Even the soft glow of the Hollowed Grove’s enchanted flora seemed to dim, as if the very air was holding its breath. Y/N felt a prickle at the back of her neck, and she turned, heart hammering against her ribs, but there was nothing — just the dense curtain of trees and the faint shimmer of mist curling along the ground.
Then the earth trembled.
It was slight at first, like the pulse of something ancient awakening beneath their feet. Jungkook stiffened beside her, his hand automatically reaching for the dagger strapped at his side. Namjoon’s trident appeared in his hand with a low hum of power, the silvered points gleaming in the unnatural twilight.
“Stay close,” Namjoon ordered, voice tight.
Before anyone could respond, the trees erupted.
From the shadows burst creatures—twisted, unnatural things. Their bodies were patchworks of shadow and bone, eyes burning like coals. They moved with unnatural speed, hissing and snarling as they lunged toward the group.
“Ragnor’s creations,” Jin muttered, grim. He stepped protectively in front of Y/N, his hands already glowing with golden healing light — not to heal, but to ward.
The battle was chaos.
Jungkook swung a heavy branch he’d wrenched from a tree, crushing one creature into a cloud of ash. Hoseok’s mind powers stunned several others, making them stumble as if drunk. Taehyung flew through the fight with uncanny speed, weaving illusions to confuse the enemy.
Y/N stumbled backward, heart pounding, powerless—
Or so she thought.
One of the creatures broke through the line, charging straight at her. Y/N threw her hands up instinctively—and the air shivered.
A burst of silver-blue light erupted from her palms, slamming into the creature midair. It shrieked, dissolving into nothingness before it even hit the ground.
Everyone froze for half a second.
Y/N stared at her hands, chest heaving, the faint glow fading from her fingertips.
“What… was that?” Jimin breathed, awe-struck.
But there was no time for answers. More of Ragnor’s beasts poured from the woods, screeching with inhuman rage.
**
They fought harder now, desperation driving them. Jin slashed his healing light like a blade, Namjoon summoned tendrils of misty seawater to lash at the creatures, and Jungkook — beautiful, brave Jungkook — let his voice rise in a low, vibrating hum that seemed to weaken the monsters nearest him, making them flicker like faulty candle flames.
They held the line.
Together.
But it cost them.
When the final creature fell with a hiss and scattered into smoke, the clearing was a wreck. Trees toppled, the sweet-scented grass was torn up and blood-smeared, and the air stank of ozone and burning.
Y/N dropped to her knees, drained.
Jin was instantly at her side, pressing his hands to her shoulders. “You’re hurt.”
“I’m fine,” she lied. Her limbs trembled violently. It wasn’t physical pain—it was like something inside her had been torn open.
The others gathered close, battered but alive. They formed a loose, protective circle around her, and even though they barely trusted her yet, Y/N felt it — that bone-deep instinct to protect. To stay near.
“We need to get out of the open,” Namjoon said grimly, scanning the woods. “This wasn’t random. Ragnor knows we’re here.”
“How?” Hoseok asked, voice tight.
Y/N swallowed thickly.
She had a horrible, twisting feeling she knew the answer.
Because she was waking up.
Because pieces of herself—the real self—were bleeding back into this world.
And Ragnor would stop at nothing to destroy her before she remembered enough to defeat him.
“Something’s coming,” Jungkook whispered then.
Everyone turned sharply toward him.
He stood very still, his head tilted slightly, eyes wide and distant.
“I hear it again,” he murmured. “The song.”
A faint melody drifted through the trees — just barely audible — as if the Hollowed Grove itself were singing to them. A lilting, ancient song, filled with longing and sadness… and hope.
“Follow it,” Y/N said suddenly, her voice stronger than she expected.
She didn’t know how she knew. She just did.
The others hesitated, exchanging wary glances. But Jungkook moved first, reaching for her hand without hesitation. His fingers curled around hers, warm and certain.
“Come on,” he said softly.
And one by one, the others followed.
Together, they disappeared into the mist, chasing a song that had waited far too long to be heard.
Genre: Fluff/Strangers to Lovers/Slow Burn/Courtship/Faery AU
Pairing: Taehyung x Reader
Summary: Taehyung teaches YN how to collect stardust.
A/N: YN is Your Name. I know most reader inserted stories are in second person but I had this feeling I needed to write this in third person. Apologies if it sounds awkward. Hope everyone is healthy and safe.
Chapter 1
YN was bored.
She stood aimlessly in her kitchen. Migrating to her bedroom for a change of scenery, the poor thing found herself restless and uninspired. Self-isolation had never been so difficult. Seeing as there was nothing to do in her bedroom, YN sluggishly walked to her living room, dragging her feet against the plushed carpet which was cleaned twice this morning.
YN had tried reading, painting, cleaning and even cooking but soon stopped for she feared she would run out of things to do for the rest of the day. It was only 1pm of day 42.
Frankly put, she was miserably bored and was in desperate need of company.
What was the saying? Misery loves company and...boredom? That sounded about right.
Boredom was like quicksand, she mused. The moment it touched you, it was nearly impossible to shake off. You found yourself sinking and sinking and sinking, until you were sucked into the pits of boredom with no hopes of escape. Where you die of boredom.
Or, thought YN to herself, boredom was more like a vampiric spirit that attached itself to you and sucked all feelings of enjoyment in doing anything. YN didn’t want to do anything but she also didn’t want to do nothing.
And so at 1:03pm on day 42 of self-isolation, she made herself comfortable in her balcony chair outside with her pink cactus of two months sitting snugly in her lap. Her plant, baptized Cactimus on day 12 of her self-isolation journey, was her great and only companion.
Being that she was on the second floor of the apartment building and facing the woods, YN didn’t have the best or worse view. She couldn’t see the top of the trees and she couldn’t closely admire her ground floor neighbor’s garden gnomes and faery doors. The area was deserted. YN stared blankly ahead and began counting the number of squirrels to pass by the time.
Six squirrels later (was there some kind of family reunion?) YN saw her first human of the day. He was strolling leisurely, stopping on occasion to pick up a rock or a fallen leaf.
“Is he carrying a wooden bucket?” she murmured to Cactimus as she furrowed her brow.
First-human-being-of-the-day was indeed carrying a wooden bucket, similar to what children would bring to the beach.
YN scoffed, amused at the idea.
The young man had long black hair and was dressed snugly in a red cardigan and dark brown slacks. He was too far away for YN to make out his features. Barefoot and without a care in the world, he swung his wooden bucket in one hand and in the other hand…was that a toy shovel?
YN burst into laughter.
That got the man’s attention. He stilled and turned to the sound of laughter.
YN stopped laughing.
“How on earth did he hear me,” YN whispered to Cactimus. Her heart quickened when she saw him approaching.
She leaned forward, feeling equally uneasy and curious.
Upon closer inspection at the nearing figure, YN was stunned to realize how good looking the young man was. Her heart quickened for a different reason.
“Six feet!” she blurted to the approaching stranger when she saw he wasn’t going to stop. Was he planning on climbing up her balcony??
The handsome man stopped. He cocked his hip to the side, stared up at YN and smiled.
“Is this six feet? Looks more like seven,” he teased, his voice deep and low. A shiver ran up YN’s spine. The man took a giant step forward.
YN didn’t know whether to laugh or frown. She settled on frowning.
“What are you doing? We’re supposed to be social distancing,” she reprimanded, her actions betraying her words as she leaned further to get a better view of the man.
“We are social distancing. Unless you decide to jump down from your balcony. Sadly, due to the circumstances, I won’t catch you, as lovely as you are. Or should I say I shouldn’t catch you,” quipped the handsome man.
YN couldn’t stop the small smile on her face even if she tried. She would always welcome a flirty, witty man’s company. She was starved for real life conversation and compliments.
“What’s your-” hesitated YN.
“-name?” finished the young man.
Feeling shy, YN looked down at Cactimus before glancing at the stranger again.
“YN,” she said before realizing she was speaking too softly. She cleared her voice and said louder, “YN.”
“YN YN or YN? Either way, a very beautiful name,” said the young man cheekily.
How did he hear me the first time, she wondered to herself.
“Whatever you like. What about you?” YN said with a laugh, eyeing him with interest. “I’ve never seen you around.”
“You can call me Taehyung,” Taehyung answered simply.
YN nodded. A second wave of shyness hit her.
Taehyung stared intently at YN. She suddenly felt awkward – at not knowing what to say and at having a terribly handsome man standing in front of her balcony staring at her. It was odd to say the least.
YN coughed into her hand, her eyes darting before landing on his again. He was still staring.
“I’m on my way to collect stardust. Would you like to join me?” he asked slowly, as if his invitation carried great significance.
YN didn’t know what to think of such a strange request. She blinked, hoping she heard wrong. Was he a little…touched?
“Uh…I’m sorry, what?” she asked in disbelief.
Taehyung smiled to himself and shook his head to then turn and walk away. YN stared at his retreating back in bewilderment. That’s it??
A sudden urge to sneeze came to YN. She achoo-ed three times in a row. With watery eyes she looked up to see Taehyung was gone.
YN could only laugh, shaking her head.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The sun was warmer the next day. YN was seated in her chair basking in the sun and fresh air. It was 12:55pm on day 43 of self-isolation. A long-forgotten book and iced peach drink lay beside her. In what she hoped was a languid manner, she glanced around, her eyes searching and wondering.
“Hello.”
YN startled. For the briefest of moments, she felt a puff of hot air tickling her left ear. She whipped around but found no one.
“Hello?” she called out tentatively, wondering if she’d receive a response.
A car honked in the distance.
YN sighed and grabbed her pink companion.
“I’m going crazy, aren’t I. To be fair, I’m only going crazy if I talk to no one and I hear something back,” she mused to Cactimus, lightly brushing imaginary dust off the plant.
“Hello,” said a deep, clear voice from below her balcony.
YN nearly dropped the cactus in surprise. Heart in her throat, she quickly glanced down to see Taehyung standing directly below her balcony.
“Oh hello Taehyung,” she said, a strange feeling settling on her tongue as she said his name. She couldn’t say she didn’t like it. It almost felt as if cotton candy was melting into her tongue. The sensation was gone as fast as it came.
And was it her imagination or did he shiver at the sound of her saying his name?
What an eccentric man, she thought.
“Hello YN…or is it YN YN?” said Taehyung with a smile, as he shook his hair out of his eyes.
YN responded with a smile and a shrug. She filed away the fact it was the second time Taehyung asked for her name. She would ponder about that later.
A moment passed between them as YN studied him. He was barefoot again, this time dressed in a flowered dress shirt with pink dress pants. There were so many questions YN wanted to ask. Where were his shoes? And his bucket and shovel? Why was he back?
And why was he holding a bouquet of yellow roses?
As if reading her mind, Taehyung glanced down at the bouquet in his hands. He raised the bouquet as if he had the mind to give it to her.
YN didn’t know what to do. Hesitating, she reached down to accept the roses. Just as YN was about to grasp the bouquet, it fell from Taehyung’s grip. Their hands touched. His hands were long and strong, his fingers ghosting over her wrist before cradling YN’s hand. Just as fast as it happened, he let go. Warmth blossomed in YN’s palm and chest.
A giddiness overcame her. She had the strongest urge to do something – laugh, dance, sing, cheer!
“Oh no,” he said, the faux surprise in his voice sounding ludicrous to YN’s ears.
“You did that on purpose,” she said, wanting to laugh.
“I did not,” Taehyung replied, his eyes twinkling. If she was a lesser woman she would have swooned.
“Yes you did,” insisted YN.
“You could come down and retrieve them yourself,” he suggested.
“Are they for me Taehyung?” countered YN bravely. Taehyung’s ears turned bright red.
He opened his mouth, thought twice about it, spun around and started briskly walking away. For the second time, YN stared at his retreating back. The man was near running away by the looks of it.
“Where are you going?” she spluttered. Had she scare him off?
She sighed, resting her hand on her cheek. Feeling a pinprick on her cheek, YN glanced down at her hand – the hand held by Taehyung – and saw the shiniest, brightest jeweled ring on her middle finger.
“What!” she exclaimed, not believing her eyes.
A cluster of yellow stones circled the golden band. YN brought her hand up in front of her. She had never seen anything so bright, so clear and so yellow. Suddenly remembering the fallen yellow roses, she peered below the balcony. There was nothing there. She looked up.
Taehyung was gone as well.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: Tada~! Here is my attempt at fluff and slow burn. I had horrible writer’s block for the past week and then this lovely, sweet, soft, pure story came to me out of the blue. I have a soft spot for faeries and I hope I do this story justice. I will try to keep each chapter at least 1k words. I know it’s not a lot but I’m trying to get into the habit of writing more frequently. Enjoy! Please let me know what you think <3
Hallowed Grove Chapter Fifteen: The Crown Beneath the Roots
The Grove slept uneasy.
They could feel it — every rustle of the leaves, every shiver of the roots beneath their feet.
It was alive, aware, and shifting around them like a creature dreaming too close to waking.
In the clearing near the silver tree, the group gathered by a small fire once more — not for warmth this time, but for strategy.
Maps, sigils, and old sketches lay spread across stones and moss.
Namjoon traced them with his fingertip, lips pressed in a thin line.
“The wards won’t hold if he comes in force,” he said.
Yoongi leaned back against a gnarled trunk.
“Then we don’t wait for him to knock.”
Taehyung lay on his back in the grass nearby, hands folded on his chest, staring at the canopy of shifting branches.
“The Grove’s awake. I can feel it humming through the roots.”
Y/N stood a few paces away, one palm pressed against the silver tree’s bark.
The contact sent a faint glow up her arm — a pulse that felt like both question and answer.
When she pulled her hand away, symbols bloomed on the trunk — faint runes, half-formed crowns, and lines that twisted downward into the earth.
Hoseok moved to her side, eyes narrowing at the markings.
“Do you know what it’s saying?”
“Not yet.”
She knelt and brushed moss aside where the trunk met the soil. Beneath, the runes continued — etched deeper into roots older than language. She could almost hear them if she listened hard enough. Like a heartbeat in the ground.
Seokjin crouched beside her, tracing one sigil with his thumb before wiping his hand on his cloak.
“It’s a path.”
She looked at him. “A path?”
“To the ritual,” he said simply.
“You were meant to be crowned here. The Grove buried its memory when you fell — but it’s waking up now because you’re ready to finish it.”
Y/N’s chest tightened.
“And if I’m not?”
From behind her, Jungkook’s voice was firm.
“You are. You always were.”
✦
The rest of the day passed like a slow heartbeat — the Grove shifting around them as they prepared.
Yoongi and Namjoon reinforced protective wards, weaving sea sigils with shadow magic at the edges of the clearing.
Jin mixed fresh healing salves and taught Taehyung how to bless the wildflowers so they’d carry light deeper into the forest’s shadows.
Hoseok meditated near the roots, mind open — listening for any whisper of Ragnor’s corruption.
Jimin found Y/N sitting alone by the stream, fingers trailing in the water that now glowed faintly where she touched it.
“Dance with me,” he said softly.
She looked up, startled — then saw the shy spark in his eyes. A memory flickered: moonlight, waves crashing, his laughter as he spun her barefoot through the surf.
They moved to a small clearing near the roots.
No music — just the hum of the Grove, the hush of wind through ancient leaves.
He pulled her close, one hand warm at her waist, the other slipping into hers.
She rested her chin on his shoulder, fingers curling into his shirt.
He nuzzled into her neck, breathing her in — like her scent was something he’d lost long ago.
When they danced, the tension fell away.
Her heart beat in time with his steps, the Grove’s magic rising around them in gentle pulses.
And when Jimin leaned in — hesitant at first — she met him halfway.
The kiss was soft but deep. She pulled him closer, wanting to be as close as possible.
Their bodies pressed against each other.
Sealed like a promise with ancient roots around them.
✦
That night, as the fire burned low, the Grove shifted again.
Y/N lay awake, the others asleep in a protective circle around the silver tree.
Her eyes traced the runes beneath the bark, now glowing faintly with a light that pulsed to the rhythm of her heartbeat.
She knelt, pressing her hand to the roots.
The world blurred — a vision spilling into her mind.
A crown of woven branches.
Four sigils — sea, sky, earth, shadow — circling the silver tree.
Herself standing at the center, wings spread wide, the tree’s roots coiling up her legs like veins.
The Grove whispering:
“Guardian. Bridge. Anchor.”
She gasped, yanked back into her own skin.
But something new was waiting in the clearing.
A twisted vine, black as pitch, slithered up the silver bark — leaving a scar where it touched.
Yoongi woke with a sharp breath, his shadow magic bristling around him.
“What is that?”
Y/N swallowed hard, hand trembling as she reached for the mark.
It burned cold under her fingertips.
“Ragnor,” she whispered.
“He’s trying to break through the anchor.”
The Grove shivered beneath her palm — its magic straining to hold.
But the crown beneath the roots pulsed stronger than ever.
And this time, Y/N would not run from what it demanded.
🌿 Hallowed Grove Chapter Fourteen: The Shape Of Her Return
The Grove slept uneasy.
They could feel it — every rustle of the leaves, every shiver of the roots beneath their feet. It was alive, aware, and shifting around them like a creature dreaming too close to waking.
In the clearing near the silver tree, the group gathered by a small fire once more — not for warmth this time, but for strategy. Maps, sigils, and old sketches lay spread across stones and moss. Namjoon traced them with his fingertip, lips pressed in a thin line.
“The wards won’t hold if he comes in force,” he said.
Yoongi leaned back against a gnarled trunk. “Then we don’t wait for him to knock.”
Taehyung lay on his back in the grass nearby, hands folded on his chest, staring at the canopy of shifting branches. “The Grove’s awake. I can feel it humming through the roots.”
Y/N stood a few paces away, one palm pressed against the silver tree’s bark. The contact sent a faint glow up her arm — a pulse that felt like both question and answer.
When she pulled her hand away, symbols bloomed on the trunk — faint runes, half-formed crowns, and lines that twisted downward into the earth.
Hoseok moved to her side, eyes narrowing at the markings. “Do you know what it’s saying?”
“Not yet.” She knelt and brushed moss aside where the trunk met the soil. Beneath, the runes continued — etched deeper into roots older than language. She could almost hear them if she listened hard enough. Like a heartbeat in the ground.
Seokjin came to crouch beside her. He traced one sigil with his thumb, then wiped his hand on his cloak. “It’s a path.”
She looked at him. “A path?”
“To the ritual,” he said simply. “You were meant to be crowned here. The Grove buried its memory when you fell — but it’s waking up now because you’re ready to finish it.”
Y/N’s chest tightened. “And if I’m not?”
“You are,” Jungkook said from behind them, firm. No hesitation. “You always were.”
⸻
✦
The rest of the day passed like a slow heartbeat — the Grove shifting around them as they prepared.
Yoongi and Namjoon reinforced protective wards, weaving sea sigils with shadow magic at the edges of the clearing. Jin mixed fresh healing salves and taught Taehyung how to bless the wildflowers so they’d carry light deeper into the forest’s shadows. Hoseok meditated near the roots, mind open — listening for any whisper of Ragnor’s corruption.
Jimin found Y/N sitting alone by the stream, fingers trailing in the water that now glowed faintly where she touched it.
“Dance with me,” he said softly.
She looked up, startled — then saw the shy spark in his eyes. A memory flickered: moonlight, waves crashing, his laughter as he spun her barefoot through the surf.
They moved to a small clearing near the roots. No music, just the hum of the Grove, the hush of wind through ancient leaves. He pulled her close, one hand warm at her waist, the other slipping into hers. She rested her chin on his shoulder, fingers curling into his shirt. He nuzzled into her neck, breathing her in — like her scent was something he’d lost long ago.
When they danced, the tension fell away. Her heart beat in time with his steps, the Grove’s magic rising around them in gentle pulses. And when Jimin leaned in — hesitant at first — she met him halfway.
The kiss was soft but deep. She pulled him closer wanting to be as close as possible. Their bodies pressed against each other. Sealed like a promise with ancient roots around them.
⸻
✦
That night, as the fire burned low, the Grove shifted again.
Y/N lay awake, the others asleep in a protective circle around the silver tree. Her eyes traced the runes beneath the bark, now glowing faintly with a light that pulsed to the rhythm of her heartbeat.
She knelt, pressing her hand to the roots. The world blurred — a vision spilling into her mind.
A crown of woven branches.
Four sigils — sea, sky, earth, shadow — circling the silver tree.
Herself standing at the center, wings spread wide, the tree’s roots coiling up her legs like veins.
The Grove whispering: “Guardian. Bridge. Anchor.”
She gasped, yanked back into her own skin.
But something new was waiting in the clearing. A twisted vine, black as pitch, slithered up the silver bark — leaving a scar where it touched.
Yoongi woke with a sharp breath, his shadow magic bristling around him. “What is that?”
Y/N swallowed hard, hand trembling as she reached for the mark. It burned cold under her fingertips.
“Ragnor,” she whispered. “He’s trying to break through the anchor.”
The Grove shivered beneath her palm — its magic straining to hold. But the crown beneath the roots pulsed stronger than ever.
And this time, Y/N would not run from what it demanded.
