Stages:
Stage 1: City Streets (IN a peaceful city at night)
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Stage 2: Highway (They drive on a highway that is elevated to a roadway)
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Stage 3: City Limits (They enter the borderland between the city and the areas of the unknown)
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Stage 4: Polar Rockies
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Stage 5: Desert Highway (They ride a highway in the middle of the desert now 5 miles out of the city)
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Stage 6: Abandoned Temple (They are in a temple that has been rusting for 5 centuries (500 years))
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Stage 7: Underground Tunnel (They are in a mine of crystals and material
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Stage 8: Abandoned Rail Yard (They are in a train yard where it has abandoned diesel locomotives dating back to the 1950's 60's 70's 80's and 90's)
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Stage 9: Minecart Coaster (They are in a mineshaft and they ride a minecart that acts like a roller coaster)
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Stage 10: Star Fair
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Stage 11: Color Casino
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Stage 12: Volcano Base (They ride a road curling up a volcano that goes to the top)
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Stage 13: River of souls (The walk on a pathway paralleling a river with lights in the water)
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Stage 14: Party Palace
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Stage 15: Rock Railway
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Stage 16: The ride of no return (They go through a portal in the middle of space)
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Stage 17: Tunnel of darkness (They enter a tunnel of ghosts of people having a bad day)
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Stage 18: the zip line (They ride on a zip line hovering over a forest)
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Stage 19: Lost Jungle (The final road before Alix's Space Station)
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Stage 20: Castle Heights (They are in a castle with a secret gateway to the lab)
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Stage 21: Alix's Space Station MK II (A space station powered by electricity)

I NEED
GO! With the Flow Turkish Delight Going Up! Feline Good Seas the Day! Fun on Wheels L’eleganza Football Heaven The Classics Canoe for Two
I CAN TRADE Sell High Freedom Rings High Hopes Chic Boutique Big City Lights Speeding Bullet Divine Shrine Towering Tokyo Taiko Temple Your Biggest Fan Dynamic Duet Canal Fowl Sugar Loaf Fancy Footwork Carnival Queen Just hangin’ Vibrant Vila What in tarnation? A star is born Glow hunt Virtual Bias Incredibowl Make a Wish Truth or Dare SPQR Cin Cin! Eye of Rome Looking Glassy Beary Best Calamari Attack Red lift Spotted! The Iron Lady Matching Game River Queen Spring Feast Portly Pretzel Spice it up
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Play MONOPOLY GO! with me! Download it here: https://s.scope.ly/SYRKKvyyImc https://s.scope.ly/SYRKKvyyImc

Osaka-kobe-kyoto-nara
Osaka kyobashi station near our airbnb 10min wak Aug 1 Arrive from tokyo * 1-day Hanshin Tourist Pass, ¥700, to be used on Day 1,

• 1-day Osaka Amazing Pass, ¥2500, to be used on aug 2
  
• 3-day Kansai Thru Pass,, ¥4900, to be used on Days 3,4 and 5
  
• Dotonburi Go to air bnb Grocery for dinner or explore for food
  

Aug2 kobe - Minotogawa jinja 7am - Sorakuen garden 8:30 - hakutsuru brewery 9:30am - Sushitobashabushabu no8 11am (90min eat time) - Himeji castle 4pm - The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Memorial Museum 6pm - Kobe bay cruise 7pm (sold out na) - Kobe harborland ferris wheel at night 8pm
Aug 3: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN07:00am – Wake up call0900- universal and enjoy10:30pm – Back to hotel, lights out
Aug 4: OSAKA CITY TOUR00600 – Wake up0800 - osaka castle Osaka castle boat tour 900¥ – Umeda Sky Building Observatory, FREE (OA Pass) – Subway from Umeda to Namba, FREE (OA Pass)05:00pm – Tombori River Cruise, FREE, (OA Pass)06:00pm – Dotonbori Night Tour, FREE (OA Pass)07:30pm – dinner a10:30pm – Back to hotel, lights out
Aug 5: NARA DAY TOUR0600 – Wake up call

1. Kasuga Taisha and Wakamiya Shrines
2. Todaiji Temple including Daibutsuden Hall to see the Great Buddha statue
3. Lunch
4. Kofukuji Temple
5. Deers

Aug 6: KYOTO DAY TOUR 07:00am – Wake up-arashiyama bamboo forest -fushimi inari tori gates shrine– nijo castle 1200yen -kyoto tower Back home Aug 7 Wake up Fix things Shop a bit Check out Head to airport
Anything worth adding? Ty appreciate the help

Sorry I've been gone for a bit, I had a storyline to finish up and a few bad bouts of writer's block, but I managed to get to this finished up! Here's Season 4, eps 1-13! Be sure to leave some feedback!
Season 4 (March-April):

1. Truth: First change (shared with Lies): Lukanette/Adrigami are clearly established to have been a thing over multiple weeks/a month, with the NY special being the second(?) time they’re truly established. I doubt it’s truly satisfactory, but stuff still has to work within this specific season/the larger narrative, so… eh. Second change: Andrew Hendrol is present for the concert on the Liberty (“I might have to challenge you guys to a battle of the bands one day.”) and slips off to transform into Dragonus just before Luka arrives akumatized. He absorbs Truth/Eyebeam’s (renamed Light Eye) powers then buggers off to appear later in Lies. Third change: Shadow Moth’s design. While I personally like it, it wasn’t terribly popular. So here's a slight redesign: the main body can stay the same with its purple overcoat and black lapels but make the purple a bit darker and the lapel is the same as it was on Hawk Moth. His cowl is now a chromed blue with a peacock feather “eye” right on the forehead instead of his Zuko monocle. His skin turns indigo like Mayura’s and his eyes are like Duusu’s, but more malevolent. The biggest change to his costume is the function of the tailcoat itself: its tail is like a male peacock’s train, long and vibrant blue with pinkish feather eyes in the back, and it opens and spreads in reaction to his emotions. For example, if he’s pleased or angry, it opens up and spreads out behind him, and if he’s exasperated/neutral, it folds back down. Fourth change: Marinette’s transformation into Ladybug is fixed this time around.
   
2. Lies: First change: Marinette isn’t as fan-girly over the Adrien life showing, instead wondering if he’s doing alright with his schedule. Tikki and the others assure her that he’s probably used to it, and she doesn’t have to be so worried about it. Of course, this doesn’t dissuade her nerves, especially not when the modeling session the show films has Lila in it. Second change: The art room scene gets a couple added lines of dialogue (“Adrien. Our parents raised us for perfection, but we don’t need that. We’re already perfect. We’re perfect. Just show me your truth.” “But… I’m not sure what that truth is.” “Let me show you.”) before their class starts. Third change: the Hendrols are present for Prince Ali’s birthday party – it’s why Dragonus skedaddled from the fight – and Andrew manages to hide and transform without anyone noticing, avoiding Lies’ sphere. Even Dragonus can’t risk touching the sphere, even if his cravings for power – much like a vampire – don’t go away.
   
3. Gang of Secrets: First change: Tikki attempts to console Marinette after she talks about worrying about Shadow Moth and Dragonus (“Well, Duusu had always been a bit chaotic. I could imagine that he might be causing Shadow Moth a problem or two. As for Dragonus… he can’t have it much better than you right now, right?”), which cuts to Andrew Hendrol and the Dark kwamis all having a dance party to unknown song that sounds suspiciously similar to “Hips Don’t Lie”. Second change: Instead of the girls just barging up, Tom and Sabine give them permission to go up and check on Marinette. “She hasn’t been answering for us, maybe she will for you.” And the dollhouse doesn’t break from Rose taking off the roof. Rather, Rose trips on something – maybe a roll of thread or a screwdriver or loose paper – and knocks into it. Same result, though, but Alya rightfully calls Mari out: “Okay, Marinette, something is really wrong with you. I’m sorry we can in uninvited, but your parents said we needed to check up on you, and I’m sorry Rose broke the house, but it was a complete accident and you’re blowing up over it. There’s more going on here than just boy trouble, isn’t there? We’re your friends, girl, we want to help.” To which Mari replies: “Maybe I don’t want your help, or your friendship anymore. Get out!” Third change: Dragonus swoops in during the fight and knocks around the Gang of Secrets himself after LB catches Lady Wifi, which inadvertently gives LB time to talk LW into rejecting her powers. Fourth change: Rena Rouge doesn’t look as off in this episode, where her skin was a few tones too light. Dunno if it was intentional, but that still could be fixed. The episode ends as normal.
   
4. Mr. Pigeon 72: First change: a biggie. Alya acknowledges Lila’s number of akumatizations and says, “You know, even if you couldn’t tell me about Lila’s lying about being BFFs with Ladybug, you still could’ve told me – or anyone, for that matter – about how she threatened you in the bathroom. No one threatens my BFF with impunity.” I know a lot of people were upset with Alya’s passiveness over the whole Lila situation, but this line will have impact throughout the rest of the rework. Second change: I found this out on a whim, but it turns out city pigeons are a kind of dove, so Bob Roth wasn’t entirely wrong. Fun. Third change: Andrew Hendrol is watching the evil pigeons transform people outside and figures out he can’t go out, transformed or not, without getting touched. Vorrath: “When has that stopped you before?” Andrew: “I’ve got it.” Cut to later, he invades the fight between the illusions and Mr. Pigeon in a giant mech made out of a sentimonster that he teleported into so he could fight. Overkill doesn’t begin to cover this guy. Fourth change: I’m tempted to change Ladybug’s Lucky Charm suit to her permanent one, but if I did, certain episodes wouldn’t have as much oomph later… hmmm. For now, her suit can stay the same.
   
5. Psycomedian: Honestly don’t know what to do with this one, it’s a fairly solid little episode; funny, love square-y, gives Gabriel some background and Cat Noir some spotlight. I guess I can really just add Dragonus to the mix: Psycomedian tries his emotion-gimmick on him and he no-sells it (there is a lot, and I mean a lot of lore behind Dragonus/Andrew Hendrol, so I think it would be easier to link my original fics with him up to the point I’m at for posting and you can explore his background there, as well as his powers) then proceeds to quickly skirmish with Angrybug: “There’s the fire I sensed when I absorbed your powers! Why don’t you let loose like this a little more? Finish the job!” (Again, lore makes sense if you read my main fics, I’m sorry, but he’s such a big character in my works that I don’t know how to condense it down. I’ll try but expect that later.)
   
6. Furious Fu: First change: I’m really, really confused as to why Fu and Marianne are not referred to as husband/wife or at least married. They would’ve gotten married, right? It’s not a thing that I or the fandom seem to be upset about, I’m just super confused, and if anyone is willing to enlighten me, I’d be thankful. For now, Fu and Marianne are a couple, husband and wife, like they should’ve been since Backwarder or before. Second change: During the fight between LB/CN and Su-Han, guess who shows up but Dragonus. Su-Han freezes for a moment, which gives LB/CN time to snatch the Miracle Box, but Su-Han tries to pull it back. SH: “Ladybug! You did not tell me the Dark Dragon Miraculous was in Paris!” CN: “Sounds like you never asked!” Dragonus: sarcastically “Aw, now you’ve hurt my feelings.” Draws sword and points it at SH. “So you’re the Celestial Guardian I heard about. Head honcho, I’m guessing.” SH turns his aggression towards Dragonus. SH: “You and your kind are a blighted spot amongst the history of the Miraculous, demon!” Lunges. “Heavenly Retribution! The Righteous Will of the Justiciar Breaks the World’s Evil!” Dragonus dodges most of the attacks and matches a few of them, but Su-Han lands one good punch to the stomach. Dragonus: “growls Alright, then. You aren’t as much of a pushover as they are… or the Guardians at the Temple were. If we’re going to talk in metaphors, here's mine.” Flies away from SH and presses center of sword, opening a compartment and pulls out a purple pendant on a chain, emblazoned with a stylized T-rex face. “The grand unity of dinosaurs and dragons humbles the arrogant monk. Rexx, Vorrath, Unify!” (See here for appearance: https://archiveofourown.org/works/42733506/chapters/114090748 use ctrl-F and search "Thero"). “Thero Dragon flies as the Dark Guardian!” This reveals to everyone present that Dragonus has more of the Dark Miraculouses at his disposal and subsequent “oh crap” from Su-Han reveals how serious it is. By this point, LB/CN ran off, Thero Dragon taunts Su-Han and flies off, then doesn’t return until the battle with Furious Fu in the stadium, where he absorbs FF’s powers and briefly fights LB/CN before flying off again, proclaiming that “You haven’t seen the last of Thero Dragon!”. Episode ends as normal, but Su-Han will appear again this rewrite before Ephemeral.
   
7. Sole Crusher: Okay, major change time again. I know a lot – almost utterly ridiculously so – of people do/did not like Zoe in the slightest. But, since I’m trying to stay fairly… fair to the source material (while adding new and interesting concepts), we are including Zoe, only her introduction is going to be quite different. Zoe has come to Paris because her time at her boarding school was cut short due to complete and total bullying, and her own father, a man we know as Robert Lee from Audrey, is too distant to think of another arrangement within NY and sends her to Paris to be with her mother. So, Zoe is going to be quite sullen/angry with her situation, and this becomes apparent when Marinette runs into her. Marinette apologizes profusely, but Zoe gives her a glare and basically tells her to bugger off. Marinette, though, recognizes something is wrong and pries just a little more (and it’s framed as Marinette trying to keep Zoe from attracting Shadow Moth’s attention while simultaneously trying to help), and Zoe reveals a bit of what’s happened – including the one friend – but not the full story nor which family she’s living with. Marinette, being the all-but-Lila-loving hero she is, preps a bag for the new girl. “Even if life has been bitter, it helps to have something sweet!” Marinette says. Zoe gives her a strange look. “What’s your angle? Everyone has one. Why’re you helping me?” Zoe asks, confused and suspicious. Marinette blinks in surprise and shrugs. “It’s the right thing to do, especially when you’re in a new place. I gave you my number if you’d like to chat.” Zoe blinks twice, clearly surprised by the generosity and seeming genuine nature of the girl in front of her. “Okay, then. I guess I should give you mine so… you know.” Marinette holds out her hand. “So I don’t lose it.” The first step to breaking Zoe’s rough exterior has been taken, but said rough exterior still persists when Zoe arrives at the hotel. Another major change: Audrey, while trying to be more supportive of Chloe, still has her preferred child, and that preferred child is Zoe, because, and this will cause drama later, “Zoe is one of only four people in my life who don’t grovel at my feet.” Chloe walks into the lounge/dining hall and hears this and immediately goes nuclear, but her rant is cut short by Zoe snapping at her to “Shut your mouth, you little brat.” Chloe is, of course, horrifically offended, but Audrey breaks it up before it escalates and sends them to get to know each other better… which, given this Zoe, goes about as well as expected. She snaps at all of Chloe’s rules, throws the diamond heels, and when Chloe calls her a “horrible half-of-a-sister”, Zoe throws it right back at her. This back-and-forth continues to school, where Zoe doesn’t bend to Chloe’s whims, but instead blows up at her again – which inadvertently does two things: it proves that Zoe isn’t like Chloe, but she’s quote-unquote “bad” in other ways. Of course, someone – Andrew Hendrol – sees this whole debacle and comments, “Such a powerful response to Chloe’s bratty self, such a temper. Oh, yesss, I like her.” There’s still “scaring Damocles” and “Marinette/girls talk about Zoe and Chloe”, but it’s less of Chloe’s influence and more “wow she’s scary but I bet Chloe had something to do with it.” Marinette and Zoe’s text still goes through, and Chloe still snaps at her for texting Marinette, but Zoe just snaps at her. “It’s none of your business, Chloe.” Chloe, on the other hand, makes it her business and goes back to her notebook, eventually landing on cockroaches in the locker (reused material, really?) to punish Marinette, and Zoe actually stumbles, a haunted look in her eyes. She staggers out of the room (taking the heels with her) and out to the roof, prepping to throw the shoes away in anger (perhaps a metaphor for something more disturbing) before losing the will to and she just breaks, resting her head against the bar and starts to cry. Andre comes up to her, they talk, and Zoe reveals her original dream of acting. “I’m good at it, but then everyone expected a different Zoe and they pressured me and I broke and now I can’t think of acting or anything without getting angry… I don’t like being angry. Not with the people who don’t deserve it, not with Chloe, not with anyone… I just want to be me, but I’m scared that the angry one is me…” Andre sighs. “You know, it might be good for you to… put a little bit of time between your past and now. Choose what you want to put in the Dream Cellar, and once you’ve… adjusted, you can come get it. Or you can leave it. The choice is yours.” Zoe’s akumatization stays the same, the general akuma battle remains the same, except for Thero Dragon Siphoning off Sole Crusher’s powers and stomping a few civilians for big kaiju battle time while taunting Chloe (“You can run, but I know I’m in your nightmares!”), which provides LB/CN enough time to find the akumatized sneakers and break them. The barge scene is a little different: Zoe explains what happened, and while her backstory with the crowds and roaches hasn’t changed too much, she adds, “I had one friend, but even she wasn’t around very much… not enough to help me when I needed it. I don’t blame her, she had a rough childhood, too, but I still pent that up. I’m sorry you had to see my outbursts. I get it if you don’t want to be my friend.” Of course, huggy happiness still ensues, the Bourgeois confrontation still happens, though Chloe’s basis for her demands is “If she stays here, she’ll make me stress out and ruin my perfect me!” and her threat is to crush you like your NY classmates did, while Audrey just rolls her eyes. “Chloe, quit being melodramatic. I understand Zoe’s not been the best sister – which is a discussion we will have later – but she’s not going back to New York now. I’m certainly not going to be responsible for her return fares.” The episode ends with Andre asking Zoe to “Call me Dad. I know your father is… distant, and I don’t know if I can replace him, but-” Zoe hugs him. “Thanks, Dad. Promise me you’ll make the choice to take your past out of the cellar, too.” The episode ends the same, with a much happier Zoe thanking Marinette for everything as a photo album (with dates so we can at least see it was a week or two between this and Queen Banana!) plays across the screen.
   
8. Queen Banana: First change: Chloe’s “half-of-a-sister” bit when she bursts into the art room is now “Giving the lead role to my half-of-a-sister who just came out of nowhere a week ago?!”, and all of the talk of going back to New York is replaced with snappy but ultimately toothless posturing about ruining her life. Zoe, of course, is having none of that and snaps back at her with “The only way you’re ruining this movie is if you pry it from our hands!” The art room scene ends the same way as in the original, but the scene in Bob Roth’s office is changed a little bit: Not as much mention of going back to New York and more mention of Chloe’s pride as she says “You said our hands, which apparently includes the producer’s hands, too. Oh, I love a good loophole!” Zoe is oddly okay with this and confidently whispers to the others “We just need to outlast her, trust me.” Second change: Andrew Hendrol is part of the filming crew – “Live soundtrack design” he calls it, while Chloe calls it useless – and escapes the ‘enchanted sleep’ part of the filming, and is shown to get increasingly more annoyed with Chloe, to the point of risking his secret identity as Thero Dragon by offering to play the fire-breathing dragon suggested by Alya (“Lemme do it, I’ll knock that role out of the park, just let me actually blast her with fire.”). Third change: After Marinette’s rousing soapbox speech, Zoe pats her on the shoulder. “See what I meant about outlasting her?” Fourth change: Not to be outdone, Everett Hendrol, Andrew’s father (who is also present in the theater unlike Gabriel, showcasing the closer relationship Everett has with his son than Gabriel does with his), has also chipped in some pocket change (an amount of several thousand euros in Europe money I guess), so the film is entirely cut off from the city’s funding and Chloe’s interference, and when Chloe runs off, Everett darkly chuckles once as Andrew calls out “Cry me a river, Queen Banana!” (Everett is aware of Chloe’s antics and the Hendrols as a family have no sympathy for those, especially the rich, who act like fools). Fifth change: Again, Chloe’s revenge plan isn’t to get Zoe sent back to NY, she’s going to crush Zoe in a way only she can come up with… which is banana. Sixth change: There’s less of a “my fault” moment from Zoe and that weird “promise” bit is gone, now it’s just Zoe deciding to face down her sister and give her a reality check. “You want to know why we waited until you were gone to shoot the movie? Why we talked Gabriel Agreste into funding it? It’s because no one could stand your bratty behavior! Not because we hate you, not because anyone turned against you, but because you couldn’t swallow your pride and work as part of the team. If this is how you acted as part of Ladybug’s team when you were Queen Bee, it’s no wonder you were kicked off!” Queen Banana gets infuriated, Ladybug saves Zoe, they scooter off into the subway, where Ladybug commends Zoe’s bravery, but definitely winces a little bit regarding Queen Bee. “Chloe, for all her faults, wasn’t terrible as Queen Bee, but she really had attachment issues to the Miraculous, even after I tried… and failed to explain to her that her secret identity was compromised. But I doubt I’ll have that issue with you. Zoe Lee, (insert Miraculous speech here).” Seventh change: Once Queen Banana’s banana gun is glued up and she realizes she’s about to lose and runs, guess what, Thero Dragon drops in front of her, triggering Chloe’s trauma from the Miracle Queen incident. Thero Dragon Siphons off Queen Banana’s banana powers for the fun of it, then activates the power of the Dark T-rex Miraculous, Silver Tongue, which manifests as a purple blast of energy that, if it hits a human target, allows the T-rex holder to manipulate the minds of their target… which Thero Dragon uses to break down all of Chloe’s confidence and restraints, all the while tormenting her with things like “Your mother hates you,” “Your so-called friends despise you,” and “You’re utterly ridiculous.” Ladybug and Cat Noir start driving him back, but he managed to do enough damage as he needed. “I don’t know why you bother defending a traitor,” he says. “She wouldn’t do the same for you.” Queen Banana by now has fallen back, crying, and freeing her from Shadow Moth is an act of mercy, but Chloe still refuses the Magical Charm based on her own (self-nurtured) hatred for Ladybug and Vesperia, both for replacing her and failing to save her from Thero Dragon. Eighth change: Chloe, in her anger, swings at Zoe when she declares her hate, only for Zoe to catch it way too fast and lower Chloe’s fist while she gives her speech, and once Chloe takes the Charm and the akuma is repelled, Andre steps in and reprimands her for trying to hit Zoe, even going so far as to… “Chloe Bourgeois, your behavior is becoming completely unacceptable. You are embarrassing yourself and your family. Give me your phone. You are hereby grounded for a week.” Chloe looks shocked. “WHAT?!?” Andre is stern. “I’ve failed as a father. I should’ve tried to keep your behavior in check when you acted out, and I see I’ve failed terribly. There are so many people we will have to apologize to, especially your classmates for everything you’ve done to them.” The episode ends with Marinette and Tikki wondering if this new approach to Chloe’s behavior will do anything good.
   
9. Gabriel Agreste: First change: Shadow Moth’s monologue is merged with Gabriel’s scene in the mausoleum under the mansion, first with Gabriel with his back to Emilie’s coffin before he turns to face it. Second change: When Nathalie offers Gabriel half of her sandwich, he initially refuses (“You need your strength.”) and she insists, then he crumbles (“You’ll need your strength, too.” “…Alright. Thank you.”). Third change: Andrew Hendrol is not present at the art-room fairy-tale-comparison blah thing, but Zoe’s response to Marinette’s question changes to “My mother has been attempting to treat her kids equally. Unfortunately, that means when Chloe got grounded for a week, I had to miss out on the dinner party. Had I known this was gonna happen, I would’ve put up more of a fight.” Also because of this, Zoe is NOT in Marinette’s room, but she is patched into the whole conversation thanks to Max and Markov. Fourth change: Audrey Bourgeois is throwing glares at Andre (apparently over punishing Chloe) and takes note of the solitary gold-trimmed black mask shaped like a lion’s head. “Don’t tell me he’s coming. You invited Hendrol?” “I had to. Otherwise he’d invite himself and ruin everything unexpectedly. At least now we can expect it.” Continuing the trend, after the Tsurugis arrive at the party, a shiny silver sedan rolls into the front gate, and Everett and Andrew Hendrol step out. Everett is in a pure white suit, in complete contrast to the rest of the party, and the hostility in the air is palpable as the car mogul and his son enter the foyer. “Gabriel.” “Everett. I would… like to welcome you to the party. Though the dress code specified darker clothes for all attendees.” “Really? I didn’t notice that, but even if I had, my black suits are all being cleaned. This is all I had.” “Indeed. Your mask, as requested.” Everett weighs the black lion mask in his hand. “Well, it’s not quite the cut obsidian I had hoped, but given your work, I shouldn’t be surprised.” Gabriel is imperceptibly seething. “I must ask you to stow your device-” “Neither of us will do that, and your little scrambler isn’t going to work on it, either. Your tricks, Gabriel, have been done by men greater than you a thousand times. And I’m the only one still standing.” Of course, when Chloe and Marinette sneak into the ballroom, everyone is giving Everett Hendrol a wide berth as he’s drinking something. Sixth change: The transformation into Shadow Moth from civilian form is still “Nooroo, Duusu, Unify!” I always hated that Dual Metamorphosis nonsense. Seventh change: Andrew Hendrol is fiddling on his phone – the only one that works, but Chloe can’t take it bc he already slapped her hand – when people start to leave Adrien’s room. Eighth change: Gabriel’s threat to Felix is more explicitly “I just need to snap my fingers, and you will be thrown out of here and I will tell everyone the truth about what you did and what you are. Think of your mother, Felix. She’d be devastated to see her only son hauled off for stealing from me… or the Hendrols. Everett is easy enough to provoke, and all I’d have to do is blame whatever I do on you. He’d personally see your life become pure torment.” Ninth change: Thero Dragon pounces on the Collector and Siphons from him, chuckling darkly as he does. “Clever plan, Shadow Moth, clever plan, indeed. But you aren’t fooling anyone.” Tenth change: We get a second epilogue: after Gabriel’s scene, we cut to a scene in the Hendrol mansion. Everett Hendrol is sitting at his desk, watching a chess board on the surface. The white pieces are miniature statues of him and other people, including Andrew, the black pieces are mini statues of Paris’s elite and relations: Gabriel as the king, Emilie queen, Tomoe and Amelie as bishops, Audrey and Andre as knights, Bob Roth and one unknown person as castles, and the pawns are their kids (Adrien/Chloe/Kagami/Felix/XY and three blank ones). The pieces are all at rest like the beginning of a game, but the queen (Emilie) and one castle (as yet unknown) are lying down. Everett just smirks, moves one of the white pieces a space forward, then a black piece. Everett Hendrol declared war.
   
10. Mega Leech: First change: Polymouse or Manimouse for Mylene’s super-name? I want public opinion on this. Second change: Andrew Hendrol is present at the “Stop Project Oxygen” rally and reveals a bit more depth to his character (and potentially a motivation for Thero Dragon): he is very conscientious about the environment, and he becomes increasingly annoyed with the ad and brutally picks it apart. “Two of my best friends’ parents work for the Hendrol Motors Advertising Division and this is exactly what they said a bad ad looks like. Also, Paris’s investors are brainless idiots who barely know how to stand up for themselves, let alone save the planet.” And he snaps at Chloe. “Wasting water? You mean like you do by existing? And don’t get your dad in this, my dad would destroy him.” All in all, he sides with Mylene first. “I’m getting my dad to counter-fund this scheme, he’s already gone to war.” Andrew then leaves right before the Minidiktators show up to transform into Thero Dragon. “After all, they can’t get me if my ears are covered.” Thero Dragon is just brutally attacking Mega Leech by himself… revealing a scary level of contempt for sentimonsters. Third change: The Minidiktator possessing Cat Noir is expelled through his real ear, not the cat one. Fourth change: Ladybug’s suit doesn’t weirdly swap between Lucky Charm suit and normal near the end, it just stays normal. The rest of the episode… ends as normal. Even that scene at the end.
    
11. Guiltrip: I don’t really have too many problems with this episode, nor do I really remember any complaints about (though I’m sure I’ll be corrected in the comments), the most I can really think of is adjusting it to fit my current ideas. So… First change: Juleka speaks clearly and no one’s parroting her words. Second change: While the first half of the episode plays out the same, Andrew Hendrol is noticeably absent, but once the second half starts, he shows up and he’s very unhappy/unpleasant to be around. It’s explained that he had to take a day off for stomach flu (and, little lore bit, he’s always very temperamental after a bout of sickness). As such, he doesn’t have much in the way of patience for the second half’s antics, but unlike Chloe, he’s quietly stewing and not drawing too much attention to himself. This extends to the later fight within Guiltrip (after he leaves the science lab when he realizes the only ones left are him, Chloe, Sabrina and Lila), as his negative emotions as Thero Dragon end up being so bad that Guiltrip gets hurt by them… and he flies off the handle once a bubble pops against him. He cools off eventually, but yeah. Third change: No animation errors. God, this episode was a doozy.
    
12. Crocoduel: First change: Luka acknowledges that Marinette hasn’t been around since Zoe first joined the group instead of not seeing her since their breakup. Gotta love the writers forgetting characters being in places at times ugh. Second change: Fix the animation errors. Third change: About half the partygoers (Mylene/Ivan/Rose/Nino/Alya) know that Jagged Stone is the twins’ father. Fourth change: The sky doesn’t immediately become overcast the moment Jagged and Anarka are akumatized. That was just weird. Fifth change: When Cat Noir complains that he and Ladybug don’t have wings, Thero Dragon flies over them and taunts “But I do!”, he flies up, Siphons from Guitar Villain and Captain Hardrock, then pits them further against each other for giggles. Then he reappears to Siphon off Purple Tigress’s power. Sixth change: The Tiger Miraculous transformation phrase is “Paint my Stripes!” not “Stripes On!”. The episode ends otherwise normally.
    
13. Optigami: First change: As an extra precaution to keep potential suspicion from Ladybug away, Gabriel makes sure Audrey invites Adrien’s entire class plus two extra invitations that go to Luka and Kagami. Second change: The first elevator bit with the entire class is stupid, so it’s getting changed to “Andrew Hendrol (who is in the elevator) rolls his eyes and punches the close button while Marinette tries to avoid Alya”. Third change: Andrew Hendrol slips out just before Audrey gets akumatized and discreetly transforms into Thero Dragon, and he immediately picks up on the smell of Shadow Moth in the building. He starts prowling around the building, waiting for the right moment to strike. This moment comes when Style Queen is about to hit the elevator Marinette/Adrien are trapped in, just before Shadow Moth calls her off. He blindsides her with his clamp weapon, then disarms her (literally) with his sword before Voyaging to the floor below, cackling the whole time. Fifth change: When Ladybug realizes that “Nino” is actually a sentimonster and calls out Shadow Moth, “Nino” starts laughing as his eyes glow gold and his body starts to deform into a monstrous shape. Thero Dragon’s voice starts echoing out of it. “And to think you almost got revealed because of an ally’s actions, Ladybug,” he said. “First the Turtle brought out without your explicit orders, then what? Someone betrays you for the Miracle Box? The only way to protect what you hold dear is this: ally yourself with me, and I can grant you access to powers you could only dream of. Consider my offer, because if the trend continues, you might lose more than just your privacy because of a fake butterfly.” Ladybug runs off to get the Turtle Miraculous Cataclysmed. Sixth change: Marinette is a little shaken by the end of the episode and some of her words are a little more barbed than intended, to which she apologizes and offers a solution to the problem faced that day, giving Alya the Fox Miraculous full-time, but gives her a few rules to follow. “If I find out you broke one, I’m taking the Miraculous back. Understand?” The episode ends pretty much the same. Oh, and that phone in the Miracle Box container? It’s (a little clunkily) mentioned that Marinette created the one during a “random creation attempt” session with Alya.
    

So, yeah. Now that I've finished working on my main Dragonus storyline and summer's on the way, I might be able to get the second half (plus the halves of Season 5!) out relatively quickly. As I promised, here is the link to the main Dragonus storyline, I'm almost finished posting it all. It's a divergence from Season 3 with some concepts pulled from the NY special and Season 4/5, but all in all it's a pretty good read (I don't exactly redeem Chloe as much as punch her until she understands that she's been horrible but she definitely becomes better): https://archiveofourown.org/series/2798386
Give me feedback, please! Your feedback helps me make this better!

I was invited to post my Bucky shorts here, but thought of something else instead. Thanks for reading, and thanks for the invite!
A Scale of Vengance, Part one.
We knew the [Hero King] was coming, and others may say the Island Fortress of Last Anchorage was unprepared for his arrival, but against the [Hero King] what can anyone do?
When our nation joined the coalition against him, we sent our patreon, the great Sea Dragoness Carana, not expecting to lose her within moments of the start of the battle. We also sent the majority of our military strength to fight on the mainland, who were slaughtered to the last soldier.
So, to say we were unprepared is to say we failed to act. When the [Hero King] decided to take our island, the outcome was preordained, and our position at the end of a Island Archipelago meant evacuation was largely impossible, even if the [Hero King] was not using our own ships we had used to move our Army to the mainland to invade us.
I found out though, that when hope seems lost, sometimes a final roll of the dice can alter the fate of the world. I Am Talia, and this is my story.
***###***
I woke up, readying myself for another day of tutoring, as befits the 16 year old Third Prince of a Minor nation. I was expected to serve in the military protecting the Kingdom of Last Anchorage, but until very recently the idea of an Army from an Island nation as anything but a purely ceremonial unit had been the butt of many a joke told in local taverns.
*Knock Knock* I heard the servant of the day, likely Jannytt checking on me. “I’m up, I’ll be down for breakfast soon.” I said to the door, and soon the sound of footsteps heading away from the door allowed me to loosen my hold on my dagger, a gift from my Uncle who led the army against the Tyrant king, riding the Great Dragoness who shared her nest with my ancestor, a pact that time could not erase.
Tensions were high, and there were undoubtedly those who thought slaughtering the Royal family would save our island, so tensions were high for all of us in the castle. I dressed in haste, but did not leave my dagger behind when I arrived at the eating table of my Father.
My Father was leading by example, eating no more than what was rationed to the average commoner, as our Island could not feed all its people by what grew in its tropical soils no matter how much the [Druid] blessed it. We had been a nation of traders for hundreds of years, and now we were the last bit of land not held by the Tyrant King on this side of the Icarian Sea, so without trading partners we starved, from the poorest commoner to my father the King.
We ate the Gruel served to us without a word said, not even bothering with bringing up prisoners to use as poison checkers. The Tyrant King had no need of poisoners, as such could be used against himself. We all knew that there would be no quarter taken or given when the Tyrant arrived, and the thought made my stomach rebel and smiling sadly, I gave the remaining portion to Princess Maria, my 10 year old sister who smiled as I roughed her hair before standing up to leave, the dinner table being a family place, where decorum could be waved off, and we be a family, if only briefly.
“Prince Talio, I have need of you today, your studies are canceled though your tutor will accompany us.” The King said, looking out the window at the shorebirds circling on the thermal that most days blew up the seaside cliff that Castle Carana was built upon.
“Yes, Father” I said, before following. We walked as my father led us outside the Castle, surrounded by my classmates, the remnants of our Military Academy in full armor. The City Guard was keeping the peace, but conversely were the force most likely to act to end my Family’s reign and thus their allegiance was best not tested.
We arrived at the Temple, where the [Priest] was holding yet another service, keeping the people’s hopes for a miracle up. Hope was all we had to sell, after all.
We of course had a private balcony overlooking the temple plaza, so we sat down to listen to the end of the [Priest]'s service.
“I have had a message from our patreon deities, the Tyrant King’s abuses have been heard, and we have been given a boon, a Holy Miracle to bring a new Guardian about as was written upon our founding. Do not lose hope, my people, no darkness lasts forever.”
I leaned over to my Father “Hope we get that new guardian fairly quickly, huh?” I said, half in inquiry, and half knowing damm well only a dragon could protect our island from Invasion sans a miracle of some sort.
As the commoners filed out, we mingled among the few ship captains attending who served as lords in Father’s court. It was a courtesy and a rare opportunity to mingle outside of a court setting, as being under the Deity, all were equal in her temple.
I was curious as to today’s events when my tutor, Lady Benning arrived. She curtsied, as was formal for her, and as Father’s attention was elsewhere, I gave her permission to rise.
“A big day for you, my Prince. And Quite the honor too.” She said, clearly excited, and seeing I knew naught about why and what she referred to, that was half her smile, getting the drop on my information gathering was a habit of hers. If I ever became king, she would be my head knight if I didn’t or couldn’t take her for a concubine.
Her [Swordsmaster] skill was impressive, but she was the whole package brains and brawn, though sadly a decade older than I, so I didn’t press on courting her, though having had her for a tutor for the past three years gave me plenty of opportunities to.
“I hope so, if the [Preist] is right, and you know I’d do anything to prevent the Tyrant King from winning.” I said, offering her an elbow, which she took, as we walked to the center of the temple, where our hopes had been laid…literally.
We approached the central Dias, and together With the [Preist] stood a hooded woman wearing robes as we approached the central dias. I activated my skill [Judge] which allowed me to see the truth of things, and looked at the Stranger’s status.
Lady Kara Veela age 55, [Prophet] lv**
Skills: Foresight, Prophecy, Judgement
My Knees almost buckled. Lady Kara, the Stormcrow, the harbinger of disasters was feet in front of me. This obviously did not portend well, but honestly with the [Hero King] on the way, she probably had brought buttered popcorn for a ringside seat.
My Father, however, had always welcomed her, and in truth had sired 3 kids on Lady Kara, my half siblings, who fortunately were considered illegitimate for the line of succession, though they had been knights and ministers in service to our kingdom. This did nothing to improve relations between my late mother and her, however. So seeing her here was a bit of a shock.
As my father reached the duo, he took her hand and kissed it and even those weathered features she boasted managed to show some color. Good on you, Dad!
The [Priest] smiled before patting me on the back “You are looking well, my Prince. Today, you stand to do a great service to our world as a whole.”
I bowed “My duty is clear then, though my path remains clouded, good priest.”
Oddly, it was Lady Kara who answered for the priest.”Your actions today may save more than your life, but play a part in fighting the corruption of the void that is creeping across our world.” These words were spoken with the power of prophecy, and I knew to not argue the point.
I did feel awkward, moreso as My Father, The Priest, Lady Kara, and My Tutor, Lady Benning took places in the great spell circle, where runes guided the formation of great magics. This left me in the circle with the pedestal, on which stood the sole Dragon’s egg that our guardian left for us.
As the circle activated, I asked “What do you wish me to do?” Lady Kara said, and I reached out to it, feeling the egg’s surface, and after a second’s contact I felt the warmth within, and a faint pulse of magic kept in time with my own heart’s beating.
“Embrace it, let it know you want a new guardian” The Priest's low voice said clearly, and so I did, focusing my feelings of watching the former guardian play in the sky and waves, jealous that I’d never experience that kind of freedom, or have that kind of strength to defend those I care about. As I did so, I felt an echo from within the egg, beckoning me, showing me what it meant to be a dragon. I have to say, being seduced by a guardian spirit was kind of nice, all in all.
As the visions of power and flight unfolded, it felt more and more like instead of watching a dragon, I myself existed as the dragon, and for that moment, I let myself go, reveling in something that had been a dream since I first saw our dragoness protector.
****===****
As he watched his son disappear, consumed by the power of their magic, funneled through the circle, and the magic granted by the deity that watched over them, he knew that he’d seen his son for the last time as the magic finished, and he dropped to his knees.
“Llywnd, it was necessary.” The warm hand of my concubine and best friend Lady Kara comforted me as she kneeled down, embracing me as I wept for my son, for my kingdom, and not least, for myself.
For a moment, I wasn’t King Llywnd, but simply a father, selling his bloodline to defeat a great evil, not wholly different than many a parent who had watched their children board a ship to fight the Tyrant king’s army, and who never returned to their arms afterwards. I cursed Kalustus Kal, or whatever the whoreson who the system called [Hero King] was calling himself, losing myself in grief and hate, just a Man, in an extraordinary circumstance.
Another hand rested on my shoulder and a soft voice reassured me “I’ll watch over your son, you have my oath that my blade will serve your family for as long as I draw breath.” I looked up into the eyes of the [Swordsmaster] “Thank You, though if you wouldn’t mind watching over Maria too?”
“Of course,” She said, no fancy oaths, no pomp or pride involved. The simplicity of that broke me from the moment’s weight, and a Palanquin was brought out to transport the Egg to the docks. I stood, my legs betraying my resolve as I reached out and touched the Egg “Be safe, and remember always, your Father’s love.” I whispered, then kissed it, feeling the magic flare briefly, feeling my son’s soul leap within, before we parted, forever.

Hi all! New to SGV from the Bay Area. I was driving around Arcadia and Temple City and noticed that there are this smaller beautiful houses but right next to them are monstrosities of giant houses that look like newer mansions. Has it always been this way? It’s a such shame if these neighborhoods used to be all smaller homes and were torn down for bigger, uglier homes.

​

Auli Travel Package

As uttarakhand’s local travel agent, we will offer you best auli travel package. Before that you should know some facts about the place. Auli is located in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, near the world-famous holy temple of Badrinath, and is surrounded by snow-capped peaks of the Garhwal Himalayas. Auli’s well-dressed slopes are surrounded by coniferous and oak forests, which offer a panoramic view of mountains, at an altitude of 2,500 to 3,050 m above sea level. Find yourself at Auli, among the high peaks Nanda Devi and Mana Parbat, if you’re looking for adventure, excitement, and frolic this winter.
Feel the rush of air on your face as you go skiing on the well-kept snow slopes, blazing a bold trail. On a blanket of snow, pummelled each other with snowballs. Let your eyes feast if you’re a lover of natural beauty.
​

WAYS TO REACH AULI

Airplane – Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, roughly 300 kilometres from Auli, is the closest airport. Dehradun’s Jolly Grant Airport is a domestic airport located around 20 kilometres from the city centre.
By train, there are railway stations in Rishikesh, Haridwar, and Dehradun. Rishikesh is the closest railhead to Auli (250 km approx). Auli may be reached via bus or taxi from Rishikesh.
By Road – Joshimath is 16 kilometres apart by road from Auli. Between Joshimath and Rishikesh, state transport buses run often (253 km). Between Joshimath and Rishikesh (253 km), Haridwar (277 km), Dehradun (298 km), and Delhi (298 km), Local Transport Union buses and State Transport buses run (500 km). Auli may be reached via ropeway, bus, or cab from Joshimath.

So, when I started totk, I was sad that all the divine beasts were gone. It also appeared that all the champions were forgotten as well. I get that it’s just a game but I really made a connection with the champions and thought they should still be remembered for their sacrifice. I also really miss Revali’s gale. Anyways, I was happy to learn that the top of the perch in Rito village is called Van Medow Perch or Revalis perch or something. I was also happy when Sidon still remembered his sister and a court was named after her. In Goron city, Daruks statue is still there. That brings me to the reason I’m discussing this. I just finished the fire temple a few minutes ago and I noticed in the music when you’re completed the last two locks, I could hear a tiny bit of Daruks theme which made me really happy. If you look up The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom OST- Fire Dungeon on YouTube by Elden Entertainment, you can hear it at 8:17. Anyways thanks for reading!

I am looking for a game where you don't have to wait for energy bar to fill in order to continue playing or waiting for resources in order to build something and then wait again.
Basically something you can play 20hrs a day if you want. But not something like sub surfer or temple run but more like a mmo where you develop city or characters.
To put it simply, game that awards active players. Where you can do more, playing 10hrs one day then someone who played 4h a day for 2 days.

--- Table of Contents ---
Summer 4984, 13 Doumoth
“Ugh! I hate this!” Daisy whined loudly, letting her head fall back to stare at the ceiling.
“Almost done…” Rerves said to reassure her, though he lacked his usual smile.
Ania picked up the last piece of armor, a steel vambrace, and began polishing with a groan to match Daisy’s, “When we aren’t cleaning, we're polishing, when we aren’t polishing, we're cleaning. How is this Paladin training?”
“If I wanted to be a servant, I would've joined their guild…” Thom’s small voice chimed in.
Shon said nothing. The five Squires, Shon, Daisy, Thom, Rerves, and Ania, sat under a shade in the Temple courtyard, polishing the knights' spare armor for the hundredth time. The sun beat down mere feet away, reflecting off the finished pieces as the shadow of their shade crept closer and closer, the sun climbing towards noon. The yard was mostly clear, the Paladins not on duty retreating into the cool stone fortress while those on duty only occasionally coming to check on the Squires' progress.
Ania had the right of it. Ever since they'd moved into the Temple proper and became official Squires, the five of them had done nothing but clean, polish, and memorize armor and weapon vocabulary. And complain… the others always complained. Shon just sighed as the four others continued to gripe. There was no point in it, the work needed to be done, and they were the ones assigned to do it. It didn’t matter how annoying or monotonous it might be.
Sometimes the younger Paladins would join them in polishing, caring for their own armor while the Squires worked on the spare pieces. The spares were used mainly by the enlisted, and only if they hadn’t finished buying their own sets yet. Occasionally a Paladin would check out a set to practice with. Although most of them had a preferred style, they needed to stay proficient with all types. At least that meant only half of the pieces the Squires had to clean were still polished from the day before. If the armor was never used, it really would be a useless task, instead of half useless as it seemed now.
The Paladins never complained…
The Squires hadn’t started out tired and annoyed. Daisy and Shon had been joined after their first week by Thom and Rerves, who both came from the capital city. They'd been friends growing up, Rerves was a noble, and Thom's family worked as their personal stewards, one step up from servants. A week after that, Ania arrived from a small village in the south. Only having known one Paladin and having never seen a proper Temple before, she'd been in awe of the fortress Temple of the city for at least a month. But then the excitement had given way to frustration, and -for Shon at least- boredom. And so the others had started complaining.
Their relationship with each other had started out warm enough. They stayed up late into the night, sharing their histories and dreams of their future as full Paladins. Shon joined them when prompted but mostly preferred to listen. He didn’t think he had any stories worth sharing, though they had bombarded him with questions after Veon-Zih’s first training visit. Just like everyone else, they didn’t seem to know how to deal with Shon’s quiet nature. But unlike everyone else, they hadn’t pulled away and stopped talking to him altogether. Except when they complained. Shon never complained. He didn’t see the point. When asked, he would say that they needed to follow orders. So they'd stopped asking him.
Shon held his last piece of steel plate carefully by the leather straps, wiping the last bit of polish off with a clean rag. He could see his reflection distorted by the curves and dings, and wondered if he could manage to draw the changes accurately when given a chance. The tinking of metal on metal sounded in the distance, and the Squires' heads shot up, followed by their bodies as they scrambled to their feet to salute the woman approaching.
General Rasnah was resplendent as always in her uniform, the chains of office clinking on her shoulders. She walked towards the Squires with her head held high and her hands clasped behind her back. With her was Master Veon-Zih and Shon felt his spirits rise just a little higher.
“At ease, Squires.” Sir Rasnah said as she drew to a stop just outside their shade. She waited until they'd taken the formal 'at ease' position, legs shoulder-width apart and hands clasped behind their back, “Report.”
Rerves took charge, as usual, “Sir, we're nearly done, Sir.”
“Just one piece left, Sir,” Ania added, then blushed furiously as she usually did whenever addressing a high-ranking officer.
Sir Rasnah nodded, then glanced to the sky. She then looked to Veon-Zih, who smiled and shrugged. Her lips turned up on half her face in what could almost be called a grin before she cleared it, serious again as she addressed the Squires, “You may have the afternoon off. Report to the kitchens and evening duties before sixth bell.”
“Sir, yes, Sir!” the Squires spoke in unison, Shon’s four fellows grinning broadly and sneaking happy glances at one another.
They held their positions until Sir Rasnah turned away, walking back to the Temple proper and leaving them to their freedom. Veon-Zih remained behind, smiling warmly at them and addressing Shon, “Lunch? I found a fine eatery a few blocks away.”
Shon nodded, finally smiling with the rest, “And practice?” he asked.
“After food,” Veon-Zih answered, stepping aside and gesturing towards the gates. Shon rushed to help the others put the clean and polished armor away, then jogged to Veon-Zih before falling into step with him as they left the Temple.
Veon-Zih waited until they were well clear of the gates before asking, “So what do you think of your fellow Squires?”
Shon sighed in answer, which made Veon-Zih chuckle for some reason. But the sigh hadn’t really answered the question, so Shon said, “They complain a lot.” he probably could have, and should have, come up with something nicer to say. But after hours of hearing them gripe while they worked, it was the only thing on Shon’s mind.
“There's nothing wrong with complaining, you know.” Veon-Zih mused. Shon merely shook his head. The knights never complained; he'd been watching them. If there was a job that needed to be done, they would do it. His fellow Squires seemed to complain before, during, and after every unpleasant assignment. Though never in front of the Paladin giving it.
“Do you honestly think the knights like polishing armor? Do you like polishing that much? Maybe you should've come to the Monastery after all. We don’t wear armor, but we have many fine statues that all need to be polished every day. Every little nook and cranny scrubbed clean and shining.”
He glanced at Shon with a grin, then leaned over to whisper, “They hate it too, but just like your fellows won’t complain in front of them, they won’t complain in front of you.”
“It needs to be done…” Shon tried to argue, though it sounded hollow considering his own, though silent, annoyance.
“A perfect excuse,” Veon-Zih stated, turning sharply down a side road, so Shon had to jog to keep up, “There are many reasons spare armor needs to be polished. The most obvious is that it's needed to stay in good repair. The task is assigned to Squires because it gets you intimately familiar with armor beyond just naming the parts. And because no one else wants to do it.
“That doesn’t mean we should be complaining about it…”
“Not in front of the officers, no. But amongst each other? Why not?”
Shon furrowed his brow but didn’t have an answer. Veon-Zih gave him one, “Joint misery creates companionship. Even if you have nothing else in common, everyone knows you all hate polishing already clean armor. Right now, I bet your fellow Squires are scratching their heads, wondering if you do actually enjoy the task. Some might even be wondering if they're worthy of being Squires. Since they complain, and you don’t.”
Shon’s steps faltered. Would they really think he was more worthy than them? For something so trivial as chores? He had to rush to catch up and argued, “But there's no point in complaining. We have to do it anyway.”
Veon-Zih sighed and stopped walking. He waited for Shon to turn to him then said, “But my statement still stands. Joint misery creates companionship. Your fellows take a risk in voicing their complaints to you, hoping that they're not alone in their opinions. What if they're the only ones who hate it? What if that really does mean they aren’t meant for the Temple? Just because they can channel divine magic doesn’t mean Hengist will choose them.”
Shon let himself ponder that for a while. The other Squires always seemed so sure of themselves, so excited to begin real training. Did they really have doubts and fears the same as he did? And what did that say about his assumptions? That they would complain and the knights didn’t? Was he actually judging his fellows as unworthy without realizing it?
“The Paladins really complained when they were Squires too?” he asked.
“I guarantee it.” Veon-Zih answered and started walking again, “I know I did, and all the other Monks in my class too.” he chuckled, “Sometimes routines like cleaning and polishing can be meditative. You can let your mind wander while your hands work through the familiar motions. But before you get to that point, or if you would rather be doing something of your choosing, then it's nothing but monotonous work. Necessary work, but still work.”
Following Veon-Zih around another corner, Shon pondered his Master’s words. They got all the way to the little eatery the Monk had been looking for, even took their seats, and gave their orders before Shon spoke again.
“I hate platemail the most…” he said. Veon-Zih arched an eyebrow at him, and he continued, “It’s bulky, and there's just so much of it. Then as soon as you're done, someone moves it aside and gets fingerprints on it again. Chainmail isn’t much better. You can’t see the fingerprints, but it’s hard to get the oil between the links. And yet water obviously has no problem with it because that’s where all the rust is.”
Veon-Zih laughed boisterously, throwing his head back and startling those at the closest table, “I hated the creases in the palms of the statues the most,” Veon-Zih held up his hand, his forefinger and thumb forming a circle, the other fingers extended, “how can so much dust cake itself in such a small space in only a day?” he complained, dropping his hand and shaking his head.
The waitress brought them their stew and drinks, and Shon started eating while Veon-Zih thanked her. Picking up his spoon, the Monk paused as he dipped it into his bowl, musing, “I wonder which parts your fellow Squires dislike the most?” Shon didn’t know, but he wanted to. Would they agree with him that the plate was the most frustrating? Daisy seemed to groan loudest at the leather, but their complaining always seemed to be general moans at the work as a whole…
“Maybe I’ll ask,” Shon mumbled, embarrassed for some reason.
“Or,” Veon-Zih took his first bite, then pointed at Shon with his spoon, “you could just tell them your least favorite, and they will open up and share their own.”
That’s what they expected of him, wasn’t it? They expected him to join in the conversation, not just answer questions… Shon could only nod.
***
Shon had grown so much. It was difficult for Veon-Zih to watch him without smiling. Only a head shorter than his Master, Veon-Zih could still see the ten-year-old oddity he'd spied upon almost four years ago in the church courtyard. And yet, he had grown so much. Veon-Zih wondered if anyone else could see it.
They practiced in one of the parks in the noble’s district. Veon-Zih thought it was important that Shon get out of Temple whenever possible, that he see the city and its people, to remember what he was training for, and why he wanted to fight. Shon was more like Veon-Zih, and his order of Monks than the boy would ever know. Or admit. He strove for perfection. Every punch, kick, and kata they worked through needed to go exactly right, or he would do it again. Like many Monks, Shon found true enjoyment in the process of working and growing better than his past self. But he was also different in a critical way. Shon wanted to use his strength. Wanted to protect people, fight evil. Many Monks never left the Monastery. A single Grandmaster could easily fell a small raiding force alone. Yet, so many chose not to fight outside their sparring rings and training.
Even Veon-Zih hadn’t left the Monastery because he wanted to help those locked outside its walls. He'd left because he believed he couldn't attain the perfection he strove for inside them. He'd wanted to be tested by the world, to rise to the challenges life presented and overcome them with his discipline and practice. Along the way, he'd learned to be more like Shon was naturally. He'd made friends from other orders, and saved countless non-combatants. Only after seeing the results of his fights, the grateful families reunited, had he realized the moral folly in his fellows and in himself.
They practiced and even sparred until well after fifth bell. The display at first earned them a few disapproving glares from the nobles and servants passing the park. Then they'd actually attracted a few spectators, who clapped as though watching a show. Shon blushed furiously at this, his pale cheeks growing pink as he tilted his head down, trying to let what was left of his now short hair slip down to hide his face. Yet, he never lost step or stopped the training. Veon-Zih had barely resisted laughing, though if more at the foolish watchers or his embarrassed student, he wasn’t sure.
Veon-Zih finally called their training to a halt, and Shon glowered at him. The boy had nearly gotten in his first solid hit in their sparring and was obviously reluctant to stop after making such progress. “It’s nearly time for you to get back, and Sir Rasnah will not accept me as an excuse for tardiness.” Shon’s eyes went wide, and fear replaced the look of frustration on his face. He ran his fingers through his hair, looking up at the sky to try and gauge the hour.
Veon-Zih chuckled, “I’ll race you back.” he said, a hint of mischief seeping through his voice. Shon arched an eyebrow and Veon-Zih could practically hear his thoughts. Run? Through town? You must be joking. “There's no law against running,” Veon-Zih argued with the boy’s expression, “Every moment offers us an opportunity to train. We're late, so this is the perfect opportunity to test our speed against time and run.”
Shon alternated his arched brow to the other side, looking down the road then back to Veon-Zih before confirming, “A race?”
In answer, Veon-Zih ran. He sprinted past Shon -though not at his full speed- before slowing down just enough to keep things fair. Shon bolted after him. Nobles, servants, and even a few guards gasped and called out in indignation as Veon-Zih and Shon swerved around them on the wide roads of the nobles' quarter. They were forced to slow when they reached the more densely packed streets in the city center. Shon was careful to run around the people doing their shopping but kept his eyes set ahead, planning his route and scaring those who noticed him out of the way with his intense blue stare. Veon-Zih was much more confident in his ability not to hit people and so brushed much closer, never quite knocking into them but often brushing their clothes as he passed.
Ahead a cart laden with crates and barrels ambled across the thoroughfare, and Shon slowed to a jog, trying to run around it. Veon-Zih lept, landing on his hands on the cart and propelling himself up and over before hitting the ground again and continuing the race. He heard the merchant curse and the bystanders gasp in surprise but was more amused at the growl of frustration that came from his student, who put on an extra burst of speed to try and catch up. Veon-Zih was half tempted to let him and half tempted to sprint all out and leave the boy in his dust. He chose to do neither and just laughed, continuing at the pace he'd set and soon coming into view of the Temple gates.
The Paladins on watch saw him coming and exchanged confused and nervous glances, drawing their swords but not barring his path. Veon-Zih didn’t slow his run until he reached the knights. Turning to the side and planting his feet, he slid past them on the cobblestones. Turning back as he slid to a stop, he found one of the Paladins facing him as though ready to fight and the other facing out as though looking for whatever force had sent Veon-Zih sprinting for the Temple.
Shon slowed to a jog and stopped before the knight facing him, breathing hard. “What’s going on? Squire report.” the Paladin demanded, still holding his sword at the ready.
Shon had to take a moment to catch his breath but eventually managed to gasp out, “Race…” before looking absolutely horrified at what he'd just done and said. “Sir…” he added quietly as if that might somehow make his unconventional arrival more acceptable.
“And you managed to keep up with him?” Sir Rasnah appeared from beyond the gate, arching a steely eyebrow and drawing sharp salutes from the Paladin guards who finally sheathed their swords.
“I went easy on him,” Veon-Zih assured her, earning a glare from Shon, who passed through the gates, still breathing deeply but no longer gasping for air. Veon-Zih hadn’t even broken a sweat.
Rasnah looked between the Master and student, finally settling on Shon, “Oh, don’t look at him like that, Squire. Master Veon-Zih could beat a riderless horse in a foot race.” which drew a befuddled look from Shon and a laugh from Veon-Zih.
“General Rasnah, Sir,” another man ran towards the gates wearing the uniform of an enlisted. A messenger from the city gates.
“It seems today is a good day for running,” Veon-Zih quipped as the guards allowed the man to pass and give his report.
“A wyvern has been spotted over the woods near Lakeland,”
Sir Rasnah didn’t respond right away. She narrowed her eyes at the messenger and spoke to Shon, “You have duties, Squire, hop to it.”
Shon saluted, though Rasnah still wasn’t looking at him. He glanced at Veon-Zih curiously, then turned to follow the orders.
Veon-Zih hesitated but decided to follow Shon. If he was needed, Rasnah would let him know.
“A wyvern?” Shon asked in a whisper.
“An abomination,” Veon-Zih explained, “Monstrous beasts with a body as large as a wagon, not including the tail. They fly like birds and will hunt anything that strays into their territory, including humans.”
Shon’s brow furrowed, and Veon-Zih patted him on the shoulder, “It'll be alright. They rarely attack settlements unless they're starving.” Which was good because a single wyvern could destroy a small town.
“What will the Temple do?” Shon asked as they reached the back door to the kitchens.
“That depends… most likely, they'll send a group to the village and watch the skies.”
“They won’t hunt it?”
“Maybe, and maybe not. Wyverns are dangerous enough that it’s a real risk to hunt one, but they also can’t be allowed to harm nearby towns. The Temple of Saint Giorgos will want it destroyed, but Sir Rasnah won’t needlessly risk her men if it isn’t necessary.” Veon-Zih explained.
Shon thought for a moment, then asked, “Have you ever fought a wyvern?”
Veon-Zih tried to make his smile reassuring, "Twice. Though I would rather not try a third time if it can be avoided.”
***
“Red, what're you doing?” Ran asked.
She rolled Her eyes, focusing again on what She was doing and not bothering to answer him. Her fingers ached, but She worked them into the cracks between the stones of the tower wall, shifting Her weight from one hand to the other and searching out the next handhold.
Brom laughed, and She heard the slap and woosh of breath as he pat Ran on the back hard enough to knock the air from the thinner man’s lungs, “Can’t you tell? She’s climbing!”
“Sort of…” Ran mumbled.
She wasn’t climbing up the wall, as much as She wanted to. Instead, She was up only about a foot off the ground and working Her way sideways around the tower. “Afraid of falling, Red?” Ran asked instead. That question was even more stupid than the last, and She arched Her neck back, holding tight to the wall and looking at him upside down.
“Really?” She asked in response to his denseness. He should know She wouldn’t be afraid of falling. She had fallen many times when She'd braved climbing the trees around the perimeter. Even broke Her arm once, and that hadn’t stopped Her from trying again with the splint still on. But that was when they used to let Her out more often, about once every other week. No, the thing that kept Her from climbing up the wall was the same thing that had stopped Her climbing trees. The same thing that stopped Her running around the tower at top speed while Brom or Ran kept time and She tried to beat Her record. And the same thing that kept Her from even crossing the tree line to play pretend in the woods.
Ran had the decency to look embarrassed, realizing his mistake eventually. There was only one thing that ever stopped Her from doing what She wanted, and even that often took multiple ‘lessons’ each time. Morndancer had grown increasingly erratic and more often violent of late. He would mutter to himself in draconic then give opposite orders to the journeymen and apprentices in common. Though everyone in the tower spoke both languages. He would lock himself in his room for days and hadn’t been back to visit his family or the Mages Guild in weeks. Shaloon would cover for him, but she wasn’t much better, cutting holes in reality and staring into the outer plains for hours on end, whispering. Half her words in draconic and the other half in common, mixing the languages in the same sentence.
Brom and Ran had refused to talk to Her about it, but She had listened at Her door when they thought She was sleeping. The Archmages were going mad. The eventual cost of power, they said. Though neither seemed upset that the same would happen to them eventually. Perhaps their lack of concern was the first sign they'd already started.
She continued Her climb, putting Her worries about Brom and Ran’s sanity out of Her mind for the time being. She would have plenty of time to stew about it when She was locked in Her room. For now, She wanted to enjoy being outside in the brief summer warmth.
A burst of sudden wind from above set Her hair whipping about Her face and nearly cost Her grip on the stones. Squeezing Her eyes shut, She tried to shake Her hair back, blowing at the strands against another huge gust before something heavy shook the ground behind her. She let Her head fall back again, so Her hair fell away from Her face, and She could see what had come upside down. The sight caused Her to fall off the wall.
Landing hard on Her backside, She scrambled to Her feet in a mix of awe and horror. A monster large enough to fill Her entire room and then some, stood in the clearing around the tower. It had a long sinuous neck and dull brown scales. It walked on great taloned legs in the back and the joints of its leathery wings in the front. It snapped at Archmage Shaloon as she jumped from its neck to the ground, its teeth as long as daggers and looking just as sharp. It didn’t bite the Archmage, who ignored it as she approached the journeymen.
“What are you three doing out here?” she demanded, mixing draconic with common and glaring at the two men who, for some reason, looked ashamed despite the permission they'd gotten to be out today.
The Firewyrm ignored the question, asking one of Her own, “What is that?” She pointed at the monster, not sure if She felt sad or disgusted at the sight of it. Both seemed odd emotions to have at the sight of a beast that could eat Her in two bites.
Fingers snapped, and She flinched, reaching for Her collar. The monster let out a strangled roar, thrashing its head wildly, its own copper collar shimmering with light and magic. “Another failure of our predecessors, thousands of years ago.” Morndancer exited the tower, his robes billowing around him.
Another snap, and the Firewyrm flinched again. But Shaloon just snorted, sneering at the other Archmage after stopping his torment of her mount, “The north-western Talon was gracious enough to lend us this sample after years of training. It should come in handy with the local draken who worship its kind as gods.” the beast snarled at the humans just out of reach but didn’t step any closer, digging its talons deeper into the ground and hissing, “It was a great success after the slaying. We’ve only had one greater.” she glanced at the Firewyrm who tilted Her head at the two of them, curious for more but sure they wouldn’t give it to Her.
Archmage Morndancer dismissed the defense of the monster’s existence with a snort, “And yet we are still facing the same problems as those before us. What information do you have?”
“A storm hit out at sea, and there are signs of another possibly brewing in Halakon.”
Ran swallowed nervously, and Brom stuttered, “Should we…?”
“No.” Morndancer answered the unfinished question, “There is only one thing that can stop these storms, and we are the only ones willing to make the sacrifices to do it.” he turned away from them, returning to the tower door before glancing over his shoulder, “Get back inside, we need more samples if we are to make up for our own successful failure.”
***
“Saint Giorgos says the wyverns are the last vestiges of the dragon’s evil in the skies…” Sir Rasnah sipped her tea thoughtfully.
Father Branston snorted, “Yes yes, and drakes are their evil on land, and leviathans their evil at sea. They are beasts, Rasnah, as old as memory.”
“Branston's right,” Veon-Zih shrugged, rolling his teacup between his hands, “They're terrible beasts with some magic to them, but they're no more intelligent than a drakwalf or horse.”
They sat together in Father Branston’s office to enjoy warm tea and a colorful sunset through his massive windows. But none of them could really relax with the news of a wyvern flying around the woods to the north. Just to the west of Hamerfoss.
“They've been known to hunt for sport,” Rasnah reminded them, her face pained at the memory.
“So do house cats.”
“House cats don’t pick off entire barbarian tribes over the course of a week.”
"I'm sure they would if they could,"
Branston sighed, reaching for his teapot and pouring himself another cup, “What will you do? If you need healers, I have a few skilled enough to go.”
Rasnah sighed, rubbing her forehead and resting her cup in her lap, “Perhaps one. I’ll send a group to watch. If it's sighted again, we'll have to do something.”
Veon-Zih cleared his throat to get her attention and arched a questioning eyebrow her way. The Paladin returned the look with a smile and said, “I will make sure they have a sending stone. If you're needed, I’m sure they'll wait for you to arrive before seeking it out.” her smile faded, and she stared into her cup, “If they really are vestiges of dragons then I suppose Saint Giorgos is right and all of them were evil.”
“Having a crisis of faith, Rasnah?” Branston asked softly, but with a smile, “Legends say Hengist was allied with goodly dragons.”
“Dragons of Gold and Silver and all the precious metals,” Veon-Zih finished for him, then added, “None of that matters anymore. All we can do is face the challenges life presents us with in the here and now.”
“Of course,” Rasnah agreed, looking up at her old friends and managing a lopsided grin, “And now we have a wyvern possibly claiming territory in our forests. Do you think Daunas will want to join the hunt? If necessary,” she added at the end.
“Mung's boy? He’s still stationed at Hamerfoss then?” Branston asked.
Veon-Zih chuckled, “I don’t believe he would forgive you if you didn’t let him.” his chuckle died, and the three gazed mournfully out the window. Remembering their last wyvern fight, and their friend lost in bringing it down. It had been their last adventure together.
-End of Part 1-
--- Table of Contents ---
All comments and are welcome and wanted.

Hi everyone! Here is my app and potential school list:
cGPA and sGPA: 3.70 cGPA and 3.55 sGPA, upward trend
MCAT score(s): 514 ( 127 / 127 / 129 / 131)
State of residence: MN (ties to WI but that's it), ORM female
Clinical experience (volunteer and non-volunteer):
1000+ hours medical scribe, combined FM and EM 2900+ hours and counting as uncertified medical assistant. Includes administering injections, rooming and obtaining vitals, submitting med prior auths, occ scribing
Research: ~30 hours in bench research, nothing significant
Shadowing: 30 hrs in FM, 20 hrs in EM, 20 hrs in neurology, 70 virtual hrs
Non-clinical volunteering: 45 hours (and counting) in a homeless shelter- played with children during ‘activity times’ 130 hours with underserved youth - played games with children, worked through creative writing assignments, occ hw help
Other: 220 hours as upper level Biology TA ~3500 hours as a barista shift lead 30 hours as a secretary in a pre-health club ~45 hours in university student government- created informational brochures/presentations on student housing/food opportunities, presented said information to student groups virtually
Relevant honors or awards: Dean’s list for 4 semesters
Hobbies: Tennis, reading, playing violin
I'm primarily interested in community service and social justice-y schools, but am not sure I have enough hours for either. I'm focused on neurology as a specialty, but am aware this may change in medical school. Not that interested in rural medicine or rural locations (I'm a big city gal at heart). Here is my list and thanks in advance!
UMN TC, UW Madison, University of Iowa, Medical College of WI, Cincinnati, Wayne State, Oakland, Wake Forest, Loyola, Stony Brook, Virginia Commonwealth, Quinnipiac, Western MI, Boston, Tulane, Georgetown, Hofstra, Emory, Tufts, Temple, U Arizona??, Drexel, U Vermont, George Washington, Cooper, Brown, SLU, Creighton, Burnett, Miami, NOVA MD, Baylor, Hackensack, Einstein, NYMC, Albany, Rochester, Vanderbilt, Brown
Reach Schools: Kaiser, Northwestern, Pritzker, USCF, USC/Keck, Dartmouth

It is a well known fact within this galaxy that humans place an extraordinary amount of respect on their fallen service members. I was gifted recently to be able to visit a human world on a holiday called “memorial day”. On memorial day the remember and pay their respects to their service members who fell in the line of duty.
As I got off the transport vehicle, they called it a bus, I immediately took in the sight. Rows of banners with blue stars on them, with intermittent gold stars. I would later come to learn what this meant. I followed the crowd, while mainly human there were the intermittent Rakhari, Telechian, Avian, and a few from many of the other species that make up the Galactic Commonwealth. While there I bumped into an old Human friend of mine from the academy days. After catching up, he told me “Hey, follow me. Theres going to be a speech and I want you to hear it.”
Because I wasnt on the guest list I didnt get a seat, but I was able to stand just off to the side of the seats. Behind the seating area there was a group of maybe a hundred army cadets standing at parade rest in their dress uniforms. A dozen individuals gave their own speeches before a General made his way to the stand. He talked about those he had served with, and lost, during his time in service. How fifteen years ago, as a young captain, his company was at a firebase when they were attacked by pirates. How he buried three of his brothers the next day. And how he has witnessed more memorial services than that. How final roll calls can be heart tearing- hearing a name called off that you may never hear again. The loss of a brother or sister, how it hurts more than he can emphasis. He then went on too explain the gold and blue stars.
The blue stars are put out by family members who have immediate family currently in the military. A gold star represents a family member who has fallen in recent memory. I looked at the group of cadets and noticed the looks on some of their faces. I quickly realized that some of the cadets may not be the first of their family to join the military. As the cermonies concluded my friend showed me to the parade route. I saw as.. Thousands of service members and civilians marched down main street, from the city hall to a cemetery within the city. We moved with the procession and arrived at a memorial within the cemetery. There, the general from earlier gave another speech. This speech was about the effects losing a soldier has on a family, and about how this memorial was funded by a mother who lost two sons and a daughter in service of Humanity’s forces assigned to the Galactic Council.
Shortly thereafter a 21-gun salute was rendered, and the crowd dismissed. I later found out that the memorial was called the Centris Three Memorial- in memory of those who fell in defense of this planet. Centris Three, the place where humanity’s first true war on the galactic stage happened.
Humanity remembers their fallen, and they also remember their past. It is with this I leave you. Humanity has yet to lose a war on the galactic stage despite the fact that they have almost lost their home. Which is why I am requesting that we hire human instructors at our own military training facilities, so we can learn from their history of war. Additionally, I believe we should have a similar holiday, as it is ultimately our history and culture that defines us as a species.

Hey all, Realmfire here. So this one was kind of hard for me to write. While it's not my best work it is… kind of personal to me. In fact, a few of the parts of this story are either directly inspired by my experiences or the experiences of those around me. Lest we forget those have gone before. Have a good one all.

Hi everyone! I've been planning a trip to Japan for a while now, and I am happy to say that I will be going in about a week! Below is my itinerary, I'd appreciate it if anyone had any critiques and/or recommendations, as well as any things that I may have missed. I didn't plan out every day to the dot; I'd rather go around and explore and find new things.
I've got a few questions, as well:

• Does anyone know any nice seaside-view resturants in Odaiba?
• I missed the reservation for Kichi Kichi Omurice; is there any way I can still go?
• Am I able to cover up my tattoos and go into an onsen?
• How badly does it rain in June? Will it seriously affect my experience?

Itinerary:
Day 1: Thursday, June 8 (Shin-Okubo, Shibuya)
- Arrive at HND
- Pick up luggage
- Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho, then Yamanote line to Shin-Okubo station to hotel
- Arrive at hotel, explore area for the night, dinner at Ichiran
- Mannenyu Onsen
Day 2: Friday, June 9 (Harajuku, Shinjuku)
- Meiji Jingu Shrine
- Yoyogi Park
- Harajuku Takeshita
- Crepes, Maccha House, Sweets
- Lunch: Gyukausu Motomura
- Shinjuku Gyoen Park
- Tokyo Metropolitan Building (views)
- Shinjuku Takashimaya Times Square (shopping)
- Uniqlo/Bicqlo
- Dinner: Ramen Nagi, Himawari Zushi Shintoshin, Curry (?)
Day 3: Saturday, June 10 (Roppongi, Shibuya)
- Creme de la creme
- Yelo
- Roppongi Hills
- Mori Art Museum
- Tokyo Midtown
- Lunch: Maguro to Shari
- Shibuya Crossing
- Shibuya Scramble Square (shopping)
- Shibuya Sky
- Dinner: Ginza Steak Shibuya 6:30 PM
Day 4: Sunday, June 11 (Toyosu, Odaiba)
- Teamlab Planets 9-9:30am
- Miraikan Museum
- Aqua City
- Diver City
- Symbol Promenade Park Hydrangea Stairs
Day 5: Monday, June 12 (Asakusa, Akihabara)
- Asakusa 7 am
Day 6: Tuesday, June 13 (Tsukiji, Nihonbashi, Ginza)
- Tsukiji Fish Market at 7 am
- Tsujihan
- Nihonbashi Takashimaya S.C.
- Uniqlo Ginza
- Ginza Art Aquarium
Day 7: Wednesday, June 14 (Free)
- Dinner: Sushi Tokyo Ten Roppongi 5:30 PM
Day 8: Thursday, June 15 (Tokyo -> Kyoto)
Day 9: Friday, June 16 (Gion, Downtown)
- Ramen Sen No Kaze
- 4 pm nishiki market
Day 10: Saturday, June 17 (Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-Dera)
Day 11: Sunday, June 18 (Arashiyama, Downtown)
- Arashiyama bamboo grove
- Arashiyama monkey park
- Tenryu-ji Temple
- taxi to Tenzan-no-yu Onsen
Day 12: Monday, June 19 (Kyoto -> Osaka)
- Yasaka Shrine
- Dotombori
Day 13: Tuesday, June 20 (Downtown, Dotonbori)
- Osaka Castle (?)
- Grand Front Mall
- Umeda Sky Building
Day 14: Wednesday, June 21 (Hiroshima, Miyajima)
- Atomic Bomb Dome
- Okonomimura
- Itsukushima Shrine
- Mt. Misen
- Miyajima Oysters!!!
Day 15: Thursday, June 22 (Osaka -> HND)
P.S. I will be using the 7-day JR pass for this trip, activating it on June 15 for when I leave to Kyoto. I was stupid and forgot that I'm actually leaving Osaka on the 8th day, so I'm unable to use my JR pass on the way back to Tokyo. It's fine, I'll just buy a one-way shinkansen pass.

I say “hot take” because so far ive only seen people complaining about them
I find all of the dungeons enjoyable in some form, yes even the water temple.
I love the theming for all of them, the fire temple being a long lost city in the depths, the wind temple being a massive ark, etc. i also love how they arent linear. Yes linear dungeons are fun too, but totk’s dungeons being nonlinear allows people to be creative about how they solve the puzzles. Not to mention the bosses, colgera and marbled ghoma were a blast to fight, mucktorok was easy but the concept of it being such a tiny little thing compared to the other bosses was pretty funny, and queen gibdo was delightfully challenging.
In the end i feel im the only one that actually enjoyed totk’s dungeons

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*History is a beta feature, only goes back as far as I've been tracking this item, and may not be 100% accurate

Hi all, my first SD this year, generally had a good time, but it I just want to see what you all make of this...
We got the Big Green Coach from Manchester, scheduled to depart at 10am, but we didn't get there till after 1pm, and that was when we all gave up waiting and just walked the rest of the way. Read on to find out why, but my question is, is this a normal time to arrive when using the coach? I was expecting to be there for 11:30ish... The BGC website says that coaches are scheduled to arrive at SD in time for gates opening. Should I have foreseen this and not bothered to get my hopes up for some of the early bands?
Thoughts appreciated
The first coach didn't arrive at the departure point until gone 10am, and with the volume of people travelling it took several coaches to get us all there. Our coach didn't actually depart until 10:30.
Our driver took us to the incorrect side of Temple Newsham, and went up a road that was signposted as unsuitable for large vehicles. Inevitably, the road narrowed and we couldn't pass. Driver spent a while looking at written instructions and satnav, eventually realised his error. We were forced to reverse back down the road, which took ages as the coach had to obviously stop any time another car needed to pass.
We eventually (I'm sure we went around the same roundabout twice later on) made it back through the city onto the road leading to the dropoff point, this was predictability packed and slow moving. We all vacated the coach before it got to drop-off and just walked. This was just after 1pm.

After a couple months of lurking I think my partner and I (both 31) have a framework done! This will be our long awaited Honeymoon (married in the midst of COVID in 2020). We've been to Tokyo and Osaka in the past and we both agreed that our main priority is food, Gundam(myself) and maintain leisure.
With that in mind, here's the itinerary we have so far!
Nov 8 - land in Tokyo (we'll be flying in from HK, so jet lag won't be a problem),

• Ship our big luggage to Sapporo Hotel
• Thinking of either staying in a hotel close by the airport or somewhere easily accessible to the airport

​
Nov 9 - Fly from HND to CTS

• Train to Sapporo
• Rest/Spend the day roaming around Susukino area

​
Nov 10 - Sapporo (we are planning to get a hotel in the Susukino area)

• Nijo Market
• Tanukikoji
• Odori Park
• Shiroikoibito Park

​
Nov 11 - Day trip to Otaru

• Open to any suggestions

​
Nov 12 - Decision between spending 1 more day in Sapporo or heading to Noboribetsu for Onsen (We would activate our 14day JR pass when we go to Noboribetsu)

• Ship big luggage to Hakodate (if we are not spending another day in Sapporo)
• Would we have more things to explore in Sapporo? we're both not heavy drinkers but can enjoy one or two drinks a night

​
Nov 13 - Travel Noboribetsu for Onsen + explore Jigokundani (again this can be on Nov 12 instead) / Travel to Hakodate
​
Nov 14 - Travel to Hakodate (if we didn't stay an extra night in Sapporo, we would spend it in Hakodate instead)

• Ship luggage to Tokyo
• Mount Hakodate
• Open to any other suggestions especially if we're spending another day here

​
Nov 15 - Travel to Tokyo (staying in Shinjuku)

• Trying to keep the day light, unsure how we will feel after the long train ride
• Shibuya Sky
• Parco
• Omoide Yokocho
• Kabukicho

​
Nov 16 - Tokyo

• Ship luggage to Osaka
• Team Labs
• Odaiba
• Not much else planned for this day, we'll be flying out from Haneda so we can wait on the souvenirs

​
Nov 17 - Travel to Hakone

• Hakone private onsen (open to suggestion, we look at a few but nothing eye catching yet)

​
Nov 18 - Fuji lake day trip

• Originally we wanted to stay at a ryokan with private onsen + view of Mt Fuji but the prices don't seem to justify it (unless anyone has a good recommendation)
• Hope to see Mt Fuji
• Relax back at onsen in hakone

​
Nov 19 - Travel to Osaka

• We decided to make our base in Osaka because we plan on going Universal and instead of hotel hopping we'll just make day trips to Kyoto
• Dotonburi

​
Nov 20 - Universal Studios
​
Nov 21 - Kobe day trip

• Himeji Castle in the morning
• Kobe Harborland area
• Looking for recommendations for Kobe Beef
• Travel back to Osaka

​
Nov 22 - Kyoto day trip

• Nishiki Market
• Samurai & Ninja Museum (worth it?)
• Tamba Kameyama Castle Ruins
• Kinkaku-ji (by the time we get here, it'll be later in the afternoon, would it still be crowded?)
• Nijo-jo Castle

​
Nov 23 - Nara + Kyoto day trip

• Deer park
• To-ji Temple
• Toei Kyoto Studio Park (I know it's quite far, but I would like to see the Evangelion)
• Keeping this open for other suggestions

​
Nov 24 - Hiroshima/Miyajima day trip

• Is it doable in 1 day assuming we head back to Osaka at night?
• Ship luggage to Tokyo

​
Nov 25 - Travel back to Tokyo

• Cup Noodle Museum
• Gundam Factory Yokohama
• Maybe Chinatown to find food open for suggestions

​
Nov 26 - Tokyo

• Nakano Broadway
• Mandarake
• Ikebukuro
• Don Quijote

​
Nov 27 - Last Minute Shopping

• Flight at 9:00pm so we have some time in the morning to spend, nothing too crazy and may just end up going to the airport early and use the ANA lounge!

​
Please note we're not big nature people so too many temples may become boring to us. We decided we didn't want to go to Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama bamboo forest/Monkey Park because of time constraint.
We both enjoyed Osaka more than Tokyo in our previous trips, we've been to Disney and Universal before and decided we want to go Universal more.
It will be our first time in Sapporo, Kobe, Hiroshima and Kyoto. Please give more suggestions on those areas!
After reading about the luggage transport service, we're ok with spending the extra $ on shipping it to the different cities rather than lugging them on the trains, we haven't booked our flight from HND to CTS yet so if that flight allows for 1 checked bag we don't have to send it the first night.
Lastly, this is our honeymoon so we want to try to keep the stress level of traveling to a minimum and not overpack the trip. A couple of days that are intense is ok as long as we don't feel like we're rushing to everywhere and rushing out.
Thank you for everyone's time in reading our post and your input + criticisms!
​
Edit: added in some more thoughts as I'm browsing other's itinerary

When a British tourist "supergroup" is stranded in the vast mountain ranges in Banff National Park in Alberta during an apocalyptic planetwide alien invasion, imaginative 15 year old schoolboy Kody Patterson decides to pen a fantasy novel about vampires, elves and vast underground cities in Colorado
https://thebanffblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Mount-temple-banff-1024x683.jpeg

Welcome to The (Not So) Daily Planet!
Comment below with a discussion on the releases this week or the question of the week. Try to reply to others instead of starting new threads on the same topic. Keep the conversations civil and have fun!
Announcement: Keeping /Superman open and welcoming for all
Question of the Week
If you had to pick one piece of Superman history to draw inspiration from for Superman: Legacy, what would it be?
(Join our Discord to discuss further!)
Feel free to suggest future weekly questions!

Comic Singles

DC Pride 2023 #1

AND BABY MAKES THREE / ANNIVERSARY / BAD DREAM: A DREAMER STORY / HEY, STRANGER / LOST & FOUND / TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK / SUBSPACE TRANSMISSION / MY BEST BET / LOVE'S LIGHTNING HEART
DC Pride is back again with a brave and bold and all-new collection of stories starring DC’s fan-favorite stable of LGBTQIA+ characters—many of whom will find themselves in thrilling team-ups the likes of which you’ve never seen before!
Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy go to extreme measures to get a little alone time…but there’s nowhere on the planet Crush can’t crash!
Jon Kent gets a comprehensive course in dark magic when John Constantine sics a golem on him.
Tim Drake and Connor Hawke learn that there’s nothing more awkward than reuniting with an old friend after you’ve both come out and one of you was indoctrinated by the League of Shadows for a while.
Continued from Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate #1
Circuit Breaker struggles to stifle his powers after the Flash of Earth-11 leaps out of the time stream and knocks them both into another dimension.
Just how far would Flashlight go to honor his lost love?
All these stories and many more in DC Pride 2023!
This year’s anthology also includes:
• An introduction by Phil Jimenez!
• A 5-page preview of Dreamer’s YA debut written by Nicole Maines and drawn by Rye Hickman!
• A parade of pinups by Babs Tarr, Maria Llovet, Brandt & Stein, Noah Dao, Travis G. Moore, and more!

Preview
Power Girl Special #1

Continued from Action Comics #1053
Power Girl takes center stage! With new powers and a new mission, Power Girl faces a challenge unlike any she’s experienced before in this shocking one-shot rising from the events of Lazarus Planet and Action Comics! With Omen’s guidance, Power Girl now strives to battle the demons—literal and figurative—lurking within the minds of some of the greatest superheroes in the DC Universe! But the nefarious Johnny Sorrow has been searching for a connection to Earth-0, and the superheroines’ work may unwittingly give him the means to make their world his personal stage! Can Power Girl and her estranged Super-Family bring down the curtain on Sorrow’s evil plans? And at what cost?
The backup story is an introductory tale. Fire and Ice respond to a natural disaster in Baltimore, debating whether to involve Ice’s old flame Guy Gardner. When Guy causes some major drama at the scene, Superman gets involved to stop the fight.

Preview

Trades

Steel: A Celebration of 30 Years [HC]

Inspired by Superman's selflessness, John Henry Irons used his engineering genius to reinvent himself into a champion in his own right.
The perfect combination of brains and brawn, John Henry Irons was one of four different people to take up the mantle of Superman when Kal-El lost his life while saving Metropolis from the monster known as Doomsday. Initially referred to by the media using Superman’s nickname, “The Man of Steel,” Irons simply went by Steel when Superman came back from the grave.
A former weapons engineer, John Henry Irons moved to Metropolis to start a new life. There, on one fateful day, Superman saved his life. Forever grateful, John Henry paid it forward when the city’s protector died. He took up the fight to protect the innocent in Superman’s name, wearing his iconic “S” shield in tribute.
Irons used his scientific genius to construct a suit of armor that allowed him to fly and gave him superior strength. He also created a giant metal hammer in homage to his namesake, the folk hero John Henry.
Now a permanent member of Superman’s extended family, Steel is living proof that everyone has it in them to become a Superman.
Steel: A Celebration of 30 Years collects Action Comics #4, Adventures of Superman #500, Convergence: Superman: Man of Steel #1-2, JLA #17, Justice League Unlimited #35, Steel #1, Steel # 34, Steel #1, Suicide Squad #24, and Superman: The Man of Steel #22, #100, and #122!

Digital Releases

Monday, 5/29 (WEBTOON) - Red Hood: Outlaws #44

The Outlaws try to go legit -- and fail spectacularly. The Justice League has issued a challenge to DC’s Dark Trinity, forcing Red Hood, Artemis of Bana-Mighdall, and Bizarro to try and replace their goody-two-shoe counterparts as the heroes the world neither deserves nor needs. In this original series, the Outlaws will battle some of DC’s biggest Super-Villains and Super Heroes -- but their biggest battles are among themselves. Can this team last? And can they find their own identities separate from Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman?

TV

Tuesday, 5/30: Superman & Lois S03E10 - Collision Course
Time/Date: May 30 8:00 PM ET
Network/Channel: The CW

Lois attempts to interview Peia in the hopes of unearthing the truth about an old case, while Clarke struggles to spend quality time with the boys. Meanwhile, Jonathan and Jordan find themselves at a party, where tensions between Sarah and Jordan come to a head. As Kyle's suspicions about a local meta-human grow, Lana must juggle her personal life with a visit from the governor. Finally, Matteo makes a life-altering decision.