You wake in a panic from a nightmare, you only have nightmares when something bad is about to happen. It happened once before a year ago, when HE started wreaking havoc across Equestria. Prophecies of doom and destruction, of the world about to come to an end. The worst part of everything? Your little sister Luna is at the center of everything.
You jump out of bed and slam through your bedroom door, running down the stone hallways of the castle, startling the guards and maids in your path with the commotion. You need to find answers to your nightmares, and the only place you can think of is HIS statue.
Sitting in front of him you take in his appearance, it has changed since he was first imprisoned a year ago. Crystalline roots and branches wrapping around his statue like chains. Emerging where the Elements of Harmony were embedded in the stone base.
The Tree like structure is made of the same material as the Elements, and the Tree they originally were created from. It’s odd to see a force of order intermingled with one of chaos. Why have these roots appeared? To keep him from escaping or something larger. You never expected it to speak.
“You’re in a fine mess aren’t you Princess?” A disembodied voice speaks, sounding like two people at once were fighting over who should talk first. One snooty and one seemingly concerned.
“Who are you?” You ask it. It laughs at your confusion.
“What a lovely question! Although we think you should be worried about your time.”
You frustratingly ask for clarification. “What do you mean?!” Its giggling is annoying.
“You only have three days.” Your face scrunches up in frustration.
“THAT DOESNT ANSWER THE QUESTION.” You yell at it.
“My my Princess watch your tone! You don’t want others to think you’ve gone mad speaking to a statue.” Your mouth zips shut quickly. “Use your thoughts, we can hear you just fine!” You don’t like it can read your thoughts.
“What do you mean by three days?” You think, feeling silly about talking mentally with a STATUE.
“A good question princess! One year ago you and your little sister Princess Luna sealed away an ancient monster of chaos named Discord, and in three days is the anniversary for this historical event. How grand!”
“Go on…” growing impatient with its attitude.
“Have patience, let us speak.” You bite your tongue and tap your hooves on the ground.
“The event is going to be just spectacular! Isn’t it? It’s also the first days off you’ll have in entire year. You’ve been very busy with your royal duties ever since being appointed Princess.” You nod along, it’s not wrong about that. You and your sister have been overworked by duties to your new subjects.
“You’ve been so overwhelmed with work that you haven’t had time to spend with your dearest little sister! I’m sure she’s been VERY lonely.” You look down at the mention of your sister, you’ve been feeling guilty about not spending time with her despite all the stress of work you’ve both been under.
“Speaking of Princess Luna….” You look back up at the statue when hearing her name again. “have noticed her acting off in the past few months. Haven’t you?” You wilt again at this.
“Perhaps You have been unable to figure out the why for the longest time, until now of course!” You remember the nightmares you have been having the last few days.
“DO YOU KNOW WHATS GOING ON?” You think frantically.
“you’ve visited Discords statue just to try and gleam something. From him? The past? The future? You don’t know nor care do you. You just need information. And Information you will get, my dear.” Your attention has been captured.
“In Three days there will be a festival to celebrate the anniversary of HIS Imprisoning. In three days your sister will fall victim to her darkest thoughts and feelings and become a shadow of her former self. In three days you have to figure out how to stop the moon from rising and never setting.” You jump up in a panic and start pacing around the statue.
“WHAT DO I DO!” Your thoughts are racing.
“You have only Three Days Princess! But what if you had more time?” You stop and in your tracks mid panic.
“Is there anything I….you could do?” You whisper under your breath.
“Of course there is dearest Princess.” It giggles in that annoying grating voice.
“Then What?”
“What if You could go back to the start of the clock and begin anew with all the information you got from the previous three days?” You nod for it to continue talking.
“Stuck in a pocket of time doomed to repeat three days over and over, For as long it takes you to solve this conundrum.” Your face pales at the thought.
“Do I have a choice?” You already know that answer.
“We wish either of us had a choice Princess.” Both voices sound exhausted.
You hear a familiar snap and feel magic take hold over you in an incomprehensible way. And You wake in a panic from a nightmare….
…“Good luck dearest Princess, you’ll need it.” You hear in your mind and you know with absolute certainty that what you just experienced wasn’t just a simple nightmare. Your nightmares are NEVER simple. You have a feeling you’re going to go through a very difficult journey.
Crossover: Not sure if it's the most common but it feels the most prevalent. Usually for characters with drastic settings. Send character(s) through a portal for a sort of meeting of the minds. A fun part is exploring differences. Tv shows and movies usually have a way back, comics as well. Extra angst if there's loved ones left behind.
Semi crossover: How shared universes usually go. The settings are similar enough it's not impossible that they were in the same universe. Could vaguely be aware of other events for crossover convenience. Very common for tv shows, movies and comics. Lets characters interact without multiversal implications.
Soft crossover: Sometimes settings are too drastic, but writers still want characters to interact without multiversal implications. Explained through variants with a reworked in universe backstory. A character's canon is shaped by the setting it takes place in. Fun for alternate universes. Comics and tv shows might do this with cameos or parodies.
The Continuing Story of Deputy Rook and Sheriff Jake.
Jake looked over at Rook as she was shooting pool with Nick. Sharky and Hurk had done it again only this time they summoned Rook alone, or rather Joseph and Rook. Both looked beat to hell and Rook revealed that Nuclear bombs had fallen in her world after she managed to defeat each of the Seeds. Joseph stuck to her side like a bur. It was a shame that Jake couldn’t arrest him for crimes committed in an alternate universe. Rook mourned the loss of her friends, of her enemies, and tried to put on a brave face for most of it. Jake figured that Joseph clung because she was all he had left of his world. Since no bombs fell Jake managed to arrest and get the leaders of The Garden of Eden sentenced to prison, in different maximum-security prisons. Jake’s eyes moved over to Joseph, sitting in a booth with water, watching Rook’s every move.
“Hey Rook are you gonna join the sheriff’s office here?” Mary May asked and Rook looked over. They hadn’t told anyone that she’d already applied and he took her in a heartbeat. Jake lost three of his deputies to the Cult and Rook was more than qualified. Hell, if he could he’d co-sheriff with her. She’d more than earned it.
“Well actually I joined up already. I start back next week.”
“We’re still sorting the paperwork of the arrests. It won’t be official until next week.” Jake said. Whatever spell they’d used was permanent this time. Joseph was somber and silent, never straying too far from Rook so Jake had no idea what was going to happen when she went to work but he was prepared to force the other man to stop.
Rook looked good in her deputy uniform. Her hair was pulled back in a bun and she was early, coffee in hand.
“Where’s your preaching shadow?”
“Joseph is working on a book.” She said carefully and sat at her desk.
“I know there isn’t much we can do here but do you honestly think letting him roam free is a good idea?” Jake really didn’t want to deal with another Cult, especially one that would be led by someone that looked like his little brother. Joe was avoiding Joseph like the plague. They both had such similar interests but went about showing them in wildly different ways.
“He doesn’t have the means or the will to start a new Cult. For now. If he does try we’ll figure it out. We can put things in place to prevent him from taking up Shiloh’s stragglers.” The remaining stragglers that had slipped through the noose of the resistance and then the reinstatement of actual law enforcement.
“Like what?”
“Well threatening my life will probably work for a little bit until we can come up with something more concrete.” She offered with a shrug and looked down at her hands.
“I’m not going to threaten to kill you just to keep the crazy man in line.” There was a concerned piece of Jake that wondered if Rook wanted to die, her friends and family were dead the people she fought tooth and nail to save were dead and all she had to show for it was the same man that would have seen her brainwashed and turned into a cultist.
“It’s just… Joseph doesn’t have the network here that he did previously. Before he had Jacob’s strength and when he couldn’t smooth things over with words he had John’s malicious charisma and Faith’s drugs. Plus… Everyone is gone.” She looked at her hands. She would do that sometimes, just stare at her hands.
“Rook you’re not a murderer for protecting your life.” Jake knew that look. It was the same look all soldiers got when they felt bad for killing someone that would have killed them and others.
“We should talk about something else.” She mused bitterly, she would forever think herself a murder and Jake couldn’t fault her for it, he felt that way too.
“Okay so the Testy Fest is coming up.” She burst into laughter and he smiled. He couldn’t give her absolution but he could try to prove to her that her sins didn’t matter.
“Oh those poor bulls.” She muttered and gave him a shaky smile. They hadn’t actually come to an agreement on the matter but for now they’d let it ride and see how things turned out.
Joseph watched Rook walk into the house, Deputies worked long hours. She pulled her hair out of the bun it was held in and blinked seeing him sitting in the living room.
“What do you want for dinner?” She asked as she stepped out of her shoes. They’d been stuck in that Bunker for a month and a half before being released. In the bunker it had been his reading and her utter silence until he slipped and had a moment of anger. She took everything from him while he tried to save her wretched soul. He tried his damnedest to make her worthy of walking through Eden’s Gates. When he expressed this to her she barked a sharp laugh at him and tore into him with words. How he might have been right about the end of the world but forcing people to conform or die was wrong. It hurt people. It destroyed people. It was only the Lord Above that could judge and grant clemency or condemnation. Listening to her repeat chapter and verse to him, justifying her own rejection and resistance and destruction of all he held dear was maddening in so many ways.
It had been the first time that he kissed her in a moment of passion. She hadn’t returned it, but then he hadn’t given her the chance to recover from her shock either. She wasn’t completely silent after that but tended to keep a distance from him and when he tried to provoke her into discussion of psalms and verses she would narrow her eyes at him and shake her head. Once he had been assured that she wouldn’t kill him, or herself, he had released her from the cuffs. When they arrived in the middle of the church, the church that they had fought in, with the pair of fools that wanted fire and destruction, sought it out for fun Joseph wondered if the Lord was taking pity on them, or if he was punishing them. Rook now surrounded by those that she loved and cared for, those she had sacrificed for, but they knew nothing of this, knew nothing of her but that she wore the same face as a woman that would have brought them to Salvation. Joseph now with his Family and those that wore the faces of his lost Family, but they weren’t actually His Family. All they truly had, even now surrounded by others, was each other. He knew that the Sheriff was talking of arresting him or putting him in an asylum, but Joseph would take Rook if that happened. He had already planned for this, he remembered Faith’s notes well and could distill enough Bliss to incapacitate the Deputy and keep her pliant while he tried to locate them a new home. But another day had passed and he was free. Another day had passed and Joseph remained within the Deputy’s home and not that sinner Jake.
“I made sandwiches because you didn’t tell me when you would be home.” Sometimes she arrived on time, but occasionally she wouldn’t come home until very late. He always stayed awake until she returned to him. And she did always return to him. In their world and here.
“Oh.” She blinked, taken off guard, and stood awkwardly in the doorway. “Thanks.”
Rook was slowly adjusting, it took some getting used to but she was slowly assuring the people that remembered her as a crazy woman that she wasn’t the same. Her life was weird and had only become weirder with this twist but she was trying to find joy in it. She was currently sitting in the rebuilt church that Pastor Jerome called perish.
“Was there something you needed?” He asked softly. It was a Friday, she honestly should have been at work. But there was only so much paperwork she could file and staring she could handle. So she went ‘on patrol’ something they did periodically now to ensure that the remaining Peg – Geos were captured or were the peaceful ones that wouldn’t do anything but carried on the tenants of the Garden.
“I just… It’s quiet here. I’ll leave if you want me to.”
“No, all is well. I just didn’t take you as religious.” He chuckled softly and she ran a hand through her hair.
“My parents were religious. I’m open to interpretation so long as you don’t try to force it on me or others.” He nodded and hummed in agreement.
“Would you mind if I sat with you? It’s been a while since I had a moment for myself.” He smiled at her and she motioned to the pew.
“It’s your church.”
“It’s God’s church.” He corrected gently. “We are merely patrons visiting his House.” He took the seat beside her but was half an arm’s length away. Rook was grateful for the company, for the understanding. Sometimes it felt like Joseph was the only one that understood her. Sometimes she worried that the fact that three nights out of seven she woke up and fell asleep in his arms. She half expected him to kiss her again and dreaded that. Dreaded that because it had felt nice, for as fierce and domineering as it was, it had felt nice to be kissed with such passion. She’d never been kissed like that before, like she was the only thing that made up the world the good and the bad.
She looked down at her hands and sometimes she could see the blood caked there. Jerome had yet to see her stick her hands in the holy water to try and cleanse the blood but she had a feeling if she wasn’t careful about it he would and she would have a ticket to a mental hospital. They could give her and Joseph adjoining rooms.
Getting to enjoy the Testy Fest was fun, as the carnival was winding down music was playing and there was dancing. She had a few to drink and was pleasantly buzzed when Jake walked up at her grinning. He held out his hand.
“How ‘bout it?” He asked and she laughed before taking his hand. They danced to the upbeat music until Mary May started to play slow songs. Rook bit her lip and looked up into his blue eyes. He placed his hands on her hips and started to sway slowly.
“This is like a coming of age prom movie.” She muttered as she placed her hands on his shoulders. The lamp light over head caught on the ring he’d given her.
“You kept it?”
“Well yeah. I didn’t want to forget.” He smiled brightly and she grinned back at him before resting her head on his shoulder. “Did you mean it?”
“You’re someone worth trying for.” He promised her. They continued to sway for a while, as songs shifted by and Mary May was dragged down from her position of DJ by Jonathan. Rook smiled at that. Rebecca took over and played a random assortment before she grinned.
“Here Jake!” And the opening strains of Only You started to play.
Joseph, who was not glaring at the couple dancing he was merely observing to ensure that the Sheriff didn’t do anything untoward to the Deputy, moved as fast as possible as his brother’s song played and Rook froze completely. She wouldn’t harm the man she was dancing with but anyone else around them would be injured, as much as Joseph would like to see them understand that she was not like them it wouldn’t do to have her be locked away. He placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled her away from the Sheriff. She moved willingly enough.
“Perhaps we should take our leave? It has been a long day.” Her hand inched toward the knife that was no longer there and then she was looking into his eyes, those feral eyes were calming down. “Take me home.” He commanded and she nodded before escorting him away. Joseph glanced back at the confused people and smiled. Truly they’d never understand his Deputy. She was stronger than they were but now was not a time to show it.
Jake frowned as he watched them leave. He went and grabbed his coat and hat, getting briefly stopped by Joe.
“I can’t leave her alone with him. Not when she’s like that.”
“I understand just… Take this. I made it for her.” Joe handed over a basket of bread and a small package. “She’ll… She’ll understand.” Jake nodded, taking the gifts, and headed after them.
The Rook household was dark and quiet when he arrived. He knocked on the door and hoped that she would answer but instead it was Joseph. Between them getting home, about ten minutes ahead of him because he got delayed by Rebecca asking what she’d done wrong, he had lost his shirt. Rook was usually able to get him to wear a shirt but around their home he usually went without one.
“Yes?” He asked in that pleasant tone that Jake had come to understand was his default when he wasn’t pleased at all.
“Is she alright?” He asked, knowing he would not be invited in.
“Rook is fine, she merely needed to get away from everyone.”
“Everyone but you.”
“Well I do live here too and she did drive me.”
“Tell her that Rebecca is sorry and give her this.” He handed over the basket and Joseph took it, probably intending to do no such thing until Rook’s voice called out.
“Jacob? No. Jake.” She smiled faintly. She shooed Joseph away but he only allowed her to stand in the doorway, not actually leaving. He loomed behind her, eyes that misted over and serene look that meant he was plotting something. Jake knew because it was similar to the look Shiloh wore when she was plotting something.
“Joe baked some of that bread you like and he made you something. He wanted to give it to you but got distracted.” Jake said softly. “Are you okay?”
“I will be. I didn’t hurt anyone this time.” She smiled but looked tired.
“Well rest up you’ve got the next todays off.” He waved and headed back to his car. He glanced back and saw her take the basket from Joseph but Joseph was the one to close the door and shut them off from his eyes. He was once again wearing the infuriating smirk. Jake’s hands clenched into fists. He had never thought of hurting his brothers but that expression on Joseph’s face made him want to beat it off him, and not even wearing Joe’s face made the desire vanish. He sat in his car for a long moment, watching the lights of the living room and then the upstairs bedroom flick on. He saw Rook’s for in the window through the sheer curtains and felt something inside him loosen. A text notification pinged on his phone.
‘Are you watching me change clothes like a creep?’
‘Just making sure you don’t need me to come rescue you.’
‘Well I’m fine. Really, I’m locked in my room. I’m going to go to sleep. Tell Joe thanks. Tell him that I’m honored.’ Jake wondered what his little brother had given her other than bread but figured he could interrogate his brother easier than he could his Deputy.
‘Goodnight.’
‘Night.’
The rosary held a few more beads than Joseph’s and was made of wooden beads instead of the glossy black ones his had. The cross at the end was small and simple. Rook was touched that Joe had wanted to give this to her.
“It guided my love through turbulent times. It guided me through darkness. May it guide you to happiness.” His little note said. Joanna’s prayer beads were lovingly cared for. Joe’s devotion to his wife still clear. She almost didn’t want to touch them with her sinner hands. But that was what they were made for, absolving sin. She wrapped them around her right wrist, leaving a little slack for them to move freely if necessary. As she was getting dressed she looked down at the tattoo she had on her chest, dead center and above any collar for a woman’s shirt. John knew how and where to place a mark. She traced her hand below the black lettering that was now beginning to fade a bit, going just slightly blurry at the edges. She pulled on her shirt, seeing the top half of the letters but ignored it. She needed to go grocery shopping and pick up a friend. She needed a guard dog.
A commission I got myself from RyuRyugami from DeviantArt of my DanDaDan variant of everyone's favorite Teen Titan goth hero Rachel Roth aka Raven! Let's just my symbiote OC Aaron is one lucky ass guy 😏😏
The reason why she has horns is due to her half demon side being more shown when she used her powers and also cause I got inspired by Gummy's own versions of Raven.
And for why she's thick, well I thought it fit her well thanks to said friend's art of Raven and what can I say I'm a simp for Raven being thick XD
This is the first part of a large cross over between the canon game with Rook as the Hero and the Seeds as the villains and an AU in which the Deputy is the Cult Leader with the Sheriff, Deputy Pratt, and Deputy Hudson as her Heralds. In this story and in most stories I have Rook’s first name as Shiloh when it’s important I’ll be sure to mention it when the Deputy’s name is relevant to the story
Shiloh blinked at the stranger in her church. He looked much like Joe Seed, the operator of the community Kitchen and Clothing store, but there was a distinct lack of a shirt on his torso and his tattoos were different and muddled with the seven deadly sins carved into his skin. His long hair was pulled up into a bun though it was slightly a mess. He was wearing jeans and a large belt buckle and boots of some kind. He looked equally shocked to see her. She stepped away from the alter, calming the Seekers that were staring at the man, that knew what Jake Seed’s brother looked like.
“We have a guest Dear Ones; how do we welcome new guests?” She chided softly and they jumped up and ushered him towards the front pews to have a seat. She smiled and then tapped her temple lightly. “No sunglasses on during services.” She returned to her alter and continued her sermon. This one lacking the talk of the coming fire or the rebirth but meant to assure and be gentle rather than terrify. This wasn’t a service for the lost but for the afraid. Many of her Dear Ones were sneaking peeks at the stranger but left with little encouragement when asked to. They were alone with only two Seekers there. She sat down on the steps of her dais as he continued to watch her from the pew.
“I believe introductions are in order.” He finally said and pulled himself to be standing and offered her his hand. She took it and felt the strength in his muscles and the callouses on his hands. “I am Joseph Seed, the Father.”
“Shiloh Rook, the Mother.”
“Mother!” A Seeker called out and she looked over at them. “Lady Josephine um is…” They handed over the radio where her Inquisitor was shouting profanity at someone.
“Josephine?” She cut through easily. “I’m going to take a stab and say you have a guest that looks uncannily like a certain brother of the Sheriff.”
“Well he ain’t the straight laced little brat I can tell you that.” She huffed.
“They are different, aren’t they?”
“You have one too? Are you alright? I’ll kick his ass if he does anything to you.” Shiloh looked to where Joseph was standing, still holding her hand gently. She gave a small apologetic smile.
“I’m fine. Please bring our guest to the Farm House.”
“I’ll check you myself when we get there.” She quickly cut off communication and Shiloh sighed softly.
“I’m sorry about that they get protective.”
“I’m sure John isn’t helping matters, he can be overzealous sometimes in his work and I’m sure Josephine reminds him of one of the Deputies that has been difficult.” Joseph smiled pleasantly at her and she nodded.
“Well would you mind helping me prepare dinner?”
“I would be delighted.”
It took some time for the pairs to arrive, Earl and the lovely Faith arriving first. Faith was sweet and expressed genuine appreciation for the large gardens at the house.
“If you’d like you may tour them before dinner.”
“Oh no I’d love to help.” She assured and dove right in, pushing up the sleeves of her dress. Shiloh didn’t comment on the fact that she lacked shoes and greeted her Healer with a kiss on the cheek.
“Earl.” He kissed her forehead and gave her a hug.
“Shiloh.” He started to set the table and was half finished when Staci arrived with Jacob Seed at his heels. Earl was deathly silent.
“You must be Jacob.” Shiloh mused as she leaned in the doorway.
“And you’re Shiloh.” He grunted, looking unimpressed a far cry from the determination and anger that usually colored his face when the pair were in the same room. She smiled and walked slightly closer. Staci tensed, ready put himself between them like a proper protector.
“From what Joseph has told me I’m the thorn.” She hummed and glanced down at the rosary around her neck. “While I might not be Her, make no mistake I will snuff out any trouble in my house.” She flicked her gaze back up to him. They stared at each other before a smile cracked his face and he tossed his head back with a laugh.
“Oh you’re just a like.” He hissed, delighted and slightly relaxed.
“If you’d like to help set the table or have a seat in the den, dinner will have to wait until the last two arrive.” Staci frowned and raised an eyebrow.
“Josephine is closer than I. And with the way she drives faster than Earl.”
“John is apparently difficult.” Shiloh had radioed when they hadn’t arrived to find that the Seekers were trying but the pair were fighting like a pair of wet cats.
“Well great.” Staci muttered and went to help Earl. Shiloh smiled and went back into the kitchen to start some of the cleanup.
Josephine and John arrived half an hour later, both were bruised and looked rough around the edges. John was almost knocked over by Josephine, who made a beeline for Shiloh as she was sitting in the den reading a book with a medical box on the table.
“I knew you were hurt.” She hissed and started looking the younger woman over. Shiloh rolled her eyes and took her hands.
“That’s for you and John.” She assured but Josephine continued to check for wounds and look suspicious until she was finally satisfied.
“Well at least these three are quiet.”
“Hey!” John yelped looking affronted. Earl had taken to patching up Josephine and Shiloh smiled and offered her hand to John.
“Welcome to the Garden.” She said and he blinked at her before smirking and taking her hand. Josephine’s eyes were on him in an instant.
“Always a pleasure to meet a lovely Lady.” He said and kissed her hand instead of shaking it.
“I’m going to assume you too have Lust carved somewhere on your skin.” She replied and took her hand back. “Now then let’s eat.”
Jake Seed looked at the woman before him. She was in a pair of hiking boots, jeans, a thigh holster that also had knives, a bow on her back as well as a rifle, a ripped shirt, the word WRATH on her chest, dark brown hair that should be flowing free tied back in a bun, and those honey brown eyes were glaring with an intensity he’d never seen before.
“You ain’t the Mother.” He finally settled on, carefully lowering his rifle.
“You aren’t Jacob.” He hadn’t gone by Jacob since juvie. “I’m gonna kill Hurk and Sharky when I get my hands on them, this whole thing reeks of them.” She muttered and shook her head. Jake chuckled.
“Yeah sounds like them.” He agreed before running a hand through his hair. This woman looked exactly like the one he had been sent to arrest and yet the air around her was completely different. She stuck out her hand.
“I’m Deputy Rook.” She said.
“Sheriff Seed.” He replied and took her hand. She had a firm grip and her hands were a little rough from lack of care but so were his.
“So, I’m willing to bet if you’re the good guys here I’m the bad guy.” Before he could answer that, and how do you tell someone that they’re a Cult Leader hellbent on taking over the county and doing a damn good job to the point where it was a technicality that got them the arrest warrant, his radio crackled to life.
“Jake, I don’t suppose you have a woman with you calling herself Deputy Shiloh Rook.” It was Jonathan back in Fall’s End. The woman wrinkled her nose at the name.
“It’s just Rook.” She informed at his questioning look.
“I got a Deputy Rook with me.”
“Rook!” It was a horribly familiar voice. “Rook are you okay? Stop grabbing twink I need to make sure she’s fine.” Rook smiled a bit and gave a little giggle before holding her hand out for the radio. Jake handed it over easily.
“Hudson I’m here. I’m fine. Where are you?”
“I’m at the Spread Eagle with a shockingly not psychotic John Seed.”
“It’s Jonathan.” Jonathan snapped back.
“Whatever. Do you think the others are here too?”
“Probably better go make sure that Pratt doesn’t hurt anyone. We’ll head your way and figure things out. I’ll check back in once I have Pratt. See if you can get Whitehorse to pick up.” Rook ordered as she looked toward the road. “And try to grab the Sharky and Hurk for me would ya?”
“Got it boss.”
“Jake!” Jonathan called. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine little brother. Why don’t you try to help uh…?”
“Deputy Hudson.”
“Deputy Hudson out or go see if this Whitehorse guy is with Rebecca?”
“Sure, just be careful.”
“Should be saying that to her!” The pair started to squabble.
“Well this is gonna suck.” Jake muttered and Rook gave a weak smile.
“They both mean well I think?” She offered and then they headed out grabbing the car he’d stolen. “So in my version of reality you run the mountains and were holding Deputy Pratt.”
“The Protector Staci guards the Mountains but he took me not well…” Another disturbing question bubbled up from the dark depths of his mind. If he hadn’t been forced by the state to go to therapy, if he hadn’t managed to stay in contact with his family and adopt Johnny and Joe when the time came, what would he have become? Rook looked at him and took a breath.
“Joseph Seed leads the Cult Project Eden’s Gate, known most as just Eden’s Gate. He’s called the Father. His Heralds are his two brothers, Jacob the Soldier and John the Baptist, and his ‘sister’ Faith the Siren. There have been at least two incarnations of Faith previous to the current one. We believe this one is – was Rebecca Jessup considering her Region contains the Jessup lands that were willed to Eden’s Gate after the family died. Sheriff Earl Whitehorse, Deputies Joey Hudson and Staci Pratt, the US Marshall Cameron Burke, and myself went to arrest Joseph because a video of him crushing in a man’s eyes and face surfaced. Up ‘til that point we had no solid evidence of anything; just rumors and suspicion. Of course, it all went to hell in a hand basket after I placed the cuffs on him and lead him out of there. A Peggie threw themselves into the blades of our chopper and we crashed. And then the nightmare really began.” She looked out the window. “Jacob took Pratt, John took Hudson, Faith took the Marshall and Whitehorse.”
“You were meant to be taken by Joseph.” Jake murmured and she looked back at him finally.
“Yeah. I’m supposed to join the Family. I’m the Messiah they’ve been waiting for. My arrival means the Collapse is on the way. Or I’m the Antichrist, sent to open the seals and trigger it. They can’t seem to make up their mind on which it is.”
“I’m… I’m so sorry.” What do you say to that?
“It’s not your fault. Honestly, coming here to Hope I… I just wanted to get out and get away from it all. My family wasn’t… I guess you could say I escaped one cult only to be dragged into another.” He understood that he knew how she felt. Out of the frying pan into the fire with this mess.
“When I came back messed up from the war Joe started to get into religion. Don’t get me wrong our mom made us go to church every Sunday but it never really stuck with us, we were just kids.” Jake looked out at the open road that they traveled. Something told him there wouldn’t be any Seekers or Geos running around so it was relatively safe to travel fully on the road. “It wasn’t until he lost both his wife and daughter that he dove head first into it though.”
“How did they die?” She asked warily. There was a bad story there.
“Well Joanna had gotten really sick, pneumonia, in her last trimester. It made her go into labor two and a half months too early. Little Tabitha’s lungs just… she held on for three weeks before she couldn’t anymore. Joanna couldn’t live with herself and let the sickness take her after that and Joe was…”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for your loss. I’m sorry for his loss.” She said, voice heavy. Jake blinked away the tears that threatened to fall. He needed to drive them to the Wolf’s Den. Radio in the area had been spotty lately and they couldn’t get solid hold of Joe for a while now.
“I would turn on the radio but I don’t really wanna listen to cult tunes right now.” She gave a watery laugh and hummed in agreement.
Pratt was like a feral animal but Rook was able to get him to calm down. He was skittish around Jake but she made sure that he was okay. Joe was fine but had been shocked to find a Herald staring him in the face when he had gotten word that the Herald had left, with someone matching Jake’s description and headed south for the Mother’s Region.
“Okay we’re all here.” They were now in the Spread Eagle after Hudson practically shoved Jake out of the way to check on Rook and then Pratt to ensure they were okay, they settled down to figure out what they were going to do. “So, um, names might be a good start? I’m Rook, that’s Hudson, Pratt, and Whitehorse.” She gave a small wave.
“Jake, that’s Joe, Jonathan, and Rebecca.”
“It will never not be weird to see him wearing a shirt.” Hudson muttered staring at Joe and Rook tried to suppress her laughter, failing miserably but she made an attempt. That seemed to lighten the mood.
“I don’t wear a shirt?” Joe blinked and a slight blush started to form on his cheeks. He looked so concerned that it sent Rook into a new round of laughter, this time she didn’t bother to hide it and shook with it.
“No, you don’t. Honestly if you were a woman we could have gotten you for indecent exposure years ago and saved so much trouble.” Whitehorse muttered with a wistful sigh.
“That’s such an arcane way of thinking let the boobies free.” Pratt managed and Rook was frantically waving one arm in an attempt to hit someone while the other clutched her side.
“It hurts.” She managed wheezing. She panted a little bit, the occasional laugh bubbling out before she shook her head. “Okay, okay we need to find Sharky and Hurk, figure out what they did, find a way to reverse it, and then get a drink before parting ways.”
Apparently, the spell that they used, Hurk acquiring it in some place called Kyrat or maybe the Rook Islands, had a time limit and it would run out eventually. They had been hoping to get a second Jake to take care of the bad guys. They didn’t know that they would summon the ‘evil’ Jake. Hudson and Jonathan yelled at them for being idiots, stared shocked at each other, before warily agreeing that this didn’t make them friends. The Deputies and Sheriff agreed to stay in Fall’s End but as Jake was gearing up to go back out he found Rook swinging herself into the passenger’s seat with her weapons.
“I can’t just sit around and do nothing. I might as well make myself useful.”
“You might run into yourself or one of your friends.”
“I’m pretty sure they’ll be ordering a capture squad for me once they realize I’m here. Might as well live a little.”
“And if we run into a Herald? Can you fight someone with the face of someone you care about?” She gained a very faraway look.
“I’ll be fine.” She murmured softly. Jake sighed as she refused to budge and started the car. He realized she was humming something, singing under her breath. It was ‘Only You’ his favorite song.
Shiloh was having a cup of tea when the news came in. Seed had a new companion that wore her image. Where the good Sheriff had been formidable on his own, often dodging the efforts of her Family to capture him, the pair were seemingly invincible, utterly destroying the parties sent for him. They even laid waste Staci’s Guardians and almost managed to kill Staci himself. Earl was patching him up.
“She didn’t even hesitate, if a Guardian hadn’t managed to sneak up on her… She’s strong.” He panted, effects of the Joy making him unable to feel the pain as a bullet was removed from his shoulder. Jacob seemed very smug around this. Shiloh took another drink of her tea.
“Something to share Jacob?” She asked once she set the mug down.
“The Deputy is strong but,” he pulled something from his pocket. “Everyone has a weak point.”
“Well then happy hunting.” She picked her mug back up and toasted him. “If she’s here I would hazard a guess they’re all here. Probably hiding in Fall’s End.” Jacob smirked and then turned on his heel, barking for a few Seekers to follow him. John followed after as well a new glint in his eyes.
“Are you sure that’s wise? They might kill her.” Earl asked softly. Staci was still lost to the Joy and his reminiscence of Deputy Rook. Joseph and Faith were with the Dear Ones and Josephine, receiving the new converts at the River so they were able to speak freely about them.
“They’re in love with her. All of them. The way that Joseph talks about her, how he had Seen her coming as I foresaw Seed.” She looked down at the lists of virtues and sins on her forearms. “The way Faith sticks close to me only leaving my side but it’s another she sees in my place. The way John and Jacob watch my every move. They’re in love with their little Deputy.”
They’d just liberated an outpost when the radio crackled to life. Jake groaned, ready to here that an Inquisition or a Sheppard was on the way for him but instead it was his baby brother’s voice he heard.
“Deputy.” It was filled with a malicious glee. It was like a sick parody of his little Johnny. “You’ve been Chosen.” There was some shuffling and then a new voice came on.
“It’s time to come home Pup. You’re being Hunted.” The radio clicked off and Rook was staring at it horror. Jake was shaken himself. It was one thing to hear the twisted perversion of his brother but it was a whole other thing to hear himself growl gruffly.
“We have to go to Fall’s End.” Rook said finally, breath shaking a little bit on the exhale.
“It’s a trap.” It was a weak argument against going. They had to go. Who knew what these men would do to his family? Rook did and she didn’t look like they would sit around and wait patiently for them to show up.
“I know.” She gave a wavering smile. “But they’ll kill them all if we don’t go.” Jake’s insides went cold at the confirmation.
The group of Geos and Seekers was surrounding the bar. She braced herself in the back of the pick up they’d grabbed for this very reason and opened fire as Jake continued to barrel through them. Once she ran out of bullets Jake expected her to climb through the back window which was big enough for her to fit through being an older truck but instead she pulled out a knife, cut the rope securing her, and leapt onto a Seeker and stabbed him in the chest, forcing him to take the brunt of her fall and grabbing his weapon to shoot the Geos behind him. Jake took covered next to the truck and fired.
“Try and get to the building!” He yelled out as she continued to tear through them like a Biblical Angel of Death. Gun and knife soon wet with blood. Her reply was stolen when he watched his own image dressed in army fatigues holding a small box walked out. Her eyes widened and she turned to look at him.
“Jake run!” She roared as she tried to move back but he opened the box with a sadistic smile on his face. She flinched and grabbed for her head, dropping her weaponry and staggering. The Geos all flinched and fell to the ground grasping their heads in a similar manner but the Seekers, conditioned not to do anything but protect the members of the cult and follow orders continued to move in on her. Jake himself was paralyzed, the sound almost mind numbing. He watched as Rook’s breathing went slowly from panting to deep even breaths and her arms fell away. The first Seeker to touch her had their throat ripped out with her teeth. She then used their body as a shield and rammed into another. It continued until Jacob called the Seekers back. Without a target Rook stood motionless. The box was shut but its spell remained as Rook stood, head bowed. It was terrifying.
“Only you.” Jacob sang softly as he moved through the bodies easily. Jake had no clue what his counterpart would do upon reaching her but he knew he couldn’t let that happen. Rook, while never reveling in it, might have killed people but that was a slaughter. He understood now, why she froze so completely when they came face to face with each other. She’d been expecting the music box that she couldn’t run from.
“It ain’t exactly honorable to attack a defenseless woman.” He called out and Jacob stopped, a few feet away, to face him.
“My Pup ain’t defenseless unless you’re blind.” He motioned to the corpses left in Rook’s wake. Rook was still breathing slowly with her head bowed, as if she really was a dog. Something inside of Jake burned at that. Over the last few days they’d become friends. He wished their worlds were different, that she’d come to be his Junior Deputy, not get shoved into a war with a cult that she had no hope of winning but was fighting on regardless. Not to become a killing machine.
“You don’t deserve someone like her. She’s too good for you. None of you do.” That seemed to spark something and Jacob turned his full attention on Jake. Rook seemed to start trembling. Maybe if Jacob didn’t say a command to her she’d be able to break out of it? Jake just had to distract him long enough. Jacob whistled and a moment later Pratt was walking out the door.
“Take the Deputy inside and keep her there.” He commanded and Pratt gently took her arm and let her away. Jake cursed. He couldn’t shoot Pratt but he had to stop them from going inside. “Now let’s see whose stronger.”
Hudson wanted to weep when she saw Pratt guiding Rook into the bar. John smirked and shooed him away but Pratt didn’t go far, moving back to stand in front of the door. Even if Rook could fight her way out of the trans she’d have to get through the Peggie equivalents, John, and then Pratt.
“If only you were this obedient when we had our little talk.” He seethed a bit as he started to remove the remaining weapons hidden on her person, hands touching everywhere they could.
“Stop touching her you mother fucker.” Hudson hissed at him.
“You are pushing it Deputy Princess.” John turned and glared at her but Hudson saw light starting to return to Rook’s eyes. Her hands twitched.
“I hate to agree with Hudson, but don’t you have any shame?” Jonathan scoffed and that one set John off. There was shouting outside and Rook’s ears rose, perking to the sound as she sunk to the floor, recovering her pistol. Four sharp percussive shots and the four fake Peggies are down, John is whipping around only to get the butt of her gun slammed in his face and then Pratt and Rook are struggling with each other.
The spell was wearing off as the pair continued to fight. And then suddenly Jacob was gone and Jake rushed into the bar. He watched as John’s body vanished and looked at the group, Pratt and Rook were bruised but themselves again. She looked up right as she started to vanish.
“We’ll have to get that drink some other time huh?” She asked solemnly and he nodded.
“Maybe there’s a way to focus it?”
“Better not chance it. Goodbye Jake.”
“Goodbye Rook.” And then they were gone as though they’d never been there.
“This is all well and good Sheriff but someone is gonna have to clean up the dead Seekers in my bar.” Mary May drawled and everyone groaned.
Rook looked down at the ring on her thumb. Normally she didn’t wear rings, they symbolized too much for her. But this one, this one with a running wolf carved into it, this one she’d wear. It was too big to fit on any of her slenderer digits, honestly it was a small miracle that it even fit her thumb. She mourned the loss but hope sprang eternal. Who knew maybe once this was all over she could get in touch with that Ajay Ghale or Jason Brody and figure out who had the spells. Maybe when it was safe she could see Jake again. Just to tell him hello. And that she kept the ring, that she would like to try with him even if it would be hard. That she knew the ring wasn’t too tight but went along with it. But that was for another day. She pressed a kiss to the ring and grabbed her gun. She had outposts to liberate and Cults to fuck up.
