r/FanfictionExchange • u/lampboy2 Guardian of Lana • 6d ago
Activity Bravery excerpts đȘ
"Being brave doesn't mean you aren't afraid, it means doing something even though you're afraid"
Share an excerpt from your story that shows a character facing a fear. Maybe they never wanted to try a certain activity, are forced to do something uncomfortable due to the situation, or stand up for themselves or others at their own risk. If you would like some practice, you may write something from scratch as well! Spoil anything super gory or extreme.
You may post multiple scenes, but please do so in individual comments so replies are easier to understand. As always, engaging with other entries is encouraged!
1
u/Wah869 1d ago
From the Borrasca fic: We Will Walk Free
context: In this fic, at the end of Borrasca I, instead of the timeskip, Sam vows to search for Whitney right away, since he believes wholeheartedly in the supernatural stories at just nine years old.
Night draped over the black wall of the mountainside, plunging all of Drisking into darkness. As I approached my home, now empty of police cruisers and bathed ghostly pale in the amber light of the street lamp, another question gnawed at the back of my head: why did the grownups seem to avoid every mention of Skinned Men and Borrasca and ignore the metal roaring from within the mountain?
Were they scared?
Did they think we were making stuff up?
They were wrong. A beast lurked in those vast wilds, one that roared in triumph as it had trapped Whitney. And what kind of brother would I be if I just abandoned her? if the police didn't believe in the bad place, thenâŠ
âI have to find her.â
2
u/MarieNomad 4d ago edited 4d ago
All That fic.
Context: Takes place in 1998. Superdude has a weakness to all dairy products that have lactose in it.
XXX
Penny Lane was tied up as usual, as Milk Man laughed.
âMilk Man!â Super Dude yelled at the top of his lungs as he posed heroically. âRelease Penny Lane and get rid of that time portal!â
âNever! You see, I had gotten milk from the distant future of⊠2025!â
â2025?â Penny gasped. It was so far in the future that the beginning digit started with a 2.
â2025? Are you insane?! You canât get milk from the distant future of⊠2025! You will doom us all with that futuristic milk!â Superdude exclaimed in horror.
âIt will all be worth it! I have milk and cheeses that havenât been dreamed of. For instance, vegan cheese!â
âVegan cheese?!â Penny and Super Dude exclaimed at the same time.
âWhatâs a vegan?â Super Dude asked.
âI donât know, but I asked for the most futuristic cheeses, and I have it right here.â Milk Man held up a wedge of cheese with his hand covered by a large black rubber glove. He flung the cheese at Penny Lane.
Super Dude dove in front of her, caught the cheese, and screamed as he dropped it. Then he stopped and picked up the cheese. âIt⊠it doesnât hurt.â He said as he poked it. âAre you sure itâs cheese?â
2
u/violetvelafiles 5d ago
Batman fandom story - Bane is trying to blow up Waynetech Tower. Batman is fighting Bane on the roof. But Tim Drake, as Robin, is the real hero: evacuating a civilian still trapped in the building.
__________
Tim looked back at Evan. He obviously wasnât going to tell him the situation. He re-evaluated the cost/benefit of just dragging Evan out. Nothing changed: drag Evan out, risk the panic attack resuming, and get tied up taking Evan down 24 floors while Bane destroys the building. y
Stay in the elevator, risk plummeting to the ground when if and when his bo staff no longer held. Cost-benefit. Risk-reward.
He thought about Batman would do. Batman would probably drag Evan out of the elevator and leave him to go down the 24 floors by himself. Sure, Batman could do that. Robin would not. That was not part of the job description.
âWeâre fine. But safest place is outside the building. Can we go there?â
Evan finally gathered himself enough to stand up, and walk out of the elevator. Robin followed him out.
âThanks⊠Robin.â Evan looked like he wanted to cry. Or he wanted a handshake? Hug? Fuck it. Nobody knew how human conventions in stressful situations really worked anyway. Evan got a hug. Then a pat on the back. Then a grip on his hand as Tim guided him to the stairwell.
âAll the way down, Evan, okay? Garage. Do NOT get off before the garage. As long as you get out on the garage level, youâll be safe.â
Evan nodded. âAnything I can do â does anyone else need help?â
Tim loved this part. Rescued civilians who got their shit together and now wanted to draft themselves for The Cause. It was usually men. They felt weak they needed rescue, inspired they had been rescued, and wanted to redeem themselves by doing some rescuing themselves.
âIf you see any coworkers, tell them the same thing, okay? Thatâs it. Take care of yourself and youâll take care of me. Got it, Evan?â
Evan nodded, sprinting down the stairs. Tim sprinted up. 20 floors.
Was Jason okay?
âHe told me not to come up here.â
Tim was relieved and exasperated at the same time. Jason was okay. Apparently okay enough to make the point, to Bane, that Batman didnât want him there. But Tim realized Jason had said it over comms, so wanted all of them to know that Batman didnât want him there.
Floor 25. Floor 26. It took him fifteen seconds to ascend two floors. One hundred fifty seconds to ascend twenty. Two and a half minutes. Dick would get there first, then him. Could Jason hold out? It was almost impossible to imagine Jason not holding out. Jason wouldnât make the point Batman didnât want me to be here without the fairly obvious implication and he was a fucking moron because if he did, I wouldâve kicked your ass by now.
Floor 27. Floor 28. He didnât factor fatigue in his calculations. But it didnât matter. He would not let fatigue impact his calculations.
Floor 29. Floor 30. Fourteen to go.
2
u/meomeomeo2525 5d ago
Another one from Detective Conan.
âSo, how did you find me?â she asked.
âYou remember we agreed to have people secretly tail our suspects, right?â Shiho nodded. âWhen we couldnât contact Takoraâs tail, it became clear to us that she must have been the traitor. That was when Furuya tried to call you.â
Shiho made a small noise of acknowledgment. So she was right, after all. Furuya did have information on the spy. It was too bad that her phone decided to give out on her at that moment.
âWe couldnât find you,â he continued the tale in a neutral voice, though she could see the anger lurking beneath his dark eyes. Shiho wondered if he was mad because she was taken, or because he couldnât figure out Takoraâs real identity until it was too late.
âOur only lead was Takora. So we looked into her and found a safety deposit box she rented in Shizuoka. We found a contract for a warehouse she bought some time ago, among otherâŠmaterials,â he said carefully. âThatâs the warehouse where she kept you.â
Shiho felt a chill run down her spine. She didnât need to look at the contents of that deposit box to know that some of these materials were probably related to her. And Gin. It only made senseâTakora had access to many of Ginâs files. The woman probably had years of materials safely stored away to torment Shiho, which would have come to light sooner or later if Takora hadnât been forced to make a move when she realized they were getting close to discovering who she was.
And yet, strangely enough, the thought that the PSB and FBI had access to these materials didnât scare her as much as she imagined it would. Everything, and she really meant everything, was out in the open now. Her past deeds. Her wrongdoings. Her secret shame. Her darkest moments. The her of a few months ago probably would break down and try to cut her losses before she got hurt, too afraid that the tentative and fragile bonds she just formed would crumble in the face of her secrets.
But now, an odd sense of relief filled her. She no longer had to torture herself, day in and day out, wondering when she would be completely exposed. She already was. But Shuihi was still here. And so was Kudo probably, who was probably heavily involved in her rescue mission. The professor, too, whose card she could see sitting proudly on the bedside table. Next to that was the bouquet the girls had brought. They knew, and they still wanted her in their life.
Without any warning, she promptly burst into tears.
3
u/meomeomeo2525 5d ago
She had written like this before, after the funerals, after the world narrowed to appointments and condolences, after the debris was cleared and everything she managed to salvage of what had once been home fit into a single box. Her grandmother had sat her down at a similar table and pressed a brush into her hands.
Give your grief somewhere to go.
And so tears became ink, agony transformed into shaky lines, and longing took shape as kanji.
Halfway through, her hand hesitated. A single tremble of the brush was all it took. She tightened her grip and finished her character anyway.
It wasâŠfine. Technically correct. Balanced.
It was just a kanji, unable to carry anything beyond the page.
No.
This had worked. She had made it through the worst years of her life because her grandmother had given her something solid to hold onto before she dissolved. She wasnât going to sit here and decide, years too late, that it hadnât been enough.
Again.
She straightened and dipped her brush back into the ink. The stroke came down darker this time, more deliberate. Then another. And another. Her hand moved through lines and angles she was as intimately familiar with as breathing.
Endurance.
Her grandmother had loved this kanji, said it built patience.
Strength isnât loud. It doesnât need to be seen to be real. That is true endurance.
She had held onto that and never let go.
She had written the kanji perfectly â had endured perfectly â so why didnât it hold anymore?
Chihiro set the brush down on the table and closed her eyes, searching years of memory, of lessons, for something that she could apply, follow, fix. But she found nothing.
âIâm so sorry, my dearâŠso sorryâŠâ
She heard her grandmotherâs whisper from somewhere faraway, and she was twenty-two again, kneeling next to her grandmotherâs bed as her life slowly slipped away with every beep of the heart monitor.
âNo, donât say thatâŠâ Her throat tightened around the words. She swallowed and tried again. âIâll be okay, you donât have to worryâŠâ
âIâŠknow. Youâre strongâŠso braveâŠI just wishâŠâ
A tear fell. Chihiro blinked and wiped it away, the table and calligraphy set returning to her once more. Outside her windows, the clouds drifted, unfaltering and indifferent.
She stared at the brush, at the paper, at the characters that stayed flat and unmoving.
There was no lesson left to ponder on, nothing to tell her what steps she needed to take from here on out. Strangely enough, the not-knowing didnât terrify her. She had no idea what the right next stroke was supposed to be, but she knew she couldnât pretend the page was blank. The damage was done. There was no taking back what she had said.
1
u/Remarkable-Can-1571 2h ago
I'm not familiar with this fandom, but let me just say...
Wow. I teared up reading this! It's STUNNING.
1
u/meomeomeo2525 2h ago
Thank you so much. This might sound strange but I'm happy that I made you cry đđ
This is a Spirited Away story, but when the characters have grown up.
1
u/ewmiselle 6d ago
Aaaand one more, a bit longer, from To Know Your Copper (BG3) - the whole thing is about bravery, in a way, but this part speaks of finding it when all things go to hell. Literally.
To a common city dweller, the Blood War was an empty word. How⊠surprised they all were when they found that they were all conscripted. There were talks of pacts, vampires, payments â but, all in all, gossip mattered little when running and hiding became the latest fashion.
What mattered was that in the name of Zariel, whoever they were, Elturel went to Hell.
And then Hell went to Elturel.
The siege over the suspended city began quickly; too quickly for what few Hellriders they had left within the walls to even find their weapons, let alone draw them. It was a pity, Dammon would think, even though such thoughts appeared inappropriate. Those were fine blades. He forged most of them himself.
There was plenty of misery to go around, plenty of backs breaking like fatigued steel; in new Elturel there wasnât much to do for a paperboy, a potter, a poet. But there was plenty that could be done to them. After what seemed like years but was merely hours, Dammon decided it was best to start forgetting faces. For sanity, if such a thing even existed among fumes of sulphur.
Devils, demons â whoever currently had the upper hand in the city or in the war, it didnât matter. Because, as is the case with places under occupation, turmoils would quiet down as quickly as they started and a new reality, forced upon the survivors, became the norm.
After a blink of an eye, a couple of days, an eternity under the black sun, there was work in the city again. Maybe not for a poet or a potter, or a paperboy, but they all soon found their uses. The Blood War required more than soldiers. Some faces reappeared and those who didnât were spared useless pity.
Feet on the ground. If you canât fight, adapt. And even though malleability lay not in his nature, Dammon knew that only two types of people survive Hell: those who bend and adjust, eager to please, and those who remain unchanged, solid and stable. Not many forces in the world and beyond may reshape a furnace â and what stays the same, quickly blends into the background. Just like the fiendish voices, blending with the dry cracks and crunches of parched soil; his own lips, almost hurting at times, responding.
His voice blending with the beating of his own heart.
His feet were firmly planted on the ground â and he knew there was no choice. He was fire and forge, with a furnace instead of a heart, and the new reality welcomed him more warmly than some of the others, even if the difference was less than significant. To say a tiefling is naturally attuned to infernal planes would be an overstatement, of course.
There was work in the city again.
And work he would. He would stay by the forge when people ran and hid among the ruins at the time of curfew. He would sweat and burn his fingers, and hit the candent steel with his hammer, ears full of hellish laughter or earthly sobs. But he would also close the door to his smithy as the hours grew dangerous, then lock it to conceal shivering bodies and teary eyes within its crumbling walls. He would shrug at growled questions and weapons shoved right under his nose. He couldnât bring himself to fear the swords of Avernusâ natives. By that time, heâd already forged some of them himself.
Unchanged and stable, his veins full of iron, he would work. He might have hated it. But he also loved it.
He could work with infernal iron.
1
u/Gloomy_Chain_2308 5d ago
Oh, i love this as a character piece. The stoic smith in the Infernal city. The complete understated way it is revealed he hosts refugees and victims. You can only kill a man such as this - and he is too *valuable* to kill without ectremely good reason. But yes, that is a brave choice to make.
1
u/ewmiselle 6d ago
A tiny little short excerpt from me today, from my longfic Summer To Your Heart - about the bravery of looking in the mirror:
The photograph burns her handsââexcept it doesn't, it doesn't, and metaphors are redundant when the fire is long since goneââso she lets it fall back into the box, among other knick-knacks and stories from the past.
Slowly, surely, feeling every muscle, she stands up. The wind blows right through her kitchen window, distending the curtains like balloons. It is her wind now, so she welcomes it home, closing her eyes and letting its breath encompass her.
She only has one mirror, right above the bathroom sink; it reflects memories of toothpaste-filled grins, sleep-deprived eyes, tear-stained cheeks. She approaches it now, unsure. It feels almost too (brassy, self-indulgent, brave, scaryââthe words appear in abundance) to just stand there and look, without the assortment of brushes at hand and a curtain of hair obscuring the view, without her mouthwash and dental floss. Without purpose other than just... looking.
She is fearless today. She reaches into herself, welcoming the face of adult Courtney.
1
1
u/Gloomy_Chain_2308 6d ago
The door is locked and Riley almost bashes her head silly trying to barge through it. For long, terrible moments, she just stands there, pushing at the door as if it simply misunderstood her the first time. It canât be locked, because Maya is inside! Maya is inside someplace there in the dark, andâŠ
She stops. Breathes. Itâs dark. The door is locked. That means she was too late, and Maya has left. She stops and looks down the street in the direction of Mayaâs home. Even the place Maya lives now scares her little after dark, even if it is a huge improvement over her old apartment⊠but thatâs not what keeps Riley here.
She has to know. She has to know if she was right about what Maya just did. Because that would mean⊠No. No she wonât think that. Not yet. Not until she must, because that will break her, and now Maya needs her to be whole. She canât fail her again.
But itâs locked, and⊠The key sits in the lock before Riley even has considered if she brought it. She canât remember bringing her keys â but then she canât remember stopping to put on shoes, so that doesnât seem that strange. The door swings open⊠and for the second time in her life, Riley finds herself terrified to enter one of the defining places of her existence. The streets are dark, yes â and then little sunken terrace outside Topangaâs darker still. But the inside of the coffee shops is abysmal.
Anything could be in there. Riley hasnât really been scared of the dark since she was a kid â there has always been someone there, Maya, her teddy bear Barry the Bear-Bear⊠And eventually, it was a fear she just forgot.
But now, she is terrified. Because there is something waiting for her inside. Something that will tear her insides out as surely as any slasher in those movies people just say âwhat? No!!!â is she says she might like to watch.
It is the alarm counting down that snaps her out of it. The alarm and the sudden idea, the surety, that Maya stood just like this â though perhaps thinking more on what she was about to do than what would be waiting for her. Inside her, something, some voice, screams that she has to stop â that if she just turns away now, whatever disaster she is so terribly afraid of, the things still wonât let herself crystallize fully in her head, simply⊠wonât happen.
That by setting the key in the alarm box and then turning on the lights, she will make it real.
It is a seductive thought. An almost safe thought. A thought that suggests that all their misadventures the last few months hasnât really been that bad â that speaks to Rileyâs desperate refusal to allow that this just canât be fixed. And for a moment, she almost listens.
Perhaps turning on those lights and turning off the alarm is the bravest thing she has ever done.
1
u/ewmiselle 6d ago
Oh my goodness, that was so full of tension. Loved Riley's determination, fearing whatever she might find inside, but needing to know what it is. Shivers!
1
1
u/Silver_Eye9792 6d ago
This is from Infinity Train: Seeker of Crocus, inspired by Cody Rhodes at Elimination Chamber 2025. (Context: Chloe Cerise, our focus character, has rejected a deal with the devil that would grant her heart's desire in exchange for her soul)
-----
âStop looking away and look at me!â Sara screeched. âCanât you see that Goh never wanted you? He wants someone into Pokemon, someone with power! Someone who gave him praise and coddled him to oblivion like a Politoed in a pot of water, the temperature slowly rising until his Pokemon brain was completely fried and he completely forgot that you exist! He hated your opinions but always listened to mine. After all, why would he ever want to trade Mew, his precious dream, to the likes of you?! What do you contribute except to be such a wonderful punching bag?â Sara emphasized this by punching Chloe in the stomach, momentarily knocking the wind out of her.
âI contribute my opinions, my point of view! And you donât like it that I have opinions, do you? âValue those who tell you the truthâ. You hated that I was the only one in our class who had the Heavy Balls to say you were a prissy little bitch too big for her 5-year-old princess costume. Just like Goh hated that I wasnât kissing his feet and telling him that having another PokĂ©mon on hand should be top priority to capture Mew or that I wasnât as âenthusiasticâ about Pokemon like he expected me to be. And okay, if you hate the books I like then Iâll accept that. But actually research it before you cast judgments based solely on their titles and their covers! Arceus, thereâs a reason I am annoyed by him so much. Heâs like you when it comes to the art of acting like a pridefulâŠwhat was that Pokemon Solomon saidâŠoh right, Quaquaval!â
âSo you admit that I won in the game of friendship between you and Goh? And stop using made-up PokĂ©mon names!â
âI admit that you make valid points, thatâs all. And Quaquaval is just as real as a black Tauros!â
âI made a great deal with those idiot classmates to destroy you and look what they did! They ruined the biggest day of your life, they broke your arm, they ââ
âThey didnât destroy me. They laughed at me, but Iâm still standing with both feet on the ground, with both arms in use, and with both eyes staring at you down. You have won nothing, Sara. You have to use others to soften me up. You needed the Unown to make people recognize your pain. Pathetic. And regards to your little deal of using the Unown to make me the perfectest Chloe Cerise out there, I canât sign your damned contract. For you see, my soulâŠno longer belongs to me.â
âWhat?â
Chloe inhaled. Her body ached. Her back was sore. Yet her blood felt on fire. Everyone's attention was now on her. A pin could drop and it would be the noisiest thing in existence. âMy soul doesnât just belong to me. It belongs to my loved ones, to the people and PokĂ©mon in the Institute, to the ones you hurt outside and to everyone who I vow to protect till my last breath. You think youâve taken away everything? Not even in the slightest. You will never take away my pride, my name, my voice, my smile, my courage, my hope. You can tear off my hair, and it will grow back. You can rip my outfit to shreds and I will make a new one as good as new. You can slash my face and leave scars around it, but I will still take a step forward to face the world. Because you have not taken my ability to live!â
âYou will live as you will die. Alone! With your reputation described as âAlzheimerâs-riddled schizo who made their weak-ass Pokemon tackle a ghost and was destroyed by the Alolan League Championâ! Thatâs just how the world works. Those with the strongest Pokemon deserve to make the best choices. And with this power, Iâll recreate the world so everyone worships me! Remembers me! Glorifies me!â
â...Thatâs how creative you can be in the end? Millions of people working themselves to death to build you a statue of yourself? You know what this Unown can be doing? They can give people hope! They can give them a chance to be their best selves if they can get a vision of a future they can get their hands on. Thatâs what Iâve always wanted, to have the confidence to be like Goh, to proclaim that the future is in the palm of my hands!â Chloe stared at her hands. âAnd yet all the world recognizes is how good you throw a PokĂ© ball or how many battles youâve won. It doesnât care what our favorite songs are, or our favorite color, or why we fixate on star-shaped carrots. PokĂ©mon tell the world something, but not everything about ourselves. Our parents will only recognize us as worthy members of society once we get out of their hair and get a starter from a Professor. And then, weâre out of their lives for good, not allowed to stay at home for long periods of time because weâre forced on another journey like heroes of old with the sea roaring in their ears and the gods above making our lives their reality shows. We wonât have the luxury of a home-cooked meal or our parents whispering âGood Nightâ as we fall asleep in our tents. The best weâll get to talking to them is through a screen when they arenât working themselves to death with business, business, business, flow charts and numbers up the wazoo. Hereâs a few questions I have to ask about this setup, âWhy canât we kids be given love and appreciation right now? Do we need a PokĂ©mon to be recognized? Canât we just be good people with or without one?ââ
Sara was unmoved. âOh, youâre one to talk! Miss âWasted Privilegesâ! Canât you see what you have?â
Chloe did look to see what she had. âI do. I didnât see how lucky I was until I found myself at my lowest point. But how many children in this city, in this world, have it so lucky? How many children have been bullied and had no one by their side? How many people would want that appreciation? Just say âI like you as you areâ or âYou make me happyâ. âThank you for being you.â It should be easy, yet look how many children you twisted to believe mommy and daddy never showered them with enough love.â
Class 5-E looked at their parents. Their parents looked away in shame. Kurune dropped to her knees and wailed while slamming her hands onto the concrete.
Chloe looked at Goh sadly. âI couldnât give him what he wanted. He wanted Tokio. He wants Mew. He wants Ash. He wants you. He wants his cream stew with star-shaped carrots. Not flower ones, not heart ones, not square ones. He wants five different colored Flabebes and three Wurmples and a Dewgong so badly that he wasted his PokĂ© balls to the point some poor sap in scuba gear had to gather them before they polluted the sea. He wants people to worship him for his dream. He wants to jump onto a Lugia without warning. He wants to never keep a promise with me or to get so much praise from my father and Ash that I can âstop worryingâ about him. And all I could do was give him myself in the smallest of hopes that maybe, just maybe, he would never be that lonely boy at the school courtyard ever again.â
In his icy prison, Goh felt a warm tear trickle down his eye.
Chloe kept calm green eyes locked on Sara. âAnd with that, since you triple Houndoom dared me, Iâll do you one back. Hey Sara, I triple Houndoom dare you â â
(Outside, UnChloe suddenly placed her hands over Parkerâs ears. And as everyone watched with bated breathâŠ)
2
u/certainlittlesmile 6d ago
(Got a really good example here but it's pretty dark! Trigger warning for
Now itâs Bellaâs turn to hide from me and Tommy. The two of us split up, and I start looking downstairs for her. I even check the ballroom and throne room, although Iâm pretty sure that she wouldnât voluntarily head back to where the bad man was. When Iâm convinced sheâs not down there anywhere, I head back upstairs, and Tommy soon finds me.
âI found her, but she wants you to find her too,â he chuckles. âThis way.â
He leads me along a long corridor, and when I see an open bedroom door ahead. Oh no. I freeze in my tracks.
I canât.
It takes Tommy a moment, but soon he realises Iâve stopped following, and he heads back towards me. âHey, whatâs wrong?â
âThat room,â I sigh. âIâm⊠not sure I can go in there.â
I pinpoint the moment the realisation hits from his expression. âOh. I see.â
Iâve been told that they got rid of the bed, they got new carpets, they pretty much had the whole room redecorated. But Iâm still afraid that when I walk in there, Iâll see the bloodstains that no amount of scrubbing could wash away. Iâll hear her screams, followed by her weak sobs, followed by the silence that haunts me the most. And Iâll feel the endless despair, the emptiness, all over again.
âDaddy!â I hear Bella call, excitedly. She doesnât know, of course. She doesnât remember being a tiny, blood-smeared blob that Hana wrapped in towels and comforted. A blob that I could barely look at. I was too busy begging the
âIâll go get her,â Tommy suggests. âIâll tell her to hide in the next room instead.â
I shake my head. âNo. I need to do this.â
âSure?â
I wink at him. âSure.â
He envelopes me in a tender hug. âYouâre so brave, blue eyes. Know that?â
Hearing it from him makes me believe it. When he releases me, I wipe the tears from my face and grab his hand. âComing, Bella!â And when I go into the room, itâs just a room. The bed
Thereâs an obvious lump under the bedcovers, so I know exactly where my daughter is. âOoh, where is Bella? Is she in the cupboard? No⊠behind the curtains? Aw, not here either⊠I know, sheâs under the bedâŠâ
I dive underneath it, and hear her giggles from the other side of the mattress. Then I jump out again and pounce. âThere she is!!â
Sheâs all giggles and smiles as I pluck her out from under the duvet. âLubuu Daddy.â
âLubuu too, baby. Hey.â I sit her down on the bed next to me. âThis is the room you were born in, you know, so itâs very special.â I take a few deep breaths in of the first air Bella got to breathe⊠the last air Jen got to breathe.
âDaddy sad?â She looks up at me, and sheâs never looked more like her mommy.
âYeah,â I sigh. âThis is also where I had to say bye bye to your Mommy. I miss her lots, Bella.â
Tommyâs standing by the door, glancing around the room, and I catch his eye. He comes to join us.
âMiss Daddy,â Bella sighs, her blue eyes big and sad. âMiss Totty.â
Oh, you precious girl. She does understand. I give her the biggest hug. âBaby, weâre doing everything we can to make sure we never have to leave you like that again.â
1
u/lego-lion-lady 5d ago
Oh, the angst! Wonderful scene, though <3 <3
2
u/certainlittlesmile 5d ago
Thank you! Obviously they return to this room in the actual book, but it definitely hits differently in my version of the story!
1
2
u/Estelle_Debuar 6d ago
Dunno if this can be seen as bravery.. or just as a reckless and selfless sacrifice đ
ââââââââââ
Mary got hit by the voltage fence and suffered shocked damage. She was paralysed, her hook got lose and she was about to fall all the way back down..
âNo.. I.. was so.. close..â
âGotcha!â âHuh?â
Mary looked up. Someone had grabbed her wrist, stopping her downfall. Mary just blinked at the blue and black hedgehogs. Shadow floated with his Black Doom Wings and held Sonics hand, while Sonic had caught the rabbits wrist.
âYou.. two..â
âYou really need to work on depending more on your friends, Maryâ, Sonic said while grinning with his signature grin at the baffled rabbit. Shadow looked in his stoic and firm manner down at her. Then he looked up.
âI expect, you have a plan to stop this?â, Shadow asked the rabbit, still looking up to the artificial sun.
âYes..â, Mary answered quietly, still a little dazed from the electric shock.
Shadow used his wings and flew with Sonic and Mary higher up to the top. They reached finally the top of the Imperial Tower, skipping all the threats and security measures. Shadow eliminated any automatic firing system with his Chaos Spears.
Mary stumbled slightly as she had finally ground under her feet again. Sonic wanted to help her, but she pushed him softly away.
âThanks, but from here on, Iâll take care of the rest..â, she said, while opening her bag.
âMary, youâre doing it againâ, Sonic sighed. Mary tensed slightly up. Then she sighed.
â..Youâre right.. I.. tend to do things alone..â, she eventually said, looking away from the both hedgehogs. âI.. just donât want to be a burden.. but even when I try not to be one.. I become one more and more..â she sighed.
âThe only person who thinks that youâre a burden is just you, Maryâ, Sonic said.
âNo.. you donât understand Sonic.. Iâm not talking about some small stuff, this whole thing that happens, everything, this damned Ruby, what happened to Liam, my uncle, everything..â
âWhat? Your uncle? Liam?â
Sonic and Shadow blinked at the rabbit, she blinked at them.
âUhm.. my.. my.. urgh..â Mary held her head, like she was in pain. âWhat.. who are..â
âMary!â, Sonic rushed to the rabbit and tried to help her, but he couldnât. Shadow just frowned at the rabbit.
âI.. I..nrrgn.. ..uh.. huh? Sonic..â Mary looked up exhaustedly to the blue hedgehog and tilted her head.
âMary?â, Sonic said worriedly, also tilting his head. âUhm.. what did we.. talked about.. I..â, Mary asked confused. Sonic frowned.
â.. Nothing.. you.. said you had a plan to.. stop this mess..â, he said quietly. He was sure that her memories got somehow triggered but also got lost again in an instant. And he didnât want to cause her more pain by triggering them again.
Maryâs eyes widened. âYes! Uhm..â Mary took something out from her bag. Shadow narrowed his eyes at the object, that was in a small jute bag.
âMary. What do you have there?â, he asked firmly, slowly approaching the rabbit. Mary tensed up.
â.. Uhm this.. there.. there.. is no other way..â, she stammered, taking a few steps back.
âNo. I didnât allow you to use itâ, Shadow growled now. â..I donât need your permission!â, Mary growled back. âStay back!â
Shadow stopped. Sonic looked confused at the two. âWhat the hell is going on?â, the blue blur asked.
âShe stole the Phantom-Ruby-Prototype and want to use it against this fake sunâ, Shadow explained, looking up to the growing sphere above them. âBut.. what she doesnât know.. are the after effects of it..â, Shadow added in a murmur.
Mary clenched the clothed stone in her hands. âAnd even if there are after effects, I can handle them later-â
âEven if that means that you will die!?â, Shadow growled angrily. Maryâs eyes widened. But they eventually fell half lidded, as if she already knew somehow the price of the usage of this item.
â..Yes.â
Sonic and Shadow looked shocked at the statement. âMary, this goes to far! Weâll find another way!â, Sonic said, looking at her worriedly.
âI want to save you, why canât you just let me do what I need to do?! If you all are gone.. I.. I have nothing! So before.. we all die.. I..â, Mary started to sob, still clenching the clothed stone in her hand.
Sonic wanted to reach out to her.. when suddenly strong heating waves erupted from the big artificial sun.
âOh no.. it.. itâs hot..â, Sonic said, while shielding himself from the heat.
Mary clenched her teeth. She removed the small jute bag from the Prototype and sensed instantly how it withdraw the last bit of her strength she still had. Then she turned around and ran to the centre of the tower.
âNo!â Shadow tried to catch her, also shielding himself from the radiating heat, like the sphere was about to implode any moment like a dying star. But he couldnât reach her.
Thanks to the Prototype, Mary was immune to the direct effects of the Phantom-Rubyâs influence. And combined with her strange ability..
She used her grappling-hook on the high up pillar in the centre of the tower and catapulted herself upwards to the artificial sun. The Prototype in her hand shone brightly. She felt how more and more energy was drained from her.
She nearly reached the sun and held the Prototype in front of it.
âPlease.. erase it!â
The Phantom-Ruby-Prototype shone a few times strongly, then it just.. shattered in her hands.. and with the shattering, the artificial sun also shattered, flickering in red, like reality was fixing the malfunction it had.. finally erasing it.
Mary looked at the fading sun. She smiled.
â.. I.. did it.. heh.. no.. we did.. it..â
Then she closed her eyes and fell..
âŠ
1
u/Queen-PRose 6d ago
(The stakes aren't that high, but fear of confrontation is a fear nonetheless, especially when Tigris really wants to believe her sweet little cousin is still in there somewhere)
Upon returning home, everything seemed to be quiet. Dammit⊠Coryo must have gone to sleep⊠Or had he? As she crossed toward one of the bathrooms, she caught her cousin coming out in a robe with a toothbrush in hand. Of course his workaholic tendencies would keep him upâŠ
âOh! Tigris, youâre⊠back,â he managed, âIt's nearly eleven, what have you beenââ
âThat's enough, Coriolanus,â she replied firmly, âYou. Parlor. Now.â
âCan't this wait until tomorrow?â he asked.
Did he really not understand what just happened? Was he putting on an act when he was scolded and lectured? She wouldn't let that happen now. He had to face it!
âNo,â she retorted, channeling some of her rage, âIt can't. You're lucky Iâm calm enough not to wake Grandmaâam. Come to the parlor so we keep it that way. Now.â
Coryo was taken back by her sudden harshness, set his brush down, and followed her to the parlor. She ordered him to sit while she remained standing.
âFirst, what on earth were you thinking? I get you this invite and you use it to accuse Tak of impropriety? In his own home? How dare you!â
âTigris, look, I really am sorry,â he replied, âI really thought there was something strange in his eyes⊠You're spending an awful lot of time with them and Iâve hardly spoken to them⊠Who knows what their intentions could be and you're awfully trustingâŠâ
What?! Tigris felt her hands balling into fists again. Did he cousin really think so lowly of her, when he knew what she went through to keep them afloat and protect him?
âIf I were, Iâd be dead a hundred times over,â she retorted, âWeâd both be dead, Grandma'am too. I am capable of taking care of myself, you know! And besides⊠If either of them wanted to harm me, wouldn't they have done it by now? Have I come off like that?â
He hesitated. âI⊠No⊠I-I⊠I remember. You have a point.â
âDon't I?â said Tigris, softening her tone, âI know you're smart enough to know that. I know you know me⊠But I don't know if I know you anymore. Why?â
Coryo started wringing his hands and slouched forward. At least that was a sure sign he was backed into a corner. The only thing missing from his boyhood was his tears⊠Now, he could barely look her in the eye.
âIt was Dr. Gaul's idea,â he eventually admitted, âShe knew heâd never be on her side and thought perhaps a scandalââ
Of course it was⊠This was one of her tamer ideas, but Tigrisâs moment of serenity was still long gone.
âWell surprise, surprise! Most things have been her idea lately, haven't they?â
âTigris! You can't sayââ
âOh yes I can! You brought my friends into her schemes!â she sneered, âI can't just let that go. Have you thought this through at all? Have you considered that Iâd never go along with this? Theyâve had my back⊠Why do you think Iâd turn mine on them?â
âYouâd turn against your own familyââ
âAnd what about you?! Iâve felt so alone for years, never had a life of my ownâŠâ Tears started to form in her eyes, but she did her best to stay coherent. âThen I met them⊠I feel seen, cared about, like I belong and not just for a purpose⊠I feel happy. You're my family. Shouldn't you want that? For me to be happy after so many years of hell?? If you're so loyal to your family, why would you want to take that from me?â
A flash of realization seemed to hit Coryo's eyes. He stood, bowed his head, and put a hand on Tigris's shoulder in an attempt to calm her.
âYou're right⊠I wasn't thinking,â he said, âIâm sorry, Tigris⊠I shouldn't have abused your kindness or their hospitality.â
3
u/lampboy2 6d ago
Knowing what I know about Tigris it makes sense that she wouldn't take kindly to anyone putting the people she cares about in danger. Laying down the law!
3
u/lampboy2 6d ago edited 6d ago
((Lilo refusing to tell Sharpe where Lana is. TW:
"You know, this is the exact room where I first met Lana," Sharpe said nostalgically as he slowly circled the metal chair Lilo was tied to. Being arrested on the ship was the start of a long, blindfolded journey to the same classified location Lana was taken to when she was recaptured at Lilo's house. After what felt like hours of various transportation methods, Lilo found herself in the dark holding cell with nothing but a chair, a desk, and a satisfied looking Sharpe. The only silver lining to this situation was that she was with the only person who could answer her questions, and she had a lot of them.
"Fascinating," Lilo replied with an exaggerated eye roll. Having been a while since Sharpe's surprise welcome, she was determined not to give him the thrill of seeing how terrified she still was. Keeping her voice nonchalant she asked "so why am I here? How am I a traitor?"
Sharpe raised an eyebrow before picking up a file. He flipped through some pages, searching for the perfect one to dramatically reveal. "Are you playing dumb? Or did your little aquatic friend really go rogue?" He pulled out a photo from the collection of papers and slid it across the table. Lilo glanced down to see an aerial shot of a mangled, half-submerged battleship taken by Sharpe as he escaped in the helicopter.
Lilo scrunched her face as she studied the picture. She already knew that Lana had sank a government ship while on the mission with Sharpe, so she needed to act confused. But secretly, she was still astonished that such a sweet child was capable of so much destruction. As she turned her attention back to Sharpe, something occurred to her: if the treacherous action was the ship sinking, then he didn't know that she went to the merfolk kingdom. The plan still had a chance of success. "What does that have to do with me? I was with Matt on a mission."
"The agent you're supposed to be in charge of attacked her superiors and then fled. Therefore, all handlers are guilty by association," Sharpe replied with a shrug, as if it were common knowledge. "Matt complied when I asked about where you were diving, and we've arrested Nani and David. They're also scheduled to be questioned." He leaned in, putting his nose an inch from Lilo's as his voice dropped to a menacing hiss. "And because of the severity of the infraction, we've been authorized to use whatever tactics necessary to figure out what any of you know about where Lana might be."
At first, the threat made Lilo's blood run cold. But when she realized what that could mean for Nani and David, her fear transformed into boiling rage. Suddenly filled with protective energy, she rocked back and forth in her chair, trying to wiggle out of her restraints. The metal legs scraping against the tiled floor mimicked nails on a chalkboard, although the sound left Sharpe unfazed. "I swear if you hurt them, Stitch and I will make you wish you were never born!"
Sharpe's ears perked up at the mention of a new name. "Who's Stitch and why should I be afraid of him?" he questioned, opening the file again to check if Stitch was cited. Lilo instantly knew she had messed up by mentioning her alien friend, but her anger had gotten the better of her in the moment. Now, she needed to do damage control while not losing the power of her own threat.
"I have friends," Lilo said as ominously as she could. "Friends who wouldn't let anything bad happen to me or my ohana."
Sharpe's laugh echoed around the room as he threw the file on the table. "And what makes you think these so-called friends are in any position to help you now?" he asked, striking Lilo across the face with an open hand. It took a second for Lilo to process what had just happened, but as her cheek slowly caught fire and her skin started to lightly swell, it was clear that Sharpe would have no issues getting physical with a defenseless child. She yelped as Sharpe then tightly pinched her nose with his thumb and index finger, pulling her head up and forcing her to look into his fiery eyes.
"I have no interest in Nani or David. I believe you're the one that knows everything I'm after," he growled, giving the nose a quick pull. "So, what happens to them will entirely depend on you. If you don't tell me what I want to hear, I'll have to go ask them. And if they don't know, wellâŠthey're going to wish they did."
He gave Lilo another slap before shoving the chair over. Lilo fell backwards, her unprotected head bouncing hard off the tile. While she tried her best not to cry from the pain, Sharpe knelt next to her, gently rubbing her now bruised cheek. "I hope that jogs your memory. My first question is simple: where could Lana have gone after the mission?"
It was always the intention to give Sharpe the coordinates, but Lilo knew he might get suspicious if she gave them up too easily. For the sake of the mission, she needed Sharpe to believe he earned it. That would mean suffering a little longer. "Well, if I had to guess, she probably went back to her kingdom," she moaned as her vision alternated from focused to blurred. "And even if I did know where it was, I would never tell you anything that might get Lana or the merfolk hurt!"
Sharpe's once dominant grin turned into a scowl, annoyed that Lilo was somehow resisting. Once again, in this very room, a child was mocking his authority. "I implore you to reconsider," he said, stepping on her chest with his full weight. Lilo felt the air being crushed out of her lungs, the pressure worse than the sand prison Mira had trapped her in during Lana's training. She couldn't make an audible noise of agony, but the look on her face was more than enough to put a smile on Sharpe's. After a few painful seconds, he lifted his foot. "Ready to tell me?"
With a chest that burned with every breath, Lilo looked up at Sharpe and sluggishly nodded. "OkayâŠjust come a little closerâŠcan't talk loudâŠ" she faintly prompted after a coughing fit. Sharpe leaned in, and when she felt he was close enough, Lilo spit in his face. It was all she could do with her hands and feet bound to the chair.
Sharpe wiped his cheek, looking at the saliva with a mixture of disbelief and fury. Lilo prepared herself for his possible violent reaction, but without saying a word, Sharpe got up and left the room, leaving a confused, but thankful, Lilo still stranded on her back. She heard the door close and took solace in the fact that at least for now, she could rest.
2
u/lego-lion-lady 6d ago
âI donât hear any other hoofbeats; we mustâve left the rest of the party even further behind than I thought!â she remarkedâŠand then she turned in time to see that while sheâd been staring in fascination at the large pool, Isaac had nonchalantly stripped down to his underwear and was now making his way over to the small cliff face that the waterfall poured from. âUh â wh-what are you doing?â
âUsing the lead to our advantage.â
Lilly couldnât help staring a little as Isaac made to start climbing up the cliff face before looking back over his shoulder at her (and giving her a good view of his sculpted muscles in the process). âWeâve got some time to clean off the dirt and arrow paint from our ride, and I intend to use it â but first, Iâd like to see if I can jump from that waterfall,â Isaac added. âJoin me at the top if youâre not too scared.â
For one moment, Lillyâs face grew hot at the hint of challenge in his eyesâŠand then she grinned before tying her horse up and stripping down to Isaacâs level, who chivalrously looked away while she did so and turned his attention back to climbing. âYou know, thereâs actually one silver lining to this waterfallâs origin storyâŠâ she told Isaac as she started to climb up behind him.
âOh, yeah? Whatâs that?â
âItâs said that if two lovers climb to the top of the waterfall and jump in together, theyâll get the blessing of the lady of the waterfall.â
Isaac hesitated for a moment as Lillyâs words sank in before he resumed climbing. ââŠIs that your way of saying you think we should be lovers beyond this fake courtship?â he finally asked.
Lillyâs hand nearly slipped from the vine sheâd grabbed as she realized her attempt to get one up over Isaac had backfired. âOh â I didnât thinkâŠI mean, I wasnât trying to ââ
âAre you saying you donât ever think about it, then?â Isaac prodded, clearly getting a kick out of Lillyâs embarrassed stuttering.
âIâŠdidnât say that, either; Iâm only human, after all,â Lilly finally managed to answer. âAnyway, would it be too nosy of me to ask if youâve had any similar thoughts?â
ââŠIâve had thoughts.â Isaac didnât say any more as he and Lilly resumed climbing the side of the cliff, both grabbing handfuls of plants and finding handholds in the rocks.
They reached the top of the waterfall before too long, Isaac helping Lilly over the edge of the cliff as she came up behind him, and they now stood looking at the pool way down below. âI didnât realize how high up we were,â Lilly muttered nervously. The cliff may have been a bit less than a couple stories high, but stillâŠ!
âHavenât you done this before, though? You sure seemed to know a lot about the waterfallâŠâ Isaac pointed out.
âYes, I know about it, butâŠhonestly? Iâve actually never done this,â Lilly admitted. With any waterfall, much less a well-known Cordonian oneâŠ!
âProbably best if you donât think about the height right now, then.â Isaac offered a hand to Lilly, who gratefully took it in her own. âI think some would call this a leap of faith. On three: one, twoâŠthree!â
Still tightly holding hands, Isaac and Lilly finally leapt away from the cliffside on Isaacâs count. The exhilarating fall made Lilly scream all the way down until they hit the crystal-clear water â and then she gasped for air as they resurfaced. âAh â cold! Cold and deep!â Considering that they hadnât even touched the bottom, it was actually a lot deeper than Lilly had expected.
âRefreshing, isnât it?â
She turned at Isaacâs words, only to find his gaze sweeping across her with an intensity that made her cheeks warm. ââŠThatâs one way to put it.â Even as a shiver ran down Lillyâs back, she wasnât entirely sure if it was just from the water.
2
u/certainlittlesmile 5d ago
Ahhh love this!
1
u/lego-lion-lady 5d ago edited 5d ago
Tysm, I'm very proud of how this chapter's coming along! (It's also the chapter where
these two have their first kiss and Lilly later realizes thatLiam is actually *her* father as well as Eleanor's ...! đâ€ïž)
2
u/Sliverlilly 6d ago edited 6d ago
When he was a young wizard, he dreamed of honor and valor, of joining his forefathers in elevating the mighty House of Black.
Boasting at every chance he could of his prowess with a wand, his dab hand at potions, and even his great knowledge of magic so dark it could only be learned from between the bound leather of human skin and bloodied parchment.
Yet, as curses rained down all around him in a cornicopia of vibrant colors, he couldn't find the strength to raise his wand. It was then he knew that the dream he held would never come true.
"We've got to keep pushing, Peresus," hands pressed upon him, each touch filled with burning and a piercing ache that rippled and spread as his body continued to shut down.
"You'll be fine; this, this will heal up fine, but we've got to keep going."
Peresus tried to speak, his voice catching in his throat, and in its place a deep rattling cough slipped past his lips. It was far too wet and far too warm.
"Dammit... please stay with me, Pers."
He wanted to, but as his vision doubled and dimmed, he realized any words he spoke would be a lie. His heart was stuttering in his chest, heavy and fast, irregular beats growing with every second past. His eyes jerked, back and forth as he tried to focus on the form that was hovering over him.
Oh.
Fiery red and pale white skin.
His eyes couldn't make out the rest. His heart, however, recognized her immediately.
Aquila
He had promised her a future as well. One filled with happiness, with a cottage far from his overbearing but well-meaning parents, with a garden she could fill with flowers and land so vast she could wander as long as she desired. But the temptation of honor and valor had taken him to a far land, to fight among other young wizards who had dreamed just the same as him. She had followed, not for honor or for valor, not for fame or for recognition, but because she too had a dream.
One he promised he'd be part of.
A thunderous crack filled the air; Aquila's screams rang in his ears as his head fell back, his blurry vision making out the crumbling defenses above them. His chest felt tight; each breath became harder to take.
"No.. no..." hands were tugging and pulling, his body dragging against the ground as loud booms erupted all around, small pieces of debris crashing against his cooling body. A small burst of magic washed over him; his chest felt a bit less tight.
His vision was filled with red as blood dripped across his brow and seeped into his eyes. It burned terribly.
Yet through the hazy red, he slowly made out several shapes. Lumbering forms in the distance, bright arcs of magic jumping from the tips of their wands as they advanced. His ribs were aching, bruised as his heart beat violently against them; fear bubbled up, mixing with the tangy copper that rested in his mouth.
He was as good as dead. But she wasn't.
Perseus clenched his jaw, straining as he let out a wet groan. It took everything within him to lift his hand and gently tug against hers.
"Pers?"
"L-Leav.." He could barely manage a single word, but he pushed through the piercing pain.
"What?" her breathless whisper was filled with disbelief.
Perseus felt nauseous as a wave of dizziness crashed through him.
"L-Leave." He stuttered, his eyes filling with tears as her hands tightened on his robes.
The figures in the distance grew clearer and clearer. He could smell the bitter scent of dark magic.
"No.. I won't..."
Perseus welcomed the tears that fell from his eyes; they helped wash away the blood. His unsteady arm crossed his chest as he fought to reach for his pocket. He felt a bit of relief when she let go of him and leaned forward, reaching into his pocket. It only took a moment, one he knew he'd never regret.
She might never forgive him, but at least she'd be alive.
"Wait!"
The distinct crack of the portkey sounded just behind him. His body slumped over onto the ground, the harsh impact knocking the air from his lungs.
A soft sob bubbled up; he didn't want to die, didn't want valor or glory.
In his heart, he had wanted the dream she whispered in his ears all those years ago.
But he was a fool, destined to die in a foreign land alone, just like all the other foolish young wizards before him.
Perseus raised his hand and dragged it through the blood on his face. His ears rang as shouts and screams filled the air, as dark magic tore into the ground beside him.
His lips whispered the words, his shaky fingers carved the runes into the ground as the enemy descended upon him.
When they were finally close enough, he poured all he had left into the spell.
Fiery red and blinding white.
I'm sorry, love.
1
2
3
u/lampboy2 6d ago
((Lana runs into Mertle (literally) and defends Lilo))
"I've seen you before," one of the girls said to Lana after they cleaned up their part of the mess. "You were at the market with Lilo the other day."
Lana's face lit up. "Yes! Are you friends of hers?" she asked. The group started laughing, and Lana's smile quickly faded.
"Friends? With that freak? No way," the red head answered, a condescending grin playing on her lips. "You seem new to town, so I'll give you some advice: if you want to make friends here, you might want to avoid being seen with her."
Lana then realized who she was talking to. Lilo had told her stories about Mertle and her crew, and how they bullied Lilo because of her interests. Now, Lana could show them that not everyone shared those opinions. "Lilo isn't a freak. She's just...different. She's kind, imaginative, and doesn't care what other people think. That's something to be admired, not ridiculed!"
Mertle and her friends exchanged glances, then laughed even harder. Lana felt a rage start to boil inside her. It reminded her of the bullies she faced back in her kingdom who mocked her because she dared to follow her passions.
"Different?" Mertle repeated, her laughter echoing through the aisle. "Listen to you, defending the village idiot. Honey, different is an understatement. She's a social pariah who believes in mermaids."
Lana faked confusion, giving Mertle a questioning look. "Didn't the government find a mermaid not too long ago? It was all over the news."
"That was a publicity stunt to bring in tourist dollars," Mertle snickered. "It was so obvious. You're as gullible as Lilo. Are you a weirdo too?"
"You must be," one of the others chimed in. "That's got to be why you enjoy hanging out with her. Birds of a feather and all that. Look, they even wear similar clothing!"
Lana looked down at her blue floral dress. No matter what world she was a part of, she would always be considered an outsider. And yet, she was starting to believe that was okay. She knew she would rather be liked because of who she really was, and not because of how others wanted her to be.
"Save your social life and ditch the loser while you still can," Mertle went on, rubbing a smudge off her glasses.
Lana clenched her fists. She was tired of others telling her how to act, what to think. Lilo was the first individual she had ever met who accepted her without question. Even her own mother didn't approve of her dreams, but Lilo encouraged them. "So, you're saying if I want to fit in here, I have to abandon my friend?"
"Yeah, pretty much," Mertle said with a shrug.
Lana's anger slowly solidified into cold, hard resolve. "Then I don't want to fit in," she said, her voice clear and steady.
Mertle and her friends stared at her, momentarily taken aback. Once they recovered, Mertle's eyes hardened. "Suit yourself," she said, turning away with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Just don't come crawling back to us when you realize your mistake."
1
u/ewmiselle 6d ago
"Lilo isn't a freak. She's just...different. She's kind, imaginative, and doesn't care what other people think. That's something to be admired, not ridiculed!" - aw my heart. You go Lana!
1
1
u/Dragoncat91 6d ago
Mertle is such a bitch! You go Lana, you know what's really going on here and Mertle is going to realize how wrong she is!
2
u/lampboy2 6d ago
((Lana saving Lilo in a sunken ship))
Lana looked back and saw the shark was gaining on them. With a surge of adrenaline, she pushed Lilo ahead, urging her to swim faster. They needed to find a place to rest. The shark, having more stamina, would catch up to them if the chase continued. Luckily, Lana spotted a partially ajar doorway further down the hall. She shoved Lilo through the opening, then squeezed in behind her. Using her tail, she knocked the barnacle-covered door shut just as the shark slammed against it.
They floated in silence, the metal door vibrating from the force of the shark's impact. They shined their lights around the room to find it was full of broken crates and barrels. The walls contained no windows or other doors. They were trapped.
Lilo leaned against the wall as her heart jackhammered her rib cage. "That was too close," she managed to say in a shaky voice.
Lana nodded, her chest still heaving. The shark would be waiting for them outside. They weren't completely safe yet.
Lana tried to think about what to do next. If it was just her, she would teleport away. The spell couldn't transport a non-mermaid, even if she held onto Lilo when she cast it. While brainstorming, Lana noticed the color beginning to drain from Lilo's face.
"Lana...I think I'm running out of air. The pill is wearing off," Lilo coughed. Lana froze. She forgot that humans couldn't naturally breathe underwater.
"How much time do you think you have?" Lana whispered, distressed by Lilo's new complexion.
"Maybe five minutes," Lilo squeaked. Her voice already sounded weaker.
Lana looked around wildly for a solution. They were in a room hundreds of feet underwater, and the only way out would bring them face-to-face with a hungry shark. Yet somehow, she needed to get Lilo all the way to the surface, and she only had five minutes to do it.
"Okay, listen," Lana finally said, trying to keep her voice calm. "I have a plan. It's risky, but it's your only chance. I'm going to open the door and try to lure the shark away. When I do, you need to swim to the surface as fast as you can."
Lilo looked horrified. "I can't let you do that!" she cried. "We'll figure something out together!"
Lana shook her head. "I'm the one who was late to our meeting, causing you to waste the pill. I'm the one who suggested coming to this ship. All of this happened because of me, so let me be the one to fix it. Please, Lilo!"
Lilo hugged Lana tightly. Lana returned the embrace. Neither wanted to let go, but they knew the clock was ticking. Releasing Lilo, Lana picked up a broken piece of crate that had some exposed nails. She winced in pain as she poked the nails into her arm. Blood began flowing from the puncture marks.
"What are you doing?" Lilo screamed, grabbing Lana's arm to apply pressure to stop the bleeding. It was no use, the blood slipped between her fingers and continued to cloud the water.
"The shark needs to be focused on me. I'm making sure that it will," Lana said, pulling her arm away from Lilo. Her words suddenly became aggressive. "I need to do this. I won't let you drown!"
The change of tone left Lilo in shock. This was a side of Lana she had never seen. A side that was protective. A side that was desperate. Lilo wanted to argue, but she knew she was running out of time. Lana could breathe underwater and was the better swimmer. This plan may be her only chance at survival. "Okay," Lilo replied reluctantly. "Do what you have to do."
"Then get ready," Lana told Lilo, opening the door just enough to slip through. The shark became extra hostile once Lana's blood filled the water. It immediately lunged at her, its jaws chomping in a fury. Lana managed to dodge the teeth, but one of the shark's fins sent her crashing to the floor. The shark tried another pass, but Lana was able to spin away and create some distance.
"Go! Swim for the surface!" Lana shouted as she swam down the hall. The shark was in pursuit, following the blood trail left by her wound.
Lilo didn't hesitate. With as much energy as she could muster, she swam out of the room toward the hole they used to enter the ship.
1
u/Muted-Elevator-6021 6d ago
Fry blinked, as another shockwave rocked the ship, branching himself against the center console. A few more bounces along jagged underwater rocks, and the ship was drifting into the darkness beyond the barrier. It wasnât until the ship was fully in the cavern that Fry realized the breach wasnât huge, probably barely bigger than the craft he was in. Checking to make sure cloaking was still good to go, Fry hit the several buttons to turn on the exterior lights, andâ
A rapping on the wall to his left made him shout. His shoulders dropped in relief seeing it was just Edna, especially because she lookedâŠnormal. When he gave her a thumbs up to make sure, she nodded. He pressed the control to open the external hatch. A few seconds later, the interior hatch groaned open. It wasnât until Edna pulled herself inside that Fry noticed two things at once - her face was twisted in pain, and her lower half was covered in dark purple blood.
Fry took off his helmet. âEdna, what the hell happened?â
Edna leaned against the wall, shoulder heaving. âIâŠhad to remove it.â
âRemove what?â Fry said.
âTheâŠâ Edna started, âthe other brain thatâs linked to Frenzy.â
â...How?â was all he could get out.
âWe can use our claws to break our shells,â she said, clearly trying to steady herself against the control panel. âThat part was quick enough, but if weâd been down there with all those things, I never would have made it.â
Holy shit. âAre you okay?â he asked, forcing his voice to stay calm even if he couldnât stop looking at the gash of broken shell right where the bottom of a human spine would have been.
Edna nodded, already tearing at the loose ends of her belly bandages to tie around her waist. âI wonât walk right for a while, butâŠitâs fine. Is the cure safe?â
1
u/TrinityCXV 6d ago
When Emi finally cools down and comes to a stand still after parading about the room in a fit of rage, she feels Wakikoâs arms close around her hips in a light, soft and caring hug. Wakiko nuzzles her face against Emiâs back, trying to be as gentle, but sincere as possible.
Emi: Uh?
Wakiko: When I first met you, you had this look in your eyes. A look of despair, of a girl who had completely given up. But after you saw what Nagahara had done you made a promise, to me, to your family, to yourself, a promise to get them back. We don't know if they are gone, but even if they are, or aren't, either way that promise never felt like a lie. Was it a lie, Emi?
Emi: NoâŠ
Wakiko: Then where did that fire go? All that determination?
Emi: Itâs as Takae said; I like who I am here, this life. I abandoned Ui once⊠Did I ever really plan to rescue her in the first place? Sheâs right, Iâve been playing a hero all this time. Iâm a fake, a liarâŠ
Wakiko: There are two Emiâs I know. One shuts down with self doubt whenever she fails. The other is a strong and passionate leader. I know why you try to win, so you don't hate yourself, blame yourself. But you don't have to be that person. You can choose. I know how strong you are. You just have to be brave.
Emi: I donât know how anymoreâŠ
Wakiko: Ok⊠Before I met you I was so, so lonely. I had friends, but none of them stayed with me for long. Everyone would leave me sooner or later. I thought we were close, but as soon as it suited them they all just⊠Forgot about me. You're the first one⊠The longest one.
Emi: Youâve told me this before.
Wakiko: Yeah⊠I believe in you so much. I know this isn't you, isn't the girl I⊠The girl I⊠I want you to promise me something now Emi. Don't leave me. I know we're together for a reason. Stay with me and Iâll always be here for you, no matter how many times you lose, for when this other Emi takes over.
Emi: âŠI promise.
Wakiko: This is bravery.
Wakiko says, gently spinning Emi around and holding her in close for a soft, loving kiss.
At first Emi is surprised, she wasn't expecting that, and it knocks her right out of her depressed stoop. Emiâs never kissed another girl before, or at least not like this. It makes her heart flutter and skip a beat with confusion at first, but after just a few seconds she knows this just feels right. As she feels Wakikoâs lips on hers she knows how much this act means to her. No matter what, for Wakiko this was an act of bravery, admitting her long-held feelings after all these years.
Eventually the two girls break off their impassioned embrace, both of their cheeks flush and glowing. That wasn't eitherâs first kiss, but it sure was the most genuine. A moment of silence follows. Neither says a word, just letting the air settle as they look at one another. No matter what has happened today, no matter what they found or what might be, at the very least this was something good.
2
1
u/Ill-Clerk-7066 6d ago
Iâm considering this to be bravery since in canon Shadow Milk struggles with being vulnerable
AU where Shadow Milk is the only surviving Beast Cookie
âSometimes⊠you donât have an answer for your emotions-â
âVanilla. I was the Fount of Knowledge, I should know better than anyone about what emotions entail, and if⊠if⊠these tears have no origin then how could they possibly make me feel better?â
âEmotions arenât always logical,â Pure Vanilla said with a soft smile. âThat may have once been your title, but being blessed or cursed with aeons of knowledge doesnât tell you everything you know.â He looked up at the sky. âAnd considering everything that happened, I donât blame you for these,â he murmured as he wiped a tear from Shadow Milkâs eye. â
âBut, Pure Vanilla, these have no origin⊠I⊠just simply feel lonely. That shouldnât bring forth tears.â
âDidnât I just say emotions arenât always logical? These have no origin, and thatâs fine. You donât have to know their origin, all you have to know is how they make you feel.â Pure Vanilla looked at him. âAnd why is the current you so focused on the logic of something anyways? You can remove your head without harming yourself, you can float.â Shadow Milk stared at him.
âI donât know, Vanilla,â he replied, curling into himself, still in Pure Vanillaâs embrace. âEver since they⊠left, I havenât felt like myself.â Shadow Milk placed his head on Pure Vanillaâs shoulder. âI feel⊠cold, and empty, and if I do so much as manage a smile it feels, fake and forced. And if I think of them-â his breath caught in his throat, and Pure Vanilla hugged him tighter. âIâm⊠I-Iâm reminded o-of just h-how⊠lonely I⊠I amâŠâ
âShadow Milk, as long as youâre willing, you wonât be lonely here, not anymore. I⊠cannot stand by and watch you⊠wither in loneliness anymore. Itâs beginning to hurt me, much more than it may be hurting you. Iâm⊠sorry, for any pain I caused you, by treating you as I have.â Shadow Milk had long stopped listening, as heâd found himself in yet another sobbing fit. But again, he couldnât really decipher why he was.
âVa⊠VanillyâŠâ Shadow Milk murmured quietly. âDo⊠do you think they hate me..? Bla⊠Black Sapphire⊠a-and Candy Apple⊠where-wherever they are⊠d-do⊠do they hateâŠâ He silently cursed at how small his voice sounded, he did not need to be vulnerable with the Cookie that had only ever caused him strife in his life. Pure Vanilla, and Shadow Milkâs own Creator were probably the worst Cookies or Witches he couldâve met, but somehow, now, as he sat in Pure Vanillaâs embrace, he felt comforted, even if in all reality he should hate being there with every fiber of his being. ââŠme?â Shadow Milk whispered. âTheyâre⊠theyâre adults⊠they⊠can survive on their own⊠but⊠but⊠do they hate me? Was I⊠a bad father?â
âI know neither personally, Shadow Milk, but, with how willing theyâve been to go through with whatever might have been your plan at the time⊠Iâd like to think they donât. Perhaps theyâre simply lying low until they deem it safe? Though I canât speak for them, only they can do that Iâm afraid, and as for the others, I cannot speak for them either, but maybe if I talk to my friends, maybe they could tell me if they might have hated you or not.â Shadow Milk sighed.
âIâd like to believe that, Vanilly, I really would. But Iâm having a hard time with it⊠so, forgive me.â
ââŠDear, I really do believe that they wouldnât have hated you. It didnât seem in their nature to abandon the one they called their parent. I believe something might have happened that has held up them up somehow. But, if I can promise you one thing⊠then let it be thisâŠâ
âI will find them, even if itâs only to bring you peace.â
2
2
u/Dragoncat91 6d ago
(From Gaze to Cassiopeia, my OC faces his evil brother. Spoiled war violence, not super gory but just to be safe)
Both of Shahid's retainers were dead. He'd never been an emotional man. Emotions and attachments were for the weak. So why did he feel like mourning the woman he had called his âpretty weaselâ during those lustful nights?
He had lost one queen option, at least, but there were no shortage of those. The goal was in sight. There was that so called brother of his. He led his wyvern into a sweeping turn and landed right in front of him.
Uzair stood his ground. âBoth of your commanders are dead. Father will soon be here with his finest. It's over, Shahid. You can still plead for your life.â
Shahid scoffed, dismounting to face Uzair head on. âLook at the little gerbil who thinks he's a coyote.â
âLook at the mangy coyote who hasn't eaten in a month still trying to chew his leg out of a trap.â
âI'm done playing word games.â Out of the corner of his eye, Shahid spotted Danah, doing some great work with her fire magic. His brain showed him a picture of Aisha again. He stifled his emotions.
âLook at that. The pretty mage over there. What's her name?â
âThat's Danah, and if you think for one second...â Uzair trailed off and gripped the hilt of his scimitar until his knuckles turned white.
âI do believe I will be in need of a queen since you took out Aisha...â
âYou will not touch her!â Uzair nearly roared.
2
u/ScaredTemporary 6d ago
Worst type of enemy is that whoâs your family. And god, glad Uzair not only made it clear his brother wouldnât touch Danah, but made good on that promise
1
2
u/HeAintHere 6d ago edited 6d ago
Marshal Michel Ney was known as the Bravest of the Brave, so I couldn't pass this up. So here is the retreat across Russia, 1812:
Heâd led them this far â all 713 of his remaining men â and now only approximately two hundred feet of frozen river stood in their way, separating them from the uncertain safety of the north shore.
The snow had stopped, and the clouds had cleared away, leaving a panorama of hard, glittering stars above them. If one looked long and hard enough, a ribbon of pulsating green or blue light might be seen snaking across the sky. Ney lit another lantern from the one Lafontaine held to survey what was before them, but that was all the light they had otherwise.
Le Livre poked the icy surface with his cavalry lance, eyeing it distrustfully. Lafontaine spoke up from the saddle of his mount, âMonsieur le MarĂ©chal, even if that ice is thick enough for them, not all of the horses have proper shoes to traverse this.â He hesitated, clearly unused to questioning a superiorâs decisions. âAre you sure about this, sir?â
âThat,â Ney pointed to the darkness on the other side of the river, âIs the only place the enemy wonât be looking for us. And we are going there, even if we have to cross one at a time.â He could feel the stares of disbelief boring into his back. âDo I have to walk to Orsha by myself? I will do it if I have to.â
Le Livre muttered with a long-suffering sigh, âSir, I will personally tether you to a tree if you attempt to walk out there by yourself. The army needs its general and you falling through a hole in the ice will be of no help to anyone. Besides, what if thereâs bears on the other side? You potentially being mauled by bears isnât helpful either.
ââMauled by bearsâ,â Ney mused, making a show of serious consideration. âI can think of a few people whoâd be jealous of not having that on their tomb.â
âIâd pity the bear that tries to digest him,â Lafontaine quipped back.
âFair point,â Le Livre argued back, âIt doesnât change â oh. My. FUCK .â
Making the sign of the cross, Ney gave himself over to God and chance, and stepped out of anyone's reach and onto the ice. Heâd been lucky enough to salvage a decent pair of boots off a Cossack heâd struck down a few days ago; they fit after stuffing a few rags into the toes. The thin blanket of snow on the ice muffled the sounds of his steps, but would he even hear a warning if it suddenly broke under his weight?
However, it was either this, or potentially waste hours looking for another crossing. They were working against the clock; time was a luxury none of them had.
There! There was a slight give. He backed away slowly, wondering how fast the water moved underneath the ice and how deep it was. It would be deadly either way. Le Livre was probably wrong about the bears, but he was right that falling through the ice would be of help to no one. So, he just had to not fall through the ice.
What others called âreckless,â Ney simply called âright.â His wife didnât approve but there were things he was simply unwilling to compromise on. And one of those was that heâd never make his men risk themselves for what he wasnât willing to do himself first.
Another careful step forward. He was in the middle of the river now, where he assumed that the ice was the weakest. One foot in front of the other, slowly, each step deliberate and measured, his path leaving a trail in the fallen snow. His breath thrummed in his ears, a brand new fogbank forming around his head with each exhalation.
Ney turned to look behind him. Most of his men were still gathered on the edge of the embankment, but a brave few souls had tentatively ventured out onto the ice to test it for themselves. He waved for them to stay put.
The ice became thicker and sturdier as he walked north, and he reached the far shore. After some more explorations, he hung his lantern on a branch above a wide path among the brambles, where it led to a larger clearing. Perhaps it was used by fishermen or hunters during warmer weather. Mind churning, he returned to the southern shore of the Dnieper where his army and its flock of refugees awaited him.
âNo bears,â he told Le Livre. His aide just scowled in response, perhaps dreaming up all the ways he could keep his commanding officer from scaring everyone to death next time. He savored the brief moment of levity and turned his attention to his gathered men.
âEveryone line up!â Men automatically snapped to as if on review. âEach of you will be passed something â or someone â from the wagons, and you will walk single file, one at a time, towards the lantern I left on the other side, with no less than ten paces between you.â Once lightened of their burden, the supply wagons stood a better chance of getting across the ice. âI donât have to remind you all of how vulnerable we will be, so make this quick.â
1
u/Ill-Clerk-7066 6d ago
This is brave because in this excerpt, Pitaya is DEEP in enemy territory (from a Different First Meeting fanfic)
Soon enough, a living version of the statue appeared on the podium, and the first thing Pitaya noticed was how short she was. Then, she started speaking. âWow, it seems like you all missed me,â she said with a hearty laugh, and a strange buzz passed through Pitaya, as they watched the Cookie on the podium. âWeâre happy to report that all our surveying of the lands have paid off, and weâve encountered no dangers awaiting us in the woods. To that weâll celebrate! Wildberry is currently talking with the tavern owners to see if we can procure some Berry Juice for everyone. Though I must remind you this is for adults only, no children aloud.â The small crowd beside them cheered, but Pitaya was more focused on trying to figure out why that big jolly laugh had affected them like that, especially when it hadnât been directed at them.
The dragon was used enough to Cookie antics that things like this didnât usually phase it, so the fact Hollyberryâs laugh was having such an effect was strange. Deciding to ignore it, it turned its attention back on Hollyberry.
âNow itâs about time we address the dragon issue,â Hollyberry continued, and Pitayaâs attention was now captured for an entirely different reason. âIâm sure youâve heard the rumours that thereâs a dragon living in that volcano.â The crowd murmured amongst themselves. âNow Iâm sure youâre wondering what weâre going to do about it. I was honestly thinking of doing nothing for the time being, as this supposed dragon hasnât done anything to suggest weâre unwelcome in their territory. If we were to launch an attack on what is essentially an animal thatâs just-â
Hollyberryâs eyes met Pitayaâs suddenly, causing the latter to strangely fold under the sudden scrutiny, even if it had been by accident.
Her eyes were so, so pink, and they were staring directly at where Pitayaâs tail was flicking somewhat nervously, revealing themself, and the flag they had wrapped around their tail. And Pitaya was only nervous for one single reason, as now that the kingdomâs namesake knew what they were, the somewhat friendly kingdom could very quickly turn hostile, and though this had been to scope out the enemy, Pitaya wouldnât be able to change long enough to get the advantage it would need against a village of angry Cookies. If Hollyberry revealed their identity to anyone, it would be a death sentence of them.
It was then that Hollyberryâs eyes softened, and despite the tentative situation, something about it made Pitayaâs temporary doughy body start to warm, and it felt like hiding itself behind its wings, but it couldnât do that not in public. She turned her head back to the crowd and spoke again, âI misspoke, if we were to launch an attack on what is essentially a Cookie minding their own business, it wouldnât end well for us. Thatâs why I suggest leaving the dragon be for the time being, if it hasnât hurt us, we have no need to reciprocate.â This caused the crowd to let out an uproar that Pitaya was too distracted to really pay attention to. It could only really hear Hollyberry, anyways. âHowever, if you are so inclined to it, Iâll make the trip to the dragonâs lair myself. Alone, to just see this dragon for myself. If I donât return, after a few days, feel free to send for me. But if I do, we will not harm the dragon unless they harm us, understood?â The crowd quieted and Pitaya returned their gaze to the Cookie. It wasnât quite sure why Hollyberry hadnât revealed their identity, as they were here uninvited, but they were still thankful to her at the very least. It wasnât long after that the crowd dispersed.
âItâs a good disguise, Dragon,â Hollyberryâs voice suddenly sounded to the side of it, and Pitaya leapt in surprise, causing Hollyberry to laugh. Pitaya felt itself grow hot again. âYou have everyone fooled,â she added, with a small smile, acting as if they were already friendly with each other. âThough I must ask, what possessed you to try such an act?â Pitaya blinked at her.
âYouâre acting way too friendly for ssssomeone you hardly know,â it retorted, instead, but Hollyberry didnât seem phased.
âYouâve never met friendly Cookies, have you?â She asked simply, and Pitaya blinked at her.
âThat ssstill doessssnât explain⊠thisss,â it gestured vaguely between them. âAlssso, wonât other Cookiessss hear you? And know youâre talking to the very sssame dragon you were disssscusssssing earlier? I donât think theyâd like that very much.â
âMost of the others are heading for the taverns, and Iâm headed that way too, but I thought Iâd introduce my myself to my neighbour, it seems only fair, since you decided to join us on this fine day. I have always enjoyed meeting new friends, and whatâs another, hm?â She gave them a smile, and Pitaya felt themself grow warm. âThereâs also the fact you havenât torched me yet, as most dragonâs are known to do. I consider that a plus, Dragon.â
âAre you flirting with me?â The words slipped out of Pitayaâs mouth before they could stop them, but it still tried, and Hollyberry just chuckled at the display.
âDragon, thereâs a difference between being happy to meet new friends and flirting,â she said with a small chuckle. âSo no, Iâm not flirting with you.â Pitaya however, just felt themselves grow hot again. âThough, you havenât answered my question as to why you decided to utilize a Cookie form, I wasnât aware dragons could do that.â Pitaya sighed
âI wanted to ssssee what the kingdom wassss like. I donât think I couldâve done that in my true form. Iâd tower over you and probably look like a threat. It wasss the ssssafessst way. I came here on a whim.â Hollyberry looked at them for a bit.
âCould I have your name, Dragon?â Pitaya blinked at her.
âWhy do you need that?â It deadpanned, causing Hollyberry to chuckle again, and Pitaya looked away out of embarrassment. Hollyberry then put her hand on Pitayaâs shoulder, and it stiffened at the touch, Hollyberry only really looking amused.
âFriends should know each otherâs names, should they not? Plus, calling you Dragon sounds a little offensive, in my opinion.â
1
u/Dragoncat91 6d ago
I love this, it reminds me of Shrek a bit! Pitaya just goes in there and wants to hear the dragon's name. Seems like it's willing to compromise and talk! Even if it doesn't know why she wants its name.
2
2
u/ScaredTemporary 6d ago
aaand this is for one of my OC entries:
Life sucked. Dawn to dusk, having to collect the grains, barely eating so her younger siblings could eat something, pretending to be someone she was notâŠ.
âIâll join the Steel Ball Run!â That dumbass Gilberto had suggested. She knew how things would end: like every fucking idea he had. Heâd be dead quickly, heâd end up losing all their money just to enterâŠ.
So, she slapped him and made it clear that he wouldnât join it. Heâd stay there and care for their siblings.
Sheâd join. Sheâd just enter as a man(up north she was one after all)and win some damn money. Because fuck if it wasnât worth it.
3
2
u/Dragoncat91 6d ago
I feel like this OC is a girlboss, I love those. Always a sucker for a good Mulan scenario.
2
u/ScaredTemporary 6d ago
Mulan's one of my fave Disney princesses!
My oc in her case didn't truly have to go through it but she would rather be safe than sorry!
3
u/krigsgaldrr 6d ago
Oooh this is so interesting! What makes the OC (sorry, I don't see her name anywhere!) confident she'd do better than Gilberto?
I'm such a sucker for characters who show through actions what they'd do for their family. Starving herself so her siblings can eat and entering (what seems like) a deadly competition in hopes of helping their future. Ugh it's so good
1
u/ScaredTemporary 6d ago
her name's not here, but it's MarĂa JosĂ©! Spanish for Mary Joseph
she's confident only because she's not him, but girl is too stubborn for her own sake. Running across the USA, from California to New York ain't for the brave of heart for sure!
she doesn't win but gets a rather shady way of supporting her family!
1
u/Ill-Clerk-7066 6d ago
I believe this counts for bravery?
"Well, I wanted to ask you a question," Royal Margarine replied earnestly. "Namely, will you join me in the village tonight?"
Ananas felt its jam run cold. Them? In the village? In amongst their worshippers? Wasn't that blasphemy? It was blasphemy either way, because they weren't supposed to form intimate connections with Cookies. This whole suggestion was a disaster waiting to happen. The villagers wouldn't expect them to be there, in amongst them, so why?
What Longan think if they had been right here now, witnessing Royal Margarine ask this question? What would Longan have done in this situation? They likely would have crushed Royal Margarine to a crisp. They wouldn't have even asked questions. Ananas wasn't Longan though, so what did they want to do?
If it was a one time thing, they can just ignore that it would've ever happened, and then they wouldn't have to bring it up.
"Why?" Ananas said eventually, straightening. "You are aware that I don't go near the village, correct? It's simply courtesy for them. I leave them to their own devices, and they revere me with all the sugar in their bodies."
"You wouldn't have to interact with anyone," Royal Margarine replied. "I just thought you'd like to know where I'll be living."
"You said Papaya offered you a place," Ananas said and Royal Margarine sighed.
"Alright. It's just, I'd much rather have someone I know there, as opposed to being by myself. I may have been accepted into the Tribe, but I don't really have any friends there yet."
"I'm hardly a 'friend' to you myself, Royal Margarine, you don't know me, and I don't know you. You don't have friends on the island yet," Ananas said, and Royal Margarine seemed to flinch. Ananas frowned. "But, if you want me to come, I'll come." Royal Margarine's mood seemed to brighten, and his sparkling eyes seemed to make Ananas feel warm. But perhaps it was just shared happiness, because what else could it be?
The two walked over to the village, with Buttercream trailing behind, and the village seemed to freeze upon seeing them. Ananas suddenly felt very out of place as they and Royal Margarine weaved throughout the Tribe members until they reached the clearing in the middle where it appeared like most of the Tribe was already gathered, some chattering among themselves, and others sitting far close together, to the point they were basically on top of each other, and Papaya and her friend were sitting in a corner, talking softly among themselves. She didn't appear to have noticed Ananas yet, or maybe she'd just forgotten about the awkward encounter yesterday, which was somewhat comforting.
"This is where I sat last time," Royal Margarine said, walking over to a space directly beside the fire. Buttercream took her position on his side, and then he gestured for Ananas to join him on his other side. "This space is vacant," he said with a little laugh. Though when Ananas sat beside him, they drew every stare in the vincinity. Every single head that wasn't already turned towards them was now on them, and they felt a little odd about it. Sure, these Cookies revered them in every way, but they weren't used to being observed. Royal Margarine also looked around. "Uh, while I'm sure this is a shock to you all, if I could kindly ask you to avert your gazes for the time being. You don't want to chase them off before even giving this idea a chance, now do you?" Royal Margarine asked sweetly, raising his voice only just a tad. He then sheepishly turned towards Ananas. "I do apologize."
"Don't. This was bound to happen should I have arrived here. I expected it," it was a half-lie, but even Ananas wasn't exactly sure what was the truth and what was the lie. Royal Margarine nodded.
"Well, I hope it's not too out of cha-"
"It is. It definitely is. Don't get me wrong, this is intriguing, but it is still out of character," Ananas said. "I avoid this place. But, I will say, for only being here for a day, you're proving to be pleasant company." Royal Margarine blinked.
2
2
u/DBSeamZ 6d ago
Both of the main characters in this scene are facing things that scare themâApo doesnât like the sight of blood (becoming a vampire in canon was another moment of bravery for her) and Martyn is (understandably) nervous about vampires.
âRight." He took a hesitant step towards her, then extended an arm and pulled back his sleeve. "Do it."
Apo lifted the offered arm, then froze. With considerable effortâthe Time Being was rightâshe let go again and began to change the past.
âThis is going to sound really weird, but I need to bite your leg.â
âWhat!? Why? Whatâs wrong with my arm?â Incredulity turned to suspicion as he narrowed his eyes. âYou werenât eavesdropping on me and Ren, were you?â
âNo!? Apo looked quickly at Ren, who seemed just as surprised as she was. "What does he have to do with this?â
Martyn seemed slightly reassured by her confusion. âHe asked me where I would bite someone if I were a vampire. I said the leg.â His wariness returned. âSo they couldnât get away.â
âLook, if I wanted you toânot get away, I wouldnât haveâyou broke your leg, remember? And I fixed it.â
A slow nod. âWith your blood, yeah. You told me.â
âVampire blood heals humans. But I found out itâs dangerous too. I need to get it out of you.â
âWhat, you think itâs still there?â
âI know it isâŠI can smell it.â Sheâd meant that second part as a convenient lie, but now that she paid attention he did smell a little worse than the other humans. Less appetizingâŠnot that any humanâs blood smelled particularly tasty to Apo. A subtle difference, for sure.
âDangerous how? And what do you mean, found out?â
Apo hesitated. âYou donât want to know.â She met his eyes directlyâeyes that still moved, still had life in them. âYou really donât want to know.â
"When did you find this out?" asked Ren.
"You don't want to know that either." Please don't askâŠI can't answer truthfully and I don't want to lie to either of you. âThisâŠjust seemed like a good time to bring it up."
Martyn held Apo's gaze for a long moment, searching. Calculating. At last he sat down, lifted the torn hem of his pants leg, and rolled down the stocking underneath. âAll right. Get it over with.â
2
u/ScaredTemporary 6d ago
here's two from the same chapter of a fic, a retelling of the Niobids for Record of Ragnarok:
1.But the prince hadnât given up, trying to kick the god and plead
âLeave them! Please, leave them! Kill me right now and spare them! I am my fatherâs heir! âHe begged, his feet hurting and bleeding, for the god couldnât be harmed, but a mortal could âThey are just children!â
âAnd so are youâŠâ Apollo said, and gently stroke his face as tears fell from the boyâs eyes âyou are afraid, so afraidâŠbut you still chose to die for themâŠâ
2.Two of them were left: Amyclas and Phereus. Amyclas was eight years old, his brother was twelve. They both had ran together, and heard their last brotherâs scream.
âBrother? âthe child held his hand tightly âIâm tiredâŠâ his legs wouldnât let him run much more. His older brother looked at himâŠ
Phereus then took a decision: he hadnât been able to save his other brothers,not even the smallest one, but there was something he could do.
âClimb the treeâ he mumbled. The god wouldnât harm a tree, as it was said he loved nymphs, and would expect them to keep running. And Phereus would keep running.
âWill you climb with me?â Amyclas asked
âOh no, I will go for the priests! They will calm Apollo down! Plus the sun is getting low, I will be fine, donât worry! âa lie, he knew. But it was better to have him believe that âstay quiet, shhâŠjust climb upâŠâ
His father had once joked that his brother was half a squirrel instead of a boy. And for that he was gladâŠ
He ran and ran as far as he could. And he began to sing.
3
u/krigsgaldrr 6d ago
POV character is Delo
â
I charge at the skyfish, aiming for that disabled left side. He rolls, but Gephyra catches his dactyl in her back claws and yanks with all her might, ripping through the length of his central membrane and sending him careening. He squeals in fear and alarm as his wing fails to support the weight of himself and his rider properly. And Gephyra is on him again, teeth sinking into the joint where his wing meets his torso. He shrieks and whacks at her with his tail and kicks at her with as much force as he can muster with his rider's wounded leg.
A flash of silver and a burst of pain. The rider has taken a knife and driven it into Gephyra's chest. She squeals and releases the skyfish, taking the knife with her. It's not big enough to do any real damage, but it still hurts like hell.
The rider finally spots our backup and calls to Larissa in Dragontongue. "Time to go!"
Her voice is wobbly, likely from pain. She guides her dragon away from me, toward the north, but I'm not letting her get away that easy. I make to follow, Gephyra already moving, but a blur of black hurtling downward and a pained cry from a voice that I know all too well stops me.
I turn just as Sparker smashes into a small hut on the outskirts of Harfast with a low, agonized yelp.
He doesn't get up.
I don't see movement.
I don't see Griff.
"Delo!" Crissa is pointing at the rogues, who are heading toward the stratus. The distance is already considerable, but the skyfish is injured, his flight lopsided and strained and obvious even from where I hesitate. I glance at the smoking pile of rubble and see Sparker shifting among the splintered wood. Nolan sur Thunder and Bran sur Beria circle nearby with the unfamiliar aurelian rider.
As much as it kills me to not know, I know what Griff would want me to do. I suppress the urge to scream my frustration and fear as a husband and instead bark the order they're waiting for as Second-in-Command: "Crissa, at my wing. Everyone else, see to Griff."
Crissa sur Phaedra is at our wing in seconds, and we follow after the rogues, heading into the stratus.
2
u/ScaredTemporary 6d ago
God, restraining back like that even his husband is in dangerâŠ.Delo is build different
Is Griff okay?
3
u/krigsgaldrr 6d ago
He's fine! Just severely pissed off and has a few minor injuries since Sparker maneuvered to take the brunt of the fall, bless him
1
u/Samuel24601 6d ago
Both brave and strong of Delo to do what Griff would want him to do (I assume!!) in this situation! Such great leadership despite his fear for his husband's life. <3 Great job, friendo!
2
u/krigsgaldrr 6d ago
Yep it's exactly what Griff would want him to do, as the rogue riders have their niece đ thank you so much aaaaaa!!!
Also thank you for reminding me that I left this because I'm sick and immediately forgot about it as soon as I closed out reddit lol time to go read some of the other goodies shared here hehe
1
u/Samuel24601 4d ago
Youâre welcome! Iâm sorry you were sick! I hope you are feeling better!! â€ïž
3
u/forthefics 6d ago
This is an excerpt of a CPR scene â
But here he was at fifteen, barely so from last month, and the last thing he had asked Eleven was what was wrong with her. He hadnât been looking at El â something they both shouldâve been past two years ago in the junkyard.
He set one hand back over the other at the center of her chest and pushed.
Elâs body pushed back into the carpet, and Lucas almost relented, heart pounding as he quickly realized how different human bones were compared to a stupid, rubber dummy in basketball practice. Count. Count, count, count.
âHelp me count,â he announced, muttering one, two, three, four-, underneath his breath. âFive, six-,â
Please, El. Please.
They counted alongside him, but Lucasâ actions were so outside of it that they couldnât know. He was feeling everything. Her chest felt like it was already caving in by the tenth, and his heart was thundering so loud he couldnât hear right. Five feet, seven inches, and he had been trying to bulk up for basketball â all that weight and every muscle screaming that he was trying to send into Elâs heart, to force the will to live back into one single organ that determined whether she would live or die.
2
1
1
u/Remarkable-Can-1571 2h ago edited 2h ago
Trigun fandom. Fanfic: Trigun Genesis. Context: OC has a deep fear of sandstorms after losing her whole caravan to one. Warnings:Violence, abuse, trauma
***
The plinking of the piano was a nice distraction â well, half distraction, considering that the person playing it was at the center of her thoughts. It almost drowned out the raging storm outside.
Until it didnât.
The shutters sheâd fixed slammed against the siding. A few of the imps cried out in shock and confused fear. Wind blasted into the cabin and the few lit candles hissed, plunging the room into darkness.
Her breath shuddered to nearly a halt. Her muscles tightened. Her joints locked up. She could hear the shouts, the screams, the desperate pleading. So many people, calling out for their loved ones. Carts crashing and splintering apart as the wind blew them into large boulders. The sting of sand shearing away the exposed flesh of her face, her arms, her soul.
Something cracked and banged loudly against the side wall of the cabin, scraping along the length of it outside, and it was all Faydra could do not to scream.
â-f you had adequately repaired it!â She heard the shout, though in her panic she couldnât remember who the voice belonged to. Then a hand wrapped around her bicep and roughly yanked her to the side, and that violent voice barked right in her ear. âGet out there and fix it, before the entire house falls apart!â Knives ordered.
But she couldnât move. She couldnât even cry out in pain at the tight squeeze of his grip and the angle at which he held her arm. She couldnât even breathe.
He shook her. She gasped, her chest hollow and heart thumping in her throat. It wasnât until he began dragging her toward the door that she remembered she could move.
She fought, her hand covering his and scratching, slapping, pulling at his fingers to get him to release her. Her wild eyes could barely make out his face, his eyes narrowed in rage and his lips curled in a vicious, toothy snarl.
âNo!â She whimpered. âPlease! Let go!â Knives hissed and his free handclamped hard around her neck.
âYour incompetence will tear my house from the very foundation. You will get out there and fix your mistake right now!â He shook her again, his griparound her neck squeezing tightly. âI canât get my Gate back if Iâm dead because you are worthless, so whatâs the point in letting you live?!â
And then something shot out of the dark, barreling into Knives with a shriek of rage. Sharp little teeth tore into his wrist and Faydra gasped in a painful breath when Knives roared in fury and pain andreleased her throat. Knives flung his hand out, slamming the imp into the wall and Faydra sobbed, diving to catch her defender before it could hit the floor.
âIâll fix it myself!â Knives bellowed, and then the door was slamming open and sand was pouring in, and Knivesâ form vanished into the swirling chaos outside.
âAre you okay?â Faydra rasped to the imp in her arms. It whined, but nodded.
âOo-man hurt. Lord-Knife mean! Nine-life help Oo-man!â It squeaked out, and she hugged it tightly to her.
âThank you.â She sobbed. âI know. Heâs angry. I know. I know. But he shouldnât have gone out there. Heâll get lost. He could die.â She looked toward the door.
She should let him. She should! It would be better for all of them if he just ceased to exist. She should let him!
No. No, she couldnât. She was not him. She wasnât cruel. She wouldnât be the monster that he accused her whole species of being. She wouldnât live in this garden of ash that his death would leave behind.
A whole two minutes, she stared at the door. She didnât even blink. Barely breathed. Only the sound of howling wind and rasping sand filled the space. Three more minutes, and he hadnât come back.
Move. She told herself. Get on your feet, go out there, and help him*.*
Darkness. Silence. Terror. Her future, ripped away from her in the hellish sands of this godforsaken wasteland. Her village. Her friends. The children she taught. The patients she helped.
Nothingness.
Get! Up!
She surged to her feet, stumbling over imps and obstacles, feeling around for the length of rope in the little closet. One end tied around her waist, the other to the doorknob when she reached it.
âIf we donât come back⊠Stay in the house until the storm passes. Then go wait for Zazie.â She told the imps, and even she didnât know how her voice could sound so calm. She didnât wait for an answer.
She stepped through the threshold, into Hell.