AN: In case someone prefers to read on ao3 here is the link:
//works/32707381/chapters/82653562
AN2: (...)when I reread That Line from chapter 4, i couldn't believe (that i came up with it *proud* and) that i let Darkles say sth so mean ; but then I thought it sounds like certain someone else ;) has said it. and that made a perfect coincidence, actually (u'll see in ch6)...
I love how many ppl felt exactly how Alina feels abt Darkles. but also i'm glad some realized that the coin has two sides... and from his pov it was a bit different. i will put a short dialogue between A and D on that very topic at some point in part 2, but i also want to mention now – i personally can't be mad at him since Darkles doesn't know about that bullying. he saw last chapter as one kid talking about the other, and usually at LP it was one powerful Grisha baby against the other one, an equal. hence he tries to idk spark up the conflict – an innocent one, in the eyes of a 400+ war general, but who, let's not pretend otherwise, can be lil bit of an eternal teenager sometimes, too – and if that turned out to be not the case, i think he would still feel bad for a 'powerful Grisha mocked by a classmate'. thats what that idiot interpreted things, and i hope it's not that hard to believe. plus it's about someone he personally platonically (i would not stand it otherwise. he can have lovers, sure, but i think it better wouldn't be very powerful Grisha, the way Zoya -unfortunately but obviously- is one and i'm not changing that – at least for the trilogy canon *sad wink* - because it will also indicate that our bby Alina is EVEN MOARR *tlj_ * powerful when she inevitably .ass.) cares about, so there is that too. it's not anything big in the story, so i don't treat it as a spoiler – Zoya and Darkles are not a thing in this AU. not now, not ever, nope *shivers* I realise the fate I have planned for her is not exactly as murderous or dramatic as we would love to (i mean, me too kinda!) BUT her final endgame is in my opinion one of the two worst things that can happen in Grishaverse. now i ll shut up to keep the suspense alive
also – yes, Alina is totally using her Sun power unconsciously for those kitchen raids! just check the tags my friends :P more "on the powers and why they are not working yet" i plan to put in a big AN of a chapter/separate short post/ between the first and the second arc, soon!
oh and last thing, sorry – I'm so sorry! plz dont hate me? but when i wrote, that idiot that i am, on last AN that "after falling out of her crush on Darkles few minutes ago,young Alina finds love again" i meant it...jokingly? i'm so bad at this. i need to figure out a font for my poor jokes.i'm sorry! i wholeheartedly agree that Alina deserves some lovin' before Darklina Endgame (ooh and i bet that the person who wondered about Ivan has read the same long amazing unfinished Darklina-with-Ivalina-first fic that i and hopefully all of us did. but, even if we forget that big brother Ivan part, i think Fedyor would have my heart ripped out for this! ;)) and i wouldn't dare to introduce Nina – since i barely remember the Crows, the wiki i read on her says she's badass and i'll probably love her dearly, btw did it came after Cottagecore AU or is Alina/Nina a bigger thing that i thought? i need recs (i'll stop babbling now!) i have somewhere in p2 written about alina having a casual, i guess one-night-stands, but my poor non-canon-otp-suffering heart could not handle mentioning anything less vague.
so when u read, keep in mind it's that somewhat humorous part. more of a great-minds-think-alike, having an idol, a bit of emo-hero-worship. it makes sense after her first hobbies, alright?
Whether it's your feelings, disappointment or joy, do not hesitate to tell me what you think!
Now, how often can I mention library before the first arc ends... ;)
"Alina! Wake up, Saints damn it, your combat class starts in twenty minutes!" David was shaking her like a madman. With a groan, Alina raised her head from the thick old book that she apparently slept on. Hopefully, no drool ruined the delicate pages. The old librarian's glare made her check it twice.
Yes, all clear.
Her brain finally registered her friend's words. Combat class in the morning? Since when?!
Oh no. The most advanced level. The one with a promise of praise - Zoya's humiliation.
Humiliation that can easily end up being that of Alina... That thought finally woke her up. With a final look of longing and muttered "I will see you again, my precious!" towards the tome that held her recent obsession (more like a healthy hobby, really, Fedyor!) the girl ran panicked to the dormitories, stormed into a bedroom she reigned alone from (two years ago she scared her roommate off for good), took the quickest shower in the history of Ravka, left her locket in the bathroom (no jewelry in that class!) and then dressed mostly on the way to the training hall. She probably wasn't late, she thought when she opened the door to reveal...
Botkin's disappointed face.
She blinked innocently, smiled her angelic smile and walked slowly in.
"Now that you've decided to grace us with your presence, Starkov, why don't you show your new classmates the reason you're here," Botkin cried out after her. "One-on-one fight." Good. With the current sour mood of their instructor, she could have ended up against multiple opponents. Blushing at the feeling of everybody staring at her, Alina gestured questioningly towards the weaponry.
"None of that, Inferni! Your fists won't be enough?" his voice was sharper than ever.
But Alina had everything planned for a nice, elegant fencing , to show Zoya up at the Squaller's favorite sport. What was Botkin doing?! They had a deal! Sort of, anyway.
Too betrayed to remember her anxiety, Alina walked into the big circle others were slowly forming, while Botkin pretended to hesitate over choosing her opponent. What if-
"Nazyalensky," he waved at Zoya, whose lips turned into quite the self-satisfied smirk, "I hope you won't massacre the youngling too much, eh?"
"Of course, sir," the Squaller said sweetly. Alina hissed.
"That's what we need, Zoya beating up some tiny girl," she heard one of the bulky Tidemaker boys mutter, and Alina raised her chin defiantly.
No weapons meant fight to surrender. And she will sooner pass out than admit defeat, so good luck with that.
Both girls stood ready. Botkin took a long step back... and the fight was on.
Alina muted out the crowd and everything except the two of them.
For the second - and hopefully last - time, there will be only Alina and Zoya.
There was no time to worry about a ruined plot – blood was pumping through her veins and Alina's feet were on the move, making Zoya's powerful hits miss terribly. She was apparently trying to finish it as soon as possible, but Alina had the best teacher.
She could practically hear Ivan's voice in her head: ' Tire her out . Make her regret growing up at all.'
While no longer childish, Alina's body remained slim and not as tall as she hoped for. No longer quietly jealous about Zoya's perfect curves, Alina was now at the advantage of being faster and more flexible. It was almost like dancing at some point – she'll thank Genya for dragging her to watch the ballet – and Alina wanted to laugh, but it would only cost her the precious breath.
Unfortunately, when she thought she was finally ready to take her down, Zoya moved rapidly and tripped Alina up.
That hurt, but the young Inferni's reflexes, trained underneath her brother's tough love, had her roll on the floor, away from the enemy. She twisted, trying to get up, but then Zoya was on her. Alina practically saw stars when the Squaller's fist met the back of her head. She groaned pitifully, and after two more hits, her lip was split and metallic taste was filling her mouth.
"Yield!" she heard the hated voice whispering.
"Not to you. Never," Alina laughed, spit out the blood to distract her opponent and braced herself.
The first thing that Ivan taught her was that a woman's legs were far more powerful than her arms.
In a move that was impossible for her only a year ago, Alina maneuvered her body and twisted violently, ending up on top of the completely surprised Zoya – and, sweet Everblaze, wasn't it the most beautiful sight ever . Then Alina punched her.
And again.
And again.
"Now, Starkov, I think she had enough-" tried Botkin, but then the bitch! The bitch grabbed Alina's messy braid and pulled!
She wanted to fight like a little girl? Very well, Alina always delivers!
Ignoring her surroundings again-
"Botkin, can I take you for a mo-, oh, what do we have here?"
-Alina bit Zoya's arm, hard . She imagined being attacked by a horde of Fjerdan witch-hunters, and bit the screaming Squaller once more, for good measure.
"Yield! I said I yield , Saints damn it, you evil little-"
Was Zoya crying? How sad .
Alina let go, stayed straddling the other girl for a little longer, looked her defeated, pathetic nemesis up and down (as much as she could in this position) and finally stood up, her legs barely shaking, her kefta adorned with red, her breaths loud.
The other students clapped slowly and then more eagerly, Botkin looked at her with pride, his earlied sour mood miraculously gone, and in the door...
In the door stood the Darkling and behind him - Baghra of the Ethearalki Order, the mysterious crone who seemed older than Ravka, someone Alina was lucky to only heard stories about. Baghra's temper and thick wooden cane were infamous among most Grisha, both teens and adults.
"You still need to work on your fencing, little one," Botkin muttered with a wink when she passed by him on her way out. Alina only smiled triumphantly, but her heart warmed at the thought of her favorite teacher sneakily helping her instead of betraying.
She didn't look at Baghra when she was leaving with other students, while letting an excited young Healer take care of whining Zoya. (She needed it, noticed Alina absentmindedly. Apparently a bite was really worse than a bark... Let's just say that the pressure of human jaws was quite impressive. Zoya was lucky to be near any Healer, really...)
No. Alina looked straight at the Darkling, who seemed focused on her as well, while he waited for the training hall to empty. There was no Ivan, Fedyor or David to stop her, so...
When she was close enough, Alina sighed deeply and said in a casual tone,
"More talented than me, is that so?"
The twinkle in the eyes of her soverenyi was not the reaction Alina expected, but she still smiled sweetly at him and walked away, triumphant after all.
The gossip at the Little Palace travelled as fast as ever. Alina barely had a chance to take a nice, long bath and dress up in fresh kefta before Genya Safin walked unceremoniously to her bedroom, hugged her lightly while chatting about Zoya's painful demise in front of the two most important Ethearalki in the capital and then left as abruptly as she arrived.
Alina guessed David already knew then.
But Genya, if not a friend, was still some kind of ally to Alina, and hated Zoya as well. A small congratulatory hug was okay.
The flock of admiring teenagers that surrounded Alina after she left one of her safe havens? They were not welcome. Some other victims of Zoya's theatrics just nodded respectfully at her from the distance and Alina nodded back, while those who suddenly acted very friendly were people that Alina remembered as either nameless members of the silent crowd that watched her being mocked, or even worse, Zoya's sycophants and so-called friends.
Alina remembered them well, and now have let the sweet-talking crowd around her grow until nobody else joined, and then she walked them in the middle of the snowed grounds near the front, light up many keftas or eyebrows (according to the crime) on fire and in the middle of muffled screams, she told them exactly what she thought of weak, pathetic, traitorous minions like them.
"And walking by the bullying and keeping quiet is as bad as helping the bully," she finished viciously, turned on her heel and left, the dark blue cloak she wore over her kefta flowing dramatically on the cold winter wind.
(At least until she walked that short distance between the crowd of glum teenage Ethearalki and the main entrance, which she was sure won't be used by any of them today.)
And thanks to that, Alina had to walk the maze of corridors to get to the library, instead of taking a short nice walk in the snow. Those were the costs of dramatics, she mused as smiled shyly at the old librarian (if anyone was older than Baghra, it was them) and walked back to where she left her light read this morning.
Thanks to the Darkling stealing Botkin from them, she had no classes until late afternoon.
With a dreamy smile, she picked up "The Reveals of the Black Heretic" right where she ended up...
yesterday
During their kitchen raid, the most daring of them all – almost in the light of the day! – Alina for the first time chose something more than her usual pile of sweets. A rather new edition of the "History of Ravka" with a smooth spine that looked like the book was never used – and, judging by the first page with a dedication for "Dear Nikolai" who could only be their youngest Prince, it has never been read in the first place – found its way to Alina's welcoming arms from where it was tossed carelessly underneath one of the tables.
At first she used it to balance the four big pieces of sernik, while David expertly weighted two different pastries, Fedyor looked like Saint Nikolai's Day came again and Ivan just watched out for the cooks, nervous like a little boy. Then, later, when the four of them shared the loot, freezing their noses off on the balcony in the boys' dormitories, Alina opened up the book on the random page and skimmed through it, cheeks stuffed with sernik.
The chapter called 'The crimes of Black Heretic' looked interesting. Alina smiled fondly at the very thought of the Shadow Fold and began to read, intercepting the sweets travelling between the two Heartrenders, while finding out exactly how otkazat'sya history saw the most infamous Summoner...
Turns out it was different for them.
While Alina didn't remember hearing much about the Black Heretic before coming to the Little Palace, most of the Grisha treated him like some kind of monster underneath their beds, the villain and the reason they were so poorly seen by less magical people of Ravka, not to mention other countries.
But the more she read about him from the otkazat'sya point of view, although still portrayed as the worst kind of villain, the more connected she began to feel to that long-dead man. None of the Grisha history lessons mentioned his motivations they way otkazat'sya Kings apparently knew them!
The otkazat'sya writers definitely didn't mean to show her how fascinating the Black Heretic was. They tried telling the readers how terrible villainous and irredeemable he had to be, to oppose the Lantsov King's oppression of Grisha – that according to them, was a perfectly fine – and then to create the Shadow Fold.
She ignored Ivan whispering some gross sweet nothings with Fedyor, she ignored David who snored loudly, back to back with her.
She kept on reading, with stars in her eyes and cheeks blushed from both cold wind and warmth rising in her heart. Alina noticed, while reading through further the next chapters, that Ravkan history had many different shades, depending on who was the author and the audience. By the time the pastries were gone, David woke up with another genius Materialki idea and she was ready to move on to the library, Alina had a new hero.
He might have been the Darkling's ancestor, perhaps ugly, obviously crazy-powerful but now long-dead, hated and feared by all – but Alina didn't mind. She learnt a very important lesson today, and it was not about their General being a bully-loving bastard or the corridors being perfect for eavesdroppers, although these two were useful as well.
For the first time, Alina realized that the history was written by the victors - as much as the otkazat'sya from the age of the Black Heretic could be called that...
Alina decided to end up victorious in the long game, and then she will write the history of Ravka anew.
AN: sernik == cheesecake. looks nice and short, don't you think?
also, not gonna lie – when these two are #established-relationship, Darkling will have a SERIOUS PROBLEM with convincing his wife/gf/one-true-love that he really is her childhood hero, the Black Heretic. she will just think he's trying to spice things up but she loves that worshipping idiot anyway. he doesn't need to lie to get her attention, k? ;)
it was going to be a long decent chapter but then i wrote that damn Slytherin line *points above* and it was a perfect ending, even if i was only in the middle of the planned chapter!
don't hesitate to tell me what u think :)