*wistful sigh*

The well built huntress bends down to pick up the spear. She frowns slightly at the spot where the stag stood a few seconds ago. Then she swiftly turns away and strides on the path she had been walking on. As she walks away, she thinks out loud, “I think the water has strengthened my spear.” She mulls over it for a minute and decides to test this “theory” out by aiming at a tree trunk. She misses. She tries again. She misses. She tries again two more times and misses both shots. She comes to the conclusion that no, the water hadn’t strengthened her spear. (my bimbo queen<3)

This is Bly, a powerful, retired warrior. Bly is retired because there were no more battles to fight and she wanted to live with her only ally and companion. Bly is content with her simple life and in a pleasant mood, but that will change soon. (subtle forshadowing, very nice little me)

Bly walks up to the house she and her companion shares. It is a big house, with a basement and a second floor with a stunning view of her companion’s garden of vegetables and fruit trees. Bly spots her sitting in said garden, under their hackberry tree. (i LOVE hackberry trees)

Bly’s heart sinks at this sight. She knows that her companion only sits under that particular tree when she is pondering deep, sad thoughts. Bly hurries to the tree and asks with much worry in her voice,

“Laquetta, what’s wrong?” The woman sitting under the tree hesitantly lifts her head up. “Hello Bly, how was the patrol?” The person under the tree is dressed in a similar cloak to Bly’s. The cloak’s hood is covering her head, but you can still see two branches that seem to be growing out of her head like antlers (never addressed again btw).

Dark hair spills out from the hood of the cloak as Laquetta’s bright green eyes study Bly. “Don’t change the subject! Please tell me what’s wrong, Laquetta!” Bly shouted. Laquetta looked somber and reluctant to do so, but she said with a serious resolute, “Sit down.” Bly immediately sat down. Laquetta regarded Bly with sorrow and said,

“On tomorrow's sunset, I will die.”

Bly’s heart stopped. It was morning. “H-how? W-why?” she asked breathlessly. “I do not know either of those things. My spells say so, and so it will be.” she replied. “B-but that can’t be. Surely you can stop this?” “No one can change their own fate. The mightiest warriors and spellcasters have tried and failed.” Bly’s determined mind swirled with shock and fury.

How could her closest and only companion be taken away so soon? How could fate do such things? Hadn’t the world already taken enough from her? Bly’s mind filled with fury. If Laquetta couldn’t change her fate, she will. “If you can’t change your fate, I will.” (changing fates via legal wordplay, let's go) Bly declared. Laquetta thought about those words carefully and slowly said, “....That...is certainly an idea.”

Laquetta quickly stood up and hastily sped towards the house. Bly followed and stopped in front of the front door. She paced and paced in front of the door, waiting to hear what Laquetta had to say. After what felt like an eternity, Laquetta finally walked out of the house. “Bly...would you really change my fate?” she asked. “Yes,” Bly proclaimed. “I would do anything.”

“Really?” The way Laquetta said it, it didn't sound like a question, it sounded like a challenge.

“YES!” shouted Bly. “Your fate is as good as mine! Without you, I would be lost. Without you, I would have no one by my side. Without you, I would be dead.”(dyke)

Laquetta nodded and spoke, “I have consulted nature, and it is possible. You can change my fate. To do so, you have to find a stone filled with emotion and a wishing well powerful enough to kill gods.” Bly’s eyes widened. “Use the stone to wish that I won’t die, and it will work.” Bly nodded.

Laquetta had told Bly many strange instructions that it was strangely comforting in these sorrowful times. “Come inside, you better start packing.” Laquetta led Bly into their house and they prepared for the journey. It was only when Laquetta slipped one of her most sentimental crystal charms in the pack, that Bly realized Laquetta wasn’t coming with her. Even though they were only packing one pack. “You’re not coming?” Bly blurted. Laquetta sighed. “No, I am not. No one can change their own fate.” Bly shifted nervously. The thought that Laquetta wouldn’t be coming with her scared her, she hated doing dangerous things alone. Without realizing it, Bly was trembling. (aw)

“Hey.” Laquetta said softly. Bly blinked and found her eyes were wet. “It’s ok. You can do this. You are the most loyal and the strongest person I know. I wouldn’t choose anyone else to trust my life to.” Laquetta smiled and squeezed Bly’s hand reassuringly. Bly smiled back and soon she was on her way. 

(THE KISS WAS THERE IN MY HEAD I SWEAR ON MY SOUL)

Bly quickly crossed the borders of her and Laquetta’s patch of forest. She followed the path made by the animals of the forest that led to a pond. While she was walking, it started snowing.

Bly shivered and walked a little faster. Laquetta had told her to find a tribe with a shaman willing to tell her the location of the most powerful wishing well they knew. Bly walked towards a pond because she knew the friendly tribe that gathered food there sometimes. Bly’s mind was so distracted with the thought of Laquetta dying that she didn’t realize she had strayed off the path. The nearby whooshing of wings brought her back to reality. She looked around the unfamiliar path. The sky was darkening with night and she knew for a fact that she should be at the pond by now.

Bly frowned as fear gripped her. She took a deep breath and as she was about to walk back the way she came from, she heard the chatter of faint voices. Bly walked towards the voices with her sword out. Bly soon saw four men walking and talking. They are (this is about the time i realized i had zero clue what tense i was using) carrying the bodies of two deer as they walk on a different path. Bly calls out “HEY!”

The four men jump and look at Bly. “MAY I PLEASE FOLLOW YOU BACK TO YOUR TRIBE? I NEED TO TALK TO A SHAMAN.” The four men look at each other and one of them smiles and says to Bly, “Sure! Why not? Our shaman will be happy to speak with you.” Bly walks with them and the four men speak to Bly happily, a little too happily. Bly doesn’t notice this of course, but she does catch one of the men smirking suspiciously , but she shrugs it off. (this came off more suspicious than ten year old me intended? I meant in like a scam way. A scammy smirk if you will) Soon they reach the village. But to Bly, it feels like it takes too long to get there. Night had fallen and the snow kept falling.

She and the men are greeted warmly by the tribes-people, and Bly greeted them as best as she could. Thoughts of Laquetta potentially dying kept rushing through her head. One of the men takes Bly to a man watching a group of children play. He had an old and wrinkled looking face, with gray hair framing his head. He had a strict and grumpy look while he watched a playful and happy scene. The man called out to the old man, “Bemossed! (GUYS IT'S NATIVE AMERICAN I SWEAR-)” he called out. “This visitor wants to talk to you.”

Bemossed (oml im going to be canceled-) turned around and said, “Oh really? Let me talk to them, then.” His tone held a sinister tone, and his smile did not feel welcoming. But so distraught and distracted was Bly that she did not notice. “Please kind shaman,” begged Bly, “please tell me the location of the most powerful wishing well you know.” Bemossed raised an eyebrow. “Hmm… I could tell you the location of a very powerful wishing well...for a price that is.” he said slyly.

“Name it.” demanded Bly. Bemossed looked very pleased. “What do you have in that pack of yours?” he asked. “Some food and extra weapons.” she replied. Bemossed shook his head and gestured to her to come inside a tent. Once they were inside, he demanded her to show what she had in her pack. Bly dumped it all out.

As she had said, there was food and some daggers and extra clothing. Bemossed inspected the items and his eyes landed on Laquetta’s crystal charm. His eyes widened, and he picked it up with wonder and glee. “This. I want this as payment.” he insisted. Bly’s first reaction was an immediate shout of “NO!!!” It was so loud it startled the old man and a small flock of sparrows outside. Nonetheless, the old man quickly gathered his wits and stubbornly told her, “I only want this crystal, if you refuse to give it to me, then I will not tell you the location of the most powerful well in all these lands!!” His voice raised at the end and he gestured grandly, to show how powerful the well he knew of was, of course.

Bly hesitated. 

It was Laquetta’s crystal. It had been with her for 15 years, the entire time they knew each other. Bly had never seen her without it. She didn’t know what meaning it had to Laquetta, but it could only be deep and profound, just like the woman herself. 

But Laquetta’s life was far more valuable than any crystal.

She would do anything to save her companion, even if she would be angry at her forever. With determination blazing in her eyes, Bly made her decision.  “Deal!” She grabbed the crystal and shoved it towards the old shaman swiftly. The old man gave such a satisfied and creepy smile that Bly felt a slight sense of hesitation again saying yes. But it was too late to change her decision. Bemossed the Wily snatched up the crystal, quickly gave directions and sent her on her way, all the while clutching the crystal with glee. 

Bly ran down the path, following the directions. It became too dark to see, so Bly was forced to stop and wait for light. Bly could not sleep so she ate her food and thought about many things. Reminiscing on all the times she spent with Laquetta. The battles she had been fighting, with Laquetta as their battle shaman and support. The thrill of meeting a new and interesting and kind person, the joys of getting to know each other in the weeks and months and years, crossed her heart. They were so young then, Bly realized. Then their peaceful years at the cottage ran through her head. Building the rooms together, crafting the furniture together, planting the garden together, watering the vegetables together, sometimes devolving into water fights and laughter. Occasionally. Okay often. A dopey smile was fixed on Bly’s face at the thought of all these times.

The time in retirement at their cottage together were the best years of her life. That couldn’t be denied. It wasn’t always easy though, the downtimes made her sigh a little. So much heartbreak could’ve been avoided, had they just known each other like they knew each other now. Laquetta’s voice suddenly echoed in her head. “It’s a bit much to ask people to know another person inside and out when they barely had any time together outside of battle, Bly.”

Imaginary Laquetta shook her head. Bly smiled. “What is done is done, water under the canoe and whatnot, Bly, all we can do is look forward and do what we feel is the next right thing.”

Bly nodded solemnly. As always, Laquetta was always right, even Imaginary Laquetta. At the thought of the future however, Bly grew deathly serious. Laquetta, her one and only companion in life, her most trusted friend, was fated to die? “NO” She shouted in her head. She would not allow it. She wanted, no, NEEDED more time with her love. A few years in peace was too short, she needed at least a decade more. No make it three decades. Actually fifty. Maybe 70. Ok a whole lifetime. Maybe two, if we’re feeling up to it. Bly nodded. She needed at LEAST that much time. A terrible fear had invaded her heart as soon as the possibility of otherwise had presented its terrible, horned head.

She had a feeling she would not survive if it was not the case. 

As soon as dawn broke, Bly stood up and rushed down the path. Snow had covered everything with a sparkling blanket, something that Bly would’ve normally stopped to admire, but she only had saving Laquetta in mind. Even with Bly’s incredible speed, it still took hours to get there. But eventually, an old and stubby well on top of a hill came into view.

As Bly climbed the hill, she saw an old person with a gleaming piece of obsidian in their hands, about to drop it into the well. Bly gaped at the sight of obsidian.

It was an incredibly rare and valuable object. (NO volcanos in this bitch) It could do wondrous and powerful magic- if done correctly, and here is a piece about to be dropped in a well. Bly watched and the thought occurred to her that this might be the stone filled with emotion that Laquetta had told her about. She was about to call out to the old person when they dropped it into the well. She heard a distant thud as her own hopes fell. There was silence as Bly wondered what to do next.

The old person started muttering and pacing, as if expecting something. After about a few minutes, the old person shouted with rage and a sudden burst of light flashed through the hill, momentarily blinding Bly. When the light faded, Bly’s jaw dropped. Standing in the place of the old person was a radiant, floating figure, wearing fine clothing with bones sewn on. The figure yelled and swiped their hand down and an explosion was heard at the bottom of the well. Another radiant figure wearing a long dress with stones sewn on shot out of the well and glared at the person who swiped their hand down.

“By the gods (it should probably be spirits but sixth grade me was as aforementioned, a percy jackson fan)…”

Bly exhaled breathlessly(how else is she supposed to exhale you nincompoop). Because it was, indeed, two gods floating there. The one with the bones on their clothing shouted,

“WHY DIDN’T MY WISH GET GRANTED? I USED OBSIDIAN AND DID IT CORRECTLY! WHAT DO YOU HAVE AGAINST ME, ⍙⟒⌰⌰ ☌⍜⎅?” (ok if you can translate this YOU KNOW BALL AND STFU IM UNCREATIVE) Bly could not understand the last bit, but she was still spellbound by these figures. The one with stones on their clothing yelled back, “THIS WELL IS AN EXTREMELY WEAK ONE. MAYBE YOU SHOULD’VE CHOSEN BETTER BEFORE PUTTING A VALUABLE OBJECT IN IT!”.

They were both outraged and looked like they wanted to kill each other. They dissolved into arguing and screaming at the top of their lungs. After a particularly nasty comment by the one with bones on their clothing, the other one took a deep breath and said, “WELL MAYBE I DID PURPOSELY NOT GRANT YOUR WISH. MAYBE I WAS SICK AND TIRED OF BEING USED FOR PETTY WISHES. MAYBE I WANTED TO SEE YOU SUFFER. YOU KNOW WHAT, I THINK I WON’T ANSWER TO ANYONE, ANYMORE! WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT.” they spat. (:0)

The one with bones on their clothing changed their shocked look and fumed with fury. Through gritted teeth they hissed, “I think you should DIE!!!!!”(:000) The last word came out in a roar as they pulled a stone from the already fragile well and threw it at blinding speeds directly onto the other one's head. As soon as the stone made impact, the god fell, dead. (oop) The one with bones on their clothing stormed off and disappeared. (spiritual hit and run)

Bly recovered from her shock as she hesitantly walked up to the well, which was somehow still standing. The body sank into the ground, leaving only the blood splattered stone. Bly picked up the stone easily and looked at it. It clicked.

“The well powerful enough to kill gods….” Bly murmured, looking at the well. “The stone filled with emotion…”(absolute cinema🙌) thinking about the face they had made when throwing the stone...yeah, that was definitely emotion. (OOOOOHHH ATEEEE, CLOCK IT)

Bly approached the well and took a deep breath and said out loud,

“I wish for Laquetta to live a long and happy life.” Even if she died early, Bly thought, this would ensure Laquetta would at least live for a long time and always find happiness, no matter what. Bly dropped the stone. *thud*. The sound echoed. Silence fell over the landscape as Bly pleaded in her head for this to work. And then…

*BOOM* The well exploded, throwing Bly into the bushes. Bly got up, groaning in pain in the late afternoon.

It took her a minute to remember where she was but it all came rushing back soon. Laquetta. Bly ran off towards the direction of home. By the time she reached there, the sun was already setting. She saw Laquetta obliviously sitting in front of the house, watching the sunset. She hadn’t seen Bly yet, but Bly saw her...and something else.

She saw a stag walking towards Laquetta, clearly angry (THE STAG FORSHADOWING!!!!????). The stag lowered its head and ran full speed towards Laquetta, antlers bared. Bly cried out to Laquetta but Laquetta didn’t hear her, nor did she see the stag.

(NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO)

In desperation and rage (!!!), Bly threw her (not)waterstrengthened spear. It whistled through the air with a swift whoosh and hit the stag. The spear went into the stag and out of the stag with a sickening *CRACK*. (YAYYY!!!╰(*°▽°*)╯)

Laquetta whipped her head around and stared with shock at the now dead stag and a tired Bly.

A huge smile(<3) spread across her face and she leaped up and ran to hug Bly, laughing and cheering all the way. “You did it!!!” She exclaimed. Bly lifted her up. “I did.” She said contently. But then suddenly remembered the crystal. Bly sweated a little. Laquetta raised one eyebrow. “Bly…” She dragged. “What did you do?” Bly sweated harder but gathered her courage to face her suspicious friend (wife-COUGH COUGH COUGH) and shouted in one long breath,

“I TRADED YOUR CRYSTAL TO FIND THE WELL AND I’M REALLY SORRY BECAUSE I KNOW IT WAS IMPORTANT TO YOU BUT I NEEDED TO KNOW THE WAY TO THE WELL TO SAVE YOU.” Laquetta blinked in shock when breathed a relieved laugh, “Oh that little thing? Bly I really couldn’t care less about it, I have a bunch of high grade crystals. And one rock is really not worth another day with you.” She gazed dreamingly into Bly’s eyes, sending a fiery blush into her cheeks.

For some strange reason. 

Bly breathed in relief and babbled “Oh thank the gods, dead ones especially,” “What do you mean by that-” “Cause I was REALLY worried about your reaction-” “Bly what do you mean by dead gods-” 

“- but Bemossed REALLY wanted that crystal and-” 

At the name, the bear crossed the river in Laquetta’s head. “Bemossed?” She interrupted. “Bemossed the Wily?” “Yesss??” Bly answered apprehensively. “You traded my crystal. For directions to the wishing well that can kill gods. From Bemossed the Wily.” 

Bly thought. Then answered. Slowly.

“I don’t know what that last word means but he was really old and kind of mossy, so I think so yes.”

Laquetta sighed and mumbled as she buried her head into Bly’s chest, 

“Of course you did Bly, of course you did…I’m surprised that that well was even somewhat functional judging by the results…”

“...well actually it might’ve-”

“Shhhhh shhh shush it Bly. Just hold me. Let me have my “escaped-fate” hug.” Laquetta weakly reprimanded. Bly smiled happily. “Okay”, she said. 

And they hugged each other tight, now knowing for sure, not even death could do them apart. For Laquetta could never be happy, not without her brave, beautiful Bly by her side.

THE END :)))

oh my god this is so deeply embarassing but im posting this anyway cause fml and Bly and Laquetta deserve sunshine

happy pride to them in my heart<33 o(*￣︶￣*)o

(and YES I NOW KNOW LAQUETTA IS A BLACK NAME I DIDN'T KNOW AS A SIXTH GRADER)

(SHE'S BLACK NOW I DECIDED)