If Your Down With Interracial Couples. Reblog.💛

depression tips™

shower. not a bath, a shower. use water as hot or cold as u like. u dont even need to wash. just get in under the water and let it run over you for a while. sit on the floor if you gotta.

moisturize everything. use whatever lotion u like. unscented? dollar store lotion? fancy ass 48 hour lotion that makes u smell like a field of wildflowers? use whatever you want, and use it all over. 

put on clean, comfortable clothes. 

put on ur favorite underwear. cute black lacy panties? those ridiculous boxers u bought last christmas with candy cane hearts on the butt? put em on.

drink cold water. use ice. if u want, add some mint or lemon for an extra boost.

clean something. doesn’t have to be anything big. organize one drawer of ur desk. wash five dirty dishes. do a load of laundry. scrub the bathroom sink. 

blast music. listen to something upbeat and dancey and loud, something that’s got lots of energy. sing to it, dance to it, even if you suck at both.

make food. don’t just grab a granola bar to munch. take the time and make food. even if it’s ramen. add something special to it, like a hard boiled egg or some veggies. prepare food, it tastes way better, and you’ll feel like you accomplished something. 

make something. write a short story or a poem, draw a picture, color a picture, fold origami, crochet or knit, sculpt something out of clay, anything artistic. even if you don’t think you’re good at it.

go outside. take a walk. sit in the grass. look at the clouds. smell flowers. put your hands in the dirt and feel the soil against your skin.

call someone. call a loved one, a friend, a family member, call a chat service if you have no one else to call. talk to a stranger on the street. have a conversation and listen to someone’s voice. if you can’t, text or email or whatever, just have some social interaction with another person. even if you don’t say much, listen to them.

cuddle your pets if you have them/can cuddle them. take pictures of them. talk to them. tell them how u feel, about your favorite movie, a new game coming out.

I mean….

I just don't know how much longer I can do this

Ray of Sunshine - Tsu'tey X Emma Sully (slow burn)

Emma Sully - 20.

Tsutey is alive. Neteyam is alive.

Post Metkayina battle.

-

What does one do when the Earth is dying making resources scarce and the everyday basic needs hard to meet? Certainly not choose to have a baby late in life! However two people didn't seem to get that memo, those two people being Camille and Damin Sully.

Baby Emma only met her older twin brothers a few times, she was not even a year old before Tom died and Jake left in a big rocket never to return.

-

Emma Sully grew up on stories of her older brothers; the heroic Jake as a Noble Marine and the overachiever Tom with his many PHD's but they were her mother's versions of course, who could tell what was real when she couldn't ask either brother. She had only met them a few times, she had photographic evidence of it at least because she had been only a few months old when they both broke off contact with their mother to go their own ways

She didn't blame them, their mother was pretty much a loose cannon most days and then the drinking got worse, and worse until it finally killed her when Emma was just ten. From there she bounced from overcrowded foster home to overcrowded foster home until she aged out of the system. She immediately tested for the Marines hoping to be just like her big brother Jake but unfortunately her Colour Blindness was a fault they could not look pass, the did put her on a list however which was somehow more humiliating than just being denied outright.

It seemed like a sign when she had the RDA knock on her sharehouse shortly after her twenty second birthday. A summons from Big Brother himself, what luck!

The RDA spent a lot of time explaining what she would need to do, the creation of an avatar body and the intense neural mapping of her brain would mean her memories and thoughts would be directly transferred to the blue alien body that would be grown with her DNA. Jake wanted her with him, they were family after all! She had agreed heartily and was slapped on a rocket bound for Pandora where she underwent the process of being uploaded to the body en route.

She had been played, what a silly fool.

The RDS kept her as a backup, after the first try and failure of bringing down the Na'vi they had wanted a failsafe. They let Quaritch have his second attempt and when he finally crawled back bloody and beaten they were ready to deploy Emma as their secret weapon however they should have counted on not having it easy with a Sully, by the time they got to the underground bunker where Emma had been held for the past year she was already gone and deep in the jungle.

One.

The trees were so tall they seemed to stretch to that unknown place above the clouds and undoubtedly held dozens of creatures and if Jake's Logs had been right there should be Na'vi watching her at that very moment and if they were then they needed to get out because she was running out of time, the sky was growing darker by the minute and she did not want to be out in the open with minimal weapons and no shelter in the dark.

She hadn't been able to take much when she left the bunker, the backpack snapped to her body held all her worldly possessions and a few stolen goodies but she didn't have any large weapons like guns or a tent to sleep in. It was probably a deterrent if she were to escape her room but not for her, not for a Sully. Somewhere on this planet was her Brother, from what she'd overheard he even had a wife and kids now! Perhaps he'd even have a place for her but if not hopefully he'd help her acclimate and fine her a place in this new world.

A year she had been awake and it was pretty wild in all fairness, she had been shoved in a fancy cell and told she had to quarantine before going out into the wild world above but the quarantine period didn't seem to end. One of the guards was a bit kinder and he let her watch her brother's logs he had made before he went to live as a Full Time Na'vi, it gave her a sort of perspective on who he was and what he might have been feeling all alone up here before he met her, the beautiful Neytiri of course.

As time went on Emma began to listen at the small vent near her door, overhearing dozens of conversations about what the RDA really was up to and why she was here instead of with Jake. She had been lied to, that had been a hard pill to swallow but her survival was now priority and if she happened to reunite with Jake it would be a nice little reward.

She had to plan it out perfectly, she had the same six live-in guards since the start and already knew them quite well so she could use that to her advantage. She had to get out, something big was happening.

What really ignited her plan was the news that a Recom soldier named Quaritch had attacked Jake and nearly killed one of his sons, casualties had been at an all time high on the RDA side meaning their next plan had to be to use her. She wouldn't allow it.

In the chaos over the battle near an ocean community called Awa'atlu the plan came into full effect, all systems go.

First was to get out of her room, simple enough? Wrong. She had to seduce one of the guards, one who had always used his position to try and get handsy. Disgusting. He had been the first to die when she rather beautifully acted like she was about to make all his lewd dreams come true and choked him out enough to grab his knife. Getting his security card pass had been easy after that, he was the first Na'vi she had killed and wouldn't be the last in her escape.

The RDA obviously hoped that she would be on their side which is why they also uploaded the entire Na'vi language both formal and informal along with her memories and thoughts. Her regular training gave her combat skills, as a relatively healthy earth woman she had faced a disturbingly high amount of assault so she always felt the urge to be on guard and it was paying off!

Back to her escape, she was able to use the security card to get into the supply room where she retrieved her personal things such as her resin preserved photographs and her dog tags from the locker with her name on it before looting the food and water stored in the shelves and crammed it all in a military backpack. The other four were easy to take out, with her gun she was able to kill two without them even turning around.

They assumed her footsteps were their coworker's and that was their fatal mistake. One she strangled near the emergency beacon with the lanyard of his security tag and the last one she almost lost it all too. He was huge even by Na'vi standards but even the mighty must fall and she managed to get one over him by sinking her new fangs into his throat and biting hard, ripping through flesh and sinew until blood poured down and his body stopped twitching.

The last thing to do was rip out the tracker under her skin on her shoulder much like a birth control implant, it stung but she pushed through and tossed it onto the corpse of the final soldier she had killed, let them find this and know that they had failed, she wouldn't be used again.

Two.

Emma had run for the forest hoping she had at least twenty four hours before any alarm was raised, if she minimised sleep then she could be a good distance away. She had an imaging device that could geolocate most Na'vi communities that had been entered into the database and since the conflict at Awa'atlu it had been added so she had a heading at the very least.

Slowing down as night approached was a choice she had to make but it made her actually look at what was around her. The plants were so much more alive here, they had colours that she had never seen before with her human eyes and they interacted with her touch. Some plants shrunk away from her and others had strange little feelers that tickled her palm. No wonder why Grace,Tom and Jake had been so in love with the place.

She followed the geolocation device exactly, trudging through a river up to her neck so that she stayed on course which left her shivering and cursing her stupidity and she had been right, she was being watched but the Na'vi were watching wondering who this person was and what their purpose might be. Word was sent by fliers to let the communities ahead of Emma that she was on her way and for all to be on guard while she rather blissfully trudged on admiring the plants along the path.

Much further away a flier arrived at Awa'atlu near daybreak with news. "I speak for warning, we've spotted a Recom in our lands heading this way. It's a woman with a little talking box that is telling her to come here to you" the Rider reported to an immediately on guard Tonowari and Jake, "Have they made any attempts to harm your people?" Tonowari asked but the rider confirmed that was not the case, this recom was simply walking where the box was telling her to go. "We will wait for them, if it's just one they won't be much of a fight" Jake muttered through gritted teeth thinking of how his family had only just recovered from the last attack.

Tonowari, Jake and Tsu'tey gathered in the Marui after the rider left to discuss options, if they had any really other than striking first. "Why send one?" Was all Tonowari could wonder, it was too strange after the mass assault they had so recently endured to try so little. "Perhaps they only send one ahead then while we try to attack or talk to them, they send the rest around the other way" Tsu'tey suggested with a tilt of his head as he looked at the rough map on the table, "We won't know until we go and meet them. Tonowari can I count on you to remain here and take care of everyone?" Jake asked, already knowing the answer.

This led to Tsu'tey and Jake riding out to meet this stranger before midday with an irate Neytiri left behind with Tonowari to be on guard if things went badly. "What do you think will happen?" Tsu'tey asked as they landed their Ikrans in the trees and began to scan the surrounding woodland for movement. It wasn't until nearly nightfall that Emma stumbled through the trees with her geolocation device held high and grumbling irritably as it beeped every few steps.

Show time.

Three.

Tsu'tey had his Ikran land directly in front of Emma, her shock making her fall backwards and then quickly scrambling back onto her feet to face him. Her hand that didn't have the Geo Device held her knife in a strong hold and she faced the warrior with her head high. "I'm looking for Jake Sully, he lives with the people in Awa'atlu and I'm trying to find my way" she said slowly with her hands now raised slightly to show her non-aggressive intention despite holding a weapon.

"Why?" Tsu'tey demanded in a gruff tone that had Emma scowling, "He is my brother, my name is Emma" she replied with an equal amount of sass. Jake almost fell off his Ikran, he'd not thought about Emma for so long that he was actually swamped with guilt but how was she here? Why was she here?

Jake landed Bob and lept off, heart pounding as he searched Emma's face for any familiarity but the last time he had seen her was as a human newborn, she could be anyone. "I can prove it" Emma said looking between Tsu'tey and Jake before carefully sliding off her backpack and opening it to show her belongings. She stepped back and nodded at it, "Take a look" she urged and Tsu'tey leaned down and swiped her bag, pawing through its contents until he got to the pile of photos secured with a rubber band. The photo on top was newborn Emma with both Jake and Tom, the following photos were Emma as she grew up going to school and normal things.

Tsu'tey wordlessly flipped through the photos for Jake to make his decision with both seeing the photos of Emma's life. Photos of her graduation, her marine training photos, her trauma counsellor graduation ceremony, the photo of her first pet, first home, first girlfriend, first boyfriend. It was all there for them to see, the photos weren't lying.

Jake looked between the photo of a smiling Emma at her house on Earth to the Na'vi in front of him and his heart broke, it was her, she was Emma. "The RDA are out for your blood Jake, they lied to me to get me here and into this body but kept me hostage until they thought they could use me. They'll know I've escaped by now so I'll go so I don't bring it on you but you need to be on alert" Emma urged as a single tear slipped down her cheek, this wasn't how she wanted it to go but she had found him and he knew he was still in danger.

"You are my sister, you can't just go" Jake said softly, his ears dipping a little as he spoke. "I can't put them in more danger, you have a family now" Emma replied sadly but Jake simply shook his head and closed the space between them to engulf her in a crushing hug, "You are my family too" he said with such finality she accepted it and dropped both her knife and her Geo Device to put her arms around him for the first real hug they had ever had. They were reunited at long last.

Three.

Jake and Tsu'tey returned to Awa'atlu with Emma riding behind Jake on Bob. Her delight with being up close to the Ikran was so similar to her brother's initial reaction to them that it made Tsu'tey smile just a little, perhaps Jake would take his sister to claim one of her own like he'd done with his sons.

"Who is this you've brought back?" Tonowari demanded suspiciously once he realised they weren't alone, "This is my sister Emma, she has escaped from the RDA so they couldn't use her against me" Jake explained and the Chief seemed to accept this but his wife, the Tsahik Ronal, was less eager to allow it. "Let me see her" she requested and Jake immediately grimaced at the thought of the interrogation that was inbound. He could not deny her however and he nodded to Emma was by his side, he'd only just got her back and now would have to watch while Ronal tore her apart.

Ronal led Emma to her Marui first, "Lie down" she instructed, pointing at a woven rush mat on the floor. Emma complied quickly but instantly regretted it when she saw Ronal pull a blade out of a seashell around her neck. "Close your eyes, we will see what plan Eywa has for you, if she has any at all" Ronal then said with such disdain it made Emma cringe but she let her eyes fall shut and tried to keep her mind as empty as possible which was quite hard when there was an irritated pregnant woman with a tiny blade leaning over you.

Ronal tore open Emma's shirt and she had to fight to keep still even when she felt the blade make a shallow slice in her now exposed chest. The air on the cut made it sting slightly as the blood bubbled to the surface but the cut did not appeal to Ronal now, the woman was moving on. She wiped a few drops of a fragrant water onto Emma's wrists, ankles and navel before poking those same points with some sort of pointy stick, it felt like a pin almost but wasn't entirely unpleasant if not shocking.

"Eat this" Ronal ordered and began pushing something into Emma's mouth. It had no real flavour but the spongy, powdery texture of mushrooms so she swallowed it down and waited for the next instruction but Ronal had begun singing. It was the most hauntingly perfect thing she had ever heard, it actually made Emma think of sirens and their alluring ballads in the myths of earth.

"Go through the veil now, return enlightened" Ronal said but her voice was like a hollow sort of echo and Emma had the strangest sensation of falling, spinning into the dark towards something like a nebula in space.

Five

Emma woke with Jake by her side and a blanket over her body. "Are you alright?" Jake asked full of concern and Emma groaned feeling her head begin to think wickedly. "You could have warned me I was going to be tripping balls, I hope I didn't offend anyone" she muttered as she sat up, the blanket falling away from her bare body which made her squeak and snatch it back up to wrap around her like a Grecian robe. "I didn't know! You were actually really scary talking and singing in Na'vi" he replied apologetically, "Of course I can speak Na'vi, I was uploaded with Grace's dictionary" she snapped looking at him irritably but immediately sighed, how would he know?

Their conversation was cut short by the arrival of Ronal and Tonowari who both looked very stern and serious. "Your journey revealed much to me, it was interesting to say the least" Ronal said addressing Emma directly, "Thank you?" Emma replied uncertainly but Ronal wasn't finished. "Eywa has shown me that you are part of her people, our people. You have bonds already with The People and so as an adult you must complete your rites of passage and be seen in your completion before us all"

"I will do anything I need to do so that I can be with my family" Emma replied with a serious face which made Tonowari smile, "You must go and meet them then, they are all waiting for you" he said kindly offering her a hand up. "I dressed you in the ways of our people, your brother will teach you how we live" Ronal then stated before she and her husband left. "Let's go and meet your nieces and nephews!" Jake said with such excitement that it was contagious and she smiled broadly which revealed her left cheek dimple that she had gotten from their mother. Jake took her hand and led her out to the beach where he had his family waiting, he hoped they would get along

Emma paused just before they got there and looked up at her big brother, she never imagined such an instance occuring and she so very desperately wanted this all to work. "Jake, I want to speak only in Na'vi. If that's alright with you. It's the language of the people and if I want to be one of them then I need to adapt" she said quietly and Jake chuckled, giving her a scruff of the head before agreeing. It would be easier for her to adapt this way without a language barrier.

"This is my wife, Neytiri" he said proudly and she stepped forward and greeted Emma formally with them both clasping forearms respectfully. "I'm pleased to meet you" Emma said giving her a smile that was cautiously returned. Next the children were introduced, Neteyam and Lo'ak who greeted her with the traditional gesture of touching the forehead which Emma repeated back to them and then Kiri who seemed rather disinterested and wishing to be elsewhere so Emma simply gave a simple hello and did not push her. Last was the baby of the family; little Tuktirey who was a bundle of excitement and nearly bowled Emma over in a hug. "I've never had an Aunt before" she said looking up at Emma with such sweetness that it melted Emma into a puddle, this is what family was.

Of course there were others to meet, Tsu'tey also offered the traditional gesture while the Chief's children gave more informal Hello's. It seemed everyone was settled in this beautiful village, people were at work or play and seemed to enjoy their lives wholeheartedly. The water was pristine, the Ilu were so friendly and the food was utterly mouthwatering. What more could anyone want?

It was an exhaustive day of being shown around the village, feeding the Ilu with Tuk, cooking with Neytiri, marvelling at the underwater life with Kiri with the aid of a Gill Mantle and hunting part of the evening meal with Jake and his boys. Her aim with the bow brought in four good sized fish which seemed to earn the respect of her nephews at least and some pride from Jake; she felt sore all over and was ready for sleep when Jake showed her to a Marui that was divided into four parts, one of which was occupied by Tsu'tey and was known around the village as the Single Adults Marui. There were many more full of single adults but Tsu'tey had chosen that Marui to be close to the Sully family.

"Jake? How soon will I complete my trial?" She asked as she set down a mat that had been rolled up by the wall. "I will have Tsu'tey take you to the Ikran when you are ready, he took me and has chaperoned many other trials. Tonowari will chaperone your trial and bond with the Tulkan as is the way of the Metkayina, they will return soon so I believe that will be when you will do that" Jake answered honestly which Emma appreciated. "Goodnight Jake" she said and he gave her a one armed hug before blowing out the light and leaving to his own home.

She closed her eyes and listened to the waves gently caress the shore, the soft steps of people coming home to rest and the breaths of those already asleep. This would be a place of peace, a place her heart could relax. She was sure of it.

Six.

She woke the next morning early and sat outside to watch the sun rise in a spectacular display of colour while swirling her feet in the water that was warming gradually to the perfect temperature. It was shortly after this that she felt eyes on her, piercing into her like arrows. She turned her head and saw Tsu'tey in the doorway, "Good morning Tsu'tey, how are you?" She asked politely and he seemed a little offput by her question, "I am well. I will observe you today to see if you are fit for your trial. When would you like to begin?" He asked and she quickly stood, "right away!" She replied with a grin.

Tsu'tey had his work cut out for him with Jake, he'd been a cocky moron to begin with but under direct and careful tutelage bloomed into the warrior he was today, working with Emma was the opposite. When he told her to draw her bow, she did it with the correct stance and perfect aim. When he asked her to perform a necessary kill and give the soul of the creature on to Eywa, she did with grace and a gentle voice.

She did not need much correction and when it was called for, she did what was asked quickly and with tact.

One particular correction was when she was performing her archery and he asked her to draw back and noted her posture was off by just a bit, enough that it would make her arrow slightly skew before hitting its target. Instinctively he stepped behind her with his chest flush against her back and put his arms around her so that his hands were over hers. He puppeted her into drawing the bow again but this time with a deeper breath. Once she had the posture he wanted, he let go of the bow and pressed one hand onto her stomach to show her how taut it was, how deep she needed to breathe in order to maintain the bullseye she wanted. "Breathe until you have this, always like this" he instructed with his hand pressed to her skin, it was only when he heard her breath shudder ever so slightly that he looked down and into her eyes noting their cryptic energy that held him prisoner for a long moment.

"You alright Tsu'tey?" She asked with that sweet mouth. She was just like Sully, sweeping in and taking no prisoners. Was it their demon blood that made them so alluring? She even smelt good, wild.. delicious.

He had ended their lesson satisfied that Emma was ready, she had so many uploaded memories that her body recognised even though they weren't her own making her quite formidable. He had a good feeling about her trial and they would make the journey once he had spoken to Jake about it all and gotten his opinion.

Time seemed to pass quickly with Emma happily engaging in work with the Metkayina people and finding joy in every single day. Tuk was thrilled to have another person to play with and Emma was practically inexhaustible, she would go from preparing food to hunting to playing with the children all within the day without a complaint. Tonowari and Ronal were also pleased with her, Ronal went as far as saying Emma was like a Sun's Ray; full of warmth and light. Whether that had anything to do with the vision she had with Emma when she first arrived was unknown.

Six.

The trek to the Mons Veritous would be a long one but Jake been told to have Emma go alone with Tsu'tey to complete her trial with him as her chaperone and having Mo'at give a blessing as any other Omatikaya would receive as it would be an unfair advantage for her to come with him as he was Toruk Makto. The family were displeased at being denied the opportunity to cheer their Aunt on but Jake stood firm and knew the decision had not been made by Tarsem lightly, the other Omatikaya would also be journeying to the Ikran nests with their chaperone and would not need more people there to spectate.

Emma bowed her head and received an affectionate kiss on the top of her hair from Jake and a warm embrace from Neytiri and the children all gave a crushing hug pile wishing luck and ease for her trial.

Tonowari and Ronal also came to say goodbye and Ronal handed Emma something very special, an armband made of woven flax fibre and beads that replicated the waves as they come to shore in varying shades of blue and white. Emma immediately put it on and thanked the couple profusely but Ronal simply said it was a gift, every Metkayina trying to pass their trial received one for luck.

They set off with Tsu'tey riding his ikran and Emma seated behind him, her hands cinched around his waist and her feet carefully placed for maximum hold. The view from ocean to forest from above was breathtaking and Emma made a rather quaint point of pointing things out such as a herd of wild direhorses crossing the hills and a pack of viperewolves clearly on a hunt. It was strange seeing things from her perspective, he knew these things were in the forest of course but the way Emma spoke about things made them seem special for some reason.

They arrived in High Camp a day later after spending an awkward night sleeping side by side on tree boughs. Emma had been worried she'd tumble off and fall to her death while Tsu'tey simply couldn't quiet his mind. They were greeted by the new Chief Tarsem and Tsahik Mo'at, Neytiri's mother. News of her discovery had spread like wildfire so Mo'at had been expecting her.

"I see you Chief Tarsem and Tsahik Mo'at, I ask for permission to attend your Iknimaya as an adult of both Omatikaya and Metkayina as my brother has done. I have brought before you my chaperone, Tsu'tey, who will vouch for me" Emma said touching her forehead lightly and giving and slight nod to each of them. Tarsem seemed to be taking quite a long time thinking it over but once he looked at Tsu'tey over her shoulder he nodded and opened his arms to enter. With Tsu'tey behind her she felt better, stronger even. He was a fantastic warrior and HE believed in her so that had to count as something.

She was ready.

The Iknimaya.

The morning of the Iknimaya saw her up before the sun to meditate and calm her nerves, she had her bow which she had borrowed from Jake and her knife which she had traded away for one made of obsidian sea glass with a wrapped fish leather handle but hopefully neither would be required today.

Tsu'tey came to her as the sun found its first position in the sky and they made their way to the village centre where several other pairings waited. The tension was thick, everyone was buzzing with it like angry wasps and Emma felt rather nauseas for a solid moment before swallowing it down, she was doing this for herself.

"Seat yourselves and be still, your chaperone will affix your rider's mask and apply your paint as is the way of your ancestors" Mo'at said with a wonderfully throaty voice, her hands spread wide to the open space before her with twelve or so paint bowls already on the floor waiting for them. Emma sat cross legged on the cold stone and adjusted her posture as if she were drawing a bow before she looked at Tsu'tey who was kneeling opposite her. She had worked hard on her rider's mask by carefully refining the delicate visor screens late into the night until she was satisfied, her new family prepared the mask as was the way of the Omatikaya but this would be the first time she would see the final product and the anticipation was bursting inside her like a bottle of carbonated drink.

Tsu'tey had a small parcel in his hand and she watched as he very carefully peeled back the layers to reveal her rider's mask and it was simply stunning. The beadwork was like a sky with a rising sun and there were pearl embellishments added to the earpieces. "It's beautiful" she breathed gently while reaching out to touch it; aside from the armband, this was the most personal and beautiful item she had ever owned and she made an instant promise to cherish it.

As the ceremony proceeded she lowered her head to Tsu'tey and he rose above her to affix the rider's mask, he was very careful to tuck her ears through the holes and place it down firmly before tying it behind her head. He knelt back down and admired her work, turning her head to the left and right to ensure it's fit while she watched him through her lashes and wondered if she looked silly but she wouldn't be able to see until the ceremony was complete.

Next, of course, was the paint. The chaperones had to dip their fingers or hands into it in order to paint it onto their Ward's skin, she knew this beforehand but it didn't help her prepare for the way her skin shivered when Tsu'tey made the first mark on her. He worked solidly, viewing her as a canvas rather than a Na'vi and when he was done he used his thumb and placed the imprint on her chest and then used his smallest finger to make little dots around it like a child might draw a sun. Emma meant sunshine, everyone said it so she should wear this sort of pride into her trial.

Finally they were able to stand and Emma looked at herself in the pool of water to her right and didn't recognise the woman staring back at her, THIS woman was fierce and strong just how Emma had always wanted to feel. "You look like he did when it was his turn for Iknimaya" Tsu'tey commented without much further detail so she decided to take it as a compliment; after all Jake had managed to complete his Iknimaya and become Toruk Makto so she had to have some sort of chance, even just a tiny bit.

Together with the others, Emma and Tsu'tey climbed the mountains by swinging onto the thick vines and leaping across gaps. It was stunning, an artist would have been over the moon to have been able to capture the view. Once they reached the Ikran nest Tarsem took control and organised those seeking Iknimaya into a single line in the order he seemed to think most beneficial. Emma was second last of twelve.

The day was not going well, of the ten who had already attempted their Iknimaya only four had succeeded in claiming an Ikran and it was making Emma jittery with nerves. The Na'vi before her had failed after nearly tumbling down the cliffs, so much had gone wrong and Emma was beginning to hear whispering behind her that wasn't so friendly. "The demon is scaring them with her foreign scent" one Na'vi growled and sadly it appeared the idea of Emma being the cause of the bad luck was growing in popularity.

Ikran

It was Emma's turn, after waiting for so long she felt a surge of energy as she scanned the rocky space filled with writhing bodies of Ikran. There was every colour imaginable and some Ikran only a year or so old, this was their home and she felt honoured to be in it for even a short while.

With a nod from Tsu'tey, she stepped down into the space and began to approach the cluster of Ikran. Some flew off immediately which made the others waiting behind her laugh a little too loudly.

"They are confused by her! They do not like her smell!" One of the Na'vi who had failed shouted gleefully, "Her blood does not interest them" another added with a chorus of laughter rising in pitch until it was a toar in her ears. Tsu'tey snarled at them to be silent and have respect for the Iknimaya while Tarsem also reprimanded them for their rudeness but the damage was done and Emma was furious.

"You say my blood does not interest them? Then let's see for sure" she shouted yanking her beautiful knife from the holder on her chest and making a cut on her arm that welled with blood and spilled down her skin. "Emma!" Tsu'tey shouted with a note of horror but he was held back by Tarsem, he was not to interfere.

Emma slid her knife back into her holder and turned to face the Ikran, her teeth bared as she challenged the creatures until they either turned away or flew off. Then a shadow passed over them, an Ikran had come who was not previously in the nest. The Ikran landed roughly and hissed at Emma, it's eyes focussed on her wound like a starved beast. This was the one. This was hers. She hissed at the Ikran and lunged forward entering into the deadly dance which would end with either a bond or death, her movements were followed by Tsu'tey somewhat anxiously shouting tips but they were not needed. Emma had wrapped the sticky vine around the ikran's mouth and clamped her legs around it's midsection which freed up her hands to align her queue and the ikran's to form her very first Tsaheylu.

Her eyes closed as she felt the bond burst into being, she could feel the ikran's heart beating steadily in sync with it's breathing. Her heat beat alongside, they were linked now. She heard a cheer erupt from the spectators and looked up to see Tsu'tey punching the air and whooping loudly. "Go! Fly Emma!" He shouted motioning toward the cliffs and Emma took a breath, emptied her mind and thought one single word - Fly.

When she opened her eyes she was in the air, her Ikran was soaring above the clouds and she felt her hair lift off her shoulders in the wind. Through her bond she was able to direct her Ikran to dive down and bank around the floating mountains where a rush of water splashed onto her face and chest. She felt alive, so very alive. After a short while she spotted an Ikran approaching and realised Tsu'tey had joined her. "Come, I'll race you!" He challenged and she rose to his bait, they seemed to be rather equal in speed however Tsu'tey obviously had much more experience which he used to get through tight corners with ease.

Tsu'tey indicated they should land and she pulled up beside him with her Ikran clinging to the cliffside, "You have done well Emma, once you receive your blessing from Mo'at you will be an Omatikaya adult" he said with a smile she had never seen before, "I can't believe it! I feel like I can really breathe up here" she gushed excitedly while stroking her ikran's neck. "What will you call her? Tarsem said she has been a mother to many young ones claimed this year" Tsu'tey then asked which made Emma think, her ikran's wings were dark with silvery blue circles and crescents like the phases of Earth's moon. "Lunaris, I will call her Lunaris" she said confidently and Tsu'tey grinned again, seeming to approve of her choice. Lunaris did too and gave an odd chittering purr of happiness.

They returned to High Camp near nightfall where Emma made her way to Mo'at and knelt before her, "You have succeeded in your Iknimaya, you have made your People proud today. Rose now Emma, sister of Toruk Makto as an adult among The People" Mo'at announced before pressing her hand over the wound Emma had inflicted during her Iknimaya, "You are brave Emma, I see such light in your path that I am happy to give you this rite" she continued once Emma had stood, an Adult of the Omatikaya. Those others who also completed their Iknimaya also revived similar blessings and the People of High Camp let out roars of happiness.

"Let us feast!" Tarsem declared as Na'vi began beating drums, dancing and singing. Emma was seated with the other new adults and their chaperones with Tsu'tey beside her. The meat was tender and the fruit juicy and sweet, the water was cool and the music hypnotic. "Tomorrow you return as an Adult, your brother will be proud" Tsu'tey commented between bites of meat, "That's all I've ever wanted, someone to be proud of me" she replied a little sadly despite the positive atmosphere of the feast.

"Come and dance with me, noble chaperone" she said suddenly and when Tsu'tey did not move she simply pulled him up and to the dance floor. She was in high spirits, dancing with anyone and everyone; even leading a small group of young children in a round ring style dance from Earth. Tsu'tey didn't want to admit he enjoyed dancing with her, she was a lot of fun and liked to put her hands on him to move him around her and he could still feel the tingling warmth of her hands on his shoulders.

Tsu'tey wasn't oblivious to the attention Emma was receiving, she danced with men and women equally with no particular motive but that didn't stop the men watching after her practically slobbering like a pack of viperwolves. Even Tarsem had fallen for her charm and seemed to watch her every move, unacceptable.

The evening wore on until late when Emma managed to excuse herself from the dancing and flop down next to him; "I'm exhausted, I'm going to go to sleep ok?" She said before scooting back so that she was propped against the cushioned walls of the fire pit, "sleep well Tsu'tey" she wished and closed her eyes and falling asleep fast. Tsu'tey didn't move from his place and when he woke he found Emma had slid over to rest her head on his shoulder, asleep with such peace that he felt it within himself. It was almost like it had been with Sylwanin; she too had been a light for anyone around her but she had died far too early leaving him alone, until now.

Home.

Emma and Tsu'tey returned to Awa'atlu victorious, her new armband from Tarsem was a testament to her achievement. Jake was waiting for them and his face was glowing with pride as it had been when his own children completed their Iknimaya although Emma had been able to be presented as an adult due to her age. "You did it!" He shouted before she even dismounted, "She did very well" Tsu'tey confirmed and Emma beamed, bathing in the praise that she so craved.

Emma's ears flattened when she smiled and she would always rock on her feet as if she simply couldn't contain her energy, she was lively and sweet and interesting and all the wonderful things. Tsu'tey was in over his head. Emma had her claws in deep and she didn't even need to try.

"What did you name her?" Kiri asked, petting the Ikran gently and looking up at her aunt. "I named her Lunaris because her wings looked like earth moon phases" she replied with a proud smile. "She's so pretty! Will you take me for a ride?" Tuk asked breathlessly having run from the Marui to the beach in order to greet Emma. "Thank you Lovely! I'll take you when I've done some more training and your parents say it's alright" she replied and Tuk looked eagerly at Neytiri who gave a small nod but made no promises.

Emma was happy, really happy. Jake had been proud of her and they'd even had a lovely meal all together but now as she lay down alone in her room she felt more alone than ever. She fought with her feelings for hours while tossing and turning, why did she feel hollow? Was she simply trying too hard? Masking her depression with overbearing false acts of happiness that were so believable that she even believed them for a while?

Her thoughts became sharp, prickly and nonsensical. They piled up until she felt like she was about to burst so she ran, or flew rather. She took Lunaris to the Cove of the Ancestors where she sat on the soft sands and let her tears come, it was always tears first and then the anger followed. She was furious for no physical reason save for the fact her brain simply wouldn't allow her to be happy in any given moment.

Sick of the tears, she dove under the water and headed for the sacred tree where she used her queue to tap into the spiritual guidance she so desperately needed.

She felt warm like a toasty blanket on a chilly day and the songs grew louder although she couldn't make out what they were saying. "Your sister awaits you" she heard in a feminine voice and then she opened her eyes, her chest constructing as she realised she needed air immediately. She kicked for the surface and took in a gulp of air, it burned in her throat and made her skin tingle slightly but she felt better somehow, lighter almost.

She swam for the shore and dried off before mounting Lunaris and heading home where a certain Na'vi was awake and waiting in the doorway with a scowl on his face that would send children running.

Marui.

"Where did you go? I was wondering if you were alright?" He demanded the second her foot neared the Marui, "I just needed some time to think, it's been a big few days and it got a bit too much" she tried to explain but Tsu'tey wasn't having any of it.

"You do not care about how others are feeling? Do you enjoy having us worry over you?" He continued with a voice that was rising into a pitch that Emma didn't like at all. "I didn't ask you to worry, I'm a grown woman!" She retorted with a growl, her nose scrunched with irritation.

"You didn't have to! It's just what you do!" He snarled, stepping closer until they were almost face to face. The energy between them was electric, fizzling and sparking dangerously and then she acted.

She reached forward and grabbed his cumberband and dragged him closer and used her other hand to cup the back of his head and pull him down to her height. Her lips were on his before she even thought it through, his lips were softer than she had expected and she let her tongue flick out to tease him. His mouth opened in surprise and she was able to deepen their kiss. His arms were around her now, digging into her hips as he tried to establish some dominance but was failing, Emma was the top dog here and she was going to have him submit.

Unfortunately there was an intrusion, Jake had come to see what Emma and Tsu'tey were arguing about and had shouted her name from the doorway making them jump apart like a pair of criminals. "What is this Tsu'tey? You're mated with my sister? Is this to get back at me for Neytiri?" Jake shouted with a snarl, his eyes dark and dangerous. Fuck.

It took Neytiri and Tonowari to calm Jake down, it wasn't that Emma was doing something wrong, it's more that Jake hadn't expected it. "Jake, I know I just came back into your life but you aren't my dad. If I want Tsu'tey then I will have Tsu'tey. For that matter, I could have Tarsem or one of the Metkayina girls and it wouldn't be any of your business!" She declared but Jake was not about to hear it, "That's not how we do things, if you don't understand that then you need to leave" he snapped turning his back.

Her heart ached, "is that what you want?" She asked and Jake growled, "You can't just sleep around! Na'vi take one mate for life! How would it look to my children to see you do that? No, I can't have them exposed to it" he said with a devastating finality. "Goodbye Jake" she said softly and left the Marui.

By the time Jake had calmed down, Emma was gone. All the things he had given her were left behind and all that she had really taken was Lunaris and her rider's mask. He hadn't meant to send her away, he was confused and under a lot of pressure but that was no excuse. He had spoken too harshly and even Tsu'tey had left because of it. He assumed Emma would go to the Omatikaya as she was a member of the clan but when he checked in with High Camp a few days later Norm revealed that Tsu'tey was there but Emma wasn't.

It was as if she had vanished into thin air.

The Queen’s Successor part 2:

Hey guys this is my part 2 to the series of an OC Epic character named Liz or Poppy x another OC Epic character I made (a leafman named Michael). I hope you enjoy it, it’s the most I’ve write in a story before so I hope it turned out alright.

Warnings: angst, slight blood and death

Word count: 7.2 k

6 years later: 3rd person

It was a beautiful summer day. Poppy had been begging her mom and dad the last couple days to bring her to the pond so she could jump on the lily pads. They finally agreed so long as Ronin kept a close eye on her. Tara had work that needed to be done around the palace and couldn’t come with them today. She was jumping as high as she could and then letting the water move her around like a trampoline. She was having lots of fun even just playing by herself giggling as she landed each time. “Look daddy; did you see how high I went this time?” she said smiling. Ronin smiled lightly “Yes princess, but please be careful. you haven’t learned to swim yet.” “Yes sir” she says going back to giggling and jumping until a voice called out to her.

“Princess Liz!” An eager little boy called out as he ran to spend time with his friend. The two had only become friends recently with him coming to the palace a lot more because of his parents being leafmen. His mother has been one of the Princess’s personal guards ever since she was a baby. According to her it was because of her generous efforts the day the Queen was gifted Princess Poppy. “Hi Michael!” She called out excitedly waiting for him to come join her on the lily pads. His father had come to speak to Poppy’s father about the plans they had to expand the borders of Moonhaven in the next moon cycle. Michael reached out and hugged Liz tight when he got onto the lily pad she was on. They began bouncing on the pad while talking to each other.

“How are you and how’s your little brother” the Princess asked. “Nod’s good, getting bigger everyday. And I’m doing great! Dad says if I start working on my shooting and swords skills I can start training to be a leafman in a few years from now” he said with a big grin. “Leafman? But what if you get hurt. They do dangerous stuff a lot.” Poppy said as she stopped jumping. Michael stopped jumping too so he could reassure her. “Well yea, I might get hurt but that’s okay. It’d be an honor to protect the Queen, my kingdom and you of course. I’d make it my duty to look after you, so we can always spend time together!” “As long as you stay my bestfriend too” Poppy said pouting and holding out her pinky waiting for Michael to seal the promise. “Deal” he said linking pinkies with her. “Okay” Elizabeth said going back to jumping. “I bet you I can jump higher than you” she challenged the older boy. “Can not! I’m taller than you” he argued back.

While Ronin and his best friend were slightly occupied with their conversation and catching up, Michael and Poppy jumped at clashing times, sending Michael on his butt but sending Liz off the lily and into the water. “Princess” he yelled out in fear as he dove in after her as she was sinking rather quickly. He swam to her and pushed off the bottom of the pond as hard as he could to get them to the surface. When they reached the surface, Ronin and Michael’s father were there to pull them out, Ronin pulling Poppy close as she cried, scared about what had just happened. Both parents made sure to check over their kids thoroughly before they walked off the lily pads and headed back to the palace. Before the two families parted ways, Ronin put a hand on Michael’s shoulder and told him. “Thank you for saving the Princess’ life today. One day you’re going to become an amazing leafman.” Michael smiled with pride and looked to his father to make sure what he was hearing was real to which his father nodded and ruffled his hair.

Embarrassed about what had happened but greatful for Michael’s bravery, Poppy took her face out of hiding in her father’s neck and waved goodbye to him when Ronin started walking home. “We gotta start teaching you to protect yourself and look after yourself don’t we sweet girl?” Ronin spoke to his daughter softly while rubbing her back. He was terrified of there being another incident like the one he just dealt with. He kissed her temple and put her down as she nodded. She held his hand as they walked the rest of the way home; her thinking of the next adventures she’d get to experience with Michael would be, him thinking of how lucky he got today with his baby girl and ofc his over thinking kicking in of how he could take care of her better.

11 years (almost 12 years) later: Poppy’s POV

I was in the garden, working on my healing abilities to make them stronger; while simultaneously avoiding my mother and at this point my best friend as well. He had gotten so stoic since his father died a couple years ago. Ever since then it’s nothing but leafman duty this leafman responsibility that. The true him comes out here and there but I swear, sometimes it’s like hanging out with my father.

Regardless of his sometimes stick in the mud attitude, I can’t help but to be falling for him more and more everyday. His handsome looks, the way he makes me feel safe, but also not suffocated either, the way we spend so much time together with him taking over his mom’s duties as my head guard once he was of age. I even love his family; his mom being so sweet, wise and kind, his little brother, who could be a handful, especially for my father but I loved goofing around with and getting into mischief from time to time. But idk, he’s so hard to read sometimes. Some days I catch myself in moments with him where he holds my waist while we read, kissing my head occasionally, holding my hand when I’m scared or just the way he looks at me like I’m the only woman around, no one else catching his eye or heart. Other times I can’t get as much as a smile out of him, like trying to get feelings out of a brick wall.

I was pulled out of my train of thought when I heard footsteps coming closer. I knew the sound of those footsteps well enough to know I had been found. “Princess Liz, your mother wishes to speak to you immediately.” Michael said looking down at me and what I was doing. I stood up wiping my hands as I started walking that way. “Michael how many times have I told you, you don’t have to call me Princess. Unless you want to” I said flirtatiously with a wink. He tried to keep a straight face while his face turned a shade resembling one of a sunburn. “I’m just trying to-“ he started before I cut him off as we were almost right outside of the Queen’s throne room “ I know I know trying to uphold my duty as your personal guard. You promised you’d still be my bestfriend even when you became Captain” I mimicked pouting looking down at my shoes. He stepped closer to me before tilting my head up to look at him softly. “You’re always going to be my bestfriend” he said quietly enough for only him and I to hear it. He pulled me into a hug and as we started to pull back, I felt the urge to want to ask him for more. My 18th birthday ball was coming up and everyone had been constantly asking me who I was going to be bringing with me. I couldn’t see myself going with anyone but him. “What if we were to be more than bestfriends?” I asked only slightly above a whisper my cheeks glowing a soft peachy color. He pulled me back from our hug his arm around my waist lingering while staring into my eyes with adoration but also surprise for my question. It seemed gravity was bringing us closer together until…

“Elizabeth you can’t avoid me forever” my mother said with a smirk as she waited at the throne room door. Michael pulled back from me quickly to stand at attention for my mom. “Your majesty, I was just walking her to you -“ Queen tara waved him off before he could freak out anymore. “Please Michael, just Tara is alright. And it’s no problem. I’m sure my daughter was a hassle to find. She learned evading the guards from the best.” She said with a smile and a wink. “Ronin however wanted to speak to you about the protection plan for Poppy’s ball, if you could go meet with him. I’ll take it from here with Liz.” She spoke as she linked elbows with me pulling me towards her throne room. “Of course your maj- Tara, I’ll get right on that. Princess” he said bowing slightly to the both of us before heading to see my father.

My mom let go of my arm as she closed the doors to the throne room just for us to talk daughter to daughter. “Well he sure seems serious” she said with a giggle. I sighed and giggled with her “trust me you have no idea”.

Talking daughter to daughter only seemed to last so long when the topic I was avoiding for so long got brought up again. “So, have you given it any thought as to who you want to bring to the ball. There’s plenty of princes that-“ I let out a frustrated sigh and complained “Mom I don’t want to go with any stuck up princes. They’re all boring and never talk about anything but themselves and how great their families are. I’d rather just go by myself.” She nodded a silence filling the room as she seemed to collect her thoughts as to what she was going to say next.

“Is it that you want to go alone or that you want to go with a certain leafman who you didn’t know is an option I’d allow?” She asked with a gentle smile. “How did you? How did you-“ I stuttered nervously before she cut me off with a voice of amusement “oh please, I am the Queen. I see all; and you’re not as quiet about your feelings as you think you are. I see the way you two look at each other. It reminds me so much of the way your father and I used to pine after each other before we got together.” She said as she smiled fondly. Her smile faltered as she saw tears in my eyes threatening to spill over. “What’s wrong my sweet?” She asked bringing me into a hug. I finally let the cat out of the bag, all my feelings that had been bundled up. I just needed to tell someone.

“I want to tell him I love him, but I don’t want to ruin our friendship. I love him so much, but he’s so hard to read. Does he feel the same or does he only see me as a friend?” I say tears of anxiety rolling down my face. “ “He’s the only one my heart belongs to mom. I don’t know what id do if he were to reject my heart.” I continue. She dries my tears and runs her fingers through my hair. “Did you know your father rejected my heart before too?” I looked up at her in shock “but he’s like head over heels for you!?” My mom laughed and said “it’s true, but your father has never been one to express and feel emotions. It was easier for him to push them down, to hide them away and put on an icy cold exterior. Sound familiar?” I nodded. “My point for telling you this is if Michael is the one; meant to be for you, you two will always find your way back to each other, even if things don’t happen the way you would hope. But you never know until you try.” I took a deep breath and nodded “okay, I’m going to ask him” I say with a small smile giving her a hug. She clapped cheering me on telling me to let her know how it goes.

I took a couple of days to gather my thoughts and to figure out how I wanted to ask Michael. It was finally my 18th birthday. The ball would be in 2 days. I woke up late that morning to a really beautiful surprise. Flowers on my bedside table, with my favorite tea and breakfast and a letter from Michael. The letter talked about how much he cared for me and the plans he had for today to make my 18th birthday the best one yet, just me and him. He took me to spend time with Mub and Grub, we took a nap in a really cozy petal hammock, then we went for a ride on his hummingbird where he took me to field; a field that had a dinner time picnic set up already with all of my favorites. To finish the evening out, we ran in the fields at sunset watching all the fireflies scatter around. It truly was the best birthday I could ask for. It’s why asking him to come to the ball came so easy once he was walking me back to my room.

We were joking around pushing each other and giggling. It was so nice to see him smiling again. He has the most amazing smile. Warm eyes, kissable lips, ugh he drives me mad. He gave me a hug and a kiss on the head telling me Happy Birthday again, but before he could walk off I grabbed his hand. “Come to the ball with me, please?” I asked looking up at him. He looked at me confused. “Isn’t that a ball where you’re supposed to be bringing a suitor?” He asked me, a hint of jealousy in his voice. I nodded. I grabbed his other hand softly. Holding both of his hands I took a deep breath and started to tell him how I truly feel about him. “Out of all the people in the forest, you are the only one I want to go with” I told him quietly, still scared of how he will react. “I know we’re bestfriends… but I want to be more than just your bestfriend. I love you; and I think you love me too?”

I looked up at him waiting for him to give me an answer, anxiety starting to flow through my veins. I saw so much adoration shine in his eyes for a split second and just like that his eyes hardened pulling his hands back gently. “You know I can’t” he said at a whisper level. I inhaled brokenly trying not to let the tears in my eyes spill over. “And why not” I asked. “It will be a big event. It’s my du-“ I scoffed as he started to explain “really? You’re on about your duty again? You can’t just do it because you are my bestfriend? Wouldn’t I be safest with you by my side?” I said sadness there but starting to be overpowered by anger. I could tell he was trying to keep his composure with the pause he gave before saying “I am best making sure no one comes in to ruin your big day. To make sure you’re safe. The Prince of Sungrove is coming and so is the Prince of Rainblossom. Why not go with one of them? They fit into that whole royalty type thing, not…someone like me.”

My eyes softened a little. “Is that what this is about? I thought you knew status means literally nothing to me. I want to go with you because you are the one my heart beats for. Not some stuck up smelly privileged kid who still picks their nose.” He cracked a tiny smile before his face became serious again. My eyes filled with tears, a few falling down my cheeks. “Please come with me” I whispered pleadingly. He looked me in my eyes and told me “I’m sorry Princess Elizabeth. I can’t accept your invitation.” This made the dam burst I started crying heavily. He went to grab my hand. I pulled back and told him quickly “Fine. Don’t come.” I opened my door quickly, slamming it shut rather harshly. I slid down the door crying as quiet as I could, which was still rather loud.

One of the maids came to check on me after an hour or so where I was still sat in the same place just staring off at the same spot for minutes on end. She asked if I was alright while jiggling the handle, realizing I had locked it. I wrote a quick note reading “he said no.” I rolled the note up and slid it under the door. “Please give this to the queen” I said. She grabbed the note and then I heard her footsteps subside. I fell asleep in that exact spot, crying; not understanding why he couldn’t just come with me? Had I read his feelings wrong all this time? I feel humiliated, embarrassed, heartbroken.

My mom came almost immediately to come check up on me, but I was already asleep due to how exhausted I was from crying. She figured I need some space and just let me be, noting to herself that she’d come back in the morning.

The next morning: Michael’s POV

I felt really bad making Poppy cry last night. More than anything I wanted to be her date, I want to be the one she loves just as much as I love her. But if I have to love her in the shadows to protect her, that’s what I’ll do. I can’t lose another person I love. Commander Ronin and the other leafmen have been getting numerous reports of attacks happening at the border. He suspects something big is going to happen at the Princess’ birthday celebration. Ugh, could this day be getting any worse?

I was pulled from my train of thought when I was tying my bird up at the end of the day after a long day of patrolling. I figured it was best I stay out of the palace for the day, give the Princess some space. My younger brother came running up to me with a look of bewilderment on his face. “Dude. What. Did you. Do?” He asked me with a tone in his voice that says “you’re in trouble”.

“What do you mean Nod? I haven’t done anything. I’ve been patrolling all day.” I said exhausted. “The Princess is in a horrible mood. She’s like a thunder cloud. She’s been snapping at people to leave her alone left and right. The only person she’ll only really let around her is her dad, and sometimes her mom. But rumor has it from one of the maids last night she got her heart broken and now she doesn’t even want to go to her ball. I went to go see her today and she even ripped my head off. I told her I could come find you if it would make her feel better and she started crying and pushed me out the door telling me to leave her alone.”

My blood ran cold hearing all of that. I hadn’t meant to hurt her. I just wanted to protect her. I looked down at my feet not being able to make eye contact with my brother. “I didn’t mean to.” I said quietly, a tear running down my cheek before I explained what happened. “Dude the Princess is badass. And hot. This is the opportunity of a lifetime, why not take it. You’d be able to protect her up close.” He says trying to reason with me. “She wouldn’t want me to come anymore anyways” I say sadly. He gives me a pat on the shoulder and tells me just to apologize. So that’s what I decided to do. It was dark out already but I figured she’d still be up. It wasn’t too late.

I knocked on her door waiting for her to come out or at least come to the door. “Princess-..Poppy. I want to apologize for yesterday. I never meant to hurt you. I promise.” I started since she hadn’t come to the door yet. “I was too-“ I stopped in my tracks as the door opened but not to reveal Liz, but her father, who did NOT look happy. “You.” He snapped pointing at me as he closed the door behind him, leaving us both in the hallway. “Of all the people to act stupid and break my daughter’s heart I NEVER thought it would be you. I didn’t tell you about the need for extra security tomorrow for you to play hero and leave my daughter refusing to have a date and without her personal guard. She doesn’t even want to go anymore. She’s been crying in my arms all day, only just fell asleep.” He paused when he saw the shame that was on my face, the tear falling down my face. “I just want to know why? I see the way you look at her. I see the way you treat her. Do you not love her the way she loves you?” He asked a bit softer this time, hand on my shoulder. He lead me to a bench that was in the hallway for us to sit.

Shyer to tell this to my Commanding officer and her father I took a deep breath before telling him how I truly feel. I didn’t have my dad to talk to anymore so I know he was trying to be here not only for her but for me in a way. “I love her more than anything sir. She is the life of this forest and the light of my life. I just wanted to be able to protect her. I didn’t want her to be a threat at the ball for coming with a high ranking officer, so I thought I’d be best on the front lines to make sure no one gets through.” He listened to my words before asking me “have I ever told you about how the Queen and I got together?” I shook my head no.

He smiled nostalgically. “Well, you aren’t the first idiot to reject your bestfriend and person of royalty.” He started. “I spent years like you; super serious, never acting on my feelings. Showing my love for the Queen solely from the way I protected her. That was until Poppy came into our lives. She was the blessing that brought us closer. I got to spend so much time with the two of them and a few months in of taking care of Poppy, the Queen professed her love for me. It felt almost too good to be true. I didn’t want my position as commander to put her in danger. I was afraid of not being enough for such an amazing woman. So I rejected her advance, and I stepped back from taking care of Liz.”

He looked down feeling the disappointment of his past actions before he continued “I was too in my own head to see how much love both of them had for me and who I was really rejecting. This was the woman I’ve been in love with since we were kids, and somehow by Mother Nature herself I was blessed to raise a child with her; a child who missed me so much she didn’t sleep until I returned. And Tara never let me live that down. It took almost losing both of them to finally allow myself to love them; To feel the feelings I have for them both. Also don’t underestimate the Queen and Liz, they have been trained by the best. I see how the two of you are together and I see so much of my wife and I in you two. I wouldn’t want my princess with anyone other than you.” The queen at this point had come out of Poppy’s room looking exhausted and came to stand by Ronin’s side.

She put a hand on my cheek and told me jokingly, “you’re so serious sometimes. I think you get it from a certain mentor” “I’m sorry for hurting her, I just wanted to do what I felt would keep Princess Liz the most safe.” Queen Tara nodded and told me “I know you didn’t mean to hurt her. What you need to understand is there’s more to life than just protection and safety. Love conquers all. And I know what Poppy wants most from you, is your love.” “How do I fix this?” I asked nervously. “Liz could never stay mad at you. Just let it simmer down first before you go and apologize to her.” Tara started. “Tomorrow, go and be with the front lines. I will keep Poppy safe. it’ll give you time to gather your thoughts and feelings. Before the night is up, come with a gift for her and ask her for a dance. I’m sure it would mean the world to her if you were still able to make it, but you’ve already made a commitment to being on border patrol tomorrow.” Ronin finished. “Wow never heard romantic Ronin in action before” the queen quipped elbowing him lightly. Ronin rolled his eyes putting his arms around the Queen pulling her close.

While they were off in their own little world passing banter back and forth, I figured it was a good time to make my leave. I wished them a goodnight and thanked them both for the advice and comfort before getting up and heading home. Before I got too far I heard Ronin call out “Oh and Michael?” I turned around to face him while he talked. “Yea?” I asked.

His face lost all brightness and turned cold. A face left emotionless I had only ever seen him use towards the Boggins. “If you ever hurt my daughter again, I’ll make sure you end up in Boggin territory, stripped of your weapons and armor and stranded.” He said menacingly. I nodded quickly and told him “I promise, I won’t hurt her like this ever again.” He nodded, face softening a bit but still holding his famous stoic expression. “Good. Goodnight Captain.” He said heading back to his wife who was reentering Princess Poppy’s room.

The next day: party time and patrol time

I’ve been at the border for the few hours, the party having started about 2 hours ago. I already wanted to go, be there to try to make things right and be with the one I love. Regardless I was here to do a job. Something felt off though. Day in and day out for the last week we’ve been having Boggin attacks, suddenly today, it’s like radio silence. In the corner of my vision, down under the ground, it looked like there was some type of creature burrowing it’s way across the border until one of my men shot an arrow down at the moving dirt. A Boggin riding a mole surfaced the mole throwing the Boggin off its back before it went back underground and back the way it came. The soldier was apprehended and a few leafmen attempted to get information out of the Boggin, but it was no good.

“Strip him of his weapons and armor and send him back to tell his leader to stop trying to come over the border.” I ordered. As they went to do as they were told, the Boggin chuckled evilly. “He won’t be there. He has other more important matters to attend to. We hear there’s a celebration in Moonhaven tonight. For a certain Princess right?” I turned around, anger running through my veins as I grabbed him by the front of his armor. “What are you on about” I gritted through my teeth. He smirked at me and told me “Oh nothing, it’s just we wanted to be generous, kind neighbors and pay her a visit.” He said sarcastically. My eyes widened knowing exactly what he was saying. “Keep him detained. We’ll let the Queen decide what happens to him” I said quickly. I whistled to call my bird. As I was getting on the soldier called out to me “You’ll never get there in time. They should already be there.” He said taunting me. I pushed my hummingbird to go as fast as she could but it seemed he was right. As I arrived, guests were pouring out of the palace screaming in fear, looking to flee to safety back in their homes.

Poppy’s POV: an hour or 2 into the party

I don’t want to be here. I really don’t. I would rather be in my room, not having to socialize. Not having to make small talk with these Princes and Princesses that only want to talk about themselves or what new thing they have. I hate that I miss Michael. He always makes these events more comfortable, even if he’s working the whole time. He always tries to make little faces at me when no one’s looking to make me smile. At least my mom and dad looked like they were having fun. My mom was trying to make my dad smile and even at one point forced him to dance with her even though he was in hawk mode making sure there was no danger lurking.

“Princess, would you like to dance with me?” Someone called pulling me out of my thoughts. It was Nod. He looks so adorable. I’m sure my dad put him up to this with his stuffy dress clothes. Nonetheless it put a smile on my face. We started dancing together; it’s crazy how he’s only 13 and almost taller than me already. “Do you wanna get out of here and roam the castle? I know you hate these types of events. We’ll sneak away when Ronin isn’t looking.” I smiled with relief. I love his sneaky behavior sometimes. I looked over at my mom and dad who were busy dancing and caught up in each other. I really wish I had a love like theirs, true love. Love that makes you forget everyone else around you. “Let’s go, they aren’t looking.” I said ushering him towards the exit.

I took a deep breath finally feeling free as I headed back towards my room. We joked around a little before I got to my room. I changed back into my regular dress, making sure I had my pockets full of what is normally in there as Nod sat on my bed. “So are you gonna forgive Michael?” He asked addressing the elephant in the air. “Probably” I said with a sigh. He always has to make things so difficult. Even through that argument, I never really got a read on his feelings for me. I don’t care about the party. What I care about is I opened my heart up to him and I got no response. I must’ve been zoned out for quite a bit as Nod shook my shoulders bringing me back to the present and out of my head. “Hey you alright?” He asked me. I faked a smile and the responded “yea, I think I just need a minute alone. I’ll meet you in the courtyard after. I probably shouldn’t leave the palace on the night of my own party.” He gave me a gentle hug and told me softly “it’s gonna be okay, I’m always here for you even when my brother’s being an idiot.” I gave him a small genuine smile thanking him for comforting me, before he went back downstairs to the party.

Queen Tara’s POV:

I was having a fun time socializing, dancing, being with the one I love, but I could tell Poppy wasn’t enjoying herself. The secret eye rolls when she would speak to the royalty her age, the constant staring off into no where, the deep frown on her face. One minute I’m dancing with Ronin and the next minute she was no where to be found. “It seems our daughter has disappeared once again” I whispered to Ronin, amused but a little sad. He looked around super soldier mode turned on. “What? Where is she?” He asked starting to panic a bit. I hushed him trying to calm him down a bit. “It’s alright, she probably just needed some air. You know she doesn’t really like these kinds of events, especially being around so many people “ I tried reasoning.

Within minutes the ball became a disaster. Boggins attacked from every angle filling the party. Civilians ran out of the palace as quickly as possible, sometimes running over one another. Some leafmen were assigned to protect the royalty that came to visit and we made our way to one of the safe rooms in the palace. Ronin was attacking Boggins left and right who came to try to harm me as he guided me towards the throne room. We all piled in there, the leafmen spreading out to make sure if any Boggins were to make it in, they’d be attacked immediately. I could tell Ronin wanted to go after Liz. But as my lead guard, his duty was to be here. In a strict voice he called out to a few of the soldiers that were in the room with us.

“My job is to stay here and protect the Queen. If something goes wrong then that is on me. Go find the Princess and bring her back here. Make sure she is safe if not in this safe room then another.” He demanded. They nodded before drawing their swords and exiting the room. Ronin came to stand by me to ease my nerves, hand resting on my lower back. “It’s alright, she’s gonna be alright. She has them coming to protect her and she’s spent years training and preparing for a moment like this. If anything the enemy soldiers are the ones in danger right now.” He said placing a kiss to the side of my head.

Princess Liz’s POV:

I figured it was time to head back to the party. I didn’t want my mom or dad to get mad that I had left for so long. I made my way down the stairs and down the long hall making my way back to the party hall. It was quiet. Too quiet for the party to still be going on. That’s when I saw what looked like a soldier dressed in a dead rat running at me from where the party was supposed to be going on I threw one of my throwing thorns at him hitting him right in the neck. In pain he cried out yelling out weakly to the others “I found the bitch. Get her” I ran back the way I came trying to make it to my room. If I could get there. There’s a protective mechanism in the door to make it a safe room. I threw more knives trying to give myself more time to escape. I made it about halfway up the stairs when 2 soldiers came from down the steps, blocking off my path.

I hid the last knife I have just in case I had a chance to escape, but I let them hold me captive. One of them, I’m taking it be the leader of all of them grabbed me by the back of my neck/ hair and pulled me up towards my room. I panicked trying to dig my heels in. “Please don’t do this, I haven’t done anything. Please don’t hurt me.” I began to babble. The soldier who had my hair pulled a knife by my face and growled “shut up. If you’re good we’ll go easy on you. It’s not really you we want Princess.” He said with a voice like venom. He pulled me to sit on the bed, hand staying on the back of my neck as if her were waiting for something.

I heard a few soldiers call out of my name trying to find me and make sure I’m alright. The man who was holding my scruff nodded at the woman by the door before I heard scuffling, battle cries and then silence. Tears came to my eyes as I realized those men risked their lives for me but to no avail.

It was a little while later (maybe 10 minutes) when I heard a voice call out sounding concerned. “Princess?” He called out. My eyes widened an inaudible gasp coming from my lips. No not him, please not him. I heard scuffling outside once again. Tears ran down my face the longer it went on. There was silence once again until the lady who was at the door with fire in her eyes snapped at no one in particular “how is he not dead yet?!” She left the room and then the sounds of another fight pursued. When the palace was brought more silence and then the call of my name, the man holding me yanked my hair up with just the word “stand.” He pulled me to the door, knife by my carotid, him standing behind me like a shield. I stepped out of the room by the railing where I saw Michael, he was about halfway up the stairs.

There were bodies, both Boggins and leafmen laid life less all over. “Don’t look at them Princess look at me.” Michael said trying to put my mind at ease. I looked at him. He looked exhausted. His blood or someone else’s splattered on his armor, split lip, split eyebrow and what looked like a newly forming bruise on the side of his face. But his eyes remained the same eyes I fell in love with. Full of life, adoration, kindness. The officer behind me was mouthing off to Michael talking about killing as many leafmen as possible, including Michael. When the Boggin wasn’t paying attention I pointed a finger at his hand that had the knife in it telling him to shoot there with his bow and arrow. He gave me a questioning look and so I mouthed to him “trust me.”

He took the shot shooting straight through the man’s hand. The man started hollering and I moved away from him getting behind him, using my last knife to stab him in the back before pushing him over the railing as he fell head first to his death; not before slicing me pretty good from where my ear and jaw connect to my chin with the knife that was in his hand. Michael ran to me holding me in his arms. He held me close using reassuring affirmations and kissing my head (whether those affirmations were used to calm him or me down, one will never know.) He tilted my chin up to look at me before he started to panic again “oh you’re bleeding, quite a bit. He got you good.” He said trying to find a piece of fabric to put pressure on the wound. I grabbed his hand to stop him from freaking out before I used my other hand to place on top of my would, healing it so all that was left was a scratch. I then took my hand that was holding his hand and placed it where I could see the bruise forming and on his eyebrow to heal up his wounds.

“It looks like my healing studies have come in handy.” I said lightheartedly. He looked at me with so much love in his eyes. He grabbed my waist and pulled me closer. “I thought I was going to lose you” he said quietly. “I’m not completely helpless y’know.” I said giggling lightly. “I’m aware of that.” He said acting unamused. He pulled me into a passionate kiss. My hands went to wrap around his neck, one hand playing with his hair that was showing out of his helmet. We pulled back from each other only when we both needed air. He placed his forehead on my own and told me the words I have been dying to hear for years. “I love you Elizabeth. I’m sorry it took me so long to tell you-“ he said before I interrupted him with another kiss.

“Well it’s about time” I heard a familiar voice say interrupting us as we pulled away from each other. “Haha it’s good to see you too brother. Glad you’re safe. Michael said walking over to his little brother and pulling him into a bone crushing hug. My father walked up behind them a sigh of relief being audibly heard when he saw I was okay. I ran over to hug him. “Thank the spirits you’re okay.” He said hugging me tight kissing the top of my head. “Your training paid off. That and Michael came to save me” I said pulling a bit back from the hug. My dad looked down at me with such adoration a tear slipping down his face. He caressed my cheek softly, thumb moving back and forth as a form of comfort. “You really are all grown up my sweet girl.” He said with lots of love. He looked up at Michael and went over to him, locking forearms with him in a handshake before pulling him into a hug. “Thank you for coming back for her.” He said relieved I have someone looking after me, someone who would be willing to die for me if that were what needed to be done.

I let them have their moment while I went over to the fallen leafmen soldiers to see if any of them were healable. For the ones who had passed I closed their eyes and laid them in a way that was considered honorable. (Their body would be laid the same way when it was time for their funeral) I then healed the ones who were in critical condition as much as I could. They would still have quite a long road ahead of them, but it was better than a road that didn’t end prematurely. My mom came to join us all since the palace was deemed safe again. She came to stand over me as I healed the last soldier I could heal. “You’re going to make an amazing Queen one day.” She said kindly pulling me into a hug as I stood up. “I’m so glad you’re okay” she said into my hair as she kissed the side of my head. I hugged her back telling her, blushing a bit “I would’ve been a lot worse had Michael not come back to protect me.”

He came to stand by me holding my waist. He bent down a bit to kiss my cheek as he told me “it’s kinda in the job description but it’s my pleasure.” My mom squealed saying “Ronin are you seeing this too?! Finally.” We all spent a bit more time together talking and dealing with matters such as taking the wounded soldiers to the infirmary, taking the bodies of the enemy away, preparing the bodies of the fallen leafmen away, and so many other clean up procedures of that disastrous ball before I decided to turn in for the night, Michael insisting on escorting me back.

My mom was right; things hadn’t worked out exactly how I planned it, but I was still just as happy with the outcome. It was worth the wait and worth the initial hurt. I drifted off to sleep thinking about how happy I was finally getting to be with my divine love, my bestfriend.

A.N: there is a smut part to this but I’ve taken it down until someone lets me know they even want to read it 👍🏻. Not going to continue to deal with hate comments. Hope you enjoyed.

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