had overheard other men do before when speaking of women they'd been intimate with, but a good friend? "I didn't know friends behaved this way."

"I'm willing to bet you don't know much about these sorts of things."

The truth in his statement was hard to ignore. "And you bet all of this on just one kiss?"

"Just one kiss? Prince, you can learn a wealth of things from just one kiss."

Staring at him, Jimin couldn't help but feel...very inexperienced. The only thing he could tell from his kiss was what it had made Jimin feel. Like he was seeking to possess me.

"Why didn't you stop me?" he repeated his previous question, gaze swept over the mask and then lower, his eyes brushed over Jimin's lips as if they were touching them. Honestly, Jimin was too overwhelmed to move or say anything, he just sat there squished under Yoongi's body like a lost puppy.

Yoongi's gaze found Jimin's. "I think I'm beginning to understand."

"Does that mean you're going to get up so I can move?"

Why haven't you made him get up? whispered that stupid, very reasonable, and very logical voice. That was a great question. Jimin knew how to use another man's weight against them. More importantly, he had his dagger and access to it. But Jimin hadn't gone for it, nor had he truly made an attempt to put space between them. What did that mean?

Jimin... supposed he felt safe. At least, at the moment. He may know very little about Yoongi, but he wasn't a stranger, at least he didn't feel that way to Jimin, and he wasn't afraid of him.

Yoongi shook his head. "I have a theory."

"I'm waiting."

That dimple in his right cheek appeared once more. "I think you came to this very room with a purpose in mind."

He was right about that, but Jimin doubted he would be right about the actual reason.

"It's why you didn't speak or attempt to correct my assumption of who you were. Perhaps the cloak you borrowed was also a very calculated decision," he continued. "You came here because you want something from me."

Jimin started to deny what the man suggested, but no words rose to the tip of his tongue. Silence wasn't a denial or agreement, but his stomach dipped again.

Yoongi shifted ever so slightly, his hand coming to rest against Jimin's right cheek, his fingers splayed out. "I'm right, aren't I, Prince?"

Heart skipping all over the place, Jimin tried to swallow, but his throat had

dried. "Maybe...maybe I came here for...for conversation."

"To talk?" His brows rose. "About what?"

"Lots of things,".

His expression smoothed out. "Like?"

Jimin's mind was uselessly empty for several seconds, and then he blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "Why did you choose to work on the Rise?"

"You came here tonight to ask that?"

Not a single thing about his tone or his look said he believed Jimin, but the younger nodded while mentally adding that this was yet another example of how terribly bad he was at making conversations with people.

Yoongi was quiet and then said, "I joined the Rise for the same reason most do."

"And what is that?" Jimin asked, even though he already knew most of the reasons.

"My father was a farmer, and that was not the life for me. There aren't many other opportunities offered than joining the Royal Army and protecting the Rise, Prince."

"You're right."

His eyes narrowed as surprise flickered across his features. "What do you mean by that?"

"I mean, there aren't many chances for children to become something other than what their parents were."

"You mean there aren't many chances for children to improve their stations in life, to do better than those who came before them?"

Jimin nodded as best he could. "The...the natural order of things doesn't exactly allow that. A farmer's son is a farmer or they—"

"They choose to become a guard, where they risk their lives for stable pay that they most likely won't live long enough to enjoy?" he finished. Scorn lacing his tone "Doesn't sound much like an option, does it?"

"No," Jimin admitted, but he had already thought that himself. There were jobs Yoongi could've strived for. Trader and hunter, but they too were hazardous, as they required going outside the Rise frequently. It just wasn't as dangerous as joining the Royal Army and going to the Rise. Was the source of his anguish due to what he'd seen as a guard?

"There may not be many choices, but I still think—no, I know—that joining the guard requires a certain level of innate strength and courage."

"You think that of all the guards? That they are courageous?"

"I do."

"Not all guards are good men, Prince"

Jimin's eyes narrowed. "I know that. Bravery and strength do not equal goodness."

"We can agree on that." His gaze dropped to Jimin's mouth, and then his chest felt inexplicably tight.

"You said your father was a farmer. Is he...has he gone to the gods?"

Something crept across his face, gone too quickly for Jimin to decipher. "No. He is alive and well. Yours?"

Jimin gave a small shake of his head. "My father—both of my parents are gone."

"I'm sorry to hear that," he said, and it sounded genuine. "The loss of a

parent or a family member lingers long after they're gone, the pain lessening but never fading. Years later, you'll still find yourself thinking that you'd do anything to get them back."

He was right, and Jimin thought that this was perhaps the source of the pain he felt. "You sound like you know firsthand."

"I do."

Jimin thought of Finley. Had Yoongi known him well? Most of the guards were close, developing a bond thicker than blood, but even if he hadn't known Finley, there were surely others he knew that had been lost. "I'm sorry,"

Jimin said. "I'm sorry for whoever it is that you've lost. Death is..."

Death was constant.

And Jimin sure saw a lot of it. He wasn't supposed to, as sheltered as he was, but he saw death all too frequently.

Yoongi's head tilted, sending a tumble of dark locks over his forehead. "Death is like an old friend who pays a visit, sometimes when it's least expected and other times when you're waiting for her. It's neither the first nor the last time she'll pay a visit, but that doesn't make any death less harsh or unforgiving."

Sadness threatened to take up residence in Jimin's chest, crowding out the warmth. "That, it is."

Yoongi dipped his head suddenly, his lips nearing Jimin's. "I doubt the need for conversation led you to this room. You didn't come here to talk about sad things that cannot be changed, Prince."

Yoongi was right, yet again. It wasn't to talk. Jimin came here to live. To experience. To choose. To be anyone other than who he was. None of those things included talking.

But he had his first kiss tonight. He could stop there or tonight could be a night of many firsts, all of his choosing.

Was he...? Was he really considering this, whatever this was? Gods, he truly was. Tiny tremors rocked him. Could Yoongi feel them? They piled in Jimin's stomach, forming little knots of anticipation and fear.

Jimin was the Maiden. The Chosen. His earlier convictions about what the gods concerned themselves with weakened. Would they find him unworthy? Panic didn't seize Jimin like it should. Instead, a spark of hope did, and that unsettled him more than anything. The tiny glimmer of hope felt traitorous and wholly concerning, given that being deemed unworthy resulted in one of the most serious consequences.

If Jimin was to be found unworthy, he'd face certain death.

He'd be exiled from the kingdom.

#yoonmin scenarios #yoonmin #yoonmin fanfiction #jimin imagine #jimin fanfic #jimin scenario #yoongi reaction #yoongi fanfic #yoongi smut #jimin smut #bts scenarios #bts imagines #bts au fic #yoonmin au

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britishsass · 2 years

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what's your favourite doctor who episode from each season

Let me see-- I've only seen up to Season 10 (And only a couple of that one) so I'll do my best.

The End of the World OR The Empty Child/Doctor Dances. I know it's not the ones with the Slitheen, but I also love Rose, Father's Day, and the finale. This season has some great ones, and unfortunately the Slitheen. I'll say... Empty Child/Doctor Dances.

Christmas Invasion, Girl in the Fireplace, Rise of the Cybermen/Age of Steel... This one's got some bangers, but unfortunately, also Love and Monsters is there. Oh, and my most terrifying monster... that'll be later. My favorite killed me the first time I saw it. It's one of two episodes that made me cry. Army of Ghosts/Doomsday.

Blink is the obvious choice, but let's think longer about it. I actually love Runaway Bride, 42, and Lazarus Experiment-- as well as the fantastic Human Nature/Family of Blood. I actually like Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks, but I think I have to go with the obvious. Blink.

I know which one it's not! Planet of the Ood gave me NIGHTMARES! I hate the Ood. They're the one creature that actually scare me. The Ood are at their scariest in that episode, and I cannot take it. Okay, focusing-- Voyage of the D-mned, Partners in Crime, Doctor's Daughter, Unicorn and the Wasp, Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead, Midnight, that finale-- I don't think this season really had any weak episodes. My favorite, though, might be unexpected-- Turn Left.

(Bonus to discuss the five specials-- It's not Planet of the Dead, but I think the other four are all equally fantastic. However, this includes the first episode I ever saw: The Next Doctor.)

Eleventh Hour, Beast Below, Vincent and the Doctor... Yeah, I know the obvious option, but I think my answer will seem strange, but it's got so many good ideas AND Rory is there. Amy's Choice.

Hm, let's see. The Doctor's Wife, Good Man Goes to War, Let's Kill Hitler, Night Terrors, God Complex... I have to go with the second of the two episodes that made me actually cry. This one has the honor of doing it TWICE. The Girl Who Waited.

I've said it before, but I'll note ones I like-- Asylum of the Daleks (which I have a poster for!), Rings of Akhaten is okay but not worth all the hype imo, and Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS. I'm not a big fan of Clara, so a lot of this season falls flat to me... And then there's a perfect episode among it all. Nightmare in Silver.

(Bonus for the trio of Name, Day, and Time of the Doctor. Obviously, my favorite is Day of the Doctor-- I have a poster for it.)

Bad news, this is where my memory gets super foggy. The only one I even remember is Mummy on the Orient Express.

I still don't remember much here, but I did reference a bit from this season for my TL!Ford au-- Specifically, The Magician's Apprentice/The Witch's Familiar! My answer, though (since I like Osgood.) is Zygon Invasion/Zygon Inversion.

I only actually saw like... The first three episodes of this season. Pilot, Smile, and Thin Ice. However, I recall I loved Pilot.

I can't tell you my thoughts on the rest of the seasons, sadly. I've not had a chance to watch the rest, and the last time I saw any Doctor Who until just recently was like... four/five years ago? I remember watching it when I was doing a french project with my friend. We had to wait for our food to cook, so we just settled in to watch a couple of episodes instead. (Those episodes were Smile and Thin Ice.) I was in full cosplay as Doctor Horrible at the time, too. This probably makes my life sound even weirder.

#queue #ask response #doctor who rambling #the owl posts

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emerald-dragonflame · 3 years

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Started with Dinobot, and he’s based off the Norse god of war (which is so funny if you know anything about Norse mythology).

And the name of this AU shall be “Ice Fall” (thank you, yes, so original, I know).

#my art #beast wars #beast wars au #ice fall #beast wars ice age au #beast wars dinobot #dinobot #sorry for the terrible quality

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yandere-toons · 2 years

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MISCELLANY

-- Alphabetised by Character --

1 — Shane Acker's 9

Romantic Headcanons

Ace — The Powerpuff Girls

Romantic Headcanons

Alberto Scorfano — Luca 2021

Platonic Headcanons

Alternate Gabriel — The Mandela Catalogue

The Judgement of Satan (Platonic Scenario)

Amaimon — Blue Exorcist

The Narrow Gate (Platonic Scenario + Mephisto)

Anakin Skywalker — Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Bakugou Katsuki — Boku no Hero Academia

In My Defence (Platonic Scenario)

Beast Boy — Teen Titans 2003

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Bender Bending Rodríguez — Futurama

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons (+ Fry)

Benny the 1980-Something Space Guy — The LEGO Movie

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Bill Cipher — Gravity Falls

So I Married a Dream Demon (Romantic Scenario)

Billy Lenz — Black Christmas 1974

Homme du Grenier (Scenario)

Black Hat — Villainous

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

B.O.B. — Monsters vs. Aliens

Chain Gang (Platonic Scenario + Dr Cockroach, Missing Link)

Bob Velseb — Spooky Month: Tender Treats

Midnight Snack (Flash Fiction)

BoJack Horseman

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Buck Wild — Ice Age

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Caligosto Loboto — Psychonauts

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Candlejack — Freakazoid!

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Chick Hicks — Cars

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Chris & Zach — Hellbenders

Death Comes (Drabble)

Claptrap — Borderlands 2

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Daycare Attendant | Sun | Moon — Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach

Sleep Like a Baby (Platonic Scenario)

Death the Kid — Soul Eater

Death and Dignity (Platonic Scenario)

Dr Cockroach — Monsters vs. Aliens

Chain Gang (Platonic Scenario + Missing Link, B.O.B.)

Dr Octavius Brine | Dave the Octopus — Penguins of Madagascar

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

E. Aster Bunnymund — Rise of the Guardians

Platonic Headcanons (+ Guardians)

Emily — Corpse Bride

Kiss of Death (Drabble)

Fix-It Felix Jr. — Wreck-It Ralph

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Flippy | Fliqpy — Happy Tree Friends

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Gregory — Gregory Horror Show

Hotel Gregory (Platonic Scenario)

Gristol Malik | Nick Johnsmith — Psychonauts 2

The Last Carriage Out of Grulovia (Platonic Scenario)

Grizzly "Grizz" Bear — We Bare Bears

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Gwen Stacy | Spider Gwen

Spider Gang (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)

Heinz Doofenshmirtz — Phineas and Ferb

Prima Facie (Romantic Scenario)

Henry Bowers — Stephen King's It

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Hexxus — FernGully: The Last Rainforest

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Invader Zim

Persona Non Grata (Platonic Scenario) (Alien 1979! AU)

Jack Frost — Rise of the Guardians

Platonic Headcanons (+ Guardians)

Jack Pumpkinhead — Return to Oz

Platonic Headcanons

Jataro Kemuri — Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls

The Good Teacher (Platonic Scenario + Nagisa Shingetsu, Monaca Towa, Masaru Daimon, Kotoko Utsugi)

John Doe | Telltale Joker — Batman: The Enemy Within

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Jumba Jookiba — Lilo & Stitch

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons (+ Pleakley)

Kaa — The Jungle Book 1967

Snake in the Grass (Platonic Scenario)

Klaus Hargreeves — The Umbrella Academy

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Kotoko Utsugi — Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls

The Good Teacher (Platonic Scenario + Nagisa Shingetsu, Jataro Kemuri, Masaru Daimon, Monaca Towa)

LaCienega Boulevardez — The Proud Family

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

LEGO Joker — The LEGO Batman Movie

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Lloyd Garmadon — The LEGO Ninjago Movie

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Lord Hater — Wander Over Yonder

Polyromantic Headcanons (+ Wander)

Lord Shen — Kung Fu Panda 2

Fallen Leaves (Platonic Scenario)

Luke Castellan — Percy Jackson & the Olympians

Platonic Headcanons

Masaru Daimon — Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls

The Good Teacher (Platonic Scenario + Nagisa Shingetsu, Jataro Kemuri, Monaca Towa, Kotoko Utsugi)

Master Shifu — Kung Fu Panda

Shifu as a Father Figure (Discussion)

Matthew Patel — Scott Pilgrim

Romantic Headcanons

Mephisto Pheles — Blue Exorcist

The Narrow Gate (Platonic Scenario + Amaimon)

Miles Morales

Spider Gang (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)

Mohawk — Gremlins 2: The New Batch

Romantic Headcanons

Monaca Towa — Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls

The Good Teacher (Platonic Scenario + Nagisa Shingetsu, Jataro Kemuri, Masaru Daimon, Kotoko Utsugi)

Mr Piranha — The Bad Guys 2022

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons (+ Mr Wolf, Mr Snake, Mr Shark, Ms Tarantula)

Mr Shark — The Bad Guys 2022

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons (+ Mr Wolf, Mr Snake, Ms Tarantula, Mr Piranha)

Mr Snake — The Bad Guys 2022

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons (+ Mr Wolf, Ms Tarantula, Mr Shark, Mr Piranha)

Mr Wolf — The Bad Guys 2022

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons (+ Ms Tarantula, Mr Snake, Mr Shark, Mr Piranha)

Ms Tarantula — The Bad Guys 2022

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons (+ Mr Wolf, Mr Snake, Mr Shark, Mr Piranha)

Mushu — Mulan

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Nagisa Shingetsu — Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls

The Good Teacher (Platonic Scenario + Monaca Towa, Jataro Kemuri, Masaru Daimon, Kotoko Utsugi)

Nicholas St. North — Rise of the Guardians

Platonic Headcanons (+ Guardians)

Nightmare Sans — Dreamtale

Untitled Scenario

Oswald Cobblepot — Gotham

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Peni Parker

Spider Gang (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)

Peter B. Parker

Spider Gang (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)

Peter Parker | Spider-Noir

Spider Gang (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)

Peter Porker | Spider-Ham

Spider Gang (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)

Philip J. Fry — Futurama

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons (+ Bender)

Philip Trousers — Green Eggs and Ham: The Second Serving

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Queen Tyr'ahnee — Duck Dodgers

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Reagan Ridley — Inside Job

Romantic Headcanons

Reigen Arataka — Mob Psycho 100

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Richard Hendricks — Silicon Valley

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Roger the Alien — American Dad!

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Sam-I-Am — Green Eggs and Ham: Netflix Series

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Saul Goodman | Jimmy McGill — Better Call Saul

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Scott Pilgrim

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

SpongeBob SquarePants

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Sun Wukong the Monkey King — Monkey King Reborn

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Tangerine — Bullet Train 2022

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

The Devil — The Cuphead Show!

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

The Missing Link — Monsters vs. Aliens

Chain Gang (Platonic Scenario) (+ Dr Cockroach, B.O.B.)

The Sandman — Rise of the Guardians

Platonic Headcanons (+ Guardians)

The Warden — Superjail!

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Thrax — Osmosis Jones

Novelisation of His Introductory Scene

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Tom Lucitor — Star vs. the Forces of Evil

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Toothiana — Rise of the Guardians

Platonic Headcanons (+ Guardians)

Wander — Wander Over Yonder

Polyromantic Headcanons (+ Hater)

Wendell & Wild

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons

Wendy Pleakley — Lilo & Stitch

Platonic & Romantic Headcanons (+ Jumba)

WX-78 — Don't Starve

Three Gears and a Gasket (Platonic Scenario)

Do anything you want with my work, but never make me boring!

210 notes · View notes

somedayonbroadway · 2 years

Text

Newsies AUs I Might Write Someday

Part 1

The Outsiders

The Outsiders Mood Boards

Robin Hood

Robin Hood Mood Boards

Lilo and Stitch

Lilo and Stitch Mood Boards

Big Hero 6

Big Hero 6 Mood Boards

Star Wars

Star Wars Mood Boards

Harry Potter

Harry Potter Mood Boards

Avengers

Avengers Mood Boards Part 1

Avengers Mood Boards Part 2

Avengers Mood Boards Part 3

Spiderman (in the MCU, but different from ‘Avengers’)

Spiderman Mood Boards

Leverage

Leverage Mood Boards

Once Upon a Time

Once Upon a Time Mood Boards

Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast Mood Boards

The Office

The Office Mood Boards

Psych

Psych Mood Boards

Now You See Me

Now You See Me Mood Boards

Rise of the Guardians

Rise of the Guardians Mood Boards

Frozen

Frozen Mood Boards

Frozen 2

Frozen 2 Mood Boards

Cheaper by the Dozen

Cheaper by the Dozen Mood Boards

Gravity Falls

Gravity Falls Mood Boards

Bandstand

Bandstand Mood Boards

A Series of Unfortunate Events

A Series of Unfortunate Events Mood Boards

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games Mood Boards

Peter Pan

Peter Pan Mood Boards

Red Band Society

Red Band Society Mood Boards

Wizards of Waverly Place

Wizard of Waverly Place Mood Boards

Ice Age

Ice Age Mood Boards

Shadowhunters

Shadowhunters Mood Boards

Modern Family

Disney Villains AU

Phineas and Ferb

ATLA

Heathers

Asgard (Thor and Loki)

Good Omens

Freaky Friday

Grease

The Parent Trap

Darkest Minds

Lab Rats

Alice In Wonderland

Criminal Minds

To The Bone

Phantom of the Opera

Aladdin

Aladdin Mood Boards

Tangled

Tangled Mood Boards

Nerve

Nerve Mood Boards

High School Musical

High School Musical Mood Boards

Titanic

Titanic Mood Boards

Nerve (Sprace)

Nerve (Sprace) Mood Boards

Sleeping Beauty (Sprace)

Sleeping Beauty (Sprace) Mood Boards

Another Cinderella Story (Sprace)

Another Cinderella Story (Sprace) Mood Boards

The Little Mermaid (Sprace)

The Little Mermaid (Sprace) Mood Boards

Legally Blonde

Legally Blonde Mood Boards

Hercules

Hercules Mood Boards

Radio Rebel

Radio Rebel Mood Boards

Star Wars (Javid)

Star Wars (Javid) Mood Boards

Tangled: The Series (Henris)

Tangled: The Series Mood Boards

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bird-of-fyre · 3 years

Text

Empires SMP x Wynncraft AU

Been playing a bunch of Wynncraft (an MMO in MC co-owned and I think also created by Grian) and the two BIG plot devices in it are Corruption (Wyyn Province) and Decay (Gavel Province). Both are similar and have ties to the same catalyst.

What’s going on in Empires right now? Corruption. So my brain went brrr and we have this. Feel free to write for, make fanart, etc. with this AU just tag me so that I can see it!

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There are 2 realms in Wynncraft that are constantly at odds with each other. The Realm of Darkness (Dern) and the Realm of Light. When the two forces meet, corruption is formed and the battlefield of their war took place within the Nether. In Wynn, Human miners unearthed a Nether portal and entered, the magic within corrupting and changing them; they returned leading armies of undead that still terrorize the province today. In Gavel, a parasitic entity emerged from a Dern portal and began to infect the magic-enriched land with the Decay.

Corruption spreads like a weed through roots spanning under the entirety of Wynn; the only known force to stall it is Ice Magic. Decay spreads like an infection and slowly consumes the land, it is weak to Light Magic.

The land Empires SMP takes place on is going to be known as Empiria because I feel it deserves a name for this AU. A strange magic protects this land that is believed to be a result of the banishment of Corruption by the Gods before they fell into slumber. Empirians call it "Respawn Magic” as upon dying one is revived at perfect health (though scars may remain depending on the cause of death). Death to age is still a thing, however lifespans of most inhabitants are extended two decades with the exception of elves who live even longer.

Several Empires already existed before the present day crew, these being the following: Rivendell, Mythland, The Overgrown, The Ocean Empire, The Lost Empire, and Smallhold. The rest only came to rise in the past decade

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Characters:

Fwhip: A human that hails from the Wynn province. Him and his sister Gem lived in Detlas together as their parents died in a battle against the endless armies of undead. Fwhip was fascinated by the corruption in their land and sought to study it, perhaps maybe even find out a cure. Gem stopped him from this obsession, reminding him that those that went down that path all ended up becoming harbingers of the corruption. They moved to the land of Empiria shortly around the present day where Fwhip found the Grimlands and the crystalized redstone that tainted it drew his attention. Gem wasn’t fond of the idea but it was a different kind of corruption than that back home so she let him study it. Somehow manages to come off as unhinged yet still in complete control.

Gem: Hailing from Wynn, Gem and Fwhip left for new lands to escape the corruption and undead armies. She settled in a mountainous biome full of amethyst crystals so that she could keep an eye on her brother as his fascination with volatile crystalized redstone worries her. She knew basic fire magic pre-Emperia but now is a bit more adept in her powers and has also learned many more spells. She joined the Wither Rose Alliance with Fwhip and Sausage simply to keep the two chaotic gremlins in line.

Jimmy: A Cod-Hybrid from the Ocean Empire and the adopted brother of Lizzie. He left home to found his own empire in the nearby swamp with his sister’s well wishes. His kingdom is small, but he is a kind and generous ruler that doesn’t see himself above his subjects. While working on paths he found a human washed up on the shore in poor condition; this individual was Joel, a nobody from a far away land who really had just given up on any form of future. Jimmy tends to be the person that generally gets picked on by other rulers for having the smallest empire and because he’s very gullible. Close friends with Pix, who he eagerly loves hearing stories of Corkus from.

Joel: Originally from the port town of Nemract in Wynn, Joel tried to start a religion called Jeremyism in memorium of a donkey he lost to the corruption that never took off due to the Bovemists and their own religion. He cheated some pirates in gambling so they took him hostage and forced him to be part of their crew, not that he was complaining, it was way better than the life he had before. Unfortunately, this didn’t last very long as a battle against some rival pirates during a horrible storm ended with him getting tossed overboard. He awoke on the shore of a swamp where he encountered a cod-hybrid who, with their sister, helped him get back on his feet. After experiencing the Cod and Ocean Empires he decided to start his own in the mesa across the ocean so that he can remain close allies with the duo that saved his life. Him and Lizzie marry a few years later.

Joey: A parrot-hybrid that rules over the Lost Empire as its emperor. He is extremely flirtatious and has questionable morals, but despite this he does care for his people. Fascinated by supernatural forces such as immortality and corruption and also always is looking to grow more powerful in any way he can. He has wind magic but doesn’t tend to use it very much.

Kathrine: A fae whose ancestors were originally from the Realm of Light in a time before the Decay took root in Gavel and Dernic forces made their way into the said realm. When she learns of the origins of several new rulers she is surprised as she had only ever been told of Gavel and Dern. Her and Scott are close, given both their ancestral homes were in Gavel.

Lizzie: An axolotl hybrid who rules over the Ocean Empire. She is a generous and humble ruler who takes pride in he empire and her people. She found a young cod-hybrid caught in a fishermans net when she was still a princess and saved him, declaring him her new brother (which he was happy about). When she was asked to help with a human that had washed onto the shores of Jimmy’s empire she had not been expecting to fall in love with the stranger and is now married to Joel. Wields powerful water magic and takes nonsense from nobody (including her husband).

Pearl: The carefree ruler of Smallhold, an Empire that originally started out as a poor farming village that was struggling on hard times. Pearl is a nymph who took pity on the town and used her magic to help the village through hard times, eventually having them elect her as their queen. Despite her title, she prefers to see herself on equal terms as her people.

Pix: A human from the province of Corkus with great enthusiasm, ambition, and taste for the occasional mischief. He left the island province for new beginnings after accidentally breaking several Corkian laws that would have ended him in prison. His dedication to The Vigil is something he learned from interaction and time spent with the Avos; a race of bird humanoids that were the only inhabitants of Corkus before humans settled there. Pix is fantastic when it comes to metallurgy and uses this knowledge to his advantage when it comes to the copper and other metals he uses in his Empire.

Sausage: Born in the province of Fruma to a poor family Sausage always desired more and often had dreams about becoming a royal and learning magic as only they were allowed the luxury of such. He acted as the robin hood of Fruma for a time before he was eventually caught by the Fruman army and shipped off to Wynn as a soldier to aid the said province in their eternal war against the undead. Unlike most Fruman humans entering Wynn, Sausage did not loose his memories and took the first chance he got to stow away on a ship to new lands. Unfortunately, the ship in question was destroyed in a storm and he washed up onto the shores of Mythland (a smaller town without leadership at the time) and was made its king a year or so thereafter. Given he has no magical abilities of his own due to his origins, he turned to Blood Magic as it’s the closest he’ll ever get.

Scott: The elves of Rivendell originally hailed from Aldorei in Gavel, leaving to escape the Decay. Scott was young when they left for the new lands and, unfortunately, several of the fleeting group were lost to creatures of Dern and Decay; including his older brother, Xornoth. There had been no time to retrieve the bodies of the fallen so those that were left behind were assumed dead or infected. While cold and normally detached from the affairs of others, he does care about his fellow empires. He has light magic but struggles to wield it properly.

Shelby: Gone from her village Shelby returned to find it overun by the Decay and the monsters that come with it. Unable to do anything for her people, she left for new lands. Gavel’s best and brightest couldn’t find a cure for the Decay in their homeland so she hopes that maybe, in this new one, that she might find something to save her people.

Xornoth: Once an elf, now a twisted demonic entity with a lust for destruction. Wounded and separated from his family in an attack while attempting to leave Gavel, he was captured by an acolyte of Dern named Bak’al who brought him back to the realm of darkness. It is here that Xornoth was slowly and painfully corrupted in both mind and body, becoming yet another agent of the beast that governs the dark realm.

54 notes · View notes

digitaldreams0801 · 3 years

Text

Spirit Fuse AU

Posting Note: I was unable to post this until after the story ended because this contains spoilers for the last two chapters, but now, it is here. I typed this months ago, but now you get to see it. Fucking finally. Anyways, on with the show!

It’s been a while since I did an info dump about Frontiers Unexplored, so here we go. This is a long one. The Google document for it is seventeen pages. Yeah. Anyways, the concept of this AU is basically ‘what if traces of the Spirits were left to share bodies with their vessels after the adventure ended?’ I gave all of them personalities, and it took FUCKING forever. Spoilers for Frontiers Unexplored. Enough talk; let’s get into this!

Spirit Fuse AU

In which the Legendary Warriors share mind and body with the Spirits who call human children their vessels.

Each of the Spirits acts as common fragments of the current Legendary Warriors and the Ancient Digimon who once saved the Digital World. They act as checkpoints throughout the lives of both, sometimes taking on certain traits from their hosts or offering what their vessels need most. Hybrid forms are often closest to the personalities of the Ancient Digimon since they have combined broken memories from the Human and Beast Spirits, though this is not always the case.

Warrior of Fire

This collective includes Takuya Kanbara, the current vessel of Fire, along with Aguni the Human Spirit, Vritra the Beast Spirit, and Alda the Hybrid. The body itself is immune to heated temperatures and feels significantly warmer than all others. They are also immune to burns and can breathe in smoke easily. Their strength is replenished when in the presence of fire.

Takuya

Takuya is known for his endless passion and confidence. He is naturally charismatic and a strong leader, though he can be stubborn to a fault. His loyalty and courage cannot be understated, and he cares for those who get close to him above all else. Takuya has a strong sense of justice, but he rarely thinks before he acts, and this can very easily get him into trouble. He hides insecurity involving his body behind his brazen optimism. Takuya is the most casual out of the Warriors of Fire in posture and movements.

Aguni

Aguni is known to be a somewhat chaotic person, and he’s openly talkative with the people around him. He’s a leader at heart, very easily earning the trust and admiration of others without even trying. He can be stubborn at times and refuses to give up even in the face of opposition with every power to crush him. In the Ancient Warrior of Fire, Aguni manifests as the leadership needed following the death of the Ancient Warrior of Steel. In Takuya, Aguni is meant to reflect Takuya embracing his true self following his transition.

Vritra

Vritra is detached and borderline confrontational in his wish to be kept secure. He despises physical contact under most circumstances and is prone to snapping in the name of safety. He personifies the Ancient Warrior of Fire from the start of the war with Lucemon when times were chaotic and lives were being lost constantly. In Takuya, Vritra reflects his host’s struggle with dysphoria and a wish to stand up to his intrusive thoughts. Vritra takes control on bad days and is known for his general snappiness and cynicism.

Alda

Alda is known for his endless confidence and stoic nature. He easily rallies others to his causes and has gained a reputation as a powerful soldier who bows to no one. He also has a strong sense of leadership modeled after his peers and those he looks up to. Alda is analytical by nature, doing what he can to get the upper hand in and out of battle. He reflects the Ancient Warrior of Fire’s time as a fighter during the war after he grew used to a life of combat. For Takuya, Alda is meant to reflect someone who Takuya came to admire and rely on throughout his youth (Chihiro).

Fire Collective

The Warriors of Fire get along well, though the most distant out of their group is easily Vritra, who tends to clash with Aguni while Alda acts as mediator. All of them can be endlessly stubborn at times, though Alda is the best at listening to the issues of others. Aguni is the best at imitating Takuya followed by Alda and then Vritra. Their prominence order is the same, though Vritra notably makes an appearance when they begin to suffer from dysphoria-induced struggles on the worst of days. Since they’re so similar, they both get along very well and clash simultaneously, leading to frequent shifts in dynamic depending on if their various senses of stubborn confidence get the better of them.

Warrior of Light

This collective includes Koji Minamoto, the current vessel of Light, and Lobo the Human Spirit, Garum the Beast Spirit, Beowolf the Hybrid, and Erocia the False Fusion. The body has perfect eyesight in lighted spaces but struggles in darker areas. Their temperature is naturally slightly higher than most humans. They gain strength in daylight and well-lit areas, and they rarely require sleep.

Koji

Koji dislikes interacting with others and prefers his own company. He is rather quiet, but when provoked, he can be sarcastic almost to the point of irritating those around him. He believes firmly that actions speak louder than words. Koji does possess communication issues though, and he’s prone to times of being snappish and angry when rubbed the wrong way. He struggles to convey his emotions, specifically sadness and grief, due to being forced to hide them from a young age. His actions show how closed-off he is, and he only relaxes around those he trusts.

Lobo

Lobo has an incredible sense of justice, always believing in what he finds to be right regardless of what others say. He’s a white knight of sorts, wanting to defend those who are unable to save themselves. He can be somewhat stubborn in his ideals, sometimes refusing to accept it when he’s wrong. He reflects the Ancient Warrior of Light’s wishes to keep the Digital World and its occupants safe from Lucemon’s tyranny. For Koji, Lobo personifies his stubborn wish to defend those he cares for. He is confident in his movements, refusing to bow or otherwise yield to anyone.

Garum

Garum acts as an ideal fighter of sorts, unbending in his loyalties. He’s somewhat reclusive, only showing his face when he has to. He’s somewhat distant from the world but possesses more than enough determination to make up for it. He manifests the Ancient Warrior of Light’s resolve to end the war following the death of most of his comrades. Garum also personifies Koji’s stoic mask that kept him from spiraling into despair throughout childhood, causing him to come off as a brick wall at times. He moves somewhat slowly and often makes uncomfortable eye contact with others.

Beowolf

Beowolf is fueled primarily by his emotions, and he’s incredibly caring for those who are suffering. He’s also empathetic beyond imagination and often offers others quiet motivation to keep them going even through difficult times. Beowolf can be swayed by his feelings at times, most notably when it comes to grief. He manifests the Ancient Warrior of Light’s sadness during the battle with Lucemon when his comrades fell in combat. He reflects Koji’s often excessive emotions as well, causing him to be a bit rash when it comes to jumping to conclusions. Beowolf moves fastest out of the group’s members and has the worst posture.

Erocia

Erocia, unlike many of the other Warriors, isn’t entirely a stable presence on his own. Instead, he’s the combined might of the Spirits of Light and Darkness, leaving him often unstable and difficult to predict. He’s rarely present, but he holds heavy emotions tied to grief and anger that cause him to look rather spaced out at a first glance since he tends to ignore the emotions to keep from being crushed by them. He doesn’t speak much either, preferring to keep to himself. Erocia may take control during times of extreme emotion or chaos since he can defend the others from suffering too much under the weight of negativity. He is incredibly protective of those around him, but Koichi in particular is a target for Erocia’s defensive nature.

Light Collective

The Warriors of Light are close for the most part, but Erocia is somewhat distant from the rest. Garum is the best when it comes to imitating Koji followed by Lobo, Beowolf, and Erocia, though there’s a wide gap between Garum and Lobo. Lobo is most prominent followed by Garum, Beowolf, and finally Erocia. Beowolf and Erocia tend to keep to themselves outside of times of extreme emotion, and Erocia very rarely appears unless he’s absolutely required to ensure that everyone else is kept safe. Erocia is prone to notable bouts of fear and anger, so the rest of the group tries to defend him to the best of their abilities.

Warrior of Ice

This collective includes Tomoki Himi, the current vessel of Ice, and Kuma the Human Spirit, Blizzar the Beast Spirit, and Daipen the Hybrid. The body is incredibly cold to the touch and immune to chilled temperatures. They cannot freeze either, and they feel at their best when in cooler environments.

Tomoki

Tomoki is on the shy side, easily made nervous and anxious by his surroundings. He longs to connect with others but is often too wrapped up in his own fears to actually reach out. He can be rather clingy at times because of how fiercely loyal he is to those who are able to earn his trust. Tomoki has issues with hiding his feelings as well, rarely expressing his pain until it is pushing him to the point of nearly breaking down. He has a heart of gold beneath all of this and hates hurting others. Tomoki moves quickly and often seems rather jittery.

Kuma

Kuma is free-spirited and laidback, uncaring as to the opinions of others. He simply wants to go through life at his own pace, and he doesn’t mind what others think of him along the way. Kuma’s connection to the Ancient Warrior of Ice is that he acts as a fragment of childhood and innocence. His link to Tomoki describes Kuma as the person that Tomoki would have been if not for his traumas, and as it is, Kuma acts so young and carefree to embody the childhood that Tomoki had taken from him. He is energetic and moves quickly with confidence.

Blizzar

Blizzar is careful and contemplative, often abandoning his connection with emotion to concentrate on survival. He’s rather quiet and enjoys reading and meditating. Blizzar acts as the manifestation of grief in the Ancient Warrior of Ice, representing his sadness when the war with Lucemon began to take the lives of Digimon. In Tomoki, he reflects the way that his host cut himself away from his emotions at times to keep from being harmed too heavily by his brother. Blizzar’s lack of emotional connection is a coping mechanism to balance out Tomoki’s overwhelming compassion. He walks slowly and heavily and often appears to be spaced out.

Daipen

Daipen is caring and gentle, handling every subject that comes his way with a certain degree of logic and emotion that balances out perfectly. He is the personification of the Ancient Warrior of Ice’s care towards the rest of his team during the war, and he is incredibly self-sacrificing, though he does understand his own limitations. Daipen acts as the older brother that Tomoki never had due to Yutaka’s treatment of him, and he is seamlessly able to ease Tomoki’s anxieties when he gets afraid or otherwise worked up. He is quiet and firm in his movements.

Ice Collective

The four Warriors of Ice get along rather well all in all, though there are occasional spats between Kuma and Blizzar due to them being polar opposites regarding emotions (all at once versus none at all). Kuma is the most prominent of them followed by Daipen and then Blizzar. Daipen is the best at pretending to be Tomoki where Kuma is the worst and Blizzar falls in between them. Kuma enjoys bright colors and exciting environments such as amusement parks and playgrounds, and he’s the most social of the three. Blizzar is rather defensive and keeps the group from getting into trouble. Daipen is the best at easing Tomoki’s fears, causing him to appear when paranoia hits a peak.

Warrior of Wind

This collective includes Izumi Orimoto, the current vessel of Wind, along with Kaze the Human Spirit, Zephyr the Beast Spirit, and Aero the Hybrid. The body has an incredible sense of hearing along with amazing stamina and speed. They have amazing lung capacity as well and feel strongest in windy areas.

Izumi

Izumi is a kind and caring person who prefers to keep to herself rather than interacting with others. She is naturally empathetic and often maintains a perfect mask of what she wants to show the world with a smile on her face. She wants to make sure that others are happy and isn’t above self-sacrifice to unhealthy extents to satisfy those around her. Izumi has an awful complex regarding perfection though, and she can be self-destructive in pursuit of her goals. She is known for consistently having a demure smile on her face.

Kaze

Kaze is confident and flirtatious in a way that not many others are. She’s playful and bold, often believing that everything will work out regardless of what is taking place. Kaze represents the Ancient Warrior of Wind in youth, nonchalant and laidback about the world around her. Kaze is a manifestation of Izumi’s ideals of the person she wishes that she could be. She possesses incredible optimism that she often uses to rally others into action. She is far more energetic than Izumi, and she moves and talks faster than anyone else in the collective.

Zephyr

Zephyr is detached and emotionless by comparison, the complete opposite of Kaze. She is self-assured and intelligent, but she can get a bit stubborn and wrapped in her own ideas of tough love. Zephyr reflects the Ancient Warrior of Wind when she was a general in the war against Lucemon, stern and unflinching. She is Izumi’s hidden pragmatism made real, a reflection of Izumi’s slipping faith in others following her years of struggling with an eating disorder. Zephyr’s gaze is always unbreaking when she is in control, and she generally seems scarier than usual.

Aero

Aero is soft-spoken and sympathetic, caring for others in a motherly way. She understands the emotions of others easily and is able to slip into the shoes of those around her seamlessly. Aero is a representation of the Warrior of Wind in her older years prior to the war when she shifted her overwhelming energy towards empathy. Aero represents Izumi’s deceased mother as well, and she acts as a natural caretaker. She is the best at pretending to be Izumi, but those who watch her carefully will notice that she walks slower than Izumi slightly.

Wind Collective

Izumi is the vessel for the Warrior of Wind, and she gets along rather well with the other three extensions of herself. Zephyr is the most prominent of the three easily due to the heavy ties Izumi and Zephyr formed when the latter took control after being discovered. However, it’s rare for Zephyr to actually take control unless she finds it to be necessary, instead being a constant close presence for Izumi. Kaze takes control most often followed by Aero and then Zephyr. Aero is the best at acting as Izumi followed by Kaze and finally Zephyr. Kaze prefers social situations to anything else, and Aero takes control when another person needs comfort that Izumi cannot provide.

Warrior of Thunder

This collective includes Junpei Shibayama, the current vessel of Thunder, and Blitz the Human Spirit, Bolg the Beast Spirit, and Thundra the Hybrid. The body is naturally charged with electricity, and they can charge technology if they hold it for long enough. When stressed, they emit small sparks and shock others, and they are immune to electrocution. They feel at their strongest when surrounded by technology or during storms.

Junpei

Junpei is deceptively cheerful around others, showing off his true nature from the very beginning. He’s open about the sort of person that he wants to be and the fact that he wants to make others smile. Despite this, Junpei possesses a strange sense of nihilism, believing that he should be loyal to himself since there’s a chance that nobody else ever will be. He also has anger issues that stem from his self-loathing and inability to satisfy those around him. Junpei moves slowly and often shows off his awful posture.

Blitz

Blitz is a people-pleaser who longs to satisfy those around him. He’s openly very cheerful and enjoys teasing others, almost as if he doesn’t know how to stop smiling. Blitz goes with the flow most of the time and often encourages the mischief of others. He’s the manifestation of the Ancient Warrior of Thunder’s hope for the world. In Junpei, Blitz is an ideal that Junpei wishes he could achieve. He often moves quickly and seems to always be smiling in an over-the-top and goofy way that attracts the attention of others.

Bolg

Bolg is, in a word, volatile. He’s very easily pushed over the edge by the words of others, and he’s incredibly defensive of those around him. He’s not above getting explosive in his anger when it comes to protecting himself and others. Bolg has good intentions but can go too far at times due to the strength of his emotions. He’s somewhat nihilistic, knowing that everything ends sooner or later. He represents the Ancient Warrior of Thunder’s anger at Lucemon for harming the innocent. In Junpei, Bolg reflects and protects from extreme moments of upset. His steps are heavy and often perceived as aggressive even without harsh intentions.

Thundra

Thundra is an incredibly curious soul who longs to learn more about the world around him. He loves tinkering around with small devices, and he is absolutely fascinated by various obscure inventions. Thundra has an amazing mind and always longs to do something productive and creative. He’s the Ancient Warrior of Steel’s creativity and ambition from the war that helped him to survive. Where Junpei is concerned, Thundra is the manifestation of Junpei’s coping mechanisms when he was left on his own. He moves quickly and seems unable to sit still. He also has a wide vocabulary that differs from the others in the Thunder category.

Thunder Collective

The group of four gets along well, but when there are occasional arguments, chances are they are between Bolg and Blitz since they utilize their excessive emotional capacity in different ways. Blitz is the best at acting like Junpei followed by Thundra and finally Bolg. Blitz is most prominent, and Bolg comes after him leaving Thundra last. They tend to do more talking under their breath than the rest of the Legendary Warriors because of their general banter being constant. All of them are talkative to some extent, leaving them to hold extended conversations with one another when left alone.

Warrior of Darkness

This collective includes Koichi Kimura, the current vessel of Darkness, and Lowe the Human Spirit, Umbra the Beast Spirit, Rhihi the Hybrid, Dusk the False Human Spirit, Velge the False Beast Spirit, Malkako the False Hybrid, and Erocia, the False Fusion. The body is slightly colder than others, and they possess perfect vision in the dark while struggling to see in overly bright areas. They regain strength when in darker areas.

Koichi

Koichi is unsure of how to interact with others due to his fear of reaching out and making a connection. He fears being a burden on others, causing him to retreat into his shell when he feels that others are trying to get too close to him. Koichi is immensely kind and curious though, and he will do what he can to cheer up those around him without getting too close. He is shy and sweet, and even though he’s introverted, he is rarely hated due to his caring nature. Koichi is slow when he walks, and he often keeps his eyes locked on the ground.

Lowe

Lowe is on the introverted side, tending to keep to himself above all else. He’s quiet and takes a while to open up to people, but he possesses a gentle sense of charm that most others lack. He’s also positive and optimistic, there to soothe others enduring tough times. In the Ancient Warrior of Darkness, Lowe acts as a manifestation of the middle of his life when the war was going on but he did his best to remain optimistic. Lowe also reflects Koichi’s hope for life to get better in the future, and the two get along well due to their similar soft-spoken natures.

Umbra

Umbra is the quietest out of the Warriors of Darkness, rarely speaking unless he absolutely has to. He’s reclusive and chooses to keep to himself when he can. He’s starved for attention and, despite wanting to be around others, fears making connections with others. Umbra acts as the manifestation of grief for the Warrior of Darkness in the time leading up to his death. For Koichi, Umbra reflects how he would hide his problems out of hope to not inconvenience others. As such, Umbra holds considerable amounts of sadness and fear for the future.

Rhihi

Rhihi is upbeat and talkative, easily able to connect with anyone he comes into contact with. He has an endless sense of optimism and creativity, loving the arts and spending much of his time making anything that he can to get out his extra energy. In both the Ancient Warrior of Darkness and Koichi, Rhihi reflects childhood and the potential for infinite possibilities. Rhihi represents the way that Koichi would have been had he not been distrubed by his trauma from such a young age, and despite being the Warrior of Darkness, he rarely allows life to get him down.

Dusk

Dusk is honest to a fault, and he’s known to be rather confrontational. He speaks his mind regardless of how others will react, and he can be quick to anger, causing many to find him to be abrasive and harsh. Dusk is not a manifestation of the Ancient Warrior of Darkness since he originates from the corruption of the Spirits of Darkness, so he only holds memories of Koichi’s past. In Koichi’s case, Dusk represents his anger towards his father, and Dusk absolutely despises Kousei despite Koichi’s (albeit hesitant) attempts to make amends with him.

Velge

Velge has a reputation for being anxious and easily unsettled. Nearly anything out of the ordinary will upset Velge and send him into a panic, often leaving him defensive and agitated. He sometimes goes to unsettling lengths to feel secure in a situation, and he chooses to not interact with people unless he deems them safe. Much like Duskmon, Velge holds no memories from an Ancient Legendary Warrior. Instead, Velge acts as a manifestation of Koichi’s insecurities brought on by his unorthodox upbringing, and Velge makes sure that everyone is able to survive when times get tough.

Malkako

Malkako is confrontational and angry much like Dusk, though he doesn’t ever seem to need a reason to be upset unlike Dusk, instead carrying himself with an aura that makes him seem dangerous. He chooses to not spend time with others when he can. While Malkako is open to speaking with those he finds to be safe, it takes a lot to reach this level, and he’s a harsh judge of character. He holds no Ancient Legendary Warrior’s memories. Malkako holds Koichi’s desires to be cared for by his father, so he has a strong grudge against Kousei just like Dusk.

Erocia

The fragment of Erocia that Koichi holds is completely different from Koji’s half. This version is rather soft-spoken and doesn’t talk a majority of the time. He is similar in appearance to the other variation of Erocia, always seeming to be off in a world of his own. Erocia holds immense sensations of sadness and fear, specifically the fear of death. He prefers to write as opposed to speaking, and he can very easily be pushed too far by the words of others. He is distant from most others out of his own paranoia, but he feels a certain connection to Koji due to the two halves of Erocia caring about each other even from afar.

Darkness Collective

Despite the varying personalities found in the Darkness Collective, they do get along rather well and rarely get into full-on arguments with one another. They make up for one another’s weaknesses and look after each other when times get tough. In order of prominence, the list is Lowe, Umbra, Rhihi, Velge, Dusk, Malkako, and Erocia. When it comes to imitating Koichi, the best is Lowe, followed by Umbra, Erocia, Velge, Rhihi, Dusk, and then Malkako. This group is the least open to trusting new people, and it takes a long time to earn the full confidence of any member of the group, much less each Warrior of Darkness. They are all notably defensive over Erocia, and they fear death above all else.

Warrior of Earth

This collective includes Chihiro Ayumu, the current vessel of Earth, along with Aeoel the Human Spirit, Cybele the Beast Spirit, and Yaia the Hybrid. The body has perfect balance and cannot be knocked over. They can smell better than most others and possess immense physical strength and stamina. They feel best when outdoors in particularly rocky environments.

Chihiro

Chihiro generally keeps to themselves out of a pessimistic belief that the world is a difficult place to be in. They are incredibly stubborn about remaining detached from the rest of the world, often ignoring their issues until they blow up in their face. Chihiro is rather snarky and sarcastic, using jokes as a way to keep people from getting too close. They are independent but struggle to rely on others, and they can be rather temperamental when rubbed the wrong way. They walk with detached confidence as a way of silently keeping others at bay.

Aeoel

Aeoel is known for being snappish and almost rude at times, and they are blunt and honest in all situations. Their number one priority is self-preservation, and if they have to resort to being mean to do it, they will. They are caring deep down, but they prefer not to let emotions interfere with their work. They act as a bearer of trauma for the Ancient Warrior of Earth, recalling the life or death nature of the battle against Lucemon and the pain that came with the deaths of their comrades. For Chihiro, they are a defender who prevents others from crossing any lines. They walk roughly and heavily and have a broody aura about them.

Cybele

Cybele is defensive in the same way that a caretaker is, and they care greatly for the other members of their collective. Despite their stoic nature, they act similar to a parent to the others found within the collective, doing what they must in order to keep everything running smoothly in and out of the group. Cybele represents the Ancient Warrior of Earth from times of chaos during the war when they worked to help others above all else. For Chihiro, Cybele is meant to act as something that they never had: parental connection. As such, they look after their host as they would their own child.

Yaia

Yaia has a strong sense of charisma and leadership, knowing how to get the attention of others and use it to their advantage. Despite having a laid back and casual personality, they know how to get down to business when needed, and they use their endless confidence to rally the spirits of those around them. Yaia acts as what the Warrior of Earth was before the war, always looking on the bright side and believing that everything would work out fine despite evidence to the contrary. For Chihiro, Yaia is meant to represent an ideal that they always wanted to reach, and they're incredibly similar to Chihiro’s best friend from childhood (Takuya).

Earth Collective

The Warriors of Earth rarely get into disputes with one another and act as a family of sorts. Even though Aeoel and Yaia are polar opposites in many respects, they still get along well and look after one another through thick and thin. When there are issues among the members of the group, Cybele takes on the role of a mediator and calms things down before anything can go too far or cause serious damage to their relationships. Aeoel is the most prominent out of the group’s members, and Yaia follows them while Cybele takes up the rear. The order is the same as far as imitating Chihiro is concerned as well. Despite what one would expect, it takes a while to earn their trust as a whole, though Yaia is the most open to accepting the good found in others.

Warrior of Wood

This collective includes Yumiko Mihara, the current vessel of Wood, and Fiore the Human Spirit, Calanthe the Beast Spirit, and Lyseir the Hybrid. The body possesses a natural ability to ease the worries of others, eliminating panic easily. They have a natural green thumb as well and can talk to plants in a limited capacity. They feel best when outdoors in areas with many plants.

Yumiko

Yumiko is rather shy and reclusive, preferring to spend time alone rather than with others. She has an incredible sense of compassion that can overwhelm her if she isn’t careful. She tends to repress her emotions rather than expressing them out of a wish to not inconvenience others. Yumiko is naturally graceful and elegant as well, easily earning the trust of others even if she isn’t enthusiastic to hand out faith of her own. She possesses a naturally calming presence. Yumiko tends to somewhat hide herself when in control, rarely making eye contact unless she trusts the other party greatly.

Fiore

Fiore is a dreamer above all else, tending to drift through life without a care in the world. She is a wonderful dancer and always seems to be moving rhythmically or humming a song. Fiore is a representation of the Ancient Warrior of Wood’s past as a performer prior to the fighting starting. She also acts as a manifestation of the person Yumiko was prior to her trauma. Fiore glides everywhere that she goes, and she has a relaxing aura that can almost put others to sleep. She’s also an incredible singer, putting even Yumiko, another talented performer, to shame.

Calanthe

Calanthe is incredibly shy and tends to avoid speaking with people where possible. She’s very easy to overwhelm and absolutely detests being touched. She enjoys writing poetry and taking care of plants and animals, operating under the logic that none of those things can hurt her. Calanthe is the manifestation of trauma and grief from the Ancient Warrior of Wood, leaving her as a hollow shell of her former self. She’s the embodiment of Yumiko’s fears, prompting her to be easily frightened and agitated by Yumiko’s triggers involving assault. She moves quickly in an attempt to keep from being touched and speaks softly and carefully, sometimes stammering if she’s particularly nervous.

Lyseir

Lyseir is proud and firm in herself, possessing a confidence that many others lack. She exudes an aura of pure power, the type of boldness found only on the battlefield. She can be rather morbid without meaning to, saying something casually tragic like it’s nothing due to her experience in combat. Lyseir personifies the Ancient Warrior of Wood’s battlefield prowess and preparedness from the early days of the war with Lucemon. In Yumiko, Lyseir is an ideal companion, the type of person who can defend her from anything negative. She walks confidently and at her own pace, making others wait for her rather than the other way around.

Wood Collective

The group rarely argues, if ever, possessing incredible skills of communication that allow them to easily understand each other. Fiore is the most prominent followed by Lyseir and finally Calanthe. Fiore is also the best at pretending to be Yumiko, but Calanthemon is second in this category, leaving Lyseir last. Lyseir protects everyone in times of turmoil while Fiore cheers them up in dark moments. Calanthe soothes the group similarly to Fiore, but her primary job is to keep Yumiko from giving in to her overpowering empathy and spiraling as a result.

Warrior of Water

This collective includes Hinoka Sakatami, the current vessel of Water, and Oceania the Human Spirit, Aquaria the Beast Spirit, and Cerulea the Hybrid. The body can see, breathe, and hear perfectly underwater, leaving them immune to drowning. They feel at their strongest when in the presence of water, and they heal quickly when completely submerged in liquid. They also enjoy rainy weather.

Hinoka

Hinoka is gentle and jittery, often keeping others away out of a fear of getting hurt. She is open about her anxiety and doesn’t even try to hide it when she’s struggling. Hinoka finds herself to be weak and longs to be strong without being nervous over how others feel about her. She is incredibly emotional both for herself and others, but she has a lot of compassionate energy that doesn’t seem to have a place to go. Hinoka is very kind as well, almost to the point of naivete. She moves quickly and awkwardly, and she often seems rather jumpy.

Oceania

Oceania is a shy and soft-spoken person, and she struggles greatly with anxiety and the fear that comes with being around others. She takes a long time to open up to others, believing that it’s rare for other people to be worthy of hearing about her struggles. In the Warrior of Water, Oceania acts as a manifestation of youth from before she had a sense of confidence and struggled greatly with self-esteem. For Hinoka, Oceania holds anxiety and fear, and Oceania bears part of Hinoka’s trauma so that the vessel of the system doesn’t have to. She speaks the least out of the group’s members.

Aquaria

Aquaria is described by many as the manifestation of strength, rarely allowing the words of others to get to her. She has an undying sense of confidence and faith in herself, and she helps out others with a heart that many would describe as endlessly noble. For the Warrior of Water, Aquaria reflects her personality during the war when she completed her journey of self-discovery and set out to aid those who were struggling under the weight of the fighting. For Hinoka, Aquaria is an ideal that she longs to reach but finds to be impossible, leading to Hinoka admiring the Beast Spirit of Water greatly.

Cerulea

Cerulea has a maternal aura that allows her to easily connect to others. Many find her to be easy to trust, and she is seen as a shoulder to cry on when times grow to be difficult. She has a naturally soothing presence to counteract the stress placed on other members of the group. For the Ancient Warrior of Water, Cerulea acts as the halfway point between Oceania and Aquaria when she was focusing on finding herself in the final days leading up to the battle with Lucemon. In Hinoka’s case, Cerulea is the mother figure that Hinoka always wanted but never got due to her mother’s various personality flaws.

Water Collective

All four of the Warriors of Water are very close, and they rely on each other through thick and thin. They never get into arguments since they simply understand one another well and know how to talk out issues when they arise. Since they can soothe one another’s anxieties well, the Warriors of Water help to ensure that Hinoka doesn’t fall apart under her issues with stress, greatly improving their shared quality of life and mitigating the impacts of severe anxiety and depression. Oceania is the best at imitating while Aquaria is the worst, leaving Cerulea to rest in the middle. Prominence is a different story entirely though, and Cerulea is the most prominent most of the time followed by Aquaria and then Oceania.

Warrior of Steel

This collective includes Saki Fushida, the current vessel of Steel, and Lyra the Human Spirit, Onyx the Beast Spirit, Aeris the Hybrid, Seraphi the Hope Celestial, Ophani the Light Celestial, and Cherubi the Destiny Celestial. The body can read minds and move small objects, though the ability is limited and can induce severe migraines if care is not used. They can also touch electronics and immediately access the data contained within. Their memory is also above average. They feel best when the presence of excessive amounts of metal.

Saki

Saki is a distant strategist, always wanting to find the best solution to a situation. They care about survival more than anything else, and they refuse to hurt others unless the person in question is a threat to Saki or those around them. They hide their emotions as a defense mechanism, unwilling to show weakness in case those they distrust exploit it. Saki struggles to open up to others, but their intelligence and quick thinking is second to none. They always move with a purpose, shoulders pressed back and watching everyone critically to frighten those who may pose a threat to them.

Lyra

Lyra is emotionless at a first glance, always viewing situations from a pragmatic and logical eye. They have an incredible natural feel for tactics and strategy, and they often notice even the smallest actions and note what they mean about a person. Lyra is the manifestation of the Ancient Warrior of Steel during the war against Lucemon, reflecting their stoicism as the team’s strategist. For Saki, Lyra is the embodiment of a wish for survival, and they will do anything to ensure that prolonged safety is secured. They move stiffly and tend to glare without meaning to.

Onyx

Onyx has immense ambition and a powerful sense of what is right and wrong. They want to defend those who have been hurt by others, and they detest those who misuse their positions of power to harm those around them. They act as a defender of the weak when given the chance. Onyx reflects the Ancient Warrior of Steel’s righteous anger at Lucemon and others who willingly inflict pain on others. In Saki, Onyx acts as an idol figure who will keep them safe from the pain that others have caused them. They move quickly and with purpose.

Aeris

Aeris is easily the most passionate and emotional out of the Warriors of Steel. They fully understand the wide range of emotion and how to properly utilize it. They are a strong leader and know how to appeal to both the emotional and logical sides of others. Aeris is the personification of the Ancient Warrior of Steel at their peak before their death when they acted as the leader of the Legendary Warriors. In Saki, Aeris embodies the feelings that Saki spent many years repressing and ignoring in favor of control. Aeris moves with a sense of casual authority.

Seraphi

Seraphi is the personable type, and he excels in strategy as well. He’s caring as well, believing that all creatures are deserving of care. He has a fatherly aura, and he often attempts to understand the perspectives of others. Seraphi has an interest in reading. Since he is not a direct Legendary Warrior, Seraphi does not embody anything in the Ancient Warrior of Steel or Saki. Instead, he simply holds all of the memories of Seraphimon from the Digital World after Saki scanned his memory data. He walks with an air of authority.

Ophani

Ophani is charismatic and confident, knowing what she wants and how to get it. She’s elegant and tends to attract the admiration of others without even trying. She’s a natural leader and can easily get others on her side regardless of the situation. Ophani cares greatly for those around her and will do what she can to cheer them up when possible. She is not connected to an Ancient Legendary Warrior or Saki, instead only manifesting as the memories of Ophanimon prior to Saki’s scanning of her data. She is known to have a motherly aura.

Cherubi

Cherubimon is the shyest and most reclusive out of the Celestial Three. He tends to keep to himself and is rather passive. He dislikes conflict but suffers from an awful sense of paranoia that can leave him worried and anxious. Cherubi wants the best for others but isn’t the best when it comes to expressing his emotions. He lacks a connection to an Ancient Legendary Warrior, and he isn’t linked to Saki either. Instead, he holds the memories of Cherubimon from before he was scanned. He moves slowly and avoids eye contact.

Steel Collective

There are rarely issues of dispute between the members of the Steel group. Lyra is most prominent in the group followed by Aeris, Onyx, Ophani, Seraphi, and finally Cherubi. Aeris is the best at acting in Saki’s place followed by Lyra, Onyx, Ophani, Seraphi, and Cherubi. The Celestial Three are nowhere near as prominent as the Warriors of Steel, often preferring to stick to their own devices. There is communication among all of them, but the Celestial Three spend more time with each other than the Warriors of Steel when push comes to shove.

Warrior of Energy

This collective includes Mayumi Reiku, the current vessel of Energy, and Kiris the Human Spirit, Sheyu the Beast Spirit, and Aether the Hybrid. The body is naturally energetic and can operate incredibly well even under stressful circumstances. They also have incredible speed and can sense the chaos and energy found inside a person. They can give limited doses of energy to those around them, and they feel at their strongest along other energetic people.

Mayumi

Mayumi has more energy than she knows what to do with, and she’s incredibly chipper. She’s incredibly optimistic and has a natural way of rallying others to look at the bright side of a situation. She often takes risks without thinking the consequences through, leading to her being somewhat clumsy and disorganized. Mayumi has a short attention span as well, but she always puts her heart into something when it captures her full focus, and she’s filled to the brim with love. She moves quickly and practically never stops moving, always fidgeting with a small toy if she can.

Kiris

Kiris is an unapologetic trickster who doesn’t care what others think of her in the slightest. She’s hyperactive and bubbly, and she almost never stops moving. She has a strong sense of humor and always knows just how to cheer others up. Kiris acts as the manifestation of the Ancient Warrior of Energy’s youngest years before she found a purpose with her allies. For Mayumi, Kiris reflects childhood and optimism prior to when Mayumi suffered abuse at the hands of her mother. Kiris moves similarly to Mayumi, but she never stops smiling regardless of the situation.

Sheyu

Sheyu is rather somber and expresses guilt and detachment from the rest of the world. She fears being a burden and wants to be as productive as can be for the sake of satisfying others. Sheyu is an extreme contrast from the others under the Energy name and is calm and self-deprecating by comparison. For the Ancient Warrior of Energy, Sheyu is the manifestation of guilt prior to her betrayal of her allies to side with Lucemon. In Mayumi, Sheyu holds negative emotions regarding the way that Mayumi was treated and cast aside throughout childhood. Sheyu moves and talks far slower than anyone else in the group.

Aether

Aether is confident and outgoing, putting her all into the subjects that she cares for. She is charming and can be a bit of a flirt at times, playing around with others as a way of getting them where she wants. Aether cares for those around her though, and she wants to keep them safe. She manifests the Ancient Warrior of Energy’s endless love for the rest of her team. As far as Mayumi is concerned, Aether is a protective figure, the type that Mayumi idolized for being strong throughout her youth. She walks the fine line between Kiris’ speed and Sheyu’s slowness when it comes to movements.

Energy Collective

The four get along well and bounce off each other rather well. They know how to lift one another up when they’re down, taking their unique perspectives and helping one another through them. Kiris is the best at imitating Mayumi followed by Aether and then Sheyu. The order of prominence is the same, starting with Kiris before shifting to Aether and finally Sheyu. During negative times, Sheyu’s prominence rises because she’s closer to Mayumi when she has an awful issue with her mental health. They talk to themselves a lot since they’re mostly energetic and upbeat.

Warrior of Cosmos

This collective includes Haroi Tsurumaki, the current vessel of Cosmos, and Orion the Human Spirit, Cygnus the Beast Spirit, and Sirius the Hybrid. The body is usually calm and also operates well despite outside stressors. They have an amazing capacity for knowledge and an incredible memory. They are drawn to areas of peace and can sense a person’s balance. They naturally calm those around them without needing to try. They feel best in spaces far from others, especially if the sky is easily visible.

Haroi

Haroi is relaxed and calm, always thinking through every situation that comes his way. He’s logical and quiet, preferring to observe rather than act. He enjoys seeing the people that he loves happy more than anything else, and he’ll do what he can to cheer them up. Haroi often worries about bothering others though, and he sometimes makes excuses when others hurt him due to his low self-esteem. He tends to get caught up in his head a bit much at times, causing him to often stay within the confines of his comfort zone. He’s focused when in control, and he can be spotted due to his habits of people watching.

Orion

Orion is endlessly curious about the world around him, and he tends to talk to himself almost constantly. He yearns to figure out more about how various things work, and he loves fiddling with both technology and scientific subjects, though astrology is his favorite topic for obvious reasons. In the Ancient Warrior of Cosmos, Orion shows off how he behaved in his youth before the war disturbed his years of development. Orion is a manifestation of how Haroi would have acted if not for his trauma as well with Orion showing signs of being outgoing despite Haroi’s introverted nature.

Cygnus

Cygnus is the most outgoing out of the members of the group, and he isn’t afraid to speak his mind, though he’s always careful to be respectful to those around him. He has endless energy and practically never stops moving and spending time with others unless he hits the point of crashing. He’s the best at handling social situations since everyone else in his collective is so shy. For the Ancient Warrior of Cosmos, Cygnus reflects the charisma and respect he needed as a general in the early days as a war. For Haroi, Cygnus is an ideal that he wishes he could reach, causing him to admire Cygnus greatly.

Sirius

Sirius is introverted and quiet, greatly enjoying reading and writing in his free time. He is more than content with his own company despite easily getting along with others. He is also analytical and logical, easily able to find answers to puzzles that have no solutions at a first glance. For the Ancient Warrior of Cosmos, Sirius is a manifestation of a need for self-preservation born of the war’s existence, something that ultimately led to the Warrior of Cosmos turning traitor before being killed by Lucemon. For Haroi, Sirius holds negative memories of the past, most notably those involving his insecurity after his mother abandoned him.

Cosmos Collective

The members of the Cosmos Collective mesh well and are easily able to communicate their problems thanks to their desire to avoid long-running conflict. Even though most of them are quiet, Cygnus still gets along with the other members of the group, always willing to pull them out of their shell when they need it most while still respecting their boundaries. Sirius is the best at pretending to be Haroi followed by Orion and finally Cygnus. On the other hand, Cygnus is the most prominent with Orion in the middle and Sirius at the end of the list. They all share love of the world around them, and they have a common hobby in stargazing due to their elemental affinity.

Warrior of Heaven

The Warrior of Heaven refers to the combined might of all of the Legendary Warriors when placed together. They share fragmented memories of Susanoo, the Warrior of Heaven, and Luce, the Angel of Hell, that grow stronger when they are near one another.

Even when separated, the Warriors all share similar passive effects on their bodies. They are able to understand animals when they focus enough due to their inherent connection to nature. They develop muscle faster than normal humans as well, and they rarely tire despite their differing levels of stamina. The Warriors can all sense one another’s presence as well, and they can temporarily indulge in the passive abilities of the others if they put enough effort towards it. Being able to sense one another and use the abilities of the others are both side effects of becoming Susanoomon and merging to become one being temporarily. These effects are all permanent.

Susanoo

Susanoo has a strong sense of justice and is very rarely deterred by any of the ups and downs of life. They are eternally confident and get along with others well. While all of the members of the group hold fragments of Susanoo that reflect their power and loyalty through their own personalities, the strength of Susanoo grows when they are together. They are all bound by Susanoo’s thread between them, and while Susanoo lacks the ability to take control, the various Legendary Warriors are able to share thoughts when they are close enough physically as a full group of twelve. Susanoo is characterized by all of the group’s members talking in sync, though this is incredibly rare.

Luce

Luce is the complete opposite of Susanoo. Rather than being passionate and confident, Luce is detached and quiet, rarely finding interaction with others to be worth their time. Unlike the Digimon they are based on, Luce isn’t downright malicious, instead simply choosing to keep to themselves. Since they are scattered into fragments across the Legendary Warriors, Luce is nowhere near as prominent as the others, and they even lack strength in comparison to Susanoo. When Luce is in control, the group also talks in sync, though this is even rarer to see than Susanoo being in full dominion of the Warrior of Heaven.

Heaven Collective

As a whole, the Legendary Warriors have a powerful dynamic, something that can be shown through their connections of Susanoo and Luce. Susanoo is the stronger out of the two by far, and their sense of justice can be seen in all twelve of the Legendary Warriors thanks to the time when they united as the Warrior of Heaven. Luce is benevolent and quiet, though since they are less open with their emotions, they tend to slip between the cracks. The prerequisites for the members of the Heaven Collective to appear and take control are already notably difficult to overcome, causing Luce to be widely unheard and unseen.

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the-lost-lights · 3 years

Text

Beast Wars: More than Meets the Eye AU REBOOT: Part 1

Introduction

A long, long, LOOOOOOOONG time ago, I made an anonymous ask to @yes-i-write-fanfiction about an idea I had: what it there was a version of the Transformers comic Transformers: More than Meets the Eye with Beast Wars characters? I began working on it and soon, and with some help of yes-i-write-fanfiction, I made some profiles for the characters.

Despite my objective was to make all the profiles for an hypotetical “first season” of the comic, a variety of events caused me to give up the project.

Until now.

I’m going to give this project a second shot, rewriting everything and making it bigger and better than before (hopefully).

Wish me luck!

Story

The war against the Vehicons is over.

Optimus Primal, the heroic leader of the Maximals and the resistance, has defeated Megatron, stopping the Vehicon plague, healing everyone infected by it and turning the planet Cybertron into techno-organic paradise, at the cost of his life.

Despite the galaxy is now in peace, many tensions remain, making the hard-hearned peace fragile: the NAILs, led by Terrorsaur (that is unhappily sharing his body with Starscream) want that all Maximals and Predacons should not be allowed back on the planet after having caused the war, some alien civilizations accused the Transformers of having intentionally released the Vehicon virus and the Matrix of Leadership hasn’t been passed yet.

Cheetor, who became during the war the second in command of the Maximals, decided to try to open it because he showed multiple times the potential to become the next Prime, but during the public cerimony something unexpected happened: despite managing to open it, the Matrix rejeted Cheetor and merged with his best friend Lio Convoy, turning him into Lio Prime. Before anyone could react, the supercomputer known as the Oracle announced that Lio was going to be the last Prime and disappeared, causing chaos all over the planet.

Confused and in need of answers, Cheetor searched everywhere the Oracle and when he finally found it he asked why he wasn’t chosen and why lio was going to be the last Prime. The Oracle simply told him to search for the legendary Covenant, a group of twelve legendary knights created by Primus long before the birth of the first Transformers, and showed him the path for the planet where they sleeped.

Determined to accomplish the mission given by the Oracle (and partially because he hopes to avert its propecy so that he’ll be able to become a Prime), Cheetor decides to make an expedition in search of them, searching high and low for the best ship in the universe and Cybertron’s brightest and most heroic Transformers for the crew.

Shame that he only managed to recruit a bunch of weirdos, losers and misfits and the ship he found malfunctioned and sent them in the middle of nowhere.

Now Cheetor and his motley crew have to find where they are and how to reach the Covenant’s planet, all while dealing with lots of problems (both personal and not) and secrets, including the identity of the saboteur that is manipulating them for an unknown reason.

Characters

Cheetor (Rodimus):

Once one of the youngest member of the Maximals, he used to be a delivery boy before the war. One day, during a delivery, he discovered that the Predacons conquered his home town of Kaon and razed it to the ground, leading him to conscript in the Maximal army in search of revenge. Here he met Optimus Primal and Rattrap and despite the rocky beginning they became friends. During the war he slowly rise in the ranks and accomplish many impressive feats... and put himself in trouble lots of times. During one of his misadventures he met Lio Convoy, then known simply as Lio, and the two became best friends, having many adventures during the years until Lio discovered to have the rare potential to become a combiner, forcing Lio to remain in space with the other two parts of the combiner while Cheetor followed Optimus on Earth and was forced to enter into stasis when the ice age began.

He was one of the first Maximals to awake from slumber in the 19th century, and briefly acted as Rhinox’s second in command while he temporarely replaced the then MIA Optimus Primal as leader. When their existence became public, Cheetor began to act as the face of the Maximals and for a while acted as an intermediary between the UN and the Maximals, doing a decent job at preventing a war between the two species. During the Vehicon war he met again Lio, now having gained the rank of Convoy, and the duo managed to led the troops into saving some planets from Jetstorm. During the end of the war Cheetor became Optimus Primal’s second in command and temporarely guarded the Matrix when Optimus wasn’t considered worty of it anymore.

After the whole Matrix fiasco and the Oracle’s propecy Cheetor became determined to find the Covenant, no matter the hardships, but the numerous misfortunes made him doubt that he’ll be able to accomplish it and also convinced him that there’s a saboteur that is responsible for some of the incidents... or maybe he’s just paranoid.

He’s similar to Rodimus, personality-wise, but a little bit more responsible towards his crew and a lot more mature. The fact that the Matrix chose his friend hurt him a lot, and despite he claims to have accepted the Matrix’s decision and is very supportive for his friend, deep down a part of him despises him and wants to have his role, even if he knows that the Oracle’s propecies are never wrong. Despite he has many friends, the only bots he’s close in the ship are Tigatron and Rattrap and he also has a certain amount of respect (and fear) for Dinobot and Big Convoy.

He has a Transmetal body that grant him a flight mode, but after he is exposed to a mutagen he slowly starts to mutate into a stronger Transmetal 2 form, losing his ability to fly but gaining the ability to manipulate energy.

Big Convoy (Ultra Magnus+Fortress Maximus):

Originally a friendly and skillful, albeith a little strict, Maximal general named Slammoth (Big was a nickname given him for his size), he was put on charge of the special assault team known as the Wreckers shortly after the first Megatron took control of the city of Kaon. He was sent with his team to dispose of him and the rebellious Predacons by the government, but he secretly planned to simply capture him and force the rest of the rebels to surrender, preventing a possible bloodshed.

Unfortunately, his plan went very wrong and it ended up starting a million years long war in which most of his friends died and he saw and did horrible things, to the point that many Maximals want him dead. Despite this, Optimus Primal always defended him, stating that his strategic skills where unmatched by anyone and most of the time his actions ended up saving many Maximals.

Unfortunately, with the end of the war and the death of Optimus his situation soon became worse, and Big realized that he needed to leave Cybertron or else he would probably be condemned to spend what remains of his life in jail or be hunted down by vegeful bots. When he heard about the expedition, he begged Cheetor to let him join as head of security and he accepted, if only because he was afraid of what Big would have done if he said no.

He is very serious and takes his role of head of security very seriously, to thepoint that he put in jail half of the crew for having not properly saluted him. He suffers from PTSD and occasionally he has random bout of violence, and since his body is filled with weapons you can imagine what happens in those situations. He also enjoys metallurgy and writing poetry, but the sheer nihilism and lenght of it led to some poor bots that listened to it to enter into an angst coma.

He despises Rampage for having killed some of his closest friends during the war, and Waspinator because he keeps trying to analyze him. Most of the crew feels the same towards him, but especially Transmutate, who HATES him so much that she once almost killed him because she thought he harmed Rampage. The only bot that tolerates him and vice-versa is ironically Inferno, who shares his passion for metallurgy and has a similarly horrible past.

He turns into a mammoth and is classified as a living weapon of mass destruction due to his internal arsenal. He also owns an one-of-a-kind weapon called Matrix Buster that has enough firepower to destoy a star that he famously used to destroy a star system in order to not let it fall into Predacon’s hands.

Waspinator (Rung):

If you search “unlucky” on a Cybertronian dictionary you will find his face, and you also find out that his name is a synonym for it.

Nobody knows where he came from, not even him: all he knows is that he woke up with a big headache in a building in Kaon and before he could realize where he was Big Convoy demolished the building during the battle with the first Megatron. Extracted barely alive from the ruins by a group of Predacons, he was mistaken for one of the civilians that sided with them and recruited in their faction. Since then he got involved in many battles and many misadventures, from being stomped by an awakened titan to being possessed twice by the spirit of Starscream, being blown up so many times that you could make an army of him with his lost parts.

When he was forced to follow Megatron on Earth things for a while improved for him: after the ice age ended he woke up thousands of years earlier than the rest and ended up becoming the god of a tribe of hominids, leading an happy life until he run out of energon and was forced to enter stasis in order to survive.

And then he accidentally woke up in the 19th century and discovered that the other Predacons were awakening and he had to follow again his much hated leader, leading to him being blown up and beaten up again and again and again. Eventually he got fed up and in 1999 he decided to leave the Predacons and became a Maximal, who treated him much better than his former comrades despite they hated him for being a former Predacon. When the war apparently ended, he finally tried to relax a bit, but soon the Vehicon war began. Tired and not interested in fighting another war, he left the Maximals and Earth, becoming one of the ever expanding NAILs, and started living on a far away colony alongside them. While the universe was in chaos, he began studying psychology in order to help the many soldiers that wanted to have a better life and eventually he got a licence.

When Cybertron and the universe were saved he came back on Cybertron for an holiday, but when it was time to board the ship to go back home he mistakenly boarded the Lost Light and when he realized his mistake the ship’s engines malfunctioned and he found himself partially merged with a wall, dragged into a quest he didn’t want or meant to join.

On the good side, he now has lots and lots of patients, some of which didn’t blew him up during the war.

Waspinator used to complain a lot about his fate, with his famous catchphrase “Why universe hates Waspinator?” being a classic meme on Cybertron, but nowadays he’s mostly unfazed by whatever happens around/to him. It’s unclear if this is resignation to the fact that the universe hates him or simply he began taking things in stride, but one thing is for sure: he’s a massive magnet for weirdness and misfortune. He often spends time with the Survivors, a ragtag bunch of misfits (and Tigratron) that used to be Airazor’s crewmates and had similar misadventures during the years.

He turns into a wasp, but for a brief time he became a Transmetal and gained a jet mode. Unfortunately that happened by the time he got possessed again by Starscream, meaning that not only he wasn’t in control of his body, but technically it was Starscream that gained the upgrade instead of him, meaning that when he abandoned the body Waspinator was brought back to normal.

Rampage (Cyclonus):

One of the last remnants of a long gone era. The bot that became Rampage was once an astrophisician and a bot of culture that joined Galvatron’s (Beast Wars 2 Galvatron, not Generation 1 Galvatron) expedition to a newly discovered planet and got contaminated alongside the others by the highly dangerous Angolmois Energy, becoming an invincible beast with a thirst of destruction.

For a long time he was forced to obey his now insane and corrupted “leader”, who cut off part of his now immortal spark and put it in a device that crushed it if he tried to rebel, but he slowly planned his escape and revenge towards his oppressors. During that time, the only things that prevented him to slip further into insanity were books, which he stole from the ruins of conquered planets, and Depth Charge, the only bot that ever managed to fight against him and survive. They fought each other multiple times during the years, and Rampage always hoped that one day he would have been able to kill him, but that would never happen.

During the Vehicon war, Megatron managed to create an antidote to Angolmois and used it to cure Galvatron and most of his crew before slaughtering them. Rampage survived by destroying the hull of the ship, floating in the empthiness of cosmos until some members of the resistance found him and mistakenly thought that he was dead. He would have killed them in any other situation, but not then: most of the bots that tortured him for years were dead, including Galvatron, leaving him unable to get his revenge, and the only cure in existence was in the hands of Megatron. Furious, he forced his saviors to bring him to Optimus Primal and then offered to help him stop Megatron and then be dragged to jail for the rest of his life, but only if first he let him kill him with his own bare hands. Optimus reluctanctly accepted, and with his help the resistance managed to score some significant victories, but despite this no one was happy of him siding with them.

Especially Depth Charge.

Depth Charge hated having him around, since he killed billions of living beings along the galaxy and attempted to murder him more than usual. Megatron knew of this and decided to make Charge an offer: he would give him the Angolmois antidote to kill Rampage, but in exchange he would become a Vehicon commander. Filled with anger, he accepted, and in the span of a day Depth Charge almost caused the resistence to fall, causing the loss of lots of lives and resources. Rampage was devastated: he was healed by the effects of Angolmois, but the only bot he considered his rival betrayed everything he stood for and willingly sacrificed thousands of lives in order to kill him and the survivors blamed him for this. Rampage ran away and disappeared for a long while, crushed by the weight of his actions and the effects they had.

Rampage later reappeared on Cybertron in search of the few surviving members of Galvatron’s crew with the intention of killing them and then himself, but once he found them he discovered that Inferno mistook them fro bounty hunters and killed them. Furious, Rampage tried to kill him, but Transmutate’s attempt to escape from her capsule caused an huge explosion, knocking him unconscious. The trio got dragged on the Lost Light with the intention of treating and then leaving them on a civilized planet once they recovered, but the malfunction forced them to join the crew, which made Rampage very angry.

He hates being forced to partecipate to a mission he believes to be pointless and being surrounded by a bunch of people that either hate or fear him, but most of all he is tired: he lived a long time, spent most of his life as an evil insane monster and finally regaining his sanity at the cost of the closest thing to a friend he had. All he wants now is dying.

And yet he got attached to Transmutate, a defective point one percenter who most of the crew treats with a mix of pity and disgust, and developed a sort of respect towards Silverbolt, that was created in laboratory, forced to obey his mad creator’s orders despite he knew they were wrong and struggled to fit in the Cybertronian’s society.

Will he be able to redeem himself? Or he will remain the monster everyone says he his? Only time will tell...

He has a crab and a tank alt-mode, and lots of cannons and other weapons of mass destruction.

PART 2===>

#transformers #beast wars #beast wars: more than meets the eye au #cheetor #big convoy #waspinator #Rampage #reboot

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missturtleduck · 3 years

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Fake dating anon-I think it would be cool if it wasn’t a modern au? But thank you!!!!

Sorry for your wait, anon! I hope you like what I wrote for you <3

Fake It Till You Make It

Sokka x Reader - FakeDating!Trope

Needless to say, Y/N was slightly shocked by Sokka’s proposition.

By the age of sixteen, they had been crucial pai sho tiles in the gambit against the once Fire Lord Ozai. Returning home was odd for many reasons, but notably the reminders that they were still children really, or at least in the eyes of their families. It was Zuko who had suggested a gang trip – a joint life changing field trip – after the nations settled down from Ozai’s defeat.

The first to return home was Y/N. Her mother lived in Fire Fountain City. It was only a short journey away from the capital, and Hakoda had already travelled to see his children at the palace. Sure, she had joked about pushing off her mother’s insistent affection, but she definitely cried a little bit when she got to hug her mum, and even more when her brothers piled on too. Ever the monarchist, Zuko was welcomed into the house with open arms and plenty of celebration. Toph especially got on with her family, rough-housing with Y/N’s brothers like it was nothing.

Since Toph didn’t want to see her parents as of yet, the only family member left to visit was Sokka and Katara’s Gran Gran since Suki’s family were doing work in the Fire Nation anyway. It took some convincing for Toph to put on snow boots – “I’ll risk frostbite if it means seeing, Katara!” – but soon they were travelling all the way to the South Pole. It was on their stop at Kyoshi Island that Sokka had approached Y/N.

“I need you to pretend to be my girlfriend.”

Y/N barked out an incredulous laugh. “Tui and La, what?”

“Exactly what I said,” Sokka nodded, face solemn. “Katara wrote to Gran Gran a couple of times and mentioned Yue and Suki, but you know how that ended.”

“One turned into the moon and the other is a raging Sapphic in a relationship with Ty Lee.”

“Exactly!” He looked distressed, throwing his hands in the air. “And Gran Gran sent a letter back saying how excited she was to meet my girlfriend!”

Frowning in confusion, Y/N looked at him. “You could just tell her what happened.”

“But, Y/N, she was so excited!” He simpered the way a child would, and Y/N couldn’t help but laugh. “Obviously, we’re just friends, but would you do this?”

Ouch. Sure, they were ‘just friends’, but it hurt anyway. Maybe it was the terseness with how he said it, or the fact that since the war had ended all Y/N could think about is how pretty Sokka looked when he could finally relax. Whatever it was, it stung in her chest, panging with the intensity of heartburn. Heartburn seemed a fitting enough description regardless of its denotation.

So that was how she ended up fake dating Sokka, all for the sake of his ego and his gran gran’s happiness. As they travelled over the ocean on Appa’s back, he was as physically far from her as he could possibly be. Ouch, again. For a fake boyfriend, he was doing a crappy job at it. Staring daggers at the back of his head, Y/N sulked quite contently next to Zuko, who seemed to be comfortable with her mood – something about being friends with far grumpier girls. That had made her laugh.

Her laugh had made Sokka stare.

The sharpness to her gaze melted almost immediately when she saw the concern etched on his face. Instead, she beamed at him. Sokka grinned back, turning away to continue his conversation with Suki.

Y/N could feel Zuko’s gaze on her. “I swear to the spirits, Zuko, if you say that’s rough, buddy, I’ll chi block you.”

The crown prince was kind enough to stifle his laughter, though it seemed contagious. Her frown shifted into a small smile and she took to staring over the edge of Appa’s saddle at the canvas of blue beneath them. There was something tranquil about the polar water, the great water beasts breaching the waves only to dive back down into the impossible depths. Being from the Fire Nation, Y/N had never experienced such wonder in a single image – nor such freezing weather. Pulling furs over herself, she readied herself for what would happen on the ice.

Gran Gran looked to be the loveliest but scariest woman she would ever meet. The woman stood as the leader of the tribe; a gaggle of children stood behind her in uncertainty. However, as soon as Sokka hopped off Appa’s back, they were screaming and charging past her to tackle him to the ground. Her heart warmed as they hugged him and cried, shouting at him for leaving them without a warrior in the village.

“What are you seal pups on about?” He snorted, trying to avoid being winded by tiny elbows. “I trained you better than this.”

“That’s enough of that.”

At the woman’s words, the children picked themselves up, leaving Sokka in the snow. He didn’t last long though as he and Katara took their turn in charging. Embracing their grandmother with the tightest hug Y/N had ever seen, she left them to their moment, opting to instead help Toph down from their trusty steed.

“I hate this,” Toph muttered, holding both Zuko and Y/N’s arms in her own death grip.

“I know,” Y/N said softly, “But you’ll be able to take those boots off once we get inside one of the igloos.”

“And this must be Y/N.”

With wide eyes, she pried herself from Toph, trusting Zuko to make sure she didn’t cause any avalanches. Stepping to Sokka’s side, Y/N tried not to startle as he wrapped his arm around her hip. “Sokka, let me meet your grandmother before you steal me away!”

She felt smug satisfaction at how he flushed.

“Let me look at you, dear,” The matriarch ordered, though not unkindly. Presenting herself in the woman, she brushed off the scrutinous stare with a smile. “You’re very beautiful.”

“Thank you, erm- “

“Please,” She beamed, and all Y/N could see was the saccharine threat that Katara often fronted, “Call me Gran Gran.”

As the woman turned away, she swatted Sokka’s arm, meeting his gaze with a scowl. Stalking past him through the snow – which was harder than she had assumed – Y/N was followed by a curious flock of children tugging on her sleeves. Patient as a saint, she laughed with them, answering all of their burning questions.

Why is your hair like that? Why are your clothes red? Is that the same scary man who attacked our village? But he doesn’t look scary. Why is Sokka smiling at you?

Whipping her head around, Y/N met Sokka’s eyes. He was grinning like a dope, chin rested on his palm as Katara talked Gran Gran’s ear off. Somehow, he hadn’t realised that she had caught him staring, but the children soon fixed that; a snowball to the face promptly brought him out of his stupor. Had he hit his head on the way down from Appa? Whatever it was, it made her heart hurt and she had promised Toph a warm igloo anyway.

The sun was beginning to set behind the glaciated mountains on the horizon, illuminating the village in the evening light, dappling the ice with sunspots. She had never seen something so beautiful before, but as the sun disappeared, so did the warmth; the igloo more than made up for it.

As she sat with Zuko, Suki, and Toph – Sokka and Katara obviously busy whilst Aang promised the children some airbending games – Y/N grumbled to herself. Not only was she playing fake girlfriend, but fake girlfriend who was hated by the family. Well, it probably wasn’t hate. She wouldn’t blame Gran Gran for being protective over one of her two grandchildren. In fact, thinking of how her brothers reacted to Sokka, maybe she had it good.

Laid flat on her back, she listened to the gossip of the Fire Nation, of how Ty Lee was doing, and how Toph was seeing some weird stuff under the ice. Whatever it was, it couldn’t spike her interest enough to join in the conversation.

“Y/N?”She barely turned her head to see an anxious looking Sokka in the doorway.

“Yes?”

He looked around the room at all the faces and fidgeted. “About earlier- “

“Listen, I don’t care, okay, Sokka?” She said, trying her hardest to not seem entirely mean, nor upset; Toph scoffed, muttering something that sounded like liar.

“Just,” He sighed, “Can we talk outside?”

Pulling furs back over herself, she looked pleadingly at her friends to rescue her, but to no avail. Trudging after Sokka, she was growing more and more vexed as they moved further from the village and into the cold. The moon began to rise in the sky, glossing the ice with an ethereal glow, which was perhaps the only nice part about being out in the bitter cold.

“What, Sokka?” Y/N finally huffed, putting her foot down. “Am I not being a convincing enough girlfriend for you?”

“It’s not that Y/N,” Sokka started, waving his hands in a panicked motion as if warning off a polar dog.

“Then what?” She interrupted, not having any of it. “Did you want me to hold your hand? Maybe give you a cuddle?”

He flinched at the venom in her tone. “No, Y/N, if you’d just- “

“Just what?” Y/N snapped. “What you asked of me what really inconsiderate,

Sokka, but I did it anyway because I'm your friend – just your friend.”

“Spirits, Y/N,” He sighed, realisation passing behind his eyes.

“But it’s fine! I’m a great actress, Sokka, because I wouldn’t be acting. See? I can hold your hand, hug you, even kiss you if you needed it, but it hurts me.”

Looking down at the ice, Sokka kicked some snow under his boot, looking very ashamed of himself for a second. It pierced through her anger in a way that was unfair. Instead of dealing a final blow, all she could think to do was grab his hand and comfort him. Yes, she still felt she was in the right, but Y/N didn’t want one of her closest friends to suffer at her hand, retribution or no.

“Gran Gran shouted at me, y’know,” Sokka said, a small smile quirking at his lips as his eyes fell on his hand in hers.

Y/N frowned. “Why?”

“For thinking she was a ‘dumb old lady’ apparently,” He chuckled, meeting her eyes. “It seemed Aang had let slip that we weren’t actually dating, so she told me off for that.”

“You deserved that,” She grin, bumping his shoulder.

“And then she called me dumb, which I didn’t appreciate.”

His smile said otherwise, so Y/N pushed. “What did you do now?”

“Try to fake something I actually wanted.”

Shocked, Y/N dropped his hand, and for a moment his heart fell heavy in his chest. This was the perfect chance to be with her, he thought, now that the war was over and she knew her family was safe. Now they had autonomy, surely they could focus on each other.

“Y/N, I’m so- “

His apology was cut off by an insistent pair of lips, begging him to be quiet and just enjoy their moment. Deepening the kiss, she looped her arms around the back of his neck, the scruff of his unshaven hair brushing against her arms. His heart was soaring, hers no longer burning but glowing. She pulled back and reaching up to his face, Y/N felt the warmth of his cheek in the bitter cold, radiating warmer than the sun. Whatever light had been taken by the night was captured in them.

“Gran Gran likes you by the way,” Sokka said quietly, leaning his forehead against hers. “Says you wrangle those kids better than I do.”

“Praise Agni,” Y/N gasped, letting out a bated breath she hadn’t realised was stuck. “She does the same scary face Katara does.”

Sokka chucked, rubbing his nose against hers. “Don’t you worry, Y/N. Me and Dad are just as scared by it.”

With a giggle, she rested her head in the crook of his neck, basking in their embrace for as long as she could.

#atla #fic request #sokka x reader #fake dating #sokka x f!reader #zuko #toph #aang #katara #suki #the gaang #gran gran #fake it till you make it #anon request #angst #happy ending #missturtleduck

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