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Now that i'm done with CotL, I have to make some doodles

Oblonger… why must you hurt me with your words? I finally caught up to this just to be stabbed in the heart 10 million times 🥲

Chapter 7 of TPiaG: Body Swap Au

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@sincerely-sofie It's the chapter you've wanted to see! The wonderful reuniting of these friends!

The tearful reunion with the Future Trio

Life was going...

Until it wasn't.

Twig and Kip were sitting and the table. Planning out their day.

It was mostly done by Kip, he figured that Darkrai obviously didn't want to, and Twig still couldn't really read.

"I think that should be everything." He looked and smiled at Twig. "Are you ready?"

"Of course!" Twig responded. "The rain is gonna make your attacks hit much harder! This should be a breeze!"

Kip glanced out the window that Darkrai was staring out of. The overcast clouds blocking out the sun. The lack of sunshine making everything feel a bit heavier. Just a bit more dismal.

"What are your plans Darkrai?" Twig snidely remarked.

Darkrai growled. "Perhaps if you would give me something to occupy myself with, I would have plans, wretch."

Anger flashed across Twig's eyes

"I thought you do have plans Darkrai. Taking over the world and all that."

Darkrai looked at her angrily. "My true plans are put on hold until I return to my body."

Twig scoffed while rolling her eyes. "What's stopping you from trying in what is your body now? You should give it a shot. It'd be cute." She spoke, deadpan.

The two glared at each other as Kip sighed.

Its been like this nearly every day since they moved. He didn't know why they've been at each other's throats.

"Okaaay! Well, we should get out there before the rain starts pouring!" Kip exited the house first through the back entrance of their home. A straight shot from here to Mount Trevail.

Kip began walking down the trail, turning and stopping where the path splits, with one trail leading to the forest near the property. He saw Twig talking to Darkrai, just lowly enough for Kip to not hear them. They hate each other, and now they're sharing secrets? What are they doing?

"Hey! Twig! We don't want the rain to start before we even get there!"

"Im coming, gimme a second!"

Kip laughed loud enough for her to hear. "And I thought I was the slow one!"

"Since when?" Twig jabbed. "I was so slow it took me like, three weeks before we could go on jobs again!"

Kip laughed as he took another step.

Instantly, something felt wrong...

Kip looked around to see what was wrong. His blood ran cold when he figured it out.

The air around him was shimmering.

Suddenly, the Passage of Time opened to his side. His back facing the forest.

Kip swung his head to look at Twig and Darkrai.

"HIDE!!!" He screamed!

Twig rushed to lock the door and slammed it shut. Kip saw her speed past a window, holding Darkrai in her arms. His expression was more fearful than angry.

Kip's eyes snapped back to the portal when Grovyle stepped out. Some papers sticking out of a satchel he had slung over his shoulder. His face lit up when he saw him.

"Kip!!!" He joyfully shouted.

Celebi flew out next. "Oh FINALLY! Do you know how many realtors we had to talk to get to this point?" Celebi gave a dramatic sigh. "Those people just never stop talking!"

Kip forced a smile as best as he could. "How... uh, how did you find me?"

Dusnkoir emerged from the passage before it shut behind him. His towering figure filling Kip with dread.

"Well, you didn't make it easy." Celebi pouted. "We went to the Treasure Town Post office, and the worker gave us these ads.~" She joyfully gestured towards the papers.

Kip quietly spat out a curse word.

Grovyle looked around with confusion.

"Where's Twig?" He asked.

Kip forced a laugh. "Oh! She's just visiting some family! She'll be back soon!"

Celebi flinched.

Grovyle's mouth hung open.

Silence fell among them.

Kip could hear drops of rain slap against the ground next to him.

The sky looked even darker than it was before.

"Kip." Grovyle spoke.

Kip looked up at him, taking a shaky step back when he saw the look of complete and utter wrath in Grovyle's eyes.

"She doesn't have a family to visit."

Kip's heart was racing faster than he ever thought possible. The adrenaline pumping through him made him feel sick. It felt like his breath wasn't reaching his lungs. Kip couldn't tell if that was sweat running down his face, or the rain.

He'd forgotten that these are the only people that wouldn't buy that story.

He just screwed everything up.

Again.

Grovyle took half a step forward.

"Where is she." he growled.

Kip tried to choke some more words out. All of them getting caught on the massive lump stuck in his throat.

He can't tell them where she is.

Grovyle looked like he was about to impale someone.

"Are you okay, Kip?" Celebi asked.

No.

No!

No he wasn't!

Everything is about to end!

And it's his fault it is!

He can't tell them.

If they find Twig, they'll-

She will-

He can't-

A primal instinct wrapped it's claws around Kip's heart and soul.

He spun around and started running as fast as he could into the forest.

***********

"HEY!" Grovyle shouted.

Why was he acting this way?

Was someone threatening him?

Were they holding Twig hostage and he couldn't tell them?

The three started to chase after him.

Grovyle was about to catch him, he was much faster than he was, when he stopped. Right inside the entrance to the forest.

Celebi and Dusknoir stopped their pursuit and turned to face him, as Grovyle looked back at the house they were near.

"Grovyle?" Celebi asked.

He clenched his fist.

"Go catch Kip." He demanded.

Celebi and Dusknoir flinched at him. "But what about-"

Grovyle turned his head to glare at them.

"Just do it." He hissed.

Celebi looked taken aback. Dusknoir stared at him before nodding. He spun around and resumed his chase.

Grovyle fully turned towards the house.

"Grovyle? What's wrong?" Celebi asked.

"The legend is in that house." He growled.

Celebi flinched.

"... Go find Kip. I'll handle this."

"Wh- But Grovyle! You don't know how powerful they are! They could-"

Grovyle shot a venomous look at Celebi.

"Go."

Celebi flinched. She stared at him for several seconds before wordlessly turning and flying into the forest.

Grovyle started walking towards the house. He rummaged through his satchel before pulling out a seed, that he popped into his mouth. He pulled the satchel's strap over his head. Dropping it on the ground. The papers sticking out from inside, wilting from the rain.

The heavy feeling that Dusknoir had described a few weeks ago, got heavier with each step.

The legend that had been hurting Twig was in there.

Grovyle tried to open the door...

Locked.

The leaves on his arms became as sharp as swords. Grovyle slashed them through the doorknob before kicking the door open. Pieces of the door, clattering as it landed on the ground.

He stepped inside.

It was nicely furnished. What little furnishing there was.

The atmosphere felt suffocating.

The only noise he could hear was his slow footsteps, and the rain pelting the roof and the ground outside.

Grovyle kicked open the door to a room he was near.

The room was empty, save for a hay bed, a lamp, and many blankets that lay next to it...

This was Twig's room.

Grovyle slowly walked over into the kitchen.

He opened the pantry door.

There was several foodstuffs inside. About a week's worth...

Enough for three people.

...

Grovyle's chest was burning with hate.

Whoever this legend was, they were forcing Twig and Kip to take care of them.

Now it made sense why they wanted them to buy a house.

They wanted to isolate them from the guild and Twig's friends.

Grovyle slammed the pantry door so hard that several things inside fell over. The door bounced back open, and a few cracks formed in the wall where the hinges were located.

Grovyle prowled down the hallway into the living room.

That's when he heard something shift.

Grovyle slowly turned around.

A closet door.

Grovyle stalked forward and quietly pressed his ear against the door...

A small eternity crawled passed.

The rain landing against the roof.

Grovyle's blood rushing through his ears.

His heartbeat, making his hands shake just a little.

The seed, uncomfortably wedged between his teeth and his cheek.

Sweat and rain, running down his forehead.

...

A quiet, stifled breath from inside the closet.

Found you.

***********

Dusknoir could see Kip. He was catching up to him.

Was this because of him? Did Kip feel too afraid of him to tell him where Twig was?

He wouldn't blame him.

Suddenly, Kip slowed down. Slipping on the mud, before sprinting to his right. Into the trees. Completely off from the trail.

Why was he doing this?

Dusknoir had to quickly search for gaps large enough for him to fit through, in order to continue his pursuit.

Kip was constantly tripping and stumbling over tree roots, but his small body afforded him a faster route than what Dusknoir could achieve.

Dusknoir almost caught up to him, he reached out to grab him.

He hesitated.

Kip dove into a hollow, rotting log that lay on the ground, Dusnkoir's fingers barely brushing against his tail fin.

Dusknoir hated this.

He grabbed the inside of the log and exerted his strength to tear the log in half.

Kip glanced at him, terrified tears running down his face. He quickly stood up and began running again.

Dusknoir was fed up with this.

He used Shadow Sneak to appear in front of Kip, before grabbing him and lifting him up to eye level.

"That's enough." Dusknoir muttered. "Why are you..."

Dusknoir paused. He's seen the way Kip was looking at him now already.

This was Dusknoir's fault.

Perhaps the Croconaw was wrong. Maybe there wasnt a legend involved.

Maybe they somehow knew that he was returning and they wanted to get away from him...

Dusknoir was staring at Kip when his cheeks puffed outward.

Kip fired water directly into Dusknoir's eye.

Dusknoir dropped the child, crying out in pain and falling to the ground as he clutched it.

"I'M SORRY!" He heard Kip shout, his footsteps quickly becoming quieter.

Dusknoir tried to open his eye, but the pain was even sharper when exposed to air.

The rain pelted against his back as he tried to feel his way around.

He couldn't see anything but the incredibly faint outlines of the trees.

Dusknoir tried to focus on the outlines, but he couldn't focus on anything other than the pain.

Everything was dark.

He was blind.

"Dusknoir!"

He heard Celebi shout from nearby.

He felt a small hand land on his back.

"What happened?! Are you okay?!"

Dusknoir took in a sharp, pained breath.

"He used Brine in my eye."

Celebi gasped in disbelief. Dusknoir could feel a warmth coming from her hands. The intense, sharp pain was slowly draining away.

"Why would he do that?!" Celebi shouted, both in anger and concern.

Dusknoir winced as he was able to open his eye, still stinging a lot.

"It may be my fault. They must have known I was-."

"That's not possible!" Celebi snapped. "There was no way they could have known that we were coming back! Much less know about you!"

Dusknoir wanted to believe her.

Dusknoir stood back up.

"Can you see alright?"

Dusknoir looked around.

He couldn't.

Everything looked blurry.

Dusknoir nodded. "We need to catch him."

Celebi sighed in relief.

********

One second Twig was hiding in the closet, holding Darkrai close to her.

The next, the closet door had been torn off it's hinges.

And now she was rolling against the ground outside, having been thrown through the window by Grovyle.

She looked up to see Grovyle hop down from the window.

She'd never seen this kind of murderous intent from anyone. Even the legends she fought against.

She was terrified.

Twig righted herself into a sitting position and held out her hand.

"Grovyle! Wait, it's me! Twig!" She shouted.

Grovyle stopped and stared at her for a few seconds.

Then he looked even angrier.

"How DARE you use her voice!!!" He yelled, he held his hands close together and an Energy Ball formed between them.

"Wait! No!" She tried pleading with him.

He launched the Energy Ball at her and, despite her efforts to move out of the way, It hit her in the chest. A Shockwave of pain launching itself through her body as she was flung backwards again.

She looked up to see Grovyle rushing forward at her, his leaves so sharp that they were reflecting light.

Twig sunk down into the shadows as Grovyle lept at her, swinging at empty air.

Twig rose back up behind him.

Grovyle spun around and slashed at her eyes with his claws. She raised an arm to defend herself. His claw raked against her arm, breaking skin.

She shot out her other arm and grabbed his wrist, and then used her defending arm to grapple his upper arm up near his shoulder. She spun him around before swinging him over her head and slamming his back against the ground, a small crater forming. He coughed up some blood upon impact.

Twig positioned herself right above him, pinning his wrists against the ground.

"Please Grovyle! Just listen to-!"

Grovyle bit down on something and several massive flames shot out of his mouth. A Blast Seed.

Twig cried out in pain and shock as the flames engulfed her head. She stumbled backwards before she felt the pain of another Energy Ball slamming into her. Launching her back to the house, she slumped against the outside wall and managed to look up at him. Her vision blurred from tears, and almost fainting.

Why wasn't the rain putting the fires out?

Why was it raining through the metal ceiling?

Why was Grovyle walking through the fires without being harmed?

Why was this happening to her?

Why did she abandon them?

This is her fault.

She deserves this.

She deserves to die.

******

It didn't take long for Dusknoir to track Kip down again. The muddy ground from the downpour aided greatly. Even if his vision was impaired.

Kip tripped over a root that stuck out from the ground. He tried to push himself back up, but his arms gave out.

"Kip! Why are you so scared! He's not going to hurt you!" Celebi shouted as she landed on the ground next to him.

Kip didn't acknowledge her presence. He was trying to drag himself forward. Tears running down his face, his breathing quick and labored.

What in the world has him like this!?

Celebi stepped in front of him and looked him in the eyes.

"Kip! It's okay! You're safe! We aren't going to hurt you!"

Kip stared at her.

Celebi lifted him up with Psychic and hugged him, getting mud all over her.

"There you go. It's okay. I'm here for you." Celebi gently caressed the back of Kip's head, as his breathing gradually became slower and more even.

"Wh- gh. Where's Grovyle?" He managed to choke out.

"He went to the house to make sure Twig is safe. It'll be-"

"No! NO!!!" Kip suddenly shouted. He pushed Celebi away, and spun around. He fell back to the ground and started dragging himself again in the direction of the house.

"TWIG!!!" Kip screamed, his breathing sped back up again. Tears rushed down his face faster than the rain could wash them away.

"That's it!" Celebi shouted. "I'm looking ahead!" She closed her eyes and pressed her hands against her temples. "I need to see what in the world has got you..." She trailed off. Her eyes opened wide in horror.

Dusknoir asked. "Celebi? What did you-"

"Twig is the legend." Celebi muttered.

Dusknoir flinched. Kip's body tensed up.

"Wh- How is that possible?!" Dusknoir nearly shouted.

"I- I don't know! Twig is just in Darkrai's body now!"

Kip was hyperventilating. Dusknoir was worried that Kip couldnt breathe.

Dusknoir spoke. "If Twig is the legend then that means..." his eye widened "Oh no..."

Celebi looked at him with terror. "Grovyle will-"

Celebi was interrupted by Kip bursting into loud wailing.

Dusknoir grabbed him and held him to his chest as Dusknoir and Celebi rushed to get back to the house. Praying that they aren't too late.

*******

Grovyle limped towards his target.

They stared at him with fear. Tears were running down their face.

Good.

Grovyle felt pain shoot through his body with each breath. That hit he took definitely broke some ribs.

He pushed the legend's chest against the wall they were up against, unfortunately they didn't have much of a neck to choke.

Grovyle breathed heavily as he raised his arm. The legend stared past him for some reason.

"This is for screwing with us for the last two weeks!" He shouted as he slashed his claw against their chest. The legend crying out in pain in Twig's voice.

Stop that.

"This is for forcing Twig and Kip to live with you!" He slashed it's chest again.

"And THIS" He slashed the legend again "IS FOR HURTING TWIG!!" He slashed it again.

Grovyle breathed heavily as the legend was barely able to keep their eyes open. The blood pouring from their chest being washed off by the rain.

Grovyle prepared a final leaf blade.

"And now. I'll make sure you never hurt her again." He growled.

The legend looked at him with a weird sense of acceptance.

That's right. You do deserve this.

"GROVYLE! STOP!!!" Celebi screamed from behind him.

Grovyle turned his head to look behind him. Celebi and Dusknoir were rushing out of the forest. Kip was being held in Dusknoir's arms. His eyes wide, staring at him with sorrow and horror.

"THAT'S NOT DARKRAI!" Celebi yelled "THAT'S TWIG!!!"

Grovyle hesitated before turning back towards the legend...

First they used Twig's voice.

And now illusions of his friends.

Grovyle's leaves became impossibly sharp as he prepared to decapitate this vermin.

He begun his final swing before stopping.

The legend in front of him, the one he was about to kill, was wincing the same way Twig does.

Grovyle lowered his arm.

It was her.

It really was her.

But why-

How did she-

Why was she-

Grovyle stumbled backwards before falling to the ground.

Celebi, Dusknoir and Kip surrounded her. Shouting things that were muffled. His ears were ringing.

Grovyle's eyes didn't leave Twig's bleeding chest as her muscles relaxed. Her eyes cloudy, and only halfway shut.

He just killed her.

Each raindrop landing on the ground around him made his head pound with excruciating pain.

The three's shouting became more panicked. All three of them were crying. Dusknoir picked up Twig's body and rushed her inside the house.

Grovyle felt that the ground beneath him would open up and swallow him whole.

He wished it would do that.

Grovyle saw Twig stumble out of the doorway, before turning around to look inside, her tail flame a deep pink.

No. It wasnt Twig.

Grovyle launched himself forward and grabbed the legend that took her body by the neck. Catching them off guard. He slammed them against the ground.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER!?" Grovyle screamed.

The legend choked and gasped for air. Grovyle loosened his grip on their neck, only a little bit.

"I did nothing!" The legend hissed. A deep voice coming out of Twig's body. "I know not how we switched bodies, nor for what purpose!"

Grovyle's leaves sharpened "How do I know you're not lying!?"

"You don't!" He gasped. "But just know that what you have done on this day was the purpose behind Kip's disappearance!"

Grovyle recoiled. Releasing the legend, who started coughing and gasping for air.

The legend silently pushed himself off the ground and walked inside. Sneaking his way past the three pokemon tending to Twig. Shivering like how Twig used to.

Grovyle stared at her body, splayed out on top of the table. She was barely breathing. Celebi trying to heal her while Kip and Dusknoir desperately applied medicine and bandages to all of her lacerations.

The lacerations he gave her

It had been years since Twig last saw him.

And the first thing he did when he met her may have just been killing her.

Grovyle fell forward on his knees, Clutching his head. His sobbing drowned out by the pouring rain.

Rare footage of Grovyle getting back at Ribbons for all of her stupid antics

Inspired off of @sincerely-sofie’s reply(s)

I just had to clear all of Aegis Cave without Leo because he hit a pitfall trap at the very start of the ice cave… Clay’s an absolute monster and took out the 4 legendaries without issue, but I felt so bad leaving Leo behind for three entire exploration. The cutscenes felt so weird without him 😢

In Which Twig Speaks to an Old Friend

“I’m sorry.”

Twig’s brows furrowed and she glanced about, but she couldn’t find anything unusual in the warm light of day. Sitting in her garden, feeling the warm sun upon her scales, she closed her eyes and listened a moment longer, but the voice didn’t return.

“Twig?”

Her eyes jolted open, and Twig’s wide-eyed gaze turned upon her friend. Celebi shook her head, a knowing smile on her face, and continued running a long fine brush over Twig’s claws.

“I was asking,” Celebi said slowly, “what you think of this colour?”

Twig huffed a quiet laugh. “It’s a bit late, isn’t it?”

“Not for me,” Celebi answered with a wink.

Celebi drifted backwards, her arms crossed proudly, and chin tilted in a smirk. Twig raised her claws and couldn’t help but smile. She’d been sceptical when Celebi suggested they paint her claws, but it had come out rather nicely. They had debated over it for some time, quickly deciding red would be unsettling, and that a shade of black which matched Ark wasn’t quite right, either. Instead, they’d settled on an opalescent sort of nail polish, one that shimmered in the light, making her claws nearly sparkle like a gemstone. Twig couldn’t help but think it was a bit much, but seeing Celebi’s eagerness and promises of how good it would look, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse.

“Thanks, Celebi.”

“It’s my pleasure, dear! As soon as it’s dry, get started.”

“On what?” Twig asked, her head tilting.

Celebi dramatically flicked her head and settled on the ground in front of Twig, facing away from her.

“On painting my wings, of course!”

Twig recoiled, a snort escaping her. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“Twig, darling, all my ideas are good ideas.”

“What about when you-”

“Don’t!” Celebi screamed, jumping away, and whipping around. “Don’t you dare say it!”

Twig doubled over in laughter, clenching at her gut. “You turned Grovyle back into a Treecko because you were startled! I didn’t think that was possible.”

Celebi rolled her eyes, arms crossed. “Turning time back on someone like that does take an inordinate amount of energy, but it’s not impossible! Though, it was a while before I had enough energy to change him back again.”

Finally bringing her laughter under control, Twig carefully wiped a stray tear from her eye, her nostrils burning with the scent of the nail polish. “No, I meant, I didn’t think you could be surprised.”

“Oh, well, a little surprise is nice sometimes.”

Twig nodded and the two fell into a comfortable silence, watching the clouds drift by, though Twig shivered when a breeze flowed through the garden, and the long shadows cast by the clouds were a little chilly.

There was something else odd too, but she couldn’t quite place it. In the shadows at the edge of her vision, something danced, just out of reach. It wasn’t the comforting noise that Ark’s shadow carried; it was quiet, practically whispering in ear, and though familiar, it felt completely different than Ark’s presence.

“It’s been nice,” Celebi said, shattering the silence like glass. “Spending more time together. Twig, I love you. Don’t you forget it.”

Smiling, Twig swallowed past the lump in her throat and allowed herself a moment to let the weight of it sink in, like a ball of warmth in her chest, and suddenly the day didn’t seem as cold. “I love you, too.”

“Enough to paint my wings?”

Laughter burst forth and Twig shook her head. “I’m still not sure this is a-”

“Oh, it’ll be fine, just a light coating to make me extra sparkly!”

The day dragged on, peaceful and slow. Celebi left and eventually, Ark returned from whatever he’d been doing, a new blanket for Twig bundled in his arms. After sharing a meal, Ark had tied the blanket around her neck like a cape and pronounced her his ‘super wife!’

She had called him a dork, helped with the dishes, and they’d settled on the couch, Twig leaning into Ark’s embrace and talking excitedly about her day. Ark listened with rapt attention, offering the occasional comment or groan at Celebi’s antics, and when Twig had nothing left to say, Ark shared his adventures from the day, and it was simple, and cozy, and perfect.

So, the days passed, Twig’s garden flourished, and her sketchbook was filled to bursting; she would have to get a new one soon. Still, every now and then, Twig would hear things on the wind, mumbled apologies, and earnest declarations. Yet, whenever she looked, no one was there.

Though, was it possibly she simply wasn’t looking hard enough? Perhaps, she already knew what she might find. Maybe the idea scared her, and honestly, who could blame her? Well, she could blame herself. After all, hearing voices, jumping at shadows, being afraid of nothing at all, was just silly. It was ridiculous, completely illogical, something she might’ve done in the past, but no more.

Yet, that thought made Twig freeze.

Immediately her mind began to race, telling her she was being absurd, that she was worrying over nothing, how if she kept up like this, she would only make herself a burden upon those she loved.

Like trains gone off the rails, her thoughts raced wildly, unable to stop and just barely avoiding crashing into each other. Any longer and there would be a collision and everything would go wrong and she-

Her eyes widened, and looking down, Twig found herself running a gentle claw over the proposal band Ark had given her. Taking a deep breath, she felt the band beneath her hand, and everything seemed to slow, just a little bit.

 Moving into her room, Twig pulled her journal from where she’d left it, settled on the edge of her bed, and flicked to an old entry. The paper was crinkled, and somewhat water stained. In the weeks after she had fallen apart, Twig had often flicked back to this entry, detailing the few memories she had retained from those days. The entry spoke of her friends’ warmth, and how loved she’d felt. It spoke of something, sharp and bloodied, being dislodged from her chest, the remaining hole filled with something gentler.

Looking back on it all, she almost couldn’t believe it had really happened. It felt so distant, almost as if it had happened to another person.

“I’m sorry.”

Stiffening at the voice, Twig turned slowly, and standing by the edge of the shadows was a small human girl, with frizzy hair, patchy clothes, and toes that stuck through the holes worn in her shoes.

Something in her chest lurched, but Twig’s mind had finally gone quiet.

The girl clutched at the hem of her shirt; her knuckles turned white. “I’m sorry. I didn’t do a good job of keeping us safe.”

Her eyes going wide, Twig slipped off the bedside. “You’re… me?”

“I’m sorry.”

After a moment, Twig took a deep breath, feeling her heart rattle in her chest. “Hey, can, can you look at me?”

Another sniffle, and the girl shook her head.

Twig scooted closer, and, slowly reaching out, took the girl’s hands in her own.

“Y-you don’t have to be afraid,” Twig whispered, her voice on the verge of breaking. “We’re okay now.”

Slowly, the girl looked up, her mouth hanging open and eyes wide, as if she couldn’t believe Twig’s words.

Twig nodded, biting her lip. “Yeah, we’re safe. We’ve got people who love us.”

The girl looked away and took a hesitant step back into the shadows. “But what if we’re just being a pain? Aren’t, aren’t we a burden?”

A broken cry slipped past Twig’s lips, and she shook her head. “Thank you, for trying so hard to look after us, but you don’t need to anymore.”

“But, what if-”

Twig clenched her eyes shut and pulled the girl in tight, wrapping her in a hug. “Would you hold a burden like this?”

For a moment, the girl was still, then her arms wrapped around Twig’s torso and her hands scrabbled at Twig’s shoulders. The girl wept loudly, snot dribbling from her nose, and amidst her tears, Twig heard three words.

“You’re so warm.”

When Twig finally opened her eyes, the girl was gone, and Ark was practically breaking down the door. He’d only been gone a few hours, what could’ve happened to reduce Twig to a snivelling mess on the floor during that time? He couldn’t guess, and he didn’t need to.

Wrapping her in a blanket, Ark carried her to the bed, fetched her a glass of water, and then crawled in beside her. Instantly, she latched onto him, tears still flowing, and told him all about it. He rubbed gently at her back, whispering quiet reassurances.

It hurt, yet in that moment, all was right with the world.

@sincerely-sofie

Free life advice right here, everyone read up!!

27 and 28 for the asks thingy, I would like some knowledge dropped on me

27. Share a fact?

Children as young as two years old were taught how to make art by the adults around them during the Stone Age. Finger-paintings made by children have been found on the ceilings of caves that should been far out of reach for one so young, which implies they were being carried on the shoulders of the adults in the group when they were making them. [*]

28. Share a piece of knowledge?

I'm gonna drop several knowledge pieces (which honestly just read as pieces of life advice now that I look at them) because I couldn't choose just one!

Your existence is not defined by your career choice. You don't need to secure your dream job to be happy— people who work with sewage are happier than artists more than you'd expect. What you need to do is find a job that supports your lifestyle and provides you with the means to live how you want off the clock.

Speaking of careers, college isn't the only route you can take to get a good job. Trade schools and apprenticeships are just as valid.

Sun exposure, good nutrition, physical activity, and positive socialization frequently have a greater impact on mental wellbeing than medications can manage alone. Regular exercise in particular can be even more effective than ADHD medications in many cases, and is extremely powerful when paired with such treatments. So take your meds, but don't forget to touch grass and compliment that little old lady's statement necklace when you pass her at the bus stop, too.

You'll be 9,000 times happier the second you start learning to be okay with uncertainty. Gamifying making yourself (safely) uncomfortable is the way to speedrun self-improvement and life satisfaction.

Fulfilling obligations to yourself halfway is better than not fulfilling them at all. Folding three pieces of laundry and brushing your teeth for 30 seconds without toothpaste is the way to go if you can't get yourself to fold all the clean clothes and brush for 2 minutes and floss afterwards. Don't fool yourself into believing it's all or nothing. A little bit done is so much better than not done whatsoever.

"Fear kills more dreams than failure ever will." The time will pass no matter what you do, and it's so much more fulfilling to say you gave it your best shot, even if things didn't work out, than it is to never know if you would have succeeded or not. So do the thing. Do it now, do it badly, do it scared. But do it.

Ask for Twig!! I know you usually keep busy with your dungeon exploring/item selling business these days, but do you have any personal hobbies you like putting time into? Or anything you do because it makes you really enjoy it or it makes you happy? Or anything like that I guess? If not you gotta find something!!

Oh, how the tables turn.

(+Extra)(They are so cringefail)

Them!!!

dusknoir having to visibly hold onto every ounce of patience in his body because ribbons and aimilios went off to fight against mewtwo with nothing but two reviver seeds and a big apple and it immediately bites them back after they call dusknoir to come over because "well we didnt think the dungeon would be so long and that the guy would'nt be so tough 🥺🥺" and dusknoir could only wonder "how did these two graduate. how did they beat primal dialga. HOW THE HELL DID THEY BEAT ME." as he drags his 70-something year old ass from getting his two kids psyshocked to oblivion.

He would’ve died of a heart-attack bc of these two ages ago if he wasn’t already a ghost-type.