A/N: PLEASE READ THIS AUTHOR'S NOTE, WOULD YOU KINDLY?
Apologies for the delay, everyone. Can anyone see this? The site is acting up with notifications again...
Writing while sick isn't fuuuuun. As such, the chapters are a fair bit shorter than I'd like them to be.
This really isn't much, is it? I feel ashamed, but its the best I could as I'm feeling.
Still here we are. What was meant to be the final chapter is now the second-to-last. Clearly we'll have a bit more after this. Its been a blast. As ever feel free to drop a review if you like; they keep this old man writing. No joke, there. Every bit of feedback, no matter how small, or large, boosts my spirits. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! I say that because I'm writing by myself these days, and I really do enjoy chatting with you all.
Now for your questions. We'll keep it brief this time around, no worries.
Q: Will you do more alternate endings in the future?
A: Perhaps. Depends on the story.
Q: Is it finally happening?!
A: Yup.
Q: I have a bad feeling about this. Are you going to SPOILER and SPOILER poor SPOILER after all they've been through? Surely to SPOILER the SPOILER so close to the end would be SPOILER of you, no?
A: Well, that was a pain to redact. Why don't you read and see my answer?
Alright, I think I've kept you long enough!
Now then, lets get ready. Set! Go! Once again, chapter title is part of the lyrics from the song "All Things Must Die."
As ever, I own no references, themes or memes! Not a wit or one!
They're tributes and homages for everyone, plain and simple.
"Don't pray to the gods. Pray for yourself."
~?
Pray for Mercy
In hindsight it really wasn't all that difficult to bargain with Ruby Rose.
Cinder wasn't sure if she should be amazed...or annoyed.
Definitely the latter, she decided.
Ruby took one look at her Summer, seated at the table under the watchful eye of Hazel...and froze. Cinder saw the recognition dawn in her eyes. Summer Rose was thinner perhaps, tired and in need of a good long rest, but her mother all the same. Any hope of defiance bled away. Ruby knew her at once. She froze. Her hands rose, stifling a gasp against her palms. A weak, tiny gasp fled from her lips.
"Mommy...?"
Summer heard it, looked up, raised a hand and offered a weak wave. "Hello, sweetie."
Really, her reaction was every bit as she'd expected; she vanished in a torrent of scarlet petals and slammed into her mother. Summer nearly flew clean out of her chair; were it not for Hazel's hand steadying the back of the worn wooden frame she might have crashed to the floor. Cinder almost wished she had, if only to silence her mewling cries. Really, the child was being terribly noisy about all this.
To say she was jealous of this...nonsense. Utter drivel. No. Certainly not. Not at all!
She could have slain her then and there she knew; could've struck while Ruby's back was turned, plunged her blade deep into the girl's shoulders to pierce her heart. Mother and daughter would die together, stabbed as one, transfixed in death. And the power would have been hers. Simple. Efficient. Clear.
A lifetime ago, she would have done just that; killed Ruby Rose without hesitation.
Yet now, when presented with such a ripe opportunity -one that may never come again!- she hesitated, and not just because of Naruto's steady stare. Perhaps it was something in Summer's face that stilled her. Maybe it was the tired-yet-content look of a mother holding her daughter close. Perhaps the sight of something she'd never experienced for herself. It wasn't fair. She wanted something like that. Why? The notion infuriated her. It had never mattered before, yet seeing it now made her long for it all the same.
Where was her Mother? Treacherous thoughts left her fingers curling into fists. Had she even cared? Was she alive somewhere out there?
"It's alright, dear." Summer rasped, ignorant to it all. "I had a rough time of things, but I'm back...
"I'm sorry!" Ruby's heartfelt wail pierced the den. "I thought you were dead! We all did!"
We? Cinder's gaze narrowed. Her words betrayed her. Of course that little chit brought her little friends along for the ride; no doubt they were hiding out there in the wastes somewhere; waiting in the wings to strike. Such a treacherous scheme. Almost made her like the girl. A trifling matter. Emerald and Mercury were already out there scouring the area. They would find them soon enough. If they didn't, Roman and Neo would. She'd place her bets on the later. Once they did...well. Their little plot was doomed to fail.
Some might say it wasn't personal. She disagreed. This was very personal.
Cinder looked back to the heartfelt scene and felt an angry ache bloom in her chest. A small part of her still craved revenge for her injuries; even if the latter were long since healed, the wound to her ego still stung terribly; a constant reminder of her glaring weakness to those eyes. All that shame and humiliation and pain bubbled up in her. Did being a Maiden three times over mean she was thrice as weak to her gaze? She didn't want to find out, even as a part of her ached for action.
By all rights she deserved retribution.
But she just couldn't act on it.
Blast. She'd gone soft.
Naruto's hand came down on her shoulder and she fought not to meet his eyes. It was an exercise in futility. The moment he touched her, Cinder found herself pivoting to look at him. She didn't much like what she found there. Naruto looked...tired. Like he could barely keep his eyes open. Paler, too. A thorn of dread pricked at her soul. Surely he had a little time left? He had to. He must. Kaguya couldn't overtake him yet. Not now, when they were so close.
"Stop giving me those sappy eyes." She huffed.
"I'm proud of you, Cinder."
"There's nothing to be proud of." Cinder scoffed, though she didn't look away from the admittedly touching scene. "I did as you asked. She's here."
"You showed restraint. I'm proud of that."
Her lips formed a thin line and she refused to speak. Bastard did it for her.
"I never asked," her partner continued thoughtfully, "But do you remember your-
"No." she spun away, the word an angry rasp, so much so that she surprised herself with how raw it sounded. "Not even a memory."
Technically a lie, that. She had a vague recollection of someone singing to her once; someone cradling her to their chest when she was very small. Beyond that, nothing. No appearance to go off of, only the faint sound of a male voice -her Father?- humming to her as strong arms rocked her too and fro. If she focused with all her might, she could recalled the words.
"Hush little baby, don't say a word, daddy's gonna buy you a mocking bird...
"Hmm." Naruto made a noise of discontent behind her, snapping her back to reality. "Well, that won't do. I think I'll find her. Your pops too, while I'm at it."
Cinder's head snapped back around. "What?"
"I said I'm gonna find your parents." Naruto jammed both hands into his pockets. "They better have a damn good excuse for leaving you. That, or be in the ground. Because if they don't and they aren't...well." His smile promised pain, "I'll have to talk to 'em. Loudly. Repeatedly. With my fists."
A rare spot of color hit her cheeks. "You are not doing that!"
He didn't give her a chance to respond further.
"There you are." Quick as can be, the blond cleared his throat to capture Ruby's attention, snapping her out of her funk. "We upheld our end of the bargain. Now its your turn."
Ruby wriggled around, still clinging to Summer for dear life. Silver eyes burned with fresh fire. "You want my powers."
"Yes." Naruto said it plain, even as Cinder's mind reeled. "You don't have to give them up per se, but we do need them for a ritual." He held out a hand to her, palm open and fingers splayed. "I can take them from you without killing you, if that's any concern. Its your choice. But you need to choose. Now."
Summer pulled a face. "What kind of a ritual?"
"Nothing you need worry about." Naruto pivoted to face her, all smile. "Salem's out preparing it now. Won't even take an hour. Then you can both be on your merry way."
"Wait." Horror dawned in Cinder's mind. Blast him and his self-sacrificing nature. "That wasn't part of our agreement. She's here. Just take her powers and throw them both out the tower."
A flash of disappointment danced through those milky white eyes. "Cinder, no."
"Cinder yes!"
Ruby likewise stiffened. "I'm not doing anything to help her. She's evil."
Cinder bridled. "Why you little-
"Why should I help you?!" Silver eyes flashed and she recoiled. "How can you even side with her?!" her gaze snapped to Naruto. "She's a monster!"
"Maybe so," he allowed. "but she's my monster. I'm rehabilitating her."
"How?!"
Naruto quirked a brow.
...you're still alive, aren't you?"
Summer nudged her. "He has a point, dear. Be reasonable about this."
Ruby sulked. "But mom! She's evil!"
Mother met daughter and the former didn't yield.
"I won't do it for her." Ruby allowed at last. Silver eyes flicked to Naruto. "I'll do it for you." her gaze locked onto him. "You kept your word. That means something." a tentative smile dawned. "You helped Jaune too back in Mistral, didn't you? Even if you took Ozpin away...
"Thanks." his smile shriveled Cinder's soul, if only because it looked so incredibly frail. "Now right this way."
"One last question." Ruby clamored to her feet warily. "This...ritual thing...why do you need it?"
A beat of silence passed between the unlikely quartet. And then.
"Why indeed?!" Kaguya burst to the fore with a mad laugh, staining his blue eyes a horrific shade of white. "I see you, girl. I'll swallow your soul!"
Cinder recoiled, but the Naruto shoved her back down with a snarl, . "Does that answer your question?"
Ruby winced, looking like she'd seen a ghost. Fitting, since she had.
"Okay, that's absolutely terrifying...what do you need me to do?"
(.0.0.0.)
"Found the brats." Roman tutted softly and passed the binoculars down. "See 'em?"
Neo peered forward with a smile.
It was not a nice smile.
(.0.0.0.)
"Stand here."
Naruto let himself be nudged forward as Salem completed the last of her preparations.
He looked on patiently, watching her draw a strange symbol with what he hoped was chalk. Not quite a pentagram or a triangle, but some mad blend of the two. She ushered him into the center of it, then laid claim to one of the focal points. Cinder and Ruby took up the others, glaring flaming daggers at one another.
He didn't like this. Not one bit. But what choice did he have?
Naruto pursed his lips. "So what exactly do I need to do here?"
"Survive, for one." Salem's scarlet sits met his with thinly veiled intent. "The moment I finish this, she'll go berserk."
Nartuto winced at those and fought down a pang of dread. "Well, that's encouraging."
"Its not meant to be." she stepped back considered a crooked line, and started anew. "We're about to try and suppress the soul of an angry goddess. She'll won't take kindly to it. I wouldn't put it past her to try and interfere. Its quite likely she'll try to kill us...or worse."
Cinder huffed. "What's worse than death?!"
Salem quirked a pale brow at him. "Must I answer that question?"
...fair enough."
Cinder clicked her tongue. "Are you certain of this?"
He beamed right back. "Its alright. I trust you."
She frowned at him. "You shouldn't."
"Heh." The wayward warrior grinned and sat down, crossing both legs beneath him as he did. "Still do."
And he did. She wasn't completely reformed, but she was a far sight better than the monster she'd been at their first meeting. In time, she might actually become a half-decent person. If they survived today. If the ritual went off without a hitch. If. So many ifs.
The ghost of a smile touched her lips. "Blond buffoon." her words lacked rancour. "What did I ever see in someone like you?"
"Everything." He grinned right back. "Sassy witch. Take care of my body while I'm away."
Cinder dragged him in for a quick kiss.
Kaguya scoffed. "Did you think it would be that easy?"
Naruto had time enough to suck in a ragged breath of surprise.
Then his world went white and quite suddenly his existence became pure pain.
A/N: Next time: This is the End.
Not much to say this time around. Reviews keep me writing, and without them, my inspiration falls flat. Ever bit of feedback helps. Surgery hurts. Surgery hurts a loooot. But silence from readers and reviewers? That hurts even more. As ever, reviews keep this old man alive during this dark and crazy time. I ain't joking.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas... Review...Would You Kindly?
And enjoy these previews! Remember those hints?
Yes? No? Hope you paid attention. Because!
SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!
PLOT DETAILS AHOY!
YE BE WARNED!
Read at your own risk!
(Preview)
"DID YOU THINK IT WAS OVER?!" Kaguya howled at the broken moon. "YOU WILL ALL DIE SCREAMING!"
A spike of pure death slammed through someone's gut.
"Oh...that's not good...
Cinder winced and touched an image. "Are these his memories?"
"You shouldn't be here. Its not safe. She'll find you."
She whirled terribly startled.
A man with bright, brilliant slitted red eyes regarded her. He was Naruto, and yet Naruto. Those eyes were the eyes of a beast.
"Who are you?"
The man smiled. "Think of me as a guide...
Naruto looked left. Naruto looked right. "Cinder? Salem? Ruby?"
He heard a child sniffle. Looked down. Blinked, thrice now.
...and apparently I'm in Cinder's head. Great."
R&R~!