Imagination Station

Wasn't originally planning on doing a sequel, but I just couldn't help myself! This is a sequel to Train Ride, so if you haven't, read that first! Some lore is being dropped in the story, and I can't wait for you all to experience Sezra's world further. Credit of course does go to @boe-someone for her character of Brassberry. TW: There is descriptions of violent physical altercation so if that will be too much for you, please do not continue any further. Without any further ado, all aboard!

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Kra-Boom

Brass jolted awake, the thunder shocking him from the Land of Sleep as the rain thrashed against the window, the gentle patter now long gone.

“The hell?” He grumbled drowsily, frustrated that his dream was interrupted as it was getting good and steamy. Yawning loudly, he realized he could hardly move. Looking down groggily, he saw a shape, or was it a lump, covered by a blanket? When did that get there? Lightning flashed outside, lighting up the room as if it were day, and he was able to get a good look at what kept him contained.

Sezra.

The realization slowly pushed aside his drowsiness as he remembered bit by bit what led to this moment. She was tired, he wanted to make her more comfortable, and before he knew it, he must have fallen asleep with her. The warmth of her body lulled him peacefully to rest.

“Damn, she’s still totally out.” He murmured, moving one hand to stroke her hair. She stirred slightly at the sudden touch, only to curl deeper in his embrace.

“Mmm… Brass…” She mumbled quietly.

The skeleton couldn’t help but blush, feeling the heat rise on his skull. How could she be this cute even while asleep? At the same time, he became very aware of how the grey beauty was lying in his arms. Her arms at some point slid from his chest down to his hips, her tender hands only inches away from what was in between. Her breasts pressed against his stomach, hovering just above, teasing him at how close they were, and yet not close enough. He held in a frustrated moan. How he wished he could grab and play with them, to hear her make all kinds of noises for him before he-

“Fuck!” He cursed, using a free hand to cover his mouth as he tried to control his urges.

Kra-Boom

The thunder seemed even louder now; the lightning just as bright as before. He sighed, trying to think of anything else to quell the heat that had begun to build. Breathe he thought. Just breathe. She had an extremely long shift, so just because you’re fucking horny doesn’t give you the right to force her awake now. Just breathe slow and deep, match her peaceful breaths that should help.

Kra-Boom

The crashing thunder scared him out of his meditation as he felt the train lurch a little like it picked up speed roughly. Odd he thought, but shrugging his shoulders, he tried to get back into rhythm and follow her slow breathing.

“Wait a minute.” He whispered, looking back down at his lover. Something felt off. He moved his hand that was stroking her hair underneath it and gently pressed down. He could feel her breathing picking up speed as he focused, and her ears were pinned tight against her head. She whimpered softly, her mind still in Dreamland.

Kra-Boom

He felt her body cringe a little at the thunderous roar, the train seeming to lurch again in tune with her.

“Shit, that ain’t good. Hey Sez, come on ya need to wake up now. Sez?” He tried to shake her shoulders, his voice loud enough to be heard yet not scare her awake, but his only response was whimpers and her hand tightening into a fist.

“St…op…. please…. n…no…” She cried, her body beginning to tremble despite the warm blanket, her breathing turning into haggard panting.

“Sez, come on ya need to wake up now, you’re startin’ to scare me.” Brass cried out louder, his voice slightly cracking in worried concern. Her body curled into a ball to protect herself from something, his words falling on deaf ears.

Kra-Boom

Her body jerked again as she gritted her teeth in pain, the train lurching more violently. He gripped her body tight against the rough movement, unsure if his hands were trembling because of his fear, or from her body. She cried out in pain, still trapped in a twisted dream as her claws tore through her gloves and dug into her arms, her once pristine shirt now slowly being stained with blood.

“Fuck, Sezra! You need to wake up!” He squirmed his body away from hers, careful not to let her head drop too hard. Kneeling in front of the trembling mess, he threw off the blanket and tried to pull her hands free, but they wouldn’t budge, the claws seeming to dig deeper with a sickening squelch. Was she always this strong?

Kra-BOOM

Shaking the entire room, Brass covered where his ears would be from the deafening sound. Sezra’s body shook violently, as did the train. Brass braced himself against the couch, his head spinning from the roar of thunder and sudden motion.

“The fuck is going on?!” He shouted. His question was answered by her now crying whimpers, her gloves and sleeves caked in her blood. He tried to pry her hands away again, but the blood made it too slick to get a proper hold.

“Come on, you gotta wake up now, Sez! You need to wake up!” He pleaded, desperately shaking her shivering body.

“Brass, Sezra, I’m coming in!” Screamed a voice from the other side of the door. He turned his head in time to see a small door within their door appear from the swirling golden magic as Dolores ran in, panting frantically.

“Dolores? How did- What are you-?” Brass started, but the little mouse cut him off, using all her strength to pull on his leather coat away from Sezra.

“You need to back up now!” She squeaked; the slightest hint of fear edged in her voice. Before Brass could question it, the thunder returned louder than he thought possible.

KRA-BOOM

Her hands gripped tighter as turquoise magic seemed to spill out of her, filling the room like a slow, bleeding river, the train violently shaking and trembling. He turned to look at Dolores, fear and anguish filling her eyes.

“Dolores, you better tell me what the fuck is going on!”

Dolores looked back at the large skeleton; pity etched on her face.

“She never told you, did she?” She asked him, the pained screams of her friend and the storm outside the only break in the silence. Brass just stared back confused.

“Tell me what Dolores?” Dolores shook her head, her usually tamed curls tangled as the magic filled the room, soaking into their clothes with a palpable loneliness.

“I’ll explain but we don’t have time right now. All you need to know is that Sezra and this train are far more connected than you realize.” She began, her voice, though quivering, took on an authoritative tone as her hands reached into her pocket and pulled out a pearl.

“Wha- “Brass began before he was interrupted again, Dolores glaring at him as she pushed a small button on the jewel.

“Brass, listen to me. This is her worst attack yet and if we don’t do something quick, it won’t just be her life that’s in danger you understand?”

The jewel transformed into a glittering machine, hovering beside Dolores, and staring at Brass with lifeless glowing eyes. He glanced back over at Sezra, her body writhing in pain as her hands now clawed at the couch instead, the sea of magic seeming to envelop her body slowly. He slammed a fist on the carpet beneath him, magic swirling away from the impact. Like hell, he was just going to sit there like a dumb ass. With a newfound determination, he looked back at Dolores, her tail flicking in fear and impatience.

“Tell me what to do.”

Her gaze softened for a moment before turning her attention to the machine beside her.

“Ima, commence protocol S-14 now!” She commanded.

With a trill of chirps, Ima hovered in the air between the two monsters, mechanical fingers creating a glowing orb, rapidly growing until it encompassed the whole interior of the cabin, the waves of turquoise seeming to have calmed to a stop for the time being. Dolores lifted her collar revealing a small microphone and speaker.

“Status report.” Her eyes darted between the three inhabitants. Voices crackled through the tiny speaker as Brass was able to make out a common saying amongst them.

“Protocol S-14 operational, standby.”

KRA-BOOM

Brass braced for the train to lurch again, but no motion came. Sezra continued to cry in anguish, body twisting and writhing like a feral animal. He looked back at Dolores, a grim expression still on her face as she watched her friend lose her sanity more.

“Copy, you all know what to do. Let’s pray the storm will pass soon as well. Good luck to you all. I’ll report soon.” She closed her eyes, her large ears drooping slightly as she sighed heavily.

“Brass,” She began, amethyst eyes staring deep into his soul. He nodded, waiting for her to continue.

“With how bad this is, you might not like this next part, but I need you to trust me. She’s never had it this bad before, and the storm isn’t helping matters either.”

Brass stood firm and resolute as he stole another glance at his lover. Her tail thrashed wildly like an animal in a cage, teeth bared and snarling. Blood and magic swirled angrily around her, her eyes though open, glowed a pale blue. He looked back and gave Dolores a little wink.

“I said tell me what to do, so tell me. I ain’t leavin’ ya to deal with this alone, and I ain’t leavin’ Sezra either.”

Dolores squeaked in relief.

“Good, because this won’t be easy. I need you to restrain her completely. Do whatever it takes to get the job done. Got it big boy?”

His resolve diminished; the serious expression remained firm on her face.

“Are ya fuckin’ nuts!” He screamed at the mouse. “Look at me! I’m twice her size, ya know that right? ‘Do whatever it takes,’ my ass! How is this supposed to help her huh? If I hurt her- “

“Don’t you think I already know that?!” The mouse screamed back. Brass stared back wide-eyed, surprised at how loud this small creature could be. Her ears twitched in frustrated annoyance, the sudden silence broken by the low growls behind them and the soft hum of Ima.

“She’s not just my boss, but my friend as well. If I thought there was another way, don’t you think I would have done it?” She glared back at Brass, eyes burning as tears threatened to overflow.

“This is the only way and if I can’t trust you to help her, then maybe she was wrong about you, and you need to get out of my way.”

Brass scowled, her accusation cutting through his bones, piercing his soul. Before he could make a rebuttal, Ima chirped rapidly, increasing the intensity of the glow that encompassed them. Dolores looked around Brass’s leg, eyes widening in fear.

“Shit!” She gritted through her teeth. Brass looked behind him at where Sezra was. Her body seemed to glow and pulsate with her untamed magic, growling and snarling as something slowly emerged from her body, pushing its way until it hovered in front of her chest.

Her soul.

Like all monsters, souls could materialize in the shape of a heart, often the same colour as their magic should they have any. Hers though was flipped upside down, covered in cracks and chips. How it stayed together at all was simply a miracle. However, it appeared by force, that her body was under extreme stress making the situation more precarious than before.

Ima chirped frantically again as the mechanical arms shivered under the strain of increasing the power, never having to maintain it this long before.

“Fuck, Dolores, whatever your plan is, it better work.”

With that, Brass took a few tentative steps closer to what was once his love, keeping an eye out for her soul. One wrong move and she would-

No head in the game. He thought to himself, arms cautiously stretching outward.

“Sezra, can ya hear me? It’s your Goofball. It’s me.” He tried his best to keep his voice calm, but she continued to stare with empty, glowing eyes, a low growl rumbling deep within her. Carefully, he reached his hand out for her arm, slow and calculated. The wolf flinched back, ears flat and teeth snarling.

“Shh, hey, hey, it’s just me, OK? It’s only me. I’ve got ya alright? I just want ya to come back to me is all.” Just a little further, he could almost touch her, the heat emanating from her magic ironically soothing. He thought he caught a glimpse of recognition in her eyes as she cautiously moved toward his hand, sniffing the fingers until she allowed him to touch her arm ever so softly, warm and sticky with blood. Her growl sounded content as he felt it ripple through his bones.

“Heh,” He gasped in relief.

“Ya see? It’s just me, I ain’t gonna hurt ya Sez. Ya know that. I lo- “

KRAAA-BOOOM

The thunder crashed through, the noise violently disrupting the tense peace. Ima trilled frantically, the wolf’s ears flicking towards the robot.

“Oh shit!”

He barely had time to react as she attempted to lunge towards Ima, mouth agape. He blocked her path as he raised his arm in front, teeth snapping shut through the leather and piercing the bones.

“Fuck!” He grunted through clenched teeth as they fell to the floor, her claws trying to swipe at his face. Acting on instinct, his free hand, balled in a tight fist, made sharp contact on her cheek to force her off. Yelping in pain, her jaw opened just enough for Brass to pull his arm away, shoving her to the side.

“Just hold on Brass!” Shouted Dolores, her hands rummaging through the pockets of Sezra’s coat that she managed to pull down from the hanger.

“The fuck you think I’m doing?!” Snapped Brass as he quickly pulled the squirming wolf into a tight bear hug. Her arms were pinned to her sides, but her claws continued to swipe at whatever they could reach. He winced in pain as they contacted his thighs, lines of green and crimson peeking through his clothes.

“Anytime Dolores!” He shouted, trying his best to readjust his grip, but her consistent thrashing made it impossible.

“Yes, got it!” She panted, holding an ornately designed train whistle in her pink paws, delicate leaves protruding from its metal surface.

“Ima, her soul! Try to hold her still Brass!”

“Right 'cause I definitely wasn’t trying earlier!” He yelled back sarcastically, his arm screaming in pain as he struggled to hold her there on the floor with him, his legs trying to clamp hers down. He noticed that one of the mechanical arms separated from the main body, swiftly gliding towards Sezra’s soul, digits gingerly pulling the soul towards Dolores. The further away it was though, the more she thrashed in his arms, desperate to be free, magic welling up once again.

KRA-BOOM

The entwined monsters fell on their side from their seated position, Brass crying out in pain as his bad arm was slammed to the ground at an odd angle. She wiggled herself free for a moment before he grabbed her tail, yanking her back as he slammed his body on top of hers and forced her into a choke-hold, incoherent snarls ringing in his skull.

“Dolores!” Brass growled, noticing the orb that Ima held in the remaining arm slowly dimming and growing smaller. The magic surrounding Sezra’s body seemed to grow hotter as the orb's power diminished. He willed his body to hold her tighter, to keep her still, even if his soul screamed in agony as he felt her ribs crack under his weight, her snarls gurgling against the pressure of her throat squeezing.

Dolores plucked two golden leaves that decorated the whistle, holding onto one as she carefully wrapped the other around the soul. It shivered as the leaf pulsed gently, golden tendrils seeping into the cracks. Placing the whistle in her mouth, Dolores breathed life into it as she moved towards the thrashing couple, the soul safely out of reach. Brass was surprised that instead of the typical sound of a train whistle, a comforting melody rang out, its sound akin to that of tinkling bells. Dolores kneeled in front of her friend who snarled at the mouse and the melody that followed her. Her eyes locked with Brass as she motioned with her free hand one last thing she needed him to do, aware of the orb losing its power and thus, their main form of protection. With her fingers opening and closing around the whistle, Brass nodded gravely.

He needed to grab her muzzle and keep it shut.

“Please forgive me.” He choked out, unsure if she could understand his words. With a swift motion, he released his choke-hold on her, sliding his hand along the bottom before curling his fingers around the muzzle, pressing his body more on her chest to force her down. His large hand easily contained the snout as the wolf glared with hatred at the spotted mouse in her way. Maintaining the soothing melody, Dolores placed the remaining leaf right above the glowing eyes of Sezra, shining in time with the melody.

Kra-Boom

Brass felt her body stiffen as the leaf connected with her forehead, her feral thrashing immediately ceased. Looking at Dolores who nodded her approval, the melody still trickling out of the whistle, he cautiously removed his hand from her muzzle, his imprint left on the shortened fur. When she didn’t move, he lifted his body away from hers and flopped beside Dolores, cradling his arm as the orb dissipated, gold and turquoise lighting the room. Dolores snapped her fingers, gaze fixed on the mesmerized wolf before her, her thin tail thumping the floor between her and Brass.

“What?” He whispered unconsciously, hypnotized at the sight before him. Dolores thumped her tail again, forcing Brass to look down at her just as Ima’s arm appeared, the soul still cradled within its grasp. She signed as best she could to Brass what his last task would be, taking a quick breath to slow the melody, each note playing out their voice. Pointing at the soul, Brass, and finally Sezra, she patted her chest gently as the turquoise magic slowly receded into its host.

“Wha-Me? But I don’t- “

The angry twitch of her ear cut off his words. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he tenderly took the soul from Ima, cradling it close to his chest, afraid to add any new damage to it. It felt so warm and gentle, just like her. As Dolores stood up, she held the note, the golden magic dancing around Sezra’s body lifting her as if she were nothing but a marionette doll. With the help of a small, but surprisingly strong robot, Brass groaned as he stood up and faced her, feeling her soul shiver as he closed the distance between them. The thunder had finally finished its concert, rumbling away to someplace new and replaced by the gentle rain once again. With one last note, Dolores removed the whistle from between her lips, chest heaving as she caught her breath. The last of the Conductor’s magic returned home, her body shimmering wistfully from the leaf that remained. Ignoring the pain in his arm, Brass placed a hand against her cheek, resting his skull on top of her now wild hair.

“Please,” He begged her soul, knowing it couldn’t answer.

“Come back to me.”

He carefully moved his hand that held the delicate soul and pressed it into her chest, praying for a miracle using his magic. The pale blue eyes fluttered close as her body slumped forward, absorbing what was rightfully hers. Brass held onto her tightly, gently squeezing as he painfully waited for the air to fill her lungs. If he did it wrong, forced the soul too soon or too quickly, then she would be forever lost.

“Don’t ya fuckin’ do this to me Sez, come one. Just one breath.”

With a sudden inhale, Sezra gasped to life again, coughing against the skeleton as her lungs greedily gulped oxygen. Dolores and Ima helped support the two monsters to sit on the floor, Brass rubbing her back as she attempted to get her bearings.

“Brass?” She questioned in between her coughs.

“What happened? Weren’t we asleep just now?”

The speaker in Dolores’s collar crackled to life as a relieved voice came through.

“Protocol S-14 has been completed and shut down Ma’am and the issue has been rectified. We are back on schedule.”

Still dazed, Sezra looked around her, wincing in pain as she tried to make sense of what happened.

“Protocol?” She asked groggily. “What do you mean proto- “

The pieces started to click in place. Mind still fuzzy, she looked at her companions that were in her room, noting that it should have been just the large skeleton who sat beside her on the ground, his arm lying limp in his lap. Her eyes shot wide open, her world becoming clearer. Limp? It wasn’t supposed to be limp. Unfiltered dread filled her body as she saw her love, though smiling, covered in scratches and ripped clothes, and a severely wounded arm, the sleeve showing bite marks and cracked bone.

“No…. Brass what happened? Did I?” She panted, her eyes flicking toward Dolores, Ima hovering at her side.

“Dear calm down you’re OK.” Dolores consoled, but her eyes caught the glint of the object that her friend still held. The train whistle.

“Protocol S-14.” Was her almost breathless declaration as the picture of what happened became all too painfully clear.

“Sez?” Brass reached out a hand, but the wolf flinched away, a ripple of pain causing her breath to catch in her throat. She finally looked down at her battered body, the bruises and blood mocking her as her sides burned and tingled. She didn’t want this to happen. She didn’t mean for this to happen. Not again. She couldn’t help but cover her ears, her arms stinging as the wounds reopened, feeling her tears overflow and unable to stop them.

“I…I’m sorry…. I’m so sorry…. sorry, sorry, sorry.” She rambled between her hiccuping sobs, shutting her eyes in failed attempts to make her reality seem like a horrible nightmare that she could wake up from.

“Sez look at me!”

She felt his hand firmly yet lovingly force her to look up into his face. She couldn’t bear to look him in the eye. Not after what she did to him.

“I’m so sorry Brass,” she whimpered pitifully, averting her eyes from his. She didn’t deserve to look at him.

“Sezra I’m fuckin’ serious ya need to look at me.” Shocked at his commanding tone she looked at him, his expression serious.

“But- “

“But fuckin’ nothin’ Sez. Ya need to look at me and listen to me alright?” It wasn’t a question. With her gaze fixed on him, he took a deep breath, calming his stress as best he could under the circumstances.

“I don’t know what happened exactly but what I do know is that this ain’t your fault, so don’t ya dare apologize for something ya didn’t have control over but please in the future, just talk to me ok? I don’t care what the hell it's about but…” his words trailed off as he pleaded into those big brown eyes that he missed, his thumb caressing her cheek.

“I thought I lost ya Sez. And I don’t think I could bear it if I did so I’m beggin’ ya. Don’t scare me like that again, ok?” He confessed, embarrassed at how vulnerable he felt. Unable to stop, she flung herself into his arms, ignoring the pain of her body as she wept openly into his chest for the first time.

“Dork.” He sighed as he squeezed her tight against him, vowing a silent oath to be there for her no matter what.

~~~~~~~~

“Oy, careful with those things Dolores!”

Brass squirmed in his seat as the mouse grabbed the medical scissors, snipping the bandage that she had wrapped his thigh in, the cool metal sending shivers down his spine.

“Oh, hush Dear I know what I’m doing. I’m almost done anyway.” She tutted the skeleton, disregarding his shyness at his compromised state in the baggy shorts and plain white shirt he now wore. Besides his arm needing to be in a sling for a few weeks and a few deep scratches marking his body, he came out relatively unscathed. For a first time, that was a miracle.

“And done! You’re good to go. We’ll keep an eye on that arm of yours. Make sure it heals properly.”

Hopping down from the bed, she scurried to clean up the medical supplies, keeping her hands busy like she always did when something stressful happened.

“Hey Dolo- “

“Don’t you worry Dear.” Interjected the bustling mouse, wanting to avoid what she knew he was going to ask.

“Ima should be finishing up with Sezra soon and the two of you can get some much-needed rest. I’ll bring a hearty soup for you both and- “

Her eyes were caught in the skeleton’s steel gaze, cutting her rambling dead in its tracks. He raised a brow bone at her, his impatience clear as day. Closing the bag with a click, she sighed, wringing her hands nervously.

“I know I said that I would tell you everything Brass.” Her voice was cautious as her hands now fiddled with her tail; his stare unmoving.

“But I think you would agree that it should come from Sezra herself. Especially after today, it would feel…. disloyal to talk about her situation.” His eyes narrowed but he remained deathly silent, noting her glance towards the closed bathroom door.

“However,” She continued, wanting to keep her word as best she could.

“From what she has told me, and what I’ve been able to see, she’s been through a lot. You saw her soul. You know it takes something major to cause a crack, so the fact that she has so many….” Her words trailed off, his gaze softening as he recalled, the vision burned in his skull. He sighed heavily, watching Dolores twist and turn her tail anxiously.

“I understand.” He grunted as he stood up from the bed, stretching his bones carefully.

“So, stop torturing your tail alright? I trust Sez and when she’s ready I’ll be here, so ya don’t need to worry about her. Just…” He looked away from Dolores, an embarrassed blush rising as he grumbled under his breath.

“Thanks…. for everything.”

Dolores, while shocked at first, couldn’t help but giggle in relief, causing the skeleton to whip around, skull shining a bright red.

“What’chu laughing for?” He yelled, more flustered than angry.

“Nothing Dear,” replied Dolores, patting her apron down as she grabbed the medical bag.

“I can see why she fell for you. Promise that you’ll treat her right?” She smiled, stifling another giggle as Brass tried to maintain some form of composure, scratching his skull in embarrassment. As he nodded silently, the bathroom door opened, Ima chirping as she guided the wolf’s steps encouragingly.

“Oh, my Dear, how are you feeling?” Dolores rushed to her side, gingerly placing her hand on her furred leg, watching out for the bandages and bruises. Gripping the doorway, she took small shaky steps, every muscle stinging in pain. She gave a small, embarrassed chuckle as she tried to focus on her feet.

“I’m alright Dolores, Ima did an excellent job. You didn’t get hurt though did you?”

“I’m not the one who is a few bandages short of a mummy Dear.” She tutted as Ima trilled at the praise.

“Heh, I guess that’s true. Sorry to have troubled you like- “

“Ah ah ah, no such talk Dear,” Dolores scolded gently as she peeked towards the silent skeleton.

Brass could hardly believe his eyes. She wore a matching pair of black shorts and a sports bra, her body covered in patches, bandages, and bruises. He winced as he noticed the black bruises that marked her delicate neck and cheek. All marks that he left on her, and yet she was worried about her friend as if what she went through was nothing at all. He felt confused as half felt the guilt and pain of seeing her in such a weak state, and yet the other half couldn’t help but find the pleasure. The way the little pieces of clothing clung to her body, showing off her delicious curves. He couldn’t be getting off to this, could he?

“Brass? You ok?” Snapping back to reality, realizing that all three were staring at him, he quickly cleared his throat, trying his best to hide his mixed guilt.

“Yeah, I’m good Sez. Despite being a small fry, Dolores got me fixed up in a jiff!” The bandaged beauty gave him an uncertain look, head cocking to the side.

“All right,” she stated slowly, taking another tentative step forward. She didn’t realize how much her body had gone through, each step shooting agonizing pain from the tips of her feet to her pointed ears. Seeing Brass wearing shorts and a plain t-shirt, his other clothes needing to be cleaned and fixed, his thighs bandaged and his arm in a sling, she felt grief at the pain that she caused him. Even if she couldn’t remember what happened. Lost in thought, she misplaced her footing, teetering forward as she closed her eyes to brace for the impact as best she could.

“Whoa, I got ya!” She sucked in through gritted teeth as her ribs protested the rough movement, Brass stopping her fall short with his body as he wrapped his good arm around her, wincing as his other arm was jostled roughly.

“S-sorry!” She gasped, hugging her sides as she tried to catch her breath.

“A-all good, ya alright Babe?”

“Yeah I’m-Wait what did you just call me?” She raised her gaze, cheeks flushing as she relished inside at her new nickname. Confused at first, he returned the look, only to blush himself once he realized what he called her. He had never called her that before, but he would be lying to himself by saying he didn’t like the way it rolled off his tongue.

“OK you two lovebirds, that’s my cue to leave.” Piped up the cheerful voice behind them. Dolores giggled as the two tried to hide their respective nerves. She had already shut down Ima and headed towards the door waving over her shoulder.

“Just remember you both need rest, so if you can manage it, try to keep it in your pants.” She chuckled.

“Dolores!” They shouted in unison, her giggles fading down the hallway.

Finally sitting on the bed, the awkward silence palpable as the other tried to think of what to say. Brass grunted slightly as he readjusted himself, trying to get closer to Sezra. Her eyes darted over faster than her body could move. She had to make it up to him.

“You OK?” She asked quietly, slowly shifting her body sideways to face him properly, muscles pleading for her to be still.

“Yeah, this ain’t nothin’ for me so don’t worry about it Sez.” He winked back a wide grin hoping for that beautiful smile to return.

“I’m truly sorry Brass. This is all my fault. You’re only wounded because of me.” She stated sadly as she tenderly placed her hands on his sling, ears drooping when he flinched at her feather touch. She inhaled carefully, her ribs warning her with searing pain, and closed her eyes. Soft turquoise magic glowed from her paws and curled around the sling, the warmth seeping deep into his bones.

“Sez what- “

“Just…. please.” She cut off. Her eyes filled with tears.

“Just let me do this at least.”

Brass looked down at his arm, marvelling at the way her magic flowed around it, the glow making her seem even more radiant despite her bandages. As the glow faded, she removed her hands tenderly, looking up at him.

“How does that feel?”

Brass flexed his fingers cautiously, surprised at how well his arm felt from mere moments ago.

“That feels pretty good. It doesn’t hurt as bad.” He gave her another large smile, amazed by her abilities yet again.

“Good, I’m glad.” She sighed, the fatigue catching up yet again. Even performing simple healing magic in her state was far more strenuous and exhausting than she realized.

“It’s the least I could, especially since I’m the one who hurt you.” Her heart ached at the words, guilt washing over again. He never deserved any of this.

“Hey, come ’ere.” Surprised at his gentle tone, she slowly, painfully shifted back at his side, his hand guiding her along the way patiently. Once she was comfortable again, he wrapped his good arm around her, careful not to jostle her.

“It’s fine. Remember what I said? Ya don’t need to apologize.” His skeletal lips placed tender kisses along her hair, grazing the tips of her ears teasingly. Her heart pounded in confused excitement, relishing every kiss, and yet seeming to beg for more.

“I ain’t gonna pry when you’re clearly not ready, so just come to me when ya are. I’ll be there. Despite everything I saw, everything that happened, you’re still the most beautiful, kind soul I’ve ever met, and I promise that this,” he declared as he moved his hand to rest on her chest where moments ago he had returned her soul, her body tingling at his touch.

“Your soul will never have to go through so much if I have anythin’ to say.”

Her heart swelled with his oath filled with love, affirming her feelings ever more for the skeleton at her side. Ignoring the pain, she moved from his embrace and swung her leg over his before he could protest, straddling him as he blushed deeply. He meant the world to her, and while they couldn’t do much in their current states, nothing said she couldn’t give him a teaser for when their bodies were healed. She inched herself closer, feeling the heat rise on her cheeks as her fingers playfully crawled down the skeleton’s shirt, stopping shy of where she knew he wanted her to go.

“I know,” her voice as smooth as silk replied, a coy smile on her lips as he grew more flustered at her change in attitude.

“I am truly sorry for what happened today, and I promise that I’ll come to you when the time is right. Once we’ve healed though, I have a better way to make it up to you~” She whispered teasingly as she leaned forward carefully, kissing Brass deeply, and passionately, conveying both her apology, gratitude, and love. The pain in her body pushed away and dulled under the stronger physical needs.

“Mmm…. holy shit Babe…” He moaned breathlessly as he returned her kiss, his hips bucking ever so slightly as he pulled her body gently closer.

As promised, here's the link for the inspiration of the latest story!

Hello everyone, back again with another story! This one has been in the works for a little bit as it was inspired by another commission I was able to get from @Whocares810 on Twitter which I'll share the link right after. I'm also excited to introduce 3 new characters that are a part of Imagination Station, so I hope you'll enjoy getting to know more about them in the future. Without further ado, all aboard!

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The train thundered down the tracks, the clanking beating to a perfect rhythm amidst the clear blue sky and lush trees. On a perfect day like this, you had to be in this wondrous machine to truly appreciate the beauty all around as it whipped by seamlessly. Looking out the large window, she breathed in a deep sigh. Everything was running just as it should. After checking the engine one more time and ensuring the engineer and her replacement were good to go, she made her way down each train car. She’ll get to relax soon enough but she had a job to do first.

With her cap on tight, she ensured that each guest she encountered was tended to, the rooms were neat, and the food excellent as always. So far so good. Though still warm, her smile slowly grew tired, the fatigue catching up to her. When no one was looking, she rubbed a gloved paw against the bridge of her nose, willing her body to keep going just a little longer. Soon.

She felt a small tug of her tail surprising her out of her thoughts. Turning around, she saw one of the workers on her train, Dolores Smalls. A mouse monster and Head of Cleaning. Softly swishing her tail to the side, she bent down closer to her level.

“Hello Dolores, what is it? Is everything alright?” She questioned, her head slightly cocking to the side in curiosity.

“For the most part Dear, I just wanted to make sure you were alright. Goodness me you work so hard with little rest, it's not healthy!” Dolores chided, her amethyst eyes looking over the grey wolf with concern. Sezra smiled tiredly, grabbing the mouse’s tiny pink paws gently.

“Thank you for your concern, Dolores, but you know that it’s a big responsibility to look after this train and everyone in it, including you, my friend. I can’t just take it easy whenever I want.”

“Yes, child I know,” she tutted, patting the gloved paws.

“But you can’t be of much help either if you’re exhausted. Besides, don’t you have that nice young man waiting for you in your quarters?”

She felt a blush rush to her cheeks, her tail wagging happily in delight, giving away her thoughts. The spotted mouse smiled at the reaction of her usually composed friend and boss.

“I thought so Dear. So why don’t you take your well-deserved break and be with him? You need to replenish your strength and magic, and he’s so handsome, I would’ve taken him if I wasn’t already married!”

“Dolores!”

The mouse laughed at the wolf’s embarrassment, glad that she finally found someone to call her own. Sezra sighed, cheeks and ears burning with embarrassment and an anxiousness to be with him. She looked back at her friend, standing almost defiantly in front of her, a high-heeled shoe tapping impatiently. She chuckled as she stood up from her crouching position.

“You’re right, as usual Dolores. I am pretty tired. Do you think you could- “

“Hold down the fort? Of course, Sezra, you know I always do when you need to rest. This is not my first rodeo, and handling the train is much easier than trying to raise 15 little scamps at once I’ll tell you that!”

She laughed, remembering the time when Dolores had brought her little ones to the train one time. Cute as they were, they were…certainly full of energy. Stifling a yawn as she quickly stretched her muscles, she waved her hand, sparkling turquoise magic curling between her fingers until it formed an orb. With a quick tap of her finger, she knew that other orbs would show up simultaneously throughout the train, acting as one large video feed.

“Hello dear passengers,” She began, her voice pleasant but commanding.

“We all wish to thank you once again for choosing to ride with us and hope that you’ve enjoyed your stay thus far. Please do not be afraid to ask our delightful staff should you need anything, or if you need something more specific or urgent,” she split her orb in two, lowering the second quickly to face Dolores who gave a polite wave.

“Please reach out to Dolores Smalls who is more than capable of assisting you. Thank you again and enjoy your stay!” With a final tip of the cap, she closed her hands together, closing the orbs for now until later. She breathed a sigh of exhausted relief, the fatigue catching up on her more than ever now. While her magic was strong, it still took a lot out of her.

“Dear…” Squeaked Dolores. Sezra held her hands up in surrender, a sheepish smile on her face.

“I know, I know, I need rest, don’t worry Dolores I’m going now.”

The two began to walk towards the Conductor’s Quarters, mild chatter exchanged between them until they reached the dark oak wood door, gold embroidery tastefully along the edges.

“Alright, now you go get some rest Dear, you’ve been on your feet all night and most of the day! Did you want Chef to make the two of you something to eat?”

“Maybe in a little bit thanks. I could just use some sleep.”

Dolores nodded a mischievous smile on her rose-tinted lips.

“You sure it’s just sleep you need?”

A rush of heat ran across her face, ears perking up and tail twitching excitedly.

“Dolores!” She responded embarrassed, her cheeks flushed a bright tomato red. The mouse only squeaked out laughter in playful jest.

“Just saying Sezra, it’s certainly a different way to relax, and he seems so polite, sweet, and handsome to boot! What was his name again? Brass, was it?”

The door opened gracefully, the large figure emerging from within, towering over the two easily, a toothy grin flashing brightly.

“Ya, called?” Brass asked, winking at the two ladies before him.

Dolores gave a little giggle, her wild curls bouncing in time while Sezra, trying to hide her blush gave the skeleton a happy, but fatigued smile.

“Hey Brass, sorry I’m back so late. I hope I didn’t keep you waiting for too long.” The skeleton slid closer to her, his leather arms wrapping her in a warm embrace.

“Nah, you’re good Sez. Gotta say you’ve got some pretty sweet digs here, I could get used to this heh.” He gave a skele-kiss on her warm cheek, noting the blush still present and her tail wagging happily despite her efforts to remain professional.

“Besides,” he whispered carefully into her ear, careful to not let Dolores hear, sliding his arm from her shoulder down her back, skeletal finger teasingly tracing the way. She shivered at his electric touch, the hallway suddenly feeling more cramped and hotter than usual.

“I know the perfect way to help you unwind.” He growled softly, her ear twitching at his sensual tone and hot breath.

“Brass!” She hissed quietly, eyes pointing out their company. Dolores clasped her hands together, her smile beaming mischievously.

“Well, I can certainly see that you’re in capable hands here, so I’ll leave you two be. Brass, you make sure she gets her rest alright? I’m counting on you. I’ll bring some food for you later. If you’re not busy that is!”

“DOLORES!” Sezra shouted in embarrassment as the mouse scampered away giggling, Brass laughing along beside the wolf, enjoying seeing her get frazzled.

“Dolores doesn’t hold back, does she?” Asked Brass, gently bringing Sezra into the room and closing the door behind them. The grey wolf sat on the velvet emerald couch groaning, tossing her cap unceremoniously to the floor and rubbing her temples.

“Nope, but that just means she trusts you. She’s usually way more cordial with others.” Now that she finally sat down, her whole body felt like lead.

“Heh, good to know. Sucks for you though.” She looked over at him quizzically, head cocked to the side. Brass loved how cute she looked when she did that and did his best to stifle his own blush.

“Now you’ve got double trouble to tease you!” He grinned teasingly.

“Ha ha, you’re right, I didn’t even realize that.” She stifled a yawn as she moved to take off her coat. As tired as she was, she didn’t want to wrinkle that piece of her uniform. It always took so long to smooth out the wrinkles, so the less she had to do it, the better.

“Here let me help you Sez. You’re moving pretty sluggish so I think I can take this off a little faster than you. You alright?” His large hands carefully guided her arms through the sleeves, careful to not crush her coat by accident. She breathed in his scent deeply. The smell of leather, oak, and a small hint of blackberries enveloped her in their comforting allure. She rested her head against his body as she let him control her arms like a doll, not noticing him stopping for a moment at the sudden contact, his face turning beet red.

“Yeah, just exhausted. Pulled an all-nighter and used up a lot of magic in the process. You smell nice.” Brass coughed, trying to hide his embarrassment and maintain his macho look. He gently pushed her back into the couch so that he could hang her coat. She felt so warm and soft.

“Ahem, but didn’t ya also work all day yesterday too? Then most of today?” She slowly nodded; her eyes closed as she relaxed more into the couch. He stared at her for a moment, amazed that she was still going and willing to keep going. If it was him, he would have already passed out after a full day. Any longer than that and he would be seeing red.

“Damn, no wonder you’re exhausted. Did ya need anything?” She just shook her head slowly, her chestnut hair resting softly against her body in perfect curls.

“Just you.”

He was taken aback at her bluntness. Usually, she would be skirting around the issue or just be too shy to admit what she really wanted. He shrugged his shoulders, a boyish smile on his face as he knew exactly what to do.

Standing in front of her again, in one swift movement, he scooped his arms around her, startling her out of her drowsiness as her eyes shot open in surprise.

“Huh, Brass what you- “

“Just shush.”

She closed her mouth at the soft command, feeling his body press her close to him as he sat down on the couch and then leaned against the wall, shifting her body effortlessly so that she could lay on top of him comfortably.

“Ain’t this much better?” He asked as he kissed her ear tenderly, his arms still holding her close. She only nodded sheepishly, surprised that she was even light enough for him. She jumped a little as she felt his hands drift down to her waist, his leg moving to open the space for her to sink deeper in his embrace.

“Just thought you might like this better and figured ya be more comfortable.” He continued, his hand twirling some of her hair slowly, careful to not let any strands get stuck between his joints. She smiled, her tail softly swaying as she finally allowed her body to relax in the embrace.

“You’re right. This is much better.” She cooed softly, nuzzling her head against his chest. She looked out the window over his shoulder, the scene whipping by them in a haze of colours.

“Thank you, Brass. You’re amazing you know that?” He chuckled as he kissed her head again, wanting to keep them frozen in time.

“And don’t you forget it either! Now try to rest alright? Or else Dolores will never let me hear the end of it.” However, her eyelids had already drooped closed, her breathing calm and steady. She had already fallen asleep, and he couldn’t be happier. He continued to twirl her hair, switching between the chestnut and the silver, his other hand softly stroking her back. He watched her body rise and fall with each breath, matching his. A soft rain began to hit the window. This was perfect. He gave her a little hug, grinning as he felt her snuggle into him subconsciously. He breathed in her scent, relishing the simple moment as he whispered to the air, wishing he was able to say those precious words face to face.

“Rest well. I…I love you Sezra.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dolores led the way, a young ram intern following close behind her pushing a silver trolley, the dishes on top quietly clinking with each step. For being a small mouse, the ram had to almost trot to keep up with her quick pace.

“Alright Dear, since I know this is your first trip with us, I can understand that you’re nervous, but you don’t need to fear. You’ve already met the Head Conductor Sezra when you got the job right?” She looked back quickly, her chocolate curls bouncing with each determined step. The ram stumbled over his words, taken back by her assertiveness.

“Uh, y-yes ma’am I-I did.” He bleated. Her steps never lost their pace once as she looked forward again.

“Then relax Dear, you’re doing just fine. That friendly demeanor she had then is the same one she will, and has always had, but listen to me carefully now. Winston, was it?”

“Huh?”

Dolores flicked her tail, her impatience starting to get the better of her. She took a quick breath.

“You’re name Dear. Or is it not Winston?” The ram scolded himself quietly, black hooves shaking slightly as they griped the handle tighter.

“O-oh, yes ma’am. It is. W-Winston is my name.”

“Good, so Winston, once we get to her quarters, I need you to wait a moment outside with the trolley do you understand? Do NOT come in until I tell you to. We do not want to be rude and just intrude into their space before they’re ready. Does not matter if they’re a guest, a staff member, or Sezra herself got it?” She looked back at the ram, amethyst eyes piercing into ocean blue, ensuring that her point was made clear.

“Y-y-yes ma’am, g-got it!” He managed to squeak out.

“Wonderful, because we’re here now.”

Winston had to stop very quickly, one hooved hand reaching towards the plates on top to make sure they didn’t fly off at his sudden stop. He didn’t want to be fired because he ran over the Head Cleaner.

“Nice reflexes, now wait here like I said. I’ll let you know when to come in.” Winston shook his head, fixing his little bow tie and patting his wool down to make sure he looked presentable. Dolores knocked on the door, polite, but loud enough for the inhabitants to hear.

“Pardon me, but I’ve brought some dinner for the two of you if you’d like. May we come in?”

Silence.

Dolores, moving some of her curls out of the way, placed an ear against the door, trying to hear any signs of movement from within. With a small scowl, she reached into her apron pocket, pulling out a small golden key. Placing it against the door, magic swirled around, revealing another small door, mouse-sized. Winston looked on in awe. There seemed to be surprises everywhere he looked.

“This is a special key that was crafted by Sezra’s magic. It allows us to create doors so that we can enter the rooms if there is an issue, and it is locked from the inside. It should only ever be used in emergencies.” Explained Dolores, feeling the youthful curiosity of the ram staring at her. Opening the door carefully, she walked inside, grabbed the key, and put it back in her pocket. The door would remain so long as she was still in there. Noticing the only light in the room was from the window, she quietly closed the door and carefully scampered towards the couch, the rain outside and the soft patter of her feet breaking the silence. As she drew near, she finally understood why there had been no response.

“Oh, the poor things.” She whispered to herself. On the couch in front of her was Sezra, sleeping peacefully in the arms of Brass, who was also asleep. Their breathing matched perfectly as they softly snored. She smiled to herself, remembering what it was like to be young and in love. She grabbed from a different pocket a small jewel, resembling a pearl, and pressed a button beneath it. It whirred gently to life, growing a small mechanic body in seconds.

“Hello Ima, I have a job for you, but it must be done quickly and quietly understand?” She asked in a hushed tone. The robotic jewel chirped quietly, hovering delicately before her.

“Perfect, I need you to close the curtains and then help me put a warm blanket over these two alright?” Without another word, Ima hovered towards the curtains, forming fingers to grab the curtain edges and pull them close as Dolores opened the closet, pressing a hidden button to lower a blanket to her level. With Ima grabbing the top half and Dolores holding onto the bottom, the two were able to effortlessly place the blanket on top of the lovers. As she shut down Ima and turned to walk out of the room, Brass seemed to stir in his sleep. Dolores stopped dead in her tracks, her ears perking behind her and wishing to the heavens above that she didn’t disturb them.

“Mmm…. Sez….” The skeleton grumbled in his sleep, his arms tightening around the wolf in his arms before his breathing matched hers again in slumber. Dolores sighed in relief as she made her way out quickly, careful to close the door behind her as gently as possible.

“Ma’am?” Winston asked cautiously. She never did mention what the sign would be exactly.

“Let’s head back to the kitchen and put the food away for now Dear. We’ll try again later. Do you mind popping this on the door handle for me though?” Winston looked at Dolores as she pulled out a little sign from the bottom of the trolley. He walked around the piece carefully as he reached down to grab it from her outstretched hand.

Please Do Not Disturb

I've also got all my stories on here as well if that's where you'd prefer, and in case tumblr decides to be silly in the future.

Hello everyone! Sorry that its been awhile, and I thank you all for your support and patience. This one may be short, but it definitely got my spark going again for writing! It was inspired from a commission I was able to get from @Whocares810 on Twitter which I'll share here when I can, between her character Brassberry, and my OC/Self-insert Sezra that you've come to know on this page. Please give them a follow over there if you haven't already. Without further ado, all aboard!

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Ears twitched nervously, the coolness of the bedroom floor seeping into the soft paws keeping her locked in the moment. She stared intently at the bikini lying on the bed, taunting her.

          “Everything OK in there?” called out a gruff voice.

“Oh, um, yeah I’m OK, just…thinking is all.” Startled out of her thoughts, she gripped the robe tighter around herself as she called out into the hallway.

“Ya sure you don’t need any help?” the voice asked teasingly only to be met with silence.

Brass stared quizzically toward the hallway.

“Sezra?” He knew that she was nervous about this for some reason, but she had insisted. It was the first time in a while that she got a break from the Station and had planned something as a result. She begged him to wait on the couch while she changed but that was almost 20 minutes ago. He started to move off the couch, concern growing on his skeletal face.

“Ya know if you’re that nervous- “

“WAIT!”

He stopped almost as quickly as he got off the couch, the sudden fear in her voice surprising him.

She quivered a little, scolding herself for being so childish and shouting at him like that.

“I, I’m sorry, I just don’t want you to see since it’s a surprise and all, and I’m just nervous since I’ve never worn anything like this before and I don’t know if I’ll like how it looks let alone you and- “

“Sez, deep breath, you’re rambling.” They hadn’t known each other for very long, and even then, she tended to keep a lot of things guarded up behind a wall. However, he knew her little signs and cues when something was wrong. He could hear her trying to calm her breathing, deep and slow like he showed her.

“C’mon Sez, ya know that no matter what, I think you’d look great in anything! Then again, I’ve only seen you in your uniform but hey! That’s pretty sexy!” He heard her giggle ever so slightly. He got comfortable on the couch again, resting a leather arm on the plush armrest.

“I do mean it though. I may not know what happened to ya in the past, but you’re something special. So, stop trying to hide that from yourself, OK? I won’t push you to do something ya ain’t comfortable with. But if ya don’t do it now, when will you?”

She breathed in deeply once more, forcing her paws to stop shaking as she listened to his comforting words.

“You’re right Brass. Thank you. Give me just a sec, OK? I’ll be right out. Promise you’re not going to move?”

The large skeleton chuckled warmly.

“I promise Sez.”

With her heart pounding, she threw off her robe and grabbed the bikini, slipping it on quickly. Tying the ribbon around her neck, she used her magic at the same time to tie the string on her back, watching herself in the mirror to make sure nothing was out of place. Her nerves grew again as she stared at her body, seeing nothing but imperfections and hidden scars.

She shook her head, clapping her cheeks lightly. Not now. She couldn’t let those voices control her thoughts now, especially when she already made him wait for this long.

“So, I know I kept this as a surprise, but I thought since I finally got some time off, we could go out swimming. However, I didn’t have anything to wear since I hadn’t gone in years.”

“Ah, and that’s what ya want to show me huh?” A coy smile spread across his skeletal face, trying to imagine what she got. He had yet to see her wear anything but her uniform, and he was getting excited at the thought of being able to see her.

“Exactly! I’m just…. I’m just scared that you’re not going to like it. Well, more like me…” The words caught in her throat, stopping at the doorway. The fear, the humiliation, but most of all, the shame and self-loathing crept back into her mind.

Brass stared down the hallway again, struggling to find the right words.

“Sez, I promise you that no matter what, an outfit isn’t going to change what I think about you. Besides, I ain’t the thinnest monster out there, but that doesn’t change how you feel about me right? I know you’re scared, but I’m right here alright?”

Quickly wiping away a tear, she breathed in deep and walked out into the hallway, heading towards where the skeleton sat patiently. She felt the heat rise again in her cheeks, her ears pinning close against her hair, tail swaying nervously.

“OK, here it is.”

Brass, feeling pride for her taking the chance, looked up as the grey wolf came into view, her assets in plain view. He blushed almost immediately, stumbling over his words.

“I…oh…woah…”

“Um, what do you think?” She questioned sheepishly.

She stood nervously in front of him, hand gripping her arm behind her back to give him a clear view, the heat on her cheeks becoming unbearable. She was wearing a black bikini, showing off her curves that usually hid behind her uniform. The bottoms hugged her hips almost dangerously low, but the top was where the show was. The ribbon tied sensually around her neck drew the eye down to a keyhole opening, her breasts seeming to shape a heart as they seemed to almost bulge out. The silver streak in her hair curved playfully on top. A perfect mix of innocence and sexuality.

“What do I think?” He began, pulling out a cap seemingly out of nowhere.

“Think I been waiting my whole life for this moment.”

With a wide grin and chuckle, he placed the cap on, the caption proudly reading, Bikini Inspector. Though she still felt embarrassed, she couldn’t help but laugh a little as Brass, like a small child, grabbed the air between them, the smile never fading from his face as he continued to stare at her lovingly.

“Where did you even get that?” She asked as she moved toward his grabby skeletal fingers, the nerves easing as she knew he was staring at her, not through her. With his hand gingerly placed on her thigh, she drew in close, pulling off the cap and placing a tender kiss on his head, his smile as wide as ever.

“Goofball.”

“Only for you Sez, and in case you didn’t catch it, you’ve officially passed my inspection!” Pulling her into his lap, her warm fur tickling his bones, he buried his face against the beautiful pillows that only he could touch.

“Especially these babies!”

I know that its been a while since I've been here. Life took hold for a while, both good and bad. To those of you who have stayed, I can't thank you enough. I know I'm a small account, but I truly appreciate every single one of you. I'll slowly get back into the swing of things, but I'll also leave a link for my Twitter if you want to follow me there as well. Until next time!

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Deep in the heart of the forest, there was a small cottage. Blending almost seamlessly into trees, the magic surrounding the area further helping to hide its presence from unwanted visitors, lived a young witch. She worked tirelessly to perfect her magic, growing in the arts of healing, love, and illusion. However, still being young, her magic was still wild and untamed.

She stirred her cauldron, deep in thought, as she re-read the spell over and over, trying to make sure that this time it would be successful.

"OK, so far everything seems good, no explosions or anything yet. All that's left, is adding a four leaf clover that still has drops of the morning dew on it."

With a flick of her slender wrist, her cauldron continued to stir on its own while she looked around for her last ingredient, her deep, wine colored dress gently flowing behind her.

"Come on where is it? I know I put it here somewhere...."

Her amber eyes flitted around her shelf littered with clear jars of herbs and oddities, her wild, ruby hair dancing with her frantic movements. She reached further into the middle shelf, gently moving aside medicinal herbs along the way.

"It should be here..."

She strained her reach further, forcing her toes to precariously balance her against the shelf until....

"Aha! Gotcha! Oh whoa whoa whoa!"

Just as she clasped the jar that held the clover, the shelf decided that was the opportune time to test gravity. Swaying back and forth dangerously, she flailed her arms, hoping to get some grasp of magic to balance out the shelf and herself again. Gritting her teeth, she willed her magic to work, to save her potion.

"Geez, it's so heavy....oh no!"

Just as she gently pushed the shelf back into place, a small jar containing strands of midnight fur from a cat, fell from the top shelf, diving right to her potion. She threw out her hand, hoping to use her magic to catch it, but forgot that was the hand that had the four leaf clover. She could only watch in horror as the jars crashed into each other, intertwining and sprinkling together into the cauldron. The potion turned from a mint green into a light, almost lavender purple, the smoke billowing out in black clouds. It seemed to fill her entire home, forcing its way out through any open airway or crack to the world outside like a giant beacon, until it just stopped with a quiet hiss.

She slumped down to the floor, tears filling her eyes.

"No, that was supposed to show me where there are others like me, and to help me control my magic. Now its ruined, and who knows how long until I can find another clover."

She wept helplessly on the floor, her tears pooling on the floor. Her magic, swirled around her, almost comforting her, until they were interrupted by a sharp tapping on the window. She looked up in surprise to see a large raven, black as a starlets night, sitting on her windowsill. She stared at it curiously, wiping her tears away.

"Hey there little fellow, what are you doing all the way out-"

Her words were cut off as the raven spread its wings and flew in, heading straight towards her. Her magic flared up again, but seemed to be pushed away by the Raven's wings and it flew ever closer to her until its beak, gently touched her forehead. A kiss.

She had no time to process as suddenly her purple colored magic was mixing with a charcoal colored magic. The raven seemed to grow larger, taking on a different form, the beak still kissing her forehead. She closed her eyes tight admist the dazzling magic until a rough, but soft voice spoke.

"You have nothing to fear now. I am here for you. I'll help you."

She now noticed how she was embraced in strong arms, clothed in the same black as the Ravens feathers were. Looking up, she took in every detail. His strong physique, his warm earthy smell, the muscles that so tenderly held her, his black curly locks that framed his face. What took her breath away, was his eyes. Blue as sky, and while they showed such kindness, they showed such painful loneliness as well. This man, was a wizard. Another one of her kind. He tenderly stroked her hair.

"I'm glad that I happened to be practicing my flying when I noticed your signal for help. Don't worry, you'll be just fine now."

He released her and bowed elegantly. He raised his head, taking her hand in his as he softly kissed it, those blue eyes staring intently at her.

I'm sorry that I've been so quiet on here. Things have been rough mentally, and especially for me coming to terms that I do have depression and anxiety, and that I should not be ashamed of that. This year has been a rough one, no doubt about that, but I'm also glad that it gave me the opportunity to seek the help that I need for my mental health that I've neglected for so long. I'll try to post more often (one being right after this), but I just want to say thank you, for still being here, not just supporting me, but just for being here on this earth.

Thank you.