Python's Writings

[Python]

Janan 

    Something had gone wrong. Her mind poured over every possibility that could have gone wrong, but everything used was right. She should have figured out when the infant wasn't moving at first, and when stirred, barely made a sound and was weak. So, so weak. She did everything she could but nothing seemed to work. Not even Mal's magic did anything. It was like their magic wasn't working on the child.



    Their child. A girl with light brown skin and dark brown eyes when she managed to open them in her brief moments out of slumber. There was nothing that could be done, even with the deepest magics that anyone could use. The only conclusion that could be brought forth was that the child had no magic, or magic so deeply different from the magics possessed by either parent. There was no trace of any magic of the fae that Maleficent had, or anything from Nasira's own magics. No trace of fairy ancestry, nothing.



    She was completely human.



    Was this some sort of punishment from some godly figure or figures for their actions? Were they too different to even be able to have a living child? Nasira had no clue. Her tired mind was fraying at the seams and it pained her that nothing in her power could be done to save her and Maleficent's first born daughter. They didn't even bother to name her. There was that fear that she would pass at any moment and it could have been all for not to even name her. It and everything else caused plenty of arguments between her and her wife, as well as the rest of the Blackblood Legion.



    Nasira at that moment wished to be alone, but even before that moment, there was the occasional appearance of those who either were able to approach her or had the guts to do so. Words of comfort from others who were parents, the overseers who talked with her even for the briefest of moments about the army and other such details (or the best way to give the baby girl a proper burial when she passed, and other things like that), or those who were just silent and stayed by her side for a brief while to give her support when words weren't enough.



    Nasira cursed so many higher powers so many times in her many sleepless moments. Cursed them for making her suffer, for making an innocent life suffer like this, and so many other things. It even made her voice hoarse at one point, but it was all for nothing. The necromancer just wished for something, anything to happen. Just let the infant pass away peacefully, or somehow get better even in the smallest chance it could happen.



    But then...



    “Mrrrrgh...”

    Nasira's eyes shot open. Her head whipped up towards the makeshift cradle that was made for her daughter, and it moved with what could only be the moments of the infant inside. It couldn't be...



    “Please let it be true, please...” Nasira whispered hoarsely in her native tongue as she approached the cradle. She was so slow and careful, as if the briefest spark of hope could die if she took one wrong step. But when she saw her daughter... That spark of hope just flared even more like a fire fed more lumber to continue burning.



    The infant had more color to her face, and seemed almost more full to her face with that usual chub that babies had. She was also moving, but her face was scrunched up a bit as if ready to cry. That maternal instinct within Nasira that she put down since this whole thing started just flared to life and had her scoop the infant up in her arms with gentle tender.



    Nasira just stared, and it felt like an eternity but when the baby opened her eyes... Those dark brown eyes were full of life. Those beautiful eyes were filled with curiosity, light, and just plain love. She knew who her mother was, and just moved closer into her mother's arms. The magic that was so rejected before from Nasira seemed to slowly pour into the infant's own, and it was like a dam slowly being broken.



    The necromancer couldn't help but to start crying. It was a sorrowful crying, but a joyous crying . She felt so hopeful now that her daughter, her and Maleficent's daughter, was going to be okay. Even now, it felt right to give her the name of...


    “Janan”. The necromancer whispered. It meant “Heart” or “Soul”, and it just felt so right for her. Janan, the first born of Maleficent and Nasira. She represented hope at that moment, and the love that she and Maleficent had. Oh, how she couldn't wait to show everyone that Janan was going to be okay.



    But for now, this moment was for her and Janan alone. A moment that nothing could tear away.

---

    A/N: I just had this plot bunny in my head and rolled with it. It had to be an angst one, because why not. > > Tagging Nasira because why not? Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going into my bunker. 

[Python]

Inge 

    “There is still no sign of Nereus?”



    “Signs of her being out there? Yes. But any sighting of the mer creature? No.”



    “What on earth...”



    Three weeks has passed since Nereus disappeared, to almost a full month at their disappearance. There was no suspicion really that she had somehow turned traitor because she remained in the immidiate area, and Nereus was loyal above all else to the Shadowglen, especially Maleficent and Nasira. She was also very fond of Janan, as to Janan was to her. So her sudden disappearance had upset the 2 year old greatly.



    Dealing with a toddler going through the terrible twos was bad enough, but dealing with a toddler that suddenly would use her rather chaotic magic in her tantrums? It was like hell on earth. The only thing that would calm her down really was clinging to either of her mothers or holding some old doll that Nereus chewed on as it reminded the toddler of the mer creature. The whole thing certainly threw a wrench in a lot of things that the Shadowglen had in the plans, but war was war. They had to keep on going, no matter what was happening. It certainly had added more stress to everyone though.



    “Janan, sweetie, Mama needs to get things done.” Nasira wearily said to her first born daughter, who clung tightly to her dress with an iron grip. “Go to your mother.”

    “No!” Janan whined out and gripped her mother's dress even tighter. Nasira just face palmed and let it be. She was tired, and she didn't want to deal with her daughter's dark magic again. Something about it seemed... chaotic and sinister. The magic would tear against many of the other members, leaving them feeling downtrodden and guilty for whatever reason. Even when such magic didn't tear into someone, it was almost unsettling and judgmental. There were very few that the magic did not totally affect, such as herself, Mal, Nereus, and a very select few who Janan were fond of.



    It also felt very... old. A sort of magic that existed long before any one of them, even Maleficent and Nasira combined. It was like an eternal flame, which was no small thing when Janan would rarely cause something to alight in dark flames that wouldn't go out unless the toddler somehow willed it. That was learned the hard way when Dr. Facilier tried to put the flames out himself one day and the fire suddenly leapt towards him and chewed into his very soul before dying. He reported it being... something not of a world even he could tap into. It also resulted in some of his friends on the other side being consumed in ghostly wails as they died in the flames, crying out against judgment.



They had no idea where this magic came from, even when it was thought that she possessed no magic. It was a relief that she wasn't completely without such a thing, in case of... No, Nasira didn't want to think of that. There were those in this world who would attack a child, especially one that was the child of the Empress of the Shadowglen and her consort. If they ever did though, Nasira would tear their soul from their body and send it to the deepest pits of hell.



    “WHAT THE ACTUAL F-”

    Nasira had just barely clapped her hands over Janan's ears before the full swear could be heard. You think some adults would watch what they say when a child is around, but well...



    “What on earth is going on out there?” Nasira and then Sarafina (she had been speaking to the lioness before) barked out in apparent questioning (and a bit of annoyance) before a lower-ranked Knight who's name escaped the both of them sprinted into the room and hastily gave a salute.



    “M-my apologies, m'lady and your royal consort! It's just that...” The soldier stopped to catch his breath and tried to form words but all that came out were wheezes and other assortment of noises. Nasira was in no mood to deal with this, but she wasn't about to be the queen bitch in front of Janan.



    “Speak up now, knight,” Nasira harshly hissed out towards the soldier who was now shaking a bit in their boots, but thanking his lucky stars to still be alive. “What is going on?”


    “W-we found Nereus, your grace, in the water tower! But she-”



    “Nere~!” Janan excitedly babbled when she heard Nereus' name, which all but scared all of those present due to not expecting the sudden screech of the toddler. The toddler then let loose her iron grip on her mother's dress and disappeared in a shadowy flash of chaotic magic to go to the water tower. Nasira... certainly wasn't prepared for that. At least everyone present knew where she was going since Janan adored Nereus so much. Well, time to see what was going on.



    She should have expected the small crowd there, but really, it took her off guard a bit. Nasira blamed the lack of sleep lately. She spotted plenty of familiar faces, and newer ones of those who joined up in recent years, but right in the middle of a few adults who were cooing over... something and curious other children was Janan and Nereus.



    “Nere, nere~!” The darker skinned toddler chanted over and over again as she hugged the mer creature, very happy to finally see her favorite person again. Nereus certainly looked happy, albeit rather tired looking... and less fat? Her abdomen was certainly smoother then before, though a bit more fatty than skinny. Her tail looked preoccupied as well, and something was clinging to it. Wait...



    “Nereus- Is that what I think it is?” Nasira questioned the mer, who just looked up and grinned with a tired smile.



    “Yep!” Nereus chirped happily back. “This is my daughter!”



    ...Oh. Now her sudden disappearance finally made sense. She had gone off to give birth. That explained everything that changed about her before she disappeared. The sudden weight gain, mood swings, increased intake of food, and other symptoms. So many questions came to mind, but that could be asked later, because she had one very important question... just to be a bit side stepped by Sarafina.



    “Oh my stars, she is adorable!” The older lioness stepped forward to look closer at the infant, and couldn't help but to coo over the apparent cuteness. Sarafina was definitely many things, and being a mother and being affected by children was one of them. It was surprising that Janan's magic allowed so many to be so close but then again, she was distracted at the moment.



    Though now that it was easier to get a closer look (which Janan was now curious and doing the same)... the infant didn't look completely like Nereus. There were only some parts that held greenish-blue scales (lower legs, tail that looked oddly like a tadpole, cheeks, and shoulders), tealish fins on her face and arms, darker skin that had a green undertone, and rather wild reddish brown hair. Some of those traits seemed rather familiar...



    “Um, if I may ask, Nereus,” Morren asked from the sidelines. “Who is her father, exactly?” No one really saw Perthmail's sudden sweating out of nervousness and possible disbelief, since he was kind of out of the way, but what Nereus said next hit the final nail in the coffin.



    “Oh, her father is definitely Perthman!” She nonchalantly said, just as blunt as ever. “We had a wild time a while ago, and he's the only one I've been with in that way. So Inge is his daughter.”



    THUD!



    “Perthmail!?” Someone in the crowd squeaked out of confusion when they saw the man thankfully faint into a softer surface at Nereus' words. Now the commotion was focused on him, and Nasira just face palmed again. Oh, this was a pain in the ass for sure. Thank goodness that the situation wasn't any worse, and the sight of Janan playing with Inge (her eyes were now open, and they were a bit blueish-green but no sign of a sclera like Nereus) did make her heart soar.



    But oh, she definitely would have a talk with both Nereus and Perthmail about this with Maleficent later on. But for now, things were finally peaceful.

---

    A/N: Just another plot bunny that I just couldn't let go. XD Because I kind of ship those two together, because my brain is an arse like that. 

[Python]

Memories of Agony 

Warning! Story contains descriptions of blood, violence, slight body horror, and dealings with PTSD. If any of these things trigger you or make you uncomfortable, please do not read for your own safety. 

   Rhea did not remember her dreams well, or even the nightmares. Maybe it was a blessing in most nights and likely thanks in some part to her waning power, but this night, it was a hellish nightmare that made her flash back to one of the worst moments of her life. Her eye, chest, and legs burned from the pain. It felt like it was burning into her very soul! She could feel their weapons upon her flesh again, their unknown words that were words of hatred and ignorance, and their ignorant goal to destroy her as some sort of witch.

SPOILER: Click to show

    It cut into her flesh, over and over again! It was agony all over again! Agony, agony, agony. It felt then again like the days of Titanomachy. Her siblings fighting against her children and her allies, and losing and their sentence being to forever be chained and caged in the darkest depths of Tartarus. She could feel the stares of anger and judgement from the other titans, and she could feel the very last words that Cronus roared before being bound forever for his crimes. It was all her fault, her fault, her fault...

    The titaness couldn't tell reality from memory in that moment. She was under attack again, no, no, no! She couldn't go through that again! The waning magic within her flared to life, and every plant surrounding her became a darker image of itself, twisted and vile as it cut, crushed, and ensnared anything it could. Rhea lashed out at anything and everything that moved, even as her old wounds began to fester and bleed once again due her changing body. She could feel the plants, bark, and everything else on her skin change from the mortal disguise to the innermost primal part of her.

    Then she felt someone trying to grab her. No, it was those humans again! No, no, no, get away!

    “GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ME!” She bellowed with fear and rage at her attacker, and attacked them herself with sharped claws. The blood on her talons was real enough in that moment, even as her fear and rage drowned out the shouting from what she thought to be her tormentors. The voices just blended together as they hacked away at the vile plantlife and trying to get Rhea to snap out of it. No, this was an attack! These mortals were back again! It had to be the truth!

    “Grandma!”

    Rhea's attention snapped to the one voice that called out. Her eyes stared towards the familiar gold ones that were inherited by the one grandchild that she was there for from the beginning. It was Haris. They looked so tormented and scared, even as they held onto her with bleeding arms to try and get her to stop. She didn't understand... Why were they here? It was her attackers that were surrounding her, but here the very grandchild she watched come to life from clay was. No, it couldn't be...

    “Grandma, please stop!” Haris pleaded with their grandmother with tear filled eyes. It was that moment of clarity that Rhea realized that something was wrong. No, this couldn't be reality, could it? Her own eyes began to flow with tears, even the heavily scarred one that hurt so much from being open for so long. The twisted flora began to stop moving, and either started to shrivel away or go back to its original place. She was... hurting her allies, her few friends, her family! What was wrong with her?

    “I am... I didn't mean...” The titan babbled over and over again as her imposing figure just held her crying grandchild close. She hadn't transformed completely into her primal form, but her large figure of primal plantlife, earth, and everything else was there and even stood larger then her own son, Hades. She felt sick that she had done all of this. It was her fault, her fault...

    Haris just held close to Rhea, even as their father carefully approached. Hades was definitely bleeding from cuts and bruises, but it wasn't as bad as the self-inflicted wounds to his mother's own body and the bleeding wounds to Haris's arms and face. Some of those were likely to scar over, at least on Haris and Rhea. The demi-god of an angel/greek god hybrid just looked towards their father with concern.

    “Dad, it wasn't her fault!” They pleaded with Hades, who stood firm and silent. “It was the nightmares again, they-”

    “Yeah, yeah, I know, kid.” Hades sighed as the concern took over his face. “I know...”


    Haris was too concerned for everyone they knew for their own good. It was definitely the angel heritage that did that. But even Hades, for as jaded, snarky, and permanently annoyed as the god of death was, he still held a soft spot for his family. Especially now in his mother's vulnerable state.

    “Your grandma is going to get better, okay, squirt?” Hades said towards his only child with Jenn, the very consort of the underworld and no shit taker of an angel. “But for right now, let's get the both of you to another medic.”

    “...Yes sir.” Haris rather formally replied, and took their grandmother's hand, and Rhea just blindly followed as those injured made their way to another medic's place of practice This incident proved that some things couldn't ever truly heal, especially for moments that could never be truly forgotten. But with hope, family, and the right treatment for physical and mental wounds, they could be at least hardened and dealt with better. 

SPOILER: Click to show

---

    A/N: ...I am an asshole. XD I just randomly felt like torturing Rhea, because why not? Also, introducing another next gen kiddo, Haris! They're the child of Jenn and Hades, made from clay and brought to life as Jenn (both irl and IC) is ace and well, weirder things have happened in greek myths.

    Haris is a gender neutral name as I wasn't sure what gender to make them, so I went with that but now it has kind of stuck that they are nonbinary. Because it is pride month and I can. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to hide from one of my characters so she doesn't try to murder me.