((So, I mentioned before that I want to completely rewrite Vahaadi’s character for Ashen Shard. Rather than changing Vahaadi back from the character he’s become for Loose Canon, I’ve decided to jailbreak him from the story entirely. I will be writing a completely different character to take his place, and Spark now gets to have Vahaadi all to herself! This decision has been cemented by the recent ideas I’ve had about revamping Ashen Shard. Initially everything was hunky-dory, but the day after I had my epiphany about Ashen Shard, I started feeling some pushback from Lanthriel. This surprised me, since Vahaadi’s exclusion will theoretically make his own story so much better. But much to his own chagrin, Lanthriel does feel strongly for Vahaadi and regrets the drama. Sending Vahaadi to a different story entirely means they will no longer have to torment each other with their mixed feelings.))
“I suppose this is farewell,” Lanthriel said softly. “I’m sorry it had to end this way.”
Vahaadi closed his pack without looking up. “It’s for the best,” he replied, trying to sound confident. He flipped the pack, filled with every sign he’d ever been a part of Ashen Shard, over his shoulder.
“You’ll have to spend hundreds of years a slave and a villain instead of only a few.”
“True…” Vahaadi responded grimly. “But, I’ll get to be a hero, too.” Feeling the confidence he’d been seeking finally coming into his voice, he looked up at Latnrhiel. “Ink’s promised me a happy ending. There’s no guarantee of that for me here.”
Lanthriel’s eyes darkened, and Vahaadi was alarmed by the look of deep pain and regret he wore.
“Don’t worry,” Vahaadi tried to reassure him. “Spark will take good care of me.”
Lanthriel’s brow knit and he cast his eyes away. His voice was thin when he spoke next.
“I’ll miss you.”
Vahaadi’s throat tightened uncomfortably. Why, why did he always have to make everything so hard? “I’ll miss you, too,” he murmured.
For a moment, the two just stared at each other. At length, Vahaadi moved closer, extending his hand to touch Lanthriel’s face. Lanthriel seemed to come to himself abruptly and turned faintly pink. He cleared his throat hastily and held out his hand, as if to shake.
“Let us part as friends, and nothing more,” he said.
Vahaadi hesitated, and Lanthriel saw the fleeting resignation and sadness in his eyes. But then he smiled.
“Friends, and nothing less,” Vahaadi agreed, and he pulled himself against Lanthriel in an embrace. Lanthriel’s hand, still extended, hovered uncertainly in midair. Then he relaxed, and tenderly returned Vahaadi’s embrace. Vahaadi sighed into his chest, feeling he would melt.
“UUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH would you stop with the mush and just GO already?” a harsh voice whined.
Lanthriel relaxed his hold but didn’t pull away completely, looking at Took with a mixture of scorn and embarrassment.
“Oh, Took,” Vahaadi purred with his teasing smile. “You KNOW you’ll miss me too.”
Took put his hands on his hips. “I can’t miss you IF YOU WON’T LEAVE.”
Vahaadi laughed at his retort and shook his head. “Alright, alright,” he chuckled, unwrapping himself from Lanthriel. He smiled up at Lanthriel, inviting him to laugh with him at Took’s expense, but there was no trace of a smile in return.
“Oh, Ehric,” Vahaadi murmured. “Don’t look so sad. Knowing Ink and Evie, we’re bound to see each other again! We’ll run into each other in an RP or some out-of-context meme for certain!”
Lanthriel rubbed the back of his neck and smiled at the ground. “Haha. I guess you’re right.” He sighed quietly, then returned his gaze to Vahaadi’s. “Well, goodbye for now, Vahaadi,” he said.
“Goodbye, Ehric. I’ll see you around.” With that, he stepped up to Lanthriel, and gently kissed him under his jaw. For once, Lanthriel had been more or less expecting the kiss and didn’t tense. Grateful, Vahaadi resisted the desire to over stay his welcome, and with a final smile up at Lanthriel, he turned and ran off toward his new home, his new beginning.
(( Mood music, by One Republic of course:
I like listening to this and imagining the scene and a montage of memories and Lanthriel and Vahaadi facing their new stories and just coming to terms with everything and mutually and separately moving on. <3
Also relevant is Rascal Flatt’s “I’m Moving On” but it isn’t as uplifting/encouraging as “Stop and Stare.”))
How many times had Spark waited in this spot, this no mans land of shifting sands between Lunarious and Ink’s Imagination, having run away from Lunarious as soon as her chores were done hoping to find Vahaadi here? More times than he had come, she knew that. How many times had she broken out of her bedroom window and taken to the sky, wondering if Vahaadi could see the same stars? Wondering what he was doing at that same moment. She’d get a catch in her throat and would try to stifle the pang in her heart, because it hurt too much. “He doesn’t belong here,” she’d tell herself. “You have no right to wish Vahaadi were part of your world; he isn’t! He has his own place in his story, his own friends and his own destiny. You’re not a part of it. You’re just an overactive thrill seeker cuddle buddy for him to play with when he isn’t busy.” Feelings of jealousy would overwhelm her then, jealousy towards Lanthriel and Kala, even Took. Vahaadi belonged with them. But did they treat him right? Did they love him well? Was he valued and respected? In RPs they always seemed to, but Spark got the sense that once they were all back home it was a different story. She never could get the real truth out of anyone. Ashamed of herself, she’d battle through her emotions each time and finally tuck herself into bed, exhausted. Weeks would pass, but the feelings always returned.
But things had gotten better over the last few years. At Ink’s inspiration she and Evie had created the world of Loose Canon and Spark and Vahaadi played together much more often. Every day in fact! Life was perfect, or, almost perfect. Sure she was a couple of years younger again, but that was fine by Spark. Anything to put off growing up. Sure, she had to go back to school again, but at least she’d made a couple of new friends. And Vahaadi was LIVING IN HER ROOM. Could life be any better!? Spark didn’t think so. There was only one problem: Loose Canon wasn’t Vahaadi’s canon. Truth be told it wasn’t hers either, but it was much closer to hers than his. At least in Loose Canon several of her actual life events still lined up. But for Vahaadi, it was just a diversion from his complicated ‘home life.’ She knew his thoughts and heart still lied elsewhere. Even though the world of Loose Canon was becoming more and more complex, it still felt as though she were borrowing Vahaadi for a grand game of pretend.
Until today. Until that glorious unspeakably amazing incredible unthinkable MIND BLOWING moment when Ink decided Vahaadi should be removed from Ashen Shard. He would come to live in Loose Canon permanently. “Spark now gets to have Vahaadi all to herself!”
The minute Evie’s eyes read the words Spark shrieked with exploding euphoria. Her thoughts went off so quickly she couldn’t even form words, she just mentally pictured fireworks going off. Her hands flailed as she tried to type something readable for Evie to send Ink but nothing came out. Spark felt she might faint, combust and sublime all at once. Vahaadi was leaving Ashen Shard. HE WAS COMING TO LOOSE CANON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally all those times when Spark was snuggled in Vahaadi’s arms, only to see his eyes distant, his gaze somewhere else wouldn’t happen; all those times she’d accidentally said something or done something to remind him of his mistakes that she never fully understood wouldn’t go on anymore; all those nights of wishing, hoping, praying Vahaadi would just come and find her and they could run away together and find treasures and fight monsters and leave hurt and regret and responsibility behind would actually come true. It was best thing that had ever happened to Spark and she couldn’t thank Ink enough. But Evie forced her to calm down for a moment and listen in on Vahaadi’s last conversation in Ashen Shard. Not everyone was so thrilled about Vahaadi’s departure.
Spark watched Lanthriel say goodbye, and any shred of jealousy she had once possessed disappeared. She leaned in as close as she could get without being noticed. Her ears grew warm, and she dropped her gaze, shame making her blush. All those days she had prided herself on being the only one who really loved Vahaadi, the only one who really understood him, the only one who truly cared… had been folly. Though neither had shown it well, Vahaddi mattered to Lanthriel too. Surprised, Spark’s eyes filled with tears and she felt overwhelmed with relief. She wasn’t the only one. Vahaddi had been loved in his own strange way, by at least one person in his original world. Though she’d covered it with pride, Spark had been genuinely afraid for Vahaadi that when she wasn’t there, no one cared for him at all. It had burdened her heart, knowing he’d never tell her if he got lonely in his world; he’d only spin her a new tale next they met. She had worried for him, but always been too entranced in his presence to tell him so. A trill of excitement rushed through her as she remembered “But no more! Vahaadi will belong with me!”
Before she rushed off to gather him up in her arms, Spark lingered at the scene of Ashen Shard. Vahaadi had departed and would be in Loose Canon soon. If Spark was going to say something to Lanthriel, now was the time. Vahaadi would be looking for her in a moment. With Ink’s permission (and Evie’s help) Spark gingerly stepped into the room where Vahaadi had been just moments ago. Took had turned away, trying to look furious but the lines in his face carried traces of confusion, possibly doubt. Lanthriel was still starting at the place Vahaadi used to be. Subtly had never been Spark’s strong suit, but she willed herself to give it her best shot. She coughed into her hand, alerting Lanthriel to her presence before stepping up beside him. “I… I saw you say goodbye,” she whispered, surprised at the emotion in her voice that threatened to come out if she spoke louder. “Lanthriel, you care about Vahaadi. You really do!” Spark sighed, turning towards his sober face, his strong brow furrowed. “All this time I thought I was the only one! …and I was so scared for Vahaadi, so worried that he wasn’t appreciated here. But I’m so glad,” her eyes watered as she smiled her biggest smile at Lanthriel “I’m so glad you loved him too! Thank you, Lanthriel. You don’t know what that means to me. It’s my wish that everyone who knows him comes to love Vahaadi as much as I do and now you’ve given me hope that it isn’t such a crazy dream after all.” Her eyes twinkled as she grinned at him, knowing her words couldn’t tell him even half of the gratitude burning in her soul. But she knew how he felt about hugs, so words would have to do. “I gotta go,” she whispered. “Vahaadi’s expecting me.” With a surprisingly shy wave, Spark bid him goodbye, stepping back into the desert between Ink’s Imagination and Loose Canon.
Spark heard his footfall pounding on the ground as he sprinted into view, a bouncing rucksack bobbing behind him. Without even looking she knew it was Vahaadi but she spun around anyway to catch a glimpse of him as quickly as she could. He was here, for good. He was here to stay, Vahaadi was here! The thoughts raced in her mind, repeating themselves over and over. She raced to meet him and threw her arms around him, a squeal of joy escaping her, as they twirled from the collision and collapsed onto the sand. Spark held onto Vahaadi, and for the first time didn’t have to fight back the feeling “I wish this could last forever.”
Original reactions:
“So I haven’t finished it but Spark is screaming at me SCREAMING AT ME to tell you right now
you have MADE. HER. LIFE.
she will never love me like she loves you for this
“Spark now gets to have Vahaadi all to herself! ”
AHSD:OIH:ORIHETEO:ITVH OIKHER :OUIWEHRO:I HOGIUHIRHW:OIUTHWIUH T”OIH:OQIEHG “OWRIHOIWEHG “OIWRHE:OIQY HR:OIWRHT :OIWKLURHT:OWIRHOWIHG
that’s just a piece of how she feels
she doesn’t even have words
just she’s just screaming
like it’s every best dream ever
XD
and now I have to seriously consider making “MetaSpark” not a thing
so they can be exclusively Loose Canon together
since she is so exclusive”
““Friends, and nothing less,”
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I just loved it so much
this is SO sweet
it’s perfect!
it really shows how much Vahaadi has grown as a character
how all of them have
except Took
XD he’s still the same
and yes, Lanthriel can rest assured that we’ll make sure they see each other again
I believe Van can confidently say no one is needed to torture him
and honestly
the more everyone else gets settled and happy the more out of place Spark is in Lunarious
that’s part of what drew her to Vahaadi in the first place
I’ll have to think on it
but right now she’s begging me to just let her run away to Loose Canon forever
and as you know, she’s very hard to refuse.
Awwwwwwwww <3
Lanthriel doesn't feel like he should be thanked, because all he can think is "clearly I didn't love Vahaadi the way he wanted me to or he wouldn't have left" but he's glad Vahaadi is going somewhere that he can be loved as fiercely and as Spark is willing to love. She doesn't have the same kind of barriers (societal, emotional, religious, self-imposed and otherwise) that he does. Lanthriel can't help him and it's killing them both. What I love so much about Loose Canon is that by the end, Spark will save Vahaadi from himself.