The journal’s pages are stained yellow, most likely from aging, as well as dried blood. Most of the pages are either blank or have incoherent scribbles on them. As the pages go on, words appear to be slightly recognizable in the text until a page is reached with almost full paragraphs:
I am [ untranslatable ] iting. The pack has moved what I have learned to be many fires and [ untranslatable ]. The head, the tallest and best at words, has been stopping frequently. He says things like “Be quiet”. [ untranslatable ] thinks enemy is near. Tiny creatures kill many of us. Haven’t seen any in even more fires, head wanted to [ untranslatable ]. Write more later.
There appears to be a signature, but like most of the paragraph it is unrecognizable as any word in any language. For all one knows it’s just more scribbles. The next paragraphs become more and more coherent as does the rest of the journal:
Head went ahead with leader. Most stay near fire with weapons. I write in tiny book more, helps [ untranslatable ]ory with knowledge from Head. Large beats we find still aggressive, many die nearby. I hear voice sometimes, Head says to ignore. Do not [ untranslatable ]. Old ones fell for beast tricks. We tame this like other animals like us. Beast is large, but beast will listen to us not other way.
Another signature, still untranslatable. The next page is much more coherent, even more grammatically correct to an extent. Whoever wrote this seemed to be getting smarter as time went on:
Memory better. Head teaches more and more words through no lessons at all. Head and Leader have been around for very long. He teaches me things like ‘time’ and ‘distance’. I no longer go by fire, Head knows when the white orb above the rock ceiling sets and falls without seeing it, he has taught us all. Head has said we will be home soon. ‘Home’ is a word I do not truly know. Head does not explain well and Leader is not good at speaking. I trust Leader, he speaks for Head and Head keeps us safe.
The large beast is calmer now. It listens to us now, but it gets hungry. Some still die, but beast is better now.
— The [ untranslatable ] Age
Many pages are still blank, but there is a final entry afterwards with the most coherent writing so far:
We arrived ‘home’ several days ago. Head says that those tiny creatures, apparently called Dwarves, have been gone for even longer than when we began our travel. He does not know why, but Leader still says he will protect us from whatever it was that took them. The large beast, I learned, was called a dragon. It was specifically called Razikale. Head has taught us many t hings such as why it can whisper in our heads but not command us. I thank the Head every day for my freedom. His teachings have inspired many of us and rooted us in the ground and now continued us on an endless journey. I am glad to sit.
I have decided to write down much of his writings, as he intended to when he gave me this journal after I drank our saviors blood. I was given an official name by him as well instead of the one I had picked for myself. I work close with Head now, I hope I can learn much like Leader has.
It came out of no where, just like most Titans before it. But it continued to come, almost relentlessly whether other Titans were attacking or not. And most terrifyingly of all, it came through holes in the wall.
Soldiers who have lived while seeing it described it as a sea of teeth. Scholars with knowledge of the outside world gave this mysterious Titan the name of 'Shark Titan'. It first appeared suddenly, bursting out of the wall at a speed unseen. Judging by the fact it was full of teeth, it was easy to determine but hard to acknowledge that this Titan had strong enough jaws to dig it's way through the walls. One of the strangest things was that it appeared even without other Titans around and there seemed to be hundreds of them. One day another would appear and kill a few soldiers and it would be terminated, the next day another came and destroyed a building but was seen taken care of. The nape of the neck was always cut off yet more came. It could only be concluded that these were a new form of Abnormal Titan.
A man, almost too terrified to speak told others of what he saw. Another soldier, desperate to escape from the jaws of this beast climbed the walls fruitlessly. It appeared to have escaped the Titan when suddenly it just shot up the moment there was a slight descent in the soldier's climbing. The last thing it would have seen was a massive wall of sharp teeth suddenly snapping closed. The living man described it turning to face him, though not completely, with a sea of blood pouring from it's maw like a waterfall. It appeared this Titan could merely kill humans, not eat them.
Others described it's strange noise. It did not roar like other Titans. It seemed to let out a growl and bark, similar to a dog. Why this is they have not found out, but it may have something to do with it's inability to eat humans.
Further studies are needed. We will attempt to examine this creature more the next time it attacks.
-- From the journal of Tyler Leonzio, Scouting Legion
"How It Should Have Been" An Ending Rewrite for Tyler J. Shepard
The blue pulse fired across the galaxy.
Explosions boom in deep space, too far for anyone to hear. The galaxy, glowing bright yellow, became engulfed in the blue as it traveled across space and through the relays. They were destroyed one by one, trapping the fleets sent to destroy the Reaper threat. Most had gone offline, caught in the explosion, but the crews were still alive for the most part. It was going to be annoying when they all fell back onto the ground when the artificial gravity kicked back in.
Speaking of which.
Hackett slammed into the ground as the ship's power came back online. He groaned, rubbing his back as he stood while other crew members scrambled to find out what happened. Wrinkled fingers placed against his ear, staring at the projection of Earth. "Shepard, can you hear me? What the hell just happened?" The Crucible was falling apart outside, catching fire as it fell from the sky and down to Earth below. Hackett got nothing, only static filled his ears as the fire rained down upon the Earth.
Did they lose? Was this it for sentient life? A loud rumble was hear as the ship began to shake. Looking out the window, Hackett gazed upon a massive Reaper, heading towards and past them. The once purple lights on it's metal body were now blue. They all were blue as they rose from the Earth, flying past the fleets. "Turn this ship around, follow them!" Hackett screamed orders as the ship turned to follow the Reapers. They had stopped fighting with no clear reason. Was it Shepard? Did the Crucible force them to retreat?
The whole fleet followed Hackett's ship, following the Reapers who seemed to be heading towards the broken Relays. Some landed on the broken pieces, the sight was mesmerizing. The Reapers pushed the many broken pieces of the Relays together. They worked in harmony as they began fixing the Relay, much to Hackett's surprise. Much to all the galaxy's surprise. Everywhere, Reapers began to fix the broken Mass Relays as they had trapped many of the species of the galaxy. In what would have taken months on their own, the Reapers did in hours as the Relays came back online, allowing the fleets to return from whence they came.
One month passed . . .
". . . Eternal."
The Reapers were on Earth, helping rebuild what the once destroyed. It was almost as they had never been there at this point. With their help, months, maybe years of work took merely days.
". . . Infinite . . . Immortal. The man I was used these words . . . but only now do I truly understand them. And only now do I understand the full extent of his sacrifice."
The Citadel was pushed towards the Relay by the Reapers after it was repaired, heading back to where it belonged as even more Reapers awaited to help.
"Through his death, I was created. Through my birth, his thoughts were freed. They guide me now. Give me reason, direction. Just as he gave direction to the ones who followed him. The ones who helped him achieve his purpose. Now, my purpose . . ."
Peace seemed to spread throughout the world. Once human extremists in darker times, now they were beginning to help head the project to rebuild Earth, to get it running smoothly again. Jack, back at the refurbished academy. The students she fought alongside now completing their training with his. Samara, on the rebuilt Thessia. Where there was once destruction there was now life. She sat away, watching her remaining daughter who had been away from life for so long smell the scent of Thessia's flora.
Far off. A man in red was surrounded by a sea of blue. The bluest next to him, around his arm as she looked over their novel.
"To give the many hope for the future. To ensure that all have a voice in their future. The man I was knew he could only achieve this by becoming something greater."
Wrex and Grunt returned from the front lines to Tuchanka, greeted by their people. The Reapers helped restore the ruins on Tuchanka with the Krogan as children began to grow like flowers.
"There is power in control. There is wisdom in harnessing the strengths of your enemy."
On Rannoch, the Reapers were in mass as the Geth helped the Quarians return to their home. Building were constructed for them to live in. One in particular created along the shores.
The turian in blue sought after the construction on Palavin. If he could really smile, he would as he stared off at the machines who were once his friend.
"I will rebuild what the many have lost. I will create a future with limitless possibilities. I will protect and sustain. I will act as guardian for the many."
The one once known as Harbinger stared at the Citadel. Inside it's mechanical exterior was a projection. Blue, like all Reapers, was the man. A perfect recreation, now modified to fit his new being. He smiled, knowing he had done what the old would have wanted.
"And throughout it all, I will never forget. I will remember the ones who sacrificed themselves so that the many could survive."
It seemed that all at once they watched as the Reapers lifted off. They all saw him. The ones who once called him friend watched as he left their worlds behind. His work was done for now. But there was still much left to be done.
"And I will watch over the ones who live on. Those who carry the memory of the man I once was. The man who gave up his life to become the one who could save the many."
The Reapers reached the edge of the galaxy, heading to dark space. He looked one last time at the galaxy. The place he once called home. He smiled, knowing that now they were safe and he knew they would be safe for as long as he watched.
Several months later . . .
"If you are going to raid his belongings, at least take his fish." The deep voice of the ancient one spoke as his blue beauty stepped out of the elevator. Sometimes he wondered why she fell in love with him. It didn't matter anyways, the fish had been taken months ago. Liara wasn't looking for fish though. He had asked her to take something for him. Of course the room was basically bare. The Alliance probably cleared his room the second he was dead. She looked everywhere, frustrated as she didn't see it. However something else caught her eye. There was a datapad, glowing from the bed that he once layed in. She swore it wasn't there a second ago. The blue hands picked it up, staring at it. There was no text put a video played.
It looked like someone was behind a camera, filming something that didn't look like it should be filmed. Pieces of paper, a familiar groan. "Up late again, Shepard?" The camera turned up, looking at Liara. She hadn't remembered ever being filmed. at closer inspection it looked like it was in the Normandy. "Don't start with me Liara, please."
"You've been up for days now."
"Oh come on it's only been . . . three."
She shook her head. "Come on, in bed with you. Just because the Reapers need to rest doesn't mean you don't."
Could this be what she thought it was? She couldn't help but smile, remembering the nights she had to force Shepard to bed. He always was a hard worker. Then there was another familiar voice.
"Beating me once wasn't enough, was it Garrus?"
"Well I do like to show off." The familiar laugh of her turian friend came from the datapad.
"Just so you know, I'm not going to let you win like last time."
The footage continued to play, as more footage appeared it became more clear as to what Liara was looking at. Shepard trying to help Jack with her problems. Talking to Javik about his past. Protecting Garrus from losing himself entirely. The list went on.
Her eyes became red, crying as she continued to watch. All the courageous things he did. All the people he helped including her. Javik ran into the room hearing the datapad drop to the floor. He rushed to his bondmate, holding her as she seemed to be crying for no reason.
One last memory played on the pad. "Be safe." He said to her, watching her, Javik, and the Normandy leave as he ran towards the beam to the Crucible.
Sherlock x Watson, they're two detectives in the Capital Wasteland trying to discover why a mysterious evil force known only as "The Lone Wanderer" would kill an entire city
“I don’t get it, Sherlock.” Watson stated, kneeling down in the dirt gazing at the crater that was once Megaton, “Why woould someone do something like this?”
“Elementary, my dear Watson.” Holmes replied taking the pipe he raided from a near by town earlier. Then they died of radiation poisoning while having sex.
"I Am Thou" A drabble by Dr. Simetra -- Based on the Persona series
His hands trembled as he raised his fists. The terrifying monsters in front of him transformed from the black mass on the floor they once were to large beasts, taking closer steps towards them. In their initial state, they seemed to be shadows in the light taken form, but there was no sun in this world or at least that this man could see. This man is Gerard O'Hare, age seventeen. A transfer student from overseas, taken by his parents to a small town called Inaba for their job. He was to spend one to two years there, living in a rather dull town for a while. However, he was finding out quickly that this town wasn't as barren of excitement after all. The excitement he found though wasn't what he expected though.
A rumor spread to him, as to most who came to this town at least. Some years ago, a channel that only came on at midnight on rainy days was all the rage. Apparently a teen pop idol and a famous detective had shown up on it. Apparently it hadn't been on in some years, however it just so happened to rain the same day. The curious young American boy had decided to check it out for himself. Of course, it had not actually shown anything either because the rumor wasn't true or like most said, it hadn't been on in some years. The boy did, however, find himself suddenly surprised as he tapped the screen to see if it was working only to find that his finger was able to pass through the screen. Shocked, obviously, he fell back only to smack his head on the floor as he tripped over the table in his living room. Luckily, his parents had the unfortunate nature to sleep like a log. As a curious young lad, he only went and took it a step further, putting his arm up to his elbow inside. Though, he was responsible and planned to merely show others tomorrow in order to check it out. He didn't know who he would tell though, he had yet to make friends with anyone here. Gerard didn't have time to think though as it seemed his arm was pulled inside the TV instead.
Of course he was surprised by this but the surprise part of his brain was overwhelmed by the pain in his backside once again as he slammed into the floor. The place was dark, only lightened slightly by a bright white exit in the far distance. The obvious was to go towards it. Either Gerard was dead or he was in some dark room, both he wouldn't have anything to do about it as it seemed there was no entrance from the television to this place. This, of course, was where he ended up back here with his body trembling as the shadows on the walls took form most likely to kill him. Though now something was wrong, at least for him as it made his drop to his knees and clutch his ears at the booming sound only to make him more vulnerable.
" . . . I . . . am thou . . . " The booming, deep voice which was seemingly in his own mind as he saw no one else besides the shadow creatures. His teeth gritted as he could only look at the shadows approaching him. " . . . Thou . . . art I . . . " Gerard was very into medieval and fantasy stories, knowing obviously the old way of speaking this voice was using. A bright light seemed to come from his side as the shadows shrieked as they entered it's beam. Gerard struggled to move his hand as the voice continued to speak, seeing the back of a card in his hand with a look of confusion on his face. "Thou hast open thine eyes . . . douse thine enemies in my flame . . . and crush them with my power!" The voice no longer hurt him as he slowly stood, the light from the card pushing the shadow creatures away. His lips moved on their own as he flipped the card and saw a being appear from the black face as his eyes looked upon it.
" . . . Per . . . so . . . na!" His hand crushed the card, resulting in an effect more like smashing a glass bottle than crumpling a card. The light grew bright and a shade of yellow as the source of the booming voiced appeared and stood above the boy. Horns pierced from the mask of what appeared to be an orc with skin a shade of dark red. Flowing orange hair draping down the massive muscles of the beast with a collar around it's neck. The source of the new light dangling from the collar was easily seen as a large paper lantern. The beast looked down upon Gerard, but his intimidation was not meant for him. The boy looked up at the beast, nodding as he looked towards the shadows. He already knew this beasts name as it was engraved into his mind. "Oni!" His hands moved toward them, palms out as his Persona did the same. Flames flowed like water into the cave, bathing the rocky walls and the dark shadows with a light too bright for them to stand as they disappeared into nothing. Gerard run under Oni, yelling for him again as the beast used it's large fists to smash the ceiling of rock. The Persona disappeared, coming back to the boy in the form of a card once again. The cave began to collapse, hopefully trapping the creatures within as Gerard darted out. He was slightly in the heavy set weight, making him barely reach the exit without at least an injury. This boy would have preferred an injury to the several minutes of huffing and puffing he had to do as he layed on the soft, green grass and stared toward the--
Grass? He stood up looking around him. This place didn't seem like it was home to creatures such as them. It was more like a hidden paradise in a deep forest. Instead of a sun, there was a moon bright enough to keep the sky alight. It definitely wasn't his world, but it looked as if it could come from his. The sight seeing stopped momentarily as he looked in the distance to a small rocky area, water flowing from it. There appeared to be a small group across the way. They looked around his age. A fairly young looking man, headphones around his neck in a white coat with fur lining the inside of the hood. A short girl in a green hoodie, shorts far above her knees standing next to him. Next to her was a woman in red, long black hair trailing down from even more red holding her hair back. A fairly large man in a leather jacket, but his stance seemed quite feminine to his appearance. Next to him was a girl, just slightly higher than the one in the green hoodie. He hair was long and blue, with a very large . . . personality. Strangely, next to them seemed to be a man in a costume, a bear costume? Not knowing this world, he thought it best to stay out of sight. Too bad for him they were all looking in his direction. His cave escape seemed to stir more attention than he wanted. His Persona reacted again, bringing itself out without him breaking the card himself. The large, muscle-bond fire demon stood high staring back at them as well. He should have brought his glasses, but he seemed to see a smile on some of their faces. To his surprise large things appeared by them as well, shining bright as they came from cards.
It seemed Gerard would have to have some things explained to him from this group far from him. But for some reason, he too smiled. It seemed like the right thing to do. You dusted off your high school uniform, taking the path to this group as your Persona disappeared again.
Thou art I, and I am thou. Thou hast fond the world of shadows, brightened by light. My power is yours to use. I entrust my will to thou, knowing the power in your heart will guide mine to defeat the darkness attempting to make it's way back from the depths of hell.
