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plant-acts · 2 months

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Linked Universe College Theater AU

The amount of crazy stuff that goes on in my college theater program deserves to be immortalized with my favorite characters!

So here is what I think they would be like if they were Theater Majors with Time and Malon being their professors (plus some other fun characters at the end)!

Time: 46 | Technical Theater Director for the college | In the beginning, he was a simple high school theater teacher, but after seeing an opening at a small college he and his wife decided to apply! He has been teaching at the college for the past 6 years and essentially saved the program. He loves his job, but if he gets one more student named Link, he might burn the place down. His wife is the Artistic Director, Malon, and their son Twilight is his student.

Twilight: 22 | Technical Theater | His parents had him introduced to theater at a young age and he quickly learned that he enjoyed the technical aspect more than the acting side (like father like son). Even though Time insisted he could apply to any college, Twi chose to go to his parent's program. Within the theater, he leads the set-building crew. The man is crazy strong (a platform almost fell on Wild while he was working underneath it and with one hand, Twi caught the set, and with the other; he dragged Wild out). He is living with his parents until he graduates. After that, he hopes to open a summer stock theater in a nearby town.

Warriors: 21 |Performance Theater | Originally, after graduating high school he was going to go into the military, but plans changed after his grandmother passed. Now he is one of the newest performance majors! To be honest, he never saw himself on the stage until he was forced to go to a summer musical audition at the college with his younger stepbrother, Wind. To his surprise, he got a part and has been in love with it ever since! He can often be found helping with the costume department (everyone begs him to please stop trying to put them in scarves; the stage lights are too hot for it). He and his younger stepbrothers live in an apartment together.

Legend: 21 | Performance Theater | He has probably been doing theater longer than everyone else (besides Twilight, but they don’t count him because his parents are theater teachers). As a kid, his family signed him up for summer classes. Quickly, they found he had genuine talent, and he performed throughout high school. At one point, he was in an official production of Matilda, but he refuses to tell which it was. Expressing emotions has always been hard for him and theater is an outlet he can use to be anyone he wants (although sometimes he regrets the performance major choice, especially when he has to dye his hair pink for a role, and it stains). Although he's a performance major, he could give tech students a run for their money. He somehow knows everything (years of experience)! He lives in an apartment near campus with his roommates Ravio and Hyrule.

Sky: 20 | Performance Theater | The Dude was born for the stage. His first performance was in high school, and he has led in every show since. He just seems to shine and embody the character. His high school theater program was small, so it was a culture shock to see so many talented people at the college. Because of that, he struggles with self-doubt. He sometimes doesn’t believe he is good enough to be there. His girlfriend, Sun, is also a performance major at the college and does what she can to assure him he is crazy talented, just like the rest of them. He has the best singing voice out of everyone and is not afraid to do karaoke at the worst time. They live together in an apartment right next to Legend and Hyrule (all the apartments just happen to be in the same building on the same floor).

Hyrule: 20 | Technical Theater | Growing up, he wasn’t sure what he wanted to be. That was until he needed an art credit and joined the tech theater class! He has been in love with it ever since! He loves seeing a show come together and how everyone works as a team to make it happen. Usually, he is in charge of finding props in the maze that is the prop loft (seriously; it is a mess; they have lost Four back there a few times). If no one steps up to be a stage manager or assistant director for a show, he will gladly fill that spot. He lives with his roommates Legend and Ravio.

Wild: 20 | Technical Theater | Originally, he was going to be a performance major, but an accident in his first semester of college changed that. Now he has a cool scar on his face and the memory of a goldfish (to be honest it had always been comically bad, so nothing much changed there). He wasn’t going to let some bad luck stop his love of theater, so he changed majors and has been a menace to Time ever since (maybe he will go back to acting one day, who knows ;)). Whether it’s helping in any way possible, specifically building sets with Twilight, or assisting with costumes, he is always lending a hand. He is convinced OSHA does not apply to him (when does it ever apply in theater). One time, he put a ladder on an electric lift so he could fix a sign. The sign still ended up crooked. No one knows why, but he somehow has everything anyone could ever need in his tool belt. Nails? Check. Bobby Pins? Check. The secrets of the universe? Maybe? He lives with his partner Flora and support dog, Wolfie.

Four: 19 | Four is actually 4 different people. The quadruplets all applied to the same college and didn’t realize until they got their acceptance letters! For the longest time, everyone thought they were the same person (somehow the brothers never noticed that people believed this and just thought everyone was being weird when they said a second ago, they watched him leave through the opposite door). After everyone figured it out, they started wearing colored headbands so people could tell them apart (they absolutely have switched colors to mess with people or get out of doing a job). Everyone calls them Four as a joke, and because it is easier than trying to catch sight of the colored headbands. They live with their older brother Shadow, who is a technical theater major, but he works nights, and they don’t see each other on campus much.

Blue: Technical Theater | Hides on the catwalk after hanging lights and you won't know about it until he is screaming "HEADS" because he dropped his phone.

Green: Performance Theater | He has just kinda accepted the fact that if there is a young character, he will be typecast as them. It doesn't help that he looks androgynous and can play a man or woman.

Red: Performance Theater | If there was a most dramatic award he would get it. One time he got a paper cut and screamed so loud that Hyrule swears he felt the loft shake.

Vio: Technical Theater | He is the resident painter of the program, which means he is in charge of doing the shading for every. single. set. More than once he has stayed the night to finish painting a flat.

Wind: 18 | Technical/Performing Theater | He couldn't decide which he wanted to major in, so he dual majors (Malon and Time have a small fun competition to see if they can convince him to favor one over the other)! He lived in a small coastal town until his grandmother died. After that, he and his twin brother Spirit moved in with their stepbrother Warriors since they already planned to go to the same college. More than once, he has to be told to slow down his lines (totally not projecting here). He's absolutely convinced that the theater is haunted after he was locked in and heard crying from the loft. His favorite part of tech is drawing up a design for the set. He is the head of marketing and takes it very seriously. Although he is the youngest, he hates being treated like he doesn't know what is going on and people not letting him help on important projects. He's been doing theater since middle school and just wants to be a part of the team!

Other Characters!

Hylia: ??? | Head of Performing Arts | She has been working at the college for as long as anyone can remember. Kind, but can be quite strict with her employees and their students if they get out of line.

Gannon: ??? | College President | Not much to say about him, he never leaves his office. But before Time and Malon started teaching, he tried to shut down the theater department because there weren't enough students.

Malon: 47 | Artistic Director | She, Time, and Twilight live on a few acres of land given to her by her father. She loves to invite The Chain (the name she gave the group of Links who joined the program and became friends) over for game nights. More than once she has walked into her office to see one of the boys asleep in the corner, where she has a stack of pillows.

Beetle: 23 | ??? | Legit just some dude who really likes the college productions and goes to every show to support the program.

Shadow: 22 | Technical Theater | No one is quite sure if he even exists. Every time a prop breaks, they call his name, and in the blink of an eye; it is either fixed or gone. He runs the lights, but the glass of the tech booth is so dirty you can't see what he looks like (hence the nickname Shadow). Four insists that he is their older brother, but the believability of that differs from person to person.

Ravio: 21 | Business Sales | Legend and Hyrule's roommate. More than once, he has tried to sell things he "borrowed" from people back to their owners. It never works and he just plays it off as practice for his business class.

Flora: 20 | Mechanical Engineer | She lives with Wild and is half of his impulse control. She can get super focused on her studies and Wild will drag her to the theatre to get her out of the house (and prove that yes he does have a girlfriend, and no she is not made up)

Sun: 20 | Performance Theatre | In high school, she and Sky were cast as Audrey and Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors. She was so nervous about the Suddenly Seymour kiss that she was almost sick. Her and Sky laugh about it now because he was also super scared to kiss his crush.

Tetra:19 | Navy | Wind’s best friend from his hometown. They kept in touch even after he moved away. She is joining the Navy and the last summer before she left and he started college; they met up in person for the first time in months. They just hung out at the beach and talked like old times. They miss each other, so she tries to surprise him at his shows as much as she can.

Phantom: 18 | Psychology | Spirits best friend. She can and will talk your ear off about whatever new thing she is learning in class. She lives in an apartment with a few of her friends and invites Spirit to every girl's night (he has crush privileges and loves to gossip just as much as any of the gals)

Spirit: 18 | Civil Engineering | Wind's twin brother. He wants to work on building transportation routes between different cities (although the amount of work he has to do makes him wish he just went into fast food instead). He might not talk much, but his facial expressions can rival any of the actors.

Aryll: 13 | Middle School | Wind and Spirits younger sister. She moved in with her dad and stepmom after their grandma's death. She misses the beach but is happy to be making friends and learning about the city.

If you made it this far, please do not be afraid to ask questions in my ask box. I am dying to talk and write about this AU.

Please.

I beg.

(Also, I am pretty new to the loz and LU fandoms so if something feels off, or I missed some characters, tell me and I'll fix/talk about them!)

#Please enjoy this #It took so long to write #Also please ask questions I would love to tell more about it #Or maybe write a fic or two #Linked Theater AU #linked universe #lu time #lu twilight #lu warriors #lu legend #lu sky #lu hyrule #lu wild #lu four #lu wind

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difeisheng · 3 years

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hold the world to its best

It takes Jiang Cheng forty years to reach immortality.

He is the only one who does.

Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji cultivate for many long decades, but at long last even the untouchable Hanguang-Jun's hair becomes touched with silver, and the youth of Wei Wuxian's second body spares him only mere years before he mirrors his husband. They die together, as they lived, in each other's arms.

I'm glad I got another chance in this life, Wei Wuxian tells his brother, toward the end. I'll find you in the next. Jiang Cheng lets him go. Everyone else already faded away. Nie Huaisang, Lan Xichen, secluded in their mountains. Wen Ning, perhaps dust on the wind.

The younger ones, Lan Sizhui, Lan Jingyi, Jin Ling, grow up and grow tall, a hope for the Jianghu and all its mistakes. But Jiang Cheng stands still as the world moves on, and one by one even they wither away to time. Lan Sizhui is remembered as one of the great leaders of the Gusu Lan sect, and a healer worthy of the Dafan Wen. Jin Ling, though he lives for almost a century, gives way to illness after heaving Lanling Jin up from its well of lies and secrets. Jiang Cheng watches his nephew grow lines at the corners of his eyes, watches him grow old, older than he is, and the day A-Ling breathes his last is the day the sun sets for Jiang Cheng.

At least, he thinks, A-Ling died from a life well-lived, not cut short by war.

He lays Zidian to rest beside Jin Ling. The whip should have been his. A-Ling always refused to take it, saying it was a legacy of the Jiang and in the end, it should belong to Jiang Cheng's clan, but the last of them was Jin Ling.

Jiang Cheng buries his name along with his family. He is, now and forever, alone.

~*~

Centuries later, legends tell of a man who fights with the force of a river. There is a storm in his eyes, the weariness and rage of an unknowable past, though he appears only old enough to have the barest stripe of grey at his temples. Rarely does he offer a name, silent and solitary, but in the tales he comes to be known as Wanyin.

Some say he is from an era that left him behind, when those with great spiritual power still reigned over the land. They claim from his bearing and sharp expression that he was a leader, a respected one, and from his accent some go so far as to say his domain was those ruins in the south. Only collapsed wooden beams remain of what would have once been a stronghold on the shore of a lake, a lotus carved onto their worn surface. Wanyin never goes near that place, though he has been seen everywhere in the kingdom and sometimes beyond. If the legends are true, his lineage is that of rangers, and so the wanderlust in his blood seems to endure.

In every story, Wanyin is a warrior. Sometimes he battles spirits. Sometimes, armies and empires ask for his help, and he obliges. But no money or pleasure can keep him in one place, and eventually, he always leaves, two swords crossed over his back. One possesses beautiful metalwork, a sheath of violet scales and a hilt of silver snakes. The other has a handle of humble wood, but graceful in design and function. Many have attempted to ask what these weapons are to Wanyin, what led him to wield blades that are so markedly different. There is no explanation, he always says, a gaze older than the mountains, that you would understand.

And always they believe him, for Wanyin does not age. Dynasties rise and fall, but the man who wears purple and mourning white remains unaffected by even a day. What has he seen? people whisper as he passes. And sometimes, in the dead of night, What has he lost?

They do not ask what Wanyin has done to become immortal. History remembers enough of the Jianghu ,to know how he came to be. For what it cost, every elder in a village knows the struggle against life's horrors to see eight decades, much less the weight of how many years sit on Wanyin's shoulders. The legends answer enough questions. They say he is a man best left alone to his grief, and the bloody days in his wake. They say do not provoke him, lest you hear his sword sing.

Still, sometimes, the curiosity of a child wins out over warning, and they will follow Wanyin's steps down the street, clinging to his legs, demanding answers to the tactless questions of the youth. People have feared what he will do in the face of such insolence.

Instead, he will say, You remind me of someone.

Instead, he will crouch down in the road, the eyes of the unknowably old meeting that of the impossibly young.

Instead, he will smile, and a golden bell on his belt will sing in his ears with the echo of a long-gone child.

#mdzsnet #i got possessed by a ficlet and i had to write it #title from light by sleeping at last #maybe one day i'll write something from wen ning's pov with him in this same situation #the immortals who did not wish for it #mdzs #cql #jiang cheng #cql fanfiction #the untamed fanfiction #mdzs fanfiction #ashton's writing #ashton writes fic #fic #ficlet #ashton's tumblr fic

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moonlightgukkie · 4 years

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2020 Fic Rec Masterlist

Here’s an updated version of my 2019 fic recommendations masterlist! There are so many more amazing pieces of work I have read on this app, but this is a list of my favorites. Please be sure to check out these wonderful authors and their work(s)! <3 (also thank you to the authors that showed love the first time this was posted, ily)

“if i told you” by @gukyi genre: fluff, comedy, angst, friends2lovers!au

summary: in order to pay for uni, jungkook decides to market his most valuable asset to the wealthy socialites of campus: himself, donning a suit and tie, tousled hair, and glasses, he becomes every rich daughter’s dream: the perfect boyfriend to bring to balls, dinners, and business gatherings. all while you watch from the sidelines, only able to dream of having that much money to buy yourself what you really want: him.

one shot, two shot, series

“awkwardly in love” by @strawberrynamjoon

genre: college, childhood friends!au, fluff, humor

summary: even if everything changed, yours and jeongguk’s friendship would always stay the same - at least you thought so, but jokes on your, cupid had other plans for the two of you, making you reconsider everything you thought you knew about your best friend of 12 years.

one shot, two shot, series

“one thing right” by @hobios genre: fake marriage!au, enemies2lovers, angst, smut, humor, slow burn

summary: desperate to get your ailing mother into the best care possible, you ask your childhood friend turned enemy to marry you for his health insurance benefits, the only problem is it’s illegal, and he’s the sheriff. and you swore to hate him since the day he broke your best friend’s heart.

one shot, two shot, series (COMPLETED)

“inkling” by @gguksgalaxy genre: smut, angst, tattoo artist!jjk

summary: jeongguk is your brother’s boyfriend’s co-worker, they own a tattoo and piercing parlor. in other words, he’s tall, gorgeous, has his passion literally etched into his skin, looks incredibly good in a man-bun, and is semi-unattainable for you. why? well, you’re not entirely sure but him ditching you after a very heated makeout session sure isn’t a good sign. his extremely poor mood the next week sure isn’t either, but the only way to fix it is to face the beast head-on...right?

one shot, two shot, series

“bandslam 1″ by @ironicarmy genre: drummer!jjk, gutarist!oc, angst, smut, rock band!au

summary: cocky drummer jeon jeongguk has never been the type to hate anyone, but when his best friend taehyung unexpectedly leaves the band and leaves you in his place, he can’t really blame himself when he acts disdain towards you. not even when there’s a prize at stake.

one shot, two shot, series (IN PROGRESS)

“the phantom knight” by @lil-meow-meow-goes-rawr

genre: medieval!jjk, angst, action, dragon!jjk, fantasy!au

summary: legend speaks of a fearless knight... a knight so strong he could move mountains, sent to protect us from the terror of the moon dragon. before the reign of kim namjoon began, before peace was formed between the nations, the moon dragon reigned over them all. terrorizing the kingdoms with a ruthless vengeance. vengeance for the extinction of its own kind. a vendetta which only the phantom knight could stop.

one shot, two shot, series (IN PROGRESS)

“one time, in your room” by @ubemango

genre: college!au, smut

summary: there are papers to write, and virgins to daydream about. (you can think about jeongguk’s dick later.)

one shot, two shot, series

“frost impressions” by @fortunexkookie genre: teacher!au, gamer!au, smut, angst, enemies2lovers

summary: jeongguk is so disgustingly smitten with his new coworker that he ends up making a terrible first impression, and neither of them realize they’ve actually been in love with each other for the better part of a decade.

one shot, two shot, series

“melomaniac” by @jeonscript genre: band!au, punk!jjk, friends2lovers, smut, angsty fluff

summary: you’re wholeheartedly, madly in love with jeongguk and yet you know you shouldn’t be because he’s your best friend and nothing more. worst part of it all is that you know he’s in love with you too.

one shot, two shot, series

“worshippers of the sea” by @jimlingss

genre: pirate!au, mermaid!au, angst, fluff

summary: you are the greatest pirate to set sail across the ocean and self-proclaimed ruler of the ocean. but when the true god of the sea catches wind of your hubris, he punishes you - taking your legs and turning it into a tail.

one shot, two shot, series

“the burning flame” by @bangtanfanfiction genre: fantasy!au, angst, action, fluff, dragon rider!oc/jjk

summary: you’re sent as a scout from the academy into enemy territory, tasked with the mission to make sure the king doesn’t unleash another war on the four nations. during your quest, you get tangled up with a lone rider, as stubborn and hard as the scales of his dragon.

one shot, two shot, series

“bitchin” by @kinktae genre: 1980s!au, angst, smut, idiots2lovers, fluff, humor

summary: the 80s were a time of choices. which perm was right for you? what color of neon would you wear next? none of these choices, however, were more questionable than a certain deal you made with jeon jeongguk.

one shot, two shot, series (IN PROGRESS)

“moirai” by @taeken-my-heart

genre: soulmate!au, angst, smut, fluff, enemies2lovers

summary: on your 18th birthday a name appears on your wrist. the name of your soulmate. it’s a momentous day that everyone looks forward to, but you’ve always brush aside; refusing to believe in a fickle mistress called destiny. but what happens when on the morning of your 18th birthday you wake up to find the name of your mortal enemy jeon jeongguk?

one shot, two shot, series (IN PROGRESS)

“concentric” by @gingerpeachtae genre: fantasy!au, angst, fluff, enemies2lovers. smut

summary: you had been ready for the end of the semester. you had been ready to spend time away from your best friend, park jimin, and finally move on from the feelings you harbored. yet, after your friend was forced to reveal a secret, you found yourself in a new world that was full of magic, war, and wonder. so, here you were, basically thrown into your own fantasy novel, with your best friend on one side, and six male warriors on the other.

one shot, two shot, series (IN PROGRESS)

“more than words” by @ironicarmy genre: best friends!au, smut, fluff, angst, humor

summary: you & namjoon have been painfully (and blindingly) pining for each other since your teenage years, much to your friends’ chagrin. so, unbeknownst to both of you, seokjin and the rest plan to finally make you confess during a ski trip.

one shot, two shot, series

“try me” by @jjkfire genre: fluff, slight angst, idiots to lovers, college!au, rugby!au

summary: you wanted nothing more than to leave behind your old self when you graduated from high school and moved on to college to play rugby, but when you see your high school classmate, resident fuckboy and captain, kim namjoon, at the rugby department orientation, you feel like everything might fall apart.

one shot, two shot, series

“all you knead is love” by @loveejoon genre: baker!oc, apprentice!joonie, fluff, minimal angst

summary: stumbling upon a help wanted sign and desperately needing a job, namjoon walks into your small bakery shop, after tasting your bread and god, how it melted in his mouth, he insisted on being your assistant, you wholeheartedly agreed, not realizing the dimpled man was a klutz, and that’s the nicest way you could put it.

one shot, two shot, series

“bloom” by @hobidreams genre: assassin!reader, florist!joonie, smut, action, angst, some fluff

summary: family is who you kill for, who you die for. in this society, you and your kin are shadows, clinging to the darkness to obey orders absolute. but when such orders command you abandon what little honor remains for wealth and notoriety, you find yourself lost in lonely uncertainty about the only vocation you’ve ever known. that is, until you meet a man with gentle hands, a poet’s heart, and a love for coaxing the world into bloom.

one shot, two shot, series

“beastly gods” by @lemonjoonah genre: hybrid!au, drama, thriller, smut, angst

summary: “don’t leave the forest,” a rule that you’ve been forced to follow since birth, but you are tired of living in this wooden cage. out of desperation you cut a deal with taehyung, who claims to be the only one who can get you out safely, even though he might be just as dangerous as the god you’re trying to escape.

one shot, two shot, series

~ hi! if you made it this far down the post i would like to thank both @jjkfire and @gingerpeachtae for being so kind & helping me recover this masterlist. Please be sure to check out the works of these amazing angels!!

#bts fic recs #bts jjk #bts taehyung #bts namjoon #jungkook imagine #jungkook smut #jungkook angst #taehyung angst #taehyung imagine #namjoon angst #namjoon imagine #namjoon smut #namjoon fic rec #taehyung fic rec #jungkook fic rec #Jungkook Fanfiction #taehyung fanfic #namjoon fanfic

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sheconquers · 3 years

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SEASON ONE // EPISODES 6-10

S1. E6. A Golden Crown

The thought crosses Daenerys’ mind that perhaps the dragon eggs are not simply stone. She studies it closely, remembering that fire cannot harm a dragon, that even she thrives in heat. Out of curiosity, she places one of the eggs on a brazier… but nothing happens. It is a disappointment, but when she pulls her hands away from the heated egg, unharmed, the thought continues to linger that perhaps there is a way to hatch them.

Soon, she is summoned by the dosh khaleen, the wives of khals slain in battle who run the city. Before them, she eats a stallions heart as they read omens. She struggles at first to keep the organ down, but, to the relief of both her and her husband, she manages to compose herself. As she finishes the heart, the crones declare that her son will be “The Stallion That Mounts The World”, the khal of khals, the ruler who will unite the Dothraki into a single horde to overrun all of the lands according to Dothraki legend. Daenerys then announces that her son shall be named Rhaego, after her brother Rhaegar who was slain by Robert Baratheon. She is then lifted by Drogo who carries her about the room as the Dothraki chant their son’s name.

Infuriated and drunk, Viserys arrives at a feast to celebrate the Khal and Khaleesi to demand that Drogo pay him for giving him Daenerys. He draws his sword to threaten Daenerys and her unborn child, believing that since the Dothraki cannot draw blood in their sacred city that he cannot be harmed. Drogo promises that he will give Viserys a golden crown “that men will tremble to behold”. Daenerys makes no move to argue or disagree, knowing that this has always been how things must happen, this is how the story has always been written.

She watches as Viserys’ pleasure quickly slips to pain as Qotho grabs him and breaks his arm before kicking him to the floor. She watches in silence as as her husband melts a belt of golden medallions into a pot and her brother begs for mercy, begs for her to stop what is about to happen. She watches as her brother is blessed with a golden crown that encases his head and burns his scalp. She sneers as he dies, collapsing on the ground, stating that he was no true dragon.

For fire cannot harm a dragon.

S1. E7. You Win or You Die & S1. E8 The Pointy End

It begins to occur to Daenerys that, perhaps, her son should sit upon the Iron Throne. She begins to plant the seed in Khal Drogo’s head that an invasion of the Seven Kingdoms would benefit the Dothraki. However, Drogo does not wish to cross the Narrow Sea and that a man does not need an “iron chair”. He only needs a horse. Daenerys realizes that the conversation is fruitless and continuing it would be pointless, so she tucks the desire away for a better time.

Instead, she travels to the marketplace with Jorah and her handmaidens. She takes the opportunity to ask Jorah to help her convince her husband to invade the Seven Kingdoms because the throne is hers by birthright. In response, she is reminded that Aegon the Conqueror was only able to take six of the Kingdoms because he had dragons who were able to fight alongside him.

When Jorah separates from her and her handmaidens, the group wanders into a wineseller who is seemingly eager to impress the Khaleesi with a particular vintage. However, as she has been convinced to drink the wine, Jorah intervenes. It is quickly discovered that the wine is poisoned and that this was an assassination attempt. Jorah explains to her that that Robert Baratheon will never stop trying to kill her.

Once back at the tent, Drogo quickly arrives. He glares at the wineseller but immediately goes to Daenerys to be sure she’s unharmed. As a thanks to Jorah, he offers him any horse of his choosing before becoming enraged and shouting that his army will cross the “poison water” to take the Iron Throne for his son as punishment for their assassination attempt on his Khaleesi.

The next morning, the khalasar leaves Vaes Dothrak… the wine seller tied naked to the saddle of the Khaleesi’s horse, forced to walk until he collapse from exhaustion to be dragged to his death.

Khal Drogo wastes no time in making good on his promise to Daenerys. Almost immediately he begins the march of conquest towards the Narrow Sea. In order to afford the coming war, the Dothraki must raid villages and take people to sell into slavery to allow them the money they need to hire ships for their assault on Westeros. Despite this being explained to Daenerys, she is distraught at the aftermath of the raid on a village in Lhazar. She sees the Dothraki killing the villagers, raping their women, and she orders it to stop. The Dothraki grow angry, but Daenerys quickly claims all of the women she sees to protect them. Angry, the warriors make their complaints known to Khal Drogo. However, Drogo is amused by his Khaleesi’s boldness and allows her to keep her slaves, much to the frustration of the Dothraki.

Drogo is challenged by an offended warrior, Mago. He takes a wound to the chest in the midst of the fight but quickly kills Mago, silencing the complaints. Daenerys sees the wound he has received and insists that it be treated as she is concerned that it will become infected and fester. She allows a healer, Mirri Maz Duur, whom she rescued, to treat the wound despite Drogo’s bloodriders proclaiming her a maegi… a witch. Unbeknownst to Daenerys… this is the beginning of the end.

S1. E9. Baelor & S1. E10 Fire and Blood

Despite the help Daenerys has sought from Mirri, Drogo’s wound begins to fester. He keeps marching forward despite growing weaker and weaker while his Khaleesi watches on, concerned. Eventually, he is unable to remain upright on his horse and he falls to the ground. Daenerys understands how dangerous this makes the situation as a Khal who cannot ride, cannot rule. To buy Drogo time, she orders his bloodriders to make camp and claim that the command came from the Khal. She then orders that Mirri be brought to her.

Drogo is brought to his tent with Daenerys and Jorah arrives soon after, warning her that the khalasar is learning of Drogo’s fall. Distraught, Daenerys begs for Jorah’s help, begs him to help her save her husband. When there is none but the two of them, Jorah removes the covering of Drogo’s wound to reveal a deeply festered and rotted patch of flesh, leading him to declare that Drogo is as good as dead. He immediately urges Daenerys to flee, that the power struggle that will follow Drogo’s death will likely end in the winner killing Rhaego. Daenerys, however, refuses to leave Drogo’s side. Instead, she sends Jorah to fetch his armor to be sure he is prepared if something happens.

Once Jorah has left, she asks Mirri to save Drogo using blood magic. The witch warns her that death may be cleaner and that only death may pay for life. Though, once Daenerys is reassured that her life is not the one needed, she agrees to the ritual. Once the ritual begins, Daenerys is instructed to be sure that no one enters the tent during the ritual. As she leaves, a battle breaks out amongst the bloodriders and Daenerys’ Khas. Rhaego begins to kick and Daenerys falls to the ground as she goes into labor. The birthing women of the khalasar refuse to treat her until someone in the crowd suggests Mirri. Concerned for Daenerys, Jorah lifts her and carries her to the tent while she is too weak to protest.

Days later, she wakes with one of her dragon eggs in her arms. Something she had requested during one of her few waking moments between fever dreams. Jorah is there, having not left her side, and reveals to her that Rhaego was born dead and deformed, covered in scales. He also explains that most of the khalasar has gone, moved on, and left them behind. However, Drogo is alive.

She demands to see him. She is taken to a cliff where she finds Drogo in a catatonic state. When questioned about when he will become himself, she is told “When the sun rises in the west and sets in the east. When the seas go dry and mountains blow in the wind like leaves. When your womb quickens again, and you bear a living child. Then he will return, and not before.” In this moment, Daenerys realizes that the death of her son and husband is her fault as she is the one who invited Mirri into their Khalasar and asked her to treat him.

Miri is arrested and Drogo is taken to Daenerys’ tent. She spends the evening bathing him, speaking to him, and attempting to seduce him. But nothing works and she understands that he is no longer there, that though he breathes, Khal Drogo is gone. She kisses him one last time and, crying, smothers him with a pillow because she knows this is not the life he would want.

Daenerys and those who have remained with her build a funeral pyre for Drogo. She speaks to those left and tells them that they are welcome to leave if they would like but that those who stay, she will lead to a glorious future. She frees the slaves in her presence and asks that they stay among her as equals. Though some walk away, this does not deter her. She commands that Rakharo place her dragon eggs on the pyre and has Miri Maz Duur bound to a pillar in the midst of the pyre.

Concerned, Jorah approaches her, believing that she intends to take her own life. He begs her to reconsider this choice, tells her that they can take the eggs, sell them, and travel far away, proclaiming “I won’t watch you burn”. Daenerys grows quiet for a moment before softly responding “Is that what you fear?”. A kiss is placed to his cheek as the pyre is set aflame. Calmly, Daenerys turns and walks into the flames, quickly appearing to be consumed by them.

Come dawn, Jorah is the first to approach what is left of the pyre. Instead of her charred corpse, he finds Daenerys sitting among the embers with three newly-hatched dragons crawling over her. She is covered in ash, her clothes have been burnt away, but she is completely unarmed. At the sight, Jorah and the remaining Dothraki drop to kneel and swear their allegiance to Daenerys.

The Mother of Dragons is born.

#☾ *･ﾟ: * META ↳ ĸιnd people are ғorged ιn ғιre and darĸneѕѕ and ιмplodιng ѕтarѕ #rape //#pregnancy //

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fulgensun · 4 years

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; about Spira - through the Fiends Tales

I said I would have done it, and here it is. While not being a very good in-game mechanic, one which can even be soft-locked in case YRP level up too fast, the Fiend Tales in FFX-2 aren’t completely silly, or useless in my opinion. They offer much to think about, mostly because they do reflect a non-idealized vision of Spira -- contrary to what Tidus’ POV may offer us, before shifting into something else, something bigger and closer to reality. The Fiend Tales are, in fact, stories of Spirans, people who died somehow and turned into monsters -- some before, some during and some other even after the events of both FFX and FFX-2.

They narrate their tales to Yuna, presumably (she has to catch them, after all), and find a way to either ascend to the Farplane or to avenge their death, if violent one. They are common folk, priests, heretics, Al-Bheds, elders, children even -- ! What I found fascinating was that their tales did offer slices of common life of all major Spiran cities, routines, dangers for certain workers and habits, even traditions... all part of a Spira we haven’t really seen in-game; for what use is a firework festival in Besaid to a future Summoner or their Guardians ready to eradicate Sin, for example hmm ? Yet it exists, in the FFX universe. SO. I decided, for rp sake and to also make things a tad tidier, to list and explain here some of the things about these Spiran Tales that I consider cute, funny, important or worth some more thoughts. I’ll leave the specific Tales next to the info, too.

-- Children in Spira attend a school, the Temple School. Obviously founded by the Temple, it makes sense it provides a basic education while indoctrinating them to Yevon -- which isn’t hard to do anyway, before and during FFX; orphaned children are also taken by the Temple / Temple schools, most likely trained to either become priests or warrior monks in adulthood. Monks, specifically, are trained to what gets called ‘Yevon Academy’, which prepares them for military life; its volunteers move to this academy and don’t see their family till they graduate, but can write them letters. [ Doggo the Coyote, Big Mama the Protochimera, Jaws II the Xiphactinus, Happy-Birb the Peregrine ]

-- The Tale of Happy-Birb is very sad, and refers to children and temple. I feel it gives us a good example of how hard life could be, for... a rather gifted kid. “ I always kept to myself in a tiny room in the temple, staring outside my window. I had no friends, no family to look out for me. If I were to suddenly vanish one day, would anything be different? Since I was supposedly orphaned after an attack by Sin, I was raised in the temple of Kilika. They tell me my parents were killed by Sin, but I know it’s a lie. Why would I be the only one to survive? The monks told me I had to be strong to provide hope for the future of Spira. I didn’t want to go on living in such a sad world. So I decided to take a gamble. One night, I fled the temple. [...] But when I encountered a fiend in the woods, I froze. I don’t want to die, I screamed. I truly wanted to live. ” Don’t the monks’ words sound familiar, to you? It’s speculation, but it sounds like this child exhibited the potential to become a Summoner, his family refused to let him train as one and they were disposed of -- so that the child could come into the “custody” of Yevon and ‘provide hope’. Summoner potential isn’t hereditary, mind that, but you kinda get the mentality that might have made Braska think Yuna wasn’t safe in the religious capital of Spira. The boy, here, was just ten years old.

-- Spira has a considerable amount of criminals, for a world that should - utopically, be united by the tragedy Sin represented for everyone. Thieves considering burglary their very ‘grand career’; killers having no remorse in deceiving old people to obtain their inheritance; Al Bhed hitmen sent to kill Yevonite children in temples or wandering priests, children kidnappers, kids thieves in Luca killing one another for money, etc. [ Bulbasaur the Purpurea, Mittens the Couerl, Brick the Bicocette, Bolt Josh ]

-- Engagements are a quite serious thing, considering a family could not bless the union if the suitor was of a lower class (even between relatively common people), or just too poor to be deemed worthy. A refined girl from a well-to-do family in Bevelle was forbidden, for example, to love a young sailor. Engagement rings are also a thing, and the Moonflow riverbanks are lovers’ favorite dating spot. [ Frosty the Flan Pallido, Boko the Chocobo, Venom the Gucumatz ]

-- So many Tales from children, it kinda gives off a very sad vibe considering they too can turn and not reach the Farplane. Many are attacked by monsters, some lost in the desert, way too many others have drowned by the Moonflow when left unsupervised. One Tale tells even of a young thief, a child, who died in jail. Being Spiran kids seems dangerous. [ Lesser Josh, Squelch the Amorphous Gel, Scooter the Vespa, Nexus the Dark Elemental, Widow the Black Elemental ]

-- The Tales narrate of children’s stories and legends. To make their children behave, tell them to stay put and be good, else ‘they will turn into fiends’: the more they misbehave, the uglier their monster form will look. Another old legend says spirits of people who died a violent death make their way to the Moonflow to bloom with the moonlilies. I found this last one is very similar to the old bedtime story in the FFX novel, where Old Spirans believed the souls of the dead bloomed as flowers in the Farplane. With the advent of Sin, though, and the spread of religion, this tale was forgotten. [ Petal the Ochu, Cyanide the Assassin Bee ]

-- The Temple of Macalania is sinking, as Shiva’s Fayth is no more and there is nothing to freeze the lake now. Many people remained trapped in their rooms inside and died during the sinking, like some wives and children of Macalania priests, for example. The few survivors performed their funeral . [ Mayo the White Elemental ]

-- Apparently, people living near Gagazet have a rite of passage for adulthood, which takes place as a boy reaches 20 years of age. He must climb the peak of the mountain alone in the dead of the night and bathe in the first morning lights. Needless to say, it’s quite dangerous, but the Tale is pretty funny. [ Wuff the White Fang ]

-- The excessive usage of machina, by the time of FFX-2, is starting to pollute the water and air. It is said fish and birds are starting to suffer because of it. [ Daisy the Haize ]

-- The punishment for murder, in Spira, is execution. Hissss the Kukulkan was sentenced to death, mistaken for the killer when he was a mere witness of said murder. He spent one year in the cell of Bevelle -- most likely Via Purifico ones (all monsters in Via Purifico are people who were executed nearby -- aside from Omega who was taken to the ruins), to then being sent to the gallow.

-- Malboros have very long lifespans. Their average one is about 300 years, and a legend says the insides of a Malboro over 500 years old are linked to the divine. There’s a legend of a monk who was swallowed by a 700-years-old Malboro, survived the digestive fluids and returned to his people with his battle garb still on. [ Vape Nation the Malboro ]

-- In Luca, if the Goers win Blitzball matches, pubs and bars offer everyone free drinks. In Kilika, instead, barmaids also dance, which is seen as quite the spectacle. Men usually flock to those bars to drink and also bring gifts to the most beautiful dancers, even ending up in fights for their attention. [ Jub Jub the Archaeothyris, Venom the Gucumatz ]

-- Religious Spirans believe in reincarnation. Yuna mentions it in the Ultimania too, referring to her father, and theorizing if, one day, she’ll ever have the chance to meet his soul again, born anew somewhere in Spira. It kinda goes against the principle of souls dwelling in the Farplane, but it’s useful to remember those are mere illusions anyway. A tale says that ‘when looking into the water of an oasis after a sandstorm, you can see yourself in a past life’. [ Venom the Gucumatz ]

-- Footage of Zaon becoming a Fayth exist, and are stored inside long-gone and deactivated machina still found near Zanarkand Ruins, which once served to protect the couple during the Machina War. One of these footages shows Zaon embracing Yunalesca, and her promising him her love and to return safely. [ Punt the YAU71 ]

-- Music seems important in Spira. Yevon Maesters hire musicians, since the most popular music seems to be Yevonite one -- religious, solemn type, played with harps, horns and strings. There seems to be an annual Yevonite concert for the Maesters too. Still, Spira’s most rebellious teens have started rejecting such old-fashioned music and guitars are spreading among youth nowadays. [ Casper the Lich ]

-- At some point in Braska’s pilgrimage, the trio arrived in Bikanel and got separated. A Cactuar and Jecht met at the oasis; the man taught the friendly fiend how to play Blitzball and signed its ball. “ A guy with a huge sword wandered into the oasis. He had strayed from his traveling mates, and he stayed with me for three days. He taught me how to blitz! We didn’t speak the same language but I had fun. I’m clumsy, so it takes a lot of practice to get better. He used to say ‘The only thing the untalented can do is practice!’ with a big laugh. [...] I heard a rumor that said he was dead, but it’s just a rumor, right? ” [ Needler the Cactuar ]

-- A Besaid Festival exists, and it includes a fireworks moment. While Luca has a Eating Contest, where the competitors have to eat 200 crispy-outside, juicy inside Luca sandwiches. The local champion was poisoned before the contest started. [ Akao the Sahagin Prince, Mr Creosote the Anything Eater ]

#meta tag.#[ i left out the most stupid and absurd like.... belgemine's bootleg noah's ark ]#[ or just people who turned into fiends bc they were stupid ]#[ or worse ]#[ as well as shinra being whatever that is ]

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elisajdb · 4 years

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BadaGine Week 2020: Day One

The Life We Share @bardineweek

Day One: Life on Earth

“How much is it?”

“Three thousand.”

“Three thousand?” Mr. Anaheim whistled. “That’s a lot. How about Twenty-Five hundred?”

No deal. Bardock glanced over at the three huge crates beside him. “I’m giving you a lot. Gine was kind enough to cut the meat in portion sizes which makes it easier for you to sell. Plus, you resell at a higher price. Three thousand or I go higher and to your rival.”

Mr. Anaheim admired Bardock’s shrewd business mind. If Bardock went to his rival, he’ll lose a lot of profit. Half of his sells were due to his partnership with Bardock. His rival tried to persuade Bardock to sell to him but Bardock refused. He had loyalty to Mr. Anaheim. He was the first to buy from him when no one else would. It was very strange that this tall, hard looking muscle man came out of nowhere wanting to sell fish and dinosaurs he caught on Mount Paouz.

Mr. Anaheim asked around but no one knew anything about Bardock or his wife except the old hermit Son Gohan. He was a legend who created a name for himself as a martial artist. It was his reputation that allowed Mr. Anaheim to take a chance on Bardock. Bardock was definitely rough around the edges and inexperienced in business but he learned quick and two formed a good partnership. Bardock was still a mystery to Mr. Anaheim but he made him money and that was more important to him than Bardock and his family’s personal life.

“You drive a hard bargain, Bardock, but deal.” Mr. Anaheim signaled his workers to step forward. Three men took two trips to pick up three heavy iced crates of fish and dinosaur meat Bardock carried in the shop. The three men weren’t skinny. They were strong but in comparison to Bardock, were very weak.

As Mr. Anaheim counted Bardock’s pay, he asked, “How’s that wife of yours?”

“Gine is good. Resting.”

Mr. Anaheim raised a knowing eyebrow. He understood why Bardock’s wife was resting. “How much longer?”

“Another two months.”

Mr. Anaheim placed Bardock’s money in a thick envelope. “Get as much sleep as you can. Once they are born, you’re never getting it again.”

Bardock agreed as he took the money. “I know that from the other one. He’s a fireball of energy.”

Just as Bardock turned to leave, Mr. Anaheim called out to him. “Bardock.” He handed him a flyer. “I think you should try this.” As Bardock read the sheet, Mr. Anaheim explained, “You’re strong. I think you can go all the way. It’ll be good money for your family, especially with another one on the way.”

Bardock returned the paper to Mr. Anaheim. “Maybe, but it’s not my thing.”

“Talk to Gine,” Mr. Anaheim insisted. “Maybe she will convince you.”

****

“It’s a girl this time. I’m sure of it.”

Gine sipped her lemonade on the patio in her front yard. It would be nice. She’ll have an ally among her with all these men if it were true. Gine was an idealistic and hopeful woman but she was also a realist, especially now in her new life. Still, Gine humored the kind old man with a, “You think so, Gohan? I would like a girl this time but Bardock will want another son.”

Bardock’s son happily ran in the yard chasing his pet dinosaur. The dinosaur was three times the child’s size but the child didn’t fear it. He loved it, especially when the dinosaur carried him on his back and flew him around. The child was brave and reckless, playing with anything he touch. A year ago, he and Bardock came upon the baby dinosaur alone. Bardock couldn’t find the dinosaur’s parents and his son refused to leave the baby alone. His son decided to take the pet home and once Gine learned the dinosaur was an orphan the matter was settled. They were keeping it against Bardock’s wishes.

The child stopped chasing his pet when he heard the familiar roars of an air truck approaching. He knew that sound. Daddy’s coming home.

“Papa! Papa!” The little boy waved at the approaching vehicle.

As soon as Bardock stepped out of his truck, he felt the tiny arms of his son wrap around his long leg. Bardock picked up the child. “Hello, Kakarrot. Having fun today?”

Gine pushed herself on her foot as Bardock approached her. “Gine,” he greeted his wife with a kiss. Holding Kakarrot on his hip, he touched Gine’s round belly. “How’s the baby?”

“Kicked a lot earlier but she’s fine.”

“She?” A daughter would be nice but Bardock wanted a son. “You don’t know that. It might be a boy.”

“Well, Gohan said it’s a girl. He might be right.”

Bardock half rolled his eyes. He respected Gohan. Gohan welcomed him, Gine and Kakarrot to Earth after they crashed on Mount Paouz. He taught them about life on Earth and advised Bardock how his family can live but old hermit had some quirky ideas at times. “I rather wait until the child’s birth. Speculating the child’s sex is a waste of time.”

Gohan chuckled as he poured himself another glass of lemonade. “Loosen up, Bardock. It’s fun speculating.”

Knowing the two will get in a friendly argument over Bardock’s need to loosen up, Gine changed the subject. “How did the sale go?”

“Good.” Bardock pulled out the envelop Mr. Anaheim gave him and placed it on the table. “I wanna take this money and buy more equipment. West City might have what I need.”

“It should,” Gohan sipped his glass of sweet juice. “West City is one of the most scientifically advanced cities in the world. Dr. Briefs, inventor of the capsules, lives there.”

Gine noticed a folded piece of paper with the envelope of money. She opened and read the letter. “What’s this, Bardock?”

Bardock drunk from Gine’s glass. “Something Mr. Anaheim gave me. He thought I should participate.”

“Ten….ka… chi Budo…kai?” Gine read the words carefully like one read something new in a different language. “What is that?”

“Tenkachi Budokai?” Gohan’s eyes glazed over in nostalgia. He didn’t realize that time has come again. “Ah. The Strongest under the Heavens.”

“Strongest?” Bardock inquired curiously.

“It’s a tournament,” Gohan explained aware of Bardock’s renewed interest. “All the strongest martial fighters around the world compete in this tournament. There’s no killing allowed. It’s all in good fun and the winner is declared the strongest in the world. They also get 500,000 zeni.”

“500,000?” Gine gasped. “That’s a lot of money. Bardock, you should compete. We can use that money.”

“Anaheim said the same thing.” It was tempting. Bardock hadn’t a good fight since he landed on Earth. Gohan was a fair partner but nowhere near his equal. Still, the old man had tricks. He had an ability called the Kamehameha Wave. Bardock saw it once and as much as he asked, Gohan hadn’t taught him how to perform that trick. “But I can’t. We’re on Earth in hiding for a reason, Gine. We don’t want to bring attention to ourselves.”

Gine waved off Bardock’s worry. “We’ve been here for two years. No one’s come looking for us.”

“And they won’t as long as we stay hidden.”

“I understand your concerns, Bardock.” Gohan knew Bardock and Gine’s story. “But from what you told me, Earth is a backwater planet compared to the planets you plundered. They wouldn’t be looking for two adult Saiyans here. They’ll be looking for a child.” Gohan eyed Kakarrot as he reached for the envelope and flyer on the table. The child’s curiosity could not be squelch. “Someone like Kakarrot.”

It was as if a bomb was dropped on them. Gine became sullen and Bardock grimaced. The only sounds were of Kakarrot’s nonsensical babbling. Bardock put Kakarrot in a chair and walked off. Gohan wanted to shoot himself with a Kamehameha Wave. He didn’t mean it like that. “I’m sorry,” he apologized. “I was only saying….”

“We know, Gohan.” Gine placed a kind hand on Gohan’s weathered hands. “We know you meant no harm by your words.” She looked at Bardock standing alone. She felt her own heart breaking in pain. “Could you watch Kakarrot while I talk to Bardock?”

“Of course,” Gohan promised.

Gine carefully waddled to Bardock. On Planet Vegetasai, women didn’t carry their babies in their bodies as Earth women. They were extracted from their bodies and grown in an incubator until they were ready. Being the first Saiyan women in generations to carry a baby like an Earth woman made Gine very nervous. She read all the books Gohan provided her but the birth slightly terrified her. Gohan insisted they will need a midwife to aide them but Bardock was very protective of Gine and against the idea of a midwife. There was something in the child’s birth that would bring attention to them not being from Earth and Bardock wasn’t ready for the world to know their secret.

Bardock stood on the edge of the yard. He wore a frown on his handsome face as he stared at the sky. With Gohan, he learned the use of Ki and could feel Gine approaching him. This new trick Gohan taught him was useful to warn him of a possible enemy but very comforting when he knew Gine was coming to him.

“Are you okay?”

“Sometimes I wonder what planet he’s on; what’s he doing; how I couldn’t save him.”

Gine leaned on Bardock. Her hand rubbed her stomach as she gazed at the sky with her husband. “There was nothing you could do. Raditz was taken from us like all Saiyan babies when they’re measured for their power level. You didn’t know what planet he was one when we left. It was impossible to save him.” Gine was crushed they couldn’t rescue Raditz but as always, Gine saw hope with every bad news. “You save Kakarrot and our new baby growing in me.”

Gine said the right words but it didn’t ease Bardock. “I have this premonition Raditz will come here one day. He’ll be a cold, evil warrior dedicated to Freeza’s regime. He finds us, sees the life Kakarrot and our child has; sees how different it’s from the harsh life forced on him and explode in a rage of fury that won’t be satisfied until we are all dead.”

“I refuse to believe that. No matter what, Raditz is our child. No matter what anger or darkness that’s in him, we’ll push through that and get our child back. I know we can do it.”

Leave it to Gine to look at things with a spark of hope. “You and your optimism.”

Gine saw her optimism as a strength. She believed she, her husband and child can build a life here. Earth was more than what she hoped for. “So, will you enter the Tenkaichi Budokai? That money can help you buy the supplies you need.”

The money would help. Since establishing their life on Earth, Bardock used what was savaged from his and Gine’s pods and built a satellite room to monitor everything from space. He could only monitor this solar system. He needed money to buy material to make equipment that can reach outside to other galaxies.

“I don’t know. We’re here to hide, Gine. If I enter, I will win and my name will be in the news.”

“On Earth,” Gine reminded him. “Not space. The people here don’t even believe life exists on other planets. It’s arrogant but we can use that to our advantage. No one thinks we’re aliens.”

“They will if our tails are ever spotted. Damn Earthling clothes.” The jeans Bardock wore were more constricting than the Saiyan armor he used to wear. “I don’t think I will ever get use to this.”

“I like the clothes here.” Gine caressed the soft material of her summer dress. It was loose and flowing. Perfect for a woman in her condition. “When we went to South City, they had beautiful clothes in their shops. We can use some of the money from the tournament to buy clothes. Kakarrot will need some, too. He’s growing so much and there’s the baby….”

Bardock chuckled. “Okay. Okay. You made your point but we’ll lose some of the anonymity. If I become famous by that tournament, there might be questions about us. This world is very nosy about the lives of famous people. If someone becomes too curious….”

“I think we’ll be fine. Maybe this tournament is a sign we need to start integrating more with the people on this planet.” Gine looked over at Gohan and Kakarrot. Her son was playfully being chased by the kind, old man. “Kakarrot is getting older. He’s ‘preschool’ age as Gohan says. Maybe we should consider integrating him in school; build more allies; let some people know who we are.”

“What people? Like Anaheim?”

“Maybe not him but what about that friend Gohan has? Gyumao. He has a daughter our son’s age. In the last letter to Gohan, he mentioned his daughter being a spitfire. Maybe we can arrange for the two to meet and be friends. Kakarrot should have friends and not just be around us all the time.”

“What about you?” Bardock inquired. This wasn’t only about Kakarrot. “You keep bringing up the idea we need a midwife.”

“I do need one.”

“Gine…..” Bardock warned her.

Gine wouldn’t let this go. If it was only her health to be concerned with, she would agree with Bardock but there was a life inside her and Gine wanted to give it the best possible chance. She read the books on giving birth but she also wanted someone in room that knew what they were doing.

“We came here for a new life, Bardock. We escaped the one Freeza held over us. This world is so peaceful; so different from what we had. It’s time to stop hiding, live in it and take all it has to offer.”

The corner of his lips turned up in a smile. Leave to Gine to get through his stubbornness. She was right; knew it for weeks but didn’t want to admit it. “You should be a, what’s that word I read in that Earth book, ‘motivational speaker’?”

“I think that’s word.” Gine shrugged unsure herself. “Sounds like it.” Like her husband, Gine was still learning Earth terminology. “So….” Gine pursued carefully, “will you enter the Tenkaichi Budokai?”

Bardock considered Gine’s words. She made a lot of good points. The money will help them a lot. He can buy the equipment he needs to build a better monitoring system and listen to transmissions outside this galaxy. Earth would be the last place Freeza would come to. It had an abundance of resources and the power levels of the people were very weak but it was so far off from any other galaxies and universes with life. It wouldn’t be of interest to conquer a planet so far out. As Gohan said, if they wanted, they would send a Saiyan baby before they sent an adult and all the Saiyans were gone except a handful.

It meant Gine, Kakarrot and their new child can live a peaceful life here. It didn’t curb the nasty premonition Bardock had of Raditz returning as an adult; fighting his younger brother and wanting to kill him. If it came to that, Bardock was ready to fight his son but as Gine said, they couldn’t live in fear. That was definitely not the Saiyan way.

“All right, Gine. I’ll enter the tournament. Maybe… maybe we’ll find a midwife.”

“I’m sure there are plenty at Gyumao’s village.” She clapped her hands as an idea popped in her mind. “Let’s invite Gyumao and his daughter here. We’ll introduce Kakarrot to Gyumao’s daughter.” The ideas for this meeting raced so fast in Gine’s mind not even Bardock could stop her. “We can do it this week. I can prepare a lovely, yummy meal. You can brush up on your fighting skills with Gyumao and Gohan. Gohan told me Gyumao received the same training he did from his teacher, Master Roshi.”

Bardock already knew what was going on in his wife’s mind. “If you’re trying to pair up our son with this Earthling child…..”

“I’m only saying Kakarrot needs a playmate.”

“I know what you’re doing.” Bardock was no fool. He knew what his wife had in mind with meeting Gyumao and his daughter. Gine used the television and books Gohan gave her to learn about Earth customs. She liked the idea of children playing together for fun, going to school and dating. She voiced more than once wanting that for their children.

Gine raised herself on her toes to place sweet kiss on Bardock’s lips. “And??”

Bardock laughed. He won’t win with her. He put his arm around Gine as they walked back to Gohan and Kakarrot. “All right. Set it up. If it’s safe, if we can trust Gyumao and if Kakarrot and his daughter get along, we’ll tell them about us. We’ll even get that midwife you want so bad.”

“Yay!” Gine squealed.

Bardock kissed the top of Gine’s head tenderly. “Like you said, we have a life on Earth now. It’s time we live in it.”

#BadaGineweek #BadaGine #Bardine #Bardock #Gine #Son Gohan Sr #kakarot #The Life We Share #Part One #dragon ball #fanfiction #bardineweek

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volzaannir · 4 years

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The 30 LDB questionnaire

So there was that 30 LDB questions ask meme floating around, and I decided to answer them all for the sake of character building and reference for myself skjfhksdjhf

Questionnaire below!

1. What is their background and backstory?

Signe was born in a small home in the Rift on the 9th of Evening Star, 4E 173, to Ragnar and Freyja, two Nords who abandoned their lives to be with each other and start a family. Ragnar (aka ‘Ragnar the Berserkir’) was an infamous mercenary in Skyrim, who would be hired through out the land and even some places beyond for his battle prowness and seemingly inability to fucking die. Freyja was an assassin for the Dark Brotherhood, an archer/mage type who was going to be chosen as the next Listener until she dropped all connections after meeting Ragnar.

She was raised a warrior and avid hunter by her father, and a novice mage and singer by her mother. Unfortunately, at the age of 6, a fire engulfed her home one night after sneaking out to climb trees. It killed both her parents and left a nasty scar on her face after some debris sliced it while trying to free the two. Signe was taken to Honorhall, where she was bullied most of the time by other kids and of course Grelod, some accusing her of starting the fire - even though she swears it was a dragon that had started it. They say grief can make a child believe many things.

At age 17, with only a few more months to go before getting kicked out of the orphanage, she encounters Brynjolf. He’s a few years older than her, and is on his own mission to prove that he’s a valuable asset to the Guild at such an age. She assists him in his little heist, and runs away to join the Guild.

At age 28, after a small mistake during a heist near the border to Cyrodiil, she attempts to cross the border to escape being caught. Of course this doesn’t work, and thus brings us to the events of the game!

2. What “class” do they follow (i.e. warrior, archer, mage, thief, etc.)?

She’s a warrior, archer, and thief!

3. How do they feel about being Dragonborn- does the identity feel right for them and did they embrace it immediately? Do they consider themselves a true dragon?

At first, Signe took to it slowly, still rattled from the suddenness of it all. First Helgen, then needing to tell the Jarl, then fighting a dragon and absorbing its soul, then being yelled at by four old men at the top of a mountain, and being thrown into quests here and there for so many reasons. She takes to it easily and enjoys the bouts of praise here and there during the events of Dawnguard, but it’s not until after defeating Alduin that she realized how much of a toll it takes on her mentally. While the authority is nice, she’s still too humble to go about bragging about it to those who don’t know her off the bat. She wished she could have earned her reputation like her father, rather than becoming a legend overnight.

4. At present, how are they perceived by the people of Skyrim? By the general population, and by different factions?

By the general public, she’s of course seen as a hero, but a hero that causes a little too much damage for what’s needed. Not to mention she’s chaotic, loud, disrespectful, sleeps around, and takes no shit. But they know she’s necessary.

She’s a constant contract by the Dark Brotherhood and Morag Tong, competition to fractions like the Comonna Tong and Summerset Shadows, and always pressured into joining the Companions. (She would, but they don’t offer a big enough thrill for her- not to mention the whole werewolf thing)

5. How were they perceived before their Dragonborn identity became widely known?

She was a Thieves Guild member and Nightingale, so within the ranks she was looked up to and respected. Outside of the ratways, though, she was just any other Nord citizen; only few knew of her amorous adventures though, as she makes sure it’s kept under wraps.

6. How are they perceived by the major villains- Alduin, Harkon, Miraak, etc.?

Alduin: He sees her as he sees the LDB in game; an obstacle and threat he needs to eradicate.

Harkon: An asset that immediately turns into a threat when she refuses to help them.

Miraak: Similar to Alduin, but grows more and more frustrated with how skilled she is in her young, young age.

7. How much do they utilize the power of Thu'um? Do they actively try to expand their inborn abilities through research and exploration? Or are they less invested?

Signe uses Aura Whisper like how we need to breathe to live. She uses it to see where she should either avoid or take caution of, as well as alert her followers where enemies may be! It helps for when she’s looting too, as she need to plan how to knock them out first. Signe doesn’t like to kill innocent folk. As for others, she uses Unrelenting Force mainly when she’s annoyed by something in her way, Dragon Aspect when the enemy is insanely powerful, and Storm Call when she needs a distraction! The Thu’um is useful, but she’s not heavily invested in it, until way later on in her journey after the events of Dragonborn.

8. If they were to invent a shout, what shout would they create? Bonus if you can come up with the words of the shout in dragon language.

It works similar or such to Dragon Aspect, but could like, literally turn you into a dragon for a short time. I thought since the DB has the blood and soul of a dragon, then with some effort surely they can call forth their soul to turn their flesh to match, right?

It would be a Shout containing some from of these words: Ofan (Bestow), Dov (Dragon), Slen (Flesh), Sil (Soul), Rii (Essence), Gron (Bind); I haven’t found an order that really ‘rings’ yet.

Otherwise, it would be the name given to their dragon soul, like how you call to Odahviing. In Signe’s case, it would be ‘Volzaannir’: Vol (Horror), Zaan (Shout [as in yell, shriek, etc.]), and Nir (Hunt). All three words are reference to a barn owl, which is her pet/familiar, since they’re known for their horrific shrieking and astounding hunting skills.

9. Whether they are magical or not- if they were to invent a spell for their own uses, that does not already exist in Skyrim, what kind of spell would they come up with?

Conjure dragon familiar! A spectral dragon will appear to fight for you for 90 - 300 seconds.

10. Which factions are they aligned with? Including civil war sides, Thalmor, guilds etc.

Thieves Guild, Dawnguard (not active), and TECHNICALLY the Imperials even though she considers herself a neutral force who just wants this shit to end.

11. If they had a pet or magical familiar as in ESO (excluding the dogs in Skyrim) what creature would it be?

She actually already has one! It’s a barn owl named Hyl (Danish for ‘shriek’).

12. Which standing stone have they used for the longest and why?

Thief stone, since it levels up sneak and such easily.

13. Dungeon delving- are they a fan? Do they do it for fun, or money, or just because of circumstance? Do they prefer Dwemer or Nordic ruins?

Signe did it in the past for the loot, and still kinda does, though after becoming Dragonborn it’s kinda become her daily tasks lmao. She’s more familiar with Nordic ruins, but Dwemer ruins are unique and fun to explore.

14. What is their personal favorite place in Skyrim- a town, hold, home, dungeon, or just a natural spot they happen to have a fondness for?

One is an area just above the Twilight Sepulcher, where you go to defeat the Guardian Bear in Kyne’s Sacred Trials; there’s a fairy ring and a shrine to Akatosh here, as well as a beautiful view!

Another one is where I also envision her old home being, before it was burnt down, as there are remains of a possible building there. It’s a little Northeast of Ivarstead, on top of a hill where you would meet a Whispmother.

15. What is their personal LEAST favorite place in Skyrim- somewhere that annoys them, or comes with bad memories, or otherwise?

Windhelm. It’s a beautiful city, of course, but the PEOPLE…. They’re just so awful and rude (Not including the Grey Quarter). Every time she’s there she always finds herself getting into a fistfight with some racist Nord asshole.

16. Where did they choose to live and what drew them there? Does it really feel like home?

She chooses to settle in Lakeview Manor, as it’s close to Riverwood - one of the only places Teldryn finds habitable, and she can agree. Although, she always finds herself missing the beautiful golden and red birch of the Rift. If she could have one of the homes from ESO in the Rift, she’d absolutely choose one of those.

17. What’s their style- do they tend to wear armor and if so, what sort? Otherwise what’s their average day-to-day clothing?

Signe’s armor is an alteration of Nordic carved steel mixed with dragon scales/bones, and has a variety of rune engravings and patterns befitting a walking prophecy. Before being Dragonborn, she normally wore the usual Thieves Guild attire, or her Nightingale uniform. Her day to day wear is typically a comfy fitting tunic and pants with well worn boots, and her sleepwear is similar to a miner shirt, but longer and only the shirt.

18. Your Dragonborn is now an actual dragon- what do they look like? Do they possess any unique features or abilities?

OHHH YES I WAS HOPING FOR THIS KIND OF QUESTION.

Signe actually has a dragon form! But she doesn’t harness it till way later in the game, after all the main quests. Her Dragon Aspect form reflects some of it, however.

Her dragon form is called Volzaannir [see question 8 for details], and she’s what I would call a Crested Dragon; a dragon that is partially feathers, the end of their muzzle is beaked, and is a tad thinner to allow more fluid aerodynamics. She utilizes shouts that call upon more natural forces, or invoke fear/frenzy, or conjure a variety of types of thralls. (Storm Call is a common one, Animal Allegiance, Cyclone, Dismay, Drain Vitality, Marked for Death, Soul Tear, and sometimes Frost Breath if fighting head-on).

19. Which NPC have they killed and regretted it?

Signe doesn’t like to kill, at all. It stems far before she even joined the Thieve’s Guild, and was thankful that they valued that rule as well. But, just because she doesn’t like to, doesn’t mean she won’t; she has to survive after all, and that means killing when justified.

She hasn’t regretted any of her intentional kills; however, she does mourn the loss of lives when they have become collateral damage. After a dragon attack, or rescuing travelers being attacked by bears, anything like that, there’s always lives she could not save in the pursuit of rescue. She often times feels survivors guilt - terribly so after Helgen, especially.

20. Which NPC have they killed and absolutely NOT regretted it (excluding the major villains)?

Ulfric and Mercer Frey.

Mercer was the first person she ever intentionally killed, driven near mad at the hurt from his betrayal. She squeezed his throat and held him under the water of Irkngthand, effectively drowning him slowly, eyes locked on his water-distorted face. The pure bloodlust she felt frightened her afterward, leaving her shaken and vowing to keep whatever that was under check.

She did not personally kill Ulfric, but she was the one who decided his fate in the end. When the Civil War is won, she summons Ulfric to death by Blood Eagle, and remains face-to-face with him until he dies - making sure her disappointment is the last thing he ever sees.

21. Do they worship any of the Divines, and if so, which do they have the strongest affinity for?

Kyne and Akatosh! (Or any name they go by in each culture). She mainly worships Kyne, feeling the strongest connection to her through culture, history, and soul.

22. Which Daedric Prince(s) do they end up most aligned to, if any? Which artifacts do they own and which do they actively make use of?

She aligns to Nocturnal majorly, thanks to being a Nightingale, and finds her to be surprisingly well-tempered and benevolent sometimes. Signe also finds herself more familiar with Azura, thanks to traveling with Teldryn most of the time - but she holds no judgement, and encourages worship if it brings others comfort or clearance.

While Nocturnal’s artifact, the Skeleton Key, is in its rightful place, she still holds the powers of Nocturnal’s Agents; typically switching between the Agent of Shadow and Subterfuge.

23. Which non-Daedric artifacts/magical items do they make regular use of?

A Stahlrim bow, dragonbone arrows, dragonbone swords (dual wield, one has electrical damage and the other traps souls), and two Stahlrim daggers affectionately named Frostbite (frost damage) and Freezer Burn (fire damage).

24. How did they respond to Miraak and what do they feel about him? Do they regret killing him? Did they spare him?

She saw Miraak as a threat at first, obviously, but there is of course that melancholy feeling of wishing he wasn’t so power-obsessed… He is the only other Dragonborn she (or anyone, in the 4th Era) has ever met, and he could have helped her in her quests, in defeating Alduin, in teaching her how to live with these powers and their consequences - being a mentor. Signe had planned on sparing him, attempting to convince him to escape Apocrypha with her, to live a new life on Nirn… But in battle, when his mask falls off, she finally gets a solid glimpse at his soul through his eyes, and realizes his mind is too far gone to save. Too tortured, too desperate, too power-hungry. Death is the kindest thing she could give him, while still keeping Nirn safe.

25. Which of the Dragon Priest masks do they favor and wear the most? If the answer is Konahrik, pick the second favorite too.

Signe doesn’t wear the masks, as she feels there’s too much evil floating around in them, no matter how fuckin’ cool they look. She’s not against the Dragon Priests themselves, just that the history and power held within the specific masks makes her anxious and uncomfortable. If she were to create her own (and she does), then she would wear it.

26. Which follower(s) would they never go anywhere without? On a personal level, what is their relationship with the follower(s) in question like and why do they stick with them?

TELDRYN. SERO. He’s her partner in crime, the only one brave enough to be her damage control, and who's always been at her side at the worst of times… and still willingly chooses to be. Signe met him when she was delivering a letter to Glover from Delvin (well before the main quest, but after Dawnguard), and decided to rest a bit in the Retching Netch overnight before heading back to Skyrim. His stupid charm and humor was enough to convince her to let him tag along, and she’ll never regret it.

Not only does she find out later on that he used to be good - if not best - friends with her father, the two of them being infamous mercenaries for hire in their respective countries. They slowly fall in love, cliche I know, but trust me - after the shit they’ve been through and bond over, how could they not?

27. If your Dragonborn were an in-game boss fight, what would their lair be like? What enemies would help them in the fight (if any) and what quest might lead to another hero having to fight them?

Ohhhohohoo boy, this one’s a fun one.

First off, her lair would be similar to ruins like Skuldafn, or the Blades headquarters, somewhere difficult to get to and holding this ancient aesthetic to it. Either that, or her very own plane of Oblivion, a pocket containing a strange mix of both Apocrypha, the Evergloom, and the Quagmire. A place of knowledge and wisdom and history that still holds unimaginable terror and secrets and madness.

What could lead to battling her perhaps is due to how she devotes her life after the events of Skyrim; seeking to bring forth her dragon blood and soul forth to not only give her a dragon form, but extend her life as well, as she has an underlying fear of death. If she cannot go to Sovngarde and be with her parents due to her soul being promised to Daedric Princes, then the afterlife is not something she looks forward to. However, she did not anticipate the toll an extended life would take on her human mind. Perhaps Teldryn and Ondolemar passed away somehow and she can’t bring herself to take another lover, she can’t make friends because she knows she’ll see them die too, and dragon companions to not hold the same kind of compassion or humor or affection her fellow mortals could.

She becomes reckless, often times falling into episodes of paranoia and madness, and people have noticed. Some worship her like the Dragon Priests in ancient times, but the others fear what she may be capable of. Signe may have holed herself away in that lair of hers, but the public still fears her power, and knows she was not meant to live as long as she has. Soldiers and mages and wizards and heroes alike are sent to grant her death, but are never successful, as her insanity and fear has brought her to sending dragons of all kinds after anyone who dares try and approach her with malice-intent. If your aura holds no hostility, however, you could be lucky and hold a conversation with a possible demi-god such as her; beware, as her dragons watch over your every move from the stone arcs and towers above.

She is the Last Dragonborn, and you WILL show her respect, even if it means getting on your knees and praying to her as if she were a god. And perhaps she is.

28. What are their greatest assets, both in terms of in-game skills and otherwise? What gave them the upper hand that allowed them to defeat Alduin?

Archery, dual-wielding, sneak, lock-picking, pick-pocketing, charisma/speech, and smithing have been the most helpful throughout her life thus far. As for defeating Alduin and Miraak and Harkon, though, it would have to be her resilience and determination to protect the life amongst Nirn. Without such personal strength and wit, she would have given up for sure.

29. What do they do post-Skyrim, once all the main quests are finished? What happens to them in the aftermath?

It’s tough for Signe to come to terms with the thought that technically, everything is over. The journey’s have made her an adrenaline junky, they’ve brought new nightmares, and there are fractions up the wazoo who still want her dead despite doing nothing to harm them. The Black Books and Herma Mora haunting her have caused her to act relatively ‘insane’ at some points; she’s gained too much of a reputation as a hero to really return to her Nightingale days; and being a mercenary isn't up her alley.

Her overall dream in life was to just settle in a cottage somewhere in the Rift and carve wood and bones for a living, take up smithing and open an armor and weapons shop called “Helm of Awe”. But of course after having her life altered so intensely in such a short time, it’s taken its toll on her, and left her too restless to fully settle down.

So, she takes her band of Merry Mer (Teldryn and Ondolemar lmao) and they travel all over, looting burrows and taking high-risk jobs.

She also takes up researching and meditating on Words of Power, aiming to create a Shout that allows her to harness the entirety of her dragon soul - all the way to flesh. Signe also looks into ways to bring her dragon blood and soul more forward, less buried in her spirit, to lengthen her life more; purely for the sake of her Mer lovers, though there’s an underlying fear there too. [See question 27]

30. Are they proud of themselves? Do they see themselves as a hero?

She is proud, deep down, because she knows in the end it’s for the betterment and safety of the world. A hero? Absolutely. Signe may be humble in the present about her position, but not even the kindest person on Nirn could pass up the chance to brag about saving the world thrice over.

VERY IMPORTANT BONUS QUESTION: In their opinion, who is the best dog in all Skyrim?

MEEKO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#tes #skyrim #tesv #The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim #signe tag #i love her a lot ok!!!!!!!

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what-goesaround-comesaround · 4 years

Text

Nighttime Stories at The Lodging House

There was a war of nature raging outside. No one wanted to be there. But Jack Kelly had an idea.

Found here on ao3!

Tw - animal death

"What are we meant to do now?"

Jack turned his head away from the window, where he was watching the storm getting heavier and heavier. Sleet, rain, thunder and lightning, the works.

All of the newsies, young and old were stuck together inside with the war raging outside. It wasn't normal to have every newsies together at once, hell the last time that happened it was probably the rally at Medda's. But now every selling newsie in Manhattan had congregated into the one small, rundown lodging house.

They all knew about the weather sure, it was the morning headline. Kloppman had spent the day gathering supplies and fixing up holes just in case. But no one had anticipated how bad it would turn. David and Les were stuck with them, not having enough time to run home. They had barely made it through the front door, Les in tears thinking it was the end of days. They had no way to make it home now and no way to tell their family they were okay.

Jack looked around to see many of the younger newsies bleary eyed and fearful. A look of heavy concern fell on the older newsies. If they couldn't make today's money how could they pay for tomorrow's papers? What about rent, clothes, even food?

David was muttering to Les in rapid fire Polish from what Jack could make out. Skittery was holding Tumbler's hand, letting him curl up beside him every time a strike of thunder clattered outside. Even Race had let Snipeshooter borrow his cigar to chew on. But no lighting. God help them if they had a fire on top of a storm to deal with.

All of their kids were accounted for, and more. Even the kids who'd sleep on the statue were inside. That's when it struck Jack- he hoped Spot's kids were safe. Brooklyn was bigger and by the water. No matter how big them Brooklyn boys were, nothing could stop mother nature.

"Jack? Jack!?" Crutchy began shaking Jack's shoulder lightly.

"Jacky you there?"

"Yeah, where else would I be?" Jack said, rubbing his eyes. Jack wasn't a fan of the rain. Much rather be somewhere warmer, with lots of air and-

"Jack? You gotta stay with us." Jack turned to Crutchy standing next to him, biting his lip. Whether he was scared like the rest of them or the pain from his leg was too much, Jack wasn't quite sure. Cold weather wasn't much good for anyone, especially Crutchy.

"What should we do now Jack?"

Jack wasn't exactly sure who asked that question but he knew he had to say something. Either that or let everyone cry themselves to sleep and they didn't need more water leaking into the place.

"Lads we can't be crying over some rain!" Jack forced a cheerful voice, turning to face the rest of the kids.

"We're newsies! Manhattan newsies! And newsies don't back down!"

There were some light murmurs in agreement. Alright, he was getting somewhere.

"And what do newsies do best?"

A few shouted back "Sell! Make the headline good! Bet! Strike! Shoot marbles!"

Okay that last one was definitely Boots.

"Yes, all true. But what about sticking together? Defending each other? Ain't no one as good as us newsies at being loyal. No matter what!"

More people began nodding. Good. Jack had an idea what to ask next.

"Have I ever told yous the story of the great Setanta?" Jack announced to the room.

Many of the boys began shaking their heads, making Jack grin.

"Well would yous like to hear it? Or is it too good of a story to tell?"

"Who was he?" Les jumped up from David's lap, excitement ringing in his voice.

"Only the greatest warrior in the whole of Ireland ever! But maybe if you guys would rather talk about something else-"

Many of the boys began to clamour to hear more.

"Go on Jack! Tell us about this Setanta guy!"

"This ain't one of your make believe Irish baby stories is it Jack?" Kid Blink pressed, smiling while nudging Jack.

"Far from it Blink! Setanta is only one of the most fearless heroes of all time! Almost offended you'd say that!" Jack said in a mocking tone while grinning back.

The boys started to shout Jack's praises until Blink said "Okay! Just make it a good one Cowboy." winked and sat down next to Mush.

"Well okay- but you all need to be sitting down for this." Jack pulled over a chair and sat, indicating for the others to do the same.

A few of the younger newsies sat front and center for Jack, besides from Tumbler who opted to stay right by Skittery. Soon all of the boys were either huddled on the floor or various chairs and beds, keeping close for warmth.

Jack shushed his audience and cleared his voice.

"A very long time ago, there lived a boy named Setanta. Now, when he was seven years old he was determined to become a member of the famous Red Branch Knights of Ulster. His dad, the King of Dundalk, had told him about the special school in Armagh, called the 'Macra' for the young boys who would one day join the brave warriors."

Whispers began to circle the room, many of the young boys telling each other how they were like Setanta.

"Now, Setanta pleaded with his parents to let him go there and join but they refused. They told him 'You are much too young Setanta. Wait a little longer and then and then we'll allow you to go'" Jack continued.

"That ain't fair!" Tumbler jumped up from Skittery's side declaring it to the room. Many of the boys agreed as Jack nodded his head.

"You're right Tumbler, and Setanta thought the same thing." Jack assured him.

"Setanta decided he couldn't wait any longer and so one day he set off for Armagh. It was a long journey but Setanta had his hurley and sliotar to play with. He hit the sliotar far ahead and ran forward to catch it on his hurley stick before it hit the ground."

"What's a hurley?" questioned Snipeshooter.

"Eh, kind of like a baseball you play low with." Race answered. A few of the boys turned to him, eyebrows raised.

"I heard about it from Spot! Don't shoot the messenger." Race shrugged and turned back to Jack, willing him to go on.

Race wouldn't admit it but he loved hearing these stories about his own culture that was so lost to him. His own dear mamma would never even mention his father's past life when she was around. If it wasn't for Spot he wouldn't even know what his surname meant. "Higgins" wasn't the most Italian surname after all.

Jack nodded and went on. "When Setanta reached the Castle of King Connor in Armagh he found a hundred and fifty boys of the Macra gathered in front of the castle. Some of them were playing hurling and since it was his favourite game he hurried over to join in. Almost immediately he scored a brilliant goal!"

"Good for him!" said Crutchy, joined with a murmuring of agreement from the rest of the kids.

"But the other boys were furious that this young boy had joined their game uninvited and they attacked him! Tried to soak him through!"

"That's not right!" Les cut in. "All he wanted to do was play!"

Several of the boys nodded their heads and some were shouting "Here here!"

"Ah but you see Les, how'd you feel if someone started selling on your turf without telling you?" Jack asked.

"But Jack, playing and working are two different things." Mush said, eyes wide open.

"Not to some of these boys." Jack replied in a dark tone. "Trust me, a game of hurling could be life or death. But! Setanta fought bravely. The noise disturbed the king who was playing chess."

"Huh, reminds me of someone…" David said softly.

"Oh believe me Davey, this king was a lot better than Pulitzer. Anyway, he sent a servant outside to see what was happening. Quickly, Setanta was brought before the king."

Jack repositioned himself, knelt on one leg and pretended to speak up to an imaginary king;

"I am Setanta, son of the King of Dundalk, your brother. I have come all this way to join the Macra because I want to become one of the Red Branch Knights as soon as I am old enough.

The king liked Setanta's brave words and welcomed him to the Macra. Time passed quickly for Setanta. He loved his new life at the Macra. Hey, reminds me of some of you boys when yous first got here." Jack gazed over the boys remembering the first time he met some of them. He snapped out of his short daydream and continued;

"One day, Culann, the blacksmith who made spears and swords for Connor invited the king, his Knights and Setanta to a feast. When it was time to set off for the feast, Setanta was playing a game of hurling. He told the King that he would follow as soon as the game was done. The feast began and Connor forgot to mention that Setanta would be joining the party later. Thinking all his guests had arrived, the blacksmith unchained his wolfhound which guarded his house each night."

"Uh oh" breathed Swifty.

"Uh oh is right." Jack agreed "Well you can guess what happened next."

"Doesn't involve them fair you were on about before?" asked Bumlets, eyebrow raised.

"I promise not every Irish legend involves the fae lads. Now, as soon as the game was over Setanta set out. When he arrived at Culann's House he heard the deep growls of the wolfhound."

Jack started to imitate the voice of a hound growling and seething.

"Suddenly the hound leapt forward out of the dark to attack! Setanta saw the sharp teeth barred. With all his strength Setanta hurled his sliotar down the hounds throat. Then he caught the animal by its hind legs and dashed it against a rock. With a loud groan the wolfhound fell down, dead. Inside, the feast party has heard the dog growling."

"No! Why did he have to kill him!?" Tumbler sniffed. Jack shook his head, regaining reality.

"Sorry Tumbler but that's just how it happened. Don't mean Setanta was a bad person, he just wanted to survive." said Jack.

Jack damn well knew how Setanta felt.

"You wouldn't have killed the dog, would you Jack?" asked Boots.

"Me? Course not! Why, me and the dog probably would've become best friends! Probably give me a ride on his back like them horses like to."

The boys began to laugh at the idea of Jack taking a ride on top of a dog like he did to the circus' horse.

Jack glanced over to David, willing him to not say anything about the time he got so spooked by a cat he fell down their fire escape. David looked back at him and winked.

"Alright!" Jack cleared his voice. He again put on an impression but this time, of a hysterical king.

"My nephew Setanta," Connor cried. "I forgot about him." He and the Red Branch Knights rushed out expecting to find the young boy torn to pieces. Connor was amazed and delighted to find his nephew alive and he was proud of his great strength." Culann was relieved that the boy was safe but he was sad that he'd lost the wolfhound he loved which had faithfully guarded his house every night.

"Let me take the place of your hound until I have trained one of its puppies." said Setanta. Culann agreed. From that day on Setanta was called Cú Chulainn which means the Hound of Culainn."

"So was his name Cú Chulainn or Setanta?" Snipeshooter asked.

"Well both, but he was known as Cú Chulainn after that night. Like how I'm Jack and Cowboy. But his name from that day on struck fear in all the hearts of his enemies!"

"This would be much better if I had a candle or something." Jack thought to himself.

"Hey, Cú Chulainn kind of sounds like Conlon." Crutchy noted to Jack.

"Yeah but could Spot Conlon defend Ulster single-handedly at seventeen against the armies of Queen Meab of Connacht?" said Jack.

"Change Ulster to Brooklyn then maybe he would." Boots muttered.

David let out his notorious hearty laugh, which in turn made everyone else laugh.

"Jack! Can you tell us about him fightin' Queen Meab?" Les asked through his giggles.

"Maybe one of these nights but now I gotta check something with Kloppman." Jack stood up to leave the room. A lot of the younger newsies and even some of the older newsies audibly groaned.

"Now lads, what if Race got us set up with some kind of card game huh?" Jack looked over to Race as he nodded back.

"No poker!" was the last thing Jack announced before leaving the room.

As he closed the door he could already hear Dutchy accusing Specs of looking at his cards and Blink telling him Specs doesn't have the eyesight for that.

"Like you can say anything!" with a crash and a bang, he could hear Itey shouting in Spanish and Skittery yelling "Tumbler get that OUT of your mouth!" continued with the lads laughing.

Jack smiled. He didn't really need to go talk to Kloppman but maybe he could help him border up some walls. Didn't like staying around other people after telling a story much. He liked reflecting on his stories, trying to be one of the characters and spending too much time daydreaming.

"Jack?" He could feel a light hand on his shoulder.

"Heya Davey." Jack didn't even need to look behind him, he knew that voice anywhere.

"You want help with Mr. Kloppman or anything?" David asked.

Jack shook his head "Nah, nah it's all good. Just wanted to see if he needed me to make a run for anything outside."

"Yeah and contract some kind of illness while out there in the wet." David said sarcastically.

Jack laughed. "You know me, always running."

David stared at Jack for a moment.

"I liked your story tonight. Was it real?" David asked.

"Probably more real than the time Cú Chulainn fell in love with a fairy who was being attacked by the sea and then this woman shook a cloak between them so he'd forget about her." Jack shrugged his shoulders.

"Uh, what?" David cocked his eyebrow as Jack laughed.

"That's not the worst of it, wait till you hear about the time a guy burned his thumb on a salmon and then knew everything."

"Jack Kelly you cannot be serious."

"Hey you're kind of our own salmon of knowledge huh Davey."

"Yeah, sure thing Cowboy."

"Watch yourself Mouth."

Jack stuck his hands in his pockets, hoping for some heat to radiate in. David smiled back at him.

"So, got any more stories to tell? Where'd you get them?" He said as he leaned over the staircases rickety banister.

Jack shook his head, "Nah, only on special nights like these. I can remember my Mam telling me all sorts of stories when I was younger, some weirder than that. Irish legends, they have a way of being remembered no matter what." With a sigh Jack continued,

"The younger boys like them and the older ones well, sometimes I think they like having an empty mind is all."

As if on cue another crackling thunder bolt hit outside.

"Probably won't be having an empty mind for long. Seems like we're gearing up for a rough Winter."

"Well." Jack took his hand out of his pocket and put it around David's shoulder.

"Can't get any worse."

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imnxtsorry · 3 years

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important notes: this is my about and my main verse, v. free woman, and because I am canon divergent I have to ask you to take the time to read at least the bolded parts of ‘before and during the trilogy’ and all of ‘after the trilogy’ so you know what to expect. I’m not happy with her canon finale, so I will not be writing her raising Will’s child as a single mother, and characters from following movies would have to interact with Elizabeth after a bit of plotting/changes in timeline, thank you. There are other verses all of you can check out at the bottom, to explore different aus/canon divergences/what ifs scenarios, knowing that everything can be changed/plotted so that your muse doesn’t feel goodmodded..

BEFORE AND DURING THE TRILOGY

Elizabeth's mother, Rose, was happy with her ordinary life as a lady, mother and wife. She was also curious, a day-dreamer, who encouraged Elizabeth to dream too, and to learn whatever her heart wished, as long as she would keep in mind that she’d have to follow society’s expectations when older, at least enough not to bring them shame. Rose also loved traveling, so whenever it was possible and appropriate she'd visit new places with her family - which was led her to an early death at sea. This is one of the reasons Elizabeth, who took a big interest in pirates, was allowed to read every book on the subject she could find, to the point of knowing pirate songs by the time she moved to Port Royal; that and her father being so loving and soft to her. Her mother is still a big influence in her life, a drive to do what she thinks is right and not only what she's told, and Elizabeth has warm memories of their life as a child and of how much her parents loved each other. Which is also why Elizabeth does not hate everything about her life as a 'lady': she did show genuine happiness at the sight of the new dress her father gifted her (until she tried it on and it was too tight), there is no reason why she shouldn't like social events involving dancing, or for some decorum to not be appreciated. On the other hand, a woman living in those times had limited options, too limited for Elizabeth, who expected Will to address her by name and not titles, who finds intimacy in breaking protocol, who does enjoy the freedom that comes from ignoring rules that mean nothing to her and have no real use (and of course in following her own rules and morals, for example waiting until the wedding night to be with Will despite clearly wanting it that badly). She enjoys adventures, swordfighting, leaving propriety behind in favor of honesty and closeness.

For these reasons Elizabeth never got close to other ladies growing up, feeling they wouldn't understand, and why I believe she never truly saw James Norrington for what he was, the qualities of him she could have appreciated, or not until it was too late.

After the Curse Of The Black Pearl, Elizabeth and Will find out that they have too many communication problems to work, not sharing their deepest thoughts and pains, not knowing how to end fights - defensiveness, leaving the room in the middle of an argument. So they end up 'breaking up' before they ruin their relationship entirely. This sends Elizabeth down a spiral of self-doubt and self-discovery, because something she believed certain was gone so easily, and because she found herself unable to lean on the man she thought she'd love forever. Who was she meant to be? Could she be good and rebellious, true to herself and happy, but also make her loved ones happy? Once Beckett arrests them, things progress the way they do in the movies except for her and Will being romantically together, and any deviation from canon beside that will depend on our threads. It’s unlikely that Jack and James would know about the breakup before she tells them.

AFTER THE TRILOGY

If everything has gone like in canon, and our threads are set after, Elizabeth has taken her belongings from her father's house, which she can't inherit because she's an unmarried woman and will go to her cousin. He'd be willing to let her have it but she can't imagine living in it without her father, so she uses her pirate king title to get a smaller place on an island nearby, from where she can be given a ride to Shipwreck Island when needed there.

Thing is, Elizabeth's idea of freedom feels limited as pirate king too, since she has to stomach horrible acts the other pirates do, and would find no happiness in attacking people who haven’t attacked her first. She has only been able to give a new rule: to leave women and children alone (unless the women are warriors attacking them). Anything more, like asking pirates to leave good people alone, is just not possible without a mutiny. Teague supports the king and most are terrified of him but there is only so much that can be imposed, and Elizabeth has to ignore other bad acts to keep his 'subjects' appeased enough to follow the few directions she gives.

So now Elizabeth is having little adventures there and then, involving secret treasures and legends, nothing to do with pillaging innocent villages, and trying to find compromises that will let her sleep at night, while also refusing to start a new life as a lady somewhere else, because she'd be suffocated by expectations and protocol. She will still do whatever it takes to survive, she’ll scheme and not even involve other people in her plans unless cornered or due to exceptional reasons, but she will still despise the idea of leaving someone behind if there is another choice, of not trying everything to save others, to be honorable even at personal risk. She certainly does appreciate affection and some gentleman acts in her direction, she just doesn’t want to be bothered with the “coldness” that comes from being proper. And yes, she still intends to wait until married to have a ‘wedding night’, her moral compass matters to her no matter what people expect of her as a pirate or as a woman. And her moral compass says she must keep fighting until she feels she has found the perfect balance between everything she wants and what life will give her.

little headcanons: -her father has a brother in London, who married and had two children, Mary and Anthony. Anthony is the older cousin who approved of Elizabeth’s ‘odd’ behaviors when they were kids and is now married to a woman who would also like her. For this reason he would help her with money and shelter if ever needed. Mary is determined to be proper and quite judgy, and will embarrass her to death if given the chance. -Elizabeth loves dancing, walks, reading, watching plays and playing boardgames. -she has some pretty mundane wishes when it comes to her future family

OTHER VERSES

v. mrs turner. for will rpers only: they don’t break up after the first movie, and events can follow the next movies or be completely different in threads. Point is they stick together and navigate this new relationship - which after all is a big change after years of keeping proper distance.

v. hold on. she doesn’t break up her engagement with James Norrington even if she does help Jack escape his hanging - whether because not in love with Will or because Will never confessed his feelings. In the second movie she’s likely looking for James in Tortuga on top of wanting to free Will, and ends up joining Jack anyway.

v. follow the compass. threads about random plots like ‘soulmates au’ and the like. The events of the movie can or cannot happen depending on what we’ll decide.

v. fine woman. threads where the movies haven’t happened (or not yet and will happen later than in canon), and Elizabeth is living her life as a lady and growing sadder, longing for more. The stories will start from there. This includes threads with Will or James where their relationship develops in a different way (slightly younger Elizabeth etc.)

v. bring me the horizon. threads where the movies haven’t happened or not yet but one way or another she runs away looking for adventure. May or may not be kidnapped and brought to Tortuga. Her reputation ruined, she has to make a life there.

v. gilded ship. after the events of the movie, regardless of other differences from canon, she can’t return home because she has been ‘outed’ as pirate in most lands, being the king and all, and has to adapt to a pirate’s life and/or look for other options because she doesn’t want to be trapped that way either.

v. captain. one way or another, it’s Elizabeth who succeeds Davy Jones. Threads can be set before, maybe during, and of course after, when she comes ‘home’.

#about page #about page and verses #verses page

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jinmukangwrites · 5 years

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(Don’t) Remember

Prompt

Summary: Wild was completely content going the rest of his life not remembering the past.

-o-o-o-o-

The first time Link has ever gained a memory, he vowed it would be the last. He climbed up to the base of Mount Lanayru and oh so innocently opened his Sheikah Slate to look at the picture, the memory. He remembers being excited. He had nothing back then, nothing but the few days he had gained since waking up at the shrine. There was a odd feeling that took over him as he compared the scenery to the picture, then he blinked and he found himself one hundred years in the past.

The memory was only a minute or two, but the moment he was back to reality, back in his own body, he kneeled over the vomited. He remembers feeling useless and terrified. He was that hero? He was supposed to stop that evil? It made him sick to his stomach, it made him tremble and shake and sob into the the cool dirt beneath him. He panicked and cried and stayed there for a very long time, trying to get ahold of himself. It was by luck the Lynel on the other side of the wall didn't hear him. He wouldn't have been able to defend himself.

He went back to Kakariko when he had finally gotten himself under some sort of control. He marched into Impa's house and told her he will save the princess, he will destroy ganon, but he does not need his memories to do so. Impa looked surprised, shocked even, that Link would refuse to remember any of the past, though she probably knew that there would be no changing his mind, so she simply nodded and told him to go free the Divine Beasts.

That too became difficult for Link to do. He remembers standing at a Zora girls stature and falling unwillingly into a memory about her healing him, about the hope she had that Calamity Ganon would be a simple story to tell to the future generations. Link tumbled back into his body and panicked right there in front of Sidon and that Muzu. He doesn't know if he lost respect that day, but he still was able to go to Vah Ruta and free it.

Then he was looking at a beautiful helmet sitting on the head of Riju and he could feel the memory coming. He couldn't prepare himself for when it smashed into him. He was forced inside the memory, forced to watch Urbosa and Zelda bond as he, the unwanted soldier, stood by. Urbosa had faith in him. She shouldn't have. He was just barely able to control himself when he returned to the present. After agreeing with Riju that they should head over to free Vah Naboris as soon as possible, he stumbled over to a quiet alleyway and let out the contents of his stomach and stayed there a long time, dry heaving and just barely managing to hold back tears.

And it was the same when he went to the Gorons and he saw that statue of Daruk. The same when he visited the Rito and looked at the landing pad. He was dragged into memories and he came out terrified and trembling and wishing he could forget. The memories were all too painful. They weren't worth it. He could swing a sword, the Master Sword even, just fine without them. He avoided the spots where his other memories laid and he continued his journey, his quest to get stronger, and finally he went to defeat Ganon.

He did it just fine without his memories.

"Tell me, do you really remember me?" She asked, and Link replied no, he didn't.

She seemed sad at that, but Link tried to comfort her to the best of his abilities. The old hero from a hundred years ago was dead, but Link now is alive and he would like to get to know her on his own terms.

And he did, and he never regretted it.

But, little did he know, there was another surprise memory waiting to be stumbled upon. The worst one.

The one of how he died.

-o-o-o-o-

They are at the Dueling Peaks Stable. After traveling for so long, the simple stable seems like such a blessing. Wild certainly is relieved to see it. Everyone are in low moods from the large amount of traveling they have just suffered through, most of them are starting to get snappy and full of complaint. Thankfully, just a few minutes of sitting and resting at the stable improves the spirits of the group dramatically.

Wild sits down at the campfire and happily begins to set up for dinner. Wind, Sky, and Hyrule follow after the stable master where he shows them how to care for the sheep. Four is laying in the grass, smiling joyfully as his eyes close contently. Warrior and Legend are enjoying a passive aggressive game of cards. Twilight and Time are inside the stable, setting it up with the second stable master of how to arrange beds and blankets with the sudden amount of guests, or more like trying to discuss how to pay for that. They're being demanded to pay more money because of their excessive amount of numbers. The stable isn't even relenting to Wild being there.

"Did you think you'd get a discount just because you have Link with you! Hah!"

Wild isn't surprised by it at all, in fact, he expected that to happen. Hyrule now is ran by survivors, if they see an opportunity to make a quick rupee, they'll take it. Time and the others aren't used to that. They're used to order, to something having a set value, and Wild will admit that even though they are going to get cheated, he still finds it amusing how much the dirty methods of his Hyrule throw everyone off.

The day passes lazily, yet no one complains about it. Soon enough, Wild has finished a rather large batch of smoked Hyrule bass for everyone in the stable (except for the stable masters of course, they'll have to give them a fair price if they want food). Since there are not enough tables for everyone, Twilight, Time, and Warrior all dragged large pieces of firewood out into the field and set them up around a campfire. The group sat in a circle together as a cool breeze began to blow across the land, as the blue sky began to turn darker and the first stars dare to show.

Wild stuffed a bite of fish in his mouth and sighed in content. It's hard being the cook because you get to smell the food while it's cooking and not get to eat it.

"So, Hyrule and I were walking around," Sky says suddenly and everyone looks up to him except for Hyrule himself; he's a bit busy taking large bites of his fish, so he just nods, "and we saw a herd of wild horses."

"There's a lot of them here," Wild replies. "They're rather tame here too, easy to catch."

"That's why Hyrule and I were thinking we try to catch a few, it would make traveling quicker."

"And easier," Wind mumbled and took a bite of his meal.

"That's a good idea," Time says as he wipes his mouth of the miniscule amount of grease that got on his lip.

"It's going to cost us some more rupees," Wild points out, "the stable can harness the ones we catch."

"We can afford it, you're fish saved us a lot of rupees," Twilight says, grinning. Wild grins back and looks back at the stable where the two stable masters are begrudgingly eating their own meals inside with the rest of the stable dwellers.

They talk a bit more about their plans for the next day and how much time they will need to capture nine horses, Wild says he can catch one per minute and no one believes him. They decide to head to Kakariko Village, it is the closest bit of civilization to them and Kakariko is something most of them have in common. The sun is completely gone now and the moon is beginning to rise as they chat.

They call it a night and gather into the stable. The stable masters have pulled out extra mattresses and every blanket they had so they could make enough sleeping spaces for everyone. Wild lets the stable dwellers get the beds and the group of heroes fall asleep, content, on the absurd amount of blankets on the floor. Well, except Warrior and Wind, they were hoping for beds. Time also is a bit grumbly about it, but that's just because he played the price for nine beds, not nine blanket nests.

-o-o-o-o-

"HYLIA, CURSE IT!" Legend screams as a beautiful blue and white stallion notices him sneaking up on it before running away.

Wild chuckles as he pets the nose of the black mare he had just tamed. In under a minute even. Twilight also managed to tame a horse, though his method was a bit barbaric. He wasn't expecting Twilight to full on wrestle with a horse while wearing iron boots. The mad man. Time at least had the decency to tame his horse normally.

"This place is creepy," Twilight says as he looks around the field around them. His newly captured brown and white spotted horse flicks its ear and he pats it's shoulder.

Wild hums in agreement and glances at their surroundings as well. The field itself is beautiful, it is large and filled with lovely and healthy green grass and hundreds of colorful wildflowers. What made it creepy is the maybe hundreds of lifeless guardian corpses that littered the land. They have no explanation, none of the stable dwellers know how they got there or what has killed them all. Wild didn't really care about it, whatever happened occurred a hundred years ago. Before his time.

The sound of Legend's cursing breaks through the air as Warrior gallops past on a beautiful white steed. He's grinning smugly, as if he's already planning how to rub it in Legend's face that he caught a horse first. Another Horse gallops up and Wild can see Hyrule riding on it with Wind sitting behind him. Wild hopes that their plan to get Wind a horse wasn't to launch Wind off the back of a running one, but judging by their determined looks as they got ever closer to a horse innocently munching on some wild flowers... It is clear that that is their plan exactly.

Four walks up to Wild and sits down next to him breathing hard. "I'm too small," he says, panting. Sky joins them, chest heaving as well.

"They're.… Too fast…." He says between breaths.

Wild rolls his eyes. "You guys aren't doing it right." He walks his horse over to where Time is grooming out the tangles of his horses mane. "I'll show you how it's done," he says.

Time agrees to watch Wild's horse as Wild takes off towards where a beautiful cream colored horse was nipping at the grass. Sky and Four follow along.

Legend swears again and the mare he's been chasing for the past hour streaks further away. "Legend!" Four calls out, "Wild's going to help us! You should come too!"

Legend shoots a glare over to Four and Four wears a satisfied smirk. Wild scoffs at the banter and tries not to laugh.

"Go!" Time calls out, smirking just a little.

Legend looks like he's about to refuse, but then he looks back at his runaway horse and his shoulders sink. Just like that Legend, Four, and Sky are following Wild over to the next hose.

Wild stops a small distance from the horse and crouches down ever so slightly. "Okay, first you have to make sure the horse isn't facing you."

Four elbows Legend in the stomach playfully and Legend mumbles curses under his breath. "Make sure you remember that," Four snarks.

Legend looks like he's about to argue, but then Wild hushes him with a raised eyebrow. Once it was quiet, Wild continues.

"Now, you would sneak slowly up to them, and when you're close enough you jump on. Then, comfort it so it doesn't buck you off. It's easy. Watch-"

He begins to move slowly and silently through the grass, but the horse snaps its neck behind it when Sky accidentally steps on a twig. The horse makes a distressed neigh and sprints off in the opposite direction.

"Sorry," Sky mumbles.

Wild smiles and stands up. "C'mon, let's go find it."

He runs off over to where the horse disappeared to. With the others following behind, he runs over a hill and is about to run down it when he sees the horse still again as it sniffs the flowers, but… something suddenly feels off about the area. More off than normal.

He looks down to where two guardian husks are innocently enough lying toppled on the ground and he finds himself breaking off from the others.

"Wild, the horse is that way," Legend grumbles but Wild is now ignoring them. Something… something was off. Very, very off.

He stops at the bottom of the small hill and looks at the two guardians and his mind starts to go blank. He panics when he realizes what's happening. How has he stumbled upon a memory? He has pictures of them all, and they're all places he had found so he can purposely avoid running into them. This one isn't in there.

He wants out. He wants to scream and scramble backwards because he doesn't want to know what happened here. He doesn't want to know what happened one hundred years ago. He doesn't want to know but his body is stuck, his eyes are staring at the husks and grass is tickling at his shins and Four is asking if he's alright. He would cry no, he's far from okay, if he could find his tongue. The edges of his vision is turning white and he has one final thought of terror before he's plunged into a world of fire.

-o-o-o-o-

He aches. That's the plainest way to say it. His whole body just aches. It aches as he deflects another Guardian from hitting Zelda behind him. It aches as his shield shatters. It aches as a deadly laser explodes along his side and sends him tumbling to the ground.

"Link!" Zelda screams. He can't... He can't fail her now. Not after all they have worked for. "Link, run! Get away from here, I'll be fine…"

He coughs blood into the ground but forces himself to his feet once again with his sword held out. The fire licks at his legs and his whole left side is burning like it's on fire. He can't feel his left ear. He vaguely realizes that it's been melted off.

"Link," Zelda says again, probably through tears, but he can't turn and look because there's another Guardian climbing on top of two dead ones and it's glaring it them.

He can feel his heart jump to his throat and he desperately tries to blink blood out from his eyes as the Guardian rears up and activates it's laser. Link will take this, he will take this blow for Zelda so she can run. She's too important, so important. So, so very important.

The guardian is about to fire and Link is about to close his eyes to accept his fate, but Zelda pushes him out of the way, screaming. The world tips below him and he desperately tries to find his footing. Everything explodes into beautiful golden and Link stares wide eyes at Zelda who has a glowing mark on her hand, who is killing every guardian with each pulse of golden light that erupts from her palm. He sees the guardian flicker sadly before it collapses. Zelda relaxes her posture and looks at her hand like she's surprised.

Link has just a second to think how proud of her he is, how he's not surprised, before he collapses too.

"Link? Link!"

He can feel his body being shaken and it takes all of his strength to keep his eyes open long enough to see her face, begging him not to go. To stay. To help her. "You're going to be okay, Link, we'll get help, we'll-"

Link can only smile a fraction at her before his consciousness is ripped away from him with the sound of her horrified gasp. Everything goes black.

-o-o-o-o-

"Wild?"

He's forced back into the present and he can feel every last scar on his body burn. He stumbles back, looking at the fallen Guardians in a new light that he did not want.

A hand touches his shoulder and he flinches back violently as the realization of what has happened hits him. He's just remembered something, he remembers his death. He bends over and pukes.

"Woah! Wild?!"

He tries to take a deep breath but he can't. His scars are on fire, he can feel each tendril of scarred tissue along his whole body painfully clear. He forgets to stand, and he falls to his knees and bends forward so he's leaning on his elbows, his forehead touching the ground. He's heaving for breaths and everything is so quiet but so loud at the same time.

For a second, he thinks it's like the first time, but then his stomach rebels again and a whimper is forced from his throat as his whole body twinges in agony. The air is too thick, he can't take any in, but he's desperately trying to. He hacks acid from his throat, his breakfast already out of his stomach, and he's about to continue to dry heave until he feels something touch his shoulder.

He flinches. Danger. There's danger. He has to fight- he's always fighting-

He scrambles onto his feet and pulls out his sword, facing the blurry figures in from of him. He blinks and they're Guardians, he blinks again and it's Calamity Ganon, then is Bokoblins and with each breath the enemy shifts and Wild... Link is terrified.

He swings his sword when a figure gets to close, but his weapon is instantly blocked. He can hear yelling through the ringing in his ears and he continues to fight. He has to fight. Protect Zelda. Don't die don't die don't die.

Arms wrap his arms and chest from behind and he's forced to drop his sword. He's locked against the chest of the surprise attacker and it sends his fear through the roof. He screams and kicks his legs back desperately but the restraining hold doesn't relent, it just gets tighter.

Everything is spinning and his body feels so heavy. He unwillingly slumps against his captor. He tries and fails to keep tears at bay. He can feel himself losing consciousness and he wants to fight it, he really does, but… the blackness sounds more comforting than reality.

-o-o-o-o-

Wild wakes up slowly, likes he's trying to swim through mud. Everything hurts, his chest, his head, his arms, and he almost wants to give back into sleep, but there's someone holding onto his hand.

"Wild? Are you awake, cub?"

Wild opens his eyes and blinks at the stable ceiling. He doesn't recall falling asleep here. He groans and lifts his hands to his eyes, rubbing at them until he could see clearly.

"Wild?"

"Hmm?"

He turns his head and sees Twilight sitting at the side of the bed, worry pulling his eyebrows together.

"What happened?" Wild asks. He holds back a hiss of pain as he begins to pull himself up so he's sitting.

"You tell me," Twilight says through a half-hearted chuckle. Wild gives him a look and Twilight clears his throat, sadness overtaking his features. "You… were attacking Legend, Sky, and Wind."

"W-what."

Twilight sighs and rubs the bridge of his nose. "Wild… do you remember what happened at all?"

Wild remains silent for a few seconds, wracking his brain, until he does remember.

He remembers everything.

"Oh," he chokes. "Oh."

"No- cub, don't cry-"

But Wild is. He can feel the tears running down his cheeks as he his whole body loses strength. He slumps back down so he's lying and he brings his hands to his face. He silently let's his tears fall.

"Cub, it's okay, you're okay-" Twilight's hand goes down gently on Wild's shoulder but Wild flinches. He hates that he flinches, especially to a touch from Twilight, but the thought of touch sends nausea bubbling into his stomach. Twilight's hand whips back like he's been burned. Wild doesn't know why that hurts him so much.

"What happened?" Twilight whispers.

Wild shakes his head against the back of the pillow.

"I'm sorry."

#linked universe #hero of the wild #hero of twilight #hero of time #hero of hyrule #hero of warriors #hero of legend #hero of the sky #hero of the four sword #hero of the wind #more like hero of the yeet #yeeting himself off a running horse like a maniac #jin writes #fan fic #fan fiction #wow #an unhappy ending #what is this

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artisticamore · 4 years

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❄❄The tiniest snowflake❄❄

The tattoo is a symbol of the snowflake clan. A large intricate detailed snowflake made of warm hues of amber dusted in sliver, outlines in gold. Everyone wore the mark with pride, with honour. They were a clan of assassin's everybody knew that they would do anything for money. But they only went after thoes who the law couldn't touch thoes who hid in darkness, the unknown of society. But something changed after 300 years of loyalty. Their views changed. After a while killing people wasn't enough they were hungry for even more power so they became something twisted. What was once a clan of protectors, hero's was now a name that scared everyone.

Seven-year-old Amethyst watches the sky from her perch, her back against the tree trunk, her legs stretched out in front of her. This was her escape, high in the trees where no one could reach her. Isolated and alone, where eyes can’t see her and faces can’t sneer at her . A safe haven, her God given solace, but also a curse.

Loneliness.

It’s a double-edged sword.

Alone, she doesn’t have to listen to the poison that spews from people’s lips, washing over her and choking her. She doesn’t have to see the hatred and malice directed toward a not-so-hypothetical devil spawn or the jeering glee at the image of said spawn’s rightfully earned suffering and death for the crime of existing. She doesn’t have to hear stories and legends about the oh so great clan and how she tainted their bloodline. How her parents should have struck her down of her 5th birthday. She was useless, unwanted, something ugly that didnt deserve to keep living. All because of her being born quirkless. Was she really something tinted, twisted and unclean? Would she really be destined to live a life of hardships? Would she really die lonely and alone never to know love?

Their words cut deep than any sword could, even alone, she is trapped in her own head. When she's with people, she at least has something she can take her frustration out on. Without them, her thoughts enter a downward spiral of anger and self-disgust.

Still, it is better this way, at least, that is what she has convinced herself.

Who can possibly stand the thought of being near someone like her?

She didn’t deserve to be born. She is evil personified after all; there is nothing good about her.

She's tainted.

And so her thoughts would go, on and on in an endless, self-crippling cycle.

However today was different something had happened something even when your evil the honor the clan once had wouldn't stand for. Someone died that shouldn't have, as assassin's they had one rule get the job done, don't be seen, but most importantly do it right. The family broker aka Nathaniel was in charge of the assignments who got A-E assassinations.

Going by all the screaming someone royal screwed up a A column assassination attempt killing the 3rd cousin of the target, the good looks gene must run very deep to look so much like each other that even your 3rd cousin could past to be you.

"They want who blood as collateral?" Screamed the monarch!

Nathaniel looked his long time friend and boss in the eye. "The assassin who killed the wrong man. I know this isn't something you want to hear believe my old friends but a sacrifice must be made as payment you know the law of the trade a life for a life."

"Unacceptable Nathaniel! I refuse to give up one of my best assassin's just because they didn't give a clear description. How was we to know that not only did they have the wrong person but that he had three look alike, he has the picture on him saw his target made the kill end of story. If they want a sacrifice they'll get on. I'm a man of my word and I follow the rules however they will not be getting the killer. Instead you can repay them with little miss worthless. I've been trying to find out a way to get rid of the brat for a whole year." The monarch gave a killer smile.

Nathaniel couldn't say he didn't see this coming. His old friend could be a hothead. Signing he nodded his head while making a call to set up preparations for the transfer.

Amethyst couldn't believe her ears she was being sold. Quickly and quietly she climbed down from her hiding spot making it back to her room just in time for the door to be busted open. Raymond her uncle drags her before the gathered clan members throwing her down before the monarch. Amethyst kept her eyes to the floor she wasnt allowed to look up to anyone unless being told otherwise. From there she listened to the clan speak about her, laughing and calling out words of happiness that she will no longer be their problem. The monarch spoke up calling the attention to be once again on himself. He announced that she will no longer live here from now on. Amethyst doesn’t know what to think. She didn't understand even if given as payment what could she possibly give, what use was she, was a nobody, she was quirkless though she did know how to fight she learnt by watching in serect her clan thought so much of themselves that they viewed she couldn't do anything yet she was quieter than the most skilled in stealth and was the lightest on her feet out of the whole clan. Well that came from being underweight. She might not look it but she was indeed much lighter than she looked.

Her face most have gave her away because next thing she knew she smacked hard enough she saw stars. She must had caught the side of her cheek between her teeth, blood pulled inside her mouth. Yet she stayed submissive low to the ground her head never once lifting higher. The monarch was angry, no pissed he sneered at her and spat in her face that she would be a prefect slave. That she would listen to each and every instruction place upon her and was expected to fulfill each task perfectly. She was also warned if she failed to do as told even death wouldn't be merciful for what they would do to her. Amethyst nodded silently brushing the spit and blood on her ragged clothes. Next to the monarch stood his wife the misstress or shedevil in her book.

She rattled off a list of things such as her new training, no longer would she clean and cook. She had maybe a few weeks to months till the transfer was to be completed. Her training was in effect immediately. Shedevil order the clans women to teach her how to walk seductress not knowing what type of slave she would become. Shedevil explained that even though she was young and no one would touch her she must learn how to be a hostess.

From that night on till the night of her be shipped off she trained, walk like a lady, talk and listen like the person in your company hung the very moon themself. She was given better clothing too, she trained her voice to be softer sweeter, musical. The males of the clan showed her how to assist them in dressing while the woman did the same too just in case she was made into a lady in waiting. The cooks were given the task to show her how to make many different drinks. The monarch and shedevil gave little praise to her picking up her skills hastily. Little did they know Amethyst was always a fast learner dare say she was a genius not that anyone took note of it. After many weeks of hard training the day had come she was being transfer many states of to a underground strong held ran by the strongest family the mafia.

When Amethyst came too, the first thing she registered was pain.

Burning, searing pain. The kind of pain she hadn’t felt in weeks. Not since she started her new training. Her newest owner hated her by sight called her ugly and unsightly, that her skin tone was a eyesore, that her curly natural hair was dirty looking even though her hair was washed and scented with warm lavender and coconut oil for some reason her Misstress hated her. Amethyst was no stranger to to racism she knew prejudice when she saw it. She couldn't feel the weight of her own hair anymore, tentatively, slowly she ran her hand across her head, where once laid shoulder length hair pulled into a bun. Now was a tiny curly afro, someone had lopped off her hair. She felt empty; the constant warmth of her hair provided was no longer there to soothe her. It was agonizing; her back felt like it was on fire, skin and flesh seared down to bone. It hurt to move, hurt to breath. It was agonizing. But Amethyst clenched her jaw and grit her teeth, refusing to let any sound escape, refusing to let them know she was in pain, refusing to give them the satisfaction. She may be a slave, but she was not broken. Not even her own clan had broken her and neither would her new mistress.

As the pain in her back dulled, she let her senses take over. She was lying on her stomach, the surface beneath her hard and cold, a sharp contrast to her back. Something cool was locked in place around her neck, wrists, and ankles. A collar. Shackles. And suddenly, with startling clarity, Amethyst realized that the burning pain in her back was a brand. She hadn’t just been sold. She was branded as a plaything in essence she was a pet.

Fury coiled in her gut and rage bubbled up her throat. Not even her own blood stooped to something so cruel even if she was viewed as worthless scars on the back was a warriors shame. Even though she was beat upon they never once marked her back out of honor.

Amethyst cried, tears burred her eyes, tightly clamped lips cut off any noise trying to make its way out. She had read stories about this; that some people marked their property like animals. She’d always thought it odd that she never heard to clan brag about offing such ones where in the grand hall of history she has read about such ones. Back in the day her clan hunted such ones down. So why was these people permitted to do such a thing to her, why were they able to keep breathing? Amethyst had her answer now. And it sickened her greatly . Their lives were spared because her clan fell so far from honour and grace that their love of money and possible fame made it so that they supported this disgusting practice. The only reason why her clan was so know now wasn't because if their Legacy. NO they were in the back pocket of the government pretending to be honorable.

Amethyst was pulled out of her thoughts when cool air brushed over the wound on her back. Her eyes snapped open of their own accord and she was met with the sight of a older boy. A very, very tall boy. He was thin, startlingly so, but his face somehow still held the roundness of a child’s. Maybe 15 no older then 17 He had big, grey eyes, a large scar across his nose, and a mop of black hair. He wore nothing but a pair of worn and ragged pants, no shirt, no shoes. His wrists and ankles had thick black shackles, but the collar around his neck showed his strength a first classes high tech quirj collar Amethyst didn’t need to see his back.

This teen was a slave and very powerful.

Her eyes flitted around the room they were in. Or rather, the cell. It was medium sized, the floor, ceiling and three of the walls made of cold, unforgiving stone. The fourth wall was made of metal bars. Amethyst saw a hallway possibly the way out. She could see another cell across from their and what looked to be a storage room might hold supplies.

Her vision was obscured by another face in front of her's. “So,” he drawls from her eft in the darkness of the cell, and Amethyst freezes, “Awake finally. Your very interesting, little one I heard the guards say your quirkless yet I noticed your eyes flash. Shhhh... your okay there is no need to panic they haven't seen it. You've been here about a few months this is first time you've stayed awake though. I'm glad your alright.”

Months? Amethyst doesn't remember that only the first day of meeting and possibly a few hours after that. So she's been here longer than what she thought, Amethyst thinks it would be best not to answer him however he was the only one here with her. Company would be nice maybe since he been here longer he knew things. She licked her lip once twice then and third time befor clearing her throat. "I'm Amethyst." She rasping out.

"Pleasure to meet you, I'm Hatsuharu though I go by Haru. My friends call me dark Haru as a joke because of my quirk. It's void and sentinel my quirk gives damage boosts to my allies, but it draws my opponents attention and focus AWAY from my allies and towards the user, allowing for the perfect distraction! Because it's basically a taunting quirk, a defensive abilities activated. The cold air you felt on you when you first woke was me using my quirk on you, I've been here for a long time wearing these, I've kinda grown a somewhat immunity to the quirk suppressors. I'll help you out anyway I can."

"Why? What’s in it for you?”

This one was different then the other slaves that came through here. Haru could see that he knew the quirkless was treated like dirt less than everything hell trash was viewed better. Amethyst read him the way he’s standing, searching for any weaknesses, searching for any hint of ill meaning. And maybe a better word would be analyzing. This girl wasn’t just reading him. She was completely analyzing him, and she was about as ready as one can be to jump out if Haru would make any sudden movement. Despite hurt she could still fight.

“Nothing.” Haru shrugged.

“Impossible. No one offers without expecting something back.”

"I've heard what they have in store for you once you come of age I want to help you. But I'm gonna need your help too, i need to get home. They think your quirkless you might be a late bloomer or possible a rare case of a forced quirk mutation from all the hardships. Your quirkless so I know your life hasn't been easy. I'll watch out for you and you do the same for me. With them thinking your quirkless they'll underestimate you."

For a few seconds, silence falls in the cell again, and then the same voice replies in dry, almost flippant tones, “Your underweight tiny but a fighter i can tell just looking at, youve probably foiled everyone. But not me before becoming a slave i was a vigilante."

Wait he said Months didn't he?

Amethyst had to concentrate on breathing for a minute, in and out, in and out, until the strange tangle of panic and grief that hits her out of nowhere fades again.

“Haru,” She eventually croaks out. She pauses, then forces out, “How… many months … has it been?”

“Not sure exactly,” Her cellmate - Haru - answers easily. “I think we get fed once a day, but I didn’t know that at first so I didn’t bother counting, and I’ve probably missed a few days here and there. As close as I can tell though, it’s been almost six months since they stashed you in here with me, give or take. If you were in a different cell before, I wouldn’t know.”

Six month. Six months . Six-

“Hey, calm down,” Haru cuts in, and for the first time, something sharp enters his voice. “If the guards see you throwing a fit, they’ll gas us unconscious. And that’s all they’ll do if we’re lucky,

but considering the fact that we’re here at all, luck screwed us over a long time ago.”

Amethyst drags in a shaky breath that rattles down her throat and feels like it gets stuck somewhere in her chest. She does it again and again until she regains a thin veneer of calm that at least allows her to think. The muscles in her back burn with each breath.

Six months. In a way, it feels like it’s been even longer than that. But, she thinks, some part of her still clung to the hope that it hasn’t been months, maybe days at most, and…

(And she promised herself, deep down, that if she ever got out her family would pay back for everything in tenthfold every scar, the abuse the hardships. Everything. She'll grow stronger she'll get as far from America as she could, she'll make a name for herself she'll live and maybe find someone who will love her. And live her life to the fullest.

She knew what it sounded like, a fairy tale, and she learned a long time ago that there’s no such thing in real life, so she knows full well that if a life of comfort full of love and happiness and a family of her own is what she wanted she'll have to put in the blood, sweat and tears.)

She lies there in the darkness for a while, just… digesting everything, and her cellmate doesn’t interrupt. Her thoughts turn to Haru which is an easier subject to focus on than how much time she's lost. Older than her, and strong by the looks of. Smarter than her. Skilled too.

“You said… since they put me in here with you,” she frowns. “How long… have you been here?”

Haru hums, and there’s a note of surprise in the sound, like he didn’t expect her to pick up on that, or maybe to ask about it at all. “Dunno. Like I said, I didn’t count at first. I had no way to tell morning or night my eyes were covered at first for weeks. But maybe three years or so? Had the cell all to myself back then. My will was stronger back then I broke out a few times too each time I did I was caught and drugged till they had enough they broke both my legs and put this high end collar on me. I stopped trying after.

“How old are you?” she asks abruptly.

Haru doesn’t answer right away, and when he does he looks sad. "I had just turned 16 when I was captured. I was out on patrol with a buddy of mine. We heard of kids being taken of the streets so I was watching over the children who walks home I kept everyone safe except myself."

“I’m fairly certain that you did your best if your the only one who ended up here.” Amethyst explained.

“True as that maybe i still shouldn't have been taken,” Haru volleys back without missing a beat, and Amethyst sighs and lets the matter drop.

“Why are you in here?” He asks instead. “how old are? I can't till your very short.”

"I'm here as payment, a life for a life, my family are hired assassin's someone murder the wrong person. Normally the guilty person gives their life however the monarch of my family gave me in their place. As for my page if I really been out for weeks then I just turned eight years old.

Thank you so much for your help my lovely friends.

@thedreadthread @plainbrunettelbl @monst @smittenkitten143 @todorokiaimee

@ezramine-chan

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ravioverse · 5 years

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Ravioverse

“Before time began, before spirits and life existed… Three golden goddesses descended upon the chaos that was Lorule...

Mun, the Goddess of Beauty… Klino, the Goddess of Will… Pavhalla, the Goddess of Reason…

Mun… With her delicate flowing hands, she sculpted the land and painted the grey earth.

Klino… Imposed her will onto the earth and bound the world with the spirit of law.

Pavhalla… With her virtuous soul, produced all life forms who would judge the law.

Their labors complete, they left the world... But not before creating a symbol of their strength... A golden emblem known as the Triforce.”

Nyello folks, Ravioverse is an AU of an AU, somewhat within the @linkeduniverse, but here we don’t focus on Hyrule and the Links; rather, we focus on Lorule and the heroes through its passage of time. As opposite sides of the same coin, Lorule’s history influences and is influenced by that of Hyrule, sometimes directly, sometimes not. The heroes of Hyrule and the heroes if Lorule do not always meet - or do not always know that they meet - but they exist nevertheless.

That said, here’s an introduction to our heroes!

The Origin of the Hero

Nicknames: Origin

Counterpart: The First Hero

“Hilda”: The Goddess Lorelle

Personality: A loner to the core, Origin prefers to stay away from the main group whenever he is traveling with companions. He feels safest when he is unnoticeable, and remaining so makes his arrows all the more deadly. He’s the group’s sniper and often communicates with his companions through messages tied to his arrows, which can be easily identified by their roc’s feather fletching. He has a tendency to draw first and ask questions at arrow-point, which is a remnant from his time as a guiding force in the Lorulean opposition to the Demon King and his army of monsters.

Fivefold Flame

Nicknames: Empyrean, Chosen

Counterpart: Sky

Hilda: Comet

Personality: Hailing from the land in the sky, where people live alongside their wyvern partners, Empyrean is accustomed to speaking in a raised voice in order to be heard over roaring winds. Unfortunately, this means that his usual means of venting frustration - flying with his loftwing and shouting his heart out - often is overheard by people still on the floating island. However, his habit of holding in his frustration and setting it aside until an appropriate time to vent has landed him in the positions of both reluctant leader and group dad. He is better suited to planning solo missions than group ones, particularly when it comes to improvising traps and taking an enemy by surprise.

Four Swords

Nicknames: Shadow, Vex

Counterpart: Four

Hilda: Ray

Personality: If you’ve read the Four Swords manga, you know exactly who this is. When he was young, he was found by a Ganon who was banished to the Dark World and shown the Dark Mirror, which managed to convince him that he was Link’s shadow - or Shadow Link. After his sacrifice at the Tower of Winds, he has abandoned Ganon’s cause - especially since Four defeated him - and done what he can to escape from the Dark World. He’s trying to get over his identity issues and will still do just about anything for attention, but his antics are more chaotically mischievous than chaotically destructive. He’s never used the Sovereign Rod - doesn’t even know it exists - but he still knows many of the tricks that Ganon taught him, so his magic is still the main weapon in his arsenal.

Viola of Space

Nicknames (Collectively): The Twins, The Triplets

Successful Hero: Viola, Frost, Rime

Failed Hero: Space, Blaze, Flare, Firefly (only by Romani)

Missing Hero: Flow, Gust, Zephyr

Counterpart: Time

Hilda: Oracle

Personality (Viola): As the hero from the universe in which the Triforce was saved, Viola was the first Ravio of this era to meet one from another. He quickly became the strategist of the group, thanks to his history of working alongside Space and Flow to save Lorule and not exclusively on his own. Despite this, however, he often makes hasty decisions and can be stubborn to a fault. He harbors some guilt over the well-being of his companions, whom he was never able to ensure the survival of after his quest; because of this guilt, he hates not knowing the whereabouts of his new companions. Though all three of the Ravios of this era were able to use the Sovereign Rod, Viola was the one who mastered it - wielding ice magic to its fullest extent.

Personality (Space): As the hero from the universe in which the Triforce was destroyed, Space blames himself for the fate of Lorule. After it became clear that he would not be able to save the kingdom, he fled, unwilling to watch the land decay after his failure. He is slow to make decisions and even slower to commit to action, but his decision to flee to Termina was the quickest he’d ever made. He is reluctant to count himself amongst the heroes of Lorule, but once in the group he makes himself as useful as he can be by being their cook anytime Sketch isn’t available, and - if necessary - an archery specialist. Though he once used the Sovereign Rod and its fire magic, he refuses to touch it again.

Personality (Flow): Prior to his disappearance from Lorule, Flow was the primary strategist and decision-maker for the three Ravios from this era. He would take input from both Viola and Space, then use that information to find the best possible solution for whatever problem they faced. Once recruited by the group, however, he appears to be extremely skittish and confused, speaking only in broken sentences to Viola and Space. When he was fighting alongside those two, he specialized in swordplay and used the Sovereign Rod’s wind magic - but the location of his Sovereign Rod is unknown.

The Storm Chaser

Nicknames: Compass, Kraken, Scourge of the Seas (self-proclaimed)

Counterpart: Wind

Hilda: Siren

Personality: A pirate on the high seas, Compass and his sister Rose sailed in waters that few others would dare to travel. He’s an expert sailor and named himself captain of his ship, but he’s mostly big talk and not much bite. He’s brave (or stupid) enough to sail directly into storms, but when faced with a monster bigger than a bokoblin, he prefers to let Rose do the fighting. Although he can use a sword, his fighting style is closer to Origin’s than any Link’s, prioritizing sneak attacks and stabbing enemies from behind; he loves to rifle through the pockets of his victims first before running them through though. He’s got sticky fingers and a silver tongue, and he can help the Ravios get information from all over the ocean in his Lorule.

Ravio’s Awakening and A Link Between Worlds

Nicknames: Sketch

Counterpart: Legend

Hilda: Muse

Personality: He’s the same Ravio as the one from A Link Between Worlds, so naturally he’s a big scaredy-cat with a penchant for talking people out of their money. He’s good at keeping attention away from himself without openly hiding since he was able to escape to Hyrule and run an entire weapon’s shop without Yuga and Hilda noticing him - though Legend was his best (and possibly only) customer beyond Osfala. Sketch is the best of the group at haggling (though some might call it swindling), and quickly becomes the group’s accountant once he sees one too many bad deals. He’s the group’s main cook, but once upon a time had to be told that an ingredient he was planning to use in that night’s dinner was poisonous - it was just a spice in his Lorule, where almost everything became toxic after the Triforce had been destroyed.

The Adventure of Ravio

Nickname: Atlas

Counterpart: Hyrule

Hilda: Historia

Personality: Just a really good boy. An absolute angel of a kid. He’s the descendant of Muse, Sketch’s Hilda, and is traveling the kingdom as it repairs itself now that it has a Triforce once again. He loves making new maps of the kingdom as he goes, and often offers to help anyone he comes across any way he can during his travels. He can’t save money to save his life, since he wants to support local businesses, and often believes obvious lies that he’s told in order to scam him out of money as well. He has basic combat training with a rapier-style sword, but it isn’t used often since Lorule is no longer crawling with monsters. Like Muse, however, he has some magical talent and can temporarily immobilize threats. He’s not forced to fight too often, but he’s often seen as a sign of hope for the future in the failed timeline.

Twilight Princess

Nickname: Shade

Counterpart: Twilight

Hilda: Eclipse

Personality: Easily the most level-headed of the Ravios. He was an advisor in the Palace of Twilight prior to Zant’s usurpation of the throne, and once Midna was cast down, he and Hilda – Midna’s sister – evacuated the palace as quickly as possible and protected the Twili citizens to the best of their ability. He is able to use Twili magic (though not to the extent that Midna and Hilda are able to) and is the most responsible of the Ravios. If he truly wanted to, he could take a leadership role in the group, but he prefers to remain second-in-command for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to his inexperience with adventuring, and simply not wanting the responsibility.

Hyrule Warriors

Nickname: Battler

Counterpart: Warriors

Hilda: Charm

Personality: He’s the heavy-hitter of the team thanks to his experiences fighting in the war alongside Link and others. He’s arguably the most confident going into a full-on assault against monsters, and primarily uses his hammer when fighting - though he’s plenty skilled at swapping his hammer for another of his weapons and using them in combination with each other. On that same note, his preference for his hammer has easily made him the most physically well-built of the team, though he hides it beneath a couple layers of baggy clothing. Despite his ability and confidence, Battler will often pretend to be meek in order to get out of a formal challenge, contrary to how timid he’d been at the start of the war.

Call of the Arcane

Nicknames: Warp, Tech, Architect

Counterpart: Wild

Hilda: Circuit

Personality: As an engineer, Warp works with technology that is similar to the ancient Sheikah tech that exists in Hyrule, but has strong ties to the Twili. He can quickly enter existing codes to control Lorulean technology - a malfunctioning guardian, for example - but has been learning from Circuit how to write programs of his own. In learning from her, he has built two things: a small mechanical bird, which he calls Sheerow; and a miniature guardian lovingly called J3 (or Jonathon Janette Jameson 3rd). He has a set of superstitions surrounding their continued function, some of which include making little clothes for the machines to make them happy. Sheerow wears a tiny scarf and J3 has leg-warmers so it doesn’t get jealous.

#legend of zelda #loz #ravio #linkeduniverse #ravioverse

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howanimestuffworks · 4 years

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Now it’s time for something a little bit out of the ordinary and a little bit different. We all know that at this point in time the world is out of sorts so it’s nice to have that little ray of sunshine every now and again. Luckily for me that ray of sunshine just gotten bigger with me being nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award!

I made my first couple of graphics! I think they turned out good!

Like always we have to begin with the rules:

Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link to their blog so that other people can visit them.

Answer the 11 questions put to you by the nominator.

Nominate 11 bloggers of your choosing and provide them with a new set of 11 questions to answer.

Notify the nominees by commenting on one of their blog posts.

List the rules and display The Sunshine Blogger Award logo within your post or on your blog site.

The person that nominated me for the Sunshine Blogger Award was no other then Pinkie from Pinkie’s Paradise, who is one of the many active bloggers I know and has helped me come out of my shell and try and blog more then keep hiding away!

I always love reading Pinkie’s new posts and look forward to any new ones that pop up, I will recommend checking her blog out as her blog is just so CUTE! Especially with all the restyling she has done! (I so need to know how she managed to get a animated background working on her blog!) Anyway onto my answers and if you need any directions to Pinkie’s site just click here!

I am a tad late getting this done (along with everything else hahaha) but I really reaaaally needed to get my training for work completed otherwise my manager will literally murder me with a spatula!

I mean she would if she could, is it even possible to be murdered by a spatula?

Q: Have you ever cosplayed, if yes.. what’s your best cosplay? If no what would you cosplay if you could?

Sadly no, I never had enough money to spend on the materials I would need for my cosplay, nor have I had the confidence to pull of a cosplay, I am very self conscious about my body and hate the fact that I still have some “puppy fat” at 33 years old. Even though I am pretty much self conscious about my body I would still push myself out of my comfort zone and cosplay some of my favourite characters.

There’s a little list of cosplays I would love to pull off from my favourite anime and games, Zelda from The Legend of Zelda series, Hitomi Kanzaki from the Vision of Escaflowne and Chibi Usa from Sailor Moon being three that I would love to go for!

Aren’t these girls cool!

Bonus Pic!

Kinda scary shoving Pinkie Pies head on Chibi Usa, give me the willies!

Q: What is the least geeky thing about you?

What is the least geeky thing about me…man this one is so so hard! Hahaha! I think the least geeky thing about is that I love love to go for long walks! I just go where my feet take me!

Q: If your life was ever turned into an anime, what type of anime would it be?

Hmm.. I think it would be a dramatic slice of life shoujo that would depict me failing adulthood severely and kinda boring…until my life goes from boring to eventful where I’m transported to another realm to go saving the world with my babble of followers that consist of my favourite characters who somehow got dumped in said realm along with me, and blamed me for that happening cause I had to go poking that portal till it exploded and sucked us all in!

It would all fall on Van and Chise to try and find us a way home without me screwing everything up in the process!!

This was fun to make I gotta admit that, plus I just couldn’t stop laughing!!!

Q: If your life was ever turned into a video game, what type of game it would be?

It most probably be the same as the anime adaption just more in depth and set out like a JPRG!

Chise would be a perfect character to take the Healer position considering one of her abilities is creating medicine in Mahoutsukai no Yome (The Ancient Magus Bride).

Van would be taking the warrior class, mainly swordsman as he is quite adaptable when equipped with his own sword, though I can picture him cursing his head off about the amount of times I died throughout our adventure.

Hitomi would be our visionary, she can predict things before they happen through visions even though some do take a mental impact on her.

Duo is pretty good at stealth so I can picture him using that to his advantage with some pretty good stealth kills when we cannot attack outright.

Heero is more melee so would just attack outright but he is also good at physical combat and can use that to his advantage.

Luffy would be similar to Heero and would create a good tag team with him.

Q: If you’d have to choose any other archetype but geek, what would you want to be?

I would be a story teller, one of my goals is to be an author and have my own set of YA Fantasy books out there in the world! It would be a big achievement for me in my life, I have a few brainstorms going on some of the characters but I’m keeping that a secret for now..Suuuush..

I would love to be a well known author and have alot of people adoring my stories and characters!!

Q: What’s the worst thing you have ever done to a friend?

The worst thing I did to a friend is throw a book at them! I do treat my friends with alot of respect and never treat them all badly, but this friend of mine (who is now my boyfriend, strange things happened ya know) just would not be quiet so I could read, all he ever did was natter away to me and then the book went flying at him…I regret that so much…

Q: What is your favourite alcoholic beverage and tell us about when you had too much of it.

Believe it or not I have not had one ounce of alcohol pass my lips ever, so I never had any drunk stories to tell. (Which is ironic considering I work in a pub!) It’s mainly tied to my past, I’ve seen what alcohol can do to a person and sadly I was a victim of that, my dad is a severe alcoholic and he used to abuse me, my siblings and my mother, so I never ever touched the stuff.

It’s still quite hard to talk about as it affected me my entire life in so many ways.

Q: How would you take over the world, in a world of endless possibilities? Be evil!

Firstly I would destroy all the world leaders and then brain wash everyone across the globe to do my bidding and make my cat their supreme leader!! (come on who doesn’t want to be ruled over by an evil kitty!)

I would then force people to constantly pick up litter (mainly because I am so sick of people dumping litter everywhere) and to become my cats slaves and servants and imprison their families if they refused!!!

Okay I’ll admit I am so bad at being evil…

Q: Which anime character you think could stop the you from question 8.

Can I pick two…I can picture Usagi Tsukino and Sakura Kinomoto tag teaming and defeating me and my kitty! Me and my lovely Videl would pass in each others arms and live a happy and evil afterlife where we destroy Satan and take his throne and become rulers of hell!!

I think they would make a great team!

Q: Which anime characters would be the henchmen to the you from question 8.

I would brain wash the best of the best to become my henchmen! The Prince of all Sayain’s – Vegeta and of course Goku would be mine and Videl’s guards! Piccolo and Gohan would lead my mighty army!

But they may have a tough time with this lot…we shall see if Usagi and Sakura come up triumphant!

Q: If you could make one true wish, but it had to be at least somewhat selfish, what would it be?

If I could make one wish for myself it would be to be a millionaire and live in a posh mansion that has a pool with all my cats! They would have their own rooms and have luxurious beds like I would! They would also have loads and loads of toys and their own pool side loungers!!!

I’ll be the new kid on the block!

What is the most geeky thing about you?

What is the next Anime that you are planning to watch?

If you could write out your life story, how would that story go?

What was the saddest Anime scene you have watched?

What was the best thing you have done for a friend?

What were your plans this year before the pandemic?

If you could pilot a mech or Gundam, which one would it be?

If you could marry an anime or video game character, who would it be?

Tell me about the last game you have played?

Is there a character out there that is most similar to you?

Last book you have read?

Truthfully I don’t know that many people considering I’m the new kid on the block within the anime blogging community, I’m basing my nominations based on the few people that I have come to know within the anime blogging community recently.

I’m sorry if you were already picked!!!

Mari from Starting Life At Zero Who’s brave posts really are inspiring to me and has helped me understand alot of things lately.

Roki Bloop from Secluded Observations who actually stumbled across my blog on twitter and introduced me to a few more bloggers, if it wasn’t for Roki I wouldn’t even be doing the Sunshine Blogger Award at all!

Nabe-Chan from Geek Nabe Another lovely person that I have been interacting with on twitter and has a lovely blog!

Pinkie from Pinkie’s Paradise I am so getting you back! hahaha! Pinkie is so awesome and has such a cute and funny blog!

Steph from Two Happy Cats another blogger that I’ve been following on wordpress since I created my old account.

Kiritonarukami from KiritoNarukami One of the newer bloggers that I stumbled across on here lately.

Mike from Gaming and God Another blogger I’ve stumbled across lately who’s blog consists of not only Anime and Manga reviews but also Gaming reviews!

Lesley from Lesley’s Anime and Manga Corner Another Anime and Manga blogger that I have discovered 🙂

Odyssey from LOFZ ODYSSEY ANIME REVIEWS Another cool blogger that I’ve discovered!

Jiraiyan from Otaku Orbit is one of the two bloggers that I’ve been following on wordpress since I created my old account. (I actually have two accounts but liked the name of this one more.)

Okay I stole this idea from Pinkie but I needed a reason to use this wallpaper!

PS: If you would love to be nominated then you can if you answer this question about me, who is the character I am using throughout my blog?

A Pony With Sunburn Is Not A Good Look: The Sunshine Blogger Award! #anime #otaku #blogger #animeblog #blogging Now it's time for something a little bit out of the ordinary and a little bit different.

#Anime #otaku #Sunshine Blogger Award

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animebw · 4 years

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Binge-Watching: Vinland Saga, Episodes 4-6

Sweet buttery muffins, y’all, this show is fucking incredible. In which Askeladd is an instantly iconic villain, Thorfinn is thrust into the horrid truth of war, and so much is said with so little.

Askeladd the Great

I’ve managed to stay mercifully safe from Vinland Saga spoilers over the past few months, but if there was one thing it was impossible to avoid seeing fans talking about, it was how damn much everyone loved the character of Askeladd. I saw countless people praising him not just as the best antagonist of the year, but possibly of the entire decade. When he lost out on Best Villain at the Crunchyroll Awards to Isabella from The Promised Neverland, who I personally thought deserved to be villain of the year, everyone was saying that he’d been robbed. It was kind of intimidating seeing everyone else build him up so much; when something gets that much hype behind it, it seems inevitable that the actual thing will end up falling short by comparison (hello, Demon Slayer). And yet, now that I’m actually watching it, it’s become clear that the Askeladd praise train is actually kind of justified. Askeladd isn’t just easily the best character in the show thus far, he’s the kind of impossibly magnetic, captivating obstacle for our hero to face whose presence ends up orienting the entire show around him and what he represents. He’s an antagonist on the level of Makishima from Psycho-Pass, or Meruem from Hunter x Hunter: Vinland Saga wouldn’t be half the show it is were it not for Askeladd.

You see, from a structural perspective, Askeladd is the Revenge Villain, someone who does something awful to our hero- in this case, killing Thorfinn’s father Thors- inciting the hero to set out on his quest with the end goal of avenging his loss. But those kinds of villains are usually fairly simplistic, unambiguously evil men who we have no qualms about seeing the hero take down. Askeladd, though? While you can’t exactly call him a good man, he’s as far from a monster as a cutthroat mercenary can possibly get. He’s a man genuine honor, showing respect to Thors in their duel and acknowledging his prowess as a superior warrior. He even seriously considers offering Thors to take his leadership role from him; he 100% recognizes how much the legend outmatches him. And sure, he fudges the rules of the duel to complete his assigned mission and take Thors down, but that’s as far as he goes. He upholds his end of the bargain and lets the rest of Thors’ crew live, refusing to engage in needless bloodshed out of respect for the deal he made. He’s simultaneously an money-motivated gun-for-hire and a noble captain who believes in the same inherent value of human life Thors has spent his life protecting.

And it’s that contradiction that makes Askeladd such a captivating presence. He’s no hero, but he carries himself with honor all the same. You know what he’s doing is evil, but you feel like you can trust him regardless. He’s fully willing to spill blood and guts, and his penchant for cruelty is obvious, but he won’t order a slaughter unless he believes the loss of life will be worth something important. It would be so easy for him to take the simple route, to kill everyone who poses a threat to him and enjoy the campaign of violence he wages. But instead, in his own way, he tries to bring out the best in those around him just as Thors did. He encourages Thors’ grief-stricken crew to forget wasting their lives on avenging their captain and value their lives more for their own sake. He’s the one member of his crew that takes Thorfinn’s rage seriously, despite him just being a little kid; he knows full well how hard losing his father must be on the poor kid. And instead of pushing him away, he genuinely tries to help Thorfinn, to give him the guidance to grow into a warrior capable of weathering life’s hardships. In a way, he almost takes Thors’ place as Thorfinn’s father; it’s like he sees it as his responsibility to care for this kid after taking something so precious from him. And while he’s certainly teaching Thorfinn different lessons than Thors was trying to, it’s clear he doesn’t want to talk down to the kid. He respects his desire for revenge, and he tries to use that desire to push Thorfinn into being what he sees as a better man. It’s a fascinating take on this kind of antagonist that I don’t think I’ve ever seen before, certainly never realized this well. It’s to the point where you don’t even know if you want Thorfinn’s revenge quest to succeed; sure, he killed your father, but with everything we’ve seen of him... what if he doesn’t deserve to die either?

Welcome to the Slaughterhouse

Which, of course, is the point where Askeladd being such a fantastic character becomes such an important part of what makes Vinland Saga so goddamn great. It’s just like Thors told his son: no one, not even the man who kills your father, is truly evil. They’re all just people, people with complex motivations, people who may be capable of horrible things and wonderful things in equal measure. Thorfinn, like the rest of his vilalge, saw war is this glorious conquest, fighting inherently evil monsters for the glory of your righteous cause. He can’t understand why his father would fight his foes with only his fists, refusing to kill any of the vikings trying to take his own life and sacrificing himself for the sake of saving everyone else (side note, Thors is a motherfucking beast and I already miss him, that duel with Askeladd was FIRE). He can’t process why his father made the choices that led to his death, so his only recourse is to lash out in revenge against the man who killed him. But as he’s drawn into the daily lives of Askeladd’s men, his naivete and misconceptions are torn down right before his eyes. He sees the brutality of the slaughter the vikings bring to their targets, the blood they shed and the innocent lives they slaughter. He sees the same men who killed his father try to offer him food and shelter and advice, and he sees himself being too weak and inexperienced to keep from relying on them. At long last, he’s forced to see war not as the idealized thing he pictured it as, but as its true, despicable, infernal self.

This is the reality of the world he lives in. This is the true, murky character of the dream he so foolishly believed in. War is hell. It’s messy and foul and destructive, and there are no easy heroes to root for or easy villains to root against. It’s just people killing each other, flawed, imperfect, sometimes cruel, sometimes kind. Those you thought were monsters reveal themselves to merely be human all along. Only now is Thorfinn beginning to understand how right his father was, how difficult it is to stare down another living person and decide their life deserves to end. But now, he’s caught in between his father’s pacifism and Askeladd’s pragmatism. He struggles to believe that a true warrior has no need of a sword, but he can’t bring himself to murder Askeladd in his sleep, choosing instead to face him with honor. He pushes himself to learn how to survive and grow stronger, but it takes all the strength in his body to finally plunge his blade into another person, even thought that person’s trying to kill him. He’s the son of Thors the Troll, but now, he’s also the son of Askeladd, whether he realizes it or not. And caught at the intersection of two men who are in some ways eerily similar, and in others nothing alike at all, he’s faced with an impossible question: how can one possibly do the right thing in a world where nothing is truly right or wrong?

Sound of Silence

For now, Thorfinn can’t answer that question. He can’t even realize it’s being asked. All he can do is grow, becoming the warrior he always dreamed of being despite no longer being enraptured by the pleasant illusions he projected onto the role. He gets better at killing, better at hating, better at being the exact kind of man Thors fought so hard to turn away from. He grows closer to Askeladd, the man he seeks vengeance against becoming his one source of trust in the world. He grows into a young man as the life he once lived fades away and the world revolves around him, growing darker and colder with every step. And can I just say, I absolutely love just how damn much of this narrative is communicated with so few words. Anime’s usually such a damn verbose medium, which characters explaining every little motivation and backstory, and yet here’s this slow-moving, weighty drama, that’s able to draw even more emotional weight out of what isn’t said. There are so many moments where Vinland Saga drops the dialogue for minutes on end and lets the drama play out in silence. Consider the unspoken horror of Thorfinn’s first encounter with the horrors of war; he sees the village burned to the ground, he makes the decision to kill Askeladd in his sleep, but he can’t bring himself to assassinate him without honor, choosing to honor his father’s way, and it’s only when he leaves that we see Askeladd was awake the whole time and chose to let Thorfinn process his anger in peace, and all of it without a single line of dialogue. It’s all visual, and it’s all stunning.

And that’s just one sequence in a show full of them. There’s the quiet build to Ylva’s breakdown as she tries to put on a brave face after losing her father and brother, only for her tears to finally come streaming out in the middle of the night thanks to a scant few kind words from her mother. There’s the montage of Thorfinn first learning how to survive, tracking his growth in strength and determination with no sound save for the epic orchestral score. There’s the gut-wrenching silence of the English woman who saved Thorfinn break down in tears upon realizing the lost child she cared for was a Viking spy, and his own wordless realization that the path he’s chosen is one that destroys the lives of countless kind, innocent people just like her. But then, he closes his heart to that pain, and just like that, he’s a Viking once more, running along the shore beside his marauding comrades as they set out to burn another village to the ground. It has been a long-ass time since I’ve seen an anime communicate this much through cinematic storytelling alone, weaving a haunting, achingly beautiful tapestry of emotion with so few words and so much expertise. This, truly, is what the word “epic” was designed to describe. If it wasn’t already clear from the first three episodes, it’s absolutely clear now: Vinland Saga is a goddamn masterpiece. It’s a masterclass of character writing, a stunning display of cinematic prowess, and a richly textured narrative that hums with profound, achingly moving insight. This is gonna be a show to remember for years and years to come, and I can’t wait to share the rest of that experience with all of you.

Odds and Ends

-Berserker mushrooms seem pretty weird for an otherwise grounded story. I’m guessing they’re hallucinogens or something?

-This blue forest is fucking gorgeous, by the by.

-Oh damn, it is historical! Guess we’re invading England, huh?

-”Women and children aren’t obligated to get involved in the struggles of men.” I like her.

-”AH, YOU’RE GETTING FLEAS EVERYWHERE!” I cannot get over how funny this show can be.

Good god, I’m excited to keep going. See you next time!

#anime #the anime binge-watcher #tabw #vinland saga

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toastscraps · 5 years

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A Kind of Symphony

An attempt at humor, but somehow got infected by angst. Inspired by @jojo56830 ’s @linkeduniverse. An answer to the Discord prompt, “Music.”

I also hit some of the bonuses, but not all.

- 3k+ words: Yes, I only doubled it this time.

- Sing, Sing, Sing!: Sort of; I made up my own lyrics to a silly song, and one of the characters sings it.

- Tiptoe Through the Tulips: No.

- Lose Yourself to Dance: Not quite. I’ll just allude to it in a brief sentence. :)

Warnings: Magic, minor Bullying, gruesome masks?

Other Warnings: My take on River Zoras, a stupid made up song, made up magical item, two non-cannon invented song titles, lazy research, personal head cannons implied as fact for the sake of plot, side character OCs

Summary: Warriors isn’t like the others; but maybe that’s OK.

Characters owned by Nintendo, given life by JoJo, ruined by me.

Hyrule’s land is one of peace and quiet, they have discovered. The big-bads have been vanquished and the Shadow has yet to taint the smaller ones. They fought some keese and zols earlier, but they were few in number and now that it is night they are lounging around the campfire enjoying themselves. Warriors is watching as Twilight and Wild play-wrestle, the others cheering on the two as one tries to knock the other out of the circle they’ve drawn in the dirt. Warriors believes Twilight will win, as he is the stronger of the two, but Legend’s money is on Wild. Why he thinks the smaller stands a chance, Warriors doesn’t know.

“C’mon, Twilight! Push him out!” he cheers. Twilight is doing an admirable job at just that, Wild’s deer-skin boots digging small furrows in the ground as he fights to keep his position. Twilight himself is barefoot, not wanting an “unfair advantage”. Wild has yet to protest the arrangement, and Warriors suspects he is the kind to take any quarter. Wild is a survivalist, and if he can exploit a weakness, he will.

But ultimately Twilight is stronger. Brute force and taking things down are what he is built for.

In a move Warriors would never have calculated, Wild ducks under Twilight’s arm and twists behind him. Then with a shove he uses his mentor’s own momentum against him to push him toward the outside of the circle. The whole crowd gasps, Warriors included, but Twilight is able to stop his toes just before they leave the boundaries. Twilight gives a low, gravelly growl and whips around just as Wild moves forward to give him another push. He stands his ground, widening his stance and grabbing Wild around his waist, slinging him over his shoulder. Wild yelps and tries to find purchase anywhere where he can either free himself, or even better switch their positions. He ends up digging his fingers into Twilight’s sides. The elder Link releases him with a howl of laughter, but quickly recovers and blocks Wild’s attempt to ram him out of the ring.

“It’s nice to see them in a friendly competition,” Four says quietly beside him, nearly scaring Warriors out of his skin. He’s never figured out how he can move so silently. “Things were getting a bit tense there for a while.”

Twilight and Wild have been on the outs ever since Wild jumped in front of an arrow for him a week ago. Twilight has been upset that his protégé felt the need to protect him, and Wild has been miffed that Twilight was trying to make decisions for him, especially when it was his job to protect people.

Sometime between then and arriving in Hyrule’s world they have come to an agreement, and are once again palling around like nothing has happened.

“You’re telling me,” Legend snorts, watching on with folded arms. He is the most excited about Twilight’s almost-foul. “It’s about time those guys made up.”

There is a sudden cheer as Twilight pins Wild to the ground, his shoulder landing outside their boundary. Warriors grins and holds his palm out to Legend, who grudgingly gives over the fifteen rupees they bet on. Warriors pockets the jewels and turns to see Twilight giving Wild a hand up. Everyone laughs and smiles and Wind jumps up on a boulder, his face glowing in the light of the fire.

“Now I must sing a pirate cheer for the winner,” he crows.

Ho! The champ has the glory,

Whose enemies he’s victor’d o’er,

Who’s beaten them sorely,

And scared them to the shore,

Who’s blown down their captain,

Thrown the skipper o’erboard,

Crimped all the crew an’

Then became their lord!

Everyone laughs and claps along with Wind’s song. Warriors joins in, being able to keep the beat as long as everyone else is, too. Wind spins around and raises his knees high, stomping and smiling the whole time. When he is done, the claps scatter and Twilight bumps shoulders with Wild teasingly. Wind sits down and Sky pulls out a lyre. That seems to be some sort of signal as Time and Legend both dig into their bags and pull out ocarinas.

“Hyrule has a flute, too,” Four calls out. Hyrule sends him a mild glare.

“It’s just a recorder. And Four has an ocarina,” Hyrule accuses. “Maybe he should play it.”

“You don’t have to get out an instrument if you don’t want to,” Legend says smugly. “Just leave this to the professionals.”

Warriors almost sighs. Now Hyrule has taken that as a challenge and is removing the not-flute from his shoulder bag. His fingers are awkward on the instrument, as if he is unfamiliar with the handling. Four still refuses to get his out.

“No, you have fun,” he says. “I’ll listen.”

“You guys know the Overworld March?” Time asks.

“Ooh! I do!” Wind says, “But I don’t have my flute, so I’ll just sing!”

“I don’t know it, but I can probably pick it out,” Sky admits. “Chords are pretty easy.”

“I’ll sing with Wind,” Twilight offers. “And Wild can, too. He’ll help us keep a beat.”

“I don’t…know the words,” Wild hesitates.

“It’s not hard,” Four says quietly. “I can sing, too.”

Their conversation continues, and Warriors relaxes and begins to drown it out. He instead concentrates on the light shining on their faces, and how happy they look to be with each other and to be making music together. He doesn’t realize Sky has been trying to get his attention until Legend nudges him.

“What?”

“Do you play anything?” Sky asks.

“Oh, no. I never learned.” Warriors isn’t too sorry he’s never learned. He’s never had the time, and has always been more interested in tactics and fighting techniques. And appearances, of course.

“Maybe you can help keep a beat,” Hyrule suggests.

“Oh, no. I’d probably mess you up,” Warriors smiles good-naturedly. “I’ll just listen.”

“Come on, you can at least sing. If I have to keep the rhythm, you can at least help with the words.”

“Nah, you don’t want me singing.”

“Oh, come on.”

“Coward.”

“Really?”

“Why not?” Wind whines.

Warriors shrugs and jokes, “I can’t carry a tune in a bucket.”

Everyone is silent; the atmosphere has become tense. All Hylians have a natural tendency to be good at music, and if not with an instrument, then at least they can all sing. There isn’t much more they can say to convince him to join in.

“…But, no one can carry a tune in a bucket. That’s impossible…”

“It’s an idiom, Sky.”

“You don’t have to sing if you don’t want to.” Time cradles his ocarina. Everything has gotten quiet and awkward.

“Guys! Go ahead and play!” Warriors says, exasperated. “I enjoy just listening.”

The others look at each other, and then Time quietly blows a couple notes into his ocarina, Legend joining in with the harmony. Sky soon picks up on the cords and Wind and Twilight are starting in with lyrics. Hyrule is playing a few notes, struggling to keep up with Time, and wincing to himself whenever he misses a cue. Wild is singing, too, and hitting a couple of stout branches against the hollow log he’s sitting on. Soon a beat rises up, and those who don’t have a wind instrument are smiling and joining in.

Warriors doesn’t mind. He likes to watch the glow of his friends’ faces, and even though he has trouble hearing what is making Legend wince as they play, he picks up a little on the melody and the tempo and taps his foot to Wild’s rhythm. It becomes its own kind of symphony. He is sure to make his humming as quiet as possible. He doesn’t want to mess anything up.

Warriors is a tiny little thing, standing a half a head shorter than the rest of his class, even as a first year student. As such, he tries to make up for his stature by being as loud and obnoxious as possible. The need to be seen, to be recognized, overrides his teacher’s exasperated commands to be “quiet or you’ll be sweeping the floor tonight.” Warriors has become quite adept at using a broom.

He has “friends,” but they are mostly amused at him, and not really friends. He takes being the butt of their jokes in stride; he doesn’t mind as long as he gets some attention. He tends to get noticed by adults more than by other kids. He’s such a cute kid, and has such beautiful blue eyes. He’s such an annoying brat, always talking loud and being disruptive in class.

It is springtime, and the king will be riding in with his daughter, Zelda, to inspect their town. Warriors is excited, because he has heard stories about the bravery of the king in battle from his father, and his mother has told him that Princess Zelda is his age. He can’t wait to meet her.

As is customary, the students of the school have to learn “Saluting Zelda”, Hyrule’s national anthem. The choir is made up of all the children in the class, and each class has to sing a different part. Warriors is particularly excited.

Their teacher has them memorize the words line by line. Warriors sets to committing it to his mind as soon as he gets his copy, running home with it to his mother and using his evenings to pour over the lyrics. He knows them better than anyone in his class.

One day his teacher brings out a strange instrument called an accordion. She starts off with the first couple notes, telling the children to wait until the intro finishes playing before they join in. Warriors starts too early, and all the kids laugh at him. The next time she starts, he’s sure to watch from his periphery for the intake of breath the other students take before they begin.

But somehow that goes wrong, too. The teacher tells him to behave and sing properly, or he’s getting detention. Warriors tries, he really does. He has the words down, and he doesn’t think he’s singing wrong, but somehow he finds himself sitting in the classroom after school with his head on the table, waiting for his mother to come and pick him up. He’s never cried in school before, but he’s close to it today. He feels so humiliated. He would rather not be seen by everybody, now.

His mother takes him home, and Warriors doesn’t tell her what’s wrong. He stays in his room through supper and bed time, only emerging the next morning to go back to school. He is quieter in school that day, and ends up just letting the other children talk and laugh around him. The end of the day draws close, and he dreads what is coming.

His teacher begins to play again, and again he waits for the children to take a breath before he starts (though he is beginning to get the timing down, now). He can now hear the melody, the notes, and the cacophony of his own voice against them. He thinks maybe, if he can adjust his voice, he can sing properly.

It doesn’t work, and the teacher gets after him particularly harshly. Warriors bursts into tears, and yells that he’s trying, he just can’t get it to match. His teacher takes him by the shoulders, looks him in the face, and sighs.

“It’s too bad,” she says. “Such a pretty face. I still want you standing in the front, but don’t sing. Just mouth the words.”

And so Warriors does. He spends the rest of the practices mouthing words he’s memorized by heart, and trying to hum quietly to the tune when the others are practicing a particular detail over and over and over again. He thinks maybe if he can get it right, he can sing. But he never does, so he doesn’t.

The day comes shining bright and glorious, as is befitting a king and his daughter. Warriors is still in the front, but it is no longer just his class. They are lined up along their main roadway and Warriors panics when he realizes his teacher isn’t carrying her accordion. One of the older students informs him that they have to wait for the sound of trumpets to start. He calms when he sees the others beginning to heave in a breath. He does so as well. Just as in practice, he mouths the words.

The crowd roars and Warriors jumps, not expecting the sudden noise. People cheer as the knights come in first on their stallions, waving to the crowd. Warriors beams when his father rides by, careful to keep his mouth moving. His dad gives him a wink, his blue eyes sparkling and bright smile flashing, and then is gone. People start going down on their knees, and Warriors just barely remembers to do so, too, keeping his lips moving the entire time. The king comes in on a great chestnut stallion. Warriors can’t see much of him except his boots and the bottom of his red beard. A chariot follows after, and he catches a glimpse of pointed ears and corn-yellow hair between drawn lace curtains, and then it too is gone.

It is so fast, Warriors is almost shocked out of singing (mouthing). That’s it? He isn’t going to be able to hear the king give a speech, or ask Zelda what it’s like to live in a palace? He tries not to let his disappointment show.

Masking his feelings becomes something that Warriors grows adept at.

Hyrule splashes Wild as they “fish” with their hands in a calm, shallow section of the river. Somehow it has turned into a war, the two scaring more fish than they are catching. Upstream, well away from their antics, Time, Legend, and Twilight fish with actual poles. Wind is tending a fire not far away, Sky helping him smoke their catch so far. Warriors is laying in the sun, working on his tan, and Four is dozing nearby. Warriors considers joining him in dreamland.

Their day is progressing much the same way as their night before did. It’s actually- really nice. Warriors wouldn’t mind it being like this all the time. He closes his eyes and stretches his arms back, trying to get the soft white underside that he hardly ever exposes, because it’s too vulnerable of a position. He can see the red of the sunlight, even behind his eyelids, and revels in the warmth soaking through. Birds are singing their melodies to the noon sun, and laughs and conversations drift up from the banks of the river.

Suddenly there is an explosion, interrupting the peaceful quiet. Warriors cracks an eye open and glances downstream, expecting to see dead fish raining from the sky and Wild and Hyrule somehow in the middle of it all. What he doesn’t expect is Wild and Hyrule thrown back on the ground, not far from where Four is now jumping to his feet. What he doesn’t expect are giant creatures with decapitated reptile heads covering their faces rising from the water. He definitely doesn’t expect a hag clothed in seaweed to rise as well and push out a wave of magic with a blue aura.

He doesn’t expect to fall asleep without any warning.

There are excited voices when Warriors gains consciousness. Some of them sound familiar, and more upset than happy. He blinks a couple of times, watching as scaly giants with lizard head masks come toward their… well, box. Hyrule and… Legend? … are already up, the latter spewing foul language and the former trying to negotiate with their captors and jabbing Legend in the ribs with his elbow for instigating rather than helping. One of the creatures lifts a lithe tube up to its mask and blows on the end. Something small comes out as a blur and flies through the blue barrier, hitting Legend in the neck. He falls to his knees and begins to mumble the same curses, but more quietly.

“That was uncalled for!” Hyrule shouts. Warriors groans. He did not want to wake up to this.

Warriors pushes himself up onto his knees and shuffles over to where Legend has already pulled the dart out of his neck and is trying to fight sleep.

“If you don’t calm down,” the monster says from within the gruesome mask, “you’re going to get one too.” Warriors finds himself somewhat surprised that it can even talk; by the sound of it, it is a “she”.

“Enough, Mantah,” the hag says, her features obscured by a mask of green. “We want them all awake when the Queen arrives.” Warriors doesn’t know who this “queen” is, and he doesn’t particularly want to find out. If she’s as hideous as these creatures, there’s no way he will ever want to see her.

As they wait, Warriors sits down next to Legend, who is holding his head groggily. Hyrule is trying to wake up the others, shaking them and earning sleepy mutters of “what?” and from Sky a “five more minutes.” Several of the giants that caught them are off to the side, conversing quietly and pointing at them as if gleeful of the novelty of it all. Warriors barely catches, “Hylians! Can you believe it?” They seem quite excited about their prey. The captives are locked in a magical energy field of some kind, down in an impression in the stone. There is what appears to be a large throne carved out of the rock, larger than any of the giants present. A set of stairs leads up to its dais, a path of tile spreading out from its base. They are in a large cavern, conversations and sounds echoing and amplifying in its rotunda.

Suddenly all other sound is drowned out by a blast of strings. They are far louder than any natural stringed instruments Warriors has ever heard, and by the time the ringing dies down, he notices that all of the water creatures have dropped to their knees. There is a procession of a dozen or so guards, similar to the ones that captured them, and then there is a group of unarmed footmen carrying a giant litter with what appears to be an enormous… sea slug, with tiny arms and legs, and wearing flowing robes.

The others are awake by now, Time and Hyrule up by the front of the cage, glaring out at the monsters. Warriors tries to drag Legend further back (he somehow hasn’t fallen asleep again), but even in his groggy state he is able to slap Warriors’s hand away and insists that he’s, “not gonna let some demon fish intimidate” him. Warriors huffs and readjusts his hold to pull him behind Sky, who is just now getting to his feet. He ignores Legend’s struggles and sits with him on the floor next to Wind, who is blinking sleepily. Wild is also groaning; his joints popping as he stretches and rises, Twilight hovering anxiously nearby.

“They’ve taken our weapons,” Four informs quietly, his hands twitching as he looks anxiously at the pile of sharp metal and heavy armor on the stone not far from them. Warriors feels his stomach drop. They are in more trouble than he’d originally thought. The master sword glows angrily from where she has been thrust into the pile, her indignation nearly audible as a low buzz.

The sound is drowned out by a crier, whose face is bare of a mask. Warriors starts in surprise as he realizes that the monsters are actually Zoras, just with horrific headpieces. These merpeople aren’t nearly as friendly as the one he met due to Cia’s meddling.

“All hail the Ruler of the Zora, her Majesty Queen Scallopa. All hail the Queen!”

“All hail!” A myriad of voices fills the room just as the litter bearers crest the top of the stairs, straining under the weight of their burden. Warriors realizes that this must be the Queen. He has to squint and turn his head to even recognize something Zoran about her.

A small eternity seems to pass as she is maneuvered onto her throne, and Warriors (almost) feels bad for the poor Zoras now arranging themselves to stand at attention by her sides. There is absolute silence through the hall. Then, a sudden booming voice comes from the Queen. “What have you brought me, Kelpit?”

“Oh Queen Scallopa, may you live evermore,” the hag bows, her seaweed-covered head tilting back to reveal the sharp nose and dark eyes characteristic of the Zora. “I have brought you these fine young Hylians, to sacrifice their voices and abilities for your harp.”

“Ah yes; Hylia’s people, who have all inherited her talent for music,” the Queen’s face shifts slightly, and Warriors realizes she is trying to tilt her head. “Very well. You cannot go wrong with them. Bring out my greatest creation; bring out the Harp of Spirits!”

“Kelpit” seems strangely pleased with this answer, and a low rumble can be heard as a large, ornate harp is pulled in on a wooden cart. It is at least as tall as the tallest Zora there, excepting the colossal Queen, and has a dark blue color, similar to Time’s ocarina. Intricate gold swirls decorate it, and even Warriors, unskilled as he is in the ways of magic, can practically smell the stench of it coming off of the instrument. Hyrule’s nose is wrinkled, and he’s looking at the thing in apprehension, palms pressed on the blue barrier.

The plain hero yelps as the surface below his hands is lost. He falls forward rapidly, Time reaching out as if to grab him and keep him from face planting, but his hand is blocked by a blue shield replacing the one that was lost. Instead, Hyrule is left trapped in a bubble of the blue stuff, where he is brought closer to the hag. The harp is finally pulled to rest in front of their enclosure, more Zoras carefully lifting it from its rolling platform and setting it down into a groove cut in the floor. The bubble around Hyrule coalesces to form a set of cuffs at his wrists, forcing his arms behind his back and trapping them there. He is shoved to his knees before the harp, and the witch raises her hand.

“He has a flute in his belongings,” Mantah says, and Warriors barely hears Hyrule correct her:

“It’s a recorder.”

The witch grabs Hyrule’s face and examines it closely. Warriors thinks he hears Wild growl to his left, but he can’t be certain. Mantah hands the witch the recorder at her request. She releases her grip on the teen’s face, and the wind instrument lights up with a blue glow, which connects via a faint string of light to Hyrule’s fingertips. Their light is even duller.

“No, he is not skilled enough with it. I will not sully the harp with his greenness. His voice will have to do.”

Hyrule’s mouth opens without his control, and the harp begins vibrating. His eyes widen and a scale of sound starting (somewhat) low and increasing in pitch is forced out. Warriors may not be able to hear melodies correctly until the fourth or fifth time around, but even he can tell that Hyrule’s voice is beautiful: not a crack, not a hesitation. The harp glows greedily, sucking in the sound and leaving Hyrule winded. The witch carelessly flicks her wrist and Hyrule is thrown back into the cage where he is left gasping for air. Sky helps him up and the younger hero tries to speak, but nothing comes out. Hyrule pales, his hand flying to his throat. The Queen seems pleased, and requests that the harp play. The strings move expertly, guided by invisible fingers, and a haunting melody pours out, the cries of several dozen voices that were taken from their bodies too early.

Warriors shouts and abandons Legend on the ground as Wind is ripped from them next, struggling and pulling at the magic shackles as he’s lifted toward the harp. He swears, young voice cursing up a storm of words he must have learned from the pirates he was always telling stories about. The witch doesn’t even try to ask for any skill this time. “He’s too young,” she scratches out, “any skill he has is not fully developed. We can try again another time, after he’s been trained. His voice, though, will be sweet and tender; a beautiful addition to our collection.” She lifts her hand. Warriors rams his shoulder into the barrier in hopes of breaking it, and can feel Time and Twilight doing the same not far from him, but he can do nothing as Wind’s voice, high and beautiful without the depth of maturity to age it, is stolen from him and stored in the harp. Instead, he moves to catch his little brother as he’s tossed back in like a ragdoll. Wind’s eyes are wide and his body trembling. All Warriors can do is hold him closer as the monster takes her next victim.

Warriors’s mother finds him crying in his room. He is lying on his little bed, holding his pillow close to his face. “What’s wrong, my bairn?” The bed dips as she sits on it, her fingers resting on his scalp to comb through wavy gold locks.

“I don’t know!” Warriors wails, burying his face deeper.

“There’s always a reason,” his mother pauses. “Is this about the parade?” Warriors doesn’t answer. He feels shame rise in him. He’d been so excited, even after he was told not to sing. But now he was just tired.

“Your papa was there,” she says. “Weren’t you happy to see him?” Warriors nods.

“Yeah,” his voice comes out shaky, but his sniffles are dying down. “He winked at me.” He’d almost forgotten that, how his father had left decorum to show some warmth toward his son. Appearances are incredibly important to his dad.

“That was something good, then,” she says. Warriors rolls over to look at her and she removes her hand. Her brown hair is tied up in a loose bun and she’s smiling at him tenderly. He sits up to scoot closer and be welcomed into her embrace. “Let me guess; the king and princess weren’t as amazing as you were hoping they’d be.”

Warriors’s eyes widen. He has no idea how she knows. He voices it as a question.

“It’s not that hard to figure out,” she laughs, the sound bubbling from her throat. “I’ve been to a couple of them myself.”

“We’ve been practicing every day for weeks,” he says. “I memorized every word; I still remember all of them.”

“I know.”

“It was over so fast! They just rode by, like it was nothing!”

“I know.”

He pouts, his arms crossed. “I didn’t get to sing. I just had to stand there and mouth the words and ‘look pretty’.” His mother’s arm stiffens and she bends to look him in the face.

“So that’s why you’ve been so down the last couple a’ weeks.”

He looks away from her, ashamed. “Everyone else sings,” he says sullenly.

His mother sighs and pulls him onto her lap. “I’m afraid you’ve inherited your mother’s musical abilities,” she says.

He sniffs and wipes his eyes. “What do you mean?”

His mother smiles ruefully. “Hylians are all able to sing. They are naturally musically inclined. They can pick apart the inconsistencies in tone and pitch, and can quickly adjust accordingly. A lot of humans can, too, though not to the skill level of Hylians. But some humans have a harder time with music. It’s a genetic thing, and sometimes it can be trained out with a lot of hard work. You have to ask yourself, though, if it is worth it.”

“What do you mean?”

“What’s important to you? If you want to teach yourself to sing or play an instrument when it’s incredibly difficult for you, then great, you can do that. But so can every Hylian that lives in Hyrule, and to them it comes naturally. But you aren’t everyone else; you’re your own individual. It might seem like a good idea to be like everyone else, especially when they prize something you don’t have, but in the end it just steals your life from you. You work hard for something that may never measure up to their standards, and your hard work doesn’t end up paying off. You become miserable rather than liked. And you end up disliking yourself.

“What’s important to you, Link? What do you want to spend your time doing?”

Warriors smiles. That’s easy. “I want to spend time with you!” he exclaims. His mother laughs. Warriors loves his mother’s laugh. Her brown eyes smile.

“You are quite the wee flatterer, aren’t you? C’mon, help me get dinner ready for your papa. He’ll be hungrier than a bear when he gets home tonight.”

Warriors is the only one left by the time the witch gets to him. All the others are silent, their voices having been taken, and in certain cases their skills as well. Wind has (mostly) recovered, and is sitting tensely nearby. Legend is extremely pale, like the harp took out an enormous chunk of his soul. He’s shuddering and glaring at the others in an obvious, “stay away” fashion, but Sky has somehow been able to break through his barrier and is resting a hand on his shoulder. The others appear dour as well, though Wild doesn’t look nearly as heartbroken. He’s signing something to Time. Warriors has no idea what, though.

Four is thrown back in, landing with a thump on the floor. Wind goes forward to console him, (though he looks fairly well put together) and Warriors feels the tug of energy on his body. He is yanked forward, and the Queen is sitting in complete bliss as she listens to the harp hum with the lost voices of his friends. To him, it doesn’t sound beautiful: it just sounds like they are in pain.

“Last one,” Kelpit murmurs, and his hands are locked behind his back. “No instrument, Mantah?” she asks. Mantah replies to the negative, and the hag looks at him curiously. “Odd. I would have thought that by now one as old as you would have at least tried something. Very well. He is a Hylian; I suppose his voice will have to do.”

“I can’t sing,” Warriors says quickly. There is a moment of complete silence, and then the entire court erupts in laughter. The hag’s shoulders shake, too, a twisted grin showing broken teeth.

“I have to admit, I haven’t heard that one before. You’re funny. Perhaps, if I had let you keep your voice, you would have made an excellent jester. But we’ll never know.” Warriors feels the tug of magic on his vocal chords, and he suddenly understands why the others were so distraught. Sounds begin to leave his throat, and even he can tell that something’s not right. The harp, rather than humming in pleasure, is trembling as if withstanding an awful gale that is shaking its very foundation.

“Stop!” the Queen commands. “Stop it this instant!”

“I’m trying,” Kelpit is weaving her hands through the air frantically as if there is an elusive fairy she has to catch.

There is a loud crack which echoes through the room. Strings break and snap under the weight of Warriors’s sound. He can’t stop it, and at this point he doesn’t want to. Something like pleased retribution rises in his gut as the Queen’s greatest achievement becomes nothing more than a frame with broken wires and splintered wood. There is the briefest moment of silence as Warriors’s dissonance tapers off and the harp still stands, albeit decrepitly. The whole room seems to hold its breath. Suddenly there is an explosion of blue light and a hundred screams louder than the crashing of many thunders. Warriors turns his face to the side and covers his eyes as it blasts throughout the room, its boom making little rumbles in his chest. When the dust clears, the hag has been knocked on her back and Warriors has been freed. He glances over his shoulder at the others who have left the enclosure and are now going to their weapons.

The Queen seems particularly distraught. “My harp! My glorious harp!”

“I did warn you,” Warriors says, pleased to have his voice back.

“You!” she seethes, turning toward him. “You’ve ruined everything with that awful thing you call a voice. I’m going to rip out your vocal chords and feed them to the Dodongos!”

“No, you won’t.” Time moves forward with his sword in his hand. Without their witch, the others are able to take down the Zoras easily. The guards aren’t prepared to shoot darts out, and many of them are lying stunned on the ground from the harp’s explosion. The litter-bearers aren’t warriors, and scattered the moment the heroes got their hands on their weapons.

The Queen screams in frustration, commanding her guards to wake up and recapture their prisoners, but it’s too late. Time and Hyrule are grinning as they hold their swords to her fat chin. Legend has finished off his foes and is stomping on the remains of the harp, as if rendering it to dust will somehow sate his rage.

“You pathetic rodents, how could you? You destroyed a masterpiece of art! A legacy that would have been passed down to generations of Royalty!”

“I’d be quiet if I were you,” Sky says from where he’s tying up stunned guards.

The monster’s pale grey eyes turn to him, and Warriors feels the weight of her stare. Oh well. He’s used to stares. “It’s impossible! How - I don’t understand! You’re Hylian! How could you be so horrible!??”

“I’m half human, you giant ugly sea-slug,” Warriors gloats. “Some of us have notoriously bad voices. Your time on the stage is over; I think it’s time for you to take a bow.”

Four comes up beside Warriors and puts a hand on his arm. “As much as I’d love to dethrone this tyrant, we have to be mindful of the power gap that may be left behind. Zoras have a strict line of succession, and –” he is cut off as the Regent’s eyes widen and her blob-like form tips forward. She screeches as she rolls down the steps, leaving behind Wild and Legend, who high-five.

“How’s that for a dethroning?” Legend trumpets.

“Help me! Help me up!” She’s relied so long on the servitude of the smaller Zoras that she no longer can raise herself.

“Help yourself,” Hyrule mutters, and sheaths his sword. They are done.

Warriors is walking with the others back to their camp, which had been left in disarray. Twilight quietly pads beside him and watches the others run and laugh as they approach the clearing where their fish had been left to dry in the sun. Warriors feels warm and light. Being with the others is something he will never take for granted.

“You can sing with us, you know,” Twilight says suddenly to his right. Warriors looks at him from the corner of his eye. “None of us care how you sound.”

Warriors can feel the surprise on his face. “You heard me; you heard how horrible I was!”

Twilight shrugs. “Not really. I’ve heard worse. I grew up in a village of humans, I know horrible singing.” He grins and turns to Warriors. “Though, you are pretty bad…”

Warriors gasps and holds a hand to his chest dramatically. “How dare you!”

“I wouldn’t lie to you,” Twilight grins. Warriors shoves at him with his shoulder. The sturdy farmhand isn’t fazed a bit, and Warriors ends up bouncing back the way he came. Twilight’s laugh is low and gravelly, and Warriors is surprised to find it isn’t much different from his singing.

“But seriously,” he continues after his chuckles have died off, “you don’t need to be ashamed of your voice. Don’t ever feel that way. Everyone should be able to enjoy singing, whether or not they are the best at it.”

“I’m not sure the others will feel that way,” Warriors says dryly. “Legend seems a bit persnickety when it comes to music.”

“He’ll get over it. If he doesn’t, I’ll wrestle him into the ground.” Twilight smiles, but Warriors gets the feeling he’s serious.

“Thanks,” because no Hylian but his father has ever given him quarter when it comes to his pipes.

“Now,” Twilight claps his hands, “let’s get back to the others. I overheard Wild talking about a fish daikon stew, and I can’t wait to try it!”

As Twilight jogs to catch up, Warriors smiles. He has a hard time with melody, it’s true. Today has only cemented that fact more firmly in his mind. But he isn’t deaf to beauty. His friends laughing, talking with and enjoying one another, that is music to his ears. As he hurries to catch up to their group he chuckles to himself. He is more than ready for that kind of symphony.

#linkeduniverse #legendofzelda #loz #liberal creative license taken #not many loz songs that aren't magical #I made some up #minor editing we nearly die like links #poor research #advice-take with a grain of salt #fanfic

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