side stories
Like many writers, I have a terrible habit of getting distracted with side stories when I should really be working on the main ones. Thus does this page exist.
I have written many more side stories for Cálei and G'raha than those listed here; I just don't have as much to say about the others. You can find all of them on Ao3.
statistics
Written: November 2022
Posted: January 2023
Words: 7,487
After returning from the First, the Warrior of Light visits Ishgard alongside his partner, G'raha, to assist with the skybuilders' efforts to restore their city.
Thanks to Brodie for taking the screenshot used in the banner!
Author's notes
This fic is a coda to the previous longfics in the series, and while it can be read standalone I don't necessarily recommend doing so.
I wanted to write this fic for two reasons: my affection for the Ishgardian Restoration event in-game, and to allow Cálei and G'raha to have a bridge between the ShB and EW fics where they could acknowledge how they've both changed. I don't know that I necessarily succeeded in the latter, but even so I've always been very fond of this fic. Maybe I just like this fic because it's cozy.
statistics
Written: 2023—???
Posted: February 2025
Words: 7,471
Now that things have finally calmed down, the Warrior of Light invites his husband, G'raha Tia, to spend a week at their island sanctuary. And perhaps, now that the weight of the world is off his shoulders, G'raha can help his beloved finally find a measure of peace.
Author's notes
This fic is incomplete, and I haven't gotten much futher with it than is currently posted. It's intended as a coda to the EW fic, so it's sort of been on hold until I finish that. We'll see what shakes out.
Trivia
How did Cálei get the Lakeland trees to the Source? Listen, if you can carry souls across the rift, surely a sapling or two isn't out of the question... right?
statistics
Written: November 2022
Posted: April 2023
Words: 22,528
The Warrior of Light is summoned to the First on the Exarch’s first attempt. Unfortunately, the Blessing of Light proves insufficient to stop the Lightwardens. Instead, as they labor for ten years to summon the true Warrior of Darkness, the Exarch and his Warrior of Light rekindle a relationship they both thought lost.
A story about falling in love again, and about forgiveness.
Artist credit: Chelsea E. Minty
Author's notes
At present, this is my favorite fic I've ever written, and I think it shows. I love Shadowbringers for its setting and tone because I love post-apocalyptic fiction, but the game is about saving the world. What would happen if it was more complicated than that? What if the Exarch did succeed in pulling the Warrior of Light over on the first try? And what if they'd been together beforehand?
All of those thoughts culminated in this fic, and I'm really proud of how it turned out. That's not to say it's perfect — I think the denouement lacks oomph, and if I ever figure out how to improve it I may do so. But on the whole I love the development of their relationship across the course of this fic.
I mostly have to thank Brodie, though; this fic came out of discussing potential alternate universes for our boys, and the idea of switching up who got sent to the First when was too tantalizing to resist. While this fic does serve as a companion to the ShB fic, I think it can stand well on its own.
This fic was written as part of the 2023 FFXIV big bang, which was my first time ever participating in this style of event. I had a wonderful time! I don't know if I'll do another big bang anytime soon, but I'm glad this is the fic that came out of it.
Trivia
Originally it was going to be Y'shtola who made Cálei realize the truth instead of Urianger, but that version of the draft didn't work at all. Urianger makes far more sense and better parallels his story in the game.
Also, the theme song for this fic is Love Me Again by John Newman, which I played on repeat a lot while writing.