Darklina Fix-It Challenge

by TheLadyPhantom26

It is what it says it is. Read inside for challenge details and fic I have written to accompany the challenge.

A/N Okay so what this is is the Darklina Fix it Challenge. I have not read the books only a decent amount of the wiki and I have seen all of the show currently out. So here are the rules.
1. Alina has to time travel to when the grisha examiners come can be up to a year before that.
2. She has to have a happy relationship with the darkling and doesn't go against him ever. 3. Alina has to find a book about Grisha detailing that without a sun summoner the only way to temper a shadow summoner is to keep them away from power as much as possible.
4. Baghra is the bad guy and tricked Alina into destabilizing Aleksander as she is unstable and will do anything to get power again.
5. Alina finds in the same grisha book a way to call the stag to herself without alerting others. 6. Alina has to let go of her past quickly and simply be determined to save everyone 7. Aleksander isn't evil simply overwhelmed by his nature and a bit unstable and focused solely on the well being of the Grisha to the detriment of others.
8. Alina has to convince him that other people are at the very least worthy of keeping alive to fill the peasantry and keeping a few noble to prevent uprising if not convince him of equality within the the world. You can do anything in between just not a total only grisha are in charge now thing. 9. Have fun with it

Now here is my answer to my own challenge I own nothing I make no monies on with the show.

I sobbed as I looked down at the blood pooling into my hand where the assassin had stabbed me. It wasn't fair I had found the truth I could save them all but it was not to be. I looked back on what led me to these my final moments and wept wishing I had gone with the grisha when I was 8 years old. Wishing I knew, back then, that the stag would come if someone who wished it no harm called. I wished I had known so many things and I wept as I bled out I remembered it all.

I was running hard and fast before diving into a shop and begging the owner to hide me. He did but he said I would have to buy something from him first. I told him I had no money and he said I would work for it then. I paled hoping he wasn't talking of what he may be talking about. He quickly put his hands up reassuring me that I would simply clean the shop at night and lay low before leaving with a book that he said would be my item in two days. I did as he asked and soon I was grabbing all my items from the small hut I had been hiding in and went to find another small village to hide in.

When I finally settled and read the book he forced upon me I wished I hadn't read it. It was a book on Grisha but not your typical one. No this one detailed everything it could about all the different classes and subclass of grisha. It showed family trees of known grisha but the thing was they were the true trees not the ones everybody knew to be fact. As I read about shadow summoners my world fell apart. I now knew what he meant by his balance and hope. The only way a shadow summoner could work for the common good was with a sun summoner. Baghra had tricked me she was also likely the one trying to kill me. He had said he had time yet assassins still showed up. I had thought he was simply a liar now though I didn't know.

That night I snuck through the village to the carriage house. I stole a horse and quickly made away with it using my light trick to hide us from sight as I rode hard into the night. I paused at the fold before plunging through it still hidden by my light. I went through fast and hard somehow making it to the other side without being spotted by anything in it. I rode hard out of the other side heading straight for Os Alta as I knew he would be there. I spoke to him through our psychic link and told him all I had found out and how sorry I was. He forgave me and now I was on my way to him. But it was not to be.

Two days from Os Alta a rider crashed my horse to the ground and stabbed my gut hard several times before looking in my eyes and lowering their hood. It was Zoya.
I glared at her as blood pooled into my hand before I simply began to sob. She laughed and laughed as I cried. I shoved the book at her and gasped for her to read the truth. She did but by the time she finished I was gone, my eyes closed for the last time as she wept knowing she killed the only chance the world had against him being convinced we were both bad and her better. My last thought was that if I could go back to Keramzin that day I would be a Grisha sooner and I would save us all by not running away ever. I heard a laugh and gravely tone say wish granted dark sun but will you handle it truly? Then I knew no more.

I awoke with a shock as I looked around in disbelief. I was back in Keramzin in the young girls dorm. I was eight years old again and it was the night before the Grisha came. Well that's what some moonlight over a calendar her and Mal had made said. I almost squealed but realized this was my only chance to call the stag. I quickly sneaked outside to a small copse of trees near the manor and called out Stag of Morozova I mean you no harm I call you here in hopes to receive your blessings and to warn you of a great danger. I then sat down to wait.

It took only an hour before the great stag was before me and I bowed my head to its and showed him the future as I knew it had been and that I had somehow come back and I could now save us all. He reared and just as I was sure I was to be gored to death like the book warned his antlers passed into my skin and became part of it soon his head neck torso and even tail followed. Power pure power flowed in my veins and it took all of my will not to make a light brighter than a small glow in the copse of trees as power burned its way through me pure pleasure in my veins. I staggered back to bed somehow not getting caught and fell unconscious for the last hours of the night till dawn.

I awoke this time with the rest of the children. It took a minute but I realized it wasn't a fever dream I was really back in time and I had really taken in the whole stag who decided to sacrifice all of his power to give me the power more than anything else as his other siblings would never give themselves in such a way to anyone I would never be overpowered even if someone gathered an amplifier from both the sea whip and the firebird I would still overwhelm them completely and totally. I now had a light to more than match his darkness I also realized even if I was injured I wouldn't be able to stop my power from the test I simply had to much swimming in me now to ever stop it again. Even now I could see my hands had a faint glow. I shook my head clear as the matron smacked me forcing me out of bed telling me that she knew I was not sick and simply didn't want to potentially be grisha. I said nothing at her grousing she was a bitch and I seriously didn't care.

I was practically thrown into a chair, by an elder student who she had passed me off to, for breakfast. I ate my rye and herring without complaint and met up with Mal outside. He asked if I was okay I nodded not wanting him to worry. He asked if I still wanted to run I shook my head. What do you mean Alina why not? he asked fervently. I thought about it a lot the way we speak about them and I don't like it. They are people to they may have special things they can do but that's no different than a blacksmiths skill. If I am Grisha I will be one proudly if I am not I will be that proudly to what say you? I spoke to him with more confidence than I truly felt. I say your crazy and that I would never want to be one of those disgusting people. They may be people but they aren't human and they scare me. I will still run I will never be a Grisha. He said in a panicked voice before doing just that running and hiding like a coward.

They caught him of course I watched him be dragged into the room by the matron and simply smirked at his petulant glare at me. They shoved him behind me and walked out. This time the look on his face was different it was mad but also something else. Ah fear and disgust. He hated me now that he knew my true stance on Grisha. I looked away saddened by his reaction. His name was called and he was not Grisha. He was happy. Too happy. This made me sad as well. My name was called I walked up and didn't hurt myself this time. My sun filled the room and it took all my control not to blind or burn anybody by accident. Everyone was stunned into silence until the Inferni behind the examiner broke it. Sun Summoner. he said in a voice of wonder.

Me and the other children who tested as Grisha were quickly bundled into the carriages with me riding with the adult Grisha and the others with some guards. There were six other than me all new to Keramzin. 2 Squallers, 1 Tidemaker, 1 Durast, 1 healer, and 1 Heartrender. I asked them their names as we climbed into the carriage. Only the Inferni answered saying his was Damek Norwood and he was from Fjerda. The others simply looked on as if not sure what to say. Damek asked me if I knew why I had been separated and with all the innocence I could muster I said Because I'm and Inferni to and my powers aren't safe with the other kids. Right? I shifted nervously and then the whole carriage burst into laughter.

I pouted and eventually Damek calmed enough to tell me I was not an Inferni much to my apparent confusion. Then he said it You are a sun summoner not a fire summoner Alina. I showed them shock as that was what they would expect. So that wasn't fire it was light? I said with a lot of shock in my voice hoping I played this right. Yes. he said gently clearly trying to calm me down. I didn't show any sign of calm for several hours. I figured this would be seen as normal. I was right. Before I was a no name half Shu orphan to them at least. I knew better but I said nothing.

When we stopped for the night I spoke. Does this mean I can bring people safely through the fold and back when I learn to do it by myself? I asked timidly showing them I didn't know what I was supposed to do as they wouldn't expect me to know that a sun summoner could destroy the fold. Damek answered me Hopefully one day you will have enough power to bring down the fold but until then maybe having you go back and forth through it would grow your power to stand up to its might if that is what you mean. I nodded showing a fierce determined light enter my eyes to him so he knew I was serious and said Then that is what I will do when I am old enough and can make a light wall as high as the fold I will start taking people across it until I have enough power to bring it down and save Ravka. I said while looking as determined as an 8 year old can possibly look. This was met with smiles from all of the adults who seem to take the fact that I would shoulder this at such a young age as good sign.

We didn't stay long only sleeping a few hours just long enough to rest the horses before leaving towards Os Alta. We didn't stop in civilized areas after that first night. I didn't ask why I knew they didn't want anyone talk about me. We went at a vicious pace the whole way doing the 10 day journey in 6 days. Everyone was miserable and mad as can be but all to relieved when the little palace came into view. The Oprichniki let us through the gates and we were all taken to separate rooms to be prepared to be presented to the king and his family.

We were all dressed in clean and new peasant clothes and had gold and silver veils attached to our heads (gold for women silver for men) and led from the room. Damek made me hold back a few paces from the rest explaining that I would be introduced separately to show my importance to the king and his family. I nodded knowing I would receive far more fanfare in the not to distant future. I listened outside the door as Aleksander introduced them all and just as he was about to say he was done Damek burst in.

There is one more outside General Kirigan she must have gotten separated from the group. He said this with a sly smile and motioned me to enter. In this moment I decided one thing I could not let Aleksander amplify me yet I barely controlled myself during the exam. Yes it would mean looking maybe a bit too powerful for my age but it would save me the headache of accidentally burning the king and his family to death at the age of 8 and ruining the image of the sun summoners forever. So as I took my position and he took off my veil before he could touch me I stepped away. He looked confused by this and he should be it after all wasn't proper procedure. To clear it up I lifted my hand and formed two small balls of light above it just enough to look like a night light. With that everyone cheered seeing my light and quickly a quiet rumbling grew Sankta Alina. Soon after meeting the king and giving my name Alina Starkov to the royal family I was escorted back to the little palace by Aleksander himself.

When we got to the war room he held no pretenses How long have you been able to summon the light? He asked me plainly confused by my little show back there. I haven't that was my first time doing so I was just scared of touching an amplifier after what happened last night before the examiner came. I figured it would be better to try myself than almost burn everyone like what could have happened when the lady touched me if I didn't hold it back as hard as I could. I said nervously looking at the floor. He looked at me funny before asking And what happened to you last night that you would be afraid of amplifying yourself?

In halting tones I told him a non tempting version of the truth. I awoke in my bed frightened I wasn't sure why I knew it to be the night before the exams but truth be told I wasn't afraid of being a grisha only losing my friend because of it. Anyways I was frightened and I didn't know why by I felt trapped. I sneaked outside to a nearby copse of trees to moon watch and calm down. As I was a great stag with golden horns approached me and put his head to mine. I was terrified and suddenly the stag reared and I was sure it was going to gore me to death and the antlers went into my skin with no blood. I watched scared as the whole stag disappeared into me and I felt it power unlike any other flooded my veins and my skin started to glow. When I woke up this morning I thought it a dream but when my test came and I had to pin down my power to stop the room from burning I knew it wasn't. I thought myself an inferni to be honest it wasn't until I compared my light to Damek's flames that I knew he wasn't lying when he said I wasn't. Yet my light can burn. So as I didn't want to explain why the king and his family were suddenly crispy fried I had to try to do it myself and luckily I did to be honest cant imagine what would have happened if I couldn't probably would have had to tell this tale there instead of here in private.

As I finished he looked over at me in wonder and awe as he knew what had happened was that I had absorbed Morozova's stag in its entirety and as such had taken on more power than even he had. Eventually though he snapped out of it somewhat enough to speak You have been chosen by Morozova Solntse of this I am sure and you will have the power to tear apart the fold one day. He said with confidence oozing out of him. But for now you will need to train and learn what it means to be Grisha when you are ready we will worry about the fold not before then. You will have a private dorm as well as a taster for your safety. Also I know you are young so for now I will give you a choice would you like to wear a blue with gold trim kefta until you are old enough to journey to the fold or would you like to get the scandal out of the way and start your journey of wearing black and gold now instead of later.

I pretend to think on it for a moment before saying Black for if I am to wear it eventually anyways I'd rather do so now than later when even more people could resent me for it. I know all to well what it is to be judged for being different and I'd rather be judged honestly through my integrating as a grisha. You say that as if you are not grisha already. He says with a slight frown. By birth I am grisha yes but in mind I have much to learn about truly being a grisha and as such I think it will take me a while to truly think and live like a grisha and to forget my life with the otkazat'sya Sir. I say firmly believing this to be truth. He simply nods accepting my truth as it is better than someone denying their blood which I was not.

Tomorrow morning you will start training with Baghra and you will train with Botkin in the afternoons. You will have lessons on grisha history and culture starting next week which will take place thrice a week in the early afternoons before your lessons with Botkin. He says all of this without my input and honestly he doesn't need it I am a grisha and currently in the body of a child so I cannot say anything to him as it were anyways. But with that he dismissed me to my rooms for the evening saying I would eat in the hall tomorrow after my keftas were made as mine would have to be corecloth made entirely for my safety to be kept at all times.

I walked back to my rooms and ordered the servants to draw me a hot bath as honestly I was wiped hardcore and getting scrubbed early was mean in my opinion as I was in the luxurious waters for all of a few minutes before being shoved onward to the clothier. I slipped into the tub with a sigh and had the remaining servant woman put out all the candles bar one. I then let my light out lighting up the room as bright as sunlight knowing that doing so would help the sickly feeling within my body fade faster the more I did it. The servant was on her knees in awe whispering Sankta Alina under her breath I told her to stop and simply watch and enjoy. She did so but I could see it was difficult for her as I made various patterns across the walls eventually making them to be the story of Sankta Ilya much to her amazement. I left the bath thoroughly exhausted and barely managed to lock my door after shooing the servant out before passing out naked on the bed.

I awoke the next morning to a knock on my door. I jolted awake as I realized I had slept naked and quickly told the person outside to wait a moment and pulled on a bathrobe. I opened the door to see a young girl who couldn't be older than 11 wearing gold and white came in with a few other servants and began ordering them around and having one fill my wardrobe with black keftas and clothes. It took me a second to realize the young girl was Genya the tailor they had assigned to me before. I quickly introduced myself to her and we got on like a house on fire. She seemed less reserved at this age then she did when she was older. I guessed she just hadn't been totally socially outcast just yet as I realized Zoya was only a few years older than myself and would have been on Aleksander's radar soon enough had I not showed up and as such she hadn't socially exiled Genya yet. I would make sure that didn't happen if only by being sure people knew she would tell me if they were mean to her if I had to.

After being dressed and put together as Genya laughingly put it I headed down to breakfast with her following behind me. I had gotten there early so not many people were seated yet and I was able to guide Genya over to a table and my food was brought over and tasted before I touched anything. I ate enjoying the light fluffy eggs and the crisp freshness of the bowl of fruits with it. I ate a few more dishes of fruit before indicating that I would like to grab a small cake and leave. My taster took a small layer of my little cake and then sent me on my way after I was assured of the lack of poison.

It was when I stood and started to stride out of the door that everyone seemed to finally notice me in my black kefta with golden embroidery. It was instant silence and then a dull roar of whispering as I left and had Genya lead me to Baghra's hut. Honestly it was more of a cave than even I remembered. She was also still as crabby as ever. My son tells me not to amplify you as you can already summon at will so get on with it girl show me your light. Knowing what I did I immediately filled her hut with blinding light not burning but definitely blinding. I let it fade and she looked even grouchier. Good thing I closed my eyes when yours started to glow girl as I am still seeing spots even having done so. Damn I thought to bad I didn't blind her the rest of the way.

She then promptly ordered me outside and into the trees. Once there she made me practice making the light into a wall as tall and as wide as I could while keeping it blinding bright as long as I could. I let a wall come up a little taller than the trees and about as wide as a large fruit stand and made sure it was blindingly bright. I held it for an hour before I started to feel tired at which point I let it fall. Baghra simply dismissed me and said to be here tomorrow instead of her hut. I nodded and headed off to lunch.

As I walked towards the dining hall I saw Genya on the path and motioned her to walk with me. I was one of the last to enter for lunch and I noticed that I may have underestimated how old Zoya was she looked to be at least 16 and then I remembered when I had been 18 she had been 26. I cursed my luck inwardly as I saw her approach me. I made a quick haphazard plan in my head that I was sure was going to fail but I kept my head up anyways.

My name is Zoya Nazyalensky. I am a squaller and one of the top of my class I could tutor you if you'd like. Come join us you can come to Genya. She said all of this with a heavy arrogance and clearly only seemed to invite Genya as my tag-a-long. I knew I couldn't turn her down. She hadn't been overly rude plus in the end I knew that having her on my side would be better than otherwise as she truly was the most powerful squaller of her generation. So with a grin I introduced myself I am Alina Starkov I am a sun summoner and my classes ranks haven't been posted yet as I am part of the newest group of arrivals. And with that I became friendly with Zoya and somehow managed to not piss off Genya.

Zoya led us over to her table and indicated us to sit wherever was open. We sat in seats, that had opened up during her introducing herself, on either side of her and I waited for my taster to finish before eating myself. I kept up a steady conversation with both Genya and Zoya throughout the meal. Well until Zoya decided to be a bitch. You do know that Genya is a tailor and a servant right? She said it heartlessly as I talked to Genya about Keramzin as if being either would matter to me. And what does that have to do with me telling her about my former village as for her being a tailor I think that is a wonderful talent to change someone's appearance could be quite useful in helping Grisha escape Fjerda and Shu Han controlled areas. As for her being a servant that may well only be until she can change someone's appearance in seconds as where else would she be able to practice her craft but from the position of a servant. I cant see General Kirigan letting her stay a servant when she can help grow our numbers in such a way. I said this all with a smile and Zoya seemed shocked as if she genuinely hadn't ever thought of it like that.

Lunch ended soon after than and I went out with the others to the training grounds. I lined up with the other 8 year olds and we were all set to run around the lake to improve our endurance before learning basic strength forming movements and stretches. At the end of the hour, for us anyways the older you were the longer you stayed with the 17year olds staying for 4 hours, we were all exhausted. I went and ate dinner quietly in my rooms and fell asleep after a luxurious bath and a little bit of cake.

The next week breezed by and before I knew it I had started my grisha culture and history classes with the others. I could now hold a light wall as wide as a small house and as tall as two medium trees stacked. Baghra seemed very grumpy at this and I knew why because I would be helping her son balance not her. I ignored her and only focused on getting good enough for Aleksander to say I don't need her help anymore. Honestly she was creepy and I knew that she really needed to die as she would wreck everything eventually but for now I knew she would leave well enough alone as Aleksander wasn't going to let me outside these walls until I was at least 13.

The next few months passed in a blur and any second I could I had some form of lights circling around me. I only let myself have a slight glow during class which my teachers allowed once I explained the theory that me constantly using my lights was making them more powerful which did appear to be true. The only one who knew about the stag thing was Aleksander and he seemed inclined to keep it quiet as death to be honest so I did the same. Lying to the teacher was a quick reflex one I was quite glad for when a I was called to his war room once more. Genya delivered the message and I went at once telling my friends that he told me he would be doing checks on my progress which made sense as I was wearing his colors. They all nodded as they to got checked on by older grisha, within their type anyways, and he clearly knew what he was doing when he gave me black and gold keftas to wear.

I practically ran to his war room and steadied myself before indicating the Oprichniki to open the doors before walking in. I smiled and gave a small bow as I had been taught in my grisha classes. I stayed that way for a few seconds before standing properly in front of him. How have your classes been solntse? How well do you think you are doing? He asked not impolitely but with very little warmth. This told me he wanted this to be a bit professional and a proper review of my progress.

I would say I am doing rather well in my grisha culture and history lessons. My lessons with Botkin at first seemed to be a lot of pain for little to no gain but recently I have seen more improvements as I use my powers more and more. As for my lessons with Baghra I think I would be better off showing you down by the lake as I don't think she is quite the motivation I require anymore. I said quietly but with confidence I was starting to feel once more.

I see well then let us go down to the lake so you can show me what you can do. I know Baghra has a tendency to sell her students just a bit short to make them work harder. It does make it a bit harder for me to spot the more talented ones early on before they have the confidence to show off at the lake. But if I don't think your good enough you will keep learning with Baghra. He said with a smile on his lips and a bit of laughter in his eyes. He clearly thought that I may be decent enough to put on a pretty light show and maybe even boil some of the surface water but not much else yet just because I was young. Well I would show him I turned and began walking the path to the exit nearest the lake. He walked beside me easily which had me cursing my short legs in my head.

We got to the lake and I took a deep breath before going to the far side where there was nobody so nobody could get hurt. Then I let loose on my power a bit more than usual creating a wall of scorching sunlight as tall as two large trees and as wide as a skiff. I held it for about ten minutes before exploding it into spiraling lights making shapes of various animals and patterns all across the lake before fading away. Then I pulled out a large piece of metal ore I had acquired from the materialki on the way out here for just this purpose. I put it in the bowl the gave me and motioned the durast they had sent to take the melted ore away. He came over and waited for whatever I was going to do. I concentrated a ball of light and made it as just hot enough to melt the ore in ten minutes. The durast confirmed the proper melted state of the ore and took it away while heating it with a torch s he went. Aleksander motioned for me to follow him back to the war room. We were both silent on the walk back and soon enough we were sitting down in the war room.

I will say I am impressed with what you can do at your age. I know part of the reason why and I am surprised you haven't shared it with anyone else. I will also say that you are not good enough to stop your lessons with Baghra yet. When you are one with your light then I will make her stop your lessons. Now why haven't you shared what happened with the stag with anyone other than myself? Normally children your age don't want to keep such things quiet. He said all of this with the same professional attitude that I knew would likely define our relationship until I was old enough for it to be redefined.

I didn't want people to look at me weird or accuse me of cheating to get as good as I am in such a short time so I said nothing about what happened. Plus to be honest the whole thing kinda scared me and I didn't feel like telling something so personal to a bunch of people I don't even know as kids are mean in Keramzin I see no reason why they wouldn't be mean here if they knew. I said having already thought up what I would say if he ever asked why. I was half shu after all and I certainly looked more than that surely he could get that I am not that stupid to put a new target on my back so soon after getting the last one off. He nodded at this understanding now why I had done so. I would like you to continue to keep this between us and tell no one unless I say so as to be honest most grisha even believe the stag to be a myth and at your age they would more likely assume your lying or you were dreaming than telling the truth to be honest. he said this simply and I understood how it could look that way as well which I honestly hadn't considered. With that he ended out meeting and told me to run along and get stronger.

The next morning Genya woke me early and had breakfast brought to my room before sending me down to the lake to meet Baghra. It was a little chilly but not to bad but I knew she hated the cold and her place was always hot and dark. I was kind of glad to be doing my training outside already. As I got there I saw she wasn't there yet I considered this a good thing and took this time to warm up so to speak. I drew a thin column of light into the sky as high as I could get it to go. It went to the height of several tall trees before it stopped and I let it explode into spirals across the lake. I did this a few more times before I saw her leave her hut I simply stood and waited doing no more until she came over to me.

Make a wall as wide and as thick as the lake but keep it above it enough not to boil the lake away. Do it now girl. She said as crabby as ever. I decided to simply comply but not hold it to long. I held my arms out and the light flowed out of me making a thick wall of light hovering a good three feet above the lake so you could see it was the same size but a square over the lake and as bright as the sun. I held it for five minutes before stopping and acting out of breath. Not good enough not nearly good enough the fold spans all of Ravka girl how will you take it down if you cant even hold light over the lake for more than a scant few minutes. She said all this with a sneer on her face. Honestly it made me mad I stood up not even knowing that my eyes were glowing once more and I used one hand and summoned the same wall over the lake but in a single second. I may only be nearly nine in body but I was so done hiding all of what I could do as honestly she was right if I kept this up I would start believing my limitations instead of finding them.

With that in mind I made the wall taller and taller until it was as high as several trees and held it with my gaze firmly on her furious determination in my eyes. I made it brighter and fueled it with true heat so hot that waves formed off of it making the air thick with the heat all the way to the doors of the little palace. I let my emotions fuel my sunlight and it went even higher almost touching the clouds it seemed but I knew, somehow, that I had quite a bit of height to go before I reached them. I raised it a few feet more above the lake to keep from overheating it and then held it. I held it for a full hour before exploding it into the sky as a brilliant light show against the clouds. I did this all looking at Baghra who only grumped and told me to do better tomorrow.

The rest of the little palace as nowhere near as unimpressed as Baghra. Many of them had been woken up by my light show and had gathered at the main doors gaping at the heated massive display of sunlight being held by my right hand. I was definitely hungry after that display myself and decided to take a second breakfast in the dining hall. Zoya rushed over to me immediately chattering away about how amazing I was while many people were simply whispering Sankta Alina in reverence. Honestly it was rather annoying as I knew I was truly no saint. But I put up with it anyways as honestly having Zoya's reverence was far better than her scorning me for being incapable. With that thought I entered into the dining hall chattering amicably about how good I was getting.

We both sat down and waited on my taster to bring my food. Zoya waited to eat until I started to but I saw why pretty quickly as before she took her first bite she asked Where did you get the motivation to do that Alina? I almost choked on my food. I swallowed quickly taking a quick drink to stop myself from sputtering. Baghra. I deadpanned. She made me mad. Zoya laughed at that seeming to understand that Baghra had yet again used unconventional methods to provoke a students true power. Of course she didn't know what I knew and that was that Baghra was not unconventional she was a Bitch with a capital B but I wouldn't dare say it here where it may get back to her while she was still playing teacher waiting to strike out at us all.

The next years until I was 15 passed in a haze of training and somewhere along the way I truly became one with the grisha culture and was truly Grisha in every sense of the way. I thought of people as either Grisha or good otkazat'sya and bad otkazat'sya. My power grew vastly after I stopped holding back and now I could hold a light the size of the city of Os Alta that was as tall as the clouds and as hot as the sun for hours on end. Aleksander and I had grown close during those years as well. He and I trusted each other implicitly. I even told him of the time travel in a non brain terrorizing way by telling him I had dreamed the whole timeline the night before the examiners came for me. He eventually tells me his real name and asks me to call him Aleksander in private. He also confesses his interest in me once I am old enough for such things. I tell him that if he is willing to wait I am willing to be his balance when we are ready for such things. His eyes light up in fiery hope and joy sings throughout my whole heart.

I wake early this morning looking down at a shapely body that has never seen the sickness of my last life. No longer am I stick thin with small breasts and buttocks. No I am large breasted and curvaceous due to many nights of luxurious snacks and long days of working just the right places. I am the top of my class and the rest of the school to really and everyone knows it. I enjoy that I have in this life what I did not in my last. But the reason I had woken early today was simple the king has finally decreed that he shall have his people suffer on the crossings no longer he wanted me to at least make a pathway through the fold. I was to meet with Aleksander this morning in the war room.

I let my servants plus Genya who I had requested be used for me on important events. To do so I had to get up earlier and promise not to mess up her wonderful work. Not that it took her long most of it was bathing, dressing, and the gossipy biddies called servants taking forever with my hair. She had taken my comments all those years ago to heart and could now do pretty much anything to anyone in seconds. Zoya learned to stopped messing her with very fast after spending a few days looking like a crone with nothing to do but apologize and beg her to take it off. I let them do the work required while making mindless chattering noises at each other and I spoke with Genya. She seemed nervous about me going to the fold to test myself. I soothed her with reminders of how powerful I had become that Os Alta practically lived in an eternal summer with me putting my light up everyday for as much of the day as I could. It worked of course and she smiled and shook her head at me.

Once the servants left she snapped her fingers and my makeup went into place and all the spots in my hair that had been even slightly off perfected themselves. I don't know why you bother with the entourage you know you don't really need them at all. She laughed I know that they need me. Silly Alina what would those women do all day without me to make sure they are doing the correct things. Nothing but gossip and drink kvas all day. I laughed hard at that knowing she was honestly probably right. After chatting a few minutes she made her excuses and ran for the grand palace to go ready her majestyness for the ceremony to announce my heading to the fold to hopefully make if not a permanent passage at least one that can keep being reopened to make Ravka somewhat whole again. I knew this would be the next stage of my practicing as now I only could practice on the reality to hopefully one day either control it or tear it down.

I headed down to the ceremony and took my place waiting next to Aleksander on the stage that was set up for the occasion. Our Black keftas, his black with black embroidery mine black with gold embroidery, showing who we were to the crowd that had gathered to hear the kings announcement. Speaking the weak chinned man stood and spoke in his, whiny to me, voice to the crowd. Dearest peoples of Ravka as a whole I come to you today with pride as I say our personal eternal summer here in Os Alta may be ending but the Sun Summoner Sankta Alina has decided that she is ready to train directly on the fold and General Kirigan has given her his approval to start with only making a direct supply line through the fold for now to help train her powers so she may one day tear down the fold and give us a chance to kill all the evil within. This was met to loud cheers from the crowds of people and I stood as I knew I was expected to speak to them this time.

Good people of Ravka you all know who I am. I may not know each of you personally but that does not mean that I do not feel for each and every one of you every time someone doesn't come back out of the fold. When I was only eight years old I lived in Keramzin an orphan from the border wars until the grisha examiners came and found beneath my skin laid the sun. On that day I found out what I could do for the people of Ravka and I vowed that I would at least make a permanent passageway through the fold if I couldn't tear the whole thing down. Today I set forth to make good on that part of my promise to make a passageway from the second army camp north of Kribirsk to Novokribirsk so that we no longer have to either suffer death from the fold or starvation and can once again trade freely across Ravka. Even if it takes me years to make the passageway permanent I vow that I will do it. I will ensure that supplies can come through safely until I find a way to make it permanent. I spoke all of this in a strong and confident tone and it was met with cheers and reverent praises of Sankta Alina I sat back down next to Aleksander with a grin on my face. I knew so long as he didn't force the shadow back over the newly purified pathway, once I could push all the way through to the other side in one go, it would remain forever.

After the celebrations I got on my horse with Aleksander on his and a group of Oprichniki on theirs we headed out for the second army camp north of Kribirsk. The camp itself was set up as it was directly across the fold from Novokribirsk and was therefore perfect for not having to deal with both creatures of the river and the sky at once as one would going directly from Kribirsk. Its sole purpose was to send supplies back and forth across the fold to keep trade flowing between east and west Ravka. It would take us ten days to reach the camp and that was if we took it slow. I doubted highly that we would be.

I was correct of course and we reached the camp 8 days later having taken a few hours each day at a hard ride to shorten the overall journey time. Aleksander told everyone to hold all travel across the fold for three days and to bring healers to see to his company for any potential saddle sores. We all spent the next day resting and the following two after that were spent preparing a massive skiff with many goods that simply could never be transported before today. We also prepared 13 escort skiffs that we would fill with both top grisha and top first army soldiers. I knew I wouldn't be making a permanent pathway just yet but I was sure that I could see the skiffs easily to the other side. I even had the ability of light bending on my side as a last resort should the many inferni and other grisha on the escort skiffs not be enough. Well that was if I didn't simply burn the Volcra to a crisp with my lovely sunbeams and sunblasts. Either way tomorrow was the day and I needed to sleep. I went to my tent and slept hard that night both anxious and excited for the coming dawn.

I woke with the dawn and dressed with assistance from Genya who was allowed to attend to me as the king and his family were here to watch watch. It takes four to six hours to cross the fold I have been told. I have trained for this by keeping essentially a second sun above Os Alta for 12 hours a day everyday for the past three years. When I first covered the sky of Os Alta with my light I could only hold it for ten minutes. It took many months to even get it to an hour but bit by bit I made it to 12 hours and kept it at that daily for this long. Many people now simply called me Sankta Alina I was the saint of the sun and stars to them. To the grisha I was salvation as I would paint them with a good light as a whole simply by existing and they to called me Sankta Alina . I cleared my thoughts and exited my tent I had to stop myself from casting my sun into the sky out of pure habit. No today I was to save my light for a greater purpose.

I headed to the main skiff and took my place at Aleksander's side and nodded to him as I saw he was there with everyone else beginning to gather onto their designated skiffs. I saw what appeared to be a Fjerdan pushing their way through the crowd towards the main skiff. I informed the Oprichniki but told them do nothing until he is on the skiff I don't want him taking any hostages. They all nodded understanding that having a civilian die for him wouldn't look good on today's mission. I counted down the seconds and noticed something he wasn't alone two others from other sides were already boarding the skiff. Without a thought I rolled out from the protective barrier of the Oprichniki and sent two cuts of light at the men decapitating them both. I turned just in time to see the third haul himself up over the side and simply let the Oprichniki kill him as he shouted Drusje to the winds. I then indicated for everyone to ready the skiffs for crossing it was time to do this.

I took a deep breath in and unlike when I am making my sun I made this one to warm light on the inside but hot enough to melt metal at the edges and let it explode without holding it to any dimension other than as tall as the wall of darkness in front of me and as wide as a city. My light burst forth searing who knows how many volcra to a crisp as it opened a hole about 1/8th of the way through the fold and I held it without breaking a sweat. I motioned to the squallers to get us moving as my light burned the many volcra trying to attack it to get to Aleksander.

I strengthened the edges of my light against them making it hot enough to melt the metals used to make corecloth. The squallers of all the skiffs immediately set us onto a fast pace. With the current pace I was told we would see the other side in 4 hours exactly instead of the usual 5-6 a safe crossing takes. I made sure to keep my light to the same size as I had made it from the beginning just this time I made sure to keep a good breathing distance of burning light behind us and keep my light pushing through the fold in front of us.

We erupted out the other side in a show of lights exploding many volcra behind us and unloaded the skiff before reloading it with the return products and repeating the journey only back the other way. We came back to East Ravka to the crowds cheering and chanting about Sankta this and that. We waved and cheered as well as even though we hadn't made a permanent path we had made it to where we could at least arrange large groups to travel in safety with me opening the pathway. We celebrated this minor yet major victory well into the night. I joined Aleksander in his tent for a private moment of our own to celebrate what I had done today.

I smiled as I walked into his tent and he congratulated me on a job well done. I asked if we could have the tent to ourselves and Oprichniki all cleared out. They pretty much all but ran for it honestly. I hugged him and smiled joyously at the outcome of today's events. We had broken ground on reuniting Ravka I knew I wouldn't tear down the fold no I would make a singular watchable passageway through and then use the rest of it as a natural border to keep out our enemies. I told this to Aleksander and he agreed that the fold had its uses especially if we made it out that making this one passageway is all I could do but even that would see me hailed as as savior and a saint to these people. All in all the day was productive and I fell asleep touching my cheek where Aleksander had kissed me goodnight.

A/N And that is the beginning of the Darklina Fix it challenge issued by me to anybody who wants to take it. This is going to be left as a single chapter example piece. I hope you all write wonderful answers to this challenge I have put forth. ~The Lady Phantom