The crazy part of that moment in Zam's second The Flight stream where her awakening sends her outside of the map is that it was A) also preceded by two other game breaking moments, one of which forced the admins to close off an entire part of the map and B) Incredibly funny
It was also C) an insane thing to imagine as happening canonically. Could you imagine: you are from a place very far away from here, you've only been here for 174 or so days, who has ended up at an academy for dragon riding and you're not sure if you're cut out for it and it's all a little overwhelming but for now you're managing and standing in a garden talking to a few of your classmates about magic. One of them mentions that in order to get their magical awakening, they focused on these specific feelings, so you think, okay, maybe I'll try that too. And you do, and for a moment, nothing happens, and then suddenly you are in a place outside of reality. All you can see is the distant void, a bright white sun in the distance, and around you are the scattered parts of your academy cast in a golden light. You feel sharp pain for a moment, frozen in place and panicking before suddenly you end up back in the garden, shocking all the people you were talking to. And now, you realize, as two of the other students back away and two of the people you maybe consider friends encourage you, that you have the power to pull down a star, a distant ball of gas and fire and celestial power into the palm of your hand, and you can send it in a beautiful arcing trail before it pops in a blast of light and smoke. I think I would have lost my everloving mind
I transcripted everything from each of their individual books, which tell the story of their predecessors, the Dawnfall Covenant, which you can read below!
MAJOR SPOILERS FOR TFSMP BELOW CUT.
IRON SOUL (Legundo)
At the academy of old, before the end of the war, learned the warning before letters: iron drinks magic.
A nail in a pocket made spells stumble. A horseshoe above a door turned blessings slow and thin. That was why the royal guards wore a special iron alloy beaten with salt and ash. In small amounts, it dulled hostile mana enough to protect the throne.
But the Royal Wing's Mill in the volcano was forbidden. Its iron wheel spun every night, and moving iron did not slow mana. It destroyed it. Protecting the Dragon Graves…
Lysa learned this when her brother vanished near the volcano. She found his crystal, grey and empty.
Then came the one, smiling, palms shining like polished steel. "I can help," she said, and the wheel rose at his command. Across the valley, charms shattered and healing lights died.
Lysa stepped back.
A guard's iron could protect. Iron in a soul could end the world.
⋆˙⟡ ꒰ 🔔 ꒱ ⟡˙⋆
IRON BELLS (Graecie)
The Mage of Endless Blessings was beloved by the kingdom.
No wound stayed open beneath her hands. No crop failed after her prayers. No child died while her silver light still burned. People called her mercy made flesh.
Then the iron bells rang.
The royal guards came in, not to protect her, but to contain her. Someone had learned the truth: blessings were still mana, and mana hated being trapped.
When the first iron spear pierced the circle around him, his magic panicked.
Iron drinks.
Every blessing she had ever given returned at once.
Her bones healed faster than they broke. Her blood sealed before it could spill. Her lungs filled with light, repaired, burned, repaired again. Age fled her, then rushed back, then fled again.
A thousand saved fevers, wounds, curses, and prayers clawed through his body, each trying to "fix" her.
She could not die.
Not until his own blessings finally ran out.
Then all at once
The last sound she heard
Was a bell.
𓂃 ོ☼𓂃
LAST SUNRISE (Sausage)
The Burning Mage of the Sun stood above the capital when the last great war reached its gates.
Her name was Serapha, though soldiers called her Dawn. Fire poured from her hands in ribbons of gold, and her hair blazed like morning over the battlements.
Where the dark armies crawled from the valley, she answered with light. Shadows screamed beneath her flames. Cursed beasts turned to ash. For seven days, no night touched the city.
Children slept because she burned.
On the eighth day, the Dark itself came, wearing a crown of smoke and hollow stars. Serapha met it alone beyond the broken walls. Her fire rose higher than towers, brighter than noon, but the darkness swallowed piece after piece of her light.
At dawn, the capital still stood.
In the field beyond it, only glass remained, warm beneath the rising sun. Serapha was gone, but every sunrise remembered her.
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
THE LAST STAR (ZAM)
The Star Mage was quiet beside the others of the Dawnfall Covenant.
The Sun Mage burned like morning. The Blessing Mage carried life in trembling hands. The Iron Mage stood apart, feared for the power that could slow mana, break mana, end mana.
But when the Dark returned, it reached for them all.
Above the shattered battlefield, the Star Mage lifted both hands. Constellations bent from the heavens. Silver fire fell in rivers, forming a wall between the Dark and the Covenant.
The shadow struck once.
A star cracked in the Star Mage's chest.
It struck again.
Their body began to burn.
"Live," the Star Mage whispered.
Then they gave the sky everything.
Skin became light. Blood became stardust. Their final spell exploded outward, burning the Dark back and forcing one last breath into Sun, Blessing, and Iron.
SY: And you wanna know the thing that kills me the most?! Your writing had so much story potential— you clearly show you can world build well, and your characterization of Bingge was fascinating. Even your prose was similar to ‘Dawn of the Red Mountain’, which won awards!! Clearly you know how to write well, but you’re such a fucking coward you never commit!!!!
SQH: Wait you read ‘Dawn of the Red Mountain’? As in critically acclaimed novel ‘Dawn of the Red Mountain’? By author Xiang Fei?
SY: Yes, though you clearly didn’t or you would know how to write male leads with complex relationships to papapa and strong platonic relationships.
SQH: BITCH IM XIANG FEI. PUT THAT UP YOUR ASS AND BOUNCE, YOU’RE DICK RIDING FOR ME!!!
i wish shen yuans cold ice prince persona was incorporated more into fan fiction’s, in the book he frequently attempts his best to hide what he thinks which makes him look avoidant and reserved
like imagine lbh with shixiong sy who’s cold to everyone but with no ill intent (he’s just auramaxxing) helping everyone on the peak but pays special attention to HIM specifically. his pretty shixiong who doesn’t say what’s on his mind is frustrating to read but he doesn’t mind it! as long as he keeps doting on him everything is okay.
and then theres sy’s inner dialogue in the corner gushing over PIDWs protagonist….
SVSSS AU/fic prompt where Airplane in lore had a race of spirits he ripped off from borrowers and SY gets transmigrated into one. Stuck in tiny body and still getting system telling him to fix the plot.
SY is not amused. He's running through holes in walls moving things about to try and fix plot and make Binghe's life better, he spent a day dragging the fake jade pendant that was as big as him into the woodshed. (Thank god it has so many holes in it that he can get into it) Dragging the actual manual was much harder.
LBH has no what little spirit he been helping him but he already adores them.
SY trying to prepare him for abyss and then mourning for years after wondering if he can get far enough away from Qing Jing peak... only Binghe shows up and there's no destruction instead he seems to be listing to walls and peaking through mouse holes.... SY is very confused.
Or even funnier if he's transmigrated after abyss.
Bingge who keeps getting notes on desk about strategies or plans, warning him about advisors. Where to find artifacts. Sometimes even food or treats that have been stolen from kitchen. Even flowers or trinkets that help with his problems.
He has no idea where they come from. He keeps watching but never sees anyone enter room. Then one day sees tiny figure scurrying back into a hole in the wall.
The harem just watching their husband walking around lightning to walls and knocking on them... he's also commissioned a tiny throne and tiny very fancy empress like robes...
Bingge is losing his mind when
MBJ:...are you looking for a tiny borrowing spirit?
Bingge:...
Bingge: HOW THE FUCK DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HIM?
MBJ: Opening robe to reveal inside pocket that tiny SQH is chilling in...
SQH got caught out much earlier on because Northern palace s very cold and was hard to hide in ice.Him and MBJ have been married for years.
SVSSS AU/fic prompt where Shen Yuan transmigrates as random NPC, and ends up on Cang Qiong Only instead of YQY or SQQ noticing the mini SQQ it's Airplane who notices and realizes second transmigrator and instantly scoops him up because Bro I need company please!
Cue head disciple of An Ding SY, who spends most time roasting Airplane and covering for him when he's with MBJ.
MBJ sees SY who knows about him and ends up misunderstanding that SQH has adopting this child...I shall also adopt this child.
(Also because SY knows all about demonic culture when MBJ tries teaching him MBJ assumes SQH knows all about it)
SY being on a different peak but still trying got help LBH, he sneaks supplies into the woodshed for him, new Manuel, medicine, blankets extra food ect (he keeps raiding the An Ding store rooms and passing everything on to Binghe) even books about the abyss and demonic cultivation.
LBH has no idea where stuff is coming from he occasionally has notes and saves them all, he tries to find them but SY is good at covering tracks. He has got scent and sense of Qi but has never properly met him.
Abyss happens and when LBH shows up to take over North sees SY(whose there with airplane) recognizes QI/scent gets understanding from court and MBJ that SQH has adopted SY, and SQH is engaged to MBJ.
LBH instantly goes from takeover to marriage alliance. I want a marriage alliance with the North.
SQH and SY are confused.... who is LBH going to marry? None of the wives are here right?
Shen yuan who transmigrates and ends up as one of bingge's court musicians who make background music while he's having discussions with other demonic leaders. He ends up becoming their unofficial group leader and lectures them on following the mood of the "scene"— they think his approach is fun and interesting, so he gets to lead them with the melody. One day during another negotiation/hearing/review, something goes wrong, or an enemy ends up being unveiled, or one of the demon leaders goes against bingge's rules, and luo binghe is now standing in cold anger, his eyes and mark glowing, and the musicians are too scared to go on, but sy is so into watching luo binghe in his element that he just adds more tension to the music, perfectly accompanying bingge's sharp killing intent. This snaps lbh out of his immediate anger and draws his attention to the nearby musicians instead, kickstarting yet another binggeyuan fic
Shen Yuan transmigrates into a wife and starts fighting for Luo Binghe's favor. Not for the sex or the prestige or anything. Those are nice but not as nice as the beasts that Luo Binghe brings back sometimes. He needs those.
Shen yuan transmigrates into spider demon wife no. 378's evil abusive stepfather (trope so overdone by then that the only distinguishment is species atp) and not only does he get the chance to actually raise and love the kid but ends up accidentally seducing bingge who was originally after the damsel in distress
Pretty, old man spider demon sy, getting gentle-terse with Bingge over a marraige agreement Bingge hasnt even brough up yet, saying all these things about how if he doesnt treat his little girl right SY has the power to make silk trade agreements (sy has a monopoly) VERY painful for everyone involved. And the wives will all be big mad that the good fabrics are inaccessible.
Bingge, internal monologue: The Black Widow Clan Patriarch hasn't caught onto the fact that i'm planning to broach the whole widow topic despite falling asleep in his bed three times, and poisoning myself with aphrodisiac flowers in his presence at least five... truly, this is a most worthy wife. Our wedding will be legendary.
Shen yuan, internal monologue: My baby girl is head over heels for this womanizer!! (She has been sneaking off to fight her girlfriend for three years by now) oh, woe is me... i always knew this day would come. His bargains are ruthless, but i must hold ground for her future! I can handle a few lost legs if it means she's at least a protected wife..
Binggeyuan AU where SY transmigrated into PIDW and through plot ends up in arranged marriage with Bingge only before marriage Bingmei Vs Bingge extra happens.
Wedding still happens but Bingge is so uninterested everyone can see, he hasn't even tried to talk to SY or looked at him, and as soon as wedding is over Bingge is gone (he's holded up researching and trying to find out how he can find a kind Shziun)
Poor SY who is feeling awful and overthinking, how did he upset Bingge so much! what did he do wrong? Oh no protagonist is so upset.
SY desperately trying to find out what is wrong and fix it.
He ends up sorting out all harem drama, fixing wives issues. The rest of the harem adore him. They start realizing how much SY loves Binghe like to a worrying amount...
They're matchmaking, LMY has started writing again she has found her muse.
The rest of the harem seen full freak4freak obsessed SY and collectively taken a step back like not even going to try and comept with hat what the actual fuck.
Bingge isn't paying attention he needs to find his own kind Shziun.
He is obsessed over finding a kind shizun. SY is obsessed with fixing what makes Bingge sad and is overhauling court he's stopped multiple coups terrifying anyone whose even insulted Bingge (that Bingge hasn't noticed because he isn't paying attention to anything not Shziun related)
SHL and NYY have ended up getting Bingge talking about other world and kind Shziun and they are just looking at SY like '...have you tried look behind you? at any point?'
SHL, NYY and rest of harem just watching wondering how long it'll take Bingge to notice.
i like the idea that lqg used to be a timid child. imagine sending your quiet fodder son off to learn a bit of cultivation thinking hes just gonna be some extra set of hands in, say, an ding or qing jing and he comes back in like 4 years with three broken ribs, the balls of a honey badger and the title of bai zhan's head disciple. could you imagine being his father
Shen Yuan, CEO, taking his first look at modern SQH: poor struggling artist college student uke x big alpha CEO, 50 Shades of Grey au, dark office romance, bondage-
Xiang Fei, literally just woke up post electrocution: Wh-
Mobei-Jun has recently risen to the throne, becoming King to the North, and legitimately being the second strongest next to Luo Binghe.
Naturally, Bai Zhan Peak Lord isn't all too happy about it — after all, Liu Qingge is second strongest, everybody knows that, and he's on his way to be first, really.
But, for some reason, Liu Qingge doesn't immediately barge into Mobei-Jun's palace. No, instead he ops for intimidation. Thus, Liu Qingge hunts for the strongest beast there is in the northern demon realm, drags it by foot to the northern palace and shows up at Mobei-Jun's throne covered in his prey's blood, flesh and gore. Liu Qingge slams the dead beast on the ground and beheads it right at Mobei-Jun's foot.
This is a real challenge, the ultimate demand of a fight. Liu Qingge knows it will cause trouble, the demons won't be too happy about their King being challenged right at the throne room and— and the demon court are murmuring, shock written on their faces ? There is no anger, though. No howls, no hisses... And his Shang-Shidi is looking at him real weird, his jaw on the floor that is almost allow saliva to drip down his mouth.
Whatever, it doesn't matter. Liu Qingge just leaves, because he will obviously wait for his challengers response in the human realm. It will tell if Mobei Jun has honor or not, since Liu Qingge made the effort to challenge him on demon grounds.
However, the Bai Zhan Peak Lord is unaware that he has left after accidentally... Proposing to Mobei-Jun in the Northern Demon culture's way.
He's made aware of that fact a few days later; Shang Qinghua patiently explained everything to him until Liu Qingge couldn't ignore that he has indeed not challenged Mobei-Jun into a fight but into a marriage with him. That is extremely shameful, but Liu Qingge is an honorable man, and won't suddenly back out, especially after being the ignorant one.
So, Liu Qingge returns to the Northern Desert, barge into Mobei-Jun's throne room while the demons have their reunion there and exclaims something along the line of:
"I do not marry anything less than a strong warrior. I acknowledge the gesture I have made, even by accident, and will assume responsabilites only if you prove your strength to me!"
And surely, the court will tear itself with fury this time and— no, the demons whispers with glee and satisfaction. Even Mobei-Jun looks pleasantly surprised. Because, of course, Liu Qingge ignored that it was demonic customary for the one proposing to demand their fiance to prove their strength. It was even highly regarded! It showed Liu Qingge was actually very serious about it and even followed demonic customs! It was better than whatever the Emperor's consort ever did! Perhaps humans weren't so bad after all.
"Peak Lord Liu Qingge is a great warrior. It would bring dishonor if this King doesn't fulfill his request."
And wow! The court is going crazy because their King just literally accepted being courted right here and there, but Liu Qingge just is happy that Mobei-Jun accepts to fight him.
So they fight. Oh they fight.
And the next thing Cang Qiong Sect knows, Liu Qingge is getting married to Mobei-Jun, real demonic style — wasn't Liu Qingge very disgusted and against demonic ways? Why is he sharing blood with the King of the Northern Desert, wearing demonic jewelries and partaking in hunting ceremonies ?
The Peak Lords are confused because it turns out Liu Qingge and Mobei-Jun have a surprisingly very happy and stable marriage and it low-key benefits everyone. And if you squint, you can see Luo Binghe crying in the corner because— what do you mean demonic wedding would have meant he could share blood with Shizun, and he missed that???
Anyway. Don't mind me, that was just a little thought I had. And I will certainly make it a longer fic.
Demon-ish SQH Moshang AU. More accurately, SQH with a demonic transformation for his time in the northern desert.
When Shang Qinghua starts first visiting the northern kingdom, every single demon who encounters him gets pissed the fuck off and tries to murder him.
This, of course, leads to every few hours SQH having to summon MBJ to save his ass. Which his king gets annoyed by VERY quickly, and demands SQH find a solution.
SQH takes this seriously, deciding to find a magical amulet that can transform you into a demon while you are wearing it. It was initially used in some old wife plot, where a human wife used it to disguise herself as a demon and sneak into LBHs demonic court to try and kill a retainer who killed her family or something, and LBH ends up sweeping her off her feet and adding her to the harem.
This goes... Surprisingly well. The amulet matches you to the type of demon that makes most sense for your location and personality, and SQH gets turned into a lemming demon while he is in the Northern Kingdom.
(I picked lemming demon bc 1. They look like hamsters but are arctic critters, 2. The lemmings jumping off cliffs myth and SQH LAUNCHING himself off maigu ridge to try and save MBJ, and 3. They're adorable LOOK AT HIM)
His cheeks become puffy and he starts storing melon seeds in them like a hamster, he gains a soft layer of fluff on his arms, legs, back, and around his new little tail. His legs twist into a more digitigrade configuration, and his skin gains some calico spotting.
And, most crucially, he gains demon instincts while in this form. And this instantly sends Mobei Jun spiralling, because Shang Qinghua has finally started responding to his courtships, but... Weirdly? And afterwards seems to freak out? And also doesn't seem to really understand completely either??
When he whacks SQH around for the first time in demon mode, SQH responds, instead of with pleas and whimpers, by growling and clawing at his arm, leaving small scratches. He's weak enough that he doesn't even break the skin, but he's responding, and it excites Mobei-Jun enough that he tries to trigger a whole courtship fight.
Growling, Mobei-Jun leaps at SQQ, who instinctively dodges and goes to bite MBJ, his eyes lighting up in excitement.
Then confusion.
Then horror.
And in a moment, SQH's knees hit the ground and he starts desperately kowtowing and begging, leaving MBJ wondering where he went wrong.
---
Demons don't stop challenging SQH, all that changes is how he responds to it. He may be a lot weaker than MBJ, but he easily outclasses most of the common demonic servants, beating respect into them quickly.
After they start to understand and respect SQHs role in the hierarchy, something strange starts happening. Some demons begin starting fights with SQH again, but in a... Gentler way.
SQH begins to pick up that this is demonic play fighting, something commonly done with people of a similar rank to you. While SQH does technically outrank most of the servants, he is the head of household for MBJ and essentially their first level above superior, so some of them consider him close enough to start play fighting.
SQH... Decides to give it a try. And it's fun! He never enjoyed sparring as a peak lord, and screamed and cried every time Liu Qingge tried to spar him, but this feels different, somehow. The stinging blood dripping down his body feels more like a love tap than a grievous injury in this form, and he heals quickly. The blood pumping in his ears during a fight is exhilarating.
He remembers a bit of lore he had written, something about demons needing higher cortisol levels in order to function, and fighting each other for fun to regulate. Hm. It was meant to make them scarier, but really this is a lot of fun!
MBJ seethes as he watches SQH play with a couple random snow demons from the cleaning staff. He's tried starting regular play-fights along with his courting fights, and SQH refuses both! But he can see in his eyes he wants to play! What the hell is going on!!
---
One day, SQH has returned from a long day of negotiations in the northern palace. He's tired, irritable, and stressed, and just wants to relax. Maybe he could seek out the head chef and see if she wants a quick brawl? That might make him feel better.
He stumbles across someone on his way to the kitchens, quite literally. He stumbles into the man, causing him to reflexively hiss until the scent of cool winter air and pine hit his nose.
Ah. He knew that scent. A friend. He grinned, letting out a snarl, and reaching out to slash across the man's chest, before darting backwards, inviting them to play.
And he looks up, to see Mobei-Jun's bewildered face. Well, bewildered for MBJ. All it really is is a slight widening of the eyes and a shift in the posture, but SQH can tell he's confused.
Fuck. He's just about to start desperately apologizing, when MBJs face settles and his slitted pupils widen into wide saucers, and then MBJ leaps at him, sending a slash at his wrist.
Nonlethal starting attack. His posture is open, and he's using teeth and claws rather than demonic energy.
...This is a game. Mobei-Jun is playing with him.
He only has a moment to be baffled before a reflexive grin splits his face, and jumps back into the fray.
I can't believe that Liu Qingge was never in the abyss, it makes so little sense to me.
That autistic princess with a hyperfixation on battles?? I'm absolutely certain that Liu Qingge, at 12 years old, heard his shizun say "no human has ever come out of the abyss alive" and decided to jump into the first gap he found 2 hours later (he came out 8 months later happy as a puppy and immunized against 9 types of poisons).
