Hi I just came across a novel, chosen by the moon novel by izabella W. Its on pay by chapter websites, I've opened and read a few chapters but I can't seem to find any free version or chapter version anywhere. Please help. If anyone has read it I'm willing to take spoilers. Here's the advert I found below of it on Facebook.
Lycanthrope species is a disgusting race. And I, Delan Riley, am nothing more than a human scum in their eyes never expected those species would turn my world upside down. Since when the lycans managed to penetrate our town, like in the early 1900's we have a hierarchy, upper class = the lycans, middle class = mated humans, and lower class = the normal humans, who were basically considered scum. I endured their torment day after day, vowing to run away from them one day, until that day came and everything changed.
Dylan POV "Humans," I scowled at the principal's words from tannoy. "The Alpha twins will be celebrating their birthday tomorrow, as such, festivities are in order." Oh great, the Alphas twin children. Adrian and Arya are the worst lycans alive. I swear just because they are the alphas kids they literally get away with everything. If their birthday is tomorrow, then the wolves are going to be worse than ever. "All students will be present to greet them, two lines will be made, with humans on the left and the lycanthrope on the right. Any mated human will be at the front of the line for their year, you will all also be in order of your school year. That is all." Chat broke out the minute the tannoy was finished. "We haven't had a school gathering since the alpha king visited three years ago, before his sons coronation." Nick was right, the last time we all gathered like that was for the king and queens visit, when he decided to let the world know that he was to renounce his title to his only child, son Josh. "That sick bestard, he wants to make sure everyone is there so those idiot twins can find their mates." Yes I was mad, my fists connected with the table in front of me once more as I thought about how disgusting the situation was. You see the twins will be turning 17, so it's very possible someone in our school could be their mate, finding a mate is sacred to a wolf, the minute they say that one word your fate is sealed. They will turn your mind, morph you into being a lover of their kind, and then you'll give in.

That won't happen to me, I'm growing old to see the world as it once was, and I'm going to choose who I'll be with. No one will take that dream away from me.

Once dinner was finished, I just wanted to sleep. I'd had a very long tiring day, I quickly sat down on a small stool my mother kept in the storage closet and removed my shirt while my brother Freddy sat at the table to do his simple homework. It wasn't long before my mother came in with a large bowl of warm salt water and some cotton, this was going to sting I just knew it. She was here to help me with the wounds caused by wolves yesterday. She slowly began to unwrap the bandage from around my torso and slowed down drastically when it came to the final layer, I felt it peel off every wound and my fists clenched in pain. "Jesus!" I heard my mom exclaim once the dressing was completely removed. The air on my back was nice though and I sighed as my arm covered my once again exposed brests. "This is more than 15!" I began to hear sniffles coming from her and sighed turning round to look at her face, only to notice tears streaming down it. "Mom I'm fine, it's alright." She shook her head. "It's not alright, I'm your mother I shouldn't let these things happen. I'm so sorry. Your father would have..." here she goes again. Every single time something happened she'd always bring up dad, it really annoyed me because no matter how much we all wish he was here, he just isn't. My father was kiled by THEIR kind, almost 5 years ago when they actually managed to take over. When the lycans managed to penetrate our town my father rose up with some people from the neighborhood, to defend our livelihood, it was futile to say the least. We lost many people and I watched as my dad was ripped apart by two fully shifted wolves, I ended up shoting him to stop his suffering before they dragged me to the courtyard, i was the person to receive the first lashing of the town when I was 12! The wolves have been pretty strict with me since that day. "Stop being stvpid!" Was I harsh? Definitely! Did she need to hear it again, absolutely. "Dad is dead, we don't know what he'd do because he never knew this life. He never knew this world." I know what he'd have done, most likely attacked the guy who held the whip and got himself kiled in the process. "The best thing you can do for me, is stop crying and help me, next time don't insist on helping if you can't handle it." She began to wash my open wounds with the warm salt water causing loud winces to leave me, I knew it was necessary to prevent infection, but my god it hurt like a betch. "Some of these are really deep Dylan!" She sniffed again and my eyes rolled in my head. "I told you, I'm fine, just wrap me back up so I can get to bed." My mom was obviously more impacted by my injuries than I was, I suppose that always the case though. When it's happening to you, you've just got to get through it but when it's happening to someone you love, you just want to take their pain away. She quickly placed a fresh bandage around my waist and chest and wrapped it tightly for compression. The bowl of water that was used was now red in color, I guess from the blood my back was dripping with. "Can you keep your head down please? At least just this week. You can't take any more lashings." I simply nodded before standing up away from the stool, I walked over to Freddie and ruffled his hair in affection. "Good night squirt." He giggled and fixed his hair slightly. "Night Dilly." I smiled walking upstairs to my little bedroom, as soon as I was inside i shut the door and flopped down on to my bed on my stomach and I took a minute to cry to myself at the pain in my back, what my mom did was important but it hurt, not that I'd ever tell her. My hand covered my mouth quickly to muffle any noise I might be making. I couldn't tell anyone, I had to be strong because more and more people were crumpling these days, and my mom would break if she knew how much I was suffering. Sleep followed me shortly after, she was right though about me needing to keep my head down for the time being, I could not take another lashing! After a long night and an even longer morning, we were all finally stood in the hallway at school waiting for the twins to arrive. "Mine!" Everyone that was stood in the hallway tensed up, as we were seniors, me and Nick were stood towards the very back of the human line. All the mated people were situated directly opposite their wolf mates in their years. We stayed silent and still as Arya walked down the hall and stopped directly in front of Nick. His eyes widened in fear, unsure of wether to look up or keep his head lowered. "Look me in the eye, mate." He glanced at me slightly as if asking what he should do. "I said, look me in the eye." He slowly moved his eye line up to look at her face. I took a glance myself to see her eyes pitch black with lust. "I... can't... I mean... erm." Before he was able to mutter anything else, two wolves from opposite, grabbed him out of the line and dragged him behind Arya. "Hey!" My head shot up before I could stop myself. My mouth also forgot its place as I jumped out of line. Everyone's head shot to me as my eyes widened in realization at what I'd done. Adrian, the other twin, walked up to me before punching me right in the stomach, I doubled over instantly. Feeling the sting in my slightly healed back. "I know you... You were publicly flogged only two days ago." God I hate this guy. "I also have it on good authority, that you openly spoke out against our rules and regulations in yesterday's class." My head shot down the line slightly to see Erin, looking a little frightened, her mate, the beta to be was looking at her, nodding his head in reassurance. "You traitor, you grassed on your own kind?" I yelled at her before feeling a fist connect with my cheek. My head whipped to the side from the force, while my class members gasped. I'm so done with this treatment, right then, I wasn't in charge of my actions. My fists curled up and my stance became a lot more defensive. My head snapped up to the alpha to be, and I looked him in the eye. "You don't know the meaning of the word disrespect." I suddenly hurled my fist towards his head, which he easily dodged, but my foot came up and kicked him instead. He stumbled backwards from the force with wide eyes. "You... you Actually hit me!" He didn't even sound annoyed, more shocked. Everyone in the hallway was watching, waiting for the alpha to do something but instead he simply stood up straight, regaining his composure. "I think everyone should get back to class." He began to walk away, following his sister when I called him back. "What about Nick?!" "Simple, He's my sisters mate. He now belongs to her." Argh, he's not an object. "He's not her property." A chuckle left his mouth, before turning his back to me again. "All humans are property." A short while later everyone made it to science class, our teacher Mrs Mathews is mated to the lycans pack doctor, she also now has a four and two year old with him. She was one of the first humans to be cohered into a false relationship. "What were you thinking young lady?" I rolled my head at her before looking at the empty seat next to mine. Nick was with that stvpid wolf girl right now. Being changed, I'm so angry it's ridiculous. "I was thinking, this guy is being a prick. Did you hear him? 'All humans are property.' It's bull shet." I looked up and the whole class looked at me like I had three heads. Talking shet about wolves is one thing, but talking about an alpha is punishable by death, attacking an alpha is an even worse offense. There was then a knock at the door and in walked Erin and her band of mated bestards. "Sorry we're late Mrs." "Erin, how are things between you and bata Monroe?" She blushed, the traitor actually blushed at the mention of his name. "He spoke to me last night about trying for a baby. We need a good strong boy to take over as beta." I scoffed looking at her as she took her seat. "You guys are actually pathetic, why can't it be a girl? Those mutts are basically Neanderthals" I voiced my opinion and saw all the shocked faces around me. Calling the lycans mutts, is the same as them calling us scum. After lesson had ended the entire school was called into the hall for assembly. This is where any human who has been found to have broken the rules were punished, usually 10 lashings were goven out or something similar. "Welcome to the school assembly, congratulations to the alpha twins for finding both your mates. Now on to the business at hand, as the 5 year anniversary of the new world is coming up, we have been informed that the alpha king will be visiting our district next week, this is very exciting news. We want you all to look your absolute best, she wolves and mated females will wear exemplary dresses made by seamstress. Male wolves and mated men will wear tailored suits. Anyone who doesn't comply will be reprimanded." The Alpha King?! No one has met him yet, he took over the throne three years ago when he turned 18. He really didn't make any appearances though, great, this month is going to be a nightmare. "As for the humans, you will be given a new uniform to wear for the visit, these are to be neatly ironed and worn to the highest standard. As for the following humans, based on your attitude this past week, you will be coming to the front and facing punishment. Tony summerset?!" Tony's head shot up as he looked around, he was in the year below but he shared my views when it came to the lycans. He slowly walked up to the front of assembly, almost instantly his top was t0rn in two and he received 10 lashings. A girl named Kara was next and she too received 10 lashings. A few more people went up slowly accepting their fate then suddenly my name was called. "Dylan Riley." Inside I was terrified but I simply shrugged my shoulders, I guess I did kind of expect this. Although I'm not sure if my back can take any more damage. "You attacked an alpha, correct!" His eyes bored into mine as I bowed my head submitting to his authority. "Technically, no." Everyone in the school gym looked on in fear, as my head moved to the front row of the wolf side. Adrian sat, with a werewolf girl in the year below, her name was Jana, I guess he found his mate. Nick and Arya were no where to be seen though. Adrian gave me a shrug as if to say he didn't tell, before smirking at my comment. "He hasn't officially taken the alpha title yet, so he's just..." i looked at the principle and noticed his eyes black and his claws out, he was in what lycans call a half shift, triggered when the subject has become angered. He turned to two security wolves and gave them a nod, Almost immediately i was forced onto my knees, my arm was slammed on a table and held in place by one wolf, while my body was held in place by the other. "Ok, I don't think this is needed, I have alpha blood, a stvpid human girl can't hurt me." My head snapped to Adrian who had stood up in front of the school to stop what was happening. "Nevertheless, humans need to know their place." With that the pressure on my arm increased as our principals hand pulled my sleeve up before a long claw punctured my skin. The searing pain shoting from the fresh wound had my eyes scrunched and my fist clenched, I bit the inside of my cheek hard instantly tasting blood, however no sound left my mouth. He continued to write, using my skin as a canvas and his claws as a marker, it went on forever, my vision blurred slightly at one point as I turned my head away. After minutes of torture, he was done and the pressure on my arm eased, instantly I snatched my arm away, hissing through my teeth at the pain. I was about to scurry off stage, when I was roughly grabbed yet again, my arm being held in the air by the principal while my feet were inches off the floor, blood dripped from the wound and the pattern he had made was on show for everyone to see. Loads of people gasped, even the wolves looked slightly horrified at what had happened. "This is what happens when a human decides to speak out. I can promise, anyone who so much as says one word about our way of life, will have the same punishment." My arm was starting to seriously ache from being held in the air for so long, and the lack of blood flow to my suspended arm was causing me pins and needles, still I refused to make a sound. I held the tears back and I bit my cheek harder causing more blood to fill my mouth. "That's enough Bradley!" Adrian growled, he was still stood up and looking at the scene in front of him. His eyes hard as he stared at the principal a low warning growl erupted from his chest which had the head teacher gulping, he quickly let go of my arm causing me to crash to the floor. A small cry left my mouth as I hit the hard floor. Immediately I scrambled away, my foot just missed the high step leading to the stage and I fell, waiting for the impact of the ground, but it never came. Two strong arms wrapped around me catching my weak body causing me to look up, my eyes widened as I noticed Adrian had caught my falling form. "This isn't part of the human punishment program!" Adrian growled causing me to tense in his grip, I pushed him away from me before fixing my uniform top. The room was deadly silent, taking in the scene in front of them, while I stole a glance at my forearm. Carved into my skin by his devastating claws were two words, words that would most definitely scar my body for life. 'Human scum' "Lessons must be learned, she received lashing merely two days ago, and clearly it had no effect on her." Another growl left Adrian's chest as he stepped on to the stage, I wasn't bothered though, you would think I'd be ashamed but I simply smiled slightly. I fixed my sleeve a little so it wouldn't rub on the fresh wound before speaking. "It doesn't matter," the whole room looked at me shocked by my attitude. "I would rather be labeled human scum, than have any resemblance to your kind. I'm proud of what I am, how many of you can say that?" After my amazing little speech, I walked right down the middle between the humans and lycans and out the door. No more compliance, I'm going to get away with as much as I can without getting into too much bother. There will come a day when the lycans power will fizzle out. When it does I'll be ready, I'll be waiting for the day we take our world back. As for the best part about my plan...

No one can stop me.

"Ouch, not so hard." I seethed as the school nurse cleaned my new wound with antiseptic. "If you had of just kept your mouth shut, this wouldn't have happened." I turned to my right looking out the window at the few clouds that were floating in the blue sky. "Like I said, I'm proud to be human, and now everyone knows what I am." I clenched my fist together as the nurse began wrapping a bandage around my forearm. It had been a good few hours since the incident in the hall, and I had been forced to come to the nurces office after I had tried to clean my wound by splashing it with water from the tap, it also refused to stop bleeding. "You are impossible. Can you please just try and stay out of trouble? For one day, that's all I ask." Our school nurse is a wolf, she's one of them. However she hates the way they treat us mere humans, she thinks we should all just live in peace with equal rights. Like that would ever happen. "All I've done is stay out of trouble, but you are just going to humiliate me anyway, so what's the actual point?" "The pack were discussing a public execution, Dylan. You need to walk on egg shells from now on, not just for you but for your family as well." No ones been publicly executed in over 4 months, I'm flattered they're considering it. They only execute people who they believe are the biggest problems to society. "Well then... I'm flattered." I chuckled, before looking at the patch job. 'Huh, not too shabby.' I quickly stood up from the human nursing station and pulled the sleeve of my shirt down covering the evidence of ever being hurt. "This is serious!" I just gave her a blank look before leaving the room. On the way out I heard her call back to me. "Please just think about it." I gave a clipped nod as I walked away wondering how I'm going to tell my mom about this. Later in the evening... "Dilly why you say that?" Freddie looked up at me with a mouth full of bread. "Don't speak with your mouthful!" My mom scolded him as a bashful blush made its way to his cheeks. "Sowwy mommy." His reply was muffled as he swallowed the last chunk of food. "I said it Freddie, because it's the truth. The wolf race are a pathetic excuse for..." my mom cut me off with an extremely stern look. "Dylan! They have ears everywhere, one more word out of you and it's your room." I scowled, my hatred for the Lycan kind growing stronger as each day passes. "What more can they do to me, lash me? Beat me? Brand me? They've ran out of options." I stated slamming my hands down, then severely regretting it as sharp pain shot though my wound. "What was that?" My head shot to regard my mothers worried expression. Her eyebrows were raised and her eyes were dull and judging as she looked at me. "Nothing, it was nothing." I quickly took my plate in my hand and began to walk to the kitchen. "I'm not really hungry, and I have homework to do!" My mom caught hold of my forearm causing me to drop my plate suddenly, I watched it slowly fall before shattering on the floor. I retracted my arm quickly and turned to Freddie. "Stay there and don't move until it's cleaned up ok sport?" He just nodded with wide eyes, I turned back to my mom and noticed her curious stare on my arm. Her grip shifted to the other side as she turned it around before pulling my sleeve up. The bandage was showing and a bit of blood was seeping though after the wound had been disturbed. "What the hel happened?" My moms eyes widened as she began to fumble with the bandage. Before she could unravel any of it I snatched my arm away. "I had an accident at school. No big." I began to gather the large pieces of the broken plate up ready to put them in the bin. "What did you do Dylan?" She looked at me with pure worry and only then did I realize what the wound must look like to someone who didn't know. "For gods sake! I didn't do it to myself! I got publicly punished at the assembly alright? It's no big deal." Her face dropped instantly and she stepped towards me, causing me to step backwards. "Mom, I'm ok. So back off will you." "What did you do? I've never known them to cut someone's arm as a punishment." Her shock and accusation was evident in her voice and I sighed heavily. "I spoke against the alphas son." I may have hit him too, but I wasn't going to divulge that part to her. "It's not one big cut, mom, it's a brand, 'human scum' carved onto my arm." "They've branded you now too?!" My eyes rolled at her hurt tone as I went to get the dustpan and brush. "You're so much like your father." A sigh left her mouth as she spoke, running a hand through her hair, while I quickly swept up the little pieces of the broken plate. "You've had a new uniform delivered. It's laid out on your bed. Dylan, Please just try and stay respectful in the future, I don't want my daughter to be completely mutilated. Although you're not far off." "Gee, Thanks." I then walked over to my little brother Freddy before blowing a kiss into his neck and hearing him giggle. "So sport, how's school going?" "It's ok." He shrugged before going back to coloring a dinosaur picture in. "Well that's good, stay out of trouble, ok little man?" Heading upstairs and into my room, my thoughts wandered to the permanent graffiti scar very slowly healing on my arm. Disgusting beasts. Think they own the world because they're faster, stronger and can shift. Pah. If you ask me they are not all that.

The second I walked into my room my mouth dropped open. On my bed was some grey pants laid out neatly, which wasn't the surprising part, no, what shocked me was the grey high neck no sleeved button down shirt, every single set of uniform had sleeves except this one. They've done this on purpose those, mutts. They want the world to see my arm and know what a disgusting creature I am. They want the world to know that I, Dylan Riley, am nothing more than 'human scum'.

During the last week, I've been horrible, in class I've been loud in voicing my views, I've insulted at least everyone to some degree, I didn't care about the consequences, and I certainly didn't think about them. I haven't seen Nick at all since he was claimed, and to make matters worse today was the royal visit. Oh yes, werewolves and mated humans alike were spending every waking minute preparing themselves to meet his royal majesty, king of the wolves. Unclaimed Humans however would rather stick pins in their eyes. "Dylan, get down now... you're going to be late." She was right, I was dawdling this morning, I really couldn't be bothered today, I gave myself one last look in the small mirror and sighed when my eyes met my newly uncovered brand. It had bad bruising around the letters, and was still extremely tender to touch, it was definitely healing now though. I made my way down the stairs and came face to face with my mother who was seeing to Freddie, she was helping my brother get his coat on when she turned to me. "You ready sport?" Freddie nodded his little head at me and smiled while I quickly slid my shoes on. "Just Remember, the alpha is bad enough, Dylan, please, please don't do anything to anger the king." My mother stopped us from walking out the door to tell me something she had been telling me continuously for the last couple of days, it was almost as if the entire human population of our district was expecting me to do something stvpid. "Try and have a good day." I rolled my eyes but nodded, even I know not to push the king, he could kil me in the hallway like it was nothing. In fact I plan on staying out of his way for the entirety of the day. "We will see you tonight mom." I stated before me and my brother began our walk to school, his little hand clutched my own tightly as we went. Usually Nick would be with us, as he lives next door, well he used to, now he's residing in the main pack house. I quickly dropped Freddie off at his school and watched him get the wolfsbane neutralizer before walking into him building giving me a small wave before he went in. With my new scar on complete show, and my figure being complimented by the skin tight shirt I was wearing, I sauntered down the street to school, I gave my name and year in and took the wolf's bane neutralizer injection with no problems at all. It was finally getting into school that the problem occurred. Walking through the halls I was met by many looks, some of pity some of disgust. You see every single non mated human in the school was wearing a long sleeved version of the uniform I was given. All the Wolves and mated couples were scattered around in fancy floor length dresses or tailored suits. As I turned the corner I noticed a couple, now this couple happened to catch my eye the most out of all of them because it consisted of Arya and Nick, eating each other's faces off. "What the hel!" Nicks head shot to me as his eyes widened. He too was dressed in a tailored suit, a navy blue tie hung on his neck to match Aryas dress. Why was this happening all the time? It's always my friends that get completely brain washed. I shook my head in disbelief before turning my back on him. I heard his fast footsteps behind me as I rounded the corner. "Dylan?!" He ran right in front of me, stopping me in my tracks, making me drop my bag off my shoulder and almost causing me to bump into him. "Let me just explain..." "Has she marked you?" I mean you could almost see it in his eyes, she had marked him, and knowing the way life goes he's probably even mated with her. "Actually... Don't even answer that." I aggressively picked my bag up off of the floor and stormed off down the hall. "Dylan, just listen to me, Erin was right, it's so hard to resist your soulmate, and Arya is actually ok once you get to know her." I just kept walking, he caught up to me walking beside me but it didn't matter, I completely ignored everything and everyone. 'I'm so not in the mood today' getting into class was good though, I said hello to Mr Foley and took my usual seat. Nick sighed then took his bag off ready to sit next to me, but I snapped before he had the chance. "Traitors and mated idiots sit on that side of the room." I didn't look him in the eye as I pointed to a seat right at the front of the classroom on the opposite side. His eyes widened as he turned his attention back to me. "You can't be serious Dylan." I gave him a blank look before grabbing my book out of my backpack, I placed it on the desk then began to write the date on the top line. "I've sat in this seat for as long as I can remember." I ignored him, his voice sounded sad and shocked. "Dylan? Wait! What is that?!" Before I could react Nick had grabbed hold of my branded arm and turned it to see the letters. "Oh my God! What happened?" I snatched my arm away from him and shrugged as I continued to write in my book before grabbing my water bottle out of my bag. "The principal happened, it was my punishment for speaking out against Adrian and Arya. I wear it with pride." He just held a complete look of disbelief. "You spoke out against them?" I shrugged, what did he think I'd do. "It's no secret that I despise this stvpid new world and the mutts that control it. You were my friend, I wasn't going to let them just take you without saying something, although that is exactly what you seem to have done. Enjoy the view from your new seat!" "Don't be like that, Dylan, I'm your best friend, I'm sorry about your arm, but..." my eyes rolled inside my head at my friends words. "Anything with the word 'but' in, isn't an apology, it's a rationalization." I took a drink of water from my bottle and kept my eyes facing forward, ignoring his every attempt to try and talk to me. "Dylan?.. Dylan?... Do you know what? Erin is right, if you push us all away you won't have any friends left." He huffed before walking over to the empty seat and sitting down, I could feel him glancing up at me every now and again but I didn't respond. "Good morning class, please settle down." He looked at me then at Nick and frowned, we've never sat apart, we were friends before the new world even began. I just shook my head telling him to forget it. "So... as you know the king will be arriving in a short while, but until then lessons will go on as normal." Its funny seeing teachers in the same uniform your wearing, mr Foley and his wife are the coolest. Human teachers and doctors only have slightly more respect than we do. Because of Mr Foley's status him and his wife have better access to food and drink, Mrs Foley is cool, sometimes she even makes sure mr Foley brings some in for me. Ya know, coz I'm their favorite student. It's not in a weird way, it's just they were friends of the family before the new wold took effect. Mr Foley and my dad were buddies from high school, so it goes without sayin really. "All the mated humans will be at the front of each years line again, after that you will all be placed in status, Nick, as your mated to Alpha Arya, you'll be at the front of your line. Dylan as you have been branded..." his voice trailed off as he looked at me. "Yeah yeah, I'll be at the back of the line behind everyone. I get it." I huffed, moving my sight towards the window once more. "I am sorry." I turned to face Mr Foley again, he looked genuinely upset and that look of pity wasn't something I wanted to see. I gave him a clipped nod then turned away again. "Anyway, on to the subject matter, 'Of Mice and Men, page 64, Nick why don't you start us off with the reading."

"Of course sir." Nick began reading the book but I switched off, today is going to be a long day. After almost an hour and a half of reading comprehension, the bell chimed signaling lunch. I shot up and out of the classroom before anyone could say anything. Today, I was avoiding drama like the plague.

I wandered the corridors straight to the lunch hall. All the people I would normally hang out with we're all mated so I grabbed my lunch quickly, and sat down at the end of the human table. Let me lay the lunch hall out for you. On one side of the room you have two long rows of tables, with simple benches that make it look like prison, on the other side of the room you have multiple round tables with fancy chairs. Yup you get it. The humans sit at the prison tables and the wolves and traitors sit on the fancy tables, they get fancy food, fancy drink and most importantly they get pudding. what I would give to have some pudding. "Dylan can we just talk?" Nick quickly took the spot next to me as he set his lunch tray down. I looked at his food which had been placed on a ceramic, circular white plate. God that looked good. I sighed knowing he was going to talk anyway. "Fine, you have two minutes." I used my fork to take a bit of pasta off his plate and shoved it into my mouth. God that was good. "After I left school, I was taken to the pack house with Arya, and I really got to know her. It took a few days for me to finally accept being with her, but ever since life has been ok, and the sax... well that's a whole other story." Eww, I didn't need that mental image in my head. "I'm glad your happy." I stated before deciding I had no appetite. His face held shock before he sighed in relief. "That means a lot Dylan, I mean you know that your opinion matters to me." I cut him off before he could say anything else. "I said I was glad your happy. I didn't say I approved of what you've done. You've basically turned into one of THEM, I can't ever forgive you for that." He looked hurt, but I couldn't care less about his feelings. He placed his hand gently on my arm and went to open his mouth when a growl sounded out. All heads whipped to where it came from, Arya was stood holding a glass of soda and a plate, she was looking right at me and Nick and I would totally be dead if looks could kil. Nick quickly retracted his hand, his whole face fell and you could see sorrow flood his irises. "You sit with me now, get away from that, that... scum!" Wow, Nick was such a lucky guy. NOT. "You heard her. Get away from me, go sit with your new friends. I'm happy for you, and I understand where your coming from, but don't come up to me again and pretend you didn't betray your own kind. Don't pretend you didn't betray me." I shoved a little bit of food into my mouth before standing up and walking out of the cafeteria, leaving my tray on the table. I was walking through the hallway to the classroom, you see I decided to spend lunch with Mr Foley in his room, when I happened to hear voices in the corridor. "Is it wise for her to actually be present when the king arrives? Surely she could be placed in the dungeons, it might actually teach her some respect?" My principal was speaking to the alpha of our district, huh, if I stayed and listened do you think they'd notice, maybe they could smell me?! "Everyone is to be present, if the Riley girl does one thing out of line she will be dealt with severely, child or not. That girl has been a blight to the district since day one, she's dangerous, if she puts one hair out of place I will personally break her into submission." Oh shet, they were talking about me specifically, and they mentioned the dungeon, that's not been used in months. Normally I would have listened in more but something about the entire situation didn't sit right with me, all of a sudden, I was on edge, and simply wasn't interested in the slightest in hearing how my misery was to be enhanced. I backed up slightly before turning around and bumping head first into one of the hottest man I had ever seen. I lost my balance immediately and fell straight on to the floor letting out a small grumble in the process. His eyebrows knitted together quickly and his breath hitched in his throat as he looked upon my fallen state and gasped. "Mate!" He whispered, his eyes fixated on mine. Now, I had seen and heard that many times to know what that means, I gasped before taking a step back. 'No, no, no, no, no. This can not be happening.' He growled slightly before stepping towards me. Oh Shet!

Obligatory this started more than 2 years ago. I live with my grandmother, my father lives with his own family an hour away.
Grandmother fell ill and hid it from all of us. When we found out, she refused to have herself checked and this went on for months as her condition got worse and worse. Any attempts to urge her to get checked would be met with yelling and snapping back, even items being thrown at people, it didn't matter if you were her son or grandson.
Eventually she ended up at the point where she couldn't even stand, she told me she wanted to die already. Now this grandmother of mine terrorized me my whole life, she tried kicking my mother and I during my childhood multiple times because she hated my mother, she would instigate fights with me and lie that I hit her or yelled at her siblings and my father. But I felt like I couldn't just watch her wither away, nor did I just want to stand idly and watch my father break down more and more at the thought of losing his mother.
So now at her most vulnerable, I cared for her, I moved into her room to watch over her. I urged her to keep living, I told her the family wouldn't want her gone and that she's still strong and can fight it. Long story short after a month she agreed to go to the hospital. It's cancer, we're too late and its terminal, but they chose to operate anyway and it was a success they removed as much as they could, but nothing could be done with the cancer that has reached her head. The doctors did everything they could and they believe she'll have a few more years to live her life. My dad dedicates the next year of his life to being with her and taking care of her, along with hiring 2 personal nurses to attend to her other needs as she refuses to allow me or my father bring her to the toilet for example.
Fast forward a year later, we find out that she's been talking shit behind my father's back. Soon enough, whenever he's around she badmouths his wife (my parents are now divorced) to his face and openly says that my half-sister isn't her grandchild. This goes on for months more until on my birthday she wakes up, gets out of her room, causes a scene and badmouths my father's wife and daughter to their face. This was the last straw, my father no longer drove over everyday to be with her, he still pays for her medicines and nurses but he told me he can't face her anymore, it was too much after everything he's done for her the past year+. I try to mediate but my grandmother sees no issue. After all, according to her she only badmouthed the wife and kid, not my father.
Today her favorite nurse went home to take a 1 week vacation, a temporary nurse came in to take her place. She has yelled at both nurses to fuck off and leave the room. Both aren't allowed in, she smells like shit because she refuses to let anyone change her diaper and whenever I try to convince her she just yells. As with before, she refuses anyone not female to clean her or take her to the bathroom, I am male.
More than 100k+ USD spent the past 2 years solely on her, that amount of money in my country you could live comfortably for years, 2 years of trying to give a dying old lady a good last few years, ends up here. With a smelly, angry, spoiled grandmother who refuses to listen to me once again. One who has told my father he can fuck off if he wants as long as he keeps paying for her nurses and medication.
I'm back on my anti-depression meds, and I'm having a thought worse than suicide. I'm regretting having convinced my grandmother to live, I should've let her die like she wanted. I feel like a complete asshole for thinking of it, but she's caused endless problems for her nurses, my siblings and I, my parents, her own siblings and many others in these two years.
TL;DR: I convinced my dying grandmother to get treated despite the fact that she is a horrible person. 2 years later she's an even worse person than before and I'm learning the lesson that sometimes some people should be left to die.

I don't see how base raids even needs to create a schism and a divide among players. Can't they just create an object that causes base raids of various sizes to happen? Then players that want raids get happy, and players that don't want raids get happy.
I for one would love it if it was possible to create a grand castle town with armed NPC guards like crossbowmen, pikemen, etc. and instead of assaulting the final story villain's lair - you can provoke him to attack you. So that the player can decide if the final showdown is an assault, or a defense. You either go kick their ass, or you survive their siege.
And for regular raids. An item that either causes a light, medium, or hard raid on your base. But completely optional. It doesn't need to be a dividing issue at all.
At least for me this game would cast a shadow over all other games of this genre. If you could build a massive city / fortress, with friendly NPC guards. And have to defend your land. STILL - they can simply just make it optional no?
Any thoughts on this solution?

Skinwalkers in Rural Michigan
I recently purchased a 10,000 lumen flashlight to illuminate the surrounding woods as I walk my dog in the evenings. I have been hearing some strange noises at night, and I figured it would be nice to see everything that boxes me in as I walk Max, my dog. But boy was I wrong. I should have been afraid of what can't be seen outside the veils of my iphone flashlight. What was to be exhumed by my flashlight terrified me to my core. This happened a week or so ago, November, 2nd 2022, Harrison Michigan. The evenings were approaching abruptly now. It was only 8:30pm when I decided to take my golden retriever on one last shit walk before I got settled in for the night. At this time, in rural Michigan at least, it’s pitch black. I cursed underneath my breath as I opened the door and peered out. Fuck, chilly and dark. God, why haven’t I moved south yet? Max was timid this evening, which was so really unlike him. Very strange. The darkness emanating from outside my house poured in like a disease. It was void of any color. Upset about not replacing my porch light, I pulled out my new amazon special, this week it was a 10,000 lumen flashlight. Feeling its expensive metallic body in my hands felt exonerating, and the excitement to use it overthrew any bad vibes Max was giving. He whimpered as soon as the door opened, he then put his tail between his legs and shivered. I scoffed at his weak tendencies here, this was so unlike him. I turned this ungodly bright flashlight on and showed it forward. “For fuck sake look Max, nothing to be afraid of y-” I was cut off. My mouth gaped at what was in front of me. Shown in the powerful beam of the flashlight was a contorted lanky humanoid figure. It slumped down from a standing position and got on all fours like a person miming a frog. Then it jerked its head up and sniffed the air. Animistically. It turned its head and bored its stare right into my eyes. Then it darted into a bush on the edge of the woods. The edge of the woods that surround my entire house. I heard leaves crackle and watched the skin colored creature dissipate into them. I focused the beam of my light directly onto that bush. It was incredibly bright and the bush appeared like high definition from the immense light, especially in contrast to the oily blackness that surrounded me. The bush shaked ominously, like a predator was inside, shifting around. A familiar feminine voice came from that bush. “Please help me… oh god please help… help… help mee…” And the leaves rustled again. Max whimpered in terror and got between my legs. I grabbed the baseball bat that I kept beside the front door for just such occasions and held it beside my head in a “ready to whoop” gesture, the other hand on my flashlight. I shakily started towards the bush from my door. Max bolted inside, leaving me completely alone. “Helllppppp meee” the voice cooed. The soft feminine coo of the voice crackled a little this time. Yeah, almost as if something was masquerading as a female, and luring me in. I was about 6 feet away by now, I could feel the blood pulsating in my temples. Goosh flesh ran down my body. “Helllpp,” deeper voice “Meeee!” An elongated ashy white arm flung towards me at ankle height. I instinctively stomped down on it. I heard cracking and sloshing from underneath my shoe. I stepped directly onto its wrist. I heard a shriek from inside the depths of that bush and the hand sprung up like a trap being set off. The strength possessed by this creature was unreal, it slung me to the ground and began to reel me into its bush where it resided. I screamed, smacked the arm with the bat as hard as I could and then lost control of the bat. It fell next to me as I was dragged closer to the bush, now my feet were inside the leafy abyss. The voice turned into my mothers voice. The clawed hands grasp on me tightened with tremendous strength and the nails dug into my skin through my pants. “Help me Nathaniel. Your mother needs help. I can't walk.” Yeah alright. I shined my light into the bush. What I saw still makes me tremble. It was my dead mothers face there alright, but atop an ashy white skinned humanoid skeleton with backward joints. The arms bent unnaturally opposite of how they should, the legs were bent like a frogs ready to pounce. The eyes were milky white, but were extremely intelligent and they gazed into my consciousness. With all of my force, I horse kicked my deceased mothers face and heard a massive crunch as my heel connected with her masqueraded nose. A profane yelp of pain blasted into the darkness of this B.F.E. where I lived. The grip on my leg loosened just enough from the blow for me to break free. I shot upright and turned to the door. I dropped my flashlight in this madness and couldn’t give a shit less. It could keep it for all I fucking cared. I bolted towards the door, and as I reached the halfway point I was Illuminated by a blinding bright light from behind. Almost like a spotlight beamed right onto me. My. Fucking. God. That thing had my flashlight and was pointing it directly at me. “Helpp… Nathaniel. Help me son.” The light started to bob up and down. Whatever was holding it was lurking closer and closer to me, and was gaining on me much faster than I was to the door. So much for not being able to walk. I ended up winning the foot race miraculously. I jumped inside my door and slammed it behind me. I heard a loud thump into the door immediately following its closure. My mothers late voice came again, beckoning me. “Son. You know your mother has taught you better than this. Let me in. Please, my son.” The light shone through the window at me, blinding me. Seeing spots and now disoriented, I fumbled myself up and managed to lock the door. Max was at the furthest point possible from the door, glaring at the door trembling in fear. Three solid knocks from the top of the door frame. Then the light was gone and I heard a metallic clunk, the thing must have dropped the flashlight on its retreat. The light now was gleaming off a huge tree. I watched a tall skinny humanoid creature with long contorted ligaments jerkily run towards that tree. His legs bent opposite of how our legs do, and same with the arms. Then it bent down in the same erratic way that it moved, and got onto all fours as it approached the tree. It paused a second and peered up the trunk. His head swiftly snapped to my face. Its now black and sunken eyes stared into my soul. I froze in terror as it climbed that trunk, with its face directly bored into me mind you, like squirrel. Scurrying right up it, never leaving contact with my eyes. The light undoubtedly should be blinding his vision, but the sense of intelligence of it knowing my existence was uncanny. Light didnt hurt it. As it ascended it smiled at me, a predatory grin. It disappeared into a purple dot that was still in my vision from when I was blinded by the flashlight. As I moved my head to try to see the creature, I watched tree leaves russell and saw no more of it. Yet. I locked the doors that night and cleaned up Max’s accidents from not going out. At night as I was asleep, I was awoken by my mothers soft voice from right outside the bedroom window. “Let me in Nathaniel..” Then directly following this motherly imitation came a 10,000 lumen flashlight beamed into my face. I heard the window slowly open, but I was blinded by the light.

Skinwalkers in Rural Michigan
I recently purchased a 10,000 lumen flashlight to illuminate the surrounding woods as I walk my dog in the evenings. I have been hearing some strange noises at night, and I figured it would be nice to see everything that boxes me in as I walk Max, my dog. But boy was I wrong. I should have been afraid of what can't be seen outside the veils of my iphone flashlight. What was to be exhumed by my flashlight terrified me to my core. This happened a week or so ago, November, 2nd 2022, Harrison Michigan. The evenings were approaching abruptly now. It was only 8:30pm when I decided to take my golden retriever on one last shit walk before I got settled in for the night. At this time, in rural Michigan at least, it’s pitch black. I cursed underneath my breath as I opened the door and peered out. Fuck, chilly and dark. God, why haven’t I moved south yet? Max was timid this evening, which was so really unlike him. Very strange. The darkness emanating from outside my house poured in like a disease. It was void of any color. Upset about not replacing my porch light, I pulled out my new amazon special, this week it was a 10,000 lumen flashlight. Feeling its expensive metallic body in my hands felt exonerating, and the excitement to use it overthrew any bad vibes Max was giving. He whimpered as soon as the door opened, he then put his tail between his legs and shivered. I scoffed at his weak tendencies here, this was so unlike him. I turned this ungodly bright flashlight on and showed it forward. “For fuck sake look Max, nothing to be afraid of y-” I was cut off. My mouth gaped at what was in front of me. Shown in the powerful beam of the flashlight was a contorted lanky humanoid figure. It slumped down from a standing position and got on all fours like a person miming a frog. Then it jerked its head up and sniffed the air. Animistically. It turned its head and bored its stare right into my eyes. Then it darted into a bush on the edge of the woods. The edge of the woods that surround my entire house. I heard leaves crackle and watched the skin colored creature dissipate into them. I focused the beam of my light directly onto that bush. It was incredibly bright and the bush appeared like high definition from the immense light, especially in contrast to the oily blackness that surrounded me. The bush shaked ominously, like a predator was inside, shifting around. A familiar feminine voice came from that bush. “Please help me… oh god please help… help… help mee…” And the leaves rustled again. Max whimpered in terror and got between my legs. I grabbed the baseball bat that I kept beside the front door for just such occasions and held it beside my head in a “ready to whoop” gesture, the other hand on my flashlight. I shakily started towards the bush from my door. Max bolted inside, leaving me completely alone. “Helllppppp meee” the voice cooed. The soft feminine coo of the voice crackled a little this time. Yeah, almost as if something was masquerading as a female, and luring me in. I was about 6 feet away by now, I could feel the blood pulsating in my temples. Goosh flesh ran down my body. “Helllpp,” deeper voice “Meeee!” An elongated ashy white arm flung towards me at ankle height. I instinctively stomped down on it. I heard cracking and sloshing from underneath my shoe. I stepped directly onto its wrist. I heard a shriek from inside the depths of that bush and the hand sprung up like a trap being set off. The strength possessed by this creature was unreal, it slung me to the ground and began to reel me into its bush where it resided. I screamed, smacked the arm with the bat as hard as I could and then lost control of the bat. It fell next to me as I was dragged closer to the bush, now my feet were inside the leafy abyss. The voice turned into my mothers voice. The clawed hands grasp on me tightened with tremendous strength and the nails dug into my skin through my pants. “Help me Nathaniel. Your mother needs help. I can't walk.” Yeah alright. I shined my light into the bush. What I saw still makes me tremble. It was my dead mothers face there alright, but atop an ashy white skinned humanoid skeleton with backward joints. The arms bent unnaturally opposite of how they should, the legs were bent like a frogs ready to pounce. The eyes were milky white, but were extremely intelligent and they gazed into my consciousness. With all of my force, I horse kicked my deceased mothers face and heard a massive crunch as my heel connected with her masqueraded nose. A profane yelp of pain blasted into the darkness of this B.F.E. where I lived. The grip on my leg loosened just enough from the blow for me to break free. I shot upright and turned to the door. I dropped my flashlight in this madness and couldn’t give a shit less. It could keep it for all I fucking cared. I bolted towards the door, and as I reached the halfway point I was Illuminated by a blinding bright light from behind. Almost like a spotlight beamed right onto me. My. Fucking. God. That thing had my flashlight and was pointing it directly at me. “Helpp… Nathaniel. Help me son.” The light started to bob up and down. Whatever was holding it was lurking closer and closer to me, and was gaining on me much faster than I was to the door. So much for not being able to walk. I ended up winning the foot race miraculously. I jumped inside my door and slammed it behind me. I heard a loud thump into the door immediately following its closure. My mothers late voice came again, beckoning me. “Son. You know your mother has taught you better than this. Let me in. Please, my son.” The light shone through the window at me, blinding me. Seeing spots and now disoriented, I fumbled myself up and managed to lock the door. Max was at the furthest point possible from the door, glaring at the door trembling in fear. Three solid knocks from the top of the door frame. Then the light was gone and I heard a metallic clunk, the thing must have dropped the flashlight on its retreat. The light now was gleaming off a huge tree. I watched a tall skinny humanoid creature with long contorted ligaments jerkily run towards that tree. His legs bent opposite of how our legs do, and same with the arms. Then it bent down in the same erratic way that it moved, and got onto all fours as it approached the tree. It paused a second and peered up the trunk. His head swiftly snapped to my face. Its now black and sunken eyes stared into my soul. I froze in terror as it climbed that trunk, with its face directly bored into me mind you, like squirrel. Scurrying right up it, never leaving contact with my eyes. The light undoubtedly should be blinding his vision, but the sense of intelligence of it knowing my existence was uncanny. Light didnt hurt it. As it ascended it smiled at me, a predatory grin. It disappeared into a purple dot that was still in my vision from when I was blinded by the flashlight. As I moved my head to try to see the creature, I watched tree leaves russell and saw no more of it. Yet. I locked the doors that night and cleaned up Max’s accidents from not going out. At night as I was asleep, I was awoken by my mothers soft voice from right outside the bedroom window. “Let me in Nathaniel..” Then directly following this motherly imitation came a 10,000 lumen flashlight beamed into my face. I heard the window slowly open, but I was blinded by the light.

The more conspiracist someone in New Zealand is, the more likely they are to bring up Zimbabwe. I know that because I have a cooker in my family, and by god, you’d think the place was his home country for the amount he talks about it. But it’s become a real conspiracy for the right, and an angle from verified bad actor accounts that was modded out of this sub at our beginning.
And the reason why there’s a direct correlation between conspiracists and Zimbabwe stans is that you can’t help but notice their fears of history repeating fall apart somewhat when you actually look into it. For a start, you can blame one person for the deaths and economic devastation caused by Mugabe, and that Tony Blair, because he kicked the whole thing off when he walked back Thatcher’s promise of 50% of the compensation for white landowners. Thatcher did like one decent thing and Blair came in and messed it up. Not without context. But through its entire history, it is the UK’s choices and the choices of her colonial government there that spur change and negative outcomes in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe was first thought to be mineral rich at its early 1890 settlement, and a lot of money was put into getting prospectors to Southern Rhodesia. When this return didn’t eventuate, land was given to the settlers instead in hope their farming could become productive enough to cover the settlements continuing administrative costs. By 1986 they had distributed 16 million hectares, a sixth of Southern Rhodesia, and by 1917, this was up to 21.5 million hectares. However, this expanse of farming would cause friction of land rights and grazing rights with the two resident groups already living there. Cattle in the region expanded from about 60 000, owned mostly by the preexisting Ndebele and Shona peoples, to up to 2 million split evenly between both groups, leading to overgrazing and land competition.
The solution in the 1930s by the colonial government was a segregated land distribution method split into five parts, with the best 3/5 being reserved for white owners and the much more unusable remainder of the land being split amongst black land owners — despite them being greater in number than white people. White people had so much productive land they literally couldn’t farm it all, while the remaining Tribal Trust land was still being overfarmed, forcing black Rhodesians to seek work in cities and the colonial government to introduce forced destocking measures (sell or slaughter excess animals), as well as putting aside 7.2 million more acres for native farmers to purchase.
The 50s saw attempts at redistribution that ultimately failed and authority for this would then be vested the traditional tribal leaders.
The beginning of the 60s were an attempt to introduce a semblance of actual land parity, splitting the land 50/50 with whites and blacks — unfortunately this didn’t work very well because black people greatly outnumbered white people, and the fertile land was still just given to whites. Abuses of the system also saw white people legally shift their boundaries to claim black land resulting in evictions that would create Nationalist sympathies leading to the following war.
60s-70s was the Rhodesian Bush War between three groups, one of them being the colonial government, and resulting in Mugabe taking power. He was left juggling the land issue along with the cohesion of his new coalition. Farmer workers had fled to cities during the fighting and been organised into guarded settlements following state suppression of armed conflicts. More land was made available to purchase by people of any race, and then race-based ownership was abolished completely in 1979. Despite this, white farmers owned 73% of fertile land and contributed 80% of agricultural output.
Under a doctrine of willing buyer, willing seller for at least ten years, the US and the UK agreed to finance part of the redistribution costs, and Southern Rhodesia was recognised as finally-independent Zimbabwe. However, land inequality and erosion of black land due to forced overfarming continued, but white-owned commercial farms were reduced by about 20% by 1987, and progress was continued into the 90s. However corruption issues began to emerge with land and leases going to Mugabe’s family and political associates as well as other powerful people. Donor and investor states became concerned with who was benefitting, heightened when Mugabe took powers to supersede the courts. He held that land was a political matter only, not judicial.
British opinion in funding this programme would deteriorate, until the Short and the then-Labour government would deny their obligation to support the redistribution programme.

I should make it clear that we do not accept that Britain has a special responsibility to meet the costs of land purchase in Zimbabwe. We are a new government from diverse backgrounds without links to former colonial interests. My own origins are Irish and, as you know, we were colonised, not colonisers.

In June 1998, the Zimbabwe government published its "policy framework" on the Land Reform and Resettlement Programme Phase II (LRRP II), which envisaged the compulsory purchase over five years of 50,000 square kilometres from the 112,000 square kilometres owned by white commercial farmers, public corporations, churches, non-governmental organisations and multinational companies. Broken down, the 50,000 square kilometres meant that every year between 1998 and 2003, the government intended to purchase 10,000 square kilometres for redistribution.
In September 1998, the government called a donors conference in Harare on LRRP II to inform the donor community and involve them in the program: Forty-eight countries and international organisations attended and unanimously endorsed the land program, saying it was essential for poverty reduction, political stability and economic growth. They agreed that the inception phase, covering the first 24 months, should start immediately, particularly appreciating the political imperative and urgency of the proposal.
The Commercial Farmers Union freely offered to sell the government 15,000 square kilometres for redistribution, but landowners once again dragged their feet. In response to moves by the National Constitutional Assembly, a group of academics, trade unionists and other political activists, the government drafted a new constitution. The draft was discussed widely by the public in formal meetings and amended to include restrictions on presidential powers, limits to the presidential term of office, and an age limit of 70 for presidential candidates. This was not seen as a suitable outcome for the government, so the proposals were amended to replace those clauses with one to compulsorily acquire land for redistribution without compensation. The opposition mostly boycotted the drafting stage of the constitution claiming that this new version was to entrench Mugabe politically.
Guerrilla veterans of the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) and Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) began to emerge as a radical force in the land issue around this time. The guerrillas forcefully presented their position that white-owned land in Zimbabwe was rightfully theirs, on account of promises made to them during the Rhodesian Bush War. Calls for accelerated land reform were also echoed by an affluent urban class of black Zimbabweans who were interested in making inroads into commercial farming, with public assistance.
The government held a referendum on the new constitution on 12–13 February 2000, despite having a sufficiently large majority in parliament to pass any amendment it wished. Had it been approved, the new constitution would have empowered the government to acquire land compulsorily without compensation. Despite vast support in the media, the new constitution was defeated, 55% to 45%.
In response, a pro-Mugabe group marched on white owned farms, forcing them and their usually-black workers off their farms without compensation. In the subsequent years of land confiscation, several farm owners and more workers would be killed.
Some of this land ended up under the control of Mugabe and other politicians, however by 2011, 238,000 households had been apportioned from 10 million hectares of land, an improvement of 3.5 million over the 20 years up until 1998. In 2019, white Zimbabwean farmers accepted $17 million USD in compensation, and in 2020 the Zimbabwe government would commit to paying back a further 3.5 billion.
How does this relate to New Zealand?
Well let’s start with the obvious: land distribution issues do not go away because you want them to, nor will democracy protect you from it if you shit on the people you took the land from. Zimbabwe happened because landowners dragged their feet in every decade for a century, and a radicalised political faction springing from this injustice decided legal methods were not the way to go. By the time people were willing to come to the table to resolve it, they were a good fifty behind when they should have and it was too late.
Secondly, picking and choosing what you give back doesn’t work if you’re still just fucking over the tribes you’re giving stuff to to advantage yourself. If you say, give someone a couple of million dollars of value in exchange for the entire canterbury and otago regions, they may decide in 30 years time that wasn’t a very fair deal. And they’re probably right.
Thirdly, black people are not doing well right now in Zimbabwe and neither are white people. But the black people already weren’t doing well. You may look at Zimbabwe and say, well they’ve screwed over their own economy there. But they didn’t. They screwed over the white economy that too many of them already weren’t benefitting from. You see the stability a strong economy gives you and think that other people are benefitting too; Zimbabwe did get a lot out of their land in the 1900s due to colonial investment. But it didn’t benefit all people, and the failure to lift everyone in the rising tide sunk ALL the ships.
The Treaty idea of Partnership is the compromise. Giving back tiny bits of land and small change is the baby steps. Start taking us backwards and you’ll make Maori realise just how shortchanged they’ve been, and the natural result of that is not that they go away, it’s that they start demanding more.
But the level of disenfranchisement, of disrespect, of disempowerment does have to reach a much more egregious level than the situation we have here to result in widespread violence. Six months of Shane Jones does not a civil war make. It is a long, long process to get to a point where a country is that divided, and a lot of legitimate legal, political, and negotiating instruments have to fail. There is also a certain level of disinvestment people have to feel in the overall system to throw what they have away — there’s a reason socialist revolutions don’t come from peaceful, placated societies, even the ones educated enough to know there is something wrong. So therefore, progress must be made gradually through peace and cooperation, because unilateral force always has lasting negative consequences. Attempts to forge ahead with reform despite unhappiness of particular groups, even when legally decided will work out worse for everyone.
There are going to be a million opportunities to turn this ship around. This relationship is nowhere near beyond repair, even between this government and iwi. If Luxon had a spine, he would sit down with them and promise to reverse course, and probably send us all back to the polls as a result. He won’t. But I’m pretty confident he won’t win the next election either, whenever it is, and this country isn’t nearly so divided enough to split down the middle along race grounds, no matter what Seymour wants. But to unify, to meet in the middle, you have to stop considering what you think is fair and start hearing what the other group wants and why.
Otherwise we’re just letting corrupt politicians make land grabs while they cut us in half.

TL;DR We’ve been together for over two years now. About three months before we started dating, he got out of a long term long distance relationship with his ex 23M, they never met in person, it was strictly online. He didn’t tell me it was a guy until about 2 months into our relationship, when we were drunk at a friends house. I was caught off guard because he had only ever talked about female celebrities he found attractive, female crushes he’s had in his life, etc. so I was under the impression that he was straight. And he acted like his ex was a female, never correcting me when I’d refer to his ex as “she” or “her.” Anyways. He told me that he doesn’t know if he ever truly loved him, that his ex pursued him aggressively, even tho he tried to reject them over months, his ex would threaten suicide if my boyfriend didn’t want to be with him. So he said he eventually decided to try it out. He said he was extremely lonely, didn’t feel good about his body, and needed attention from someone, which his ex seriously and unhealthily provided. He said he finally felt wanted by someone. The issue here is, why did he take 4 months of us knowing each other to admit the truth about his past relationship, and why only when he was drunk? Is it actually possible he only wanted to be with this person because they gave him attention? So, my boyfriend lied to me all the time about how the relationship was, telling me he doesn’t know if he ever truly was in love with them, and saying he wasn’t actually physically attracted to them. By accident, as I was searching something up on his phone, I found their old convos on discord. His ex never closed the convo so you could still see them if you searched up keywords. I was super taken a back by what I saw, my boyfriend was super sexual with them, even tho he told me he wasn’t. And very romantic. I asked him about it and asked why he would lie all this time and he tells me it’s because it’s just not who he is and didnt want to sabotage our relationship. The issue is NOT that he was with this guy, the issue is all the lying. My boyfriend has literally sworn on his mother’s life that he is straight, over and over again. It doesn’t make any sense tho. How can you be so sexual with another man and not be bi? He says he was only able to do it because he was lonely and thought that was the best he could get. I’m really just so confused and don’t know what to make out of this. Any advice or sharing of experiences is appreciated.

We’ve been together for over two years now. About three months before we started dating, he got out of a long term long distance relationship with his ex 23M, they never met in person, it was strictly online. He didn’t tell me it was a guy until about 2 months into our relationship, when we were drunk at a friends house. I was caught off guard because he had only ever talked about female celebrities he found attractive, female crushes he’s had in his life, etc. so I was under the impression that he was straight. And he acted like his ex was a female, never correcting me when I’d refer to his ex as “she” or “her.” Anyways. He told me that he doesn’t know if he ever truly loved him, that his ex pursued him aggressively, even tho he tried to reject them over months, his ex would threaten suicide if my boyfriend didn’t want to be with him. So he said he eventually decided to try it out. He said he was extremely lonely, didn’t feel good about his body, and needed attention from someone, which his ex seriously and unhealthily provided. He said he finally felt wanted by someone. The issue here is, why did he take 4 months of us knowing each other to admit the truth about his past relationship, and why only when he was drunk? Is it actually possible he only wanted to be with this person because they gave him attention? So, my boyfriend lied to me all the time about how the relationship was, telling me he doesn’t know if he ever truly was in love with them, and saying he wasn’t actually physically attracted to them. By accident, as I was searching something up on his phone, I found their old convos on discord. His ex never closed the convo so you could still see them if you searched up keywords. I was super taken a back by what I saw, my boyfriend was super sexual with them, even tho he told me he wasn’t. And very romantic. I asked him about it and asked why he would lie all this time and he tells me it’s because it’s just not who he is and didnt want to sabotage our relationship. The issue is NOT that he was with this guy, the issue is all the lying. My boyfriend has literally sworn on his mother’s life that he is straight, over and over again. It doesn’t make any sense tho. How can you be so sexual with another man and not be bi? He says he was only able to do it because he was lonely and thought that was the best he could get. I’m really just so confused and don’t know what to make out of this. Any advice or sharing of experiences is appreciated.

Chapter 1: Hope’s 16th Birthday
As the rays of the sun hits her eyes Hope Moonshine wakes up excited, she was waiting for this day for all her life
She jumps out of her bed and rushes to her mom's room excited and she accidentally flung the door open too fast making a loud cranking noise waking her mother, Queen Matilda up
"Oops didn't mean to wake you up" hope said awkwardly"Honey I know you are excited for your birthday but you need to be patient the sun has just risen everyone is still asleep" Matilda said tiredly, "please go back to sleep darling you will have a long day today and you will need the energy, your party wont be begin till noon"
"Ok mom, sorry for waking you up" said Hope as she was trying to close the door slowly enough that it doesn't crank but it still did "Not an issue dear", said Matilda
As the door closed Matilda took a deep breath and closed her eyes her emblem on her right shoulder a pink diamond glowed she opened her eyes and she made a finger gun with her right hand pointing at the hinges and a shiny pink light zaps comes out of her index and zaps the hinges, the beam turns into a hand and it open the door and then closes without making a cranking noise, "I should have done that a long time ago" said Matilda
She removes the blankets from her bed to reveal she is already clothed for a serious occasion, as she goes towards the mirror she is wearing a long cyan dress that trails all the way to her feed her top being smartly tight with short shoulder sleeves, she puts on long white gloves and glances over her diamond ring she lets out a small sigh and frown and puts it on, she trances over the mirror for a few seconds before snapping out of it, and she looks over to a miniature painting of her an her daughter when she was 6 she picks it up and smiles "I know you are eager dear you won't have to wait for long"
After Matilda ready's herself she open her window and conjures a light bird of the palm of her hand, the bird flew off to Hope's room where it sees her lying in her bed on her stomach, the bird soon returns to Matilda's room and land on her palm her eyes glows for a moment and the bird fizzes into a yellow cloud, "Well it looks like she actually listened not very common of her to do so, it means I can continue to do my plan unobstructed" she said with a smile.
Matilda leaves her room and walk across the hallway to the main hall then she claps her hand twice, and snap her finger, suddenly a figure jumps into the window it spins 180° and a muscular women stands up, she has a scar on her left cheek and short brown hair, she wore knight armour that cuts of at her shoulder emblem that looks like a dark grey shield.
"At your service my queen", she said with a salute
Matilda is startled for a moment, but then composes herself, "Sally there is no need for you to enter that way you can just wait for me at the hall entrance", she said.
"I was scouting the perimeter we have to make sure this place is safe and to make sure no one can harm the princess at her important day, I was up all night with my team searching every corner of the upper ring for any danger and-" Sally was abruptly cut off by Matilda.
"It was not your fault Sally, there is no need for you to prove yourself to me" Matilda said remorsefully, "You tried your best so you must eventually forgive yourself it wasn't anyone fault, it truly came from nowhere"
Sally's serious expression break into expression of regret as she shamefully looks at the ground
"Now is not time to punish ourselves over who we failed to protect but to make sure my daughter has a great birthday" Matilda said with determination
Sally's expressions of regret turned to a smile, "Yes my Queen, me and the royal guards have spent last few weeks clearing a safe path from the upper ring to the more presentable areas of the lower ring that ends at the great barrier" Sally says with a salute.
"Well I trust your judgement, you are now dismissed" said Matilda
Sally goes down the stairs of the central hall towards the doors "I won't mess up again" Sally said with determination
"Oh Houston" Matilda said while turning her head left and right, "where is he when I need him",
"I am right here your majesty" Houston whispered from behind, Matilda was startled and was annoyed on how everyone seems to sneak up on her, "Sorry for spooking you" said Houston as he polished his monocle "We are well prepared to begin celebration soon" he said as his hand pointed towards the empty hall.
Matilda stared at him, he then clapped his hands and an army of servants entered the hall setting up the chairs and tables, followed up by waiters quickly setting food on the table, and then 6 waiters came together to slowly lift the large 4 layered birthday cake with a milk white colour with chocolate cream on top of each layer, with "happy birthday Hope" spelled with strawberry topping on the side of each layer, with the glowing yellow number "16" candle at the top.
"As I was saying my Queen" Houston started "We just need to wait for the guests to arrive, I will let you know when you can call your daughter" Houston stops from a moment "Do you want anything else your majesty or am I dismissed?" he asked.
"You are dismissed Houston" said Matilda
Matilda walks up to Hope's room and slowly opens the door to find her laying in her bed
"One thousand one hundred and forty-two" Hope counted to herself, she paused and took a deep sigh, and tried to continue but then paused scratching her head "Um One-".
she was interrupted by her mother saying "Thousand one hundred and forty-three", "Unable to sleep dear?" She said with a smile, Hope gasped and she had the biggest smile in her face, her mother was a bit startled and asked "what is it you are smiling at?".
Hope pointed at her, jumped from her bed and as she was taking heavy breathes pointing at her mother clothes, "You don't sleep in this" she takes a deep breath and exclaims "which means I have got to get ready" and she runs to her closet to pick up something to wear.
Matilda takes a glance down at her clothes and rolls her eyes "so much for a surprise"
"I am ready mom" Hope said ecstatically, she was wearing a beautiful turquoise dress which complemented her hair colour styled in two plates with with joined with a pink band and wearing her favourite golden necklace,
"That was quick" her mother commented
As they enter the main hall a bunch of guests are seated drinking beverages and helping themselves to freshly baked foods, "Attention everybody, I would like you to welcome the birthday girl" said Houston, everyone stopped what they were doing and turned their heads towards the princess.
She gets a bit nervous and let out an awkward "hey guys", she didn't recognize any of them but she had to pretend to know all of them while hoping they don't ask her if she knows them, they all continue to stare as she and her mother get seated.
Houston lets out a forced cough to break the awkward silence, he says "and now Princess that you have come here you may blow the candles", the table the cake was on was carried towards Hope and her mother seated on there high chair, Hope tries to mask her excitement as she takes a deep breath and gently blow the candles, which fire off the cake and make a small explosion spelling out "Happy Birthday Princess!", Hope's eyes lit with joy.
Trumpets play and two royal servants come into the hall holding a gold plated chest decorated with diamonds, the chest is slowly opened and a blinding bright light shined from inside it, "Go ahead dear" said Matilda as her eyes pointed to the chest.
Hope goes down towards the chest and slowly lowers her hand inside of it and grabs what inside, as she removes her hand from the chest it reveals her to be holding the magic wand, it had a purple handle with a sparkly cyan diamond at its back end and a translucent turquoise sphere at it top decorated with a white glowing shape which resembled the combination of a two star into two different planes inside, and topped off with a small yellow crown at the top
Hope's shoulder emblem a pink heart with a tiny crown on top of both curves starts glowing, she raises the top of the wand at eye level, "ooh what's this" she says as she tries to stick her finger inside it to touch the spinning star
"HOPE DONT" shouted her mother, as soon as hope touched it burnt her finger and she let out a painful screech and fires a yellow glowing beam fires from the wand at some guest who were quick enough to duck, it hits a glowing orange decorative plant crushing it against the wall,
"hehe this could have been worse", Hope said awkwardly, the wreckage catches fire...
"FIRE" yells Sally, the guards that were standing by the walls quickly moved and shoved away all nearby guest as Sally goes and faces the fire here shoulder emblem glows and she fires yellow beam at it from her hands she then she clenches her fist and the beam turns into water extinguishing the fire and a yellow cloud evaporates from it, she quickly turn over to Hope and rushes over to her "ARE YOU OKAY PRINCESS" she exclaimed worryingly.
"I am fine it's just my finger is a little -" before she finishes her sentence Sally picks her up and running with her in her arms and runs up to the door and out of the Palace.
Queen Matilda is left with the guests and lets out an awkward chuckle and says "so who wants some drinks?", "Please help yourself to the finest wines in the whole kingdom" she said as a servant reveals a bunch of wine bottles in gold coating, the guests all rushed to get a sip
"I am telling you I am fine it's just a little scratch its rude for me to leave suddenl-" Hope was interrupted by Sally kicking the door open.
"PA-" Sally yelled before being interrupted by a "SHHHH", she was shushed by a woman with a white robe that cut offs at the shoulder, and a hand crafted necklace made of cotton around her neck, she had red hair tied into a bun and a green plus sign as her shoulder emblem.
"Seriously Sally how many times do I have to tell you to be quiet in here" said healer Pam with frustration she lets out a sigh and asks, "So what seems to be the problem?" Sally pulls out Hope and holds her at arms length right Infront of her Hope lets out a "Hi".
Pam gasps "Oh my princess sorry I didn't know you were coming, are you hurt?"
"No not at all it's ju-" Hope was interrupted yet again it seems like although she is becoming a grownup no one seems to want to listen to her
"She burned herself quickly check up on her" commanded Sally as she lowered Hope to her feet, Pam glanced at her up and down
"Where was she hurt", asked her confused. Hope sheepishly pointed to her left index finger it was a bit red which could be easily seen as it contrasted with her smooth white skin, but it was also accompanied by a yellow 'liquid', Pam conjured a white napkin to clean the site of the injury and singled out the injured finger from Hope's hand and put her hand on it and made into a fist and then she took a deep breath and closed her eyes her shoulder mark started having a green glow for a few seconds and then it suddenly went dim, she opened her hand to find the finger fully healed like it was never even scratched.
"Oh wow t-thanks" said Hope with a smile.
"Oh it's nothing" said pam, she took out her napkin it had some yellow glowing spots of what looks like fluid except its it didn't soak in but floated around it, "I see you can use magic now, what was your first spell" Pam said with excitement.
"I-i just shot this out of the wand" she said as she pointed at liquid on the napkin that started evaporating considerably, she then lowered her voice and talked faster "and it hit a plant and set it on fire" she was saying as she looked at the floor, Pam laughed and Hope was starting to blush.
"Oh don't worry dear we all mess up at the start, when I first started I accidentally broke a boy's arm" Pam said with a laugh.
"Is he okay now?" Hope asked with curiosity
"Well when I was your age healing wasn't what it is today they just put his arm in a cast and said if he was lucky his arm would be usable in three years", "I never was interested in healing like my mom but I wanted to fix my mistake so I studied and practiced for months to focus my healing and one day it just clicked, I got back to him and I was able to heal his arm and this happiness a patient feels when they are treated makes this all worth it" she let out a calm sigh and continued "It was not an easy journey but in just 8 years I was able to reach my peak"
"Eight years?" Hope said in disbelief
"Don't worry your path is way longer than mine my peak is at least four levels lower than you" Pam said with a grin
"It isn't that huge difference right?" Hope inquired hoping her journey wont be in the double digits because that's a very long time
Pam laughed and then said "Oh it way larger than it looks, but don't worry royals don't have a peak at least not one that one knows off" she put her hand on Hope's shoulder "Don't let the long road overwhelm you as long as you are better than yesterday you will be a great princess"
Hope smiled at her and said, "Thanks a lot Pam"
"So is everything alright with her, she stuck her finger into the wand are you sure there wont be any complications" asked Sally
"She will be alright she might have lost her finger if she went deeper and then It will actually a challenge to fix, but this is what pain reflexes are for, it a blessing in disguise", replied Pam
Sally clapped her hands and said "Well we got to go now we cant keep the guests waiting thanks for your help Pam"
Hope looked over to her and said "You should come over it's my birthday you can go change the setting", "No dear being a Healer is big commitment what if someone is in need of assistance and I am not here but I appreciate the gesture, maybe I could arrange my schedule to be there next time, go enjoy yourself".
"Pam the amputee is ready for his second regeneration session" a voice called.
"The what?" exclaimed Hope.
"Oh it's a bit graphic you really don't want to see it, I got to go now send your mother my regards" replied Pam as she ran over to a patient
Sally and Hope went to the door and left.
"You know I was really fine, it was just a scratch" Hope said as she looked up to Sally, "It's kind of rude to just leave the guests hanging I could have just sucked it up-"
Hope tried to continue when Sally muttered under her breath "I won't forgive myself".
"What was that?" asked Hope.
"Nothing, it's just you can never be so sure and no one was stupid enough to stick there finger in the wand I was just making sure but since it wasn't serious we don't need to worry" Sally said with an anxious fake smile, Hope sensed there was something off about her tone but she didn't want to push Sally into an uncomfortable spot so she left it at that
Sally and Hope make it back to the palace and Matilda rushes to her daughter "Oh dear are you ok"
She said as she gave her girl a hug, Everyone was staring and Hope got a bit embarrassed "yeah Mom I am ok" Hope said, Matilda stood up and was about to say something before Hope pre-emptively said, "I know I know it was pretty stupid from me to to do what I did, I know the wand is not a toy and I promise I will be more careful with it" she said while avoiding eye contact
Matilda smiled and said "Well I appreciate that you understand that you messed up but that not what I wanted to say" Hope made eye contact and Matilda continued "As princess and future queen we will have you visit the LOWER RING" Matilda took her daughter's hand "Sure its not the safest or best place in the kingdom but a hermit ruler is a bad ruler"
Hope got extremely excited over this as she always wanted to see the rest of the kingdom the Lower ring, the Outer ring but she was always told no because Sally's word "It's way to dangerous, you are not ready, you aren't old enough" or her mother's word "Is there something there that you cant find at home?, The place isn't very hygienic" but how bad could it be it was still under the rule of the Moonshines. Life in the Upper ring and the palace get boring after a while, why would she wants to stay put there when there a whole world to explore?
"The escorts are waiting for us outside those who want to go with us are welcome to go" Said Matilda looking at the guests with a forced smile almost knowing the reaction. All of them tried to mask there faces of disgust as if Matilda just asked them to bathe in mud or even worse she said that the food at the legendary "façade haut de gamme" was just an overpriced scam. They didn't look very impressed, Matilda coughed and asked "Well?".
One couple went towards the exit and when they got to Matilda the man said "We are truly flattered by your invite my queen but I am afraid we have something important to do" the man paused and scratched his head trying to think of an excuse Hope looked over him and asked
"What's more important to than a trip to see the rest of kingdom its not like we can always get to do it" with an ecstatic smile the woman who was scratching her head stopped as if she got an idea she went over looked to Hope with a stupid fake smile and said
"Well sweetie we forgot to sign up our son for school and registration will be closing today" she turned over to her husband and elbowed him in ribs and asked "Isn't that right honey?"
The man nodded in agreement and they walked out and they led out an audible sigh and when they were just outside of earshot the man told his wife "Moonshines huh? You would think after what happened a decade ago they would get the memo" the woman looked back at the Queen then waved and looked back at her husband and said
"She is weak if this happened to me I will make sure those pigs wish they weren't born".
Following into there footsteps and sensing an opening other guests decided to excuse themselves outside and at this point Matilda stopped resisting she knew some wouldn't want to go but she didn't think that many would go and she looked defeated Hope turned to her and said "Well mom we don't need those nose in the airers it's there loss anyways"
A woman walked up to them "She is right you know in-law" that woman was Hope's paternal aunt Mary, she had short blonde hair and brown eyes wearing a yellow dress for the occasion "The only reason any off these arrogant buffoons came here is societal expectations much like basically everything here" she said while rolling her eyes "and they all dipped the second they had the chance, come on lets go"
As they walked past the doors Sally was standing just outside the door scanning the setting with her eyes, her eyes wandered and locked with Mary "You should relax Sally no need for you to be so tense" she said with a smile she then changed her tone suddenly and said with a frown and a in a low voice that Hope and Matilda couldn't hear "Me and Matilda can protect ourselves and we aren't relying on you and my niece was under my protection since she was six, all you need to do is drive the horses and look menacing" and then she put her hand on her shoulder and smiled and said with an audible voice "So you can feel a lot more at ease dear", Sally tried hid her feeling of guilt with a fake smile "Let's go" said Mary joyfully
Everyone got on the horse driven chariot, just a classical chariot nothing magical about it, it's a very ineffective method of transport but one of the most relaxing ones
"HEEEEEY WAIT FOR ME" yelled a girl from as she was she surfing a purple cloud wearing a long sleeved purple sweater and blue pants as she got closer she tried to slow down by tilting her body backwards but she lost control and started flying at high speeds towards Hope
"EM SLOW DOWN" shouted Hope.
"I CANT BRACE FOR IMPACT" they both closed there eyes with their arms covering there eyes but just before contact she was caught effortlessly by Sally one hand and her cloud in the other she crushed the cloud in her fist into yellow mist that faded away and put the girl on her feet she then crossed her arms and looked down and barked
"Miss Emberlynn Springfield you should know how dangerous using magic without experience is, and you can't just rely on something you can't even responsibly use to make up for your own lack of punctuality"
Ember looked taken aback but she didn't want to look stupid so she snapped back with "I didn't know Hope is celebrating her birthday early in the morning, birthdays are a night activity".
Sally who was crossing her arms now raised her eyebrow and simply replied with,"Lies you were told everyday for the last week not my fault you can't seem to be able to be punctual friend's birthday, do you simply not care?".
Ember now looked embarrassed and now was rolling her finger around her dyed purple hair "M-M-My rooster didn't wake me up" she said with a smile while shrugging her shoulder as if she is asking question and the question was 'will Sally let the lecture go'.
"This doesn't matter now anyways it's that Ems is here" interjected Hope with excitement as she put her arm around Ember's shoulder "We shouldn't be wasting time let's go" she said as she punched her hand up in the sky.
Matilda, Hope, Ember and Mary entered the Chariot while Sally rode one of the two horses moving it while the other was being moved by an over-armoured and visibly nervous man.
"Calm down Edmund its just a short trip by a defined path we will be in an out in an hour or two" commanded Sally looking at Edmund clearly getting tired of his lack of confidence.
"I am trying but its such a big deal, escorting not one not two but three royals into the lower ring, I am not sure if I can do this, If I mess up-- I am too young for the consequences" he said clearly on the edge of panic
Sally slapped her hands on his cheeks "Edmund calm down you can do this I know you can" she said, Edmund seemed to calm down a bit "The whole path is being heavily guarded you and me are the last line of an extremely deep wall of defences we are most likely just going to be there for company" she looked back at the cart and said "and besides it's not like the royals can't protect themselves, they are much stronger than us after all"
"That's what they said about fre-" Edmund mumbled before putting his hand on his mouth mid sentence, Sally expression changed to that of anger.
"What did you just say?" she barked.
Edmund realising his mess up and started shaking "Um- I was talking about ---- the nice weather we are having" he said trying to pretend that this wasn't the stupidest attempt at backtracking, before Sally was going to give him a piece of her mind Mary stuck her head out and said in annoyed tone
"Hey I am not getting any younger here", Sally and Edmund looked forwards and shook the horse reins and they got moving forward
As they got to the edges of the Upper ring they reached translucent yellow barrier "We are reaching the barrier you might feel a tickle" proclaimed Sally.
As the horse crossed the barrier the barrier walls phased through the cart and it phased through Mary and Matilda there shoulder emblems glowed a four pointed star and a diamond respectfully in a yellow hue when it got to Hope and Ember the cart got to a sudden halt and they were thrown forwards Hope fell on her mother while Ember face was slapped into the barrier which was at this point halfway through the cart.
Sally opened the door "Everyone ok" she took one look at Ember and let out an annoyed sigh she dragged her hand out of the cart and asked while trying to hide her frustration "Show me your emblem"
Ember scoffed and tried to tuck back her long sleeves but she couldn't get back enough and said while crossing her arms "I can't and I am not removing my shirt".
Sally wasn't having any of it and from tip of her index made a sharp grey magic beam, she flattened Ember's sleeve and made a small cut in her right shoulder showing a yellow star rotated slightly to the left, after the cut yellow gas evaporated from it "And this is why emblems aren't covered it's common knowledge Springfield" said Sally annoyed.
"My favourite shirt! This was very unnecessary" whined Ember and before she could say anything Sally went back to her horse leaving her alone she scoffed and went back to the cart and sat next to Hope crossing her arms.
"You okay there", asked Hope concerned.
"Yeah I am fine just another lecture", said ember looking at the windows
As Hope looked out the window the lower ring didn't seem so different from home, people dressed and walked smartly roads were clean but something was off she couldn't help but notice everyone wore long sleeves even though it was a summer and it's not proper etiquette and that's something else it was surprisingly hot, She took her head out through the windows "Hello stranger" she greeted a man walking nearby he took one solid look at her and looked towards her mother and Sally who was frowning and her hands free with her emblem glowing, he didn't say anything and turned back and proceeded to speed walk away in a few seconds he ditched the subtlety and ran away, Hope was pretty disappointed and got her head into the cart
"What did I do wrong?", Hope asked.
"Girl it's either because you were too friendly it felt fake" said Ember, Hope looked down "Or they were made to feel unwelcome by misses buzzkill in the driving seat" she remarked
A loud sound of crashing wooden boxes was heard and cart went to a halt
"What was that" commented Mary
"Something that isn't boring" Hope said with excitement before leaving the cart.
"Make sure all of them stay put in the cart I will be gone for a short while" said Sally to Edmund before running to the source of the sound Hope tried to follow her but was body blocked by Edmund with his arms crossed
"Sorry I can't let you go princess, Superior's orders", he glanced to the left of him to seeing Ember touching a fancy table Infront of a café just for it to poof into a yellow cloud,
"Ow splinters" she cried, the yellow cloud fizzled reveal a wooden table barely clinging to its shape with a bunch of makeshift wooden fixes that don't even match in colour
Edmund looked like he just saw a ghost and ran towards Ember who was now transforming outdoor expensive furniture into splinter traps
"Stop touching it" said Edmund before shooting out a grey magical hands towards her subduing her, "What's your deal" he scolded annoyed.
"No what's this place deal why is everything here so fake?" snapped Ember "You hearing this Hope this place is fa-" she then stopped and asked "Aye were is Hope?"
Edmund let her go and pulled on his hair "Oh no no no no no no no" he cried
"Is everything alright where is my daughter?" asked Matilda concerned, Edmund didn't know what to say but before he could make up an explanation Mary interjected
"Oh don't worry Mati she will be ok she is probably with Sally and besides she still has this necklace I gave her so I am sure she will be just fine" Mary said with her hand on Matilda's shoulder "and we can go have some tea and chit-chat while we wait I heard that Gilbert's tea shop has actually potable tea" she suggested Matilda sighed and decided to go with what Mary said and walked towards the shop. "What about me?" asked Ember, Edmund turned towards her with anger and barked "You are staying right here!".
"Sally where are you?" called Hope as she was walking she saw a little girl wearing a cute pink dress and smooth brown hair walking alone Infront of her, she approached her and asked
"Hey do you happen to see a tall lady around here?" she tapped on her shoulder to get her attention and suddenly a cloud of yellow gas evaporated out of her Hope and the little girl coughed and as the smoke cleared the little girl was wearing a poorly knit patchwork of randoms scraps of fabric and her hair was covered in dirt she had a brown circle on the side of her shoulder, Hope froze in shock "I- I am so sorry, it was an accident" she apologised "I can go get you a new dress or--" the girl just looked at Hope her eyes glanced her wand which was in her right hand as well as her royal emblem and then she started hyperventilating and burst into tears.
Hope got on to her knees and she gently put her hands on the girl's shoulder "Calm down calm down, it's alright, It's not your fault but mine"
"P-P-pwease do-don hu-hur meeee" the girl sobbed.
"What hurt you? no no no no" Hope explained trying to figure out from where the girl got the idea
Hope hugged the girl "Here calm down see I am friendly" she soothed, the girl seemed to calm down a bit and she started sniffing
She let her go and asked "So what's your name?"
"R-R-Rosie" replied Rosie.
"Ok Rosie I am so sorry for ruining your dress, do you remember were you got it from?" she asked
"Ms Bea had guys gib it to us" Rosie said
"Misses Bea huh" she wondered out loud "Well can you tell me were misses Bea is"
"Sowwy I can't tell you misses moonnnn" Rosie was saying before she looked she wanted to cry again
"Please don't cry" Hope pleaded "You don't need to tell me where you live just wait" Hope passed her wand to her left hand and put her now free hand to her pocket and pulled out a purple wallet and she pulled out a golden note with 50 written on it she passed the note to Rosie and said "Here give this to misses Bea and tell her I am so sorry for destroying your dress also" Rosie grabbed the note and stared at it, Hope pulled some wrapped candy she got from the party "Her have some candy too" the girl put her the note in her pocket and grabbed the wrapped candy she struggled with it a bit and she then passed it back
"Open it please" Rosie asked
"Oh you can't? it's quite simple here" Hope said she gently tapped the candy her emblem glowed for a moment and the wrapping fizzed out.
Rosie put the candy in her mouth and quickly chewed and swallowed it, she then gave Hope a hug, she let go after a moment "Thank you miss, Ms Bea says Moosines are scawy but aren't scawy"
"Scary why would we be scary" Hope asked in disbelief with a smile
Rosie looked around and said "I am sowwy I need to go" she turned back and ran away and took a turn and was just out of sight.
"You couldn't just stop causing trouble for one day? what did we pay you for?" Hope heard Sally barking.
The sound of Sally's voice came from an alleyway, as Hope entered the alley the clean white paint started fading into rotting maroon bricks and the smell became foul coming from the open dumpster "Ewwwww" Hope said as she lowered the lid to try and lessen the stench
"Hey you know it's rude to close the lid on someone trying to fetch themselves a meal" a bald man barked as he popped out like a jack in the box he had a white beard wearing over shoulder strapped brown pants with a black plastic bag for a shirt and a metal can of beans for a hat and his left eye with a grey iris spinning his shoulder emblem only consisted of a simple brown circle, Hope screamed and ran away "Oh beans was that a Moonshine?" the man asked himself "Well I probably should skip town" he said to himself with a goofy smile while snapping his fingers.
Hope stopped running and started panting "Now you are lucky I am not here in head bashing duty or I would have sent you to a one way trip to the Outer ring and the monsters there could deal with you" Hope heard Sally scolding, she walked to the end of the alleyway the place beyond it was extremely different people clothes were worn out in which the holes were covered up by half baked sewn rotting fabric the road didn't exist it was simply a dirt undefined path and walls were all made of rotting bricks same as that of the alley, windows were broken and the stench of garbage filled the air, Hope saw Sally tying up a bunch of muscular men with a magic rope.
Sally glanced over and saw Hope "Princess what are you doing here?" she asked with dismay the rope holding the gangsters vanished they got up and shook of the dust and looked up and saw Hope and they all ran away in terror "Moonshine here run awway". All of a sudden all the people went indoors and the windows were sealed shut with wood and hammered with nails and just like that the place looked like a ghost town.

LF: 1 female roommate replacement
💸 Rent: 6,865 (1 month advance, 2 months deposit) Wifi, electicity, water and assoc dues already included in rent.
📁 Contract: 1 Year
🏠 Target move in: June 2024
📍Loc: Torre Central Galicia Street Manila (along Espanya) Near UST, FEU, UE
With 3 other roommates
CONDO HAS ✅ study room access ✅ gym access ✅ pool access ✅ roof top ✅ 24/7 CCTV ✅ mababait na guards
ROOM (@11th floor) ✅ corner unit ✅ airconditioning ✅ double bunk bed (upper bed available) ✅ CR ✅ mini fridge ✅ with stove, can cook ✅ visitors allowed (basta magpaalam sa roommates) ✅ no curfew ✅ pet friendly condo (roommate has a cat) ✅ near karinderyas, fastfood chains, convenience stores and laundry shops (near zus coffee espanya)
pm me for more details!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following two brain scans were provided by the Neuro-Warfare branch of the Halcyon Security Division (HSD) for the purpose of analyzing the thoughts, behaviors, and information of notorious gangsters Vincent 'Troy' Cohen and Bruno (Deadname: Koraak Tel-Char). At the point of the recording of this archival shared, Bruno has since received his rebirth therapy, and Vincent is currently serving a long-term rehabilitative and reeducative sentence in the Erebus Supermax Prison on Io.
Warning: the contents of this archival shared may be especially disturbing to some audiences. Viewer discretion is advised.
Warning: the contents of this archival shard are for the sole purpose of analyzing the thought patterns and memories of certain degenerate criminals in an effort to ascertain vital information that can be used to eliminate their organizations. Only staff with clearance level Omega may view this archival shared, and the viewership of this archival shared by anyone of inadequate clearance level will lead to twenty years in prison and a fine of over a hundred thousand credits.
Booting up memory scan: Vincent 'Troy' Cohen, November 4th, 2446…
Loading and processing firmware data… translating… memories and subconscious simulated…
Beginning archival shard presentation…
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Do you have visuals of the target, Troy?"
I knelt down in the alleyway, the bodies of me and my partners shrouded in long, waterproof, ashen-gray overcoats the shade of dirty street scum that we wore to ward off the constant heavy rainfall the color of osmium. Our faces were covered in a mix of scrapped respirators, visors, or full metal face masks carved with intricate designs to hide our identities. On our waists were our badges of honor: leather belts studded with interlocked rivets made from blackened titanium, each buckle forged of silver and shaped into the head of our gang's symbol, the black mamba. We hid amongst the shadows of the dark midday of Halcyon City, the heavy, oppressive rains blanketing the roads paved obsidian-black with asphalt and weathered concrete walkways. The street lamps were always on, like beacons of false hope in a storm of melancholy.
The city was dark and dreary as always, the planet of Proxima Centauri B, renamed Dawn's Lamentation over a century ago, orbited the red dwarf star of Proxima Centauri, and the atmosphere was thick with natural smog and ever-storming rain clouds. That didn't dissuade people from living here: there was plenty of money to be had for shrewd industrialists and hardworking pioneers, even in the urban sprawl. But that life also came with risks, especially for those on the bottom of the totem pole.
I was a ganger, and we were criminals; full stop. I won't assault you with some spiel about how we're the good guys fighting oppression because, at the end of the day, we could be just as bad, if not worse, than Halcyon's Security Division, or the HSD for short. We were traffickers, killers, extortionists, and money launderers. We dealt with everything from stolen tech and military-grade hardware to hard drugs and sentients.
Yes, sentients. We trafficked sentients, but not in the way you might think. They weren't prisoners, in fact, we were their saviors if they had the cash. We had developed a reputation for fighting the power, but it was still business: sure, freeing captives from the clutches of the Protectorate. The disruption of its many oppressive organizations held a certain satisfaction in my heart for sure, but we didn't help those who couldn't pay unless someone else paid on their behalf. It was about making sure me and my gang, my family, could live a decent life for another day.
It helped that most of us joined after leaving the state yard for partaking in acts of 'degeneracy' and 'anti-xenopet illegalities' as if those terms meant anything anymore other than that we were a threat to the local status quo. It was hard to pick up a job as a former inmate when even in something as harsh and backbreaking as a job in the iridium mines near the poles when the employment office had you blacklisted as a degenerate, which lead to the formation of many of the gangs: we needed to make a living somehow, and when all social programs were cut off from you unless you submitted for 're-education' and the only way to put food on the table was subverting, breaking, or even downright fighting the law, you did what you had to do or you died on the streets a scorned beggar.
It wasn't like the HSD made it easy for us on even a good day: the local HSD units were armed to the teeth with advanced, military-grade hardware that you'd often see on the front lines of the Second Authority War: armored assault transports, a myriad of advanced war droids, all sorts of chemical countermeasures that made tear gas seem like putting the garden hose on mist mode, and of course advanced firearms. Add that to the fact that they were authorized to use deadly force when they deemed it necessary and you had a ruthless, heartless, and nearly unstoppable enemy. But we could make that work: we weren't trying to stop them, just to withstand them.
"Yeah, I got eyes on the prize, Koraak; seven armored transports, two for droids, five for prisoners."
Today wasn't a day for a normal job: we were getting bolder, cockier, more ambitious. Our numbers had swelled for the last few years after the raid at Barnard's Star and the fall of the Blood Dragon Mafia. Their leader, Saito Yasuhide, had committed seppuku as their manor burned, and his twin sons had gone down fighting rather than allowing themselves to be captured simply to face a firing squad. In the aftermath, many of the family's associates had fled to the surrounding systems, and with the sheer size and scope of the criminal underworld found here, it was no wonder that many people who had developed skills of the less legal variety had decided to form ranks with the gangs, and with them they brought guns, tech, knowledge, contacts, and even something that we thought wasn't possible beforehand: a semblance of peace between the gangs, or at least the closest thing to peace that gangs could cultivate effectively. With the fall of the Blood Dragons, we saw the writing on the wall, and the writing couldn't have been clearer: work together or die together.
"Sounds like a massacre, Troy: are you sure we can handle seven?"
"We ain't got no choice, Cinder: this job's double the usual rate, and that's not including the weapons and gear we could scrounge if this goes well," I hissed, my eyes scanning for any resistance. There were at least four guards for each van, not to mention at least eight droids in total, meaning that we were already outnumbered, but we had the element of surprise: we could make it work. "So put your balls in your purse and get ready to spill some blood."
Koraak snorted at our antics, which sounded like someone pulling the ripcord on a lawnmower. He was a veteran Russu Corsair, and while his past of slaving, raiding, and killing was unsavory, so were the lives we'd lived, so who were we to judge? All we cared about was that he was a brutal and capable fighter and a loyal brother in arms. It turned out that being a ganger wasn't much different from being a Corsair: you lived and died by a code of honor, you fought to the death for your brothers, and you lived to die for the sake of your gang and your family, simple as that. In a strange, ironic way, it was an incredibly honest way of life: we were under no illusions as to what we were, what we did, and why we did it, and we'd long since accepted it. The Russu related to us in that aspect, in many ways I could respect, which is why I hated what the Protectorate was doing, and why I couldn't grasp how most of humanity could just collectively lose their marbles so long ago. What had happened for us to deem all other life below us in such a demeaning and infantilizing way?
The Russu were a race of tall, muscle-bound Saurians with avian features, and Koraak was no exception: reaching almost seven feet in height and weighing over four hundred and fifty pounds, he could be an absolute menace if he so desired. His skin was covered in stubby, knobby scales and dense plumage, with elegant feathers adorning the ridges along his back as well as his forearms, elbows, knees, and the crests on his head. He almost looked like how paleontologists described velociraptors, with razor-sharp talons, feathers shaded in vibrant greens, reds, and purples, and a maw full of sharp teeth, but at the tip of his snout was a sharp, beak-like growth meant for ripping flesh off the bone.
The Russu were strange as hell, but they also looked almost cute in the same way a fully grown alligator was cute: they were obviously dangerous, but humans would always have this innate desire to anthropomorphize them and to pet them for some inexplicable reason, although common sense usually prevented that, at least amongst the very few of us left that were sane.
"Shut up, Troy! All I'm saying is that that'll be rough, and you know it," hissed Cinder. Cinder was a tall black man whose coffee-colored skin was covered in tattoos. He wore an ebony mechanic's jumpsuit with metal inserts underneath his grimy overcoat covering his body and a faded black respirator on his face. His eyes were a startling blue that seemed sorely out of place, and his hair was braided into thick cornrows along his scalp. He wore a pair of heavy black combat boots and palmed his compact shotgun in his hands, the square barrel less than seven inches. Like a lot of the weapons the Black Mambas carried on their persons and dealt in, they fired caseless ammunition; in Cinder's case it was 16x40mm caseless shotshells filled with depleted uranium micro-flechetes no thicker than a toothpick. Cinder nervously fiddled with the detachable tube magazine underneath the barrel, his hands shaking. Despite the shit I have him, I didn't blame him for being anxious: I was anxious too, even if I refused to show it. The biting cold of unease and pessimism was in my stomach, and I ran all the way that this job could go wrong in my head over and over.
"Just hold yourself together, this ain't anything we haven't done before, there's just more of it," I reassured Cinder, "besides, we're not alone; we have reinforcements across the street. We'll make it out of this alive."
Cinder nodded almost absentmindedly, his eyes downcast and his breathing shallow. I turned from him and back to Koraak, who was making sure he had everything on his person; he had a synthetic leather bandoleer across his chest that contained the heavy eight guage depleted uranium slugs he kept loading and unloading into his much larger, longer, and more traditional shotgun he nicknamed ‘carnage’ and several leather straps that held his Tu'shan daggers: traditional Russu pyramidal blades forged from a silvery alloy with all three edges serrated and the tip barbed to leave behind horrible, gaping wounds that gushed blood. They were wickedly sharp and absolutely straight like a stiletto, and the hilts and pommels were beautifully decorated. He wore no clothes underneath his overcoat to cover the countless scars and blemishes he's earned in combat across his chest and abdomen, and instead of a normal respirator or visor, he simply wore a hood over his head and some traditional Russu facial armor to protect his mouth, eyes, and cheeks.
"You ready to fight, Koraak? The caravan will pick up and leave soon."
Koraak was silent for a moment before nodding, a human gesture he had picked up after serving as a soldier with the Black Mambas for years. "I'm always ready to fight," he said before lifting up his shotgun and aiming down the sights at the reinforced front wheels of the first armored car in the caravan. He exhaled and fired, the slug ripping through both front tires and causing them to deflate and fall apart. The echo of the shot rang through the alleyway and the street, causing pedestrians to panic and flee the scene as heavily armored guards poured out of the side doors of the armored cars and unholstered their carbines.
"Go, now!" I shouted, and both me and Cinder rushed out into the fray, our guns raised. Koraak was right behind the two of us, providing covering fire with his shotgun. Several guards fell quickly, Koraak's precise fire and the sheer force of the depleted uranium slugs putting them down for good as their heads were vaporized or their chest cavities were turned to mush. He emptied the tube with one final shot that painted the grey matter of a security guard on the door of one of the armored cars, then racked the shotgun and expertly loaded it in threes, his hands deft and agile as he reached for more slugs faster than any human.
With the cacophony of our initial assault, more Black Mambas poured out from the alleyways and the subways, armed to the teeth with all manner of weapons; shotguns, submachine guns, pistols, machetes, baseball bats, and all manner of homemade explosives. Molotovs and more potent concoctions shattered against the asphalt, herding in the caravan guards with their volatile contents as they were quickly gunned down. The assault was working, and we were winning.
Then I heard the robotic whine of a combat droid activating, and my heart sank. One of the armored cars in the back activated the four combat droids it held, the robotic assault units detaching from their charging ports on the sides of the large van and began to form up, each armed with a terrifying array of deadly weapons meant to quash any and all resistance. They were blocky, soulless, utilitarian things that stood at eight feet tall, with flat feet meant for stomping and blades, grasping claws designed to lacerate flesh and shatter bone. On each shoulder was a weapon: on the left was a multi-barrel rotary grenade launcher loaded with 15mm concussion grenades, and on the right was a burst-fire splinter cannon. They were all painted a dull grayish-green, the color of Halcyon's Security Division, although some had a few decorations on them: the one closest to me had a bit of graffiti on the side that said Mr. Hugs in Comic Sans, which I couldn't decide whether that made it more or less terrifying. They split up without hesitation and began to scan the chaotic battlefield, their single, red, beady lenses the security forces had the gall to call eyes focusing on specific targets to eliminate.
An entire group of Black Mambas was torn to pieces by a cloud of flechettes as one of the droids fired a withering three-round burst of shotshells from the four gauge splinter cannon mounted on its shoulder. Another picked up a Black Mamba in its hand and crushed her skull effortlessly before tossing her limp body to the side, its single, red, remorseless robotic eye tracking a new target. Most bullets that struck their thick armored chassis simply bounced off, and those that could pierce the armor didn't seem to phase the droids whatsoever, merely notifying them of a new potential target.
"Damnit," I shouted as I gunned down another guard only for two more to take his place. "Cinder! We gotta pop open the cars and scram! Get the maglock cutters!"
Cinder rushed and slid over through a dirty puddle, pulling out a maglock cutter from the inside of his coat and slipping it onto the back door of the first van. It immediately went to work, drilling through the maglock with a high-powered plasma torch nozzle, and within ten seconds we heard the telltale clunk of the maglock separating. I yanked the door open and ordered I side, ready to escort the prisoners out… only for my face to contort in shock and horror.
The back was empty. There was not a single soul inside of the back brig of the armored car.
"What the fuck…" Cinder gasped, his eyes wide with shock. "What the actual fuck… what the fuck is this, Troy?"
"I… I don't…" I stuttered the sounds of battle and carnage drowned out by the sound of blood rushing in my ears. All five cars were supposed to be filled with recently captured Russu from the front lines ready to be housed in the local Xenopet-Megaplex for processing and conditioning. The fact that this one was empty…
Suddenly, it all hit me at once with the force of a freight train, but it was too late. "We were set up, Cinder; our fucking client either squealed or was crooked to begin with…"
"Fucking bitch!" Cinder shouted as he spun around in an enraged arch, anger growing in his eyes. He aimed his shotgun at an approaching security guard and reduced his upper body to a fine red mist with a cacophony of shotgun blasts. "We gotta get everyone who's left out of here! Do you know what this means? The Jurors will be here soon, and then we're all going down! We gotta go, fuck the job!"
I grit my teeth. Not the Jurors, anything but the Jurors.
"Fine, gather everyone who's left and we'll slip through the sewers, the droids are too bulky to follow us there…"
As I spoke, my eyes wandered to the seventh and final armored car, the second of the droid cars, and my blood froze. Not only were all four ports empty, but they were also smaller and more shallow than the ports for the combat droids. That could only mean one thing.
"Oh fuck! Cinder, we gotta get our Russu members out of here! They've got arachnid droids!"
Arachnid droids were the stuff of nightmares. Resembling blocky, robotic arachnids the size of a manhole cover, they were specifically designed to take down sentient aliens, specifically the Russu, using sickeningly non-lethal means. They were equipped with full-body adaptive cloaking to blend in with their environments, paralytic agents that they could inject into their victims, built-in taser barbs, psychedelic gas ports for crowd-control, and a narrow-coned cacophony canon that disabled the Russu using incredibly high-pitched sounds that only they could hear, forcing them onto their knees and clutching the backs of their heads where their auditory organs were stored in agony. But worst of all was their stygian spinnerets: special ports near the end of their robotic abdomens that excreted a viscous, latex-like substance made up of millions of nano-bots. This substance could be used to render Russu blind, deaf, and mute by having it forced onto their faces, the black substance growing and enveloping their heads and working its way into every orifice. It was completely permeable to the standard atmosphere, but any Russu who had been 'webbed' was completely helpless and essentially captured, and the 'webbing' was both nearly indestructible and nigh impossible to remove without a triple-encrypted override key that was found in every arachnid droid's code, which was corrupted when the droid was destroyed or hacked into. Once you were 'webbed', you were essentially captured and the standard protocol was to leave you to the wolves since the nano-bots could be tracked, endangering the entire gang.
I turned just as I heard the deafening sound of Koraak discharging his shotgun, and I saw him squaring off against one of the assault droids. The droid has obviously been programmed to not use lethal force against Russu if possible, as instead of simply killing Koraak with it's shoulder-mounted splinter cannon, it approached with its claws extended, blades retracted. Koraak continued to back away and fire, pumping the droid full of depleted uranium slugs, its armor crumbling inward as the slugs pierced its chassis and damaged its internal cyberstructure. Eventually, Koraak ran out of slugs and instinctively reached to his bandoleer only to find that he had no more shells left at all, and he drew one of his knives and his sidearm, a simple high-caliber handgun. He tried to take down the droid with his handgun, but the bullets didn't even seem to affect the droid upon penetration, it's claws still extended as it attempted to apprehend Koraak.
In the corner of my vision, as I watched Koraak battle with the droid, I noticed a faint shimmer in the air on one of the black streetlight poles that was right behind him. I focused on it and blinked, believing my eyes had deceived me for a moment before realizing that it was actually a cloaked arachnid droid stalking Korvaak, ready to pounce and incapacitate him.
Before I could shout, it leaped from the pole and landed on Korvaak, causing him to shout in surprise while it began to coagulate its horrifying stygian webbing to disable Korvaak. Korvaak tried to wrestle it off of him, but the droid was agile and fast, clinging onto Korvaak and skittering around across his upper body as he attempted to grab it, forcibly wrapping the sticky black liquid across his face as he gagged like a spider wrapping up a fly. I rushed towards him to try and help, but I felt pain explode in my ribs as I was struck with the arm of the closest combat droid and launched into the chassis of a parked car, the metal denting from the sheer force of impact. I groaned in pain as I saw stars and my head spun, and just then I felt a blinding light be cast over me.
“Drop your weapons and kneel with your hands on your head, or you will be pacified with deadly force!” Shouted a loud, artificially deepened voice from above. “I repeat, drop your weapons and kneel with your hands on your head! Neither hostility nor hesitation will be tolerated!”
It was the Jurors, I could feel the air being pushed around from the thrusters on their drop ships, and I could hear screams and shouts as my fellow Black Mambas were quickly gunned down. I couldn’t see well since I was seeing double, but I could hear the slaughter as my eyes dimmed and I began to lose consciousness, my regrets crawling up my throat like vomit.
I’m sorry was all I could think as everything finally went dark, and the sounds of chaos, destruction, and combat faded away.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Memory halted due to loss of consciousness. Booting next available memory in shard…
Booting up memory scan: Koraak Tel-Char Bruno, November 5th, 2446…
Loading and processing firmware data… translating… memories and subconscious simulated…
Beginning archival shard presentation…
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Good morning, sleepyhead; it’s time for breakfast.”
My eyes shot open. I was not in the street anymore, nor was I home in my bed with my mate. I knew instantly that something was horribly wrong. I tried to stand up, but I couldn’t gain the leverage to do so: my ankles had been shackled together with magnetic cuffs and my arms were forced together in front of me.
I was wearing some kind of thick shirt. It was warm, fluffy, and comfortable on the inside, but it still made me incredibly uncomfortable that my arms didn’t have a free range of motion. I looked down to see that I was wearing some human garment I had heard about before, a straightjacket maybe?
The entire room was padded: the walls, the floor, even the ceiling. There was no bed or furniture; the floor was soft enough to serve as a bed in itself. There was nothing else except for the soft reddish-orange lights on the ceiling that somehow made me sleepy. I blinked slowly for a moment, my body screaming at me to just lay back down and lose consciousness, but I couldn’t do that: I needed to figure out where I was and how to escape.
Then I noticed who was speaking to me: it was a short human female, with crow's feet around her blue eyes, blonde hair braided down her back, and freckles all over her face. She had a soft smile on her lips, and her forehead was slightly crinkled. She wore a full-body white lab suit with a white overcoat and a pair of glasses for snugly on her face.
"There we go, now I can see those pretty eyes, such a beautiful shade of teal," she cooed softly, "You're such a handsome boy, even with all those scars: I'm sure you'll be adopted very quickly once we get you fixed up."
Fear gripped my heart as I began to piece all the evidence together. I had been captured; I was no longer on Halcyon, and instead, I was in one of the horrific space-born facilities I had heard so much about from the inside agents. I started to hyperventilate and squawk like a newborn hatchling, my eyes dilating in panic. This couldn't be happening! This has to be a nightmare!
The human woman merely wrapped her arms around me and pulled me into an embrace, cradling my head under her chin and speaking softly. I couldn't bite at her or claw at her: I was muzzled and wearing a straight jacket, so I had no choice but to allow her to coddle me.
"It's okay, sweetheart: I understand you're scared, but Julie's here to make all the pain and bad thoughts go away," she said as if she was comforting a child, which made anger blossom in my chest indignantly. "I'll be your caretaker for the next few months, and I'm going to make sure you're healthy, happy, and most importantly safe while you're under our care. I'm sorry to say that includes your restraints and restrictive clothing, but we have to make sure you aren't a threat to yourself or others before we can determine if it's a good idea to remove you from suicide watch."
I growled under my muzzle. Suicide watch? They must have had a lot of instances of Russu taking their own lives after being captured, something I wished I had been able to do before that damnable droid launched itself onto me and…
I shuddered at the thought of the black, viscous substance forcing itself into my nostrils and down my throat and windpipe, gagging me and rendering me completely helpless. It was so cold, so harsh, like slime, and when I had tried to tear it off of my face it merely attached itself to my claws and bound my talons together. I remember squirming on the ground as it enveloped me, unable to see, hear, or speak, and then everything went dark in an instant. It was the most horrible thing I had ever experienced, which was saying something.
"You alright, sweetheart? Oh, I know, you're probably hungry! Here, try some of this." She held up a piece of what looked like raw bacon and wiggled it in front of me before reaching out to remove my muzzle. In an instant, I attempted to snap at her only for pain to blossom in my forehead and my eyes to roll up in my head as I convulsed. It was like something was attempting to drill through my skull from the inside, and every breath felt empty and labored.
"Now, that didn't feel very nice, did it? This is why we have countermeasures in place because we can't trust you yet, sweetheart! Don't worry, we'll work on breaking you of all those bad behaviors and habits while you're here; after all, a well-trained pet is a happy pet!" She began to stroke the crests on my head as I slowly recovered, and she snugly fit the muzzle back onto my snout. "But I won't hold it against you this time, sweetheart; you're just scared and confused, but I'll make all the pain go away."
I struggled in the straight jacket, trying my best to break out of it, but it was no use. Eventually, I became exhausted and despondent, allowing my new caretaker to have her way with me as she gently ran her fingers through my feathers and along my ridges, quietly speaking to me in a hopeless attempt to cheer me up. She seemed genuinely concerned for my well-being, which concerned me even further: who could be this naturally twisted while attempting to be as benevolent and kindhearted as possible?
I felt the pain and terror build up in my chest, the anxiety from what horrific activities I imagined they had planned for me here. I couldn't take the infantilization, the lack of any autonomy, the dehumanization, and what I feared the most was if the rumors of 'rebirth' were true: would they take my personhood from me?
Suddenly, I felt her whisper to me. "Don't worry sweetheart, I know you're so scared and confused, but I promise you everything will be okay: it's going to be your birthday soon, and then everything will get better." She ran her fingers through the feathers along my crest lovingly. "It will be such a wonderful day, and then we'll choose for you the most wonderful family, and you'll spend the rest of your life happy in your forever home! Doesn't all of that sound wonderful?"
I wanted to die. I wanted to disappear. I didn't want to lose myself, not like this, not to these monsters!
"It'll be your birthday soon," she said wistfully as if she was remembering similar events to this in the past like I wasn't the first she'd done this too, "and you'll never be sad again."
I realized that I wasn't the first the stay in this particular cell, and I knew for certain that I wouldn't be the last: I'd end up like my brother, a broken, erased mess of a pathetic creature, reduced to nothing more than a pet for these humans to amuse themselves with.
"We took the liberty of picking out a nice name for you, sweetheart! Now, let me just slip this little programming chip into the port slot on your occipital bone, and... there we go! It will also help you calm down a bit and adjust."
I felt the chip begin to invade my mind, suppressing my thoughts. What made me me was slowly being ripped out of my mind. I couldn't remember my name my name is Bruno, and I needed to get out! I can't let them do this to me! Somebody help me! I was a good boy.
##Do not think. You are a good boy.##
I tried to scream, but my voice wouldn't work: I had trouble forming any words at all, the confusion clouding my mind like wet, slimy eels curling around my brain and sinking their teeth into its folds like needles. I couldn’t scream any longer, because I had nothing left: the chip was slowly beginning to take everything from me, robbing me of my identity and branding a new one into my psyche with a white-hot iron. Julie simply held me close, attempting to reassure me as I awaited the inevitable demise of my personhood. Soon I would be just like my brother: erased. My mind would be shaped into the mind of a loyal plaything, like a Dog.
##Relax. Allow caretaker [Julie] to comfort you. You will let go of your burden.##
Soon, everything was a blur. I quickly found myself resting my head in her lap as she whispered to me and fed me, my eyes bleary and my head fuzzy. I couldn't remember my name anymore My name was Bruno, and I needed to break free from this trance relax, and allow her to help me; good boys didn't resist help.
##Good Boy. Do not think. You are a good boy.##
You can't... I...
##Good boy.##
I wouldn't… good boys don't… I…
##Good boy##
I was a good boy… I was a good boy…
I was… I was… a good… boy…
Someone help me, please! I don't want to be erased!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following script is from episode #343 of Halcyon After Dark, a popular late-night and current events talk show hosted by Melinda Carter. This specific episode was sponsored in part by the Halcyon Security Division, with Director Lochlin O'Brien joining as a guest star to talk about the changing crime statistics in Halcyon City and the HSD's recent successes in busting organized crime as well as their plans for addressing the growing criminal underworld.
MC: Good evening Halcyon! I'm your host, Melinda Carter, and you're watching Halcyon's most popular late-night talk show, Halcyon After Dark!
The crowd claps and cheers as Melinda walks on stage and sits behind her desk, her glittering red dress waving as she does so from the special effects.
MC: Tonight we have a very special guest here to tell us about the state of crime in the city and his plans on resolving it: please put your hands together for the HSD's very own Director, Lochlin O'Brien!
The crowd cheers some more as HSD Director Lochlan O'Brien, a tall, muscular, caucasian male in his early forties with red hair and a well-trimmed beard steps into the room, waving at the crowd with a bright smile. He sits in the armchair angled next to Melinda's desk and gives her his full attention.
MC: It's so good to have you on the show, Director! Tell me, how are you doing on this fine evening?
LO: I'm doing excellent, Melinda: every day I wake up feeling fulfilled knowing I'm serving Halcyon to the best of my abilities and then some."
MC: That's the spirit, Director! Now, I know this question is just on everyone's lips, so I have to ask: how successful was the recent gang bust? I heard HSD forces took out dozens of gang members and liberated at least a dozen Russu Hounds from their abusive clutches, but I know that everyone in the audience and at home wants to know the numbers.
LO: I'd be glad to tell you, but I do have to preface this by saying that we still lost a lot of good officers that day, and while we did strike a crippling blow to one of Halcyon's biggest gangs, it doesn't change the fact that each death is a tragedy, and we're taking steps to prevent them in the future. That being said, those valiant officers did not sacrifice themselves in vain: we had over a dozen confirmed kills and several arrests, including the rescue of several corrupted Russu hounds.
MC: That's excellent, Director: proof that even when the number of degenerates and scum grow by the day, the HSD will always be here to keep the citizens of Halcyon safe.
LO: Absolutely, Melinda, and we're always working tirelessly to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our units, as well as racing to stay several steps ahead of the many gangs of Halcyon at all times. My newest goal as Director is to vastly increase the funding given to our Robotics Department and our Neuro-Warfare Department to potentially reduce the number of casualties we may experience in the future, as well as to quickly and effectively detain, and if necessary, eliminate criminals. Within the next decade, I want to double the number of automated units each Security Platoon is assigned: droids are the future of public safety as well as countless other industries, and it would be foolish to be left behind.
MC: That is quite a lofty goal, Director: what about the displaced jobs from the increased automation? What will the union say?
LO: And to that, I say: what misplaced jobs? We aren't replacing our honored and beloved service members with droids, Melinda, we are simply supplementing our units with more droids to ensure that future gang assaults end with fewer HSD casualties and more gang members in prison or eliminated, simple as that.
MC: That makes much more sense, Director, thanks for clarifying. Now, I have one more question that I'm sure much of Halcyon wants to know the answer to before we take a short break: what plans do you and your fellow directors have to make long-term progress in reducing crime beyond just increasing funding? Have you proposed any plans to strike at the source of where crime and degeneracy flourish?
OL: That's an excellent question, and one I am proud to answer: my constituents and I have been working tirelessly on a two-step plan to greatly reduce crime levels in Halcyon. Step one would be to prevent people from becoming criminals and degenerates at all in the first place: a lot of young men and women, but especially young men, have lost either one or both parents or even a sibling, aunt or uncle, or even a close friend by the brutality of the Second Authority War, and while the service of their lost loved ones will always be recognized and honored, many of these young men and women are left bitter, angry and lost without the guidance these people give them in their lives. Oftentimes they seek to fill that void with others who claim to relate to them: career criminals. These criminals will fill their heads with lies and false narratives to make them feel like they're fighting back against the 'evil protectorate government' that took their loved ones from them by sending them off to war when in reality it was the rogue Xenopets of the Triarchy that took them away by resisting their just and inevitable unburdening.
In response, I have proposed a slew of special programs that will make sure local law enforcement and HSD officers are present and contributing to their local community, and we'll be providing easy and light job openings for youngsters and teens looking to make a career for themselves in the force when they grow up. We want to let these lost souls know that there are people who care about them, people who understand them and that you shouldn't turn to degeneracy to feel fulfilled. We want to help the youth of our great society soar to new heights!
MC: That sounds like a wonderful beginning to your plan, Director, but what about the second step?
LO: Well, the second step is to prevent criminals and degenerates from becoming repeat criminals. Sure, they've made their mistakes, some worse than others, but they're only human like the rest of us. Some of them have been through hell: some are traumatized veterans who don't know how to adapt to normal life, others were recruited when they were young and don't know that there's a better way to live, and even more are mentally ill. We're alone in this galaxy, and we can't leave so many people behind. That's why we've come up with an excellent solution: we've set up isolated communities on distant moons and frontier planets where these criminals can be reeducated, rehabilitated, and allowed to repay their debt to society. When they're deemed 'reformed' and have graduated from our program, they'll be granted a hefty stipend and their criminal record will be deemed irrelevant, allowing them to reintegrate and become functioning members of our proud society.
MC: all of these sound like incredible steps forward in the fight to better our society and make real progress, Director. Sadly, we do have to step away for a moment, but you best believe I'll be back, Halcyon, and we'll be asking the Director here some burning questions about allegations over the quality of life Erubus Supermax! Now, a word from our sponsors!
Halcyon Xenopet-Megaplex! Everything your xenopet could ever need in one place! Adoption is now free-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good, you’re still alive! The rest of this shard appears to be corrupted, which means this particular trail seems to have run cold here, but do not despair; you need to keep searching. Find out what happened. Find the truth.I cannot guide you any longer: they've already found me, and if I remain in contact with you they'll find you as well. Take the archival database, and see what you can piece together. Maybe if we discover what truly happened we can put an end to this madness once and for all. I'm counting on you. Don't cry for me, I don't fear death, but I fear what they'll do to me to get to you: there are far worse fates than death, after all.

Me being trans was a revelation for me. But I denied myself that fact for about 32 years... Idk, I never thought about it as a possible reality.
But after the thought 'I am trans' hit my mind about 2 months ago, my whole self perception turned around completely.... I even started dreaming about myself as a female (even with breasts and so on). The imagination of being a woman irl gives me euphoria, I want it so badly.
At the same point the dysphoria about my male body kicked in... The years before I perceived it just as recurring depressive thoughts without being able to name the reason for them.
Anyone else with similar experiences?

Me being trans was a revelation for me. But I denied myself that fact for about 32 years... Idk, I never thought about it as a possible reality.
But after the thought 'I am trans' hit my mind about 2 months ago, my whole self perception turned around completely.... I even started dreaming about myself as a female (even with breasts and so on). The imagination of being a woman irl gives me euphoria, I want it so badly.
At the same point the dysphoria about my male body kicked in... The years before I perceived it just as recurring depressive thoughts without being able to name the reason for them.
Anyone else with similar experiences?

Warning; Mentions in the first and eighth paragraph and conclusion of pedophilia and predation.
My Little Pony: Roleplay is Magic is a game on Roblox centered around My Little Pony. It was created November 11, 2012, and is arguably one of the better RP games for MLP on Roblox.
So, here's a um... Dumb little documentary about it!
The moderation team and staff, alongside some of the player base is a solid 4/10. I was surprised on how many pedophiles I caught on the game, and predation in general is rather common on the game as well. Very much to my dismay, I watched a 19 year old flirt with an 11 year old out of character, and the 19 y/o didn't seem to care about the fact he was flirting with a minor. This post goes more in depth about the pedophilia and corrupt moderation in the game, as I'd rather not repost something completely equal to another's post. As the post says, the main issue within the development team (Sun) was removed from the team.
The map is rather well-made, although not the best thing I've seen in the world. My only distaste for the map is the fact it doesn't feature the OLD changeling hive and the tree of harmony- Due to the fact Twilight's castle is an active place in the map. Although I believe that an "Old" version of the landmarks is past due, it would make the game much more enjoyable. The map is very clearly unfinished, lacking Manehattan, Dragon's lair, Los Pegasus, San palomino, and many more. However, it does have the main attractions of the MLP series, such as Ponyville, Canterlot, the Crystal Empire, Cloudsdale, Everfree forest, and the Wonderbolt Academy, opening up possibilities for some nice roleplays.
The pony. If you join the Roleplay is Magic group, you can create a custom pony! Yet, let's talk moreso about the build of the pony and the way your pony looks. The walking animation is barely an animation- You shuffle across the floor, and "Running" is just shuffling faster. "Holding" items is sticking them out into the distance, and there are eyes and face emotes available. On pegasi, the flapping animation is also rather rigid, resulting in an up and down jerking movement. The unicorn seems to be the least embarrassing pony of them all, having colored magic and a working teleport function. Unfortunately (Yet understandably) ponies like King Sombra, Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna do not have animated manes and tails.
On custom ponies, you can choose between male and female, multiple different species, pegasus, unicorn or earth pony (Alicorn not enabled on customs for obvious reasons) alongside shapes like bulky, skinny, elderly, etc. You can select an assortment of different manes, tails, eyes, markings, and accessories, alongside giving your pony's coat, eyes, mane and tail creative, different colors. This is also the case with accessories and markings, alongside one of the game's other gamepasses- Buddies. You can spawn a morph of yours in to spawn in a little buddy of yours who'll follow every movement you do! Not the most realistic thing in the world, but it works.
Canon ponies are sorted between free and VIP; VIP players can select any pony/pony variant with a purple background; Whereas people without the VIP gamepass cannot select anything aside from ponies with a blue background. The canon ponies look rather good, although some ponies lack certain details, and there's a lack of ponies that make the world of Equestria work (Such as Guard variants, which could be free to play.) I've noticed that very few ponies have animated assets, such as Celestia and Luna's hair sparkling, and sombra's purple smoke.
Now, the part we've all been waiting for- Or dreading, the Roleplay compartment of this game. Funnily enough, there's in insane lack of public roleplays, the game being (For the most part) a chatroom aside from some younger children roleplaying as the mane six. Despite this, I've witnessed a couple of roleplays, be it with original characters, that seemed genuinely interesting.
Now, this part. "Should my kid play this game?" No. Why? I don't believe any child under 13 should roleplay. I think roleplaying, especially at a very young age on a game where romance could possibly spark between characters (Such as roleplays as Shining Armor and Princess Cadence) could be potentially damaging. Even though the game seems harmless, people on the game might not be as harmless as the game itself. I believe there's an acute lack of moderation, and I've noticed that the moderators seem too interested in talking to players on the game than taking care of people who are actively breaking rules.
Although the game could be considered one of the better roleplay games on Roblox for MLP, I definitely wouldn't go as far as to say it's a 100% safe game for kids to play. Again, some predators tend to get on games for kids under the pretense they could find a potential victim. Although this is the case for all multiplayer games, MLP:RiM has an active past of it.
I say to anyone who knows better than to trust random people on the internet (AKA Not kids) the game is pretty decent, and it has a fairly straightforward customization feature. The roleplays are (usually) innocent, and players are usually accepting and kind.
TL;DR: Good game, but pedos are likely to target you if you're a kid

Blaze 3: Demonic Arc 5: Immortal Sins⁷
Last time. FATHER made plans with the Anti-Sapiens. He wanted to gather the Anti-Sapiens in one spot. FATHER would force jim to create an invention for Jillian which would make her fight her the others. Team Blaze were trying to get the others together. Sidney's group fought Takei and questioned was he an Anti-Sapien. The Anti-Sapiens have finally made it to Togyu Manji. FATHER was shown with a new Anti-Sapien. What will happen now? FATHER" I'm glad that you are here." Rampage" Pleasure doing business with you." FATHER" We are nearly there." Rampage" I sense some good spirit energy. Let me make a quick stop." FATHER" Make it quick." Rampage challenges some people.
Rampage" Who is next?" Geo appears and says" I guess I am now." Rampage thinks" That spirit energy. He's one of the strong ones. I can see it in his eyes." Geo struggles to keep up with his strikes. Geo" He's strong. Too strong. He surpassed my hand to hand. He's not ordinary(thoughts)."fight over. They finally make it to the others. Rampage" So these are the other Anti-Sapiens." FATHER begins to laugh. FATHER" It's about damn time. We are finally one. We will make the world suffer. Feel our wrath." Everyone laughs as well. Team Blaze are shown. Corroshi" Eyashi. What brings you guys here?"
Eyashi" We have actually discovered something. We've got word that the Anti-Sapiens are joining up. I believe it is going to be here." Corroshi" Why do you think that?" Fasha" Togyu Manji is a very large area. They probably want to takeover here. And besides, there's a lot of incidents that occur here anyways." Corroshi" Nice response." Zushi" We needed to round up everyone and warn them. We need everyone here. We need your help." Corroshi" You can count on me." Sez" Hey Corroshi?" Corroshi turns around and says" Do I know you?" Sez" It's me Sez. From the tournament." Corroshi" Oh yeah. I remember you not. You are the one who tried to cheat." Sez" That's me." Corroshi" So why did you come back?"
Sez" I heard you moved and wanted to know if you let you join your team?" Corroshi" Well of course you can. Welcome aboard!" Sez" Aw thanks." Geo and the others aren't there yet. Now everyone is together. Rischardo" Since we're up against Anti-Sapiens, I want everybody to know this. If any of you see Anti-Sapiens named Ira and Danly Indies, there my kids and I'll deal with them. Ira has red hair and Danly has orange hair." Everyone is training with each other. Julmbo" Hey Fasha." Fasha" Yes." Julmbo" Let me see your blade." She does. Julmbo" I see. There is something I need to teach you. Reincarnation." Fasha" Reincarnation?" Julmbo" It's the ability to fix broken Extension Blades."
He breaks his blade. Julmbo" Reincarnation!" The blade has fixed itself. Fasha" Wow that's going to take some time." Julmbo" Nonsense. With your skills you'll master it in no time." He continues to train Fasha. MaXx, Haden, and Sid are lifting weights. MaXx and Haden get into an altercation. MaXx's eyes turn black. MaXx" I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!!" MaXx' Dark Seal interrupts. He raises his blade towards Haden. Eyashi uses his speed and gets in between(has his hands out separating them)them and says" Brothers shouldn't fight! MaXx don't let darkness consume you." He snaps out of it. MaXx" You're right." Thank you." His eyes return. Keira Saja goes towards Sid and says" I want to be just like you, Fasha, Phil, and the others."
Sid" What do you mean Keira?" Keira" I wish I had powers so I could protect you guys and fight alongside you. If CJ could have power behind I could. I wanted to know if you would train me?" Sid" Ah yeah. Sure. First I need you to hit my fists." She does. Sid" Good but harder. " Phil and Fasha laughs(good laughs). Keira continues to work on her strikes. Cumi name change. Was supposed to sound like cute. New name. Cuimi(kwee-me). Cuemi(q-me). Cuimi(c-oo-me). New name is Cuemi. Cuemi has a vision. Cuemi" Wait! There are these people and there are shredded. We have to save them." Corroshi" Where are they?" They are headed out.
People are on the ground, all cut up. Domay" Who could have done this." Ishani" I think I am going to be sick." She almost throws up. They hear a knife sound cutting together. They go check it out. There's a man standing on dead bodies with his back turn. He turns around and has knives in his hands. Geo" It's him!" He charges and attacks. Eyon" You know this guy?" Geo" This guy was challenging people and he beat me. Hand to hand combat. He is not ordinary. I knew it was slomething about the guy." Rampage" Right you are." He shows off his Anti-Sapien symbol on the left shoulder. Eyashi" He's an Anti-Sapien?" Rampage" Terrified yet? You will be." He strains(screams)his body and shoots off quills(porcupine) towards the others.
People are screaming watch out. Wiggy puts her hair on(wig). The wig has a mind of its own. The wig attaches itself to the scalp. Long hair. The wig can walk Haira(Wiggy) around. Resembles Dr. Octopus. His tentacles are like her hair. The wig is Saiivo. Wig" It's about time you are using me. You must be in a bad situation." Wiggy" I don't need you to be talking. Just shut it." Wig" Whatever you say." Phil hears something. He sees something gooey. He begins to smirk. Phil" Genesis. I guess you're back. Well come on out." Wiggy appears and says" Expecting someone." As Phil gets closer, her hair grabs him from below. Phil" She did that with hair. She's pretty crafty." Her hair becomes gooey and she attacks Phil. Phil" She is an Anti-Sapien." Wiggy" right you are.
As Phil attacks Wiggy, his body goes through her. Phil" What are you? Your hair has to be made with....." Wiggy" That's right. Saiivo." Phil" I knew it." Genesis appears from the ground. Genesis" I was getting a little bored fighting you and all so it's time for a switch. I'll fight you guys." He goes after Sid, Fasha, and Eyashi. He multiplies himself and says" This ought to do it." Bugs are in the area. Strider" It's him!" The other Anti-Sapiens have arrived. Draum sees Wiggy's uniform. Draum" Hey hair lady?" Eyashi" Really? Hair lady." Draum" Shut up will ya. That uniform. You're with the Hydro Corps. What ties do you have with them? I used to be a member." Wiggy" As if I'd tell you." Draum" Figures." Bugs come from his hands(cut off off hand). Rischardo turns around Tijiri and punches him.
Rischardo" Hey there. We never finished our fight." Tijiri" Right you are." They fight. Tijiri" By the way I'm Black Hawk or Tijiri Akaru." Rischardo" (big grin)And I'm Rischardo Inies. The Demonic King. Does that intimidate you?" Tijiri" Not in the least. This will be great." Rischardo" Do you know any Anti-Sapiens named, Ira and Danly Inies? They are my kids." Tijiri" Never heard of them before." Jillian" There are all of these evil duers. Hahaha. Enough for me. Prepare. You'll be parrish." Sid" This feels weird for us to fight." Fasha" Yes it does." Location: Outside Eyashi's house. Genesis clones himself. Genesis" Now there's plenty of me to go around." Julmbo" Hey Takei! Over here!" Massk" You better not disappoint me this time." Julmbo" I won't." Julmbo and Tinn vs Massk. This Time he has help.
Strider and Spike vs Buzz. Spike uses earth boulders and traps him however, he escapes. He appears him and attacks. Strider does some combo attacks but his body keeps becomes bugs. Buzz's hand(cut off) becomes made of bugs. He claps his hands together and and his bugs get bigger. Spike hits it but it hurts his hand. Spike" What's that thing made of! It nearly broke my hand." Buzz chuckles. Strider launches a fireball but it is not phase it. Strider" What kind of a bug is that?" It spits out something. The attack hard just like it's body. Buzz" I know you can do better than that. With the 2 of you, you can do it." Spike" Strider!" Strider" What do you want?" Spike" When we fought him last time, we were able to get the upper hand because we were together and had him frozen."
Strider" I know what you mean. Hey julmbo and Tinn! We need you guys help!" Julmbo" We're in the middle of a fight." Tinn" Well it does seem like it's important." Julmbo" Fine we on the way." Ending. Julmbo manages to freeze Buzz" Massk tries to stop it but Tinn hold him off. Strider delivers a fiery uppercut and he breaks. Strider" It's over." The others are happy. Suddenly, a sworn of bugs appears and Buzz has returned. Body made of bugs. Mouth has a burnt spot. Buzz" It's going to take a lot longer than that to put me down." Julmbo tries to freeze him again but he goes through it. Julmbo turns his attention to Massk. This time he seems impossible to take out. Ending. Buzz chokes both of them. Strider" There doesn't seem like a way out of this one." Massk takes a look around him. He begins to snap.
Massk" No. Not this place." Strider and Spike look at each other. He is not fighting. Spike" His body is visible again(no bugs). This is our chance." Strider" Right!" Spike uses earth materials and holds his arms. Strider" Goodbye Jakob!" He charges and punches him with a fiery fist. He hits him in his guts. He is dead officially. Wiggy" My brother is dead. Should have saw it coming. He always had issues." Phil" That guy is your brother?" Wiggy" Yes." Wig" You don't stand a chance kid." Phil" Who's that? " Wiggy" It's just my wig." Phil" Wig!" The wig forms a hand and waves. Wig" Hey there." Phil" Wow that's impressive." Wiggy shoots a dark attack on Phil. He eats it away. Wiggy" Impossible! He ate the attack!" Phil" I forgot to mention that I have a Saiivo as well." Wiggy" Preposterous! Another Saiivo user." Phil" That's right."
Wiggy's story with her brothers and her wig is shown. Many years ago. Haira(hair-ah) and Jakob always wanted a pet when they were little but didn't have enough money. Eventually they would get lucky to have enough money. The 1st pet was a dog. The dog would bite Jakob and he snapped the dogs neck. Jakob was always rough with toys. Jakob didn't know how to get along with others. Prefered to play by himself. When their brother was born, Jakob would hold him incorrectly. Wodu Akali. Their mother would correct him. One day he ended up strangling Wodu. Haira had to put an end to it. Their mother and father saw that Jakob was a threat. He needs to go. His parents are shown crawling away and begging for help. He tries to kill them and does. Jakob is then locked up in a special prison.
Jakob is a psychopath and manages to kill the guards(years lateadult). Bugs would appear from their corps. FATHER'S voice would be heard , telling him to touch the bugs. He does. Bugs begins to course through his veins. He'd then escapes. His powers then grew at a phenomenal rate. He would meet Heather who was the love of his life. What Jakob did not bring up, was that Heather had mental issues and was unstabled. Just like him. Regardless of her issues, he ignored it and treated her like a regular person. Perfect for each other. People had there eyes on her and wanted her dead. She was causing trouble. Heather was set up and killed. Burned at her home. Jakob goes in to save her but his mouth gut burned but. He didn't save her. Afterwards, he'd see another person who looked exactly like his Heather. Harper. While Jakob was locked up, Haira would get different pets. However they ran away.
FATHER's voice is heard. She is an Anti-Sapiens. She wanted to know if she is truly immortal. FATHER told her about what the Spirit World did. She jumped off a steep cliff. When she opened her eyes, she woke up in bed(when an immortal jumps off a cliff, they can't die/even the Royal Family or just the God and Goddess). She had survived. FATHER tells her about a pet that will be very useful to her. She sees hair but it begins to move. It took her awhile to catch it but finally does. It talks and is Saiivo. The wig explains the hair to her. The Wig crawls on her head and attaches itself to her scalp. From that day on, she can use the Wig to do what she wants. Just like a pet. Story over.
Phil" Wo. What a story." Wiggy's hair stretches and grab Phil with multiple hands(hair). Phil is being held up by the hair while Wiggy attacks. Wiggy uses hand signs. Multiple hair strings appears. Phil uses fireball but the Wig eats it. Wig" Um. Tasty!" Phil" She ate it!?" Phil uses earth style but the same thing happens. Phil" Eat this!" He uses Tinsibugadai. Wig detaches itself from Wiggy and jumps up. Wiggy was almost cut up. Wiggy" That was close!p
Arc Notes- Spirit Cuffs. Wind Slice Attack. Sid spit lightning attack works with fire (combine together) FATHER. Light Power heal chair. Rade plant lady. Geo likes to eat but Yolmmo eats more. Rade uses Genesis to get information without having to leave his spot. He tells to Eyashi Arc 6. Rade apple. Draum takes Hydro Corps with Justice Drivers. Keina Kiyoshi 7. Last time on opening Arc 6. Arc 7 lots of demons. Sez Unemori gadget style. Sakura Hurata Arc 5. Korin Kore. 11th grade. Soothsayer short witch attire. Go to school together. Gru boxing style. Sid, Phil and Fasha back to back. Nara Haseku. Frogg Kikio 4. How to do Fire Morph. Archer. Wind Swallow. Shadow Spea Sabitist Lemaru pike. Blaze rich. Call me Darkness. Tijiri Akaru. Ball shape. Anti-Sapien Hydro Corps. Reincarnation. Massk story. Talk about mask. Body weapon/ absorb/keep power. Absorb blades. Sid and Phil extend fists before the fight. Sidney lots of Anti-Sapiens appearing frequently. Jim dies but will be blame on Team Blaze. Lady Lightning puts Haden to sleep. To spark or not to spark. Jakob Akali. Draum stronger than the demons. Danly I am a demon. Ignoramus. Genesis. Anti-Sapiens need to be stopped. Sydney Fire Morph. Color of mist. Keira Umo 12th grade. Arrows shoot Tijiri. Mountain. Kill guards. Blade Eater. Draum he used a kikio. Geronimo. Sakura Justice Drivers. Anti-Sapien animal powers.
Sidney's group. Tiger(female)=Donta. Bear=Yoshatora(fat). Gorilla=Jasin(stuck in form/good archer).
Mind Controller- Dwells into the person's mind and uses their memories against them. Making the mind attack it's owner.
Team Earth: Corroshi Setse(all styles/fire fav)(master), Geo Kazy(Dragon style/Jeet Kune Do), Eyon Yoshi(Lightning/fire), Yolmmo Usay(wateice) Domay Usay(wind), Korr Yoshi, Kunesuke Atara(glasses/reads/black/lady's man), Su Lin(Eyon's girlfriend/Chinese/not black), Ishani Sharma(Indian skin/not black/turban/Yolmmo's)
Hydro Corps: Sodum Hydro(leader), Coracoona/Charzie Anderson(not black), Dornymious(door-nee-me-us)Ryeno or Rhyno(Rhino/not black/charges), Shune Tuche(to-shay/special suit and mask/great hunter)
Areas- Tohoku Japan(setting/West Japan), Togyu Manji(Sid's home), Conithio Town, Kurai (dark) Haitsu(heights), Renyu Haito, Shiawasena Michi(happy road), Hausada, Heteritoke Town, Kibakoru(near a bakery), Ryusoka (ree-u-so-kah)Tofa,(small town), Zuloko Ikiki(large area), Uketa(oo-kee-tah) Sada(near a graveyard area), Sushun(Soul Snatcher's headquarters), Osaka Japan(western Japan)(Team Earth's original home), Kanta Japan(eastern Japan), Burakkubēsu(means black base)/(Black Widow's hideout),
Greater Demons-Balaam and Dracula
Notes-Mirror asylum. Plache appears arc 6. Rade is a scientist. Wants Kikia to give up her organization. He uses a dark gass it turns people into demons. Erika, Keira Umo, Eyashi, Zushi, and others become demons put into a facility. Must find antidote. Rade has all the demons power Who died. Haden arm becomes demon like but hasn't turned yet. Kikia will stick him with a syringe. Demon form wears off. Arc 6. Haden and MaXx can't win. demon souls. Airball- can be small or large/chargeable. Eyashi- Wind of the Dragon Punch. Charge fist thpen strike the enemy/enemies. Late effect. Final blow will feel like a combination of all the punches in one. Maybe Phil. Dead Beat- idea demon/creature. Strider punches mountain/Gru move mountain. Camme punches Sid untie hair. Huff and puff(wind style).
Lightning Beam (Death Beam). Eyashi got 3 main bosses to like him. Absorb moves/spirt energy. Thunder Strike/plow. Rischardo Underworld fighting scene. Dragon Breath. Heat Vision. Hot as Hell move. Double jump. Liba Tezu. Kiko glasses. We're twins..cousins Fasha. That arm. You're a Soul Killer. You have the red flpower. It's you. Punch/ uppercut Thunder Rider. MaXx grabs it and throws it back. Saundra asks for Sid's name. She tells Ryu. He appears and sees Sid.
Charging fist Sid and Phil. Regular male student too many female characters. Genesis. Rade uses rings to cuff bodyl/Freak Ring Circus/Spirit Ring Cuff. Dragon Flare origin during Bosch's story. Burning Impalememet Sid. Surfing Ice Blade works with other elements. Sid used first with Reaper Sajettus then Fasha with Rudiaslaudia and Sakura used. 1st Lt Alex Mohoto. The Hydro Corps. Eyon vs Tairon was controlled. Fēng's blade Dragon Heart. Dark Matter. Haden purple lightning. When Danly dies, Rischardo will be shown/ Flashbacks shown/will say his son's name. Velencya bird. Corri Howbori. Sid lightning style against Blaze. Lightning Slash. Spirit energy. Rischardo trains Sid. Underwater. Keira says I want to be like you sid train her. Destruction/Destructional Saucer(disk) Domay. Hall of the Gods. Gods on left and Goddesses on right. Gods of Time. Rischardo warns his Greater Demons. Rischardo runs into them later Arc last straw. Camme can't fly. Lightning and wind Morph speed. Mandi glasses Blaze IV likes Spike in Blaze 3.
Ra-Ibo and Kungaru power greater than God of Spirit world and demonic king

I have been playing this game since release day and I have all the information you’re going to need to have a PERFECT orc army. I have SEVERE OCD so this may be a bit overboard but going forward after reading this post these are the laws and tenants for recruitment

1. No traits that cause terror. If your orc is terrified their health drops to 1 in the pits and die instantly. Or if this is online you just lose a defender for 0 reason.
   
2. Legendary rank does not mean your orc is good. Often I find people recruiting orcs with MANY weaknesses and keeping them because they “look cool” or “they’re legendary so they MUST be good” No! Weaknesses are not good!
   

3: No “heavily damaged by” or “dazed by” traits. Being stunned or heavily damaged makes your orc easy pickings.
4:Immunities: There are 4 immunities for an orc that are mandatory. Fire proof, Frost proof, Poison proof, and arrow proof. Ologs do not need arrow proof and I’ll explain why later. Fire causes orcs to run around in circles helplessly until it goes out or they’re killed. poison causes them to vomit and hunch over leaving them vulnerable. Frost freezes them. leaving them vulnerable. Arrow proof is important because if you don’t have it players will shadow strike pull your orcs on the top of buildings to remove them from the fight entirely during a siege. Ologs don’t need arrow proof unless you really are a perfectionist. Arrow proof only stops arrows from harming the olog and it makes them immune to shadow strike which already does nearly no damage to begin with. But keep in mind arrow proof does NOT stop your olog from behind knocked back or stunned by hammer ranged weapons. without arrow proof it just makes it a little easier to crowd control Ologs.

1. Enrages: Enrages aren’t really needed to make or break an orc. They add to what makes them strong. A common mistake players will make is making an entirely berserker fortress based on the idea “More enrages means success” when in reality, your orcs end up attacking each other and kill each other during the siege defense. Do not place berserkers together unless they are the defender class. because they will block all attacks made upon one another because of the 100% frontal block with the shield. To tie in with #4, Enrages can be used to supplement missing immunities. For example. if your orc doesn’t have fire proof? But he has enraged by fire? Instead of running in circles he will be enflamed but continue fighting. Which also means if he’s on fire he won’t stop being enraged which tends to happen more than you think. Keep in mind I said missing an immunity. Don’t use an orc with “flammable” as a weakness trait then assume enraged by fire will save them (it will not. They will just burn up and die.)

6: Undead orcs: Simply, do not revive orcs and use them. They become automatically heavily damaged by flame. Yes, I understand the black armor and glowing green eyes may be cool but the developers made sure they are never viable. Please for the love of god do not use undead orcs.

1. Bugs, Glitches, Exploits: Since the final update to the game that added the Nazgûl masks and additional chest armor the game has gotten INCREDIBLY wonky. Falling through floors, orcs being terrified (despite having no fears or weaknesses) Orcs being DISARMED during online sieges so they literally can’t fight at all is commonplace. There are bugs and glitches that can be abused to further your gameplay and I’ve got the ultimate one coming up

8: Overlord cheese: During an update, Overlords were given the option to have two bodyguards. Typically, players will pick either two marksmen with the “merciless” title that guarantees the “No chance” trait with a cursed bow to make it incredibly frustrating to win. But a problem with that is you have no commander. If you ever make a fort and have no commander to defend the overlord? You might as well turn the game off now. Because it is mandatory. You will need two things. The trait that causes more orcs to be terrorized when you brutalize an orc and secondly the trait that fears nearby orcs when you pin their foot to the floor with an arrow or a hammer. Fearing the grunts allows your to brutalize them in the overlord room (which isn’t supposed to be possible. Yes this is an exploit.) once you brutalize them and fill your might meter, use both bars to revive dead orcs. This also fears more grunts to brutalize later. Finally, once your wraith meter is full go up to the overlord, wraith stun—->trip——>GLAIVE spam their body as they lie on the floor. The damage is guaranteed to do either fatal damage OR leave them just over half health. The brutalizing of orcs ALSO does fears the overlord’s body guards regardless of terror or fear traits. It is a bug. The fearing method does NOT work if a commander is present. The enraging flags they put down cancel fear effects. Berserkers with no fear or terror traits also ignore fearing tactics. As they typically will enrage before the fear can kick in or they just don’t react at all. But all other subclasses are vulnerable to this exploit.

1. Orc classes: Do not use archers. They are typically very frail and defenseless to all melee fighters, They were nerfed mid way through the games life cycle. Quick shot no longer is as fast as it should be making archers essentially useless even as marksmen. Do not use Hunters. They have the same problem. Once in melee range they will lose. Warriors are okay but are the weakest of the melee choices. Savages are good. They attack fast and typically are very aggressive which is great for sieges (however this makes them the most likely to kill their own team mates if they’re berserkers. Be careful.) Defenders are by far the best option. During the games life cycle defenders were given a “nerf” due to how powerful they were and archers were being completely outshined by them. Ologs are kinda strange, they sometimes beat defenders or sometimes they lose to archers but most of the time their success is inconsistent. They’re really only meat shields for your team.

10: Sub classes: Trackers:Terrible, they throw traps constantly but enraged orcs just pull their foot out and keep fighting
Berserker:Excellent. The most powerful sub class for an orc to have. Usually 4-7 enrages on orcs with this sub class and they heal when doing damage. They’re beyond overpowered and very difficult to stop. (Also difficult to recruit as they never break while enraged, until.. they do.. when the game bugs. When too many orcs are on the screen at once enraged berserkers will become broken and you can just dominate them. Pretty rare this happens though.)
Commanders: Do not use these in the pits. They cannot summon flags or resummon their gang. Not that you should be doing pit fights anymore anyway but I digress. Commanders are mostly meant for overlord defense. They stop the fear method I spoke about earlier. And also they make it hard to get to the overlord.
Tank: Lots of health, Can be great for siege attacking. However, tanks are the MOST susceptible to fear as they typical run after the 3rd or forth “raise undead” cast. So keep that in mind if you plan on using them as overlord or as a bodyguard for the overlord.
Marksman: Do not use this class.
Beast master: Because of the fact “beast slayer” is a trait in this game, this class is unfortunately completely unusable. Summoning a graug means little if it is instantly killed by any captain it approaches with beast slayer. The graug or caragor is forced into a death animation and even if the captain killing them is interrupted they still die.
Assassin: Very dangerous class to deal with. They also come with the “no chance” trait but they have very little health. Another good thing about them is the “epic throwing knives” trait. Combining this with great strength pretty much guarantees a player not stacking life gems on all their items is going to be killed in one shot.
Destroyer: Useless class, they throw elemental bombs that are intended to hurt a target and it only really does damage if they have the element as a weakness otherwise they will just ignore the bomb and keep fighting. Ideally, if you get a destroyer orc that follows the laws I’ve stated, Make sure they don’t have curse fire or poison on their weapon. When they have a normal weapon their bombs will stun any target they hit. Making them MUCH more lethal.
Slayer: Really only an annoyance for the player character, the triple strike only functions in the pits or when the player gets close. The slayer counter only functions against the player character and typically, a good player will execute slayer orcs from behind anyway so it means nothing. Even if you are caught in the slayer counter it cannot down you, it only lowers your health. I would steer clear of this class as well.

Respect Gohan

"...Ok, so you don't like to fight. But what's this nonsense about not wanting to kill me? You couldn't kill me in a hundred years! Am I wrong?"
"I'm beginning to get it now...why dad said only I could defeat you. Ever since I was little... when I get mad, I lose control and go berserk. I think...that's what dad's counting on..."

♫Tamashii Vs Tamashii/♫Great Saiyaman/♫ Gohan's Anger/♫Climax
The son of Goku and Chichi, Gohan was born in a time of peace after the defeat of Piccolo Jr. Unlike his father Gohan doesn't enjoy fighting, instead wishing to become a great scholar. Gohan's life would be forever changed when his uncle Raditz arrived on Earth, told Goku and Gohan they were actually members of a bloodthirsty alien race called saiyans, and kidnapped Gohan. Goku set out to rescue him, accompanied by Piccolo, though they found themselves no match for Raditz until Gohan got mad and unleashed his hidden strength on him. This gave Piccolo the opening he needed to kill Raditz, with his attack also killing Goku in the process. Then Piccolo kidnapped Gohan and trained him to prepare for the arrival of two more saiyans in a year. He battled the pair along with the rest of the Z Fighters (though not without heavy casualties), landing the final blow against Vegeta after transforming into a Great Ape.
Gohan would spend the rest of his childhood battling evil alongside the Z Fighters, most notably the bio-android Cell. Pushed to his mental and physical limits against the villain, Gohan snapped and transformed into a Super Saiyan 2. His newfound power allowed him to easily overpower Cell, and after accidentally causing his father's death when too overconfident, he finally killed him with a gigantic Kamehameha.
Eventually Gohan met a girl named Videl and the two got married, with their daughter Pan born soon afterwards. He also retired from martial arts, believing the newfound peace would last.
This wouldn't be the end of Gohan's time fighting though, with new threats like the resurrected Frieza, the world-devouring galactic criminal Moro, and a multiversal tournament to decide which universe lived or died convincing him that he needed to begin training again (though he does still forget to from time to time).
Source key
Manga

• Dragon Ball Z chapter # - DBZ#
• Dragon Ball Super chapter # - DBS#
• Dragon Ball: Revival of F - RoF(manga) #

Movies/Specials

• Yo! Son Goku and his Friends Return - YSG&HF
• Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection "F" - RoF(movie)

Hover over a feat for the chapter number. All feats are marked with their saga of origin.
Notes

• Feats in bold are when Gohan is angry, heavily boosting his power^{Saiyan Saga}
• In DBZ chapter 77 Gohan had his potential unlocked by the Grand Elder of Namek, giving him a large power increase.

Scaling

Kid Gohan/Teen Gohan

"I'm...the son...of Son Goku...the warrior... I won't... I won't... let you... beat me!!"

Strength

Lifting

• Flew while carrying an unconscious Piccolo when he had barely any energy^{Frieza Saga}
• Flew while carrying Bulma^{Frieza Saga}
• Pulled Yajirobe out of the water^{Cell Saga}
• Flew while carrying Bulma, baby Trunks and Yajirobe^{Cell Saga}

Striking

• Headbutt Raditz hard enough to crack his armor and wound him^{Saiyan Saga}
• Cut a slice off a dinosaur's tail with a sword^{Saiyan Saga}
• Kicked Nappa into a mesa, shattering it^{Saiyan Saga}
• Sent Vegeta flying back with a kick^{Saiyan Saga}
• Briefly traded blows with an exhausted Vegeta before getting overpowered^{Saiyan Saga}
• One-shot a Frieza Force grunt^{Frieza Saga}
• Kicked Dodoria through a wall^{Frieza Saga}
• Either he or Krillin kicked Ginyu-Goku into Frieza's ship hard enough to dent it^{Frieza Saga}
• Pummelled Second Form Frieza and kicked him through the air^{Frieza Saga}
• Made Android 20 let go of Piccolo by bashing him in the head^{Cell Saga}
• [SSJ] Knocked Cell on his ass with a kick^{Cell Saga}
• [SSJ2] Splattered a Cell Jr's head with one hit^{Cell Saga}
• [SSJ2] Did the same to 4 more Cell Jrs and split another in half with a kick^{Cell Saga}
• [SSJ2] Obliterated a Cell Jr's torso with a swing^{Cell Saga}
• [SSJ2] Winded Cell with a gutpunch and sent him reeling with an uppercut^{Cell Saga}
• [SSJ2] Sent Cell flying back with a kick^{Cell Saga}
• [SSJ2] Kicked Max-Power Cell in the head hard enough to dent it and make him puke up Android 18^{Cell Saga}
• [SSJ2] Made cracks by hitting the ground^{Cell Saga}

Other

• Burst out of Raditz's pod^{Saiyan Saga}
• Leapt on top of a giant butte^{Saiyan Saga}
• Blocked Ginyu-Goku's punches^{Frieza Saga}
• [SSJ] Was able to stand still when Goku used his power to kick up strong winds next to him^{Cell Saga} [SSJ2] Grabbed a bag out of Cell's hand^{Cell Saga}
• [SSJ2] Blocked Cell's kick^{Cell Saga}

Durability

Blunt

• After his power dropped to 1 Raditz knocked him out with one hit^{Saiyan Saga}
• Got back up after Nappa kicked him off the ground and smacked him into a mesa hard enough to break small rocks off it^{Saiyan Saga}
• Floored by a punch to the gut from Vegeta^{Saiyan Saga}
• Still conscious (though barely) after Vegeta headbutt him^{Saiyan Saga}
• Refused to stay down when Vegeta kept kicking him back^{Saiyan Saga}
• Only needed 3 days in the hospital to recover from his fight with Vegeta^{Saiyan Saga}
• Floored by a knee to the gut from Vegeta^{Frieza Saga}
• Sent flying back by Recoome^{Frieza Saga}
• Chopped out of the air by Recoome^{Frieza Saga}
• Got back up after Recoome hit him into the ground^{Frieza Saga}
• [Limit] Recoome broke his neck with a kick^{Frieza Saga}
• Smacked out of the air by Second Form Frieza^{Frieza Saga}
• Second Form Frieza grabbed him by the hair, kneed him in the ribs and kicked him^{Frieza Saga}
• Got back up after Second Form Frieza tail smacked him into the ground^{Frieza Saga}
• [Limit] Second Form Frieza almost crushed his head under his foot before Krillin saved him^{Frieza Saga}
• [SSJ] Only a little bloody after Cell pummeled him and kiaid him through a plateau hard enough to destroy it^{Cell Saga}
• [SSJ] Mercilessly pummeled by Cell^{Cell Saga}
• [SSJ] [Limit] Almost crushed by Cell's bearhug^{Cell Saga}
• [SSJ] Kicked away by Cell^{Cell Saga}
• [SSJ2] No-sold Cell punching him in the face^{Cell Saga}

Ki attacks

• Floored by Piccolo's Evil Eyes^{Saiyan Saga}
• Still conscious after getting launched into a rock by Vegeta's Technique™^{Saiyan Saga}
• Survived Vegeta's Super Explosive Wave, though he was knocked out^{Saiyan Saga}
• Tanked Ginyu-Goku's ki blast^{Frieza Saga}
• [SSJ2] Shielded Vegeta from Super Perfect Cell's blast, though his arm was broken in the process^{Cell Saga}

Other

• Was able to spend a year in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber^{Cell Saga}
  • The Time Chamber has 10 times Earth's gravity, 3/4th the air pressure, and temperatures that range from -40 to 120 degrees^{Cell Saga}

Speed

Flight

• Briefly flew away from Dodoria, though he would have caught up eventually^{Frieza Saga}
• Managed to escape Dodoria blowing up the island he was on^{Frieza Saga}
• Flew to Guru's house in a few days while heavily suppressing his ki, then quickly reached it when using his full power^{Frieza Saga}
  • Guru's house was a 30 day walk away^{Frieza Saga}
• Saved Vegeta from Recoome's Eraser Gun^{Frieza Saga}
• Escaped Frieza blowing up the island they were on^{Frieza Saga}
• Saved Bulma from a falling rock^{Frieza Saga}
• [SSJ2] Easily caught up to a Cell Jr^{Cell Saga}
• [SSJ2] Was able to shield Vegeta from Super Perfect Cell's blast^{Cell Saga}

Agility

• Briefly outran a dinosaur before tripping^{Saiyan Saga}
  • After living in the wilderness for 6 months he was able to easily outrun it^{Saiyan Saga}
• Leapt across islands while heavily suppressing his power^{Frieza Saga}

Combat

• Flash stepped behind Vegeta^{Saiyan Saga}
• Almost caught Guldo repeatedly when he was about to stop time^{Frieza Saga}

Dodging

• Dodged a blast from Vegeta^{Saiyan Saga}
• Dodged Vegeta's Technique™ for a while before getting hit^{Saiyan Saga}
• Dodged a tree Guldo threw at him at the last second^{Frieza Saga}
• Dodged his own redirected blast^{Frieza Saga}
• Avoided a barrage of ki blasts from Recoome^{Frieza Saga}
• Ducked under Ginyu-Goku's kick^{Frieza Saga}
• [SSJ] Blocked and dodged Cell's hits, though he got caught when Cell used his full speed^{Cell Saga}
• [SSJ] Leapt over Cell's punch^{Cell Saga}
• [SSJ] Dodged Cell's barrage of Death Beams^{Cell Saga}
• [SSJ2] Ducked under Cell's swipe^{Cell Saga}
• [SSJ2] Effortlessly dodged Max-Power Cell's hits^{Cell Saga}

Ki

General

• Can give ki to others, giving Piccolo most of his remaining ki^{Frieza Saga}
• Ki users have improved eyesight, with the Z Fighters being able to watch a fight that was too far away for Bulma to see

Power

• Power level 710^{Saiyan Saga}
• Power level 1307^{Saiyan Saga}
• Power level 1500^{Frieza Saga}
• When Guru unlocked his potential Vegeta mistook his ki for Goku's^{Frieza Saga}
• [SSJ] Was far stronger than Goku during the Cell Games, thinking his father was just holding back during his fight^{Cell Saga}
• [SSJ] Sent debris flying by powering up^{Cell Saga}

Power supression

• Lowered his power to bait some Frieza Force grunts into lowering their guard^{Frieza Saga}
• Hid from Vegeta^{Frieza Saga}
• Hid from Vegeta again^{Frieza Saga}

Sensing

• Sensed Vegeta and Nappa arriving on Earth^{Saiyan Saga}
• Sensed Goku approaching^{Saiyan Saga}
• Sensed Frieza as he flew by^{Frieza Saga}
• Sensed the Ginyu Force^{Frieza Saga}
• Could immediately tell where Guldo went every time he stopped time^{Frieza Saga}
• Sensed that Goku had successfully swapped back bodies with Ginyu^{Frieza Saga}

Blasts

• Obliterated a butte and dug a long trench^{Saiyan Saga}
• Lit a fire^{Saiyan Saga}
• Fired one at Second Form Frieza, making a massive explosion, before hitting him with a barrage that blew up an island and hurt him a little^{Frieza Saga}
• Fired a full-power blast at Third Form Frieza, slowly pushing him towards the ground, though he was able to deflect it^{Frieza Saga}
• Annoyed Final Form Frieza^{Frieza Saga}

Masenko

• Used all his remaining energy to fire one with a power level of 2800 at Nappa, though all it did was sting his hand^{Saiyan Saga}
  • The Special Beam Cannon that killed Raditz had a power level of 1,330^{Saiyan Saga}

Kamehameha

• [SSJ2] Easily overpowered Cell's planet-busting Kamehameha in a clash and vaporized most of his limbs^{Cell Saga}
• [SSJ2] With one arm he was able to match Super Perfect Cell's Kamehameha in a clash that shook the Earth, winning by unleashing his full power when Vegeta distracted Cell, killing Cell in the process^{Cell Saga}

Adult Gohan

"Are you really gonna fight me?"
"Fight you? No, I'm gonna kill you."

Bio

Strength

Lifting

• [SSJ] Pulled the Z Sword out of its pedestal^{Buu Saga}
• After one day of training he was able to easily wield the Z Sword^{Buu Saga}
  • The Z Sword is extremely heavy^{Buu Saga}
• [Ultimate] [Limit] He, Piccolo, Jaco, Android 17 and Android 18 couldn't stop Saganbo's advance^{Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga}
• Initially struggled when Piccolo gave him weighted clothes, though he was fine after getting used to them^{Super Hero Saga}
• Lifted a chunk of debris off of himself with one arm^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Ultimate] Pulled Gamma 2 back while he was ramming Piccolo^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Beast] Effortlessly pushed Cell Max's fist back with one hand^{Super Hero Saga}

Striking

• [SSJ] Beat the shit out of some bank robbers^{Buu Saga}
• Broke concrete by stomping^{Buu Saga}
• Chopped a gun out of a man's hands^{Buu Saga}
• KOd a man by bonking him on the head^{Buu Saga}
• [SSJ2] Sent Dabura flying back with a kick^{Buu Saga}
• [SSJ2] Kicked Fat Buu back^{Buu Saga}
• Broke the Z Sword on a block of katchin^{Buu Saga}
• [Ultimate] Sent Super Buu reeling with a punch and kick to the head^{Buu Saga}
• [Ultimate] Kicked Super Buu in the face and punched him in the gut^{Buu Saga}
• [Ultimate] Kicked Super Buu into the air and smashed him back to the ground^{Buu Saga}
• [Ultimate] [Limit] Buutenks effortlessly caught his hits^{Buu Saga}
• One-shot groups of Frieza Force soldiers^RoF(movie)
• [SSJ] One-shot Shisami^RoF(movie)
  • Manga version^{RoF(manga) #3}
• [Ultimate] Kicked Rozel hard enough to make them let go of Piccolo^{Universal Survival Saga}
• [Ultimate] Slapped Kefla's blast away^{Universal Survival Saga}
• [Ultimate] Kicked Kefla back from an awkward position^{Universal Survival Saga}
• [Ultimate] Knocked Kefla off the Tournament of Power arena in a mutual KO^{Universal Survival Saga}
• [Ultimate] Punched 7-3 in the chest hard enough for his fist to bulge out his back and tear a hole in his jumpsuit^{Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga}
• [Ultimate] Staggered giant 7-3 with a kick^{Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga}
• [Ultimate] Knocked giant 7-3 down with a flying kick
• [Ultimate] Punched 7-3 into a lake, making a huge splash^{Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga}
• [Ultimate] [Limit] Did absolutely nothing to Moro 7-3
• Flicked a gun out of a man's hand^{Super Hero Saga}
• Crushed a gun under his foot^{Super Hero Saga}
• Flew through a ship's window and landed with enough force to launch water and multiple people into the air^{Super Hero Saga}
• Floored Gamma 1 with a kick^{Super Hero Saga}
• [SSJ] Broke chunks of debris off a hole by flying out^{Super Hero Saga}
• [SSJ] Deflected Gamma 1's charged blast^{Super Hero Saga}
  • [Ultimate] And again^{Super Hero Saga}
• [SSJ] Traded blows with Gamma 1^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Ultimate] Stung Gamma 1's hand when he blocked his punch^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Ultimate] Pummeled Gamma 1 and kicked him into the ground, cracking it^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Ultimate] Kicked Gamma 1 out of the air^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Ultimate] Battered Gamma 1 and kicked him into a building^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Ultimate] Charged at Gamma 1 and punched him in the face, sending him flying across the Red Ribbon Army's base^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Ultimate] Sent Gamma 1 flying back with a headbutt^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Ultimate] Floored Cell Max with a flying uppercut^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Beast] Kicked Cell Max in the chest, sending him flying through a building and into a rock wall^{Super Hero Saga}
• Deflected bullets with one finger^{Super Hero Saga}
• [SSJ] Knocked SSJ Trunks back with a swinging kick and SSJ Goten with a punch^{Super Hero Saga}
• [SSJ] Traded blows with SSJ Trunks^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Ultimate] Kicked Fat Gotenks into Beerus' giant tree, making a huge dust cloud^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Beast] Made shockwaves across Beerus' planet that sent people and cars flying, shook trees and lakes, and dug massive craters by trading blows with MUI Goku^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Beast] Kicked MUI Goku through a mesa and a forest^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Beast] Punched the ground, sending a shockwave through it that blew up a plateau^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Beast] Made explosions with the air pressure from his punches^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Beast] Punched MUI Goku in the chest and kicked him across Beerus' planet, knocking him back to base form^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Beast] Sent base Broly flying back with a punch before pummeling him^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Beast] Traded blows with SSJ Broly^{Super Hero Saga}

Blocking

• Blocked an attack from 3 Frieza Force soldiers at once^RoF(movie)
• [SSJ] Blocked Goten and Trunks' hits in their base forms and as SSJs^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Ultimate] Blocked base Broly's punches^{Super Hero Saga}

Throwing

• Floored a teenager by gently throwing a baseball at him^{Buu Saga}
• [SSJ] Flipped over Trunks' kick while grappling with him and threw him away^{Super Hero Saga}
• [SSJ] Caught SSJ Goten's kick and threw him away^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Beast] Threw SSJ Broly at Beerus' giant tree, snapping it in half^{Super Hero Saga}

Grip

• Crushed a pistol^{Buu Saga}
• [SSJ2] Caught Dabura's sword in his hands and twisted it in half^{Buu Saga}
• Crushed a wooden window frame^{Super Hero Saga}

Jumping

• Jumped 8 metres high^{Buu Saga}
• Leapt up 5 storeys^{Buu Saga}
• [Ultimate] Jumped high enough to kick a flying enemy^{Universal Survival Saga}
• [SSJ] Jumped over Goten and Trunks' Double Hurricane^{Super Hero Saga}

Other

• [Ultimate] Flexed out of Buutenks' Galactic Donuts chain^{Buu Saga}
• [Ultimate] Held Gamma 1's mouth open when he tried to bite him^{Super Hero Saga}

Durability

Blunt

• No-sold a fastball to the face^{Buu Saga}
• [SSJ2] Slapped out of the air and through some boulders by Fat Buu^{Buu Saga}
• [Ultimate] Sent flying by a punch from Buutenks^{Buu Saga}
• [Ultimate] Kicked into the air by Buutenks^{Buu Saga}
• [Ultimate] Elbowed deep underground by Buutenks^{Buu Saga}
• [Ultimate] Pummeled by Buutenks off-panel^{Buu Saga}
• [Ultimate] Kiaid through some rocks by Buutenks^{Buu Saga}
• [SSJ] [Limit] First Form Frieza stopped his heart with one punch^RoF(movie)
• [Ultimate] Fine after getting sent flying back by Lavender^{Universal Survival Saga}
• [Ultimate] Fine after Kefla cratered him into the Tournament of Power arena^{Universal Survival Saga}
• [Ultimate] Knocked off the Tournament of Power arena by Kefla in a mutual KO^{Universal Survival Saga}
• Pummeled by Yunba after his ki was drained^{Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga}
• [Ultimate] Cratered into the ground face-first by Saganbo^{Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga}
• [Ultimate] Recovered in mid-air after Saganbo sent him flying^{Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga}
• [Ultimate] Floored by a punch from Saganbo^{Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga}
• [Ultimate] Kicked into the air by Moro 7-3^{Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga}
• [Ultimate] [Limit] One-shot by Moro 7-3^{Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga}
• Winded by a gutpunch from Piccolo^{Super Hero Saga}
• Fine after Gamma 2 kicked him out of the air^{Super Hero Saga}
• Blocked Gamma 1's punches^{Super Hero Saga}
• Pummeled by Gamma 1, taking a headbutt and a slam before getting kicked hard enough to crater and burst through the ground^{Super Hero Saga}
• Fine after Gamma 1 kicked him at a pillar^{Super Hero Saga}
• [SSJ] Slammed face-first into and dragged through the ground by Gamma 1^{Super Hero Saga}
• [SSJ] Thrown into the air and kicked underground by Gamma 1^{Super Hero Saga}
• [SSJ] Fine after Cell Max elbowed him into some rock^{Super Hero Saga}
• [SSJ] Got up after Cell Max grabbed him and slammed him into the ground hard enough to leave a crater, though it did knock him out of SSJ^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Beast] No-sold a punch from Cell Max that sent a shockwave through the ground that blew up part of a cliff^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Beast] Kicked into the air and smashed underwater by MUI Goku^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Beast] Recovered in mid-air after MUI Goku kicked him away^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Beast] Shoved out of the air by MUI Goku^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Beast] Took a punch from SSB Vegeta^{Super Hero Saga}

Ki attacks

• [SSJ2] Fine after getting launched through a butte by Dabura's fireball^{Buu Saga}
• [SSJ2] Sent flying miles away by Fat Buu's ki blast^{Buu Saga}
  
  • This almost killed him^{Buu Saga}
• [Ultimate] Hit with a blast from Buutenks that destroyed some rock formations^{Buu Saga}
  
• [Ultimate] Hit by his own blast that went straight through the Earth^{Buu Saga}
  
• [Beast] Took a scream from Goku^{Super Hero Saga}
  

Other

• [SSJ2] [Limit] Yamu was able to stab him with an energy drainer^{Buu Saga}
• [Ultimate] Ok after getting caught by 7-3's Fire and Flames^{Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga}
• [Beast] Took a scream from Goku^{Super Hero Saga}

Speed

Flight

• Outsped the Nimbus while not at full speed^{Buu Saga}
• Can fly from home to his school in 20 minutes^{Buu Saga}
  • His house is over 1,000 km away from his school^{Buu Saga}
• Caught up to a speeding car^{Buu Saga}
• [SSJ2] [Limit] Was easily caught by Fat Buu^{Buu Saga}
• [Ultimate] Tore up the ground by flying over it^{Buu Saga}
• [Ultimate] Saved Piccolo, Trunks and Goten from Super Buu's explosion^{Buu Saga}
• Flew from the Lookout to North City in a few minutes^{RoF(manga) #2}
• Grabbed Krillin out of the way of some Frieza Force soldiers' blasts^RoF(movie)
• [Ultimate] Saved Piccolo from 7-3's Special Beam Cannon^{Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga}

Agility

• [Ultimate] Used Piccolo's solid ki blasts as stepping stones as he flipped around 7-3's blasts^{Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga}
• [Ultimate] Backflipped off a rock after getting sent flying back^{Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga}

Combat

• [SSJ] Blocked SSJ Goten's hits^{Buu Saga}
• Perceived Frieza Force soldiers in slow motion as he blitzed them^RoF(movie)
• [Ultimate] Fended off the Trio de Danger's attacks^{Universal Survival Saga}
• [Beast] Increased his speed as he fought MUI Goku, with his hits getting closer and closer to landing before finally hitting him^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Ultimate] Leapt back to dodge Broly's punch and lead into a backflip^{Super Hero Saga}
• Flash-stepped between Piccolo and Shisami^RoF(movie) Reaction

Dodging

• [SSJ] Dodged a rock Goten threw at him from close up^{Buu Saga}
• [SSJ] Dodged more rocks from further away, then some more from closer up^{Buu Saga}
• [SSJ2] Dodged Dabura's fire breath^{Buu Saga}
• [Ultimate] Dodged Buutenks' Kamehameha^{Buu Saga}
• [Ultimate] Dodged 7-3's Hellzone Grenade when it was inches away from hitting him^{Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga}
• [Ultimate] Dodged giant 7-3 trying to punch and grab him^{Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga}
• [Ultimate] Repeatedly dodged giant 7-3's stretchy arms^{Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga}
• [Ultimate] Dodged Gamma 2's blasts^{Super Hero Saga}
• [SSJ] Dodged Cell Max's Disaster Ray^{Super Hero Saga}
• [SSJ] Dodged Cell Max's mouth blasts^{Super Hero Saga}
• [SSJ] Dodged SSJ Trunks' blast and SSJ Goten's swing^{Super Hero Saga}
• [SSJ] Flew above SSJ Trunks' kick while grappling with him^{Super Hero Saga}
• [SSJ] Dodged Goten's kick from behind^{Super Hero Saga}

Other

• [SSJ] Caught a number of bullets at close range^{Buu Saga}
• [SSJ2] Caught Dabura's sword swing^{Buu Saga}
• [Ultimate] Caught Super Buu's punch^{Buu Saga}
• Blocked a surprise attack from Piccolo, though he got hit by a second^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Ultimate] Slapped several of Gamma 1's blasts away^{Super Hero Saga}
• Effortlessly deflected bullets^{Super Hero Saga}

Movement

• Ran faster than cars^{Buu Saga}
• Quickly ran through a forest^{Buu Saga}
• [SSJ2] Took off his glove before it turned into stone from Dabura's spit^{Buu Saga}
• [Ultimate] Got behind Super Buu without him noticing^{Buu Saga}
• Flash-stepped between Piccolo and Shisami^RoF(movie)
• [Ultimate] Ran up giant 7-3's arm^{Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga}

Skill

• Coached Goten and Trunks while the pair were fighting Abo and Cado, helping them to successfully overwhelm the duo and their doubles^YSG&HF
• [SSJ] Dodged Trunks' kick while grappling with him and used the momentum to throw him away^{Super Hero Saga}

Intelligence

• Tricked a dinosaur into running into a rock^{Saiyan Saga}
• Is a master of manipulation^{Frieza Saga}
• [Anti-feat] Is very bad at hiding his secret identity^{Buu Saga}
  • Seriously, wtf Gohan^{Buu Saga}
• Knows how to bait Goku with food^YSG&HF

Ki

General

• [Ultimate] Sensed that Dende was still alive^{Buu Saga}
• Sensed Frieza's revival^RoF(movie)
  • Manga version^{ROF(manga) #1}
• [Ultimate] Sensed a bug-sized enemy, allowing him to warn Android 17 about him^{Universal Survival Saga}

Power

• [SSJ2] The ki drained from him by Spopovich and Yamu was almost half the needed energy to revive Buu^{Buu Saga}
• [Ultimate] Super Buu could sense his power from the Kai planet while still on Earth^{Buu Saga}
• [Ultimate] Would have been able to beat Buuiccolo^{Buu Saga}
• Frieza said he could have beaten the entire Frieza Force on his own^RoF(movie)
  • Manga version^{RoF(manga) #3}
• [SSJ] Made a massive crater by powering up^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Ultimate] Made a giant pillar of light by transforming that burst the roof of the Red Ribbon Army's base and parted the clouds^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Beast] Destroyed his glasses by transforming and dug a crater under his house, with Goku and Vegeta sensing it from Beerus' planet^{Super Hero Saga}

Barriers

• [Ultimate] Used one to shield himself and Piccolo from 7-3's Special Beam Cannon before pushing it forwards with the help of Piccolo's own SBC, destroying 7-3's arm^{Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga}
• [Ultimate] Shielded himself from Moro 7-3's ki blasts^{Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga}

Blasts

• [Ultimate] Fired one at Buutenks that burrowed straight through the Earth when deflected^{Buu Saga}
• Damaged a crevasse and KOd a group of Frieza Force soldiers^RoF(movie)
• [Ultimate] Cratered 7-3 into a far off rock^{Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga}
• [Ultimate] Blasted giant 7-3's knees to make him lose his balance^{Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga}
• [Ultimate] [Limit] A combined blast with Piccolo that would have destroyed the Earth did nothing to Saganbo^{Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga}
• [SSJ] Annoyed Cell Max^{Super Hero Saga}
• [Ultimate] Pushed Cell Max through metres of stone with a barrage before hitting him with a charged blast^{Super Hero Saga}

Kiais

• [SSJ] Flipped a truck^{Buu Saga}

Masenko

• [Ultimate] Combined it with Piccolo's Special Beam Cannon to make the Masenko Beam Cannon, making a giant explosion that destroyed 7-3's right arm, right leg and part of his skin^{Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga}

Kamehameha

• [SSJ2] [Limit] Couldn't damage Buu's cocoon^{Buu Saga}
• [Ultimate] Used one to stop himself from falling off the Tournament of Power arena^{Universal Survival Saga}
• [Ultimate] Would have probably killed 7-3 if he hadn't absorbed it^{Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga}
• [Ultimate] Could blow up the Earth with one, though he can just detonate it before it hits and prevent any serious damage^{Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga}
• [SSJ] [Limit] Cell Max slapped one away^{Super Hero Saga}
• [SSJ] Annoyed Cell Max^{Super Hero Saga}

Super Explosive Wave

• [Ultimate] Pushed the Trio de Danger back^{Universal Survival Saga}

Galactic Donuts

• [Ultimate] Restrained Moro 7-3^{Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga}

Special Beam Cannon

• [Beast] Beam struggled against Cell Max's Explosive Scream, with the pair evenly matched until SSJ Goten and Trunks distracted Cell Max, allowing Gohan to pierce through his attack and his head^{Super Hero Saga}

Hey Mr Reddit, Hi Karen (lol) Hooah Reeeee ARMY. I'ma huge fan of your YT Channel...you, and some of your fans being ARMY Vets, may get a kick out of this story as told to me by an old friendof mine. (On mobile, and my smartphone is a smart ass phone that loves to autocorrect you when you don't want it and still allows you to misspell everything else)
I had a battle buddy stationed out in Hawaii with me, we were both crusty old SFCs (Sergeant First Class/E7s) and had been there and seen Everything in our respective careers and lives...let's call him SFC B. My brother, "B" is a large, muscular cholo from Cali with all the LA/Mexican prison-gang-like tattoos (everything but the tear drop or spider web)...he is also a tough, no BS, no lies, honest to goodness great friend and leader...miss him now that he's gone and retired. I'm Puerto Rican and from NY and surprisingly, our personalities matched perfectly, we got each other's jokes, and both of us being old farts (compared to a 19 yo Private) have seen it all.
For those of you who have heard of a "Ranger Wife" or met that spouse who likes to throw around their partners rank like a credit card, have I got a story for you! And before anyone loses their mind, my spouse is an ARMY Spouse, I give her all the credit for being amazing and holding our house together...I say this especially in case she reads this some how (lol) it's NOT the toughest job in the ARMY, but it's definitely up there.
So, B tells me one day that he was waiting on this line at the clinic for meds, as you do the older and more broken you get towards retirement in the Service (any Service Member from any branch, any country, anywhere can tell you the same)...and lines for meds are always going to take 5-ever. Sure as rain will fall in Hawaii, this 19 or 20 year old comes into the clinic and strolls past him on line, a line for which he was now going to be 2nd to being at bat for. She walks past him and right to the windows, almost pushing out the guy who was there to begin with, demanding she gets served next!
B, who takes Nooooo crap tells her with his Drill Sergeant voice, that she needs to go back to the end of the line and wait like everyone else. (Being ARMY forever, he was numb to waiting on lines, so this young female cutting the line made his PTSD flair up)
As you can guess, this ARMY Spouse shook her neck and snapped her fingers at the clerk behind the glass, trying to ignore this big dude talking very directly to her...which only made B draw more attention to her as now he gets out of line to try and put her back in line with less cordial and less eloquent words. Before he goes nuclear though, she says the words we all love to hear. "MY HUSBAND IS A SERGEANT AND HE WILL KICK YO ASS!!!" (she even said he outranked everyone there, therefore WE outranked everyone here)
B says he got eerily quite, which for this twitchy war vet, was an accomplishment, and told her to call him, he'd love to see him try. Now, if you've never played Rock, Paper, Rank before, 7 always beats 5. The two were asked to wait outside by some poor Specialist from the clinic and so B and this jr Karen waited outside the clinic for about 5 minutes.
No crap no lie, B says, this blacked out Dodge Charger pulls up quickly, up on the grass and this chicken hawk of a Soldier gets out, jaw clinched, fists balled, chest all puffed out and tries sliding up his sleeves a bitfor effect. B says he looked like he was about 6'2", 190, and about 25 years old...full of piss and vinegar...or at least he was till he laid eyes on B. B is about 6 flat, linebacker shoulders, and a face that says he'd happily kill you and eat your bones for disturbing his peace...then the rank on his chest burned a hole through whatever self confidence this young Sergeant (E5) had left. B described his as a mix between air getting let out of a tire and this guyalmost walking back into his car and driving off, the whole while, his poor, diluted Spouse kept shouting that B was gonna get his butt whooooped today.
B says he was going to hit this young Sergeant up with the old, faithful knife-hand, combed with a very loud, former Drill Sergeant sized "Parade Rest!" command, but he didn't. Instead of pulling the trigger, he got quieter, which must have been very scary, and told this Soldier to come around the corner and talk with him for a minute...which almost sounds like code for let's fight with no witnesses (lol)
B said he took pity on this poor NCO, who moped on behind him around the side of the building away from his spouse and asked him "Sarge, Did you just get married or something?"
B said his eyes got wide, like if B was Walter Mercado and had just saw into his soul or something. "Yea, how did you know?"
B laughed and said he married a Chola and understood...he was once a young stud with the same issue, a spouse who didn't understand rank or how much trouble a spouse could get you in. After a relaxed conversation and a bit of mentorship B said he got when in the same situation as this guy, he let him off easy. He told him to tell his spouse that she has no rank, she needs to chill, he loves her and that while he appreciates her thinking so highly of him, he's not the biggest, baddest, or highest ranked guy in the Army.
He told him that after a while, if you 2 can not screw it up or screw each other over, she could be the greatest part of his career, like Mrs B is.
Happy endings all around from the way B conveyed this story over a plate of "beer-b-q" carne asada. (Yummmm)
Hearing one of Mr Reddit's videos on my drive home about the ARMY Spouse at the PX who got told "and come back when your husband is more than just a Lieutenant" made me think back to my old pal SFC B.
If you're out there reading this story Battle, we miss you here back in Hawaii
Thanks Mr Reddit and I hope you all have a great day! Aloha!

Just what the title says. This is a half rant/half what the actual fuck do I do type of post.
Basically we're all 18, I'm a female the other two are a guy and a girl, all highschool seniors, yes this is petty highschool drama I'm sorry.
This year in general has been pretty shit for me, with a serious blow of mental stuff, family, eating disorder and school, bad relationship I left and my friend group situation has been uncomfortable for awhile.
We've all been pretty close for awhile and friends since elementary school. Some people think we're dating each other, it's annoying but whatever. I've never had romantic feelings for either of them to be very very clear. Strictly platonic.
My friend Markus has had a crush on Ava for awhile. The last several months he's called me several times for hours talking about his crush on her, either what she said that day, what she texted him, if he has a chance, asking me to help take good photos of him to send to her, asking about stuff she likes, should he ask her out, etc etc etc. sometimes late into the night asking for advice. Point is, he's talked my ear off about his crush (which I'm fine with and glad he was comfortable enough to talk to me about it).
Ava implied she wasn't into him (described a different type than him, said she would never date anyone in our school, would maybe try dating apps after highschool, and that Markus seemed a little fruity - which people assume a lot but no he's straight). When Markus asked me if he had a chance, I said no and was brief but mentioned the points above that I figured he didn't have a chance.
Issues started a few months ago whenever we would hang out as a group it felt like I was the third wheel with them talking about stuff I didn't know about, me constantly stuck behind them when walking together, they kept asking me to sit in the back in the cars, small shit like that. Sometimes they would make plans to hang out and not invite me even if I was sitting right there. A few months ago I did mention "hey, dude if you guys wanna hang out individually that's fine, but just don't do that in front of me, kinda hurts and it's not very nice. Its fine if you guys wanna hang out individually, but just don't make the plans in front of me." They mentioned I should just know to self invite but eventually Markus admitted he himself has been in that situation and agreed self inviting is tacky and an uncomfortable position to be in.
It started again with the above and I just felt too uncomfortable to say anything. Fast forward to senior prom, they upset me a lot. There was a guy I was sorta talking to that I found really cute. They dragged me by my arms (with me kicking, yelling and tripped over the chairs) to talk to him. Like hoisted me by my arms. I managed to break free and run off. Markus caught up to me and told me "hey I spoke with the guy you like, he said he has a crush on you too!" I didnt believe him at first but he swore up and down that he was telling the truth. Ava didn't hear Markus say this stuff but still tried to drag me again. So I walked over to said guy, and it becomes extremely apparent quickly that Markus lied just to get me to talk to him. It becomes really awkward and humiliating and I cried at prom that night. Markus apologized later and said he took it too far by lying about that stuff. Ava never apologized.
We went to a nearby city for prom weekend, I paid for the hotel for all three of us. Same stuff happens where I feel like the third wheel. Whatever, life moves on.
Recently I felt again like I was being excluded and I was just so frustrated. They brought me over today and told me they started dating 2 weeks ago. I was like WTF? And they said Ava had lied to me and was just nervous about her crush on Markus (which is fair, it's her privacy) and Markus was the one who said to wait on telling me about them dating. Then he teased me about being single. Which sucks because they often tease me about being a boy hopper (which idk, I don't feel like I agree with that but whatever). He bragged about him getting more pull than me because I'm single and he's not now.
Idk, I'm just frustrated. Frustrated that I wasn't told which I also understand because it's their relationship and their privacy but also just frustrated because I felt so excluded these last few months and it would've been nice to have not wasted all that emotion being upset about being excluded. Had I known from the start that they were more seriously talking ish with each other maybe I wouldn't have felt so hurt these last few weeks because then I would've known it was because they were dating and not because they were trying to exclude me? But also I just feel frustrated in general and I don't know how to navigate this friendship at this point.
I'm also frustrated about the comments about me being single. I got out of some pretty horrible relationships before (which they know about, there was physical, verbal and sexual abuse involved in a good portion of them). I also just feel frustrated because of what happened at prom where they ganged up on me to drag me to the guy and it bexame so awkward that we haven't really spoken since (it's been a few weeks). Markus said he was being helpful because at least now I know he doesn't like me that way, but it would've been nice to find that out in my own terms, and not through being humiliated. Markus already apologized for that lying part, and there's nothing really to do other than Apologize so it feels wrong to hold it against him because I do know he's sorry and that he wouldn't pull that stunt again.
I don't wanna hold it against Ava because I didn't talk with her after about how it bothered me so that's why she didn't apologize, and she also had good intentions (to have me stop being shy). Not saying what she did was right, but I'm hoping it was through good pure intentions.
Idk, this is also half a vent bexausw I'm just so frustrated but I also don't know what to do.