#so now if i am having trouble crying on command i replay it in my head
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Jeon Jungkook x female!reader | Yandere Au | REQUEST 3
WARNINGS: yandere!jungkook, escort!reader, attempted homicide mention, homicide, suicide, smut. Please, don't read if it makes you feel uncomfortable!
English isn't my native language, so please excuse me if I make any grammatical errors and feel free to let me know.
A/N: hey, anon! how are you today? first, thank you so much for request. i think i got a little carried away, but i did my best. have a good reading and please let me know what you think about
MASTERLIST
Confused and scared; this is how you feel when you first set eyes on him. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he keeps his enigmatic gaze on you.
First, you couldn't help but notice how different he looks from the last time you saw him the… Three years ago? He's taller and you swear you can see a well-defined body through the fabric of his white shirt; the features are more mature and the haircut has also changed to something shorter. He's more handsome than ever, you have to admit.
Then the disturbing memories of the last moments you had together come rushing back, replaying like a movie. You can hear the sound of objects being thrown against the wall along with your anguished screams begging him to stop echoing in your head; she you still feel his hands squeezing your neck and your feet ache after running desperately for your life.
And only then do you realize that you're face to face with the man you've been hiding from for three years.
You obviously didn't come here for that. Where the hell has your client gone?
— Hi…? — it is he who breaks the silence.
He always took the first step. He was the one who started the conversation first, planned the first date, took the initiative for the first kiss. He was the first to say 'I love you', just as he was the one who started the first fight.
—I missed you.— now he's getting to his feet and walking slowly toward her.
You want to run away, scream for help, hide forever, but your body doesn't obey any of your commands. You're shaking and thick tears are wetting your face, and he just can't help but love the effect it has on you; the fear plastered on you face only excites him. That sight makes it worth all the time it took him to find you, the trouble he went to getting rid of the body of the asshole you were going to meet tonight, and every penny he paid your boss to see you.
— I know you missed me too, but you don't have to cry. I am here.— he smiles gently, as he takes a hand to the side of your face to caress your cheek with his thumb.— You liked the surprise, didn't you?
You open and close your mouth several times, but you can't formulate any current sentences.
— Answer me.— it's an order. - I want to hear your voice.
— I-I don't know what to say.— your choked voice is no more than a whisper and a frown forms on his face.— I... I was never good with words, you know... But thank you so much for coming, Jungkook!
You force a smile to try to fix things and it seems to work, as soon he smiles back too.
His next action takes you by surprise; he kisses your jaw, starting a trail of seals to your mouth where he slides his tongue across your lips before finally kissing you and you do nothing to stop him.
At first, Jungkook kisses you slowly, as if he wants to enjoy every second. Then he becomes rough, wet and desperate, sending shivers through your body, he takes both hands to your waist to bring you closer, so you feel his cock already erect. You still have the same effect on him even without making any effort.
— I want you right now, angel— he murmurs against your lips.— You're going to let me use your pussy to come, aren't you?
You look away and nod, swearing to yourself that you're only about to do what you're going to do because you want to get out of this room alive.
— Use words, you fucking slut!— Jungkook growls.
— Whatever you want, Kook
Moments later, you're naked, wrists tied to the headboard, begging, as Jungkook slides his rosy glans through your folds before finally penetrating the entire cocky length in one go, before starting to move without giving you time to get used to the sudden stretch. The sight of your own cock disappearing inside you is perfect.
— J-jungkook I...— you try to protest, but a slap across your left cheek makes you shut up.
— Be a good fuck doll and don't fucking complain!— he growls, speeding up the rhythmic movements as he bends under you, wrapping his right hand against your neck and leaning his forehead against yours.— “How can you stay so tight even after letting anyone else use that pussy, huh? Stupid bitch!
The tip of his cock hits your sweet spot with each thrust, making the sound of your desperate groans increase and Jungkook smiles self-centeredly, knowing he was the first to have you like this and, although he wasn't the only one, he will be the one last.
Lying with your back to the mattress, body sweaty, hair disheveled and there are numerous marks spread across your skin. You still have your wrists tied, legs wobbly from your recent orgasm, and uneven breathing. Feel completely stupid.
The sound of the revolver being cocked brings you back to reality. His face expressionless, Jungkook has a gun pointed at you.
Just like a few moments ago, you want to run away, scream for help, hide forever, yet your wrists are still bound. A deep sigh escapes your trembling lips.
— You know you don't have to do this.— you try, but it's not like he's really listening to you.
He knows he will never be able to forgive you for how you made him feel when he discovered your new life. Did you leave him for that?! Did you run off to serve as a dump for some stupid guys? You don't deserve the love he gave you.
He loves you as much as he hates you. He doesn't want to live with you.
— Please Kook, we...— you are brutally interrupted by the bullet that hits you square in the forehead.
Then he brings the barrel of the revolver to his mouth and pulls the trigger a second time.
He doesn't want to live with you, but he doesn't want to live without either.
#yandere bts#yandere scenarios#bts yandere#yandere jungkook#yandere jungkook x reader#yandere jungkook smut#jeon jungkook smut#yandere jeon jungkook#dark bts#dark yandere#dark jungkook#yandere drabble
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Pinging @inessencedevided since u asked to be notified when I posted the next section of the Hunger Games AU :) Still no answers on the Gusu situation in this part, I’m afraid.
part one
Guessing at what might be happening in Gusu serves as a good distraction for the remaining hours of the train ride. It’s something of a useless exercise- there are too many possibilities and no information yet- but it’s a safe topic for his mind to return to. Maybe something humiliating happened during the Reaping, and they’re trying to mock up some fake footage. Maybe one or both of the competitors managed to commit suicide before getting on the train, and the Wens are right now conducting an emergency second drawing. Maybe Qishan has lost patience with the Lans and wiped out Gusu, just as they wiped out Yiling a century ago.
That last one, while the least likely, is also the most worrying. If it comes to open rebellion- Qinghe isn’t ready, not by a long shot.
He tells himself that what he’s doing is still the best plan. But the worry lingers, and there’s nothing he can do to alleviate it. He drums his fingers along the side of his seat, and Zonghui glares at him. Maybe there really was a freak summer blizzard in Gusu.
Thinking about that is better than mentally replaying his last words to Nie Huaisang.
The door at the end of their train cabin slides open, letting in an attack of noise before it slides closed again behind the massive bulk of Nie Mingjue. Meng Yao looks him over with the ease of long practice. His eyes are red, the skin around them puffy. He’s been crying again. His braids are askew, as though he ran his fingers forcefully through his hair, or maybe slammed his head into a wall. Meng Yao’s seen him do both.
He sits down across from Zonghui, and glares at Meng Yao, which Meng Yao interprets as a cue to stand up and come over to their booth. He sits next to Zonghui. She shifts, putting more space between them. He’s used to that. Mingjue doesn’t notice. Meng Yao is used to that, too.
Nie Mingjue clears his throat. “You can win,” he says, and oh, no, they’re going to get a pep talk. By some mystery of the universal order, Mingjue’s pep talks usually seem to work on the sect disciples. They’ve never worked on Meng Yao. “You will win. You will show them the spirit of Qinghe, the spirit of our ancestors.”
Half of Meng Yao’s ancestors are buried in a vault in Lanling. The bones of the other half lie somewhere in Yunming. His braids are the only Qinghe thing about him.
Mingjue leans forward. Something sparks in his eyes, like the fires of hell. His voice, which has always sounded like it ought to belong to a man twice his age, deepens further. Meng Yao finds himself swaying towards him, as though hypnotized. “For generations, my family has submitted to the shame of this farce, and let the people under our protection pay the price,” Nie Mingjue says, and his forceful tone is so compelling that it takes a moment for the actual horrible content of his words to sink into Meng Yao’s brain, and then the words are like icy panic shooting directly into his veins. Oh, FUCK.
Hurriedly whispering about the almost absolute certainty that this train carriage is bugged would, Meng Yao knows, be absolutely useless and indeed more likely to add oil to a fire. He can hear the response now. Why should I care what they hear? What can they do to me?
“I swear to you both, no more,” Nie Mingjue continues, while Meng Yao sits there uselessly in his frozen terror. “I will find a way to-”
Meng Yao’s useless brain is still refusing to provide him with any sensible way to stop this, so he does the only thing he can think of. He stands up, cups his arms in a quick bow, turns, and walks swiftly towards the back of the train car. Behind him he hears Mingjue’s voice raised in an outraged, “Meng Yao!” He ignores it. There’s a door, operated by a handle. It takes a bit of force to open and slide back. He steps through into the car on the other side, enduring for a moment a vast roaring of rushing air and thundering wheels; and then he’s through. He blinks, and smooths down his robes. The car on the other side is just as elegantly appointed, but instead of a side table piled with a banquet of food, there are alcoves clearly intended for sleeping. Good. He sits down on the one farthest from the door. He raises his hands above his head, the motions feeling stiff, mechanical. He pulls free the silver hair ornament. Allows his hair to fall freely down his back. Pulls some of it forward to fall over his shoulder. Turns, so his back is to the door. Waits, his fingers rubbing nervously over the soft metal. He’s shaking, but that’s fine.
When he hears the door slam open, he lets tears well up in his eyes. He’s always been good at that, has never needed to bite his lip or pinch his wrists or any of the other tricks the prostitutes used. As the heavy footfalls approach, he turns, shakily, and gazes up at Nie Mingjue with his eyes wide. Mingjue stops, staring, his breathing heavy. His eyes flick down to the ornament in Meng Yao’s hands, and then back up to his face. Meng Yao waits.
When Mingjue joins him in the alcove, Meng Yao falls forward against his chest, careful to cradle the ornament in his hands so its sharp edges won’t press into either of them. He pushes his cheek against the warm linen of Mingjue’s outer robe, and allows himself a sob. After a moment, he feels large fingers stroking through his loose hair.
“I’m afraid for Huaisang,” Meng Yao whispers, squeezing his eyes shut, feeling tears run down his cheeks. “He’s alone right now. I just want to protect him. If we anger the Wens, they’ll hurt him.” He curls his right hand completely around the ornament, freeing the left to reach out and clutch a handful of robe. Under the robe, under Mingjue’s skin, he can feel energies surging, unsettled, as they have ever since Nie Mingjue returned from the last Cultivation Competition. “It’s all for him,” he says. “I promise you, Nie-zongzhu, whatever I do, it’s all for Huaisang.”
The hands stroking his hair shift, wrap around his shoulders and pull him close. He lets himself enjoy it. Lets himself feel warm and cherished, for a moment.
“You didn’t need to do this,” Mingjue says into his hair, and his voice is ragged, cracking like a child’s.
Meng Yao raises his head. Pushes back a little. Nie Mingjue’s strong arms allow the separation. Nie Mingjue is crying again. Meng Yao puts his free palm on the side of Mingjue’s face. “I’m going to survive, Nie-zongzhu,” he says.
Promise me you’ll win, Huaisang had demanded, round baby face crumpled in fierce determination. I like you better than Zonghui. Promise me you’ll be the one to come back.
Nie Mingjue had received no such demand, the previous year. Nie Huaisang took it for granted that his da-ge would vanquish all opponents and return to him. Meng Yao, standing behind him, had bowed deeply. May the heavens bless Nie-zongzhu and keep him safe in his travels, he murmured.
Keep Huaisang out of trouble, Nie Mingjue said.
I’m sorry I can’t take care of you any longer, Meng Yao said to Nie Huaisang, two hours ago in the Supervisory Office. Young Master, you need to work hard. Do not make Nie-zongzhu angry any more. And he gently pushed Nie Huaisang’s soft chubby hands off of his shoulders.
“Of course you will,” Mingjue says gruffly.
He really isn’t a very good liar.
“It’s kind of you to say encouraging things to me and Miss Zonghui,” Meng Yao says. “I am just so afraid if we say the wrong thing it will go badly for Huaisang. But I did not mean to interrupt. I am sure Miss Zonghui would appreciate such encouragement.”
Mingjue sighs.
“Don’t be afraid,” he says.
Meng Yao remembers the boy who defended him, two years ago. Who raised him up to dizzying heights, and asked for his opinions like no one ever had before. He would have trusted that boy, if he had said, “Don’t be afraid.” He would have obeyed any command.
The Cultivation Competition changes many things.
Mingjue’s hands cradle Meng Yao’s skull. Warm lips press to the crown of his head. “We’ll be in Qishan in a few hours,” Mingjue says. “Get some rest.”
His tread is less heavy, this time, as he reaches the door. Meng Yao listens to the slide, the moment of noise, and then the quiet again.
He pulls his knees up to his chest. Carefully, he pulls his hair up and through the ornament again. His mind feels empty.
His body won’t stop shaking.
The train thunders across hundreds of miles of beautiful landscape, and with a perfect sense of irony, arrives at the outskirts of Nightless City just as the sun is setting. It’s certainly an awe-inspiring sight. The city is vast, large enough to swallow Qinghe ten times over, and the buildings soar up towards the orange sky. Towering over the urban landscape is the Palace of the Sun and Flames. Its black and red ridged roofs dominate everything with their colossal scale.
Meng Yao indulges in fancy for a moment, imagining that he is arriving to this, the most advanced metropolis in the world, under other circumstances. As an honored disciple, or even a young entrepreneur. Anything other than a blood sacrifice.
As the train decelerates and begins a slow roll through the city streets, the inhabitants gather to stare and wave at it. Meng Yao feels his entire body tense, feels himself take a panicked step away from the windows. He catches himself. Yes, it is unpleasant to be stared at and gossiped about. If he cannot take a few city gawkers, how will he survive the next-
Mingjue brushes past him, goes up to the window and glares. Meng Yao sees the bystanders turn pale and even scatter a little. He smiles.
The Qishan escort, Qiu Qing, enters their car. She is an unpleasant person, but like the bystanders, is sufficiently intimidated by Nie Mingjue that she restrains herself from outright discourtesy to her Qinghe charges, and instead opts for a kind of sarcastic politeness. “We’re approaching the Transformation Pavilion. I’ll hand you over to your preparation teams there. Please do not cause them any trouble.”
Meng Yao bows to her. “This one will do his best, Lady Qiu.”
Nie Mingjue grunts. Zonghui is as silent as she’s been since her name was drawn at the Reaping.
The train slides to a halt. The side doors open with a hiss. Meng Yao allows the others to step out first, and then he exits, out into Nightless City.
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Forever Be My Always.
Book: The Royal Romance, Book 2 chapter 1 - After the Coronation
Pairings: Liam x MC (Riley Taylor)
Warnings: slight swearing, angst
A/N: This is the first Fanfic I’ve ever written, any similarities to anything else out there is unintentional and is purely coincidental. I fell in love with the TRR series late and have only just got into it. I felt that some of the chapters just needed a bit more - so here it is. Hope you like it.
All characters belong to Pixelberry.
Apologies in advance for any typos, grammar or spelling errors.
Chapter 1
‘... I choose Lady Madeleine’ as the words from Liams mouth rang out around the ballroom it was all Riley could do not to be sick. His declaration had knocked the wind out of her, she couldn’t speak, she felt dizzy, so when the palace guards seized her and marched her out of the room she was powerless to resist, her legs were weak and shaking beneath her. ‘DRAKE!’ She eventually screamed, he knew what had happened that night, surely he can help her. Straining against the firm grip of the guards she turned her head to see Drake grappling with two more, trying to get to her. She could see his face was red and his lips were moving, he was shouting at them she could tell but all she could hear was the pounding of her heart reverberating around her head. She protested to the guards who led her to a security office in the palace ‘speak to Drake, please! Why are you not listening to him! I was set up! Liam can’t think that I would do that to him! He told me he was choosing me! Seriously go get Liam, you can’t do this!’
She’s now sitting alone in the departure lounge at Cordonia International Airport. It’s been an hour since her removal from the palace. Her hastily packed bags lay around her feet. Thankfully, after she was unceremoniously extracted from the ballroom by an apologetic Bastien the guards escorting her allowed her to grab her belongings from her room. To save her from further humiliation they also let her change from her lavish ballgown into a pair of skinny jeans and her favourite oversized Yankees hoodie, before bustling her into a waiting unmarked police car and speeding her through the night to the airport. The last hour has been such an adrenaline rush that she’s had no time to stop and give much thought to anything.
Finally Riley gives in and sobs out loud, previously she’s always been so self-conscious when she’s cried but now she just gives in to the enormity of her grief. She sobs into her hands feeling the warm salty tears drip between her fingers. Her sobs echo around the expansive airport lounge, people stare as they pass by, their excited chatter about holidays and travel plans muting as they awkwardly glance in her direction. She knows she must look a state but she’s given up caring what anyone thinks right now, it no longer matters to her. In her head she replays the events of this fateful night, thinking about it over and over again, how could he do that, how could he choose her, he said he loved me, we made love for the first time tonight for fucks sake! The beautiful words Liam spoke to her in the maze are running on a loop, every time she replays it, it becomes more painful than the last, tears stream down her previously perfectly made up face, mascara etching out dark rivers of sorrow on her cheeks. In the last hour she has been unable to see or speak to any of her friends, no one would tell her what’s going on. Bertrand and Maxwell were dragged away in the opposite direction. The guards seized her documents from which travel arrangements were hastily made.
Riley clutches her phone in her hand, willing it to ring or at least buzz with a text. She’s called Drake’s and Hana’s numbers at least ten times already and neither are answering, she knows there’s no point even trying Liams, it’ll no doubt be intercepted. She desperately needs to find out what the hell has happened. Why are they not calling me, surely Drake has told them it was all a big misunderstanding? Do they actually believe I would cheat with Tariq? The humiliation stings her heart and she can feel her cheeks flushing crimson. Thinking about the photos of her in her underwear that the press have printed makes her cringe inside, maybe it’s for the best, she thinks, I don’t know if I can face speaking to anyone right now anyway.
She’s lost in thought as the airport tannoy loudly announces flight PB205 to New York City that she’s scheduled to be on, it startles her back into consciousness. She takes a deep shuddering breath, picks up her hold-all from the floor and stands on still weak and shaking legs ready to go to the gate.
Suddenly a commotion down the corridor catches her attention, the guards that were standing there, watching her from a distance to ensure that she leaves, are grappling with someone.
‘Wait! Riley!’
‘Maxwell!’ She exclaims, her hopes rise at the familiar sound of her friends voice.
Suddenly a deep upperclass accent commands ‘you will keep your hands to yourself, I am the Duke of Ramsford!’
Ahh and Bertrand she thinks, she’s slightly nervous as to what he might say about the scandal and the shame she’s bought on House Beaumont. Oh God how are they going to survive with all this bad publicity adding to their worries. Guilt is now eating away at her alongside the humiliation, the last thing she wanted to do was sully their reputation and cause them more troubles.
She catches a glimpse of them as they bundle through the guards, the image of them both dressed in their formal dress suits jarring against the harsh bright fluorescent strip lights of the airport lounge. They both come running towards her.
‘You came to help me?’ Riley asks Maxwell with hope in her voice.
‘Well, kind of’ Maxwell responds pulling her into a bear hug, his grip tight, she sags into his embrace. A fresh wave of tears takes over her, helpless to keep them at bay she hiccups her words out.
‘What...the...Hell...happened...Maxwell? What have I done...to deserve this? Why...didn’t Liam...stop it? Why does he...believe it? Who would...do this to...me?’
She cries into Maxwells shoulder. He soothes her, patting her gently on her back, ‘Wow, wow Little Blossom, I don’t have any answers -yet, but we believe in you’. He lets her cry on him for a few moments, holding her tightly against him. Eventually he releases his grip and she turns to Bertrand, her voice small and raw with emotion.
’Both of you?’
Bertrand looks at her with one of his customary stern gazes, but his eyes are softer than she’s ever seen them, betraying his outwardly cool exterior. In a clipped tone he asks ‘just tell me the truth, are you having a romantic relationship with Tariq?’
Outrage swarms through Riley’s veins
‘Of course it’s not true!’ She cries out nearly yelling.
‘Then you were set up, of course I believe you I just had to ask’ Bertrand states matter of factly.
‘We’re here to take you back’ Maxwell chirps, with far more cheer than the situation calls for. Ahh Maxwell Riley thinks, ever the optimist, he seems to be handling this way better than she ever imagined he would, his soft yielding personality often borders on childlike, she expected to have to comfort him - not the other way round. It’s not often Riley crumbles under the weight of her emotions, but then again she’s never felt this way about anyone before. Liam has a hold of her heart unlike any before him ever has, he’s the perfect mix of sweet, gentle, passionate and kind- well he was before he slept with her then dumped her for Madeline, she thinks. She knows she can’t go back there, she can’t show her face in the royal court again, not after tonight.
‘Oh Maxwell, I’m not sure I want to go back’ she sighs sadly. ‘I’m sick of the games, of the pomp and circumstance, of the bitching and backstabbing...I’ve made my decision, well it’s been made for me really hasn’t it- I’m going back to New York, and I’m pretty sure those guards aren’t taking no for an answer’ she nods towards the two men dressed in dark green Royal Cordonian Guard uniforms still lurking nearby, watching with a disapproving eye over the three of them.
‘Noooo’ Maxwell squeals ‘please stay, I don’t want you to go! We can solve this together, team Beaumont!’
At the use of the slogan they crafted together throughout the last few weeks she offers him a weak watery smile.
‘We need you - I mean house Beaumont needs you Lady Riley. Don’t worry about the guards, I can sort it with the Crown’ Bertrand offers solemnly, the emotion in his eyes not quite pulling through to his voice.
‘And it’s not much fun if it ends here is it?’ Maxwell is shifting from foot to foot, his nervous energy making it impossible for him to stay still. Riley sadly shakes her head at her loveable puppy like friend, her hands nervously toying with the strap of her carry-on bag.
‘I’m sorry Max, I have to go... it’s about time I went back to my friends and my old life where I can be me again; where I don’t have to compete to prove myself to the man I love...Liam chose Madeleine, it’s over’
Fresh tears threaten at her eyes again and Riley sniffs them back.
The final boarding call for her flight echoes across the polished marble floor of the departure lounge.
‘I can’t compete with her, we both know that, she was born for this life, I wasn’t. I’m tired Maxwell I can’t deal with this shit anymore’
Bertrand clears his throat loudly
‘Heh, sorry Bertrand, I know it’s not lady like to swear, but that’s just it, I’m not a lady - I’m a New Yorker, I don’t belong here, it’s not who I am. I’m sorry I can’t stay and help you guys anymore, I really am. You’ve been so kind to me, you’ve done so much for me, but I have to go, it’s the best thing I can do for Liam right now, he doesn’t need me staying here causing more press speculation for him, testing his people’s faith in their King’s judgement.’
Giving Maxwell one last emotional hug goodbye, Riley makes her way to the desk handing over her passport and boarding card to the stewardess. Each step she takes towards the plane becomes heavier than the last until she eventually walks across the jetway to the plane doors. Taking a deep shuddering breath she enters the cabin not looking back. She’s unsure if her trembling legs will even carry her to her seat. But they do and she sits down heavily into it, grateful to have been allocated one by the window. Tightening the buckle on her seat belt she pulls the hood of her oversized sweatshirt up over her head obscuring her face from the other passengers, and there she stays huddled up against the window, silently sobbing for the entire flight.
#king liam#choices#trr fanfic#trr drake#trr riley#trr mc x liam#trr liam#choices trr#the royal romance
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Interview with a God Pt 9
Tom Hiddleston/Loki x reader
Prompt: I have always heard people joke that Tom Hiddleston is actually Loki playing Tom playing Loki. So, let’s write about it XD
Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , Part 4 , Part 5 , Part 6 , Part 7, Part 8
Interview with a God Part 9
Warning: violence
You were confused but you didn't know why. You were standing in your apartment, just in from work. But what was this feeling that something was wrong, that the world had gone from color to gray all of the sudden?
Loki stood in front of you. As he stepped towards you, you remembered calling him, begging to come. Reaching out for him, you quickly knew something was the matter. His jaw was tight, his normal playful smile gone. His brow was furrowed while his eyes were dark and filled with rage.
“Loki?” you said, pulling back. What was this? Why was he so angry?
He grabbed hold of your wrist and slung you onto the bed.
You lifted yourself off the bed, only to be shoved hard in the chest back down. “I'm a monster, am I?”
“What?” More confusion, your mind hazy as he watched you try again to get up. “I don't think you're a monster?”
“Then what is this?” He asked, holding up a People magazine. It was an article with your name, detailing how Tom Hiddleston was, in fact, Loki, a deranged monster that was cast from Asgard for killing his mother.
You gasped and went to move towards Loki, explaining, “I didn't write that!”
The back of his hand cut through the air so hard it rolled you onto your stomach. You were crying now, realizing he was too angry to listen to reason. You knew you hadn't written anything of the sort. Knew you'd never betray his trust. Knew you didn't see him as a monster.
Before you could move again, Loki’s hand's were on your waist, pulling you backwards to him. Your nails dragged into the bed, desperately trying to get away. His hand caught your hair and brought you to a standing position in front of him.
“Please, Loki!” you begged, “I didn't write that,it had to of been Elliot!”
“Ah, yes,” he mused, not loosening his grip on your head. “The editor that likes to play with your underwear.” He threw you to the ground, brought his foot back and kicked you in the side. “GET UP, Y/N!” And you did, unable to fight it. He reared back and backhanded you again, sending you face first against the footboard of your bed. The wood split your lip and you tasted your blood. “Get.Up.” You were sobbing when you managed to stand up.
“Loki…” you whimpered in between sobs
“Look at me!” he commanded. Your body was convulsing as you tried to fight the tears from falling. You met his hateful eyes and braced for another hit. Instead, he instructed, “Remove your clothes.” Your hands were shaking as you undid your blouse, now looking him in the eyes.
“Loki, I didn't…”
“Do not speak, do not make a sound or I will make you remove your tongue.” The threat was unnecessary, the words themselves enough to ensure you never opened your mouth to him. When you were completely nude, he led you to the balcony. “Climb onto the rail.” and you did. You heard a small crack in his tone, the words now coming out hurtful. “I thought you saw past it, y/n. I thought that you truly understood me how no one else could. But in the end, while I was falling in love with you, you only saw a monster.” Tears silently falling down your cheeks, you heard him give the final order. “Jump.”
*****
You were screaming, your stomach leaving you like you were on a roller coaster. Something wrapped around you, holding your arms down, keeping you from failing.
“Shhhh, y/n, you’re alright!”
You couldn’t wake up or hear the person calling out. You saw him again. Loki. Accusing you of betraying him, of calling him a monster, of hurting you, all before having you jump off the balcony. And every time you jumped, you screamed until you hit the ground. As soon as your body should have met with pavement, you woke back up to Loki, his hateful eyes piercing into you.
Finally, in the middle of the vision, right before Loki had you climb the railing, he stopped. He looked around, confused, looked down at your naked and bruised body more confused. You were crying. “Y/n,” he whispered while he reached for you. You hung your head down, but didn’t shy away from him.
“I’m so sorry, I swear didn’t do it Loki, please believe me….” you sobbed into his chest.
He pet your head and you felt a shift in the room. When you opened your eyes you were back in your apartment, slunk against a wall, fully dressed like you had just come in from your dinner date.
And in front of you sat Tom.
“You’re alright, y/n. Breathe.” His arms wrapped around you and pulled you into his arms. His lips brushed the top of your head, trying to process what it was he had just seen you living through. He gave you another minute, rocking you slightly, calming you down.
Finally he couldn’t wait any longer. He moved to look at you. “I need to know what happened,” he stressed. “Who came here after I dropped you off?”
You hadn’t stopped crying, still trying to make yourself believe that it was all an illusion and this was real life. He reached up and wiped the tears away, holding your face. “Y/n, this is very important. Do you remember what happened?”
“I only remember you,” you whimpered, unwilling to meet his gaze. “You were so angry with me. You wouldn’t listen... “ Bringing your knees to your chest, you couldn’t stop trembling. You were trying to remember everything, what could possibly have happened before Tom arrived in the vision, but you couldn’t. It felt like you have relived that moment for an eternity and you couldn’t remember anything that happened before. “Oh my god, Tom, what was that?” You met his eyes this time, tears falling, body shaking.
Tom didn't answer, only held you tighter. “Can you tell me what happened in the vision then? You were…” He cleared his throat. “Naked. And bleeding.”
Your busted lip quivered as you tried to explain it. “You showed up. Mad, you were so mad. Something about an article about you being Loki printed in People with my name on it.” Your eyes widened and you looked up to him, exclaiming, “But I didn’t, Loki, I would never write….”
“Shhh,” he soothed, bringing you into his arms. “Shhh, it was a dream. Tell me what else.”
You sniffled and went on, telling him all the way to the part where he had you jump. “And then I just kept repeating the cycle. It was like seeing my death over and over and over.” You swallowed hard and tried to reaffirm that it was a dream. That this was real. That you weren’t about to jump off a balcony.
Tom took a deep breath before pulling you both up to stand. “I need you to pack a bag of anything you could possibly need in the next few days,” he instructed, straightening his jacket.
“What for?”
“You’re coming with me to my hotel, y/n. I am absolutely not letting you stay alone.”
You didn’t know if you were relieved or more on edge. You knew it was a dream but seeing Tom so collected, it made your nerves shake. Running on autopilot you packed your things and followed him down to the car.
When the door of the escalade closed, something curious crossed your mind. “How did you know to come save me?”
Tom was typing away on his phone, the first time you had ever seen him on it. As soon as your words resonated with him, his eyes fell on you like a ton of bricks. “I didn't. Your bag was left in my car. I thought as much as you worked that you would be upset without it.”
“Even after our fight you brought it back….”
Tom leaned closer to you, lifting your chin to look at him. There was something hinting at a warning when he told you, “That wasn’t a fight. That was a minor disagreement. If I were angry with you, I promise, you would know. Do you understand?” You nodded. He sat back, still watching you. “Good. Now. A better question, darling, is why on earth didn't you call for me?”
You stared up onto his eyes, trying to recall what happened. You couldn't swear with certainty but you really thought you had tried to call him to you.
When you didn’t answer, Tom frowned and grabbed hold of your shoulder. “Y/n. That's twice today you have been in trouble and I just happened to show up. What if I didn't?”
You didn't want to imagine replaying the balcony incident or dealing with Elliott, but you had no answer for him.
“I need to know you will call for me if you're in trouble.”
“Why?” The question was so simple yet incredulous at the same time.
“Because you’re mine.”
The car came to a stop and the door opened. Tom got out and reached in for you, but you didn’t take his hand. In fact you didn’t move. You realized you weren’t at the hotel you ate lunch at. “Where are we?”
“I booked a suite just a moment ago,” he told you. “Too many people know where I’m staying and we don't’ know who possibly attacked you. I’m not taking any chances. Now,” he held his hand to you again. “Come.”
And you did. You were aware of his command, knowing it wasn’t even meant to be such, but it was enough to set a fire in you.
The driver retrieved the room keycard before Tom took your bags up to the room. “Sir,” the driver said, “What about your things?”
“I have my overnight bag, I should be alright for now. I’ll call you to let you know what I need in the morning. You’ve done more than enough for me today, Dave.” They shook hands and Tom led you to the room. After the door shut behind you, you let out a breath you hadn't realized you were holding.
Tom set your things on the bed. “Would you like to take a shower?”
“Is that a suggestion or invitation?” Your tone wasn’t flirty and he recognized it right away.
His brow quirked at the comment and asked, “What if it was an invitation? Are you saying you would refuse it?” Tom stepped towards you now, his half cocked grin leering at you.
“It’s not like refusing it matters, does it, Loki?” The sharpness in your voice was evident, even the way you spat out Loki.
Tom’s smile didn’t fade but his brow did furrow. “I don’t recall asking you to do anything of that nature against your will. Have I?”
“But you could.”
“I could also have made your editor friend jump out a window today,” he said, his voice just above a whisper as he leaned closer to you. “But I didn’t. Because I listened to you when you asked me to stop.” The breath escaped you and you stared up, seeing his eyes flash green.
You waited a moment longer before grabbing your bag and walking to the bathroom. When you saw your reflection in the mirror, you had to do a double take. Your hair was disheveled, your eyes red and swollen from the crying. And even a cut on your lip that you thought was faked in the vision of Loki attacking you. When you brushed your finger against it, you flinched. It was definitely real. As you began shrugging off your clothes, you saw a few dark bruises along your shoulders, even one large one along your side where you had felt the kick.
Whatever that vision was, it reflected some truth. Your body was proof of that.
Silently, you went into the shower and cleaned off the day, repeated over and over that whatever happened wasn’t Loki’s fault.
You were startled when the door opened and Tom stepped in, his expression softer than before. You reached for a towel but he had already taken a full sight of you, his eyes widening at the marks.
“I…” He swallowed, utterly speechless.
“Please,” you said quietly, slipping on an oversized t-shirt. “Leave me alone.”
“That’s the last thing I want to do,” Tom declared as he wrapped his arms around you. “I’m sorry…”
“Why are you apologizing, you didn’t do anything.”
“But you’re treating me like I have,” he said, his voice halfway cracking. The sentiment surprised you after his comment before. “I’m afraid that mortal sentiments are somewhat lost on me, y/n. I most social constructs and behavior, but I don’t have any training in this.” He looked up at you, again with green eyes. “I have been trying, I swear I have. I don’t want you to be afraid of me, y/n.”
“I’m not,” you said quickly. His hand came up to your face, his thumb lightly grazing over your busted lip.
“Then why do I feel like you’re looking at me different now?”
You didn’t have an answer. Instead, you kissed him. You couldn’t help how you looked at him, but you knew you weren’t afraid of this god. You could tell it took him by surprise, but his hands quickly found your hair and held you in place while his tongue swept into your mouth. Following his lead, your arms went around his shoulders, letting him lift you up on the bathroom counter. You pulled back just a moment, enough to see his black hair in a mess around his face. He had transformed and you hadn’t even noticed. You were both breathing hard, his grip on your hair not faltering. You realized he was hesitating.
“What is it?”
“You’re really not afraid of me?” he asked.
“I’m not afraid of you, Loki,” you admitted. “I’m afraid of your powers. It's all so unknown to me and it just…”
“Is that all?” Loki’s eyes searched your face, waiting for you to finish. “Y/n,” running his hand down your back. “Do you remember what I said about a god not being able to break a promise?” You nodded. “I, Loki of Asgard, son of the Allfather, promise to never cause you harm. I promise to never use my powers against you in any way. I promise I will protect you. That I will never allow any harm to come to you.” His hand came around to your face. “I swear it.”
He lightly wiped away a single tear from your face as he smiled at you, the most sincere smile you had ever seen in his true form. “I believe you are overdue for some rest, darling.” He leaned down to kiss you again, lifting you up in his arms and toting you to the bed.
You had never felt as safe and content as you did wrapped in Loki’s arms, your head on his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart. You breathed him in slowly, committing it to memory. After the day you had, you deserved something good out of all this and as much of a surprise as it was, Loki was that something good.
*****
The next morning you woke to your usual phone alarm. Loki was still beneath you, only slightly stirring when the beeping began. It was surreal, seeing the god like this. Pure, simple, vulnerable. Something he had never allowed you to see of him before. Without thinking, your hand went to trace over his cheekbone and then down to his chin. Down his neck. His chest.
“This is a lovely way to wake up,” Loki spoke softly, but still managed to startle you. He let out a short laugh and kissed your forehead. “Good morning, y/n.”
You smiled. “Good morning, Loki.”
Despite his protests, you got ready for work.”You should stay with me, at least today,” he had reasoned.
“The article posts tomorrow, I have to make sure everything is perfect,” you told him as you gave him a kiss.
“Alright, but I would like lunch with you.”
“What an uncommonly nice way for you to ask me on a date,” you had to laugh. “Okay. Lunch is good.”
*****
You were surprised to see the driver, Dave, downstairs waiting to take you to your office. It felt awkward, but you went along, thanking him for his time when you got out. You squeezed into the elevator with a few others and let out a sigh of relief. Loki had made you feel so much better after his promise, as silly as it was. You held your head a little higher, feeling a flutter in your stomach as you thought about Loki sleeping in bed. He looked so peaceful.
“Oh, excuse me, hold the door, would you?”
You snapped back to reality and held the elevator door open despite it already being cramped. A woman squeezed in, passing you a sideways grin. She stood beside you, much taller than you in her all black ensemble of kneehigh boots, trench coat, and sunhat. She looked like someone going to a funeral.
She looked down at you, her smile still plastered on her face like a china doll. “Everyone but you should get off the elevator.”
The doors opened on the second floor and you quirked a brow and as everyone deboarded.
Alone, the stranger continued staring at you, like some kind of oddity. Or like a car she was deciding the value of.
“Do I…” you squinted, trying to see past her exaggerated outfit. “Know you?”
“You do, sweet girl. But I’m going to need you to forget you saw me. Work and such, you know. Busy busy.” She held a finger to your lip, specifically on your cut.. “Shhh. Secrets make friends, darling.” She flashed you one last grin as the elevator stopped at the eighth floor and she stepped off.
Tilting her head to flash her black eyes at you, she laughed, “Just…. Utterly ordinary.”
And again you forgot your encounter with the goddess of death.
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Tears & Treason
Written by: Thaelea Solarsphere
A fire burned in the hearth of a modest manor on the outskirts of Darkshire. It wasn’t that cool in the dreary forest, but Thaelea certainly felt a chill. It had been trying day and night. So much lost in so little time. And for what? Pride? Stubbornness? A sense of self-righteousness that she, herself, was always railing against? As she sat before the fire, pale, half-lidded eyes staring into the flames with a complete lack of expression, the Ren’dorei replayed the events of the past twenty-four hours over and over in her head.
Her emotional state was something of a mess. Lea had gone from anger, born from a sense that she had been ignored or marginalized, to sorrow, owed to a feeling of betrayal, and finally to...nothing. She felt nothing. Since Dusty, the ever-pleasant Worgen Druid had tried to console her earlier in the day, Thaelea had been blank. She’d been staring into the fire with an uninterrupted stare for the better part of two hours, a small note clutched lightly in her right hand, when Saraena felt the need to speak to her mother.
“Is everything okay, Mom?” She asked. The newest addition to the Solarsphere line, Saraena, had the appearance of an eighteen-year old Human, yet was scarcely four months old. The accelerated aging her mother had employed on the girl just recently completed, leaving her physically mature, and mentally mature...enough. “You’ve been sitting here for a while.” The concerned daughter’s words went unanswered. She was nervous. Lea had never seemed quite so off, though she had been prone to emotional instability before. She tried again. “Mom…?”
“What is it, Saraena?” At last she answered.
“I was worried. You haven’t said a word since you got home.”
“I’m...thinking, love. It’s been a rough day. I’m sorry if I’ve neglected you.”
“Of course not. I’m a big girl; I can take care of myself.” She smiled and approached her mother, taking her free hand. “Can I get you anything?”
“No, thank you.” Lea’s gaze turned to her daughter. The first, genuine smile in two days spread across her face. “You know, you are the only thing I’ve done right since my exile. I can’t imagine life without you.” The elder Solarsphere squeezed the hand of her daughter and drew her in for an embrace. “Can you keep an eye on the house tonight? I need to take a trip overnight. I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“A trip?” The concern in Saraena’s tone was evident. “Why don’t I come with you? You’re not yourself, Mom. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“I’ll be fine, love. I just need to see someone.” Lea took her daughter to her chest in yet another hug, ensuring that her child did not see her throw the parchment in her right hand to the flames.
After a few preparations and gathering of provisions, Lea called for her demonic steed and set off into the night. After leaving the city limits of Darkshire, the supernatural beast left the ground and took to the skies, flying while looking as though it were running on thin air. Lea headed north, through Elwynn Forest, and finally into the Burning Steppes. Even flying, the trip took hours. It was past midnight when the Ren’dorei finally reached her destination, landing about a mile West of Blackrock Mountain. Apart from the wandering Dragonkin and a few fire elementals, the immediate area was devoid of life and structure. But Thaelea would not have come here idly. There was a reason.
Lea spent roughly an hour at the location in the Burning Steppes, waiting in utter silence. But for what? What could have enticed her to take an unplanned journey to the Burning Steppes of all places? Why would she- “Well, hello, my errant daughter.” Thaelea froze. The voice was unmistakable. It was the first time she’d heard it in over a year, and it still sent an ominous chill through her body. Reluctantly, the woman turned to face the source of the voice. And there he was, Thaeleon Solarsphere, a lord of Silvermoon and the patriarch of House Solarsphere. “Father…” She answered, the nervousness plain in her voice.
Thaeleon did not come alone, nor did he arrive by similar methods. As Lea laid eyes on her father, she saw the portal closing behind him, and cast her violet hues on the small retinue he brought with him. Six men, in all: two Farstriders and four Blood Knights. Being a noble of influence meant that Thaeleon went nowhere without a guard. The man drew his arms behind his back and walked towards his daughter. Thaeleon was her father, but even so, his presence always unsettled her. He dressed in greens and blacks, wore epaulets with spikes protruding from them, and gave off an aura of Fel so strong that Lea’s own aura could go unnoticed in his presence. Thaeleon was a Warlock with some six hundred years experience, and not to be trifled with.
“You’ve been ignoring my letters.” Thaeleon’s eyes, like two small embers of Fel-fire, weighed heavily on his daughter.
“I’ve been busy. I joined a group that-”
“Yes, I know. Relic-hunters and mercenaries. Very disappointing.”
“How did-”
“You should know by now that nothing escapes my sight, Thaelea. I’m told you were cast out recently. Still having trouble fitting in, I see.”
“It wasn’t...like that.” Lea stood there, like a child being lectured. She held her hands, one over the other, before her, and stood with slouched shoulders and a bowed head. “They’re good people.”
“Then why are you no longer among them?”
“I…” She winced. The wound was fresh. She didn’t want to talk about it. “That’s not what this is about.”
“Thaelea.” When his daughter lifted her gaze, she was greeted by a sharp slap to her right cheek. “I asked you a question.”
Lea grabbed her face and stroked the stinging flesh. “I...Made mistakes…”
“Yes, you did. Thinking that you would find comfort in Human kingdom, believing for a moment that you’d ever be one of them.”
“What would you have had me do?! I was banished! I had nowhere to go! And you let-” Another slap was delivered to the already-damaged cheek. Even now, a bruise began to form.
“You should have died. Instead you sully our House by joining the enemy. I should end your misery right here and now. Fortunately for you, my dear, I am a merciful man.”
Much of the day had been spent in tears. Only Dusty was permitted to see Lea in such a state, and even that was embarrassing for her. Now, Lea was on the verge of tearing up again. ‘Haven’t I suffered enough?’, she thought to herself as her father paced around her, like a vulture circling its next meal. ‘Isn’t it enough that I live in anguish? That I’ve suffered for over a year in exile?’ Such thoughts were kept to herself, as any further protest would surely have earned her another slap, or worse. Thaeleon Solarsphere was not a man who enjoyed debate.
The Ren’dorei stood in silence for several moments, waiting for her father to speak again. All the while, she looked to the retinue that had accompanied him. They were armed in the usual fashion for their military branches, though each of them bore the silver emblem of House Solarsphere on their arms. They may have served Quel’Thalas, but they served Thaeleon -first-. “I have a use for you.” At last, he spoke. The wait had seemed like an eternity. And the words gave Thaelea a strange happiness. “You...need me?” She asked, eyes wide in surprise. “Yes. And by a strange twist of fate, you are ideally placed to assist me.”
Thaelea very nearly trembled at the prospect. If her father wanted something of her, it would not be good. It may very well lead to her death. However, she knew her father long enough that when he said he had a use for her, he wasn’t asking. He was commanding. “What do you want?” Thaeleon halted, now positioned behind her. “Do you know why they cast you out?” This again. Why did he have to speak of this?
“B-because I...made mistakes.”
“Yes, and what were those mistakes?”
“I..” This was perhaps more tortuous than his slapping her. Forcing her to admit to him, to his entourage, and to herself that she had done wrong was agonizing. “I was prideful...I didn’t respect my colleagues. I wasn’t consider-”
“No.”
“...No?”
“You are an Elf. These pitiful creatures have no right to presume themselves your equal. Pride, dignity, superiority, these are the things that make Elves who we are. Your mistakes were not to hold yourself above them, but to think them your friends.”
“But...They are...They were…”
“They’re nothing. Your sentimental nature caused you to latch onto lesser beings to replace the connections you lost in Quel’Thalas. That’s all they were. They should have understood you were better than them. Even diminished as you are, you are still an Elf. You are a goddess among ants.”
Perhaps Thaelea had spent too much time around Humans. There was a time when such words would have made sense. But to her ears, they were wrong. Even as smug and superior as she acted, it was a far cry from the person she used to be. As her father tried to re-integrate such ideas into his daughter, they just wouldn’t take root. ‘No. This is wrong.’ The words rang in her mind. ‘They were...good people. Covie was not..is not beneath me.’
This was a mistake. Thaelea should never have accepted the invitation to meet. The impulse to flee rose in her. Eyes began darting around. Maybe she can get to cover long enough to use her hearthstone. But as the thought occurred to her, one of the Farstriders, bow in hand, just shook his head. He could see in Thaelea’s eyes what she was thinking. He’d have an arrow through her heart before she took two steps...No, through her ankle. Her father wouldn’t let her off that easy. Lea was trapped. She had dug her own grave on this one.
“There is something that I want.” Thaeleon’s voice interrupted her inner thoughts, pulling her focus back to reality. “It is in Human hands. You, and the insects you surround yourself with, will retrieve it for me.” Thaelea blinked at her father. “I don’t work for them anymore.”
“So rejoin them.”
“They’ll...never take me back.”
“They will.”
“Father..There’s no-” She was struck again, this time so forcefully that it sent her to the ground. Lea winced as she hit the ground, staring up at her father from the dusty, ashy soil of the Steppes. “I can’t go back! They won’t forgive me!”
“I don’t care. You will find a way to ingratiate yourself back into their graces, you will induce them into procuring this relic, and then you will give it to me.” The Solarsphere patriarch threw a wrapped parchment onto the ground beside his daughter. “When you have it, contact me, then conjure a gateway within the city, somewhere discreet. I will come to claim it.”
“You...You’ll come to Stormwind?”
“I thought I’d take one last look before Sylvanas burns it to the ground.” The assembled Elves behind him chuckled. “You will see this done.”
Lea took the parchment, then returned to her feet. “Why?” She asked. A sudden silence fell upon the group. Thaeleon turned his gaze on his daughter, Fel energy burning in his eyes. “What did you just say?” Lea bowed her head, not meeting her father’s gaze. “What you ask…” He interjected quickly. “I don’t ask.” She winced. “What you...command, it will require much on my part...I deserve...something.” The idea of compensating his daughter for her service actually caused Thaeleon to laugh. “And what is it you want? To come home? Very well. Do this, and I will-”
“No.” Lea’s gaze raised to meet her father’s. “You’ll betray me...That’s what you do. Family is treacherous...unreliable.”
“Is that so?” He chuckled again. “You’re probably right. Who can resist the temptation?”
Thaelea shut her eyes. She wanted to cry. Things kept going from bad to worse to worst since the previous evening. But this was no time for tears. Showing vulnerability before a serpent ready to strike will only encourage it. “I want...Saraena to go home.” The chuckling from her father stopped. He grew irritated. “You want me to take that bastard child of yours to Quel��Thalas? She’s just another piece of filth from your new-” Thaelea howled. “NO!” Her skin grew dark, becoming Void-like. The Elven retinue drew their weapons, prepared to defend their lord. “You may berate me, insult my friends, even strike me...But you will NOT speak ill of Saraena.”
In that moment, Thaelea had found courage. But she was also petrified. Her expression was ferocious, but hid terror in her heart. Thaeleon watched his daughter in silence. It wouldn’t be surprising for him to kill her right there and then. He was spoken of among the nobility in Silvermoon as the ‘lord of Fel-flame’. Thaeleon could incinerate his daughter in moments. And she was ready for it. Lea wouldn’t go down willingly. She’d lose, but she would fight. “Very well.” The Ren’dorei was gripped by shock. Did he just…? “I will arrange for your daughter to be taken to Quel’Thalas. I’ll even enchant something that will allow her to appear as Sin’dorei, rather than spending the rest of her life in the dungeon.” Though she had resolved to not cry in front of her father, Lea could not hold back the single tear that ran down her cheek, born from the relief of knowing that her daughter could go home. “Bring me what I seek. And I will give you this...gift.”
Can he really be trusted? He admitted not five minutes ago that he would betray his own daughter; how can Lea trust him to honor the agreement for his granddaughter? “How can I trust you?” She asked, eyes focused on her father. “I’ll bring the item that will allow her to assume Sin’dorei form with me when you summon me. You can arrange her own way north and not entrust it to me.” That was the best she could hope for. Even so, she was certain he would betray her. Thaeleon turned on everyone. He was well known for his treachery, and Lea had seen him betray others numerous times. But...what choice did she have?
“Alright...I’ll do it.” Lea conceded. “What is it you need?” Thaeleon shook his head. “I’ll inform you of that once you’re in a position to get it. Start with rejoining your little company.” A soft sigh slid out of Thaelea’s lips. “I don’t know how. They’ll never-”
“Give them what they want. They think you are prideful, arrogant. Return to them in submission. Beg, plead, cry, do whatever you must.”
“How...How can you expect me to do this? It’s so undignified…”
“For me, yes. For you? What does it matter? Your status is less than dirt. So crawl through it, kiss the feet of your so-called friends, and see it done.”
“Yes father...As you wish…”
Lea’s father moved away from her, without so much as an embrace, a kiss, or a single kind word spoken. “You have one month.” He added as a portal opened behind his group. “Find your way back into their company by then, or my granddaughter will pay for your failure.” Lea’s eyes widened “Wait...That’s not-” Thaeleon held up a hand, calling for his daughter to silence herself. “We are done speaking, daughter. Return to your rat’s nest in Duskwood. You have much to do tomorrow.” He turned and stepped into the portal with his guards and he was gone as easily as he had arrived.
Thaelea was left alone. She fell onto the ground, propped up on one arm with her legs bent at the knee. “I’m sorry, Saraena...This is the best I can do…” Her eyes shut, and tears again streamed down her face. It had been that kind of day. “Forgive me, Covie…”
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The Departing - Commander Ferenth
Okay! So here is part 1 of my rewrite of the The Departing story step of the Path of Fire story (just in time before I lose my energy because I think I’m getting sick lol)! The narrative starts after the cut, but before you read there are a couple headcanons I want to mention to avoid confusion while reading.
First, I hc that Trahearne’s spirit got absorbed into Caladbolg when he died and he can communicate to it’s wielder sometimes. Second, my character Ferenth and Canach have been in a relationship since just after the end of HoT. I think that’s all, please enjoy!
"The Commander is down there, bring this ship down NOW!" Canach snarled at the pilot. He grimaced and shook his head.
"Sorry sir-"
"If you are so sorry then bring us down quickly." Rytlock put a hand on Canach's shoulder.
"Calm down, bringing the ship into that firestorm is just going to get us all killed."
Canach gritted his teeth hard. It was difficult to make out what was happening, but Ferenth was clearly injured, limping away from a line of fire the God of War had created on the ground nearby. If they didn't get there soon…
Suddenly there was a flash of blue next to the airship accompanied by wild screeching. A small dragon streamed through the sky towards Balthazar.
"Is that Aurene? What does she think she's doing?" Canach said incredulously. The electronic communicator strapped to Kasmeer's waist buzzed to life.
"Aurene? She disappeared in a sudden flash not long ago. What's going on? Is the Commander okay? I can't reach him on his communicator," Taimi's urgent voice rose from the device.
"Yes, Aurene is here Taimi. We don't have to time to talk, Ferenth is in trouble and she is headed right towards him and Balthazar," Kasmeer's eyes widened and her voice was tense as she watched the little dragon race towards the God. Canach was gripping the side of the airship so hard his knuckles were white.
"There must be some way to get down there faster," Canach said. He scanned frantically for something that would help. "Get us a little closer and I will jump," he said moving to unravel a length of rope tied to the side of the ship. No one said anything. They watched as Balthazar turned his attention to Aurene. To her credit the dragon did not prove an easy target, but was clearly outmatched by the god. When she stopped to try and mount a counterattack Balthazar handily blocked the attack and had her snared with magical chains. The Commander was coming into clearer view now, stumbling towards Aurene. Kasmeer glanced to the side. Canach had already descended down the rope. When she looked back Balthazar had turned his attention towards Ferenth. He had his sword ready for a death blow. Kasmeer screamed as she watched the God's massive sword hit him. Hard.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Canach was glad the scream from Kasmeer had probably blocked his own wordless cry as he watched Ferenth go down. Hold it together. He willed his hands to stop shaking as he alighted on a lower platform leading up to the plateau. He's been through worse before. He can make it. He forced himself to stop replaying the sight of the sword hitting Ferenth's body. A sight that could have been ripped directly from his nightmares.
As he reached the top platform he saw that Balthazar and Aurene were gone. All that remained was the crumpled body of the commander. He put his hand to his mouth as a wave of nausea passed through him. He turned around and shouted hoarsely at the ship slowly descending to the platform.
"Medic! Get a medic down here the Commander needs help!"
His legs felt like lead as he moved toward Ferenth's body. He kneeled down and rolled him onto his back. His breastplate had split in half and golden sap was oozing from a large gnash in his chest. His eyes were half open and unblinking. More sap was running from the sides of his mouth and a smaller gnash in his forehead. Canach had never seen him look this bad. He reached toward the young Sylvari through their shared empathic bond but felt nothing but a gaping void. This couldn't be real. He spotted Caladbolg lying some distance away and moved to grab it. He clutched the living weapon with shaking hands and brought it to the Commander's body. Not even knowing what he was doing, he placed it in Ferenth's limp hand.
"Trahearne, damn you, if you're in there SAVE HIM," he whispered desperately at the blade. There was no response. Canach heard the sound of Rytlock's footsteps quickly ascending to the platform.
"Canach, what-" Rytlock stopped mid sentence when he saw the older Sylvari kneeling over the Commander's body. The Charr stared in disbelief, further words escaping him.
"Oh no no no no" Kasmeer was close behind. She walked to Ferenth's fallen form and started sobbing. Canach couldn't handle it. He got up and nearly screamed the words "WHERE is that medic? Kasmeer would you stop that it's not helping anything". This only caused her sobs to increase interspersed with hiccups.
A sylvari finally came rushing up to the platform, eyes wide. Canach moved away to let the medic do his work and rested his head against one of the rocky columns on the outer edge of the plateau. The medic let out a long breath.
"This is not good, not good at all" he muttered to himself. "Lady Kasmeer may I ask you to move away while I do my work?" Kasmeer stifled her sobs to a quiet whimper as she moved away. Silence stretched out for what seemed like an eternity. Canach risked a glance back. The medic was moving his hand down Ferenth's chest as he sealed the gnash there.
"Is he...?" Canach asked, even though he already knew the answer. The tall Sylvari glanced up from his work. "No he is... not alive. I am going to try to resuscitate him. It would have been pointless, however, had I not stopped the bleeding first," his voice was calm. Canach dared to hope.
"You can do that?"
"I can try but he may be too far gone. Now please let me concentrate. This will take all of my focus."
Canach returned his head to the stone column in front of him. "Please," he whispered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I felt weak, vague. A chill wind blew past me bringing disembodied whispers with it. I looked at my surroundings. The sky was the dull shade of an overcast day with an unnatural hue that dyed everything an eerie green. The landscape was equally as bleak. Twisted rock formations reached upwards alongside scattered skeletal trees with jagged thorns and sparse leaves. The ground was mostly dirt with patchy spots of grass. Where is this? I thought to myself. I was… where am I? Try as I might I couldn’t recall much of anything before this moment. Thoughts were difficult to focus. Memories felt just out of reach. Surely I had a past? Nothing seemed certain, though a feeling that I shouldn’t be here nagged at the back of my mind.
Voices in the distance caught my attention. Without considering, I found myself walking toward them. As I approached, I made out the figure of an Elonian woman with a head full of tight curls talking to a rather strange looking person behind the bars of a cage. The prisoner’s elaborate and ornate garments were topped with a particularly large crown that had strands of gold that framed their eyes. Their dark leathery skin was pulled tight over their face. A large golden hoop ran from their jaw and hung down to below their chin. Royalty of some sort?
“My life is over. How does freeing you help me?” I heard the Elonian woman say.
“I can give you a new life—endless, full of all the purpose and opportunity that eluded you the first time. A chance to get it right,” the imprisoned person offered smoothly in a rumbling gravely sort of voice.
“I don't want to be one of your Awakened. That's why I fled your rule in the first place,” she retorted.
“It doesn't matter. Deserter, defector, or exile—help me now and all will be forgiven.”
“No... I'm where I ought to be. I accept whatever the afterlife has in store for me. You should, too.”
“Never,” the prisoner sneered at her. “For me, there is no ‘after’ life. I exist forever. I rule, I dominate... and I've only just begun.”
The Elonian woman turned away. Compared to the person in the cage who had a solid form, she was transparent. I felt this was strange somehow, though I could not think of why. The ornately dressed prisoner noticed me standing nearby and turned their attention to me.
“You there! Come here. Over here! We can help each other. What is your name?” they asked me expectantly.
“My name?” I echoed. “I don’t even know who I am. Or where I am… Or how I got here.”
“You died- It happens,” the prisoner said callously.
Died? I knew this information had a weight to it but could not get myself to acknowledge its importance. I was empty. I couldn’t feel much of anything. The prisoner continued talking.
“Welcome to the Domain of the Lost. I am, of course, King Palawa Joko.”
I looked at his face blankly. “King Joko? I… I’m sorry I don’t know that name.”
“Liar!” he fumed. “All who take breath know me! I am King Joko the Inevitable, the last Primeval King, Joko the Undying, the Scourge of Vabbi. Joko the Feared, Joko the Beloved, Joko the Eternal Monarch of All. How dare you claim to not know who I am!”
As he asserted all this I felt vaguely uneasy. I looked from the Elonian woman back to Joko.
“But you’re not a spirit. What are you doing here?”
“I was deceived by the fallen god Balthazar,” he growled. “I led him here to to claim spirits for his army. In exchange, I was promised a share of his new recruits. But he betrayed me and stranded me here instead. Perfidy! From now on, the only god I trust is me.”
At this the Elonian woman became incensed. “You are no god!” she exclaimed. “You are an abomination inflicted upon the Crystal Desert like a wound. Like a plague.”
“I am a god,” Joko retorted affronted. “God-King of Elona, the Crystal Desert, and all their environs. Genuflect, peasant!” he commanded. The woman was unfazed.
“You have no authority here,” she said. “Only the Judge does. He was appointed by Grenth, a true god.” Joko looked outraged.
“Fah! Gods, dragons, nations—soon all will grovel at the feet of Palawa Joko!”
Nenah ignored Joko and walked a few paces toward me. Her face softened.
“Come, gentle spirit,” she said kindly. “You must take the next steps, and I’ve heard enough of Joko’s blasphemies.” She beckoned me towards her with a wave of her hand and walked to a nearby footpath in the dirt. I took one last look at the being called Joko and went to follow her down the path.
“The Domain of the Lost is dangerous,” the Elonian woman cautioned, “stay close to me.”
I walked beside her for a time in silence. After a while I asked “Who is the Judge?”
“He is a loyal servant of Grenth, charged with sending all the spirits who come through here to their appointed place,” she explained.
I shook my head. “But I don’t know who I am. I don’t know where I should be.”
“That’s why you must see him,” she said patiently. I watched her surreptitiously as we walked. Her tight dark curls formed a sort of hemisphere of hair around her head. Her slim golden brown shoulders were bare, but she had patterned fabric wrapped around her neck and waist. Purple and tan cloth covered her chest and was tucked into the fabric wrapped around her neck and waist. More purple cloth wrapped her forearms and shins over a pair of loose pants. Her transparent form made it difficult to distinguish her feet from the ground. I wondered who she had been in life.
She glanced at me suddenly and I looked up to see us approaching a figure with a distinctive drawn hood over a protruding bone-like structure that split in two partway down, a bit like a beak or insect mandible. Skulls adorned the shoulders of an intricate yet tattered cloak. No part of the being’s body was visible and two faint green glowing spots could be seen just under the drawn hood. The voice that echoed forth sounded warped, like a blending of two different voices. It was commanding but not harsh.
“Come, spirit. Do not be afraid.”
“I'm not sure why I'm here, or even who I am,” I said uncertainly.
“That's because most spirits find their own way to their fate when they die,” the Judge responded. “But those whose deaths are too traumatic often forget who they were or how they perished.”
“These spirits, like you and me, end up here in the Domain of the Lost,” the Elonian woman added.
I felt a tug from the faint feeling in the back of my mind that I was in the wrong place. “But I can't be here.”
“You will reach your rightful place in time,” the Judge was implacable. “First, you must recover your name to know who you were and how you lived. Then you must learn your purpose, to understand the choices you made and why you lived as you did. Once you know your name and your purpose, only then can I determine your final destination.”
“But how do I do that?” I asked.
“Nenah has traveled the path you now face. She can assist you. For though they may have belonged to you in life, once your name and purpose enter this domain, they are yours no longer. And you will have to fight to reclaim your name. Now, arm yourself.”
I turned away from the Judge feeling as lost as ever. I looked to my companion for guidance. “‘Nenah’... So you discovered your name? How do I reclaim mine?”
She smiled at me. “I learned my name from the spirit of my old mentor. But only after besting him at a challenge of riddles. I discovered my purpose hidden in an old diary I had written as a child. I was a teacher.”
“Is it that simple?”
“It's different for everyone. The judge said you must fight to recover your name, so you clearly weren't a teacher. A soldier, perhaps?”
I shook my head. “I... I don't know.”
“Well, if you are to fight, you must first arm yourself.”
“With what?”
“Spirits must abandon their possessions before they may move on. Look around the area and perhaps you will find something useful.”
She gestured toward an area beyond where the Judge stood. There were tables and crates filled with discarded items. Pots and pans, small children’s toys, and a deck of cards stood out oddly with the multitude of weapons we found. There were other spirits standing confusedly over some of the crates of possessions. I moved to look through some of the things that weren’t being investigated by the other spirits. After some searching, my hands grazed over a finely crafted longbow. Its dark wood was etched with an intricate gilded leaf pattern and framed with gilded bands. I picked it up. The weight and shape of it felt comfortable and familiar. Nenah noticed me lingering over it and came to join me.
“I think I can fight with this,” I said testing the tension on the bowstring. Nenah scanned the area around her and bent down to pick up an abandoned quiver of arrows. As she was handing it to me she turned her head towards a spirit that had drifted close to us.
“That spirit looks just like you,” she observed. I strapped the quiver around my back and followed her gaze. At this, the passing spirit looked startled and sprinted away from us down one of the branching paths nearby.
“Quickly!” she urged. “We must follow it. That spirit may be the one who claimed your name.”
As we pursued the spirit, it veered off the path and into a cave. The cave the spirit had fled into was not deep and had no exit. I notched my bow with an arrow and took aim at one of its legs as it turned to face me. The arrow went neatly through the spirit’s right leg. Then with a flash it changed shape and the disoriented spirit of an Asura stood in front of me. I tried to remember my name, but my memories were as elusive as ever.
“I still don’t remember,” I said despondently. Nenah looked thoughtful.
“Then more than one must have claimed your name. Which means it must be a prestigious one. Let’s look for another shadow.”
We didn’t have to look far. As we were exiting the cave, we spotted a spirit that looked just like the last one, peering curiously into the opening. Instead of fleeing, this one lunged at me. The lunge was clumsy and I avoided it easily. I countered with a quick blow to the back of the spirit’s head. A flash momentarily blinded the area and the spirit standing before me now had the form of a human with straight shoulder length hair. They looked at me startled for a moment before covering their eyes with an inaudible sob. I turned from the uncomfortable sight and tried to recall my name again.
“No.” I said to Nenah, discouraged. “Still nothing.”
“Keep looking,” she persisted. “If you don’t reclaim your name quickly, you could lose it forever.”
I looked behind me. The spirits who had claimed part of my name still stood there miserably. I wondered if I had known them.
“There!” Nenah exclaimed, drawing my attention. I looked where she was pointing and saw a third spirit some distance away. Like the first one, this spirit also turned and fled as soon as it had been spotted.
“Don’t let it get away!” Nenah said and began to pursue the spirit. I took a quick survey of the area. The terrain between myself and and the fleeing spirit was clear of obstructions and the ground was level as far as the eye could see. I drew my bow and took a moment to aim. Releasing the bowstring I sent an arrow directly into the right shoulder of the spirit. Nenah halted and looked at me in surprise.
“That was some shot,” she said impressed. For some reason, I felt chagrined at the compliment and looked away in embarrassment. Then all of a sudden I felt something return to me.
“Ferenth,” I said. “My name is Ferenth. I remember now.” I furrowed my brow. “My life was filled with conflict. Victory… and loss. I was a leader - a commander.”
“I can tell,” Nenah grinned at me. “You wield that weapon like a true fighter.”
I paused. The bit of memory I had recovered still fell painfully short. “But I don’t know why I fought… what I strove for, or against.”
“The next step is finding your purpose. What drove you forward and ultimately led to your death. The answer is here, somewhere in the Domain of the Lost. You just have to find it.”
I looked at Nenah, feeling adrift again.
“But how will I know it? Where will I find it?”
Nenah walked back to me and put a reassuring hand on my arm. “If you truly desire it… your purpose will find you.”
As if in response, a bird flew out of a scraggly bush nearby and alighted on the tangled limbs of a dead tree some distance away. It looked like a raven but was pure white, with ribbons of mist twisting around its form. Nenah looked back at me.
“I’d start with the bird.”
As we walked towards the bird I felt faint tendrils of dread warring with the sense of urgency propelling me forward. Twice I halted to look around as if for some kind of escape. But to where? My surroundings were bleak and held no promise of comfort. Nenah waited patiently for me each time.
“This part can be difficult for some. As the judge said, those who come here do so because they have met a terrible end. But moving forward is better than staying in this place.”
“Was it difficult for you?” I asked her as much to stall for time as to satisfy my curiosity. “What… what happened to you?”
“I had a friend who would smuggle in books from all over Tyria to me,” she began, “and a small group of students from my classes that were critical and trustworthy enough to share those books with. We met a couple times a month in secret. One night I went to an old farmhouse to meet her and get some new books she had for me. Only she wasn’t the only one there. Patrols from the area had discovered her smuggled goods and turned her over to the local overseer. The overseer had threatened imprisonment for her and her son if she did not reveal who she was delivering the books to.” Her eyes went distant. “At first they tried to bargain with me, wanting to know who I had shared the contents of these books with. When I refused to name my students the overseer reminded me they could force the information from me as an Awakened.”
A pained expression came over her face as she recalled the memory. “In that moment at least, the gods were with me. A small Sunspear group attacked the overseers and her patrols leaving me just enough of an opening to flee. There was no turning back and no time to say goodbye after that point. If the Sunspears had failed to kill the overseer and patrols there would be no place in Vabbi I could hide for long. My best hope was to make for Amnoon. At first I thought I might make it. I traveled several days to the Elon Riverlands with no pursuit from Awakened patrols. I was no adventurer, and the wilds of the Riverlands are especially perilous to the unprepared, so I chanced taking the main road. Then one morning I was spotted by an Awakened raiding party. In a panic I fled to an abandoned barn nearby and boarded myself in, but I had seen one of the Awakened Abominations demolish a building before and knew it was only a matter of time before they had me again. There was no rescue for me that time. I knew I would die.” Nenah closed her eyes. “Part of me wanted to be a coward. To remain in the world even if it was as an Awakened.” She took a shuddering breath. “Before I let myself make that choice to betray myself and my students, I set the barn on fire with myself in it. It was the only way.”
I looked at Nenah aghast. “I’m… so sorry,” was all I could think to say.
She took my hand and looked at me sadly. “Yes,” she answered, “it was difficult facing the truth of what happened to me. But in the end it was better than the hopelessly lost feeling that had gripped my heart while I was still struggling to find my way when I arrived here. Knowing the truth, I can move on.” She gently tugged my hand and started to move towards the white raven with me. “Don’t worry Ferenth, you don’t have to do this alone.”
Though I still felt an undercurrent of fear threatening to sweep me away, her gesture and her trust comforted me enough to get my legs moving again. We approached the dead tree and the raven, which had been tilting its head pointedly at me, gave a sharp caw and vanished into the air. In front of the tree a familiar figure materialized along with a menacing winged creature.
“There! The poison has taken form. Quickly, destroy it while we can!”
It was Caithe, and…
“... the dragon,” I murmured. The ground felt a little firmer beneath me as I reclaimed a piece of my memories and purpose.
“Dragon?” Nenah looked at me with wonder.
“Yes,” I confirmed. “That is my mentor Caithe and a manifestation of a dragon in the Dream.” I gestured to where the figures had stood a moment ago. Nenah looked to where I indicated but shook her head.
“I saw nothing. I was not a part of that memory, so it was not for me to see.”
“Oh,” I said simply. I spread one of my hands out in front of me and looked down at it. “I’m a Sylvari,” I said to her. Though as a spirit I was also transparent, I saw the significance to our differences now.
“The first one I’ve met actually. We never had many that came to Elona, and even less to Joko’s domain. A shame, as everything I’ve read about your culture was fascinating.”
“You read about us?”
“Yes, some of the books I had smuggled from central Tyria had information about Sylvari in them. A few were written by Sylvari too.” She looked like she wanted to say more, but turned her gaze to another white raven that had alighted on the ground nearby instead. “Let’s continue,” she urged.
We progressed through many of my memories. Some hopeful and comforting, some particularly painful. My earliest days spent helping Caithe protect the Grove and learning how to fight dragon corruption, losing Forgal in the initial attack by Zhaitan’s risen on Claw Island, helping Firstborn Trahearne assemble Tyria’s first real lasting hope against the Elder Dragons, achieving the unthinkable as we brought down the Elder Dragon Zhaitan for good... As the pieces of my life fell together I felt more solid, more real. At the same time I could not seem to shake a feeling of wrongness, a nagging sense of unease eating away at the foundations of my being. There were peaceful times I had stolen for myself and many victories, but as the years went on they became fewer and farther between, never quite long enough before some other conflict claimed my attention.
Nenah was blessedly quiet throughout the process. Many of these memories were not things I wished to explain. I suspect she understood that. The memories from the Pact’s campaign against the dragon Mordremoth were some of the heaviest to carry. I halted for I do not know how long, as I relieved the moment that turned my world upside down, learning of the true reason for my race’s existence in this world and what our purpose was supposed to have been. Nenah had a concerned look on her face as I stood there trying to get myself to move forward again. She put a hand on my shoulder.
“You’ve had a difficult life, haven’t you?” she asked quietly.
I looked at her and nodded silently after a moment. I wanted to say something, but words failed me.
“I don’t know how much more there is for you, but recovering the rest of your memories is the only way to move past them,” she said gently. Somehow I got my feet to move again, though things didn’t become easier from there. So many… so many people were lost to the dragon. The dragon without whose existence I would not have even existed in the first place. And then…
I saw Trahearne in the clutches of the dragon’s heart. “No… no...” I could feel my pulse quicken and despair fill me as I reclaimed the sickening memory. I covered my mouth.
The broken Caladbolg. Trahearne was gone. He… I… I killed him? It was the only way. He would have been corrupted. Mordremoth’s last hateful curse. He wouldn’t have wanted that. But there had to be another way. Any way. Not him, Blessed mother, not him please. He’s gone. The dragon is gone but so is Trahearne. It’s what he wanted. It’s what I had to do? Then why do I feel so hollow? Guilty. Too late. I should have done something. I should have done anything. I should have found a way. There had to have been a way. I didn’t try hard enough. How could I have done such a thing? It should have been me. The Pact can go on without one Commander but without its Marshal? It should have been me.
The nauseating cascade of feelings and memories from that moment made my thoughts spin wildly, circling on themselves and becoming harder and harder to endure. I fell to my knees and covered my face, trembling as the devastation and pain of the loss threatened to consume me again.
“Ferenth?” Nenah kneeled down next to me looking alarmed. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what happened to you but… whatever it was, you deserved better.” Her face went grim suddenly as another ghostly white raven alighted nearby.
“No,” I said suddenly, choking back a frantic sob. “I can’t…”
“Take your time Ferenth, we can stay here a while,” she said soothingly. “The bird will wait.”
Her presence seemed to anchor me here, though my mind still reeled with guilt and sorrow. Why did everything go so wrong? I looked at Nenah’s ghostly form and suddenly recalled her and the Judge’s words.
… those whose deaths are too traumatic often forget who they were or how they perished. These spirits, like you and me, end up here in the Domain of the Lost.
What if… Trahearne was here? He had to be. I took a wavering breath and stood up abruptly.
“Nenah, I’m sorry but I have to go.”
“Go?” she asked confused. “Where would you go?”
“My… friend. He’s here. He has to be. He died… badly. Like you and I. I have to find him. I have to at least say goodbye.”
“Wait!” she said dismayed. “Ferenth, no. There’s no telling how old that memory is. If he came through here he may have already met with the judge and moved on long ago. Even if he is here- this way station, like the mists, is vast. And he may not even recognize you.” Nenah beckoned me towards the raven nearby. “When you’re ready let’s follow the rest of your memories. Once you have all of them you should be able to reach some sort of peace.”
My mind couldn’t accept her words. “You don’t understand,” I tried to explain. “It’s my fault. It’s my fault he’s here. I owe him this. And if he’s lost his memories I can help him get them back.”
Nenah’s voice rose in protest, but I was already walking away, scanning the horizon for the spirits I had passed earlier, desperately searching for his face among them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Canach stared blankly as the medic sent another surge of magical electricity through Ferenth’s body. The jolt sent his chest heaving upwards, but other than that there was no noticeable movement from him. Kasmeer had moved over to stand near Canach, to his irritation. At least she was quiet now, a hand over her mouth as she stared wide-eyed at the medic’s efforts to revive Ferenth. He pressed a hand to Ferenth’s forehead for a moment and closed his eyes. With a small shake of his head he positioned his hands on Ferenth’s chest again. Electricity gathered around them and surged out once more. As Ferenth’s body fell back to a resting position he suddenly heaved a loud rasping cough. The medic rolled him over onto his side and more golden sap was expelled from his mouth onto the ground beside him.
“Thank the Six!” Kasmeer exclaimed breathlessly. Had Canach not been flooded with a tentative relief, he might have felt compelled to remind Kasmeer that it was one of the Six who had caused this in the first place. Instead he moved closer to the medic who had closed his eyes and placed his hand on Ferenth’s forehead again. The fit of coughing had subsided and he lay limp on the ground once more. Canach fought back the urge to ask him if Ferenth was going to be alright. His eyes snapped open after a moment and he looked up wearily.
“His vitals are there now,” he confirmed with a relieved sigh. Canach looked from Ferenth’s unmoving form back to the medic.
“So… he’s going to be alright?” Canach asked with doubt in his voice. The medic furrowed his brow.
“Physically… physically he appears to be fine. Though… something’s wrong,” he said hesitantly.
“Why isn’t he waking up?” Kasmeer asked the question that was hanging in the air.
“... it may take some time,” the medic said finally, though the unease Canach could feel coming off him betrayed his misgivings. Canach kneeled down beside Ferenth’s unconconscious form and took one of his hands in his own.
“Ferenth?” he prompted gently. He reached for him with their empathic bond. This time he at least felt a presence, though just barely. The medic rolled Ferenth onto his back and glanced around warily.
“We should move him to somewhere he will be more comfortable, and we are less exposed,” he advised. “Will you carry him to the airship while I prepare a bed?”
Canach nodded and gathered Ferenth up into his arms. The medic turned back partway to where the airship was now waiting.
“Lady Kasmeer would you please join me? And bring Caladbolg,” he requested. She retrieved the sword lying nearby and hastened to catch up with him as he waited for the boarding ramp to be extended. Canach was grateful the medic had removed Kasmeer from his side for the moment. He looked down at Ferenth. The medic had removed the garments from the upper part of his body and Canach cringed as his took in the angry looking wound that spanned a great deal of his chest. It had been sealed well enough but would likely leave a nasty scar.
“What’s going on?” A gruff voice issued from behind Canach. He turned his head to see Rytlock approaching briskly from the steps leading up to the small plateau.
“The medic was able to revive Ferenth, though he isn’t waking up,” Kasmeer informed him. “We’re moving him to a safer location now.”
“Well I’ll be damned,” Rytlock said sounding impressed. Canach followed Kasmeer and the medic on to the ship without a word, bristling as he recalled how the Charr’s careless romp in the Mists had allowed the rogue god they were now dealing with to be freed. Inside the airship’s main cabin, shiphands looked at Canach and Ferenth with concern as they exited to give the group space. The medic prepared a makeshift pallet at the back of the room while Kasmeer examined Caladbolg with curiosity. Rytlock stood awkwardly near the entrance to the cabin. Canach set Ferenth down gently on the pallet when the medic was finished setting it up and had disappeared to retrieve his medical supplies. What if he doesn’t wake up? Canach thought as he stood watching Ferenth lying there. The medic returned with a bag and washbasin and Canach pushed the thought away.
“Marshal Trahearne?” he heard Kasmeer ask quietly. Canach turned to look at her. She was turning the sword over in her hands, brow furrowed. “I know he’s in here but… is there anyway we can talk to him?” she looked up at Canach. “Maybe he can tell us what happened.”
Canach recalled something Ferenth had told him. “Ferenth did say that he used a vision crystal to commune with the sword while he was restoring it,” he confirmed to Kasmeer. “We might be able to do the same.”
He looked back at Ferenth who was being cleaned and bandaged by the medic. Though they were rare, he was fairly sure the Commander kept one on him for emergencies like these. Canach waited for the medic to finish bandaging Ferenth’s wounds before fishing a vision crystal from one of his belt pouches.
“Alright, give me Caladbolg and let’s see if the Marshal can tell us why he isn’t waking up.”
#gw2#guild wars 2#gw2 fanfiction#guild wars 2 fanfiction#my fanfiction#gw2 spoilers#PoF spoilers#Ferenth#Canach#Kasmeer#Rytlock#fic#my writing
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Predator and Prey
(Okay, listen. Next chapter of Unholy is coming. Spoiler alert: It’s a little angsty. But I’m always a sucker for Vampire AU’s, so here’s another one while you wait.)
Heather Chandler is not happy.
Well, at least now she isn’t. It’s some godawful hour, her head feels like she’s been banging it against a brick wall and the memories from the past few hours are coming back to her.
Ugh. Those were $300 shoes that Veronica Sawyer puked on.
Everything after the piñata being unceremoniously thrown in Ram’s pool was a disaster for everyone involved, and Heather is pissed. Not just because her protégé ruined her first night out, but because Veronica Fucking Sawyer had the audacity to choose some freak in a pink unicorn sweater over her. Her. It’s like passing up a Mercedes Benz for some crappy Japanese car with faulty brakes.
Heather is brought out of her sulk by the sound of something breaking, and her bedroom window being heaved open. She can’t see well enough in the dark to make out all the details, but the tall frame and frizzy bob cut tell Heather at least it’s a home invader she can manipulate.
“Well, well, well,” she drawls, rising up and sauntering towards the silhouette as best she can while tired and hungover, “looks like the Dead Girl Walking has come to beg for forgiveness. You have a lot to apologize for, bitch, I hope you brought some-”
The word kneepads dies in Heather’s throat as her eyes adjust to the gloom.
Veronica is unintentionally wearing red.
Heather turns on her lamp to survey the damage, and Veronica screws her eyes shut at the sudden light. There’s no mistake - the red-brown stain on Veronica’s collar covers most of the left side of her shirt, and the crumpled blue blazer Heather so kindly bought her. Veronica’s unsteady on her feet, swaying gently. Heather thought at first it might be lingering alcohol in her system, now blood loss is looking like the most likely culprit.
“Jesus Christ,” Heather breathes, “Why are you here? You should be in the emergency room, you lunatic!”
“I felt I had to come here for something.”
Heather grabs the taller girl’s shoulders and guides her roughly over to the bed, pushing to get her to sit down. She’s too busy thinking about how dry Veronica’s throat sounds and how quiet her voice is that she doesn’t register the words at first. Once she did, a cold, choking feeling creeps its way into her gut.
“Do you know why?”
Veronica gives a little shake of her head, eyes unfocused. The dread is twisting Heather’s stomach into knots and blocking her windpipe - what happened to this girl? Did she hit her head? How much does she remember?
“What’s your name?” Heather asks. Veronica shakes her head again, and looks up at her.
“You know, don’t you? You were waiting for me.”
“Of course I do. Your name is Veronica. Veronica Sawyer.”
Veronica nods, frowning, like Heather’s just told her the answer to a math question rather than getting her to remember her own fucking name.
“Why am I apologizing?”
The long list of ways Heather was going to humiliate Veronica is tossed by the wayside, for now. No point in making her beg for something she doesn’t know she wants.
“Unimportant. Why are you here looking like you’ve been on the set of a slasher movie?”
“Hmm?”
Veronica looks down at her clothes, and fiddles with the red side of her collar. God, this is a nightmare. It’s one thing for Veronica to break into her house, but it’s another to come in after competing in the world’s most fucked-up Wet T-Shirt Contest and just… not reacting to it. No explanation.
Heather grabs Veronica’s hand, and immediately regrets her decision.
Jesus.
It’s like ice - the rational part of Heather knows that might be because she’s been wandering around the streets in the middle of the night, but a separate, also rational part argues she must have warmed up a little by now - and the way Veronica’s head snaps towards the sudden heat makes her previous unsteady behavior seem like an act. Something shifts in Veronica’s face, and there’s a glint in her eyes that sends a shiver through Heather’s entire body.
“I remember now,” Veronica growls, and shoots forward faster than Heather can react.
Heather shrieks as her back slams against her bedroom wall, and she gets nothing but a hand over her mouth for her troubles. She tries to struggle, a million memories from when drunk college boys forced themselves on her replaying in her head, but Veronica’s right up against her. One hand is holding Heather’s head against the wall, the other on her wrist in a vice grip. Heather’s eyes swivel towards Veronica, in the crook of Heather’s neck, an attempt to glimpse whatever the hell she’s doing, but Heather hisses at the sharp pain and the feel of something hot and wet spilling across her skin-
Oh. Fuck. Fuuuuuck.
It all makes sense now, Heather realizes as Veronica sucks at her neck, and she just goes limp. Of course, that wasn’t her first theory on what happened to her best friend, because as far as Heather knew, vampires weren’t real. Relegated to myths in rural European villages and whatever garbage Heather Duke was reading lately.
There are two options here - either Veronica’s a vampire, or something has gone seriously wrong in their lives. Or both. Both is also entirely possible, Heather muses as she takes shallow breaths and it gets harder and harder to think.
Wait. Is she enjoying this?
A strangled cry and a shooting pain cuts off that thought before it really gets started. Veronica jerks back. Heather clutches at the wound on her collarbone, steps in front of the window to block Veronica’s escape route. Despite the fact the brunette had just proven it was a pointless exercise, it works. Veronica just stands there as her body heaves with ragged breaths, Heather’s blood (her blood, Heather’s heart jumps into her throat at the thought) dripping from her mouth.
“Sawyer,” Heather commands, and she desperately tries to keep the shaking out of her voice, “Sit.”
Veronica doesn’t react at first, and Heather has to yell “Sit!” like Veronica’s some sort of dog, before the girl in… mostly blue plops back down on the bed.
“Heather,” she chokes out, her voice thick with blood and regret, “I… shit, I don’t know what just happened. I wasn’t… I wasn’t me, if that makes sense. I can’t-”
“It doesn’t. Stop, wait until you can form a coherent sentence, then explain yourself.”
Heather leaves for the ensuite bathroom with as much poise as she can muster before Veronica can reply.
Heather doesn’t close the door. Not entirely, at least, as she lifts up the damp collar of her robe to examine the bite mark she knows is there.
She grimaces.
It’s not the two neat puncture marks she was hoping for. Every tooth has broken the skin to at least some degree, and Heather briefly wonders whether Veronica’s other teeth have changed at all - but the canines have made a serious dent, the blood still welling up in the holes they left, so close to running over. At the very least, it looks so much worse than it feels.
Her thoughts, in spite of herself, immediately steer themselves to how others will react to it. Will someone like David or Brad see it? Will Heather McNamara get a glimpse and panic? Who will destroy her if they find this sign of Veronica?
Veronica.
Heather hears the quiet sobs from the other room.
Oh, Veronica.
Realistically, she should be scared. She just did the thing Heather hated the most – taking control away from her – and worse, she didn’t seem to be aware she was doing it this time. But, really, how could she be scared of Veronica Sawyer? Big, awkward Veronica, perfectly naïve Veronica, Veronica who is currently sitting on Heather’s bed, distraught at what she’s done.
Heather made her. She can unmake her just as easily, and nothing, dead, alive, or somewhere in between, can stop her.
Heather searches the bathroom cupboard for a bandage big enough to cover the bite, eventually lining up five normal-sized bandages in a row, before checking that her friend hadn’t lost her nerve and skipped town.
Veronica doesn’t look up, still weeping as Heather sits down next to her. The only sign Heather gets that Veronica has noticed she’s there is a sudden tension in her body, hugging her arms like they’ll fall off if she lets go.
Were it anyone else, Heather would destroy them without a second thought for daring to get tears all over her bedspread. For being foolish enough to show unapproved weakness in front of her.
You know what? Fuck it, Heather thinks to herself, who’s going to believe Veronica if she does tell somebody about tonight?
She hugs Veronica, and notes with some satisfaction that the sobbing stops for just a moment.
Then, Veronica grabs her by the waist and pulls her closer, and it all starts up again, harder and louder.
Heather is certainly not upset about what she’s gotten herself into - hell, she wouldn’t have done something so out-of-character if she didn’t want Ronnie’s arms around her - but she’s self-aware enough to know she has no experience in comforting people. The closest she’s ever gotten to sympathy was a pat on the shoulder and a condescending ‘there, there’ when Heather McNamara’s canary passed away. She’d walk herself off a cliff before she lets anyone figure out she’s lost, though, so she does the best she can - gently stroking Veronica’s hair, shushing her with every exhale of breath. Veronica just keeps saying “sorry”, over and over, like if she repeats it enough times it will magically fix everything. There’ll be no hole in Heather’s neck and no blood slick on her shirt and Veronica won’t be…
Heather places a thumb over Veronica’s pulse, and waits.
…Dead.
She presses a gentle kiss to Veronica’s forehead as the crying slowly dies down. Impulsive, yes, but Veronica doesn’t seem to notice.
“Are you ready to talk yet?”
“…I think so,” Veronica murmurs, still holding Heather close, “I remember, after I left, I was just sort of… thinking. About what was going to happen on Monday, and what I could do in my last thirty hours alive.”
Veronica giggles at her own words, brittle. Heather desperately wants to speak up, to maybe (dare she say it?) apologize for forcing her out, for letting this happen.
She doesn’t.
Veronica continues, “So, I’m considering changing my name and moving to another state, but my parents don’t have the money for that and I don’t have easy access to a car anymore, when I see this motorbike. You’ve seen it too, outside the 7-Eleven. Then I have another idea. If I’m going to die, then I’m sure as hell not gonna die a virgin. After that… nothing.” Veronica finally looks down at Heather. “Are you okay?”
Heather is definitely not okay. She’s jealous - and yes, she’ll admit it to her internal monologue - of the fact that Veronica had gone to Billy the Fucking Kid’s house instead of hers. Sure, she’s kept an incredibly tight lid on the whole ‘not-being-entirely-straight’ thing for her own safety, but why else would she make so many concessions for Veronica’s terminal case of foot-in-mouth disease?
“You deserve better than him,” she grumbles. Then, another thought hits her. “Did… did he do this?”
“What?”
“The last thing you remember is standing outside his house. What if he…” Heather gestures to Veronica’s bloody shirt. Veronica’s face slackens with the realization, and she looks like she’s about to start freaking out all over again.
“But he’s gone out in the sunlight. Won’t that kill him?”
“I don’t think we should trust Hollywood with getting the facts right.”
Veronica groans, and her head flops back down onto Heather’s shoulder.
“The one guy,” she near-wails into Heather’s robe, “the one guy in this godforsaken town that I thought was worth a damn, and this is what he does.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Heather sings, unbearably smug even by her standards. Veronica huffs. “Besides, that means you should be able to go out in the sun, too. You don’t have to give up your education.”
“Can’t go back to Westerburg, though. I’m socially dead, remember?”
Ah, yes. Heather idly runs her fingers through Veronica’s hair as she thinks, and her heart skips a beat when she tugs at a knot and Veronica melts into the touch. She’ll file away that piece of information for another time.
“If I had dollar for every time you’ve said ‘sorry’ in the past thirty minutes, I could replace those shoes today,” Heather quips. “Consider yourself forgiven for the party. Do it again, and I put you in the ground. Are we clear?”
“Crystal.” There’s a pause, and Veronica lifts up her head, frowning. She opens her mouth, and Heather knows exactly what she’s going to ask.
“As for this,” Heather cuts her off, tapping the row of bandages through her robe, “well, you do me a little favor and I don’t call a priest on you.”
Veronica pulls away. They’re still touching, just barely, but the sudden loss of contact shocks Heather more than a slap ever would. Veronica’s frown has deepened, but there’s still a touch of fear in her eyes.
“I’m not doing anything else to hurt Martha,” Veronica says, and this is probably the most determined Heather has ever heard her sound.
It’s Heather’s turn to scowl. “It has nothing to do with her.”
Veronica’s eyes are searching, looking for some sign of deceit of Heather’s face. What a waste of time. Heather is telling the truth. The last thing she wants to think about when she finally gets a moment alone with Veronica is her lard-ass friend. Veronica nods, but Heather can tell she’s only half-satisfied.
“So… what…” Veronica trails off. Heather smirks.
“You really don’t know?”
Veronica turns her head away, bashful. How cute. Heather leans over and tilts Veronica’s chin towards her with one careful finger. She feels Veronica’s throat move as the taller girl swallows nervously.
“Spend the day with me, won’t you?” Heather croons, sickly-sweet, employing the same tone of voice she uses with boys. Heather delights at the way it makes Veronica squirm.
“Uh…”
The finger carefully drags itself along Veronica’s jawline, before Heather finally pulls away. She sits herself on the bed in a much more Chandler-like manner, legs crossed, face carefully blank.
“I want to see what else you can do,” Heather says in a matter-of-fact tone, “like turn into a bat, that sort of stuff.” She sneaks a disdainful glance at Veronica’s ruined blazer. “For everyone’s sake, I hope that running water poses no problems.”
From the look on her face, Veronica seems like she might be having memory problems again. At the very least, she’s seriously confused.
“…Okay, I’ll be honest, that’s not where I thought this was going.” Veronica stammers out. Heather laughs, leaning her head on one hand, a catlike smile on her face.
“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” she purrs, and arches an eyebrow. “Well?”
Veronica swallows again. Gives a half-hearted shrug.
“I guess.”
Heather can feel her grin get impossibly wider. Not exactly as planned, but Heather Chandler always gets what she wants, in the end.
Veronica might be a vampire, but Heather is the real predator here.
#chansaw#heathers#the cradle will write#i have range i promise i'll do something different next time
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Unexpected: Part 30
The Unknown Chapter Index.
Unexpected Chapter Index
Morgan replayed the conversation she had had earlier while she updated the final scores of the end of initiation.
∆
“I don’t think I want to know what it is”
She muttered while looking at her stomach, it had increased a lot in the last month, but she was still a few days away from her 20th week check up. Eric had surprised her when he told her that she wouldn’t have to travel to Erudite for the 4D sonogram, he had brought one of the machines to dauntless, and the gender reveal would be through the 4D technology.
“Why?”
“I don’t know. Actually I do know. It’s just that I want a boy so much, I even dreamed about it, and if it ends up being a girl I’m gonna be sad” she circled her hand on her stomach as she glanced at Eric, laying next to her on the bed. “I mean, it’s not like I’m gonna hate it and not want it if its a girl just….”
“You want it to look like me”
“Yeah” she admitted.
“It could still be a girl and look a bit like me” he pressed his hand on her stomach and left it in one spot “as long as it has a pair of everything and everything is functional I don’t mind it if it’s a boy or a girl”
“I know, because you’re clearly a better person than me and don’t have a favorite” Morgan said with sarcasm. “Whatever the case is I don’t want to know, I want it to be a surprise”
“OK baby if that’s what you want”
“Do you want to know?”
“Of course I want to know, I’ve wanted to know since the 16th week, but Anne said she couldn’t see it. I want to know of it’s going to be a beautiful little baby girl like mommy” he said leaning in and kissing her stomach.
Eric and Morgan had gotten a lot more comfortable talking to their baby, they didn’t feel as silly knowing that it wasn’t only then speaking, Creed spoke a lot to it… A lot.
“What do you say?” He traveled her finger on her stomach, zig zagging around “are you gonna be a boy or a girl?”
Morgan yelped and gasped, holding Eric tightly by the arm, his eyes shot to hers worriedly
“What’s wrong?”
“It kicked!”
Morgan quickly positioned Eric’s hand on the spot where she felt the kick. Eric’s eyes moved frantically on her stomach
“Talk to it again” she commanded
“Hey baby” he cooed in her stomach “are you awake?”
Morgan’s hand kept pressing on Eric’s, and they remained quiet.
It was really faint, but Eric felt a tap back, shooting Morgan a smiled after it happen.
“I felt that one”
“Aww it’s its first kick” she said touching Eric’s neck and cheek “I’m so excited for it to just move around and do all kinds of crazy shit in there. I don’t care if it hurts I just want to see it move”
“How does it feel when it kicks?” Eric rubbed the spot he was pressing, Morgan’s hands softened on top of his
“It feels like… I don’t know how to describe it… Let’s say like butterflies in my stomach”
“Like when you first saw me?” He teased. Morgan tsked her tongue and leaned in to kiss Eric’s forehead.
“I felt something poke in my stomach alright”
Eric chuckled and continued to move his hand on top of her stomach.
“We should read something to it, see what that does”
“Good idea” Morgan said, she moved her feet to stand up on the bed in which she was laying, they walked to the couch in the dinning room. Eric sat and Morgan plopped herself next to him, her back to his chest as Eric grabbed the book, he held it with one hand and stretched it to below Morgan’s waistline, allowing himself to see the bump on her stomach as he read.
Halfway the second page Morgan held Eric’s hand and placed it on the side of it, he kept reading, and as he flied through the words he felt the faintest movement on the palm of his hand.
He had to stop because he wanted to feel all of it, he didn’t wanted to forget what those little kicks felt like.
“A few years ago, being here would the last place I would want to be” he murmured, Morgan turned her head to him and smiled “maybe I am a fucking idiot”
Morgan smirked triumphantly, leaning in to kiss Eric’s lips.
∆
“Miss Morgan?” She snapped from her memory and looked behind her, seeing three girls from her batch of initiates. The blonde one was an ex Amity, and the other two brunettes were ex Candor.
“If you wanna know how you end up you’ll have to find out later girls”
She moved to turn off the screen to avoid the girls see the end scores
“It’s not that, we wanted to give you a present”
“A present?” She asked turning fully to them, noticing they were holding some boxes and bags on their hands “thank you girls but you really don’t have to”
“They’re for the baby”
“Aaah” Morgan said smirking “the baby can’t say yes or no so, I’ll guess I’ll keep them until they can be deny them or accepted”
The girls chuckled and walked to the little table, Morgan recognized them, there were all in the top 10 of the batch, and they were almost like triplets separated at birth, they did everything together.
“This is from my parents and the leadership board of Amity. When I told them on visit day that you are pregnant they brought me this the next visit”
Morgan peeled off the box and inspected the contents
“There are bathings salts, creams fo-”
“Are the scores done?” Morgan recognized the voice, the girls in front of her jumped a bit, Morgan loved how startled everyone got around Eric.
“I have to finish two more spots. Baby come take a look at all of these” she said pulling another little bottle “what is this?”
“Oil, for massages”
Morgan gasped as he looked at Eric, who had reached to where she was and placed his hand on her waist
“Can you do me some massages with these?”
“Sure” he said, mantaning his same bored monotone.
“I’ll check the rest later. Tell everyone in amity that I love them, and that this isn’t going to last me a week, that I need more”
The girl chuckled at Morgan.
She busied herself with the other bags, she laughed when she pulled out a shirt, all black with big red letter’s saying “Eric’s baby” and an arrow pointing down to her stomach
“You’ll wear this one everyday” he said leaning on her ear. Morgan smiled and put the shirt back, she was about to thank them again when she pulled out a little onesee.
She let out a little “aaaw” that got too high picthed at the end. Showing the cream onesee to Eric as she read “Big boss’ baby”
“I’m fucking dead with this” she said.
“Its comes with this little booties too”
The girl digged into the bag and pulled out newborn booties, Morgan bit her lower lip as she took them.
They were the tinniest shoes she had seen in her life, both of them fitted in her palm. Morgan pictured her baby wearing those and instantly her chin began to tremble.
Eric rubbed her back as she hid her face on his chest as he felt Morgan’s tears stain his shirt and land on his chest.
“It was all fun and games until you made her cry” he said scolding the girls.
They all instantly apologized, talking one over the other as they begged for Eric to not do anything to them.
Morgan composed herself and cleaned her eyes.
“It’s ok girls I’m just emotional as fuck” she took a deep breath and looked down at the shoes again “Eric look at these” she whispered
“I am”
“They’re so tiny” she said slowly touching them
“They have to fit in the baby’s feet”
“I know, I just can’t believe it’ll be so little”
Morgan chuckled as she looked at the mortified looks on the girls faces
“It’s OK girls you’re not in trouble. I loved these, and you’ll defenetly see out baby in them”
She placed the booties back on the bag
“Do you know what it is yet?”
“We don’t want to know until it’s born, it’ll be a surprise” she explained.
“My parents did that too, that’s why my name is Jamie. It’s unisex” the little Amity girl explained
Morgan widened her eyes and looked at Eric
“That’s a very good idea” Eric nodded at her and touched her cheek lovingly
“We can do that if you want”
Morgan nodded excitedly as she leaned in to kiss him, but Eric pulled back, Morgan frowned.
“Not in front of the initiates I have to keep my image up baby”
“Fine” she rolled her eyes at him and directed them to the girls, smiling at them and taking the bags “thank you so much girls, I have to head up to rest my feet are killing me. I’ll see you tomorrow when I present the scores”
Morgan began walking, Eric held the box Amity had gifted and followed suit.
“Bye miss Morgan!” They said in unison as Morgan and Eric walked out
“It’s Misses Coulter but whatever, I’ll let that one slide” Morgan laughed and continued walking “there’s some cream here, with mint and caffeine? The fuck? Aren’t we supposed to be avoiding caffeine if you’re pregnant. ”
“We can read about it later, now I want us to get home and to do the naming thing. I mean, Eric it’s perfect, we can use the one name for girl or boy and we avoid to say ‘the baby’ or ‘it’. Don’t you love it?”
“Do you love it?”
“I 100% love it”
“Then I love it too baby”
Morgan eyes him as she continued walking, now up the set of stairs to their apartment.
“You’re very compliant” she commented.
“I’m not being compliant, I just love all the ideas that you have” they got to the landing and turned to the hall of their apartment.
“We can do this, we can put five girl names, five boy names and five unisex. And then if we agree on one we’ll choose it”
“Are we picking two names for it or just one?”
“Do you want two?” She opened the door to the apartment letting Eric in and closing behind him.
“I think two is appropriate”
Morgan nodded and headed to the bookshelf on the far corner of the living room, she pulled out the book she wanted and when she turned around Eric had two pieces of paper and a few pens
“We can always change it if we end up not liking it” she commented
“Yeah, that’s right” Eric said less convinced.
“Are you OK?” She asked, she sat in the chair looking at Eric as he sat in the other one.
“Yeah, I’m just thinking too much” he said taking the book and sliding it to him, Morgan placed her hand on the book when Eric was about to open it.
“Well, you can talk to me”
“It’s ok, it’s just too much things that should be worrying about when the time comes and not now”
Eric lifted his eyes to hers and moved his hand to cup her cheek, softly running his thumb on it.
“Okay” he took a deep breath and looked down to the book “let’s do this”
Morgan let the subject go, and tried her best to busy herself with the names she wanted.
Eric wanted his baby’s name to mean something. His name had been almost already picked by the time he transfered, Eric meant 'forever ruler’, and for a long time the only thing that he wanted was to be just that, to rule. And now, his child would have to live up to the name he was given before he even knew his own personality.
Changing names when you change factions was the only good thing about the faction system.
He flipped through the pages of girl names until he found the one he was looking for. He read out loud.
“People with this name tend to initiate events, to be leaders rather than followers, with powerful personalities. They tend to be focused on specific goals, experience a wealth of creative new ideas, and have the ability to implement these ideas with efficiency and determination” he glanced at Morgan as she wrote another name
“That’s pretty, what name is it?”
“Your Erudite name”
Morgan stopped writing to glare at Eric
“I’m not naming my kid that” she said with a low voice
“I’m not saying we should, I’m just saying it’s a pretty name. It would have suited you”
“Eric, stop” she said, suddenly angry and leaving the paper down “that name was the name that a nurse gave me, because my parents didn’t give a shit, but I do, so I’m going to thoroughly search for one”
“Baby” he said placing his hand on Morgan’s “forget I even said anything OK. I just thought-”
“That it would make me feel better I know” she interrupted “it doesn’t.”
She crossed her arms at her chest, looking out to the window.
“I swear I’m not as mad as I look”
Eric looked to the book and flipped through the pages again.
“Well… Morgan means sea dweller, your naming abilities suck baby I’m sorry”
Morgan snorted smiling and shook her head.
“Fuck you” she returned to the paper with the name.
“I thought you’ll never ask”
He launched to her, lifting her from the chair and carrying her. Morgan laughed as she clung to his neck.
“Eric no, I have to finish the scores” she complained, Eric set her carefully on the bed as his hands moved to her pants
“Come on, it’ll be a quicky”.
#unexpected#eric fanfic#eric coulter#eric divergent#ericxoc#ericxmorgan#eric#divergent#dauntless#jai courtney#gal gadot
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Beginning in Kalos 11
Sorry about Ladybug, it’s due out tomorrow, real life and my muse sorry
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Here’s chapter 11, hope there’s no problem with the text this time. I finished this at Midnight and I promise that I will have the next chapter finished before August, but I have a few RL problems that I hope to tackle this month so it’ll be there when I can finish it. So thanks to all my readers and please drop a few reviews. One more thing, I changed a few minor points of grammer in chapters 5 and 9, just telling you all.
[Telepathic Communication]
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
A boy with black hair in a white robe ran through a crowd of people, swiftly dodging each and every person in his way with a small Flying type with a black head resembling a musical note flying above him. This is it; today I set sail on my ship first voyage! It’s taken me years but I finally have it, my Graceful Traveler is finally mine. And today I depart with my first cargo, a simple transport job to Ca’Volg just up the coast! Sure it’s not a cargo that’ll give much money beyond upkeep, but it’s a start and that’s important most of all. He thought as he ran through the crowed towards the docks.
“Be careful youngster, whatever you’re after will still be there when you get there!” An old woman called as he ran past her. He laughed as he ran, for years he and his friends had worked like dogs for their shared goal and finally after so long they had it! He ran and spun around and jumped as he moved about, he was so happy he could burst into song.
“Excited, Captain?” A voice said and he turned back around and smiled when he saw the figure of his brother standing before him. Taller than him, his brother was a solid five foot tall with a black mustache on his olive colored face. He was wearing a white vest over a blue shirt and pants. He looked at his best friend, his brother in all but blood and his first mate Doubar. He smiled a grin that reached his blue eyes.
“Of course I am brother Doubar! Today we depart on our first voyage, our destiny’s begin now! As soon as the cargo is loaded we’re leaving port…” He trailed off as he saw the sheepish look on his friends face as the Flying type landed on his shoulder.
“Sorry Squall, but our departure has been delayed a bit. One of the city lord’s ships was found adrift a few miles off shore, the ship was louted down to the hull with the crew held in the hold. The lord has decreed that all ships are to stay at port until noon, thankful he sent a copy of his decree with his seals so we won’t be penalized when we deliver our cargo.” Squall could only stare at his friend and shake his head with a frown on his face.
“Chatot, chat tot.” His Chatot chatted at him as it rubbed its head against his. He rubbed its head and looked at Doubar with a no nonsense frown on his face.
“But the cargo is loaded right; we’re ready to go as soon as we can? And I’m guessing the ship was marked by her wasn’t it” Squall asked as he moved towards the docks, his Chatot taking flight and Doubar falling into step behind him with a laugh.
“Little brother everything is ready to sail, as soon as the gates open we can leave the port and sail to delivery our cargo. And your never guess who was the captain of the ship that was found.” Doubar said with a grin on his face.
Squall looked at the grin on Doubar’s face and went slack jawed. Slowly a grin started to form on his face as he looked at his friend.
“No… Not him!” Once Doubar nodded Squall leaned against a building and started to laugh madly as he started to cry. Out of every one of the lord’s flunkies, she had to humiliate him! Oh how I wish I could have seen his face when he realized what had happened, I wouldn’t want to be him right now. Squall thought as he laughed.
“Francisco El Yutra! You said you would capture that pirate bitch the next time you ran into her but instead she knocked you out, looted your ship and took my cargo!” Francisco’s tan skin went white as he wilted under the tongue lashing his master; Lord Sadri Don Rodruss was giving him. Francisco had been under his master’s command for years, dealing with problems that affect his masters business for most of his employment. The pirate whore was the one person who had foiled him again and again; he had hoped that his sea trip would have gone unnoticed.
“I have no excuses m’lord. She knocked us out and moved us all while we were unconscious. The only thing I am happy about is that no one was injured at all.” Francisco said as he looked straight ahead. Lord Sadri looked at his follower and turned to him with a snarl, meeting Francisco black eyes with his golden ones.
“IF ANY OF YOU WERE INJURED THEN THIS DEBACAL WOULDN’T BE SUCH A TOTAL FAILURE YOU FOOL!” Lord Sadri bellowed as his face grew red. His black hair was
“If any on you were hurt I would be able to make her bounty for the entire continent, but so far her actions only let me put a bounty in this single domain! I need to get rid of her before she begins to attract the wrong kind of attention!” Lord Sadri snarled out as he walked back and forth.
“My lord, anything to make up for the failure that I have caused. Any mission, any punishment you desire to give me I will accept without question.” Francisco said as he bowed before his master. Lord Sadri looked at him before turning to look at the ship floating docked at the peer.
“That ship that you let her loot, it’s your vessel now. Repair it, crew it, rearm it, it’s all on you. I won’t spend a single dollar on it!” His lord’s words caused Francisco to look at him in shock before he looked at the ship a cold smile on his face as he thought of the opportunity that he was being given. The black markets whole sellers would by anything, even stolen cargo so raiding the shipping of those against his master would help and give him capital to start out and the bounties on Chimera, pirates or Wild Pokémon was also a possibility. His smile grew as a name for his new ship appeared in his mind, a name that would strike fear in his enemies and would show the world what he truly was.
“My lord, the Deceptive Avenger will become the one of the greatest of your fleet.” Francisco bowed as Lord Sadri walked away from him and got in a limo that moved away from the docks. Francisco watched his master leave and turned towards his new ship, not noting Squall and Doubar had been eavesdropping from the crowd and each exchange a look as Francisco
“This is going to be trouble sooner or later little brother.” Doubar said somberly as he followed Squall along the docks. Squall just nodded as he led the way through the hustle of the docks.
“Did you hear his tone of voice, he was thinking of how much he could use that ship to further his master’s agenda. How much that idiot could make on the side is probably just a bonus for him.” Squall said as he walked as his Chatot landed on his right shoulder. Doubar put his arms behind his head and though out load.
“We do have a few defensive armaments, and our friend was making a few plans for refits to increase our bite. After we make our delivery to Ca’Volg we should look into what we need to make ourselves stronger.” Doubar mused as they walked
“That is if he comes after us. All right so he will eventually.” Squall said as he caught the look his friend was giving him. He and Francisco had a bit of a history.
“You two have been fighting for years, the only thing that kept is the war between you two so low key was that you two always had different objectives and goals. If we’re on the same stretch of ocean out of sight of the Laws, I wouldn’t put it past him to try and sink us or loot us.” Doubar said calmly.
“Don’t think too much about it brother, once we reach Ca’Volg we’ll look for a cargo taking us farther up the coast, see if we can’t find a free trade routes farther away, and we’ll try and keep tabs on where our friend is.” Squall said as he smiled as they came into sight of their ship.
Sadri Don Rodruss got out of his limo, the snarl on his face not lessening as he looked over the beauty of the garden around his house. That pirate bitch has been getting on my last nerve! Where is she selling them, everyone I have looking for my merchandises are coming up with nothing! And that foul Francisco failed completely! How did she get them asleep?! That whore Nightsprout is ruining me! She has to be dealt with soon!
“Welcome home O Lord!” Many female voices with a bland tone called out, caused him to look up with a smile. Before him in two lines were many seemingly female teenage humans in form fitting maid uniforms. A black haired woman wearing a black dress with a transparent shawl around her shoulders walked towards him between the maids. Her black hair followed down her back and she had on black lipstick and black eyeliner that drew attention to her red eyes.
“Welcome home master, how was your outing?” The woman asked with a sensual purr to her voice as she bowed to him, revealing the tops of her breasts as she did so.
“Terrible, it was simply terrible. That bitch Nightsprout took my cargo again, and I’m still no closer to finding where she’s selling them! But more importantly has my daughter returned my message about the ball? I need her here, Lord Magnus might be coming and I want to get a good impression, the Prince is what the game is about now!” He declared as he walked past her.
“The Lady Nudar sent a replay not long after you left master. She said she was finishing up her homework and that since she had a test tomorrow morning she decided to remain there to finish that and she would be back the day before the ball to allow her time to prepare properly. There was a delivery of beasts while you were out from her.” She said as she followed after him.
“The composition of the delivery was what was promised?” He asked as he walked through his mansion towards his study, noting the preparations for the grand ball he was to have in three days. That woman had better have delivered what she said she could or else I will have payment in her hide! He swore as he listened to the report.
“Yes master, the order is complete; the Flower Cats are the Bewitching Aroma verity from what I saw, the Ruby Eagles are of Fire and the Diamond Hounds are second White, the Guardians have shields and spears and there was one in a rather large crate that I was told was too opened by you alone my lord.” She purred as they walked towards a door guarded by two tall figures in full plate armor wielding Spears and shields. Passing by the Guardians through the door, a ten foot cube stood in the center of the room the two walked into. Marveling at what was before him, Sadri smiled as he walked around the ten foot box, if he could get that pirate bitch in his sights then this monster would kill her, finally ending the problems she had been causing to his busness.
“And how was our trace attempt?” Sadri asked as he ran his hand over the crate. While using, owning or making Homunculus wasn’t illegal, the makers of them were usually in the public eye so the fact that the marker he had been dealing with only operated in the underground presented him with an opportunity, finding who they were would grant him some power over that person that, power that might help him to finally ascend higher in station.
“I have to report a complete failure Master Sadri. Whoever made them sent Guardians to carry the cargo and put the payment into a Blue Ruby Eagle. As soon as it and three Ruby Eagles took off the Guardians started to decompose and soon were nothing but slime.” The woman’s voice caused Sadri to turn and glare at her.
“That’s not good enough Orchid! I need something to change; I need my daughter to make a good impression on Lord Magnus, if I can get the maker under my employment then I might become a Highlord!” He bellowed at the woman.
“Rest assured master some of our operatives are following the Eagle as we speak, we will at least know the direction it’s going in at least.” Orchid said as she bowed before her master. Sadri snarled as he looked at the crate and clenched his right fist as it started to glow brown and struck the crate. The wood crumbled to dust, revealing an 8 foot tall form that radiated danger. Sadri merely looked at the papers and looked the 8 foot Homunculus and turned to his assistant.
“Miss Orchid, please call back all operative you have tracking our payment. Send a message that I would like to purchase two more of these wonders. I will be in my study, do come and tell me if anything else happens would you. Oh, please call my daughter and tell you to keep to the main paths, I don’t want one of my procurers to target her, use an inventive reason for why I asked.” Orchid watched her master walk away and she just huffed and shook her head as she walked out of the room, a thousand other details to be done before the party, never noticing the eyes of the Homunculus glowed red in the darkness of the room or that the two Guardians eyes glowed as well.
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A door opened to a darkened room, until suddenly the lights came on, revealing the room had pink painted walls, a vanity mirror and makeup table next to a dresser in front of a bed with pink curtains. An area in the center of the room seemed to simmer and a bipedal, gray-brown, fox-like Pokémon with a crimson main with spikes and a tall woman with a voluptuous build with a large chest appeared from the simmer. She had on a visor over her eyes and a bandanna mask around her and was wearing a tight black cat suit with three Pokéballs on her waist. She had two cutlasses on her back and her long black hair flowed down to the small of her back. The woman nodded to her Pokémon and sat before the vanity and as her hand started to glow black she opened a drawl and removed a hair brush with a crystal on its back, half golden and the other black. As she moved it along her hair with her glowing hand her hair turned golden blond and started to curl at the ends. As her Pokémon looked at its trainer she smiled and gave it her orders.
“Go ahead and get the food for the others ready girl, the supplies I brought should last you three for a month so tonight we’re all eating together. Still with everything our last mission gave us, a day off is just what I need.” She said as she walked over to her dresser and pulled out some blue jeans and a white blouse as her Pokémon left the room. She chuckled as she channeled a little Aura into her hair and smiled as it started to flow into braids.
“I am so glad Lady Camilla published that book on how to use Aura manipulation to handle your hair, it makes changing my appearance so much easier.” She said to herself as her started to undress.
She walked into a kitchen wearing the cloths she had pulled out with three more Pokéballs and saw her Pokémon put down two dishes full of Pokémon food and go back for two more, her trainer walked by and put down the final two dishes and threw her Pokéballs. Out of them came a brown avian Pokémon with a vulturine neck and broad, powerful wings, a white humanoid Pokémon that looked like it was wearing a kimono, a feminine looking humanoid with white skin and looked like it was wearing a green dress and a large bouquet of ornate yellow flowers around its neck, a Bellossom and a white marine Pokémon that resembles a cross between a sea lion and a mermaid with a blue tail. She smiled as she got out a sandwich for herself.
“Dig in girls, after the meals done we’re relaxing for the rest of the day before Team Noble and I go back to the mansion!” She called as she started to eat her own food as her Pokémon celebrated. She smiled as she saw them talk about themselves as she ate. I can’t believe that it’s been going so well. We’ve been saving so many of them and getting them out of the Old Bastard’s reach will take at least a month for the crew to get back here, enough for me to do some digging into his work again for a new target. Still how long can I keep my double life going, I need to find a way to keep finding his ships, maybe I could hire Happy Grandbull for a virus. Her thoughts were running around her head as she reached for a remote and turned her TV and put the Contest channel on. A battle between a Charizard and an Incineroar was appeared on the screen as the girl and her Pokémon started to watch. The Charizard dodge the Incineroar and grabbed its arms, taking flight and throwing the Incineroar into the ground of the stage, sending a dust cloud. The crowd was silent as the dust cleared, revealing the Charizard with its right leg on the unconscious Incineroar, roaring its victory to the cheers of the stadium.
“And there you have it folks what a game! I wasn’t sure about his chances, but here you have your Infernos Cup Champion!” The speaker was a man with dark skin and ruby collared hair in a black suit.
“Last year’s Infernos Cup? I would have thought that one of this year’s Contests would be shown about now.” The trainer mused as she pouted as she ate her food. The screen changed, the award ceremony disappearing to show a screen that showed who was competing in this year’s Region Tournament. The woman frowned as her eyes flew over the names, not finding the one she was looking for.
“So Lilith isn’t competing this year, or is she the final boss at the Festival? She earned that at least.” The girl muttered to herself as her phone started to ring. She sighed when she saw who was calling, her father’s assistant, just what she didn’t need right now.
“Girls, it’s her, so stay quite you three.” The woman said as she looked at her Zoroak, Froslass and Fearow as she put it to her ear.
“What do you want now Ms. Orchid? I already told you that I’ll be home a day before the ball, what, did my father tell you to remind me to stay to the main streets? I always do that, really is he trying to insult my intelligence much?” She said as she started to gain a frown on her face.
“The master just wants you to be safe Ms. Rodruss.” Orchid’s voice came through the phone.
“Ms. Orchid, we both know he worry about me too much and please, call me Nudara.” Nudara said as she sighed.
“Ms. Rodruss calling you by your first name would be a breach of my contract. And yes he did instruct me to remind you to keep to the main roads, but only because of a rumor that he heard when he was inspecting the damage Nightsprout did to his ship.” Orchid said calmly as Nudara shot a smirk to her Pokémon who return it with their own.
“So what has she done now, sink the ship or leave the crew naked and asleep?” Nudara asked her Pokémon started to snicker.
“Please be safe mam, I will see you when you return.” Orchid said as she ended the call. Nudara smirked at the phone and put it away,
“I guess she didn’t take our performance on the raid that well girls, so that’s another reason to have a good time tonight. So eat up and let’s watch some TV before we get some sleep.” Nudara said as her Pokémon started to cheer. And with that Nudara Rodruss, also know about the underworld as the pirate Lynda Nightsprout, sat down and relaxed with her team.
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“Where are those three?” Dante snarled as he stalked around the campsite, the remaining Squires doing everything they could to not draw hi attention. A patrol group had failed to return last night and three groups had gone in search of them, and already two had returned empty handed. Dante considered this a personal insult to him, how dare those fools stay out so long. Nicolas had gone with the last group and they still hadn’t returned with any news about the missing Squires.
“Calm yourself brother, we’ll find out what happened to them sooner or later.” Sylvestre said as he tried to calm down his friend, but only caused Dante to turn to and grab him and pull Sylvestre close to his face.
“Why are you so laid back, this is your punishment, and what will the queen do if you come back without the bounty that you were told you needed to bring back?” Dante snarled as he looked at Sylvestre. Sylvestre merely tried to calm his friend down as.
“We have already reached that goal my friend and brought down a Nidoking! And remember Dante that the party that Nicolas went with still isn’t back yet, we just need to wait and then we can decide what to do. We said we would send out three groups to find the missing patrol, so far two of them came back, we just have to wait for the last one to return before we can do anything. And let me go before my friend does something that we both won’t like” Sylvestre said as his eyes went to their right. Dante’s eyes moved and saw Sylvestre’s Nuzleaf holding a Leaf Blade ready to strike in defense of its trainer. Dante quietly let Sylvestre go and walked off in a huff, while Sylvestre merely watched him walk as he rubbed his Nuzleaf’s head as his thoughts ran in circles. Dante’s always been hard headed, but I can guess why this is so hard on him. He was the one who set the groups up; he probably sees this as failing on his part. When will that fool learn not to carry so much weight on his shoulders?
“Sir Sylvestre, we found something!” Nicolas voice caused him to look up and spot him running into the campsite, a bundle in his arms with the Squires he had left with following behind him. Sylvestre frowned when he heard the wording Nicolas had used.
“What did you find?!” Sylvestre demanded as the others gathered around Nicolas, frowning when he notice the look of horror that Nicholas had. His frown grew when he noticed that Nicholas was clutching something green in his hands.
“This.” Nicolas said as he dropped a tabard onto the ground back first, a large hole revealed to the others.
“We found two more like this, but no sign of any bodies but the ground looked wet what the hell could it mean?!” Nicolas demanded as his eyes grew hard as he looked at Sylvestre as the others started to mutter among themselves. Sylvestre brought a hand to his face and started to think. Something killed my men, but what and how is the problem. A Chimera could have knocked them out then eaten them but where are the bodies, why are their cloths in such a state? I don’t like this, not one bit. Sylvestre looked around and when he noticed the looks on the others faces he made his choice.
“Right, everyone start packing up! Something out there killed three of our own in a way I can’t even guess at, so we’re leaving the area before more of us fall. We’re heading back to base, I want everyone to keep an eye out for anything to kill as we move, we leave as soon as we’re done breaking camp!” Sylvestre barked as he moved toward his own tent and started to put it away. He kept working when he heard two people walk towards him and he heard Dante start to speak.
“I don’t like what the kid found ether Sylvestre, but to leave like this, without finding it?” Dante demanded as he and Nicolas started to help Sylvestre put his tent away. Sylvestre gave a sigh and locked eyes with Dante and gave him a level stare.
“Can you think of anything that could leave remains like what Nicolas found Dante, because I can’t. If these thing is that strong, I can’t guess what would happen if we fight against it. I won’t risk the lives of my men on a fool's errand.” Sylvestre said with a forceful tone that caused Dante to look down and cursed to himself. The boss it right damn it! A creature that strong and able to devour the bodies so neatly that the remains are gone with no sigh on their clothing beyond a puncture wound, I can’t even think what could cause it.
“So what if we run the thing that attacked the missing Squires Sir Sylvestre?“ Nicholas asked as Dante looked at him and remembered the conversation the two of them had recently, where Nicholas had asked him about the Squires and frowned.
“I’ll be out in front, if we find that thing I’ll take its attention and let the rest of you escape. But for that to work we need a strong rearguard….” Sylvestre began before Dante interrupted him.
“The me and the kid will take the rearguard, we should keep the Carriers in the center as we travel, plus it’ll give us some time to finish a discussion we were having before.” Dante said as he looked at Nicholas whose eyes started to gain a look of worry to them.
A few minutes later the party had finished packing up camp and got on their golems and were soon moving, the Carriers were in the center as discussed and Sylvestre was leading the way with Dante and Nicholas in the rear, the Squires all had a bow and quiver on their backs ready to use if they spotted any prey. An hour after they had started to move and had added a few birds and Flying types to the bounty they were bringing back Dante moved his Charger closer to Nicholas, signaling him to slow down. Well, time to find out if I’ll live as myself I guess. Nicholas thought as he slowed his Charger. When the Squires were far enough ahead the talk Nicholas had been dreading began
“What do you know about the Squires that made you ask me about them?” Dante said quietly and bluntly. Nicholas looked at Dante before he started to speak.
“How good are you at Sensing, really?” Nicholas asked as Dante looked at him. Dante looked forward at the Squires on their golems and before he said anything had a look of confusion on his face before he started to look concerned.
“I’m terrible at it come to think of it. In fact I don’t know anyone in the team who is good at it. Why, what is it?” Dante asked as he looked at the party.
“They all feel as if their brothers. And by all I mean every single Squire I’ve moved past sense I joined up.” Nicholas said as he faced forward, not looking at Dante as they traveled.
“Every single one of them?” Dante asked with a frowned as he looked at the Squires, noticing two of them were talking and one had told a joke that caused his fellow to laugh. How the hell is that even possible, I can’t even think beyond…. Dante’s thoughts stopped as a sudden spike of pain caused him to lean his head against his Charger’s head, grabbing his head as he moves, his Charger slowing to a stop.
“DANTE! Are you okay?!” Nicholas’s voice caused Dante to look up and notice the kid had stopped his charger and was looking at him in concern as Dante fought through the pain and grabbed a few memories in his head.
“IS EVERYTHING OKAY BACK THERE YOU TWO?” Sylvestre’s voice echoed from the front of the pack, causing Dante and Nicholas to look at the others had slowed down and Slyverstre was looking towards them from the front of the group. Nicholas turned and stopped when Dante raised his hand toward him. Dante took a deep breath and yelled
“WE’RE FINE SLYVERSTRE, I JUST TOLD THE KID AN OFF COLOR JOKE THAT SHOCKED HIM!” Dante called back and within a few minutes they were moving again. Dante turned to Nicholas and gave him a stern look.
“Don’t tell the boss about that episode, I’ll tell him about it later. If that was what I thought it was then I need to talk to a friend back at base.” Dante said as he moved his Charger forward, leaving Nicholas behind him. Nicholas looked after Dante with a frown on his face and soon his thoughts came to his own fears. That looks like what happened to me when I realized I didn’t remember why and how I joined the Team. Who was that woman I see in my dreams, how do I know her, where did I grow up? Nicholas just sighed and moved his golem forward, falling back into line behind his comrades.
A few hours later as they neared the area where their home was Sylvestre started to look around and grew concerned. An hour ago Dante had come forward to talk to him after they had taken down an eagle that was carrying a rabbit.
“Shouldn’t the sentries have stopped us before we reached this point Dante?” Sylvestre asked as he looked around. Dante looked and noticed a few places he had stood guard since their Queen had brought them to their base, and frowned as he noticed a few signs that people had left in a hurry and that something had attacked them. Sylvestre stared ahead and stopped when and explosion sounded ahead of them. He shot a glare at Dante and was relieved when Dante sent a nod at him and drew one of his sickles.
“We’re going. Nicholas! Stay here and protect the others! Dante, get ready, WE CHARGE!” Sylvestre roared as he and Dante increased the speed of their Chargers, both of them worried beyond all reason that something could have happened to their fellows. As soon as they passed over the last hill they saw a scene of horror that stopped them in their tracks. A flood of wooden humanoid and beasts were charging at a line of Team Gaia Knights, their Pokemon and Golems at the bottom of the mountain, elemental blasts and weapons met wooden claws and green blobs flying through the air and splattering.
“What are we seeing?” Sylvestre wondered softly as he and his friend looked upon the battle. Dante said nothing as they watched, leaving Sylvestre to try and figure out what was happening, looking at it as he thought. Okay, they have a line so they had warnings so there’s that. But the sheer size of the things they’re fighting makes me wonder how they learned about them in the first places. And are they forcing us back, how can they…. Sylvestre thoughts died as he looked at the battle and suddenly realized just what he was seeing.
“Those things attacking, their following orders from something.” His words caused Dante to look at him before noticing the same thing Sylvestre had, whenever the defenders had pushed back the attackers more came at them, but unlike normal Chimera these things came at the defenders in groups, the things were trying to pierce through line by over whelming their opponents, but so far the defenders were making the things pay for every step they took.
Dante noticed that most of the things seemed to be coming from one section of the forest and made a decision and grabbed two of his Pokéball. I can move faster on my own, the boss can do the most good on the battle line.
“Sylvestre, go. Me and my team will work our way over there and see if we can take out their commander, I’ll send up a flare when I find it. Go help the others hold the line and if we’re wrong about this I’ll fight my way back to the lines and we’ll go from there.” Dante said as he released a Haunter and a Bug type with a yellow head with two crests on its side, veined wings with triangular, red tipping and two gray insectoid arms extending from its chest ending in small, yellow claws.
Jacquelin blocked a blow from one of the tree things stone like claws{[Treeslasher]} with his shield and cursed in his head as he fought. ��It had been perfect, he had brought the remains of what he had fought and even Mathis had said an expedition to discover if more were in the area was a good idea, and no sooner had that decision been made then they discovered a flood of them marching towards the mountain! Thankfully they had been able to create a defensive line and but they were slowly being pushed back, for some reason they were using tactics of all things! He looked up and saw more of the Treeslashers and copies of the thing he had faced before with the vines for a left arm{[Treegrabber]} and clenched his hands, ready to weather the attacks when he was saved.
“Bullet Seed, give them some space!” At the called command he looked up and for the first time ever was happy to see Sylvestre. He was riding his Charger with his Nuzleaf standing behind him, firing its attack at the creatures as his golem charged at the place Jacquelin was defending. Jacquelin just panted as the yellow seeds struck down the Woodmen.
“Enjoy the hunt?” Jacquelin asked as he started to catch his breath, the Bullet Seed having brought him a few seconds to gather his strength.
“It was bad, but what’s this then?” Sylvestre asked as he prepared to meet the enemies charge.
“I found some of these things a while on a hunt of my own; I was organizing a patrol expedition when the lookouts saw the horde coming at us. We’ve been trying to hold them back for the last few hours with limited success, we started a few feet from the woods. But these things, their obeying commands from something.” Jacquelin said as he looked at the enemy.
“Dante thinks he saw where their getting commands from, he’s gone to deal with it, and we just need to hold on as long as we can.” Sylvestre was able to say before the horde was upon them and battle gave them no time to talk.
Dante slipped through the trees, having left his Charger behind him as he led his two Pokémon towards when he had thought the enemy was getting their directions from. He would either find their leader or discover just how many of them there were, but he would find out. He slowed as he reached a clearing and looked out and saw a wooden centaur with three eyes on its head, four long arms with the lower two ending in claws, the top right one ended in an open log and the other ended in grasping leafy vines {[Treelord]} stood looking out at the battle, two Treeslashers stood next to it while behind it a group of Treegrabbers and Treeslashers stood before the Treelord gestured with one of its arms towards one part of the battle and the group thundered towards the battle. Dante looked around and nodded when he didn’t see any other groups and turned towards his Pokémon and shot a few signs at his Pokémon and when they nodded back at him he drew his weapons, nodded at his Pokémon and charge forward with a yell, the creatures only turning towards him calmly. Dante ran at his foes, his sickles out when blue fireballs flew past him and hit the Treeslasher on the right while his Ninjask flew by him outlined in a white glow and slammed into the Treeslasher on the left. The Treelord shot a glob of purple at Dante but he jumped over it and his blades started to glow pink as he slashed downward at the Treelord, slicing the trunk arm away from its body.
He spared a glance at the battles his two Pokémon were having and noticed Ninjask flying around its opponent while it firing a black ball at its opponent while his Haunter grappled with its foe, its hands clenched with the Treeslasher’s claws. As he switched his vision back to his own opponent he realized what he needed to order.
“Haunter, take its head! Ninjask, stay above and fire down at it! Whoever wins first helps the other then signal the others then gang up with me!” Dante called as the Treelord charged at him and he started to dodge the claw strikes, vines and globs of purple shot at him. Haunter’s hands started to glow black and with a savage cry its hands crunched the Treeslasher’s claws and tore its hands away from its body. When the Treeslasher raised its torn arms, a river of green liquid dropping from the wounds Haunter opened its mouth and shot black and purple circles that punched through the Treeslasher’s body and it crashed to the forest floor, not moving.
Ninjask meanwhile had flown upwards and started to generate a yellow-orange ball in front of its face and a yellow-orange beam shot downwards at the Treeslasher that tried to dodge it but a blue fireball hit its back, sending it forward and the beam went through the Treeslasher’s right arm, tarring the arm off at the shoulder. As Haunter moved to back up Ninjask Dante dodged a vine from the Treelord that tried to pull him into the range of its claws. Dante slashed at the vine and cut off a length of it, green liquid pouring from the cut vine. We can do this; all we have to do is take this thing out before reinforcements come. If we can keep the pressure on this thing, then we can weather this storm. Dante thought as he blocked a claw strike and dove backwards and sent a pink energy slash at the Treelord’s vine arm, cutting it off at the shoulder.
The final Treeslasher tried to charge at Dante but blue fireballs from Ninjask sent it to its knees before a glowing black claw from Haunter broke through its body, a small glowing gem in the center of Haunter’s hand that stopped glowing before the body started to fall apart. Haunter stared in shock before it turned its hand and saw the stone in its palm and stared at it before it closed its hand and brought it close to its body protectively, it felt that its trainer would want to see what it had recovered and turned to Ninjask and nodded, it would have to send the signal now.
Sylvestre passed by his final foe and turned and pierced its body, killing the Treeslasher in one trust. When the reinforcements had hit the line where he was he had realized that his and Dante’s observations was right, something was sending more forces at the parts of the wall that had beaten back the attacks. Dante I really hope that you found something, I want this to be something smart not a lot of them smart. Sylvestre thought as he and his Nuzleaf looked for creatures to fight. A ball of light rising from the forests caused them to look and realize that Dante and his team had found what they were looking for and had called sent a signal for some reason.
“THERE! Our enemy is there!” Jacquelin called out as he ran towards the light, his Shiftry and Grandsword following, causing Sylvestre to just shake his head as he watched a few people he knew were some of Sylvestre’s followers run after him, he always was someone who tried to do the politically correct thing to advance his position. He felt his Nuzleaf grab his leg and looked at it, turning his head when he saw it pointing back from where he had come from, turning his head he saw Nicholas leading the squires from the hunt on a charge down the hill. Sylvestre watched as they hit the remaining creatures like a tidal wave and sent a small smile to his Pokémon.
“They must have noticed the flare and decided to come and help out…Well, they have the cleanup under control and we can’t let that idiot save Dante on his own so let’s go partner!” Sylvestre said as he ran forward after Jacquelin, his Nuzleaf by his side.
Dante dodged backwards as the Treelord tried to hit it with blasts from its trunk arm as it dodged blue fireballs and black and purple circles. Since his Ninjask had sent that flare into the sky the Treelord had started fighting more savagely and he was worried that… a crash behind him caused him to curse and dodge to the left so he could see what had made the sound and yes, more Treeslashers and Treegrabbers were coming at him.
“CHARGE KNIGHTS! TAKE THEM!” Jacquelin voice was all the warning Dante had before Jacquelin led a charge of Knights into the clearing, most of them running at the reinforcements while Jacquelin and his Grandsword charged at the Treelord, prompting the Treelord to fire a point blank blast at the Grandsword that hit its head, melting it and sending it crashing to the ground. Jacquelin merely looked at his downed golem as his Shiftry started firing Focus Blasts at the Treelord.
“I just got that fixed!” Jacquelin snarled as Sylvestre and Nuzleaf entered the clearing and started to move around the Treelord toward where Dante. Jacquelin charged with a yell and sliced at the open log and cut through it.
“Has this thing reacted to anything you’ve done Dante?” Sylvestre asked as he looked at the creature Jacquelin and his Pokemon were attacking.
“Barely a sound and barely reacted when I charged it, I don’t like this boss. Eh, what’s the matter Haunter?” Dante asked as his Pokémon gathered around them and Haunter moved its closed hand in front of its trainer’s face. Haunter opened it to reveal the gem it had taken from the Treeslasher and Sylvestre went white when he saw it.
“What the… Did you get that from the thing you were fighting?” Dante demanded as he looked at the gem. Sylvestre looked at the Treelord and his rapier started to glow pink as he tried to find an opening to end this. As Jacquelin sliced at one of the Treelord’s claws Sylvestre shot forward a pink comet formed around him and he shot through the Treelord’s body and he had just stoped moving, a gem embedded on his rapier’s blade when the body of the Treelord started to disintegrate. Jacquelin looked from the body to Sylvestre blade and nodded at him when they locked eyes, they would talk about it later, before he turned and ran towards the others fighting the creatures, Dante and Sylvestre with their Pokemon flowing behind.
A woman in a long sleeved black shirt under a yellow tunic dress that is edged with green, blue tights and purple ankle boots lowered their spyglass and gave a short sigh as she put away her telescope. The battle had been going badly before something had changed, and while it had been dangerous to follow the signs she had seen of their passage, by tracking the horde she had found the base of Team Gaea, something that a lot of people would want to know the location of, and she couldn’t say it was bad that they had fought off their attackers but the person who had come at the end at the head of that party…. A powerful looking wingless, three-headed avian Pokémon cooed at the woman when it sensed its trainer’s distress, who then just sighed and scratched one of its heads as she thought about what she had just seen.
“So those things I was hunting led us to a base for Team Gaia, and they are a lot stronger then most people would think. But why was Nick there, he disappeared months ago looking for something to help heal his father, did they brainwash him? Still this is something that we needed to know.” The figure mused to herself, suddenly going still when she heard a branch breaking. She turned and saw a wooden form walking towards them, this one looked like it had a cannon where its right arm would be and a clawed left hand{[Treeblaster]}. In its left claw was a knocked out child in a green smock, the sight of which caused the trainer to start to glare at the creature, and then suddenly she jolted backwards with a look of shock
”Dodrio, use Drill Peck on the trunk arm!” Dodrio ran at the Treeblaster as its becks stared to spin, dodge blobs of purple that the Treeblaster shot at it and when its becks hit the Treeblaster’s trunk arm at the shoulder and cut it away from its body. The Treeblaster dropped the child it was holding and tried to claw at the Dodrio but the Pokémon dodged, ran around the creature and grabbed the girl and carried her a few feet away from the creature before Dodrio deposited the child gently before its trainer and stood definitely in front of the humans. The creature started to move towards them when the trainer gave her next command.
“Finish it with Tri Attack!” She cried. Her Dodrio heard the command and opened its becks in a triangle formation and a red energy triangle formed that Dodrio shot at the Treeblaster, the attack destroying the upper portion of its body, the remain falling to the ground, a green liquid flowing out of the remains.
The woman walked towards the dropped child and started to gently wake her up, noticing a bump on her skull as she did so. She positioned the child so she wouldn’t see the battles results; she could be spared that much at least. Within a few moments, the child started to wake and open her eyes.
“What…Miss Leaf, where am I? I was gathering barriers for mom when something hit my head, did someone carry me to you?” The child asked as she rubbed her eyes. Leaf smiled at the girl and gestured for her Dodrio to bend its knees.
“Come on kid, I’ll give you a ride back to your home. I think I should talk to your guardians about how you got hurt.” Leaf said as she helped the child on to Leaf’s Pokémon and got on behind her, Dodrio then swiftly carried the two on its back away from the clearing and away from Team Gaia’s mountain base.
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Brock looked around the area they had chosen to place their camp. It had access to fresh water from a spring, it had a way down the mountain and the clearing was large enough for Steelix to lie down and strike at anything that came at them so why was he so worried. He turned and noticed Yuji glaring at Agalia and her brother as they were setting up their tent. That’s why I feel something’s wrong. Brock frowned as he looked at Yuji. The sheer suspicion that Yuji had was going to be a problem if a Chimera like they recovered from the cabin attacked the group, they needed to trust the others to have their back. Brock nodded when he saw that the camp was set up and looked around, he knew what he had to do now.
“Okay everyone, gather up!” Brock called out as he drew forth a Pokéball and released his Steelix as the others gathered around him.
“With Salma gone back to Viridian we’re down a body so our plans have changed, not counting the stampede we saw earlier. Kunz, Yuji, I want the two of you to do a short patrol not too far out, and bring back or record anything that you think might be evidence about what is happening up here. Agalia, you’re stay here and help me defend this place if anything attacks us.” Brock said as the others. Yuji just snorted as he crossed his arms and looked at Kunz.
“What are supposed to be looking for anyway? More webbing, a corpse or evidence of battles?” Agalia asked sarcastically as she locked eyes with Brock.
“What we already found will prove something is happening here, we need to find definite proof about the threat or at the very least we need to find evidence that something is wrong here, something that the League will believe.” Brock said as he looked at them. Agalia just looked at the others before she sighed.
“I know you said this before but I can’t believe the League is that hard to react, what we��ve seen so far has to be proof that something is happening up her.”
“Then you’ve never met Pecker before.” Yuji muttered as he put his hand on Kunz shoulder and pushed towards away from camp.
“Come on partner, the sooner we do this, the sooner we can get something to eat. And after last night meal I so want some more of Brock’s cooking.” Yuji said as he walked past Kunz and moved out onto the mountain. Kunz started to walk off when he felt his sister’s eyes on his back and looked a little sheepish when he looked back at her.
“Well, it was very good.” He said as he walked after Yuji, leaving Agalia to simmer as Brock blushed as his Steelix grinned and chuckled. None of them noticed a black shadow moved silently after the two leaving the group, a silent protector following after the person he thought was in the most danger.
A few minutes later they were out of sight of the camp and Yuji started to look around the area, trying to find anything that would give him a single clue about what was happening up here. As the two of them walked around the area, Kunz looked about blankly while Yuji started to notice a few things that really worried him. Okay, so there’s no sound of anything living around here like after we ran into that pack. And the trees, most of them have leaves that are losing color, and it looks like it started from the stem. I so need to talk to Brock about this, maybe he’s seen something like this on his journey. Yuji thought as he used his PokéGear to record a few pictures of the trees.
“Found something?” Kunz flat voice caused Yuji to jump slightly at the fact that Kunz had moved so silently. Yuji looked at Kunz for a few seconds before he gestured around him.
“What is wrong with this place?” Yuji asked as he looked at Kunz, who looked around then looked at Yuji with a blank look, causing him slap his face.
“Oh for the love of….Listen, there aren’t any animal, birds of Pokémon around here! And the trees, their sick or something! Look around I mean!” Yuji said as he turned away from Kunz and walked towards a tree, never noticing that Kunz’s eyes had lost their blank look and had a look of rage in them. Not good, this brat is noticing the Chimera’s affects. And it noticed that something drained the Aura of the trees. If that brat figures out about Aura then I’ll have to say that a Chimera jumped him. Kunz slowly moved his right arm towards his axe as he looked at Yuji. He stopped when he saw Yuji push back a bush and look behind it before he stood and gestured for Kunz to follow him. Kunz blanked his eyes and walked next to Yuji and looked at what Yuji had found and saw a white web line lead away from the tree and out into the woods.
“We should head back soon; I want to find where this is going.” Yuji said as he walked into the woods. Kunz merely looked at where Yuji had walked off, before he followed after him, not even registering that someone had seen him reach for his axe, and had drawn a knife. Shadow jumped down into the clearing after Kunz had left and put away his throwing knife and put a hand on one of the trees.
I was right to follow those two, that kid found something that almost made the other try to kill him. But what was that about the trees that caused that reaction…Wait this tree, its Aura was drained by something, no it’s still being drained. Shadow looked around the tree and found the white web line that lead into the forest. Shadow looked after the two people he was following and moved into the trees, continuing to follow after both a possible enemy and a possible friend who was walking beside his possible murderer.
Rosette caught her breath as she watch her traveling complains as they rest. Since they had saved her they had given first aid to both herself and Aracanine and she had been traveling with them as the climbed the mountain, they had final stopped to feed both themselves and their Pokémon and she smirked a bit as she watched Cameron interact with his Lucario as the two grappled with each other over a bag of snacks as their other Pokémon either called out encouragements or told them to stop as Riley laughed, those two didn’t fit the tales of Aura Guardians. She still couldn’t believe it, actual Aura Guardians. According to legends the Aura Guardians were heroes who saved people, warriors who were able to use Pokémon attacks and healers who save those near death, legendary figures who were said to have beaten the worst threats to life and who legends said had died to the last killing a terrible Chimera. But if they had died so long ago then from where and whom had Riley learned their arts, and how he had described them, the last, that raised all kinds of flags in her mind. And then there were the looks he had been sending her since she had told them she was a member of the Kanto League’s Defense Forces. That had raised so many alarms that she was starting to get worried.
“Okay, we’ve rested enough! We still have to find out at least the general areas of where those things are coming form, if we can learn that we can try to take care of them.” Rosette just stared at the two, shocked at the words they were saying. She and the people at the cabin had been members of the Defense Forces and all she could do was runaway when the Chimera had attacked them. Sure the two and their teams had handled the Chimera, but they had surprised them and kept them off balance, but did they really think they could handle the Chimera on their own?
“Are you serious?! You think you will be able to handle those things on your own?!” Rosette exclaimed as she looked at the people and Pokémon before her. Cameron looked at her and tapped a bag he was holding.
“Lady, our predecessors were able to seal them away, and with some more modern knowledge we’ll kill them this time. All we gotta do is drop a few bombs down a hole and their den is done. Of course we have to find them first, which is the hard part of this whole thing.” Cameron started to say only to stop when Rosette started to stare at him in shock and a bit of anger before she exploded.
“’Seal’?! Then the Aura Guardians dealt with these things before and just put them to sleep?! But wait, wouldn’t you know where they were if your group sealed them away in the first place?” Rosette trailed off as she saw the looks Riley and Cameron were trading with each other. I can’t risk it, I have to ask him before we move on, I need some solid answers that I can trust these two.
“Listen, you called your selves the last Aura Guardians, I’m guessing the answer to my questions have something to do with that?” Rosette asked as she looked at Riley. Riley meet her eyes and after few seconds turned to his student with a hard look.
“Cameron, go scout ahead a bit with Lucario, if you see anyone or anything come back, you got it, and I don’t want any backtalk.” Riley said with his hand raised, stopping Cameron from saying anything.
“Yes master, I’ll make sure the way is clear.” Cameron said, shooting a look at Riley before he nodded and dashed ahead, his Lucario just behind him as they moved out of sight. Riley just sighed and turned back to their new traveling companion and looked at her with a hard stare.
“I don’t want Cameron to hear this again; the kid had nightmares for a while when I told him about it and was as nervous as a Fighting type around Psychic types for weeks whenever we went for supplies, cause it really isn’t a good tale.” Riley said, causing Rosette to start to frown as she thought about what he had just said.
“A battle where most of the other Guardians died wouldn’t cause a case of nerves but might cause nightmares, so then were the Guardians betrayed? And what part did the League play I noticed your reaction when I mention my employers so don’t try to underplay it.” Rosette said with her arms crossed when Riley jolted in place at her words. Riley just looked at her and chuckled as he shook his head.
“Yeah it does but it’s a long story so please bear with me for a bit. A long time ago, before the Defense Treaty was even thought up a powerful Chimera and its hordes threatened all of Kanto, I think it could be called the Zero Siege. Anyway according to the records the battles lasted for years, until one village a Guardian’s family was in was destroyed, there were zero survivors.” Riley said as Rosette closed her eyes and winced.
“I’m guessing he went over the deep end as some would say.” Rosette said causing Riley to snort.
“And how! See, back then the ability to use Aura was more common, at lot of people could do it, the Aura Guardians were just the first people to record it and he was one of our archivists. He blamed the pace of the war and he gathered around him others who shared his beliefs. Now this is where it gets strange, there were a lot of ‘brotherhoods’ like his so most people ignored them and that was how he liked it, let him and his experiment with a few practices that after according to the book let him create something that would create a force to counter the Hivers, that what they called the Chimera that attacked you, were ever released. As for why they were sealed and not destroyed, it was a suicide technique that created the seal, the ‘Leader’ of them and its guards were to powerful and after the seal was in place, if it was tampered with the Chimera would either be released or the entire Kanto region would experience an earthquake that would sink half of it, at least.” Riley said as Rosette started to go white with shock.
“Half of Kanto would sink into the ocean?” She whispered in horror, imagining the loss of life.
“At least, but that was the final straw for the Archivist and his people, they attacked what was supposed to be a ceremony to honor the fallen and declared that their Order would destroy the ‘blights of the world’. It became a battle that after a while went into the shadows of history and about three hundred years ago the Guardians thought we had defeated them for good. In reality they went even deeper into the shadows and started to infiltrate the league. I’m the only survivor of an attack that killed the entire Brother of the Aura Guardians, and the person who led the forces against them were at that time current Champion of Kanto, and members of the Elite Four of Johto and Unova plus a few Gym Leaders from those Regions.” Riley said with a hard look in his eyes. Rosette just stared at him and then she threw her hands over her mouth to keep from throwing up. A few years ago the Champion died suddenly, they said a Chimera got in a lucky shot in on a hunt for it. Was that just a lie to advance this ‘Orders’ schemes? Rosette thought as she looked at him in shock.
“How did you survive?” Rosette final was able to wasp out the one question that was blaring through her minds, prompting Riley to smile and chuckle weakly
“Would you believe because of bad book keeping? I had just joined a few months earlier and my teacher was sick that day and he had already said that he would be there and we were marked as attending. And the only way that worked was that the leader had used a suicide device that activated when all the Guardians were killed in the meeting place. Since then I never trusted that any member of the League wasn’t be a member of the Order.” Riley said, causing Rosette to look at him as he stared her down.
“And telling me what you before you knew who I worked for right.” Rosette said as causing Riley to chuckle.
“Not as much as you would think, any member of the Order would have tried to kill us by now.” Riley said dryly as he looked forward, seeing Cameron coming running towards them. Once he reached them he panted as he looked at them.
“I found a pathway up wards, it looked like it was being used heavily, Lucario sensed something coming and we hid and saw a group of them charging towards something, there were at least as many as the group that we beat to rescued Ms. Rosette.” Cameron said as he
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“That lightning bitch must have gotten off the mountains by now; we should head for Viridain and meet up with the others!” The speaker was a tall woman with black hair said to three other women as they moved along the mountain path.
“Yeah so let’s go already girl!” The woman who said this had blond hair and was speaking to a woman with red hair as the final woman, a brunet nodded. The redhead looked at the others and nodded and started to lead them towards the setting sun. They had just started to move through a forest on the mountain when a rustling in the bushes caused them to look up as a buxom woman in a torn kimono with long black hair and a look of fear on her face come running towards them.
“Help, they killed my Pokémon! They were going to rape me, their right behind me help!” The woman screamed as a rustling started farther back.
“Get behind us, girls let’s get ready, Go Flareon!” The redhead said as she threw a Pokéball, the others releasing a Jolteon, a Vaporeon and a Leafeon. The woman with long hair merely smiled an evil looking smirk.
“Thank you so much, I was so worried.” The woman said as the four Pokémon started to growl in the direction of the rustling.
“Don’t worry; the four of us will be able to handle any kind of thugs.” The blond said as she looked over into the forest. The woman behind them started to move closer the four women.
“Yes I was so worried that I wouldn’t have any meat for my daughters.” The woman said as she trust a hand through the back of the redhead and out clutching the redhead’s heart, causing her to gurgle and go still, and the others and the Pokemon to turn backwards as a from the darkness a spider leg speared the Jolteon through its heart.
“Ambush!” The blond cried as she saw the leg as spider Chimera charged out of the woods and started to slay the three remaining Pokémon. A Chimera dropped onto her from above and soon breathed her last as the Chimera bit into her neck, severing her spine.
“Sister! No NO NO!” The black haired woman cried as she stared at the red head’s corpse until a Chimera trust one of its legs into her eyes killing her and threw the Leafeon that jumped at it with one of its legs. The Leafeon flew through the air and crashed to the ground and had two fangs driven into its brain before it could do more then try to stand up.
The long haired woman looked up and saw the final trainer running into the woods with the Flareon and formed black spider legs from her back to run after her when the brunet’s corpse flew through the air with a hole where her heart had been. As the spider Chimera gathered around the woman as black chitin formed clawed gauntlets on her hands they looked towards where the corpse had flown from.
“Well this is a genuine surprise, after all this time I never thought that you were still alive, much less still in Kanto.” A deep voice called from the darkness. The woman looked around and started to gain a glare on her face as she tried to find the source of it.
“Whose there, who do you think I am?” She demanded as she looked around as she brought the spider legs on her back up and moved her head. She suddenly lunged for a part of the woods to her left and thrusted her spider legs at a point when the figure she was striking at jumped upward and formed bat wings made of energy that carried it to a branch in view of the everything in the clearing and breathed a stream of fire into the air above it, shocking the woman who looked at the figure and stared in shock as she realized just what she was facing. The figure looked to be a human male in a dark clock with spikey white hair and solid black eyes and pupils, in its hands was the Flareon with its head twisted backwards.
“You’re like me, you one of the Ascended.” She breathed in shock. He knows me, how where did we meet? A powerful Ascended could kill me and my girls and it has those wings so it could fly and strike when he wants to. Why does that remind me of something I meat once? She thought as he chuckled.
“Indeed I am, I would wonder how long you’ve lived around here, when last we had crossed paths it was in the forests to the west near the Tower of Ghosts when we were in that horde so many years ago.” At his words she went still and her eyes went hard as her spider legs started to glow green.
“There are only five beings that I am sure survived of that time. Three of them had wings like yours, but there was only one of them that I liked, so please tell me who you are before I decide to kill you here and now.” She purred as the spider Chimera started to back away from her as she started to glow a mix of purple and black. He looked at her and chuckled as he threw the Flareon corpse into the center of the clearing.
“Even back then you had such a way with your communication. How about that I saved your life when the horde was ambushed when it was supposed to attack the city that fought us off?” He said as he dropped to the ground as raised his right hand and had two points of scar tissue on it.
“You survived! And Ascended! What are you calling yourself?” She asked as she rushed and gave him a hug. He returned it with a chuckle as the Spider Chimera watched in confusion.
“Nice to see you too old friend. So I’m guessing your helping your spawn evolve, and you just need the human element for that. As for my name the humans in the land I ascended in called me Dreadwing and I decided to keep it.” Dreadwing said with a grin as the other Chimera in the clearing looked at their mother who gave a laugh
“Good name! And I’ve been thinking of myself as the Lady of Poison Webs, the Great Dokugumo! But where were you, after the battle and my ascension I tried to find you but only found legends that spoke of you.” Dokugumo said with spin that she ended with a bow.
“’Poison Spider’, so after the horde broke up you hunted around the city of the Poison gym then, they are one of the only people on the continent that speak the ancient tongue. As for myself after the battle I was blown out to sea and gain the abilities of an ocean dweller and moved and feed until I reached a new land.” Dreadwing said as Dokugumo looked at him with a smirk on her face.
“Yes I had such a fine nest in a place where so many different Pokémon lived, unfortunately the humans found out about me, thankful I was able to escape, went by the location our former leader had his den and slipped by the city nearby and found a good den. It had a protection on it that kept most humans from seeing it, those who did come in usually had some such good food with them, some of my girls even ascended and gone out on their own or left to seek their fortunes on their own power, and these are just my newest brood.” Dokugumo said as she motioned to the spider like Chimera. Dreadwing turned and looked at them, noticing the differences between them. One had a flower on her back from which two vines that went from under the flower’s buds and were waving in the air as it chittered at her sister, one that was red and bulky, another that was purple and seemed to be moving with grace and the final one blue and was smaller than the others but she glowed to his senses. He turned to Dokugumo and smiled at his friend.
“I can tell just what these girls need is the just a bit of aura for their next stage, right?” He said as he looked at Dokugumo who nodded and gestured to the others to decide who ate what amongst themselves. As the spider Chimera started to look over the bounty before them as Dokugumo watched with pride before Dreadwing gestured for her join her him away from the girls hearing. Once she joined him he gave her a stern look.
“Listen, once their doing ascending to their next stage I would move on from this area if I was you, there’s something awakening around here, a breed of Chimera that are as mindless as the worst of the ones we fought with back then. At least I’m hoping their just mindless.” He muttered
“You hope, wait why do you hope?” Dokugumo asked as she started feel uneasy as she looked at what her daughters were doing. They had chosen what they would eat and were deciding on the order they would eat individually.
“They were stupid. They just used wave tactics and didn’t react but throwing themselves when trainers got between them and their target, a lone girl riding a fire wolf. A pack of at least twenty of them gave their lives on the hunt for one human and one Pokémon, it was just so stupid.” Dreadwing said as he turned towards the darkness, his eyes looking towards the darkness, trying to spot anything that might. Dukogumo merely looked at him before she turned and followed his gaze into the darkness of the forest; the forest hat seemed more evil and savage then before. Maybe it’s time to go farther west; we could slip into a village, find a place…wait, why is Dreadwing here, why did he come back?
“Why were you even around to see them, what brought you back to this land?” Dokugumo questioned as she turned to Dreadwing who only smirked and walked into the darkness.
“Look after yourself old friend, you and your girls. I would hate to learn you fell to things like them.” With those words Dokugumo was left alone, shivering as she held herself and started to make plans to protect her daughters. She looked at her girls and clapped her hands, they needed to advance to their next stage, then they would leave, perhaps what the humans called Johto would be a good place to hunt for a while.
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Ryouta and his wife Sayeko finished washing up and securing their garments before looking at each other and the door. Ryouta was sure the worry his wife had in her eyes was reflected in his but he tried to put on a brave face and tried to reassure her to their student’s chances.
“We can’t let ourselves worry too much about Brock right now Sayeko, we have to stay focused on this. And he’s a former Gym Leader with a full team and a party of four other trainers to back him up, I’m sure he’ll be back before the hurricane hits the region.” Ryouta said with a confident tone.
“But still, he’s out there, and the member who came back was ambushed on Route 22, Route 22!” Sayeko said as she looked at her husband.
“We’re not trainers strong enough to make a difference out there. This place is how we can fight this time, find out everything they can tell us and find a way to kill them safer.” Ryouta said confidently as he walked towards the operating theater’s doors and walked through them.
“What did I do right to find you? Just what did I do right?” Sayeko said softly to herself as she walked after her husband, a small smile on her face behind her mask.
Giovanni and Miranda walked into the observation room over the operating room, Miranda clutching a clipboard and wearing a square pendent around her neck. Giovanni noticed Officer Jenny was standing by the windows, a frown and a dark look on her face that told him all he needed to know. He walked over to her when she didn’t react to their presence he coughed, causing her to look up and when she saw the two of them she looked away with a shamed look on her face. Giovanni stared for a few seconds before he started to look murderous as he realized where the shame had come from.
“I’m guessing that the Mayor decided not to ask for help from the other cities.” Miranda said as soon as she saw the look of shame on Jenny’s face. Giovanni meanwhile was doing everything he could to keep his temper under control, all the while cursing in his head the person who had to be responsible for this.
“I was barely able to get him to send a message out to the homesteaders about the possibility of roaming Chimera and to think about calling up the Militia before that idiot butted in and started talking about the damages a panic would cause to the citizens and the tourist industry. Before I could say much more he had a vote and the council voted to adopt a small defensive stance and keep the curfew in affect for all Pokémon.” Jenny said only for her words to be the trigger to let Giovanni let go.
“Off course he would say that! Sometimes I wonder just who and how representatives are selected if he’s one of them. It’s a perfect strategy, the Chimera take out the Pokémon and then they go in and harvest anything they can. The wind currents carry the outbreak to the city then they strike, its textbook! Why can’t they wake up and see that!” Giovanni cursed as he heard the door open behind them and knew just who it was without turning.
“Now, now. I’m willing to admit that it was possible for a pack of Chimera to have attacked your trainer on Route 22, but for it to have any connection to that terrible outbreak affecting our city’s Pokémon, really Giovanni it’s just not possible for a Chimera to plan something that complicated.” The speaker was a chubby man with grey hair in a modest looking suit that walked into the room with a blissful look on his face.
“We fought off at least five of those things! Are you going to let a threat like that multiply until we fall?!” Jenny demanded, he had been there when Salma had told of the ambush, how could he be so stupid!
“And here you are, whatever those things were their not that big a threat if you survived them without injury. I’m sure that when the doctor sees that the DNA profile of that abomination doesn’t match. The league will of course deal with the Chimera once Hunters are available beyond the current issues that need their services.” He said with a smile on his face.
“And if the DNA matches, what will the League do then, Pecker?” Giovanni asked as he locked eyes with the obvious official.
“Then the League will take action and please, I’ve told you before, call me Al.” Albert Peck said with a smile. Giovanni stared at Albert Peck, this man had been a constant pain to deal with A sigh from Jenny caused them to look down and see Professor Oak appear on the monitor on the wall, he would be observing the dissection and offering what help he could from his lab.
Ryouta and Sayeko walked into the room, Sayeko activating the devices as Ryouta began to document the procedure. As Sayeko turned on the view screen and sent the signal to Oak Labs she looked around the room, after the Siege the hospital had set this place up as a backup theater and to deal with Chimera dissection, this would be the first time it was used for what it had been created for and she wasn’t sure how she felt about that.
“This is Doctor Ryouta Panacelon, recording a dissection on a Bug Type Chimera recovered on one of the Mountains along Victory Road. Nurse Sayeko Panacelon is assisting with Professor Samuel Oak observing from his Laboratory in Pallet Town. Before I begin, I have taken a DNA sample from the specimen am currently having it compared to the DNA of a spore that has infected a majority of the Pokémon in Viridian City.” Ryouta began as he slowly walked around the specimen on the operating table.
“First observations; the subject has a hard outer shell of chitin, black in color that covers the whole body. The body is normal when one considers both regular insects and Pokémon with one deviation, two grasping limbs with five fingers on the front portion of the body. The body has wounds that seem to be from gunshots, one of its eyes had been destroyed, I would estimate that that was what killed this specimen. A bit mark is along the back of the body just before what appear to be wing coverings. Coverings appear to be an armor featured as inspection revealed that there is no way for them to open on their own, as of right now I am put that off to the end, and will be using the remote operating devices in Theater 5.” Ryouta commented as he stopped with the corpse between him and the view screen to allow Professor Oak to observe unhindered
“The limitations the operating is under Dr. Panacelon?” Professor Oak asked as he watched from his lab.
“None at all. Once the examination is finished and the gene test is done, I will personally be throwing this specimen into the inclinator off site at a class 1 bio hazard disposal facility.“ Ryouta said flatly as he locked eyes with the Professor.
“Then I would suggest that you begin by removing the head from the body, start there and work your way down. After all if you’re thinking about the facility I believe you are that would work out far easier for you. And remember to use face shields, you must have proper sanitation methods in this kind of thing.” Professor Oak said calmly.
“Yes I believe that would be logical, the saw and shields please Sayeko.” Ryouta said as he reached a hand which accepted the offered face shield and after putting it on was handed the saw and in a few minutes the head was removed from the body and moved to a smaller table and sat up right on it. Looking at it for a few seconds he saw the where the brain was and started to cut around the head until he gone in a circle.
“Now let’s start with the hole that the shooter left us with shall we? Hole on opposite end, given what I can see through it a simple cut here should let us see the brain and here it is.” Ryouta said as he pulled off the top of the cut and looked down before he shared a look with Sayeko.
“Sayeko, would you mind getting the mobile camera I believe Professor Oak needs a better picture of this.” Ryouta said Sayeko got a small camera from the wall and angled it so that it had a view of the exposed brain.
“What is it? Oh my, that brain, am I receiving this right Ryouta my boy?” Oak’s voice sounded shocked.
“Yes it its. Examination of the brain has revealed an abnormality; the hemispheres of the brain are…the only word I can use is malformed, with the right side much healthier then then the left side.” Ryouta said as he examined the revealed brain. The right side of the revealed was healthy and pink but looked malnourished and there were dark pink spots here and there. The left side looked normal, with no markings or spots but was paler then the left side. Ryouta removed the brain and turned it over in his hands and continued his observations.
“Abnormality of the brain is constant on the top and bottom, beside the spots observed so far there are no other marks of discoloration on the brain. The both side look malnourished, has this specimen not been eating the right amount of food, or has it come out of a long hibernation?” Ryouta said as looked over the organ in his hands.
“I remember the cleanup of the Siege, some of the Chimera’s that died with their maker had brains like this, but those were so much worse. The markings on the brain remind of me of them, I think it keeps the creature from have any kind of independent will of its own, this thing is a dedicated servant or…… slave, yes I would even use that word to describe them.” Professor Oak said as he rubbed his chin.
“But giving the healing abilities that have been recorded and their mutation potential, couldn’t these structures die and release its sense of self?” Sayeko asked as she looked on. Ryouto looked at his wife and exchanged a look with her; no one noticed Professor Oak went white for a few seconds before he got control of his face back.
“I think we’ll have an idea about that when we’re done. Besides obvious issue, the brain seems to be healthy, for a giving value of course. I have no basis for a standard of this strain of Chimera so I will have to mark this as an average specimen. Sayeko, would you please open that…thank you.” Ryouta said as he dropped the brain into a small box that his wife had opened. Turning towards the head and swiftly cut the head into two at the mouth. He removed the top half and put it on the table next to the bottom and started to observe the jawline. He picked up a piece of wood from a sample table and moved it across the tooth, cutting through like a knife through butter, a piece of raw meat met with similar results. He cut into the mouth and removed a section of muscles along the jawline and put them into a separate sample box.
“Two fangs along the front on the top half, no venom sacks at the roof of the mouth so I would rule out venom bites, a sack for… silk is just behind the mouth before the throat, predictable. The teeth are quite sharp, tests show their able to cut both plant and flesh, I would say its molars are able to crunch bones and a sample of the muscle along the jawline has been removed for further investigating later on before disposal, after cleaning up the remains of the head I will be moving onto the ‘chest’.” Ryouta said as he moved the head into varies bio waste boxes.
“So far it seems to have been nothing, just like I said didn’t I Gio my boy?” Albert said a laugh in his voice. This was Miranda’s first time being around the League’s representative to Viridian City and she couldn’t see how this idiot could have been given the job. He was so out of touch that it had to be an act, if it wasn’t then how could he function.
“There were at least three separate kinds of these things that attacked my trainer when she was returning, and the webs they left might have been stealing the life of the plants they were on according to my trainer. You have to wake up and realize what’s going on!” Giovanni said with a scow on his face as he stared Albert down.
“The two types we fought were straight up combatants, this thing was an ambusher at best! And we only survived because we ran away when they got reinforcements! If there are Chimera on the region in the numbers that we think there might be then they constitute a threat!” Jenny snarled as she started to flex her hands. Before Albert could say anything a loud buzzing startled them, causing them to look down at Ryouta who walked over to a monitor and answered it, revealing the face of Joy who had a look of sorrow on her face.
“The tests are done Doctor. The DNA sample matches the spore at a ratio of 80%. Whatever released the spores, they’re related to your specimen.” Joy reported loudly for all to hear, causing those in the observation room to glare at Albert who started to sweet and look concerned.
“Well, with this new information the League will take appropriate actions to defend….” Albert trailed off as Giovanni walked to the intercom and called down to the operating room.
“Ryouta, I’ll need a copy of the results of the DNA test and the data from the autopsy, I’ll arrange a meeting with the Mayor and force him to ask for help.” Giovanni said, turning after he saw Ryouta nod at him. He walked by Albert towards the door, Miranda and Jenny following behind him.
“Miranda, when you get the data about the DNA call the Rangers, use the data to have them send anyone they can, Jenny, I’ll be sending some of the Gym’s Trainers to the exit to Route 22, I would appreciate it if they had some support.” Giovanni said as he left the room, leaving Albert alone, and after the doors closed he suddenly gained a look of rage on his face as he looked after where the others had gone. He reached for his phone and pressed a button, talking as soon as someone answered.
“Albert here. They have evidence on the connection between the spore and Chimera; the Leader’s calling the Rangers and meeting with the Mayor. No I don’t think I’ll be able to talk him down, yes we’re going to have to move up our plans.” Albert said as he walked out the room, never noticing that a camera had been trained on him.
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Professor Oak turned off the monitor with a frown, removed a data storage unit from his computer and got up and stretched. That had been interesting, and the DNA results might not be enough for the League but it was enough for him. He would tell everyone in Pallet to try and keep their Pokémon inside until after the Hurricane. He frowned as one of his scars started to burn, that comment she had made about ‘unlocking their will’ could that have been the result of that battle? He walked towards a door he kept locked and put in the code, unlocking the door and walked into the chamber beyond. Opening the door with the chamber he walked down a staircase and entered another code at the bottom, the room he entered was where he did his most secret research, his study on the history of Chimera. He passed many ancient looking drawings of Chimeras of all types; he passed recreations of weapons that had killed Chimeras and books that held legends from all corners of the world. He finally reached a computer at the far end of the room and sat down before it and started to pull up files on directions, focusing on brains. He frowned at the records he had. Birds, mammals and insects; there were spots on all brains from all of those specimens that were shown to have been under the command of other Chimera. This was something he had been researching for years, and he hadn’t even thought that the brain spots had an effect. Quickly pressing a few keys on the keyboard he started to monologue.
“The enigma of Chimera biology has been my obsession for years now, even since I almost lost my life in that encounter so long ago. My recent consultation with the Viridian Hospital has answered some of my many questions and but it created more. Research into the question offered by one Sayeko Panacelon has raised many of those new questions, study of my records have shown similar signs in other specimens observed obeying others without question, there is no common origin, there species and age, where they were active, there is nothing that connects them. Possible connection between spore outbreak and Chimera unknown as of this time, will update as new data is gathered.” Professor Oak said as his hands flew over the keyboard, looking over data he had collect over his lifetime. Professor Oak slowly went towards a pen and in a quick movement threw it and got up and looked around.
“WHO’S THERE!?” He demanded in a forceful tone. As he reached for a sword on the wall next to him a throaty laugh caused him to go still. Wait, that voice is… Professor Oak thought before grinning and laughing. “So you’re back early my dear!”
“I still can’t get anything by you, hu Sammy? Still trying to understand those things?” A voice said as an old woman in an old fashion purple dress seemed to appear from nowhere with a purple Pokémon with a gaseous body and two remote hands hugging her.
“Agatha, I was getting worried about you when Delia told me about Brock’s expedition into your mountains.” Professor Oak said with a smile at her as he sighed and sank into his chair.
“My mountains, what’s he looking for up there?” Agatha asked as she walked towards him. With a small sigh Professor Oak opened a file and revealed a spore in a blood sample, its genetic information came up next to it. Agatha read what was on the screen as data of its effects on Pokémon was shown next, a frown starting to form as she absorb what she was reading.
“The source of this I’m afraid, it’s probably a Chimera. Currently it’s the source of an infection that’s affecting each species of Pokémon differently” Professor Oak explained as Agatha listened and sighed and shook her head in denial.
“This is from my mountains? I can’t believe something moved in there and I never noticed it, and you say it’s affecting Viridian like that. Even with the problem they’ve been giving me for a few days, I wouldn’t have missed something like that!” Agatha said, causing Professor Oak to turn to look at her. Agatha just sighed and closed her eyes.
“About a week ago I pulled a girl and her Electric type out of one of my fishing traps. I got the kid dry and was feeding her a meal when some scum who were looking for her came along. I sent her out the back and went outside to buy her some time; the poor dears out there didn’t know who I was, so when they insisted that a poor old feeble woman get out of their way, I decided to entertain them until the poor dears had to leave, they had stayed with me so long they were so late for their next appointment that they had to run so fast, you’d think a Chimera was on their heels.” Agatha said with a smirk on her face. Professor Oak just shook his head and turned to his computer, not noticing the pain in Agatha’s eyes. Sorry Sam but I still can’t break that Geass keeping me from telling you about Aura users. Dam you teacher, why’d you have to do that to me?!
“And I’m guessing that these guests you weren’t the run of the mill thugs for hire?” Oak said with a small frown.
“Some more of those people who had a problem about that wild fruit we found. It seems that those people were part of something larger than we thought The way they were acting as they demanded I hand over my guest, there was no way I was going to let them have her! And they were after her for a reason, called her Abomination for Arceus sake.” Agatha snarled as she remembers the looks of hatred those people had on their faces as they spoke of who they were hunting.
“Concerning that they were active since we meet them, more concerning they were after a person. If the current members are anything like the ones we fought together, I’m worried about what they’ve been doing in the shadows over the years.” Professor Oak mused as he leaned back and let his mind wonder.
“Enough doom and gloom Sammy, what’s been happening in the old homestead since the last time I’ve been home? Has that grandson of ours comeback from his trip yet?” Agatha asked as she looked at him, prompting him to laugh and stand up.
“A long story my lady, one I will start over supper, how about take in? But you will of course be my guest until the situation with the hurricane and the Chimera’s are dealt with my dear?” Professor Oak said as he offered his arm to Agatha who took it with a smile.
“But of course, good sir. So, is there anything new in the village and any new specials at Pallet House?” Agatha asked as she walked with Oak out of the room, letting the pains of the past fade away for the brightness of tomorrow.
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Machop ran with tears in its eyes, the bow and quiver on its back not even registering to it. Its four comrades were dead, and what’s worse was that they had failed. This thought was all the Machop had as it ran through the woods as it ran from the mountain. It had been the last day of their duty shift when those three Chimera had invaded the ruin, how they had gotten in it couldn’t know, but it had picked off its team. It had been briefed on the Goblins and their sire in the mountains, they weren’t supposed to have been that strong, and one alone had done all that, just what did that say about their strength. There was no way around it, it had to let its queen know about this as soon as possible, and to do that it had to run through the others territory to get there. The pack who claimed this part of the forest was particularly strong, with their alpha, a Sandslash that had been able to go move for move with the Champion himself the few times they had meet in battle, all it could hope for was that the pack wasn’t anywhere nearby and that it could slip by them. As it was running suddenly six yellow balls flew out of the bushes and unfurled into Sandshrews, the pack. Where was the leader, it always attack from the front! Machop started to look around for the Sandlash that lead them and was shocked when the Sandshrew right in front of it walked forwards and to its surprise bowed down before it.
“Sandshrew, shrew, shrew.” Machop stared in shock, these six were all that remained from their group, and they were asking to be brought before its queen to join forces for vengeance against the ones who killed their leader. Looking at the Ground types it could see the wounds on their bodies, and with the hidden hope that its punishment wouldn’t be too great if it brought back new soldiers so it nodded and gestured for the Sandshrew to follow it, breaking into a run, the Sandshrew following behind it. Soon they left the forest behind and after a while came upon a ruined tower that had falling over a river.
“MACHOP!” The Machop screamed out to the world, startling the Sandshrews who turned to look at it and then turned when they sensed something. They turned and saw five Machoke materialized out of the woods wielding swords and shields and look at the six Sandshrews
“Ma choke mack?” One of the Machoke asked the Machop as it looked around for the others, only to stare at the Machop when its tears started to flow down its face.
“Machop, Machop.” The Machop’s words caused the others to look at it and look beyond it and the Sandshrews, growing more alert as the Machokes started to lead the others toward the falling tower. As they entered the falling structure the Sandshrew were led through a window on the floor into a slopping tunnel. After a while they came out into a large cavern that seemed to stretch for miles, a crude looking castle in the. The party moved through the cavern and reached the castle, being let in by two Machokes holding spears. As the party moved through the courtyard they were watched by the Machokes and the Machops training or standing guard as the party moved towards a door to the castles interior.
Going inside they walked towards a large door with two large suits of teal armor with oversized hands, it is only when the party gets closer that the Sandshrews realize the armor are both Pokémon. The two armor Pokémon opened the door to reveal a large throne room. The throne room had a semitransparent silk curtain at the fall end where a female figure that seemed to be wearing a flowing gown was in the shadows behind the curtain sitting on a throne. Along the walls in rows 10 strong on both sides were Machokes wielding spears and wearing armor. Before the curtain a white, bipedal Pokémon with a red horn on its chest and its arms were shaped like tonfas, a collar with a gemstone around its neck and it seemed to be dancing as it moved around the throne room, delivering devastating blows to the air with its hands and feet. The Sandshrew stared in awe at one who had fought their leader to a standstill on more than one meeting, this was the Champion of the Queen.
[How was my performance my Queen?] A forceful and powerful voice said as the white Pokémon stop and bowed before the figure on the throne. The figure on the throne gave off an air of grace as her hand was raised and a glowing goblet hovered over to the Champion.
[Impressive my Champion, your skills have grown well. You are one of the strongest among our forces. But I see that there are others who would speak with Us.] A feminine voice said as the Pokémon that had been dancing before the throne shot to its feet and turned towards the party that had entered the throne room. The group released that they had been noticed by the Lords of the castle and the Machop, Machokes and Sandshrews bowed. The Champions eyes widened slightly as it saw the Sandshrews, it recognized some of them, and then its eye narrowed when it saw the Machop and the bow on its back.
[You. You were add to the squad we had guarding the ruin, why are you here, where are the others?] The male voice said as the Champion looked. The Machop fought back its tears and knelt before the Champion and fell forwards, its arms the only thing holding its body up.
“Machop, Mach. Chop Mac Machop Machop! Machop chop!” The Machop said as it knelt before its leaders. The Sandshrews looked at the Machop with pity and understanding in their eyes while the guards along the wall gave no hint of their thoughts. The Champion looked at the archer and then Champion turned towards the Sandshrews.
[While the events that our soldiers just told of are concerning, I would like to know why you six are here, and where is your leader? Have you come here to run from him for some reason?] The Champion inquired as the guards along. One of the Sandshrew walked forward while the others knelled before the throne.
“Sandshrew shrew. Sand sand sandshrew.” This time the Champion’s eyes went wide and they moved towards the figure on the throne before they returned to the Sandshrews spokes-mon.
[I grieve that a worthy rival has been slain, and the fact that it happened the same time as the decimation of one of our defensive bases is worrying. But what are your thoughts on this my queen?] The Champion asked the figure behind the curtain as the others around the room looked at the throne.
[My thoughts, my Champion? That the old Ogre in the mountains spawn have suddenly become more active, that they have started to roam father then they ever did? That just one of them was able to kill one you said was a rival; that some of them found the ruin and took the fruit from the tree? I would think that this shows that his forces might soon fracture my Champion. While our war with her is a concern if events play out the right way we might soon be able to use the mountain to handle it.] The feminine voice said as the figure behind the transparent curtain raised a hand. From the left side a Pokémon that looked like a bipedal pink blob with long rabbit ears and a tuff of hair between its ears walked towards the knelling group with four bipedal, pink-and-cream Pokémon with oval, blue eyes following in her wake.
[Wigglytuff and her staff will take you all to the healing chambers, Archer when you are recovered you shall be resigned as the leader of a new squad that has just finished training. As for the Sandshrews, they are welcomed to join our ranks. I pray that we meet and kill that which killed your former leader. The audience is over; all of you please leave me, guards included. My Champion will you attend me?] The feminine voice asked as the curtain glowed blue and parted, revealing the shadowed chamber beyond. Wigglytuff bowed to the Sandshrew and the four Pokémon following her started to help the injured Pokemon out of the audience room. The guards banged their spears against the floor and marched out of the room, leaving the Queen and the Champion alone.
[Of course my Queen, it would be my honor.] The Champion said as it walked between the curtains as the others left the chamber following the pink Pokémon. As the curtains closed a glow formed along the bottoms as a seal activated, closing off all sound from leaving the room. Suddenly the items around the room started to glow blue and fly around as the feminine voice started to rage. The Champion stood still as he let her vent, and sighed as she turned to him, her eyes glowing.
[A SINGLE CHIMERA KILLED ONE OF OUR SQUADRONS! WHAT’S MORE IT WAS THE GUARDS OF THE TREE! AND THAT MACHOP SAID THAT TWO OF THEM STAYED IN OUR OUTPOST AFTER EATING TWO OF THE OTHERS!! WHAT IS THAT IDIOT DOING, WHY HAS IT DECIDED TO MOVE NOW OF ALL TIMES, JUST WHEN THE FRUIT WAS READY!?!] She raged as the
[Calm down my lady. While this is troubling I’m sure we can deal with it. This is an opportunity to gather the other packs that are independent, if the Ogre’s forces start to move, some might come to us.] The Champion said trying to calm his Queen down. The queen’s eyes started to lose their glow as she turned to look at him, a devious smile growing on her face.
[And we can make sure they are targeted by that one’s forces, can’t we?] She sent to her partner as she offered him her hand. He took it and gave it kissed it before he met her eyes.
[My thoughts exactly my Queen. Might I suggest that we move on the dual Poison pack that one of our patrols encountered recently near the humans city? The leaders seemed strong and we could make them serve you my lady] The Champion said as he lead her towards a table with a pitcher and two goblets.
[Yessss, those two. Send an emissary, if they declaim the honor we offer them, then we shall lead one of the Chimeras towards them, let fate decide if they live.] The Queen said as her eyes and the pitcher glowed blue and poured the liquid into the goblets.
[If they are such fools then it would be their fault that they would lose their lives.] The Champion said as he raised a goblet to his Queen, who raised her own to their vision of the future, a future where they would rule all of Kalos.
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P A treon.com/bardofworlds for special rewards for all patrons
Aura Skill: Sensing: Ability to use Aura to sense where others are without seeing them. High level users able to know what is there down to what they sense and if they have active Aura or are related to each other. Homunucles feel like they’re all related to each other if made by same person or creature.
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