Ava Everstone

Writer, Writblr, Rebloger, INFP-T personality .

[avaeverstone]

Hey all! I am alive just been lurking. With the new year approaching I thought I'd give a little update. I finished editing Heroic, got a beta reader and queried 12 agents. I got no bites but I'm not giving up. Thinking of starting to write book two and I've started to write a seperate sci-fi story. In the new year I hope to maybe self publish Heroic and hopefully keep writing. In anticipation of that I did some drawing and it was so good I thought I would share.

Close ups under cut

[oh-munda-kukkad-kamaal-da]

Reblog if its ok to spam you with boops

[avaeverstone]

[avaeverstone]

[avaeverstone]

[avaeverstone]

Happy May the Fourth everybody!

I've been working on this comic for awhile but today seemed the perfect date to post the first panels. I'll post a couple panels every week (hopefully). I hope you enjoy.

[chickadee-djarin]

Breathe

Fandom: The Mandalorian (Star Wars) Pairing: Din Djarin x wife!reader

Summary: Months after their escape from Nevarro, Din and the child finally return in the hopes of settling things with the Guild - and finding you.

[takes place within S1E8: Redemption]

Word count: 2.2k Warnings: mention of injury and implied canon typical violence

masterlist

Din’s ears are ringing, each step a loud drum beating in his head as they make their way through the tunnels. Most of his weight is carried by Cara, but his feet continue to falter and his thoughts are on distant memories and Karga has to grip the arm not thrown around the shocktrooper’s shoulders to keep him upright. Din tries to lead them, direct them through the tunnels but they’re as much a maze to him as they ever were – he’d always entered through the bazaar, and he never bothered to learn an alternate route. You had always teased him for that-

‘Best in the parsec, huh?’ Din could see your smile but it was blurred, the searing pain in his head only just beginning to numb. He tried to focus on you - on the memory of you - as his feet continued to drag; but his mind was betraying him. He knew you’d teased him further, scolded him for not knowing his way around the covert in case of emergency. But the memory faded as quickly as it came, your laugh barely an echo in the empty tunnels.

They took another turn and still, no Mandalorians. Still, no trace of you.

Since taking the child, every quiet moment was spent thinking of you – wondering if you’d made it off Navarro alive. Hoping. He had last seen you with the armorer; you’d stood by his side as she crafted him new armor. You’d helped him put it on, piece by piece, unaware that as you worked the armorer was crafting something for you as well. He’d set two beskar ingots aside, his request of vambraces having been made prior to your arrival at the forge. Din thought you would object – you were a healer, not a warrior – and you were not a Mandalorian by Creed. But when you’d finished setting the final piece of his armor in place and the armorer had stepped out, Din had presented you with the unpainted vambraces and you’d silently accepted them. He hadn’t told you of the job that resulted in such a pay, but he didn’t need to. High reward meant high risk, and if wearing the armor meant easing his conscious regarding your safety then you’d hold your tongue.

But he hadn’t seen you since then. He’d meant to take another job, return to the covert with more credits and supplies before finally finding rest in your shared bed. He hadn’t anticipated the gnawing guilt, the little silver ball sitting atop a simple lever to send his world upside down. And he certainly hadn’t anticipated the covert revealing themselves, forcing them to relocate after he made his escape with the child - without you.

Paz Vizsla had assured him you would be safe, though. The tribe would protect you, as they had throughout the five years since you’d been brought before them. You were their healer, the former outsider that tended to their wounded and their foundlings. You’d readily sacrificed your freedom to live among Navarro’s shadows, only leaving the safe confines of the tunnel system to gather supplies when Din was off world. And although not sworn to the Creed, you were sworn to him – you were a part of the tribe by marriage, and they would treat you as one of their own. This was the Way.

“Stop,” Din reached for the light on the side of his helmet. They’d finally reached a juncture he recognized – the memory of you standing there with a foundling on your hip crashing into him as they’d rounded the corner – and he pulled his other arm from Cara’s shoulders. “I can stand. I’ll try to find tracks.”

Again, he fiddled with the settings on his helmet. But as his visor began scanning, it returned only faint traces. Boot prints of various sizes, adult and child alike, appeared to have rushed down one of the corridors weeks ago. Din knew it was futile, but he couldn’t help wondering which set was yours.

He led them through the tunnels now, the possibility of finding you safely hidden away with the covert propelling him forward. A few more turns, another dozen sets of prints lighting Din’s visor-

And Mandalorian armor, cracked and chipped and dented, in a pile on the floor.

There little quintet stopped short in the tunnel. For a moment, they forgot about the Imperials above ground. For a moment, all eyes followed Din as he stepped forward and fell to his knees. He picked up the nearest helmet, it’s dark and empty visor offering no comfort: he recognized it, the shades of blue and gold owning to only one among the covert.

As he turned it over in his hands, Cara moved gingerly to his side. He heard her say- “We should go.”

But Din still held the helmet in his hands. He wondered if he dug, would he find your vambraces amid the pile? Or the carefully crafted diadem – the beskar braided to rest just above your brow – that he’d given you upon exchanging vows? It’d been forged from a piece of his own armor, the only thing he could gift you in place of a signet he did not yet possess.

“You go.” His voice came from a distance. “Take the ship. I can’t leave it this way.”

‘I can’t leave not knowing if she’s still alive.’

Cara made to protest, to remind him of the Imperials that would surely be closing and the little green child that needed him – but before she could speak, Din had stood and turned on Karga. The guilt he had carried since leaving Navarro; the fear of losing you that he’d carefully hidden away; it all morphed into an ugly rage and he could no longer contain the storm that was whirling within him. His hand fell to the blaster at his hip when a voice cut through the tunnels-

It was the armorer, her helmet glinting in the tunnels low lighting. She was picking pieces of armor from the floor, salvaging what she could as she spoke. Din had been a member of her covert long before she rose to lead them, and she reassured him that he was not to blame for their fate. “We knew what could happen if we left the covert.”

And she retailed exactly what had happened: the immediate arrival of Imperials, the possibility that some escaped. But she did not mention your fate and Din found he could not speak the question. Instead, they merely followed as she returned to her forge.

Karga watched with great interest as the armorer began melting down what remained of a breast plate. Neither he nor Cara, who began to move about inspecting the room, interjected as the armorer asked of the child. They heard the truth of how it came to be in Din’s care, of what it was. Still sitting in the nurse droid’s arms, the child’s ears drooped as the armorer spoke of ancient tales and Mandalore The Great and battles fought eons past. It’s big eyes followed her as she scooped the now liquid beskar from the forge, only breaking from her as she reminded Din of their creed.

Din met the child’s gaze. The armorer, with her back to them, picked up a hammer and began to craft. And with every impact she made, Din could only flinch under his helmet. He needed to find you. He needed to know whether you were safe, to return you to his side not search the galaxy for this creatures home-

‘This is the Way.’

The armorer’s words echoed in his mind, and he found himself- for the first time- at odds with them.

So distracted by his thoughts of you and of the child, he did not hear as Cara reminded them of the Imperials searching for them or as the armorer detailed an exit route. Nor did he hear as footsteps began approaching, echoing off the walls of the tunnels at a sprint.

Karga and Cara immediately moved to either side of the entryway, their blasters in hand and Din, finally, registered what was happening. He still stood behind the droid, which had turned to shield the child from view – but the armorer continued her work, barely pausing to say, “Lower your blasters.”

Cara shot a questioning look at her, but her back was still to them.

The footsteps grew louder; Cara and Karga kept their blasters raised; Din’s hand hovered over his own-

And you came rushing into the room, your breath ragged and your hair disheveled. “They’re coming, Alor, from the south entrance-”

The sight of the man in beskar – the unpainted steel covered in blaster residue and scorch marks – stole whatever remaining breath you had and you immediately moved towards him, a choked ‘ner ka’rta’ on your lips. He heard you, gripped you as you clung to him.

At the sight before her, Cara finally lowered her blaster. She motioned for Karga to do the same, recognizing now who you were – you were the Mandalorian’s wife, the one he had mentioned on Sorgan. When they had driven out the village raiders and found rest and spoken of the future, Cara had inquired of the rules surrounding his helmet. She had asked why he wouldn’t remove it, why he wouldn’t settle down on the swampy planet with the widow and her daughter.

‘I’m married,’ he had said.

Cara had asked- ‘Where is she?’

And after a beat, ‘I don’t know.’

Cara had heard the pain in his voice, read the defensiveness in his body language. She hadn’t pushed the topic further.

Now she watched as you pressed your forehead to his, heard as you spoke quietly in a language she didn’t know. But time was against you, and the armorer had nearly finished her work.

“You must go,” she said. “A foundling is in your care.”

In your relief at seeing your husband alive, you hadn’t noticed the others. Now, as Din took in your own appearance – the beskar diadem still upon your forehead, your clothes and cloak dirtied and your medical bag slung over your shoulder – you saw the others. The man you recognized immediately – you’d seen him around the cantina, seen him as he spoke with Din. He was Guild, and the grip you had on Din’s arms tightened. The other was a woman, one whose eyes met yours with an expression you couldn’t read. But the armorer’s words quickly drew your gaze away, to the droid and the small green creature in its arms.

“By Creed, until it is of age or reunited with its own kind, you are as its father,” she continued. “And its mother. This is the Way.”

Your gaze again found Din’s: you had so many questions, so many concerns. Months had passed since you last saw him and so much had happened- so many lives had been lost. But you knew, among these people, now was not the time. Not when you had only spotted the approaching Imperials minutes ago. And Din’s gaze had never left you, one arm still holding you tightly to him.

Her work now complete, the armorer turned to fully face you and Din. “You have earned your Signet,” she said to him.

As she approached, Din’s grip on you finally loosened and you stepped away. But you didn’t go far, standing before him and watching with a mixture of confusion and pride as the armorer welded a figure onto his right pauldron. When she finished, she pressed something into his hands and said- “You are a clan of three.”

This should have been a momentous occasion, one marked by celebration as was typical of a Mandalorian earning their Signet. You should have been proud of your husband – and you were – but an explosion was heard and the unmistakable sound of boots followed and there was no time for traditions.

“It’s a scouting party,” you said, finding your voice again. “They found the south entrance, they come from the bazaar.”

The armorer turned to the droid and it immediately passed the foundling off to the nearest person – the woman- before making its way down the hall. She seemed to struggle for a moment, but the armorer had continued talking to Din and the Guild man guarded the door and no one seemed to know what to do with the foundling. So you stepped forward, your focus shifting entirely to the small creature as you lifted him from her arms and held him to your chest. The movement caused the light from the forge to bounce off your vambraces, and you missed how the woman seemed to assess you.

And as you quietly cooed at the foundling, his large eyes fixed on you and his little green claws reaching for your face, you missed the way your husband watched you. How his hands tightened around the set of pauldrons the armorer had given him, unpainted and bearing a matching mudhorn. How, after months of torment, he could finally breath again.

**

A/N: Hello 👋🏻 I’m gonna preface this by saying: this is not a guaranteed return. Life got a little crazy and busy and next thing I knew two whole years had passed since I’d been active on here and writing. And work took a turn recently and I found myself restarting The Mandalorian, turning to my old comfort show while the boyfriend was at work. Maybe it was rewatching the show; maybe it’s me craving an escape from work. But I remembered this sitting somewhere among my drafts and thought ‘what the hell?’ Hope y’all enjoyed it. We’ll see if this gets me back into writing. Be pretty cool if it did, I’ve missed it. And I’ve missed y’all<3

Taglist: It’s been so long, I don’t yet know who all is still active on here - so no tags today. But as always, comments, inbox, and messages are open should you like to be added!

[linkeduniverse]

Dawn pt. 3

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[linkeduniverse]

Dawn pt. 2

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[talesfromaurea]

9 people you want to know better tag

Thank you @oh-no-another-idea for the tag!

Three Ships: Oh man I’m not really into fandom and ships and stuff like that anymore but three ships that were historically Very Important to me were Kurogane/Fai (TRC), Gon/Killua (HxH), and Madoka/Homura (Madoka Magica) there’s a theme here and it’s “I would do literally anything to save the one I love”

First Ever Ship: I want to say Sakura/Syaoran from CCS but Ash/Misty from Pokemon was right around the same time too

Last Song I Listened To: Nobody Like U (from…..)

Last Movie I Watched: Turning Red

Currently Reading: Just finished The Radium Girls last night (amazing btw) and about to begin The Monster’s Bones. On a non-fiction kick atm

Currently Watching: Succession

Currently Consuming: Nothing yet but gonna make myself a blueberry bagel with cream cheese for breakfast

Currently Craving: Coffee (it’s morning here…)

No pressure tags for @drippingmoon, @avaeverstone, @afoolandathief, @winterandwords, @splashinkling, and anyone else! I’d love to know any of my followers/mutuals better

[avaeverstone]

Thanks for the tag @talesfromaurea .

Three Ships: Kai and Skylor (Ninjago), Link and Malon (Legend of Zelda Oot) and I can't think of another.

First Ship Ever: I can't remember.

Last Song I Listened To: Fire (by The Score)

Last Movie I Watched: Spider-Man: No Way Home

Currently Reading: Well I haven't read fanfic or textbooks in a long time. I'm trying to get back into to reading but I'm not sure where to start.

Currently Watching: Babylon 5 (This my second time seeing it and it's just as good as I remember. It even made me think about my space epic I want to write.)

Currently Consuming: Water

Currently Craving: Hot chocolate

I haven't been on Tumblr for awhile so I'm not sure who to tag. So if you want to do this feel free.

[tamhonksss]

Female Character: *Everybody is immediately drawn to her for no discernible reason*

Female Character: *Extremely powerful compared to all of the other characters within the story; there’s no reason as to how she became so powerful*

Female Character: *For some reason is able to quickly pick up new skills in a period of time comparable to a genius; no explanation for this too.*

Female Character:  *has virtually no weaknesses except she’s clumsy teehee :)*

Person: Isn’t this kind of a mary-sue?

Tumblr: why do misogynists like to invalidate strong female characters???????????

[edgemarquess]

If we’re going to be fair here, the reason so many people get upset when a female character is called a Mary Sue is because that label is thrown around so haphazardly and so very often handed to characters who really don’t deserve to be labeled as such. The controversy of the term comes from its overuse and misuse.

The term can be used correctly, but it is too often misused by people who see a capable strong female character and have a gut instinct to burn the witch and return to their male hero power fantasy.

[cameoamalthea]

To quote @ladyloveandjustice

“So, there’s this girl. She’s tragically orphaned and richer than anyone on the planet. Every guy she meets falls in love with her, but in between torrid romances she rejects them all because she dedicated to what is Pure and Good. She has genius level intellect, Olympic-athelete level athletic ability and incredible good looks. She is consumed by terrible angst, but this only makes guys want her more. She has no superhuman abilities, yet she is more competent than her superhuman friends and defeats superhumans with ease. She has unshakably loyal friends and allies, despite the fact she treats them pretty badly. They fear and respect her, and defer to her orders. Everyone is obsessed with her, even her enemies are attracted to her. She can plan ahead for anything and she’s generally right with any conclusion she makes. People who defy her are inevitably wrong.

God, what a Mary Sue.

I just described Batman.”

(Source: http://ladyloveandjustice.tumblr.com/post/13913540194/mary-sue-what-are-you-or-why-the-concept-of-sue/amp)

The problem isn’t that characters are unrealistic. Heroes often are unrealistic and it’s ok to criticize media.

However, female characters are criticized where male characters aren’t.

Everything in OP’s post could apply to Luke Skywalker (and definitely applies to Anakin) but those characters won’t be criticized the way Rey has been (even though everything Rey does in The Force Awakens is believable). We are more willingly to believe in a male chosen one who can just do amazing things because he’s the hero.

Boys can have wishfulment stories but girls can only have realistic stories.

[stillthewordgirl]

^^^^

[feynites]

So, there’s this interesting thing where a certain degree of saturation in stories will train the audience to just accept stuff that’d normally strike them as bizarre or unrealistic, and move on without questioning it. It’s sort of like ‘willing suspension of disbelief’, except that phrasing doesn’t really encapsulate it precisely. It’s more like… commonality breeds acceptance.

For example, a humble young boy who rises to prominence and becomes a hero is such a standard piece of storytelling, that virtually no one ever sits down to watch a movie and actually goes ‘well, but, this is just a young farm lad - surely he can’t do a single thing to help stop the Forces of Evil!’ People in the movie might do that. But unless the audience is very, very young, or has somehow managed to avoid most books, movies, songs, comics, television shows, and oral traditions for the whole of their life, they’re going to sit down and think ‘ah yes, here’s our guy’.

Even though, in real life, it actually IS still pretty far-fetched for Ye Humble Village Lad to turn out to be the only thing standing between mankind and destruction.

The interesting thing, though, is that if you change enough elements of what is so common as to be thoughtlessly accepted, the image you present will no longer resemble the familiar narrative. Even if, below the surface, the other components are exactly the same.

This, along with the above-mentioned misogyny, is another contributing factor to the Mary Sue thing.

Because there are fewer female heroes who are just unabashed power fantasies, embodying unlikely rises to success or mastery of untold skills, if you take a very typical story that stars a dude and swap him out for a lady, the elements once rendered invisible by familiarity, are now noticeable again. The audience is jolted out of complacency, and begins to think more critically about what they’re being asked to believe. (You can accomplish the same thing with other demographics, too, i.e. putting characters of colour in roles typically given to white actors, or having LGBT+ characters with the same abundance as straight ones, and so on and so forth.)

So even people who like to think of themselves as totally fair and unprejudiced can end up enforcing double-standards in entertainment. Because if you don’t catch yourself, you will not even realize that you managed to sit through three Iron Man movies without ever questioning the premise of Tony Stark’s genius, but somehow Shuri in Black Panther just struck you as ‘unrealistic’. 

[avaeverstone]

I think that what people don't get about Mary Sues is that it's not the how unrealistic their powers or intelligence is, it's that they have no flaws and no training. Rey never made a mistake, never had a moment where her motives made her make bad decisions and waved a lightsaber at a rock to become a Jedi Master. Luke was naive, he went after R2D2 and almost died to a Tusken Raider. Luke fought Vader with no training and lost his hand. Then he trained with Yoda on Dagobah. Anakin too made mistakes. Just in Attack if the Clones, Anakin gets distracted by Padme, gets captured, thinks he can defeat Count Dooku and loses a hand because of it. Plus Anikan had years of training at the Jedi Temple.

Simple explanations of power can really make the story seem more realistic. But more importantly your character needs flaws. Rey wanted to find her parents but it never effected how she acted. It just felt so unrealistic.

Batman is seen as okay because his loner behavior and inability to show emotions gets him in trouble. Plus Batman makes mistakes. In The Batman, Batman doesn't realize Riddler is going to blow up the city until it is too late. In Dark Knight Rises, Batman doesn't realize Talia is tricking him. In The Dark Knight, Batman gets manipulated by the Joker into doing exactly what he wanted. I can go on but you get the point. Batman isn't perfect. Neither is Iron Man. Despite his intelligence he makes dumb, immature, and emotional decisions that lead to problems. Captain America: Civil War is literally about Iron Man letting his emotions cloud his judgment. Iron Man, the first movie, is literally about how Iron Man was tricked by his business partner for years and then his business partner tried to kill him. Iron Man is flawed.

As a writer once I learned about character flaws I saw how much more realistic they seemed. The problem isn't they're lady heroes. The problem is that they're flawless which makes their character feel unrealistic.

One more thing I want to point out is that there is such a thing as a Gary Sue which is essentially the male counterpart of Mary Sues. One character that I have seen to be considered a Gary Sue is Wesley Crusher from Star Trek: The Next Generation. His character gives me the same feeling as Rey. He just seems too perfect. So while I'm sure a lot of people like to over label female heroes as Mary Sues there are still characters that fit this description. As a female myself, I would rather see a female hero with flaws than one that can do no wrong. We're all flawed and teach females that they can do no wrong doesn't help them. In fact it hurts them because either they won't know what to do when consequences of their actions happen or they will feel inferior because they are flawed.

Mary Sues aren't being called that because of sexism. There being called that because of bad writing. That's it.

[annarts05]

Character Moodboard Tag Game

Rules: Pick 6-9 photos to create a moodboard for an oc of your choice <3 If you need help, go on pinterest and search “*character name* core aesthetic” or “*a character trait* core aesthetic” for some ideas <3

Character: Thomas Atticus Lamb <3 My poor boy q.q

I hope y’all can read the writing but oops if not :D

TaGgiNg *DEEP BREATH*: @chaotic-bumblebee-agenda @helpwherearethedirections @bleepbloorpfork @renklix @faithfire @youre-drinking-embalming-fluid @teardropsandtherain @notpresidentsuzuki @ashleyysays @kaylinalexanderbooks @field-mouse-queen @toomanywips @approximately20blorbos @friendlyneighborhood-writer @cyparissos @thethistlegirlwrites @fearofahumanplanet @hey-its-quill @ryan-shepard-writes @splashinkling @ilickedanenvelopeandilikedit @lyralit @avaeverstone @whogavemeapen @chauceryfairytales @jessica-writes22 @and-learn-to-let-go​ and anyone else who wants to join in <3 Love you all ahhh <333

[avaeverstone]

Thanks for the tag @annarts05 .

This is for the character Stalick. He's an alien Fleet Commander from my space epic that I've been working on since high school.

I've been away for awhile so I'm not sure who to tag so whoever wants to feel free.

[elizaellwrites]

I'm unreasonably sad that I can't sketch my characters like I see others doing. Like... I want to draw my characters together and doing various things, but I can't :(.

[elizaellwrites]

I've decided I'm going to try improving my drawing ability again to relieve my sadness.

Now, the only thing that stands between me and my goal is my perfectionism.

[avaeverstone]

I get this feeling. My brother had a natural talent for art and so I always compared myself to him. But despite the imposter syndrome and the perfectionist attitude, I never gave up. So I want to remind you that every artist starts somewhere and not to give up just because it isn't as good as you hoped.

Here are a few examples of my art over the years and how it improved.

This is where I began with copying pictures from books. As you can see I'm not very good.

Next I tried some of my own art. Note how every character has the same face and arms stuck at a weird bend.

Then I tried different poses as well as a little bit of exploration into faces.

From there I worked on improving my hands and legs. Note how much more fluid she looks compared to the others.

From there I started drawing characters and explored making the face more unique.

And finally this is an artwork I did a few days ago. Note how much better it looks than my original drawings. Is it perfect? No. Is it as good as some of the artists on here? Absolutely not. Am I super proud of it? Yes I am.

So remember to never give up no matter how bad your art is. Practice really does make it perfect. But also know that you won't improve overnight. This is about 10+ years of drawing practice (it wasn't continuous art practice). Still it is possible to become a good artist with practice. Natural talent or not, you can learn how if you're willing to put in the effort.

[linkeduniverse]

Sunset pt.13

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[linkeduniverse]

Sunset pt.12

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This one ended up with a high page count so it had to be broken up as pt12 &13. Next one (pt13) will be up in a few days

[bodoramzap]

SIB-P Hero Complex

Under the guise of a “Monster Hunter” you’ve been helping innocent vampires, spirits and other oddities find safer homes instead of killing them. When someone happens upon you escorting one to safety the townsfolk turn on you. Prompt by @writing-prompt-s I have never been much of a fighter, myself. Many may look and observe the numerous scars, the withdrawn looks. The fact that I do not speak until spoken too. They may see all of this and presume I am some fearsome foe. I know they see me as intimidating in every town I’ve been in. The adults, at least. I have a weakness for the downtrodden, those that are seen as lesser. Animals, insects, monsters, children. I can’t help myself from stepping in and helping when I come across any injustice to them. I can’t help myself from giving a private smile when I pass one in the streets. This is usually my downfall.

See, I have a respectable and necessary job. Monster Hunter. Those of us that use this title tend to be nomadic and respected. We stay in a town to rid them of the monsters, the town pays back in luxuries during our stay. Then we move on. This is a job passed on from parent to child, on and on in the genetic line. My mother was a particularly well known one. Our name gives me an extra level of luxury, for they know my line is particularly efficient. I have been steadily tearing down our legacy throughout the years. Banned from town to town. I consider myself lucky to not have been captured yet. I did not approve of the job, but my complex kept me from just leaving it. I had to help and I could only help if I kept the mantle. I saved my monster prey and escorted them to the forest to rejoin their kind. I’ve gained a reputation amongst them and in my travels between towns I’ve noticed my supplies have never run empty. Monsters do not trust easily but they understand how to show cautious appreciation. The past year I’ve been going long distances between towns and staying only in small remote towns. Those are the safest for me, the ones that don’t have much contact with others. The ones that cocky Monster Hunters won’t bother with due to the lower amounts of luxury and higher amounts of work to be done. This town though, this one would be my downfall. I had not intended to visit this town as it was a little larger than I was comfortable with. Safe but still large enough that risk did exist. I had no choice but to visit, however. One morning I had opened my sack to find a simple note tucked in on top of my bread. Just the name of the town and ‘save my son’. The hero complex couldn’t help but kick in. When I arrived in town, it was hectic. They had managed to trap a monster in a shed but they, like most townsfolk, were too terrified to do much else. I had to bite my tongue when I heard what the monster was. Just a young child, a werewolf. I managed to hold my tongue, leaving them to take my expression as the usual distaste held for monsters. Half the townsfolk had left as soon as I arrived, noticing the usual trademarks of a Monster Hunter. The nosy ones had stuck back, same as the mayor who clearly had only stayed out of duty to inform me of the situation. I quickly shooed the rest away, telling them it would be too dangerous for me to allow them to stay and be harmed. A monster child is still a monster, after all. I made certain all were gone before getting into the shed to meet this monster. He was clearly exhausted and terrified, backed into a corner with wide eyes that he was fighting hard to not let droop. I sat down on a chest across from him, keeping a distance, while pulling out some jerky. I knew better than to try and speak to him, that would only spook him more. Instead I gave a friendly smile and raise of the brow as I held out the jerky. His eyes darted back and forth, starving but unsure. I dropped it and before my hand was fully away, he had snatched it away. We stayed in this routine for a moment before his eyes finally dropped off to sleep. The tyke had clearly been through a rough day, or days even. I counted on that to keep him asleep. I grabbed him and slung him over my shoulder. I couldn’t hold him cradled in case I was spotted. It would only look too caring for a hunter. I think I could have made it. Had I walked faster and rougher, I could have made it to the forest. I could have said I tossed his body to the forest as a warning. They would have accepted it and I would have a comfortable bed and a warm meal for the night before I made an early retreat. I’m sure I could have. But as I said, this town was not one I would have marked as safe enough. I was almost to the forest when another hunter made it to town, crossing my path. The sound of his greeting woke the boy. The boy panicked and shoved off me, clearly attempting to run off to safety. But a Monster Hunter was here, and he was no novice to the trade.

[bodoramzap]

His arrow was shot after the boy and I only just managed to jump in the way, without a thought behind the action. The arrow pierced my stomach. I could have survived this. I could have, had it not been for the townsfolk. The other Monster Hunter was incredulous, his bow held half up as he tried to process what happened. The forest was close enough I could have made it. The townsfolk had shown up in time to see my action. They had seen the approaching Monster Hunter and had been on the way to turn him away. When they saw my move to save the monster I had been meant to slay, their anger rose quickly. No town had patience for a Monster Hunter that did a poor job, and they definitely had no mercy for one that did as I did. They did not have the hesitation a fellow Monster Hunter would have, they did not feel any brotherhood to me. They had chased me down easily enough due to my wound. It wasn’t long before I was in the stockade surrounded by an armed town. I could hear a furious howl from the forest as I felt the first of the stones hit. I could see the sharp determination in the eyes of the Monster Hunter, standing at the back of the crowd watching, as he heard the same. 

[avaeverstone]

This is really good. You had me at the edge of my seat. I'm dying to know what happens.

[skyward-floored]

All right, who’s ready for some Incredibles au Wild backstory?

This could also just be read as any old modern au (with super powers hah), but either way I hope you all enjoy :]

————————————————————

Time yawned, rubbing a hand across his face as he stepped over a basket of unfolded laundry on his way to the kitchen.

It had been a bit of a late night last night. A loud thunderstorm had gone through, terrifying Legend and sending him bolting into his and Malon’s room to huddle under the covers. They’d only just started to calm him down when Twilight had come in and said the thunder was hurting his ears, and then a particularly loud crash had woken Wind and gotten him crying as well.

Not much sleep happened after that.

Time yawned again, opening the fridge and pouring himself a glass of milk. He took a sip, and the cold beverage shocked him awake a little, but he still felt groggy, even though it was close to two in the afternoon.

The phone suddenly rang and he sighed, setting down his cup before heading into his office to answer it. If was Warriors or Sky with a harebrained idea to go out and do something fun, he was hanging up.

“Hello?” he asked as he picked up the receiver, and blinked in surprise at the voice that answered him.

He was suddenly very awake.

“Time. Can you talk?” Impa’s voice came through, slightly tinny. “It won’t take long.”

He leaned back and looked out at where Twilight and Legend were curled up and napping together in the living room, small pink rabbit nestled on top of a wolf cub. Malon was dozing on the couch close by with Wind in her arms, and he leaned back in with a soft smile.

“Yes. What is it?” He frowned suddenly. “Did something happen? Do we... need to move again?”

“No, nothing like that,” Impa assured, and Time couldn’t help his small sigh of relief. “It’s a problem I think you can help with though.”

“What do you need?”

Papers rustled on the other end of the line, and Impa cleared her throat.

“Lately a local police station has been getting reports of a particularly violent gang, who’s been targeting certain... individuals. Because of that our department has been keeping a sharp eye on it, but the police have since made significant progress in stopping them.”

She took a deep breath, and Time heard more papers being shuffled.

“But they haven’t been able to be everywhere. Yesterday they stumbled across another group of them, but they were too slow. They’d already gotten another victim... another super.”

Time’s stomach lurched as Impa sighed. “The group escaped, but the super they had...”

She hesitated, and Time’s grip on the receiver tightened. “Yes?”

“He’s only a boy. About five we think. And based on the condition the police found him in... the group was trying to kill him. And not quickly.”

Time breathed in sharply and leaned back, running a hand down his face.

Right around Legend’s age.

“Is he okay?” he asked softly.

“I won’t go into specifics but he was in bad shape when he was found,” Impa reported in a quiet voice, “His left side is covered in burns, and there’s possibly permanent damage to one ear. He’s been unconscious the entire time as well, and we’re not sure when he’s going to wake up.”

“What can I do?” Time breathed, his stomach roiling with anger and nausea. His power was biting at his fingertips, and he let it simmer a bit. “You called me because you need me, right?”

“Yes, but not you specifically,” Impa explained, “He needs somewhere to stay. He’s in our custody because of what he is, but we can’t find records of him in any system. We have no clue who he is or where he’s from, and until we do, we need somewhere for him to stay.”

“And you think my house is a good place for him to do it,” Time said knowingly, and he can almost hear Impa nod.

“Exactly. He’ll be around other kids, and supers, whom he won’t have to hide his powers from, and be in a much less stressful environment than anywhere else we could send him. And if something goes wrong, you all will be able to help him, or get him to someone who can.”

Impa went quiet for a second.

“I wouldn’t ask this if I didn’t think it was the best option Time,” she said eventually. “I know it’s sudden, and a lot to ask, especially since you’re already pressed for space. It’s possible he’ll attract unwanted attention as well.“

Time thought it over for a couple minutes, tapping his finger on the arm of his chair.

“...are there any other options?” he asked, and Impa sighed.

”Honestly? Not really.”

“That’s fine, I just wanted to know,” Time replied. He breathed in, then out, calming his anger at the poor kid’s situation. “I’ll have to discuss it with Malon. But as long as she agrees my answer is yes.“

“Excellent,” Impa said, and Time could hear the smile in her voice. “I’ll wait for your confirmation of course, but we both know Malanya has a heart softer than hay. She can’t ignore anyone in need.”

Time smiled. “Neither does the Fierce Deity. When should we expect you?”

“I don’t know for sure. As soon as he’s awake and healed enough, but we don’t know when that will be.”

“Of course. Thank you for calling Impa,” Time said. “We’ll get ready.”

“Thank you Time, for doing this,” Impa said genuinely, “you’re a good man. We’ll help provide you with some things for him, and I’ll call again when I have more information.”

She then hung up, and Time stood to go ask his wife about their new houseguest.

(...)

Malon immediately agreed to the boy (he’d been given the temporary name of Link, because of course he had) living with them when he asked what she thought.

He actually had to stop her from calling Impa and demanding information on the thugs who burned Link, her face red with anger after he explained what happened. She wiped a few tears from her eyes as he calmed her down and convinced her not to send a herd of animals out looking for them, then let out a tired sigh.

“All we ever did was try to protect them,” she murmured sadly, leaning against him, “and this is what it’s come to.”

Time held her back, and wished he could do more.

They got to work preparing for another kid in their house, signing any forms Impa gave them, (apparently the fact that the case involved supers made some things a bit of a grey area) and somehow making room in their already-small-for-five-people home. Legend and Twilight helped where they could with a bright and incessant curiosity about the whole thing, but were a little confused on what exactly was going on.

“So it’s like... grandpa visiting?” Legend asked in confusion when they tried to explain it to him, his nose scrunching up. “Or uncles?”

“Sort of honey, but it’ll be for a longer time then when they come,” Malon said, and Legend tilted his head.

“Why?”

“Link needs somewhere to stay, so he’s staying with us,” Malon answered, but Legend’s expression stayed confused.

“But we don’t know him?” he asked, and Time sighed.

“Yes Legend, but Link was in an accident, and needs somewhere to stay for a while while they find his family,” he patiently explained, “so he’ll be staying with us.”

Twilight frowned from his seat. “Accident? Is he hurt?”

“Yes, he was hurt,” Time nodded, and both his son’s faces fell, “but he’s getting better, that’s why he’s staying with us. So he has a good place to get better in.”

Legend perked up. “So we gotta help him feel better!” he said firmly, ears twitching. Twilight nodded enthusiastically, and Time let out a chuckle.

“Yes, you two can help. Just remember he won’t be used to us at first, so no overwhelming him,” he said, leveling them both with a serious look.

They both nodded seriously back, and Time knew they’d do their best.

(...)

Impa called again nearly two weeks later, stating that Link was awake and healed enough to stay with them.

They’d hoped he’d be able to tell them something about himself or where he was from, but he didn’t answer any questions they asked him, to a point where they weren’t sure he actually remembered anything from before the incident. He didn’t tell them his name either, though he seemed fine enough with Link.

He was also one of the quietest kids Time had ever met.

When Impa brought him over, he didn’t say a single word, his hand holding tightly to hers. Time took in the angry lines splayed across the side of his face, some still bandaged, and felt his anger broil as the power in him surged to do something about this, to fix this.

But he pushed it away, and gave Link a gentle smile instead.

“Link, this is Time and Malon, you’re going to be staying with them for a little while,” Impa explained, and Link flicked his eyes up at the two of them. His gaze lingered on Time’s scar over his eye as he looked at them, and Time returned his stare with another smile.

Impa left, and Malon took over, gently sweeping Link inside and showing him around. He didn’t say a word the entire tour, looking around the house with a quietly curious look in his eyes.

Sky had offered to take Twilight and Legend out for the afternoon so Link could settle in a bit, and he seemed to be comfortable enough with his new lodgings, poking around in the backyard, and watching Malon make lunch. He’d settled in the living room as the sun set, and was quietly coloring a picture when the door opened and Time’s sons came crashing in.

“Hi!”

Link jumped at the sudden hello, and shrank back behind Malon as Legend charged up, peering at him with a nervous sort of curiosity. He was certainly an interesting kid to look at, what with his bright pink hair and blue hat.

Legend waved, and Link waved hesitantly back, then returned the grin he gave him with a barely-there smile.

“My name’s Link but everyone calls me Legend,” he proudly proclaimed, then pointed behind him as Twilight walked up. “An’ that’s Twilight. He’s also Link, and so is Wind too, but he’s a baby and isn’t as intresting. You get to share our room!”

Link nodded, probably remembering back to when they showed him the bedroom.

“Nice to meet you,” Twilight said with a big smile, holding out a hand. Link stared at it, then hesitantly took it, letting Twilight wiggle his arm around in the way kids do when shaking hands. “You wanna see something cool?”

Link nodded, looking curious.

Twilight grinned at him, then fell to the floor, dark shadows falling around him. Link gasped, but Legend shushed him, watching his expression closely. Then the shadows dispersed, and Twilight stood there wagging his tail, tongue lolling out of his mouth.

Time looked over to see Wild’s reaction, and saw near literal stars in his eyes.

“Big puppy,” he said in a surprised voice, and Malon and Time exchanged little smiles at hearing him speak. It was the first he’d spoken all day, and while his voice was small and whispery, it at least confirmed he could talk.

There were a few lines near his throat that had made Time wonder.

Legend giggled at Link’s words, resting an arm on Twilight. “He’s not that big. Not yet anyway. We looked up ‘pictures of big wolves at the lieberry, an’ Twilight says he’s gonna be bigger then dad someday.”

“I don’t know if he’ll be quite that big,” Time said with a raised eyebrow, but Legend ignored him.

Link stared in wonder at Twilight’s wolf form, then hesitantly reached out a hand. Twilight ignored it and bounded forward instead, licking him and madly wagging his tail.

Time was about to tell him not to be so rough, but Link burst into laughter, patting Twilight on the head while trying to avoid his attempts to lick him.

Legend looked smug, grinning as Twilight managed to lick Link’s face. Normally Malon would scold him for licking people, but Time figured she’d make an exception this time, and this had obviously been their boys’ plan all along.

He looked over at her and saw a fond look on her face as Link and Twilight tussled a bit, and smiled to himself.

(...)

Link had been with them a week when Time first heard the crying.

He’d already been having a restless night, and frowned, opening his eye as he sat up in bed. It was a quiet, barely perceptible noise, and if he hadn’t already been half awake he likely wouldn’t have heard it.

Malon shifted a bit as he got up out of bed, but stayed asleep, letting out a single sleepy murmur before falling still again. Time smiled at her then stood to follow the sound that had roused him. He had thought at first that it might have been Wind, but when he checked he was lying dead asleep, thumb in his mouth.

He followed the noise down the hall to his boys’ room, but he paused upon reaching the door, noticing that their lamp was on.

“...ink, wake up Link, it’s okay, it was just a dream,” Twilight’s voice whispered, and Time heard a hiccupy sob.

He took the utmost care in cracking the door open without making any noise, peering in at the sight inside. Link sat hunched into a ball on his bed, wrapped in a blanket and shaking as tears dripped down his face. Twilight was sitting next to him, wringing his hands anxiously, but Legend was still lying in his own bed. He must have somehow still been asleep.

“Link?” Twilight whispered after a minute, his eyes still wide with worry.

Link just buried his head in his knees.

Time took that as a signal it was time to intervene, and was about to enter the room when Twilight’s face took on a determined look. He leaned closer to Link, pulling his blanket more snuggly around his shoulders, then turned into a wolf, making the younger boy start in surprise.

Twilight whined and nudged him, and Link sniffled, wiping some tears from his eyes with a fist.

He held out a shaking hand, and Twilight bumped it with his forehead, keeping it there until Link began to softly pet him.

“Thanks,” he whispered eventually, and Twilight curled around him, letting Link bury his head in his fur. Time stood silently in the doorway for several more long minutes, watching as Link’s breathing slowly evened out and his tears began to slow.

He waited until he was sure Link had fallen asleep again before pushing the door open and slowly walking in, standing by the side of the bed with a small sigh.

Twilight’s ear twitched and he opened a sleepy eye at him, but Time only gave his ears a gentle rub.

“Go back to sleep pup. Thank you,” he whispered, and Twilight’s tail thumped once before he closed his eye once again. Time gave him one last pat, than ran a hand over Link’s head as well. He brushed some of the blonde hair out of the kid’s face, and felt his heart squeeze at the tear tracks still on his cheeks.

“Sleep well boys,” he murmured gently, then turned off the lamp and headed back to bed.

That night was only the first of many where Time heard Link crying because of a nightmare, but he soon realized Twilight was much faster at calming him down afterwards than either him or Malon.

And he always got to Link first.

No matter how quickly Time or Malon would slip out of bed, by the time they reached the boys’ bedroom, Twilight would already be sitting next to Link and comforting him, usually as a wolf. Legend would sometimes sit next to them as well if he happened to get woken up, and Time would often wake to find them all sleeping in one big pile in the morning.

...sometimes in his and Malon’s bed instead of Link’s.

The three had near immediately become inseparable, and Twilight and Legend had even given Link a nickname at some point to avoid confusion. Which Time didn’t quite get the reasoning behind until he went outside one afternoon, and found the newly-christened Wild looking down at him from their roof.

It turned out Wild loved to climb.

Everything.

Bookshelves, tables, fences, beds— if was even a bit taller then he was, Wild climbed it, and climbed it fast.

“Well he’s definitely adjusted to living here,” Warriors laughed as Wild smiled at them from the top of the rather tall tree in their backyard.

“No doubt about it,” Time sighed, and went to ask Sky if he’d help retrieve him.

Wild still wasn’t the best at climbing down.

(...)

The weeks went by quickly, and the longer Wild stayed in their house, the more it felt like he’d always been there; peering up at whatever Malon was making for dinner, poking around in the yard with Twilight, excitedly showing Wind a frog he’d found.

He certainly didn’t feel like a temporary guest anymore, and Time had to keep reminding himself he most likely had a family out there to go back to, one that was probably worried sick and doing everything they could to find him.

For some reason the thought didn’t make him feel much better.

Wild’s burns had mostly faded to waxy-looking scars by now, and the amount of nightmares he had had been steadily going down as well. He still didn’t speak all that much, but Time wasn’t sure if it was the pain that sometimes bothered him, or the way he’d always been. Not that it much mattered whether he talked or not, Time would love him even if he was completely mute.

What concerned him more was that he still hadn’t shown them his power.

Wild knew they were supers of course, aside from seeing Twilight transform he’d seen Legend turn invisible sometimes, and he’d even seen Wind show some small abilities. Time knew Wild’s refusal to use his own stemmed from being attacked, and while he‘d never push him, it concerned him that the kid simply didn’t use his powers at all.

It wasn’t good to keep that kind of thing bottled up. Time knew that well.

So he tried to ask him about them one morning, making sure the question was gentle. But Wild had shrunk in his seat, merely shaken his head, and been quieter than normal the rest of the day.

Malon had tried then, taken Wild up to her father’s ranch and shown him how she could call horses as well as understand them. And despite how thrilled Wild seemed by the demonstration, he still didn’t reveal his own.

Until Legend finally cornered him.

“You have a power right?” Legend said one rainy weekend when they were stuck inside, shoving his face up close to Wild’s. The two had been playing a game of some sort with Wind, but he’d gone off for a nap a little while ago, and Legend now had nothing to occupy himself. “What’s it? Can I see?”

Time didn’t turn his head from the book he was reading, but he flicked his eye up at where the two were sitting. Wild looked nervous, and leaned away from Legend while shaking his head.

“Don’t want to” he whispered, and Legend frowned.

“But you’re ‘lowed to here,” he said with a wave of his hand, “we’re at home. Powers are allowed at home but not anywhere else,” he said like he was reciting it from memory. “It’s totally okay!”

Wild still shook his head, and Legend crossed his arms.

“Nobody’ll see Wild, it’s safe! Look!”

Then he leapt up in the air and turned into a little pink bunny rabbit.

Wild gasped, and immediately kneeled down to look at him, eyes huge. Legend had shown him his invisibility powers before, but he’d never done this.

He hesitantly reached out a hand, and Legend hopped closer, letting him run a finger through his fur.

“How’d you do that?” he said in wonder, and Legend thumped a leg.

“It’s one of my powers. I toldja, it’s safe here! I can do this and nobody even cares!” he explained, then hopped around a bit. “But now that I’ve showed you mine you gotta show me yours. ‘S only fair.”

Wild looked around the living room anxiously, but Time was the only other person in the room, and he made sure his gaze was solidly on the book in his lap.

“...okay,” he whispered nervously.

Time slipped his gaze over to Wild again, and before he could even blink the boy was suddenly on the other side of the room, the pages of his book flipping as a breeze buffeted his face.

Super speed, he thought in amazement as Wild ran back then did a couple quick loops around Legend. Legend for his part turned human again almost immediately, and stared, his eyes now the huge ones.

“WHOA! That’s awesome! You must always win races!” he gaped, and Wild blushed.

“I’ve never raced before,” he admitted, and Legend grabbed his arm.

“Well then we gotta! From here to the bed upstairs, readysetgo!”

Wild’s face lit up, and he took off, Legend sprinting after him even though his cap had been blown off and he had positively no chance of winning.

Time watched them leave with a warm smile, not even caring that he’d lost his place in his book.

(...)

“Mama? Can I help with dinner?”

Malon smiled down at Wild, who was hovering eagerly around her feet as she chopped some tomatoes. He’d started calling her mom about a week ago, and she couldn’t help but let him.

“Of course honey, can you get some safflina for me?”

Wild nodded and zipped over to the pantry, rifling through shelves at a speed much faster than necessary as he looked for the plant.

Time leaned on the counter and watched him zip around the kitchen, grabbing whatever Malon happened to need, sometimes before she could even ask. Wild had begun using his powers much more regularly ever since Legend had talked to him, and now spent much of his time zipping around the house and climbing things at twice the speed he had before. He seemed the happiest Time had ever seen him, and he smiled as he watched him hand Malon the salt shaker.

Wild caught him watching and returned his smile, and Time was about to ask if he could help at all when the phone rang.

Malon went to answer it, but he waved her off, raising a pointed eyebrow at her messy hands. She flicked some tomato at him and he dodged it, smirking as he picked up the phone.

“Hello?”

His smile faded as he heard the answering voice.

“Time, we found out who Link is,” Impa said, and something in his stomach went cold.

He glanced over at Wild, who was happily putting chopped up bits of tomato into a pot while Malon kept watched him.

He swallowed and caught Malon’s eye. “Go ahead.”

“His name’s Link Satori, I suppose we got lucky on the name. His parents died when he was a baby, apparently he was living with his grandfather, who was a super. He died right around when Link was attacked though, and we think he may have been a target of the same group that went after his grandson. No siblings.”

“He... he doesn’t have anyone?” Time asked, and Impa sighed as Malon walked over, realizing what was happening.

“No. His parents died years ago, and he has no other family, other grandparents, aunts or uncles... nothing,” Impa continued, and Malon let out a soft oh. ”He has no legal guardians... apart from you two.”

“Then... what does that mean for him?” Time asked hesitantly, and Malon put her hand on his arm.

Impa shuffled some papers. “Well... one option would be placing him into the foster system. But with him being a super it’ll be nearly impossible for them to place him with a family, it might be years before—“

“No.”

Time and Malon met each other’s eyes. They’d both spoken at the same time.

“No?” Impa asked with a hint of a smile on her voice, sounding oddly knowing.

Time looked over at Wild, who was trying to pick some tomato out of his hair, and giggling as he only managed to spread it further.

“No. We...” Malon squeezed his hand. “...we want him to keep living here. With us.”

“We’re already his family in everything but name,” Malon added softly, pulling the receiver closer, “all we really need to do is make it official. We’d like to adopt him.“

Time knew Impa was smiling now.

“I think we can make that happen.”

(...)

“What’s going on?”

Malon and Time smiled at Legend, who was tapping his fingers impatiently on the table while Twilight mostly just looked confused. They’d gathered everyone for a family meeting, even Wind (though he was asleep in Malon’s arms), and Legend was getting increasingly impatient.

Wild smiled knowingly from his seat, having already been told what this was all about.

“Is there a surprise for us?” Legend asked, “a trip? Presents? Carrots?”

“Do we have to move again?” Twilight asked quietly, and Malon shook her head.

“No honey, we’re not moving,” she immediately reassured him, and Twilight looked relieved. “And it is a sort of surprise. We have some news to tell you.”

“Well what is it?” Legend huffed, putting his chin on the table.

Malon met Time’s eye, and he cleared his throat.

“You boys remember how Wild was supposed to stay with us until the police could find his family?” he asked, and Legend and Twilight nodded.

“Did they find them?” Twilight said hopefully. He’d worriedly asked about Wild’s family several times over the course of the younger boy’s stay, hoping his friend would finally get to see his parents again.

Time sighed.

He and Malon had already explained to Wild what had happened to his grandfather of course, and he’d taken it quietly, merely nodding once they finished.

“Do you remember him at all?” Malon had asked, and Wild gave her a small shrug.

“I already knew he was gone,” he had said quietly, and hadn’t elaborated.

So what Time said next was only a surprise to Legend and Twilight. “Yes, but they... Wild doesn’t have any family to stay with anymore.”

Legend froze, and Twilight looked stricken, wrapping his arms around himself.

“So... so where’ll he live now?” Legend asked in a trembling voice, and Time smiled as Malon squeezed his hand.

“Well... we thought he could stay here,” Time said, and Wild covered his grin with his hands as Twilight and Legend stared at their father.

Malon smiled. “We’re going to adopt him.”

Legend and Twilight immediately swung their stares over to Wild, and he smiled at them, looking the tiniest bit sheepish.

And the room suddenly exploded into noise.

“Adopt— you’re adopting Wild?! Wild you— you get to stay here!” Twilight gasped. “You get to be our brother!“

“We’ll get to celebrate your birthday and race all we want and come to school with us—“ Legend chattered, steadily increasing in both volume and speed, “—An’ climb stuff an’ go to the store an’ see Wars an’ Sky an’ Sun an’—“

Wild’s smile only grew.

“NEW BROTHER!!” Legend finally finished with a holler, so excited that he turned into a rabbit and promptly launched himself at Wild.

Wild caught him and smiled wider than Time had ever seen him smile before, and began to laugh as Twilight leaned over and hugged him. Wind got woken up by all the noise but surprisingly enough didn’t cry, merely babbling loudly and adding to the chaos.

Time smiled as his boys celebrated, and Malon leaned her head on his shoulder.

He would never be glad of the violence that Wild had suffered, nor the injuries he’d bear the marks of for the rest of his life. But he’d always be grateful of the circumstances that had allowed him to be sitting in their dining room, smiling brightly as Twilight leaned on him and Legend bounced onto his shoulder, all three happily talking and laughing.

He wouldn’t trade this moment for the world.