Chapter 13 The Ruiner

The mother and son duo are back on Innistrad. This arc timeline will match the original Innistrad block.

The adult joke is continued from the previous chapter. There is nothing graphic, but it might make some readers uncomfortable. Consider this a warning.

I need to remind you that this story is humor/hurt & comfort. While it will follow the canon stories, it will be bonkers. But then again, this arc takes place on Innistrad. So, prepare for a dark story. Darker than War of the Spark Novel, that's for sure.

Reviews/ Q&A

: I hope we see more wolf in Westeros soon.

Not this arc, but you might see in the next one. Jon might bring someone home, who knows?

ThatOneGuysUpstair: Hmm, a necromancer, female, on Innistrad, and Sorin is worried about it, well I can only see good resulting from all this, and certainly no Lovecraftian monsters being unleashed on a world because of something a certain Vampire did to get out of dealing with his girlfriend after he stood her up when she needs help with some infestation problems resulting in her being driven insane.

Trouble in not paradise, if I say so myself.

Ragnarshadow: Jaja Nahiri is your wife lord Sorin, in the future, you have marriage problems lord Sorin?

Who says it is not already started?

Ragnarshadow: Ugin doesn't understand sex …

What do you expect from an elder dragon who can spawn "children" by messing with a plane's mana? It's more efficient.

Also, Ragnarshadow: In the future, if Jon or Arlinn want a child they use the Ugin's tactic or continue with sex?

No. Jon and Arlinn don't have skill or knowledge to do it. Arlinn will never want to get pregnant, she just wants a child to dotes on but not the burden. When I write the character, I channel "Mum" aka. "Goddess of all creation" from Lucifer tv series. For Jon, well, I don't decide yet but not likely. There is much more than having a child in a companionship.

Ulvenwald, Innistrad

Innistrad doesn't change much since he left for Tarkir. Everything is still trying to kill you like always. Jon breaths in a foul air full of evil and smiles. The landscape in front of him is bleak and morbid. The edge of Ulvenwald never change, and it never will. The road lacks repair. The wood of the signpost is rotten. Even the tree is corrupted. Everything on this plane is saturated with black mana. He then remembers something that Ugin taught him. It seems that the soul of the plane while keeping the five mana of the plane in balance, favors heavily on black.

It is hideous.

It is horrible.

It is home.

"I miss this place." Jon stretches his limbs and lets the damp air of the forest soothes his skin. "Somehow."

His mother smirks behind him. She gently strokes his hair. "There is no place like home, Jon. Even our home is a murderous dark forest that kills all its intruder and sometimes its inhabitant."

In Winterfell, he was a bastard. He was shunned because of his mere existence.

In Atarka land, he was a hunter. He was a prodigy, the pride of the clan. Many things are expected of him. Serving Atarka is one, and how did that turn out? He was used as a glorified power source for her conquest.

In Ugin's Sanctum, he was among his kin: Planeswalkers. There he was trained to survive the multiverse. He was taught about the culture of the important planes, how to blend in, how to fight and think like a planeswalker. He honed his martial prowess by his extended family.

Family. The one that is not bound by blood, but by their choosing. It's now him, his mother, his uncle, his aunt, and sometimes Ugin and Sorin too if the planes aligned, against the entire multiverse. Jon knows that whatever the problem he will face in the future, he will not have to do it alone. His family will have his back, always, anywhere, anytime.

Still, Tarkir is not home. His home is here, in Innistrad. Some says that home is where the heart is which he thinks is foolish. His heart is right in his chest. He also doesn't understand the notion of giving away his heart to a girl. His aunt Narset once spoke about it and it confused him. Why should he give his heart away, he needs it? How could he even survive without a heart?

And why should he give it away to a girl? Henrietta was a silly girl who will fall victim to the predator of Innistrad anyway had lord Sorin didn't kill her and everyone in the village. Sakta. Well, Sakta was his friend and teacher. She also like to beat the living shit out of him at all opportunity. Their weird night together after his fight with two regent dragons is confusing, to say the least. It seems she was hurt but somehow she enjoyed it. Girls are weird.

Then there was Thalia. She is … in every way his equal. She was even a better fighter, in fact, before his leave for Tarkir. Now? He is not so sure. His power grows immensely, and his technique had been honed by three of the best fighters in the multiverse. Thalia was sweet too, he admits. Their kisses were a burning sensation like a blazing flame on a stormy night. But that might be attributed to the fact they were, and still are, technically enemy when he thought about it.

The old gods help him when his lies got revealed to her. She would hunt him down to the end of Innistrad. Be that as it may, he seems to always have her in his mind. It even occurs much more regularly now that he returned to the place where it all begins.

"Or …" His mother added. "You miss someone. A young cathar, perhaps. What's her name again? Thalia?"

Jon becomes stiffed. His shoulder subtly jerked, but that is all Arlinn needs to know she was right.

"You are playing a dangerous game, Jon. You know what she would do if she knows the truth. You know what I will do if she tries." Her words are as sharp as bitter steel. There is nothing Arlinn would not do to protect her son. "Unless …" She pauses. "You seduce her so good she abandons her faith for you."

"What!" Jon becomes pale. Seduction is supposed to be for cowards. Only reserved for a temptress who doesn't prefer to fight head-on. "Seduction?"

"Well. What did you think I have you do? Getting close to a girl. Try stealing a kiss from them. Gather information that is beneficial to us." She reaches for his chin and tilts it up. "You are turning into a fine warrior, Jon. But a battle doesn't always fight with the strength of arm."

"Most fights don't win by this." She flexes her bicep.

"But this." She points at her head. "Outmaneuver your foes. Always know your strength and weakness as well as that of your enemy and you will never suffer defeat. And a company of a young athletic girl is not a bad thing for you, Jon. You are of that age to … you know … start doing that anyway."

"Doing what mother?" Jon jerks backward.

"You know. Sex." Nonchalantly answered Arlinn. "Don't tell me you don't know what it is."

"Well. You never taught me." Jon replied. He doesn't like that smile on his mother's face after she heard his answer. Not one bit. "But I have some ideas."

"I thought Sakta already taught you the night you fell the dragons." She scratches her chin. "Did the two of you did something wrong?"

"She took off her clothes and then she took mine off…" Jon slowly recalls the faithful night. "and then …" He paused. What did they do, exactly?

"Go on …" His mother ensures him to continue.

"She got on top of me and started moving. She did it faster and harder as time went by. Sometimes she grunted in pain, sometimes she just moned." Jon stops again as he gets more and more uncomfortable explaining.

"And then?" His mother presses on.

"Then I didn't remember much. I passed out and woke up in her embrace. She seemed happy ... like satisfying happy, not I am about to drop a mountain on your head happy."

"You passed out? I thought our kind have more stamina than that." His mother expresses concern. The wolf spirit should allow a healthy boy like Jon goes on an entire night. Of course, Jon doesn't know this. Arlinn wonders that her son's draconic heritage and the wolf spirit are interfering with one another. That's might be why he had so much uncontrollable rage when he was transformed. Not that it bothers her. Jon is her son. End of the story.

But if Jon is a two-pump chump and a crier then it might sully her brand.

"I fought two regent dragons, mother. Of course, I was tired. How did it suppose to go exactly! And why did it matter so much?"

Nevermind. It seems she was mistaken. That was a reasonable explanation.

"Oh." His mother smiles. "I see. It seems I had been a bad mother and didn't prepare you for that aspect of your life. Well. That can be corrected."

Meanwhile in Thraben

Life has been going well for Thalia. She graduated as the youngest inquisitor ever. She was handpicked to join the Lunarch's elite guard by the Guardian of Thraben himself right after she graduated. Her blade skills are unmatched even among her peers in the elite guard. She had raised high for a no-name orphan of the church. She started from nothing, only to be trained and expected to die for the church's cause. Now? Now she is the rising star of Avacyn's inquisition. She has fame and power. Her voice can command men twice her age. Her opinion is highly regarded. Even the ground she walked on is worshiped by some of the small folk she saved.

And suitors. Yes. A lot of suitors. Many want to have her hand in marriage, even though she is barely a woman. She is sixteen this year, an adult to some but a child to most. It is nice to have men profess their love for her, praising her martial prowess, and sometimes lie down on a dirty floor so that she will not dirty her boot. She doesn't think much of those men. They all sought her for her either her beauty or her reputation. They want her to be a prize to be shown or used her to better their position.

That, and she is waiting for him. A boy that is even younger than her who she met during her training years. A boy with a peculiar name: Jon Snow. His skill was no lesser than hers, even she always insisted that she was better. A boy who rushed in headfirst to save her from vampires and didn't ask any boon in return. The boy who sees her as herself but insists on addressing her as Lady Thalia just to annoy her.

She can name many more happy memories of him during the short time they spent together. Even though she is unwilling to admit, he was her first love. He has engraved himself deep in her heart.

And she couldn't wait to meet him again. She prayed to Avacyn day and night for a chance to meet him again. She was sure that she is the one!

.

.

.

The one she will skin and turn into a rug! Lying bastard.

Sure, she bought his story like a lovesick child. A child traveling with a mother, who is an excommunicated archmage of Goldnight, ridding Innistrad of evil. Everything matches up perfectly. It explains his skill and knowledge, and why they cannot remain in the same place for long. That's why she believed him for such a long time. Well. Until she met an old archmage Rembert.

It was then she knew why Arlinn Kord is excommunicated. The bitch is a werewolf. Which means, Jon is probably one too. The thought was alarming, a werewolf that young was unheard of.

Indeed, he might not know who Arlinn Kord truly is and is innocent. But innocence doesn't last long here in Innistrad. Besides, she is Avacyn's inquisitor. It is better to let a hundred innocent die than let one corrupt soul live.

She knows she must hunt him down. If only she knows where he is. He, along with his mother, seemed to disappear from the surface of Innistrad after their departure all those years ago.

If she just had been lied to, she would not be this angry. It was a fair game of reconnaissance. But no, this grudge is personal. She kisses him and he let her …. He let her fell in love with him. This is heresy at the highest degree! Maybe it is not equal to emptying the Helvault but it is very close, at least for her.

Well, maybe one last kiss before she plunges her sword into his heart might not be so bad. Or maybe she will try to tame the wolf. Thalia smiles at her naughty thought.

No! that is heresy. She caught herself and cut her hand. The pain will cleanse her mind of sins. If it doesn't then the fire will.

But why does she feel so right in thinking about it?

Back to Ulwenwald, A mother is teaching her son all about sex. In the most inappropriate conversation humanly possible. The talk lasts for more than two hours and it seems there is no end anytime soon.

" …. In short. Sex is a way for human and many animals procreate. Not us though, the wolf spirit inside us makes sure that the pregnancy will never happen. Even if not for the wolf spirit, the planeswalker spark inside us will reduce the chance of conception to almost zero. It is not so bad, though. As an incentive to procreate and continue the survival of species, sex, by in nature, is fun if you do it the right way. Now, let's cover the technical part." Arlinn Kord smiles with glee.

The thought of describing everything she had done to him somehow feels wrong. Jon is her son and it might be inappropriate for him to know about how she behaved in the sheet. She would agree if she knows how to mother.

The thing is she doesn't but acts as if she does. This action leads to many interesting family moments to come.

But the rule is universal, and it is commonsense enough. Don't have sex with your son because that is incest, and it is a grave sin. The child will even be born weak, all the recessive trait will be enhanced, given that the union is repeated over many generations. Or so they say, Arlinn is not an academic, she just once bed one.

Even she knows she cannot get pregnant from it; it still feels wrong to do so.

"Wait a minute!" Jon interjects. "Is that what you do with Surrak all the time you two are alone? That's what Sakta wants to show me?" Jon frowns. "Does this mean Surrak is my dad now?"

Arlinn laughs. It is a wholeheartedly laugh that makes Jon wonders what is so funny about his question.

"No." She continues to laugh so hard a drop of tear leaks from her eyes. "No. Just, no. Oh, Jon. You are silly. It doesn't work like that."

"But you said that sex is a way to make babies. Parents love each other, mother. Well, most of them are." Jon looks down when he thinks about himself. He is sad.

"That is the most ridiculous thing I ever heard today Jon. That is a constraint created by a group of people to limit your behavior. Sometimes, Sex is caused by love. Sometimes it just meaningless fun. For me, it always the latter. You don't need to think much about it." She pats his shoulder. "Life always gives you choices, Jon. The choices are yours and yours alone, so do the consequences. The best you can do is to choose wisely and live with no regret."

Jon can feel the wisdom the emanates from his mother's words. She is wise. I want to be like her. He thought.

"Now, I will tell you all about the technique to pleasure your woman. We must make sure that your performance is up to standard. That Thalia girl better not be disappointed." She places another hand on another shoulder.

Jon is getting more and more embarrassed as his mother speaks. When the name is mentioned, he decides that it is the

Well, maybe not in that aspect.

"NOOOOOO!" He screams and plugs his ears. It doesn't block out the sound, though, his super-hearing is just too good. "This topic of discussion has to end. NOW."

Arlinn's smile grows even larger. Her boy is so innocent, but he will not be innocent long. She will see to it.

"Well, then. I will have Vol show it to you then next time we get together. I'm sure Narset will be happy to let you …."

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA." Jon screams even louder to block out his mother embarrassing suggestion.

Any other mother would stop herself from embarrassing her son. Unfortunately for Jon, Arlinn is not a most mother.

The Arlinn train had no break.

Inside the shadow of Thraben lurks a necromancer like no other on Innistrad. This one is powerful. This one in ancient and terrifying. This one is over a hundred years old and doesn't even age beyond twenty-five.

And her name is Liliana Vess. Born on Dominaria, ignited before the mending, she too lost most of her power and sought to reclaim it. She didn't just make a deal with a demon, she made deals with four demons and an elder dragon.

One of those demons, Kothophed, was already dead. Blasted into oblivion by her very hands. Fools of them that they are so sure she will honor their bargain and let her soul be damned. Fools of them to let her gain the power of the Chain Veil. Fools of them to leave a loophole of a contract. They cannot collect her soul when they are not alive to collect it.

One down, three remains. Soon, it will become two. If only she could find Griselbrand. The demon seems to vanish from Innistrand, but the connection still lingers. She is sure the damned demon is still alive.

She had been here on Innistrad for more than three moons now. She likes the air here. It reeks of death. The plane seems to accept her and her magic readily. Her power grows every moment she remains here. And there is so much flesh to raise. So many necromancers to blame her crime on.

Her "digging' leads her to a city called Thraben. It seems that all then dangerous demon on Innistrad seems to disappear after the place called Helvault is established thousands of years ago. The recorded is dated and very sanctified, but that couldn't stop her for she can bring back the dead. And with the dead, come the knowledge that no one alive would possess. They should have locked the dead with more than the pathetic magic that they used.

If the Helvaut locks her target away, then she will break it. Shame though, the plane would be ruined but why should she care? She doesn't live here. Let the native suffers. They don't matter to her anyway.

Her mind starts to formulate the plan. It needs to be intricate and have no mistake. Thraben is one of the most guarded regions of the plane. The main forces of the church are here. She would not put it past them to hold the secret to unlock the Helvault.

It matters not. She has all the time she needs. She has all the body she needs.

Custom Card of the Chapter

Name: The Talk

Mana Cost: BBR

Type: Enchantment

Card Text:

Skip your draw step.

Whenever you discard a card, exile that card from your graveyard

Pay 1 life: Exile the top card of your library face down. Put that card into your hand at the beginning of your next end step. Put an experience counter on The Talk.

If the twentieth experience counter is put on The Talk, shuffle your hand and graveyard into your library, then draw seven cards. Exile The Talk.

Flavor Text: "But mother, this is just Necropotence with extra-steps." – Jon Snow.

Rarity: Mythic Rare