Canon Divergent Au - Tumblr Posts

Chapter Eight: To Put a Cat Amongst Pigeons

"So," Harry began, as Ruby inspected the books that the librarian had suggested, "I had a weird dream last night. The one with the screaming, and the green light, and our — our mum. But what's funny is that Quirrell was in it."

"Quirrell?" asked Ruby disbelievingly. "Well, he's a bit of a joke, isn't he? Maybe you had some weird cheese last night."

Pleased with what she found, Ruby hefted the heavy stack of books (all right, perhaps she'd been a bit overzealous) and started off in search of a table. Harry trailed behind her, frowning.

"I think I've got to speak to Quirrell," he said, sitting down opposite her with a serious expression.

Ruby snorted. "Never realized you were superstitious about stuff like dreams."

"I'm not," Harry protested. "It's just, we thought all this time our parents died in a car crash, but now that we know what really happened, I know that dream is really a memory of me seeing Mum — Mum die." His voice shook on the last word. "So, if magic is real, why not dreams? I've just got this feeling, I dunno. I really think I've got to speak to him. I just don't know what I've got to speak to him about, yet."

"If that's what you think," said Ruby, opening the first book from her stack.

"This House thing is stupid," said Harry, lowering his voice to a whisper as the librarian walked past them. "I mean, we can't meet in the library all the time — it closes at eight!"

He seemed disproportionately worried about this, Ruby thought. To her, it was all very, very simple.

"You're my brother," she said, rolling her eyes as she looked up from her book. "We're not going to have some kind of crisis just because Slytherins and Gryffindors don't usually get along."

In summary, Pansy put a rat in someone’s bed, Harry and Draco got in a fight, and Quirrell is acting sus.

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tag yourself, i’m mcgonagall.

"A Forgetfulness Potion — can't be that hard, can it?" asked Eustace Mulciber. It was the last ten minutes of class, and as always, the idiot was far behind everyone else. "I'm always forgetting things in this class."

Thaddeus Nott snorted.

"Can't you be quiet?" asked Minerva irritably. "I'm trying to concentrate."

Though Tom was loath to admit it, he had to agree with her. Mulciber and Nott erupted into a fit of laughter — Tom heard a whispered "What if we put this in?" — and then, the cauldron exploded with a deafening boom, sending sharp bits of pewter flying in every direction. Tom ducked quickly under the table, but Minerva hadn't been so lucky, and one of the shards had hit her cheek.

There was a lot of blood — Tom hated the look of so much blood, it made his head spin — and all of a sudden, Slughorn was rushing over.

"What happened here?" he asked, looking between the four of them.

Minerva began to cry, and Tom winced. Must she be so shrill?

"They were mucking around with the potion, Professor!" Minerva shrieked, cupping her cheek with the handkerchief Slughorn had given her. "You're wicked, Mulciber! You evil, slimy little—"

"We didn't!" said Nott. "Honest, Professor Slughorn!"

How can I possibly benefit from this?

How can I show Slughorn that I'm better than Mulciber and Nott?

"Mulciber and Nott deliberately wrecked their potion, sir," Tom explained, pointing to the pewter shards and black puddles of ruined potion strewn on the floor. "It made the cauldron explode and Minerva got hit with one of the shards."

"I'll take Minerva to the Hospital Wing, sir," he offered gallantly in response to Slughorn's concerned expression. "My potion's finished."

Slughorn seemed pleasantly surprised. "And so it is, m'boy. Good of you to offer — come now, Minerva, Tom will take you to see Madam Gale."

Excerpt from Chapter 9, which will be up on either Saturday or Sunday. Read from the beginning at FFN | AO3!

“no, sir. nothing.”

"Fawkes, like all phoenixes, is immortal," Dumbledore explained. "Every so often, he burns, and is reborn from the ashes."

Immortal? So there really is such a thing?

As if Dumbledore had sensed Tom's curiosity, he held a hand up to dissuade further questions.

"But that is not why I have asked you to come see me, Tom," he said. "You wish, I believe, to know about your father?"

"Yes," breathed Tom, leaning forward excitedly. Has he found something?

"I began teaching at Hogwarts in 1912," said Dumbledore, staring intently at Tom. "I cannot recall ever teaching another Tom Riddle, and I believe I would have had such a thing occurred."

"I take after my father, sir," said Tom, in a desperate attempt to jog his memory. "Mrs. Cole said so."

"Yes, I remember," said Dumbledore seriously. "I say this not to discourage you, Tom. It is quite possible that your father was older when he had you, or that he simply never attended Hogwarts. However, it is also possible that your father was not a wizard at all, and if so, I do not want you to feel disappointed. There is no shame in being Muggle-born — my mother was, in fact."

"I understand, sir," said Tom, though he thought privately that either Dumbledore didn't know what people really said about Muggle-borns, or he didn't care.

“I will ask you this once, Tom. Is there anything transpiring with your housemates that I should know about? Think carefully, before you answer."

Tom shifted under the intensity of Dumbledore's gaze, his hand going instinctively to cover his wrist, lest the scars peeked out from under his sleeve.

"No, nothing, sir," said Tom. The other boys wouldn't appreciate him being a grass, and if Dumbledore cared enough to do anything about it, they'd punish him again — perhaps carve 'Mudblood' on his forehead so that everyone could see.

Besides, he wasn't going to cower for much longer, once he found who they were. He'd push back. Fight.

In his mind's eye, Tom saw Billy's rabbit, dangling from a rope and slowly spinning in the morning light.

Yes, their time would come; slowly, but surely.

"I think it would be best if we continued these conversations, Tom," said Dumbledore. "If that is all, I will let you go now... Unless you have anything to tell me?"

"No, sir," said Tom, getting up from his chair. "Goodnight, Professor Dumbledore."

Why did Dumbledore call Tom into his office? What scars is he so concerned about hiding?

Chapter 9 up on Saturday? Sunday? @  FFN | AO3!

Chapter Nine: Words Shall Never Hurt Me

“They think I’m a Mudblood,” Tom spat, glaring at his shoes as if they had personally offended him. 

“Tom!” Dumbledore exclaimed, looking scandalized. “That word—“

“That’s what they call me, sir.”

“Ah.” Dumbledore pushed his half-moon spectacles further up his nose, his expression pensive. “Hence, the frantic searching for evidence in the library. Have you perhaps thought of spending time with students outside your House? Those that might be more… open-minded?”

Tom searches for his father’s legacy as he attempts to prove himself worthy in Slytherin House. Blood is spilt. Dumbledore is watching him.

Warning: This contains the (I think?) most disturbing scene I’ve posted yet. Like, I know the first two chapters are murder scenes and TMR’s head is generally not a nice place, but prepare thyself, this is (slightly?) more disturbing.

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Chapter Eleven: The Ouroboros

"I do hope you're enjoying yourselves," said Slughorn, smiling evenly. If he noticed their obvious discomfort, he gave no indication. "I see Tom has finally found you. By the way, Tom — excellent work on your essay, I've just graded it — truly impressive, the attention to detail."

"Thank you, Professor Slughorn," said Tom with a small smile.

"Kiss-arse," muttered Minerva.

Tom glared at her. "Know-it-all."

"I haven't gotten to yours, yet," said Slughorn, nodding at Minerva. "But I believe I will also be impressed." He sighed. "Sadly, I cannot say the same for... certain others..."

"Nott and Mulciber?" asked Minerva, without missing a beat. "I'd be surprised if they had the attention span to write three inches' worth of anything."

Tom Riddle turns to revenge (ahem, shameless thrill-seeking) as he searches for the identity of his three attackers. All that he has to go on is a golden unicorn, a birthmark, and a ring in the shape of an ouroboros.

Fortunately for Tom, the Hogwarts library is open... but what else might he discover? With the (unwitting) help of Horace Slughorn, along with some pickpocketing and general scheming, it seems that revenge may be in sight...

Warnings: Without giving too much away, I’m going to borrow the AO3 tag. Tom Riddle is his own warning. Featuring a very pissed-off kid!Riddle at his pettiest and most vindictive. You’ve been warned.

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Chapter Eighteen: A Deal with the Devil

"It was a long time ago." Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Azkaban is a wizard prison. Guarded by Dementors; dark creatures who feed on human souls."

"That sounds horrible." Suddenly, she did not want her tea anymore.

"It is," he agreed. "But Muggles have come up with equally sinister methods of torture."

"Like burning witches alive?"

"No, not quite what I had in mind," said Dumbledore. "There are more disturbing, refined forms of cruelty than physical pain. But that is not what we are here to discuss."

Ruby had noticed that Dumbledore was not one to mince words. So she tried her luck at directness.

"Did he kill them?" she asked, running her finger around the rim of the cup.

Dumbledore and Ruby have another discussion. Gryffindor plays Slytherin. Harry’s Obscurial acts up once more and he nearly falls off his broom — and so, Harry seeks 'expert' help...

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Chapter Nineteen: (Double, Double) Toil and Trouble

Slughorn seemed a little reluctant. He took a sip of whatever was in his glass before he spoke.

"An unsavoury legend surrounding the founder of our House — now, don't mind it, Tom, times were different then. The story goes that Salazar Slytherin, who, as you know, disagreed with the other Founders on a great many things, had secretly built a hidden chamber in the castle not long before he left. Legend has it that he sealed the Chamber of Secrets so that none would be able to open it but one of his descendants."

So... he could open it? This could prove that he was a half-blood all along!

Slughorn must have seen the questioning look on his face but misinterpreted it completely.

"I doubt it will ever be opened, Tom — here's a bit of a quandary with the semantics, but nevertheless — the legend says that his true heir alone would be able to unseal the Chamber of Secrets, unleash the horror within, and use it to purge the school of all who were unworthy to study magic."

Tom Riddle first hears about a strange legend during a Slug Club meeting and begins tutoring Mulciber.

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Chapter Twenty-One: The Winter of Our Discontent

"Ten points from Slytherin," he said. "I thought you would know better, Tom; but it is always the quiet ones, isn't it?"

He nearly died on the spot of mortification.

"Sorry, sir," he said. "It won't happen again."

Dumbledore merely chuckled. "Certainly. I see you have not gotten into the holiday spirit this year."

This year?

He whistled the first few bars of Santa Claus is Coming to Town. Tom was on the verge of a mental breakdown. If Dumbledore ever wanted a career as a Dark Lord, the sheer sadism was not lacking.

During the Christmas holidays, Tom remains at Hogwarts, begins his search for the Chamber of Secrets, and plots against Abraxas. Dumbledore remains unusually distracted. Tom's teenage existential crisis continues.

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Chapter Twenty-Three: Good Chaos, Bad Chaos

"Thank you," he said, embarrassed.

"I don't pity you, if that's what you're worried about. I know you can take care of yourself. You're still in one piece, aren't you?"

"Why, what happened to the last Mudblood in Slytherin House? Did they fall down the stairs?"

"Very funny, Tom," said Minerva. "And don't use that word, it's horrid."

"All right, Prefect McGonagall."

"Don't say that, you'll jinx it!"

"Jinx it? Really, Minerva? Jinx it? What now, are you going to throw salt over your shoulder, too? Make a black cat cross in front of you from left to right?"

"Oh, shove off, Riddle!" said Minerva, flinging the door open and stomping out. He followed. "Like you don't want the same, too!"

He hadn't thought about it, actually. But taking points off Lestrange and that lot? Handing out punishments? Waltzing around Hogwarts wearing a stupid badge?

Yes, Slytherin Prefect Tom Riddle had a really nice ring to it. And Head Boy Tom Riddle even better.

"Actually," he said, "I think I'd like that."

"Good," said Minerva, as they headed up the path towards the castle, "because if I was forced to do rounds with any of those four twats, I'd seriously consider throwing myself off the Astronomy Tower."

Tom ingratiates himself onto the Slytherins in his year during an outing to Hogsmeade, and it turns out that both Tom and Lestrange got much more than what they bargained for. The promise of the Chamber of Secrets and eternal glory grows ever closer. Tom’s head has never been bigger.

Oh, and it's Valentine's Day, but who cares?

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Chapter Twenty-Five: There is Only Power

While the other students went to Hogsmeade on the weekends, he wandered the hallways, looking for false panels and hidden levers, while avoiding Pringle to make sure that he didn't get caned for getting fingerprints on the suits of armour.

One Saturday in the middle of June, he was wandering around the left corridor on the seventh floor, pacing in front of a tapestry of Barnaby the Barmy making a bizarre and idiotic attempt to teach trolls ballet, and thinking that he needed a place to hide and think quietly without being disturbed by first or second years, Dumbledore, or worse yet, Pringle.

All of a sudden, there was a quiet pop, and a door that hadn't been before was... well, there.

Not one to be deterred by strange occurrences, Tom did what any fifteen-year-old bored out of their wits would do: opened the door and went in.

Tom Riddle discovers the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets. Abraxas Malfoy discovers Lord Voldemort.

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Chapter Twenty-Seven: A Rook Parliament

Tom Riddle returns to Hogwarts, and wakes the Serpent of Slytherin for the first time. Additionally, he finds newfound respect in being a Prefect amongst his peers… and access to the Restricted Section. The beginning of the end... begins.

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Except below cut:


But he resisted the instinct to fill his hands with stacks of books, and instead selected a sufficiently Dark looking tome, titled Magick Moste Evile, all the while imagining Dumbledore's face if he caught Tom reading it.

I am a prefect, Professor, he would say. I've earned the trust required and demonstrated that I know the difference between practice and theory.

And he did. But he still fully intended to practise, anyway...

He flipped through the index, noting the most interesting entries to revisit later; mostly any particularly nasty curses in case he ended up in another duel.

But something else caught his eye.

"Of the Horcrux, wickedest of magical inventions, we shall not speak nor give direction —"

Horcrux. Tom knew it must have some great significance. The silvery, sinful word rolled around in his head, making his tongue tingle with its awful power.

But who would he consult? Slughorn?

"Professor, I was wondering — I came across it while reading — could you tell me about…" he whispered to the empty library.

He spoke it to the hallowed halls. The terrible word.

"Horcruxes?"

No. Too bold. Slughorn might get suspicious.

The book let out a ghostly wail when he slammed it shut.

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Adults Are Talking

While night falls on Hogwarts Castle, and dreamers dream, schemers scheme. An evening with Albus Dumbledore reveals the nature of the endgame.

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Why did I not visit earlier? he scolded himself as he stood outside of the Polkisses' house as a large animal rustled between the rosebushes, all pointed nose and yellow eyes, with a dead rabbit between its blood-stained jaws. Why did I wait until it was a matter of life or death?

He hadn't felt so utterly useless since he was ten years old, watching helplessly as Ministry officials took his father away.

"What have you done! What did you do?"

No, Albus was smart enough to know, at least vaguely, what was about to happen. He knew what kind of environment he was leaving the children in; he was disgusted but not surprised. He knew why he had waited until it was a matter of life or death.

And, he found, quite disgusted with himself.

This is necessary, he told himself. It is necessary sometimes to do bad in order to do good.

Is there such a thing as necessary evil? Isn't 'necessary evil' part of Gellert's repertoire?

Am I doing any good?

Maybe that was the trouble. It was decades after their last fateful meeting, and Albus couldn't tell where he ended and Gellert began.

Chapter Thirty: The Pawn's Pawn

By April, the Aurors have been sent away and life has returned to normal. The magic of Walpurgis Night will reveal if Dumbledore's suspicions are right, as he prepares the last protection for Harry before he meets his destiny.

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"No shouting in the corridors, Harry," said Percy. "Professor Dumbledore wants to see you at seven."

He couldn't have possibly found out... Dumbledore was the Headmaster, and so if he had any reason to think Harry might be a danger to the other students, he would take Harry away, just like Quirrell said.

Maybe he could pretend to be sick to avoid the meeting. But Madam Pomfrey might be able to figure out what was wrong with him.

"Did he say what the meeting was for?" he asked Percy.

Percy didn't respond, instead offering a self-important sniff and striding past Harry.

Voldemort's servant disappears in the blink of an eye.

Being well-accustomed to disappointment and deceit, Harry knew he smelled a rat.

Not least because the scar that Voldemort gave him still stung after the mirror incident, though blunted by the interference of the ring's magic.

And that's the problem with magic, he thought. It's not very specific, and only seems to tell you what it wants to.

An Annulment

Instead of feeding abortificants to Chani, Irulan, who's sick of being a third wheel, an unwanted wife and so on, lets her get pregnant and then asks Paul for an annulment, because their marriage was never consummated. How does Paul react, since he knows Chani will die birthing him a child, and where does Irulan think of going, in the known universe? Also, how do the Bene Gesserit, her family, and Paul's council react to this bombshell?

Teddy's Masterlist

House of the Dragon/ASOIAF

Rhaenicent fanfics

A Targaryen Type of Madness (finished series)

Rhaenyra Targaryen always had a hint of madness in her, though it would take many years for its extent to be realized.

The Madness of Dragons (ongoing series)

After six years, the heirs of the Iron Throne have come out of hiding and want to reclaim their birthright. The dragons will dance as war breaks out between Queen and Heirs. Continuation of A Targaryen Type of Madness.

Last Christmas (on hiatus)

Last Christmas Alicent Hightower gave Rhaenyra Targaryen her heart, but the very next day everything fell apart. This year to save herself from tears, Alicent vows to avoid her at their family's Christmas vacation. Will Alicent keep her vow? Or will her heart be broken again?

Underneath the Veil of Hatred (finished series)

Princess Rhaenyra gives birth to a third child, a son with brown hair and dark eyes. The realm believes the child's true father to be the Princess' sworn sword, Harwin Strong. Queen Alicent Hightower orders to the child be brought to her.

Good Luck Egg (ongoing series)

Jace Targaryen was one of the eldest siblings of his two mothers and when he found out they would be having yet another child he was both excited and nervous. His baby brother, Egg, would have to navigate life through their crazy family so as any good brother would do he started creating video diaries to give him advice for the future. Based on Good Luck Charlie.

The Dance of the Dragon and the Tower (finished one shot)

The Queen appears in a shocking green dress and the Princess seems to feel a certain way about it.

We Always Burn (finished one shot)

Rhaenyra Targaryen is sure she knows what she wants until it comes crashing down after an encounter on the beach of Driftmark.

When the World is Ending (finished one shot)

In a post-Zombie Apocalyptic world, Rhaenyra ventures to find a compound and the one within it.

Aegon the 3rd x Jaehaera fanfics

Night Talks (finished one shot)

Jaehaera awakes to find her husband gone from their bed, she finds him and they share a moment where they believe just maybe things will be alright.

Just a Man (finished one shot)

When Aegon falters his queen is always there by his side.

A Small Piece (finished one shot)

Jaehaera wonders if her husband loves her, and his response surprises her.

A Question (finished one shot)

Jaehaera asks her husband a question that brings up old feelings.

Non-Pairing fics

The Bastard Boy of Dragonstone (ongoing series)

A boy from Dragonstone claims a dragon and to keep things hidden Viserys legitimatizes him as a Targaryen. However, no one knows who this boy is or what his intentions are.

A Welcome to Dorne (finished one shot)

Meria Martell greets Rhaenys Targaryen when she lands in Dorne.

Long Live the King (finished one shot)

King Viserys the 1st was found murdered in chambers, while there were many theories no one truly knows what occurred that dark night. Inspired by Murder on the Orient Express.

Mercy (finished one shot)

Daeron Targaryen receives news about his nephew Maelor from Bitterbridge.

Credit to @moonshine999 for the mood boards/dividers. Also, check out my AO3 :)

Please check my fic! https://archiveofourown.org/chapters/122154550?show_comments=true&view_full_work=false#comment_668443267

Title: Of Witches & Wolves

Fandom: Teen Wolf

Pairing(s): Peter Hale/Stiles Stilinski.

Rating: Mature.

Warning: Contains domestic violence in chapter 2.

Chapter: 3/?

Summary: Adjusting to life after the deaths of the crazed Alpha and Kate Argent, Scott and Stiles have barely gotten back to having normal lives when the monsters start to come out again, and not all of them are supernatural this time. Stiles learns a shocking secret about his mother and her side of the family.

Merry Christmas @geekmom13 from your Steter secret Santa for the @stetersecretsanta2023 challenge, I hope you enjoy the story and have a holiday.

Title: Jingle My Bells.

Fandom: Teen Wolf.

Trigger(s): Explicit sex.

Pairing(s): Peter Hale/Stiles Stilinski/Chris Argent

Rating: Explicit.

Chapter: 1/1.

Summary: It's that magical time of year, joy and merriment are in the air, and for Stiles Stilinski-Hale he's going to find out what happens to good little twinks on Santa's nice list

Omega in my Star Wars AU

So basically, this is an AU where a couple clones found Omega after the. Battle of Kamino and smuggled her off the planet. She got passed between ships until she ended up with the 212th. She’s also force sensitive in this AU. So Obi-Wan finds out about Omega and ends up taking her on as a padawan.  Here are some Dollifys I made yesterday for this AU. (Just a note the blonde hair color with this skin tone on dollify makes it look lighter than a dark hair color)

Omega age 10 (left) & 11 (right) (seasons 3-6) designs

Omega age 12 (left) & 13 (right) (season 7 of Clone Wars and Post Order 66)  her post Order 66 outfit is inspired by her Bad Batch s2 outfit

And finally we have Omega age 26 (left) and ~40 (right) for the Rebellion and New Republic Eras

An Unnecessary Evil

Why are girls allowed to say girlfriend to refer to a platonic friend but boys can't say "this is my boytoy Twink male wife Jason?

another part of the Au “where everything is exactly the same but Lady Bone Demon destroys everyone with facts and logic”

“You’ve been busy.”

Appearing strong when weak was, what Macaque considered a key component when in a bad spot. His “brothers” always considered him the most cowardly among them. Usually, he would roll his eyes and snark that he was rather the most intelligent- able to keep a cool head. He’d need it.

“Tell me,” The Lady’s voice was boundlessly more undone- calm, yet accompanied by a second presence that echoed her words aloud. “What madness overcame you that you would forsake your oath?” She asked, the pitch of her tone dropped.

“When did you decide to betray me?”

The answer to that question was certainly nothing that the bone witch wanted to hear- that he had not a moment of hesitation in tossing her key to the side, not ever any intention of freeing her in the first place. What was he supposed to say? That it didn’t count because he crossed his fingers?

“Listen, Lady Bone Demo-” He started, with a casual tone and a smile laced with nonexistent nonchalance, but The Lady was in no mood to hear whatever seat-of-his-pants lie he was planning to give her.

Sharply, her eyes flickered open, a blue gleam enforcing her stony glare as the winds pushed him back. He had to cover his face, anchoring his foot down to the ground so that he wouldn’t be pushed back by the sheer force.

“Have you forgotten who I am?” Her voice was louder now, and clearer, no longer accompanied by the eerie whispering. “What I am?”

He clenched his teeth at the sound of her voice splitting into many at the last sentence, each one ringing in his six ears.

“Were my instructions, perhaps, unclear to you, Liu’er?” At the mention of his traditional name, he felt similar to a child who’s parent who just called them downstairs with their full name. A fight-or-flight instinct within him begged him to inch away into the shadows, but he knew all too well how that would end.

“Did I cause you pain during your resurrection? Or perhaps, you felt yourself above a task so unbelievably simple as freeing me from my prison tomb,” She said, staring down at him, before vanishing in a blur of blue, before reappearing in front of him, mere inches away from his face just as quickly. “In exchange for something so unbelievably meager as your soul!?”

Again, her voice seemed to contort, and this time, he really did step back, trying to get as far away from her as he could. He stumbled backwards, bumping into the chest of the lady’s puppet, who sent him a wide, unnerving smile that reminded Macaque of a young child amused at a sibling or classmate getting in trouble.

He placed his hand on Macaque’s back, shoving him forward with surprising strength. The wind was knocked out of him for a moment, but he mustered a confident smirk, looking up at the bone demon, who stood before him, arms folded behind her back.

“So…” He said, a conscious effort going into keeping his voice steady, “You want something.”

“From you? No.” The lady said tersely, eyes cooling back into her host’s deep brown ones as she turned away. “There is nothing I have to gain from the presence of someone who is unable to insert a key into a keyhole.”

With her back turned, a white circle opened up beneath Macaque, chains in her signature blue color shooting out of it to entangle his limbs, dragging him inside. “Wait!” He huffed, yanking on the bindings, trying to stay afloat. “So you’re just going to kill me because I didn’t open your stupid cage!? You dragged me all the way out here so that you could get even!?”

The puppet lunged forward, grabbing Macaque by the hair and holding him down, smile wide with giddy anticipation of Macaque’s imposing death (the strange fellow didn’t seem to like him very much). The Lady turned her head, eyes narrow.

“Even?” She echoed, before her lips quirked upwards into a smile, and her brows creased before she let out a shrill laugh.

“If I wanted vengeance, my champion, then I wouldn’t grant you a painless death such as this.” She flickered out of view again, appearing in front of him as she crouched down to meet his eyes, a cold smile decorating the soft features of the child she was possessing- an eerie contrast.

“I would shrink you,” She said, holding her fingers close together to intimate being tiny.

“And find a nice jar to leave you trapped in for a few centuries. I’ll even find a nice blanket in the color of your choice to make sure you never get to look at the face of another sentient being. With that being the alternative, ask yourself,” She leaned down. “Wouldn’t you rather die?”

His lips parted in mild horror- but only for a moment as she leaned away from him. He struggled against the puppet, thrashing about, as if that would save him. “Wait, what do you want!?” He yelled. “I can find Wukong, and his brat too!”

She stood, turning away. “Goodbye, Six-Eared Macaque.” She said coolly. “Your magic will be going towards an excellent cause. You will be much happier in your next life.”

Macaque released a grunt of distress at her retreating form. Was that supposed to reassure him or something?

“Wait!” He yelled, disliking the frantic tone. Was he really about to die? “Damn it, Baigujing, listen for once!” After that, it was silent for a moment. The pull of the chains seemed to ease on his limbs, and the thrall was no longer shoving his head into the pit of doom.

“…You may speak.” She said tiredly, probably of him and his refusal to die with dignity, and baffled with the audacity he had to use her traditional name like they were old chums. “Do be quick about it. I do not have all day to listen to your pointless excuses.”

“Why do you think I didn’t free you? Probably because you never make room for reason in all your crazy ramblings about destiny,” He sneered.

Maybe insults weren’t his best option, but in Lady Bone Demon’s actions, there was always method to her madness. Maybe he could find some way to compromise if he could just get through to her, he could at least get out of this Scott-free.

“Is that so?” She hummed, turning her head to look away. “I suppose you would feel that way. I understand why many try and fight destiny- it is oftentimes cruel. What I do not understand why they fight the only solution to that problem.”

“The only solution is destroying the world?” He snapped. His voice came out a lot less “understanding” than he intended. We’re his acting skills slipping? She chuckled.

“And I suppose you’d prefer I leave it to it’s devices?” She mused. “That I allow war, famine, and crime to endlessly continue when I have the power to stop it all?”

“So you’re a Good Samaritan now? Let me guess, taking over this city was a necessary evil?” He mocked her aristocratic manner of speaking, able to rise to his feet again, as the chains had gone limp.

“Quite correct,” The Lady said, a hint of amusement in her tone. “And you, Six-Eared Macaque? Was destroying this city to get to Sun Wukong a necessary evil?”

He stopped, eyes knitting together at the question. “How do you…”

“My servant made it a point to update me on current events worldwide upon being freed from my tomb.” She answered quickly. He couldn’t see her, but he knew she was smiling.

“Don’t tell me the cat has your tongue now, Liu’er. What happened to all your newfound self-righteousness from before?”

He grit his teeth. “So, I’m not the crème de la crème of purity and goodness.” He said, fists clenched tight enough to draw blood. “You certainly aren’t any better than me. You’re the one who brought me back to life.”

She lightly laughed, and Macaque grew angrier by the second. She was still going to kill him after this, wasn’t she? He needed to get the upper hand, but…

“You’re quite quick to blame others, I notice. I presume that is also my fault that my little host was orphaned in that attack of yours?”

Macaque’s eyes widened. What? “What…?” He repeated his thoughts aloud, no louder than a whisper, but it didn’t go unheard by The Lady.

“I wasn’t trying to…” He trailed off. “But you did.” The Lady finished for him, titling her head upwards as she sighed. “I’ve seen selfishness and hatred far more intense than yours, Six-Eared Macaque.” The wicked amusement she had garnered earlier had faded. She turned to look at him, finally.

Her eyes seemed far too tired, and filled with far too much anger to be on the face of a little girl.

Her tone was cool as she looked above him, at the night sky. “But it will all be over soon.”

For a moment, all was quiet.

“Why’d you pick me?” He asked, after a moment. The Lady, seemingly brought back down to earth, hummed in question. “Anyone could have opened your tomb. But you went out of her way to pluck my soul out of the Diyu, specifically. Why?”

The Lady’s expression morphed into one of annoyance. “You’re only wondering this now?” She asked crossly. His expression didn’t change.

“I had decided not to tell you what I had planned to happen to you in your next life, but I suppose, if it will give you closure,” She hummed. “I can answer your last question.”

She’s really set on killing me… He thought wearily.

“There is one person who exists in this world who, with certainty, will not exist in the new one. Do you know to whom I am referring?”

“Wukong. Right,” Macaque answered. “Yes,” The Bone Lady sighed, closing her eyes. “But in the absence of the Great Sage, there will be a void that will need to be filled.” She spat the words “Great Sage” out as if a worm she’d found in an apple. (He understood finding the title obnoxious. Great Sage, Equal to Heaven? Give me a break.)

A void? Macaque thought for a moment. As in, an empty space that would need to be filled- someone to replace Wukong as the monkey king. MK? But…

Macaque’s head shot up. “You mean-!?” The Lady cut him off with a smile. “Interested now, are we?”

The next thing he knew, the chains were gone.