A/N: Read this note, would kindly? It would mean the world to this tired old man...

Here you go, a nice loooong chapter. And not Elden Ring at that! Guess miracles can occur every now an' again.

Worked really hard on this, looking forward to chatting with you all when I get back from work~!

*spooky noises*

More spooky updates for Halloween! This time around, its Bloodborne! Even if this story isn't as well-reviewed like the rest...T_T

Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story...and others.

If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? Well...I won't be able to continue it.

I'm working two jobs with ever-increasing hours and the holidays are right around the corner; I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matter! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustains me. Without them, I cannot write a single word. Simple as that.

So by all means, speak up! Raise your voice! Make yourself heard! Your reviews matter! Really, they do!

Now for your questions, comments, and concerns:

Q: What's next on the docket?

A: Edgerunners, Elden Ring, RWBY, Bleach, etc. Possibly "Runt of the Litter" as seen in Shards of Shattering, but I'm not sure if folks truly want to see that...

I'm also preparing new stories to stockpile. This includes crossover withs "So I'm a Spider" presently being worked on with Dylan, "Kenobi" doing that one with Slifer, "How Not to Summon a Demon Lord" and "That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime"

Frankyly, I'm not sure if I can even DO the Slime or Demon Lord ones unless I find a co-writer. I might be able to swing "Demon Lord" a few months from now alone, but Slime? So much wooooork. Skills aside, everything's so interconnected.

Mind you said new stories are a ways off.

Someone also shoved Monster Hunter World at me. Haven't played any of the games, but once I finally get all the updates -so many gigs!- downloaded once and for all...

SEND HALP.

Q: Is Naruto going insane?

A: That's the question, isn't it? He just got dragged into the Hunter's Nightmare against his will, and he's not seen half the horrors the rest of the game has to offer.

Rest assured, our boy's going to be spitting mad.

Q: ...I smell a boss rush. Will he be going after every boss in the nightmare?!

A: *grins*

Q: How many chapters does this story have?

A: I'd say about twenty, give or take. Surprises await!

Q: Will this story eventually cross with "Golden Soul" and an "Elden Ring" Naruto.

A:...eventually. Won't say when or where, though. That'd be its own separate story...

Alright then, I think I've kept you long enough.

We've got a nightmare to conquer. And I do mean conquer. Just WHAT do I mean by that?

Well, why not see for yourself? We'll get back to the Doll and the restored Cleric Beast soon, don't you worry.

As ever, I own no quotes, references, themes or memes.

They're tributes one and all~!

"You can't be saved? Tell me, who decided that?

You have to die? Just who decided that?

That's for me to decide! Not you!"

~?

Scourge of Beasts

Fresh prey approached.

Ludwig heard them long before he saw them; the distant clomp-clomp-clomp of heavy boots stomping through the foul puddles of blood that made up the floor of his domain. Whomever they were, they did not hesitate in the least. Theirs was a strong stride, stoic and determined, quite unafraid of the Nightmare and all her terrors.

But there were monsters in the dark, and he was one of them.

Blood-drunk as he was, he stirred from his slumber slowly, shaking off fevered dreams to rise upon his many limbs and face the foe before him. He must hunt. He must kill. It was all he was. All he knew. The only thing he could ever do. Killing his enemies kept the pain away; prevented his shattered psyche from surfacing, comprehending the horror that he was, and seeing the accursed creature he'd become.

Yet this new prey was looking at him without fear. "The hell is this? A horse...?"

A smiling blond warrior clad in hunter garb stood before him, whiskered cheeks dimpled in a frown. Keen blue eyes gazed upon him without scorn or derision. A saw cleaver lay slung over his shoulder in its leather holster; fresh and clean. Strange. A flicker of cold sanity slipped through the dark haze of his thoughts. Why not use it? Weapons were meant to be used...had he truly come this far with his fists alone?

"So you're Ludwig, huh?" the newcomer planted a fist against his hip. "I've heard about you. This really is a nightmare, isn't it?"

Ludwig recoiled, warding one hand before himself. No. Not pity. Never pity. Anything but that.

"You in there, buddy?" the Hunter offered him a hand. "I'd really rather not fight ya-

The madness descended once more.

Rip and tear.

Rend and kill.

Reap and destroy!

Ludwig lunged with a shriek, claws clashing across the floor. Crush!

The boy ripped his weapon free...and flung it at him.

Caught unawares, Ludwig flinched.

Mistakes were made.

Rather than pierce at it was meant to, the trick weapon bounced harmlessly off Ludwig's skull. Instinct howled at him. He brought up both hands to shield his face. Unprepared for such an underhanded tactic, he didn't find his foe until it was too late. A great weight alighted upon his back, planting itself firmly between his shoulders. He craned his twisted neck back to balk at them, already knowing what -who!- he'd find there.

"Yo." The blond offered cheery wave, eyes sparking red as he perched upon his spine. "Nice sword ya got here. Mind if I take a look at it? Will that snap you out of this?"

Ludwig went mad; thrashing and screaming, kicking and bucking in a vain attempt to unseat his unlikely rider.

"Didn't think so. RASENGAN!"

Something slammed into his spine and rang his head like a bell.

He shrieked and flailed as as the Hunter flipped away. Kept screaming, as another blow rattled his world.

"You disgrace yourself!" Three words chased him. Soft yet harsh, blazing but cold. They broke through the veil of blood if only for a moment. "I thought you hunters were supposed to be the good guys!" a finger stabbed his way, sharper than any blade. "You're meant to be better than this!" something reared up behind him, large and massive and so very gold. "Snap out of it, damnit!"

It was too much to hear; the words filled Ludwig fear fear. He shambled back, wanting be anymore but here.

The blond gave chased, ducked his claws, and then his world became pain.

Ludwig couldn't even see the hits anymore, such was their speed. But he felt every one. Nine blows in an instant. One of his legs snapped with an awful crack and he went down, screaming in pain. Stars flashed before his vision. The assault didn't end there. His head snapped to the side as another hammer blow rung his skull. A final kick hurtled him away, sending his twisted form hurtling into a wall.

Something came loose from his back.

In that moment, Ludwig finally recognized it.

A glimmer of holy moonlight caught his eye. Could it be...

.

..

...it was.

"Ah." an awful rasp left his throat, so long unused to speaking. "You were by my side all along."

A lone tear rolled down his filthy face.

"My true mentor."

He reached a twisted limb around to gasp it; trembling fingers fumbling for its sacred hilt. It grew to fill his grasp, yet its luminescence remained; even here in this pit of beasts and blood its radiance was undiminished, no, it seemed to shine all the brighter for the darkness. Of course it did. After all, it was...

"My guiding moonlight."

Ludwig tightened his grip and in that instant, he felt his sanity return. A glimmer. A fragment. A shade of his former glory. He held it aloft in a stoic salute, remembering what he was. Who he was. Yes. That's right. He was a hunter. Thoughts crept back from the black. He stood, not as a beast, but as a man, and felt some semblance of his strength creep back into his twisted bones. His good eye alighted upon the baffled blond blinking up at him. This stoic hunter who had given him back a piece of himself. He could have struck him, taken advantage of his weakness, but he hadn't. For that alone he earned some modicum of respect.

"Are ya done?" even now, he showed him no scorn. "Feelin' better?"

In truth, Ludwig was. He'd found his thread in the dark, that sliver of salvation.

"Warrior." he brandished his blade in a singular salute, offering a ragged smile. "I would have your name."

The younger hunter -in his eyes he could be nothing else and thus assumed him such-gave him the grace of a grave nod. "...Naruto."

A curious name. Someone from the east? He knew not; in truth it did not matter. Ludwig swore he would remember this moment. This name. It would persist in his memory regardless of the outcome here.

"Well met, good sir. I am Ludwig of the Holy Blade." he drew himself upright fully, towering over this paleblood hunter. "Would you grant me the honor of one last duel?"

...duel?" here at last, a hint of reluctance flashed across the boy's whiskered face. "Waitaminute, I'm not here to kill you. I'm here to save you."

Ah, the brashness of youth. He remembered such a time. When he thought he too, could save all before him. But he had been deceived. By his comrades, by the Church, by himself, perhaps even the very sword he held before him, even. Such grand folly. Nevertheless, he could not bring himself to disparage such honesty.

"Noble of you...but that is no longer possible." For he knew this brief moment of lucidity was just that; a moment, nothing more. He clung to his sanity by the thinnest of threads. Grasping his sacred sword, it was all he could do to keep his bestial half at bay. "Please, what you desire cannot come to pass. Let me die not as a monster, but a man."

"Monster? You really think you're a monster, Ludwig? No." he shook his head. "No, no, no. I'm not going to kill you. I'm gonna save ya."

"You cannot!"

"Ha!" A bark of laughter rang through the room, sharp and sudden.

Ludwigs brow furrowed, baffled by the sudden change of pace. "Why do you laugh?"

"Because!" Another merry titter fled from the boy before him, his body bending double as he clutched at his ribs. "I finally understand how 'ol Obito felt-a little, anyway." He straightened with a smile. "Everyone always underestimates me, ya know? A lotta people said I'd always be dead last. And I proved 'em wrong."

"Even so-

"Quiet. I ain't finished." the boy held out a fist, fingers clenched so tight Ludwig could see the whites of his knuckles. "They said I couldn't save anyone. Did that, too." he raised his gaze, eyes flashing with fire. "They said it wasn't possible to save my world. I did that. You see where this is going? I'm going to save you, even if I have to beat you down to do it.

He stepped forward, swinging his shoulders.

Ludwig readied himself.

"Now shaddap," As he looked on, Naruto swayed left then right, fists coming up on either side of himself. Ludwig found himself reminded of a boxer he'd once seen on another continent. The sight had him tightening his guard further still. "And accept my generosity!"

Just as well he prepared too; because Naruto shot forward with a harsh crack, an angry bullet fired from a gun.

Fast! The boy could move!

Ludwig swept up his blade to block and felt the impact rattle his arm. No tricks here. Only skill. Raw power. Might made manifest. Wide blue eyes beamed back at him as he perched upon the holy blade. Shadows played over his face, lending his visage a crazed, almost manic air.

"Hey," he grinned at him, uncaring of the burns sizzling his hands. "You're pretty quick yourself. I tried to knock you flat out just now...

"What are you?!" a rare grunt of surprise fled from him. "No hunter should have posses such raw strength with their fists alone!"

Laughter was his only answer.

Naruto kicked off the blade and let it sweep below his feet, arcing gracefully in the air. Yet rather than land and continue their duel; he alighted upon the ceiling. Stuck there. Bent his knees. Ludwig looked up and experienced an awful realization. Heard the rafters crack from the force exerted upon them. He didn't rightly see or know how the boy was standing up there, defying gravity. Regardless, his grin was nothing good. Even less so the golden glow stemming from his shoulders.

Blue eyes boiled red.

He burst forward, hurtling past him. Pain blossomed in his wake. Ludwig felt one of his ribs crack. But the boy was already gone, bouncing off another solid surface, hurtling in from the right.

Walls! Floor! Ceiling!

He ricocheted about like some demented demon, whirling pivoting, striking with reckless abandon. Ludwig found himself struggling to match him; fighting to defend, even managing in on occasion. Motes of dark moonlight swept through the room to chase the wayward blond. Few reached their target.

On and on they fought, raging back and forth.

And then. Quite suddenly.

The duel ended.

Ludwig had all of an instant to see hear the triumphant shout; so see the fist filling his vision. Here at last, his legs failed him. His body buckled. No time to do anything but tense up.

"Clench your teeth!"

Scarred knuckles barreled into the side of his face with all the force of a Great One. His world went dark for a blessed instant, only to come roaring back a heartbeat later.

He soon wished it hadn't.

When he came to, he found himself sprawled on the floor once more. This time there would be no second wind. He knew this. His precious sword lay just out of reach. With its absence he felt the madness begin to return; a thousand dark hands clawing at his mind, dragging him back into the black.

Broken and beaten he lay, waiting for the final blow.

"Good hunter." he rasped, knowing these were his final moments. "Have you seen the thread of light? Just a hair, a fleeting thing, yet I clung to it, steeped as I was in the stench of blood and beasts. I never wanted to know, what it really was. Really, I didn't...

Naruto's shadow fell over him.

"Tell me, good hunter of the Church." Ludwig's voice fell to a whisper. "Have they seen the light? Are my church hunters honorable spartans like you? Are they the warriors I hoped they would be?"

...I want to say yes," The man knelt before him. Laid a hand on his mutilated head. "But I can't claim to know the answer to that." he truly beheld the weight of his years in that moment, saw it in those tired blue eyes. "Even so, I won't let this happen to anyone else.

"Ahhh, good...that is a relief." Truly, it was. "To know I did not suffer such denigration for nothing. Thank you kindly. Now I may sleep in peace. Even in this darkest of nights, I see...the moonlight...

A golden hand clamped down on his head. "No."

He blinked. "No...?"

"It means no."

Strong hands dug in and pried his jaws open. Ludwig tried to fight, but he lacked the strength. Blood dripped into his mouth. Flooded it now. He tried to choke it back, to spit it out, but a strange golden light prevented him from doing so. Forced him to swallow. Once. Twice. Thrice. And once the third...?

Pain! Fire! Agony!

Ludwig's world burned. He felt his bones pop, his back crack. Everything ached. His body screamed and he with it, crying out in agony as his muscles began to writhe and twist. The torment seemed to last forever. Time lost all meaning. Was this punishment for his sins? Penance for being a misguided fool who sought to save others...?

With neither word nor warning, the awful agony of his existence recede to a mere thimble, and then not even that.

All at once, Ludwig found himself sprawled on his hands and knees, wasted and gasping for air. Hands? Knees? He blinked and found a most curious sight awaiting him. Two hands! Two legs! All was as it should be. All was right with the world-no! All was wrong! He didn't deserve this! His hands clutched at his battered cloak, still hanging from his shoulders even now. The things he'd done, the lives he'd taken, the sins he had committed...!

"I do not deserve this miracle!" He surged I was -am!- a monster! I should be dead-

"Tough."

A single word cut through his melancholy, replacing it with confusion. "Good sir, I beg your pardon...?"

"I'll decide what you do or don't deserve. You lost our duel, remember?" Naruto grinned down at him. "So you have to do what I say." he reached over, holding the holy moonlight sword. Turned it around now, offering it to him, hilt first. "And I say live. Atone. Redeem yourself."

Ludwig dithered. He did not feel he deserved such. His ignorance of the Blood had cost the lives of many, his naivete as a church hunter, still more. He had been dragged into the Nightmare as a blood drunk hunter for his sins, doomed to suffer endlessly until the end of time itself.

And yet.

Despite all he'd said, all he'd done, a part of him truly wished to live, just as all living thing sdid. He reached a trembling hand for his sword. It shrank in his grasp, becoming his trusty weapon once more, whispering softly to him, bringing him courage, as it always had. Its pure light filled him with peace.

If this was the will of the cosmos, then who was he to question it?

He bowed his head and knelt.

"As you say, my lord."


(.0.0.0.)


The Living Failures were dead.

Maria heard them through the door, their dying gurgles as they fell.

...good. Those poor, pained, dear children could finally enjoy their rest at long last.

But there was no time to mourn their passing. Just as she heard them die, so too did she hear heavy creak of said door being forced open, the faint creak of the floorboards. The intruder was not satisfied with their deaths and so they had pressed on, seeking what was beyond. Seeking her.

Yet her eyes did not open yet. They could not.

She was bound to this chair until an intruder passed.

Such was her fate, her curse, her destiny. She could not change it. Indeed, she didn't wish to.

"Ah, dear Maria...so this is what became of you."

Odd. That voice almost sounded like Ludwig. Such was impossible, of course. He'd been lost to beasthood long ago like Laurence and the rest.

She heard someone walk up to her. A new voice came. "I don't see a way out of here. Is this a dead end?"

"I think not, my friend." Ludwig's voice answered. There is a village beyond here."

"Village?"

"Yes, a fishing hamlet." that was undoubtedly the voice of her old comrade. "There you shall find the source of our greatest shame. Our greatest sin."

A silence followed. And then:

"Hmm...ominous. I'll have to bust through, then. Might wanna stand back, Ludwig. I'll use Kurama. Might be a little loud...

Panic bleated in Maria's breast, wild and frantic and fierce. No! The hamlet!

Her hand shot out, grabbing his wrist.

"A corpse should be left well enough alone!" Not hers, but that of poor Kos and its child! "Leave this place!"

"Oi! I tried to walk past you!" her captive glared back, undaunted by her sudden revival, nor her grip on him. "Ya grabbed me!"

Because she had no other choice. She mustn't let him past her; mustn't let him reach the fishing hamlet-wait, where had he gone? She'd held him a moment before, now she was grasping...a log? Her eyes flitted down to it in naked confusion. Someone had carved a rather curious face into it, akin to that of a child sticking out its tongue. What the devil...?

Five firm fingers clapped down on her shoulder.

"I usually try not to hit girls...but you're ticking me off, missy."

A boot slammed into Maria's chest, shattering her chair and sending her crashing down on her rear. She blinked in surprise.

Ludwig sighed softly. "Oh, dear. He's done it now...

Her eyes flashed. "You...!"

"Me." she took him in a glance as he stalked forward; blond hair, blue eyes, whiskered cheeks. "I just used an awful lot of chakra helping the folks back there," a thumb jerked back over his shoulder, indicating the ward he had left behind, "And frankly?" he stopped just short of her and leaned down to glare at her, eyes burning like balefire, twin burning coals in his skull. "I'm not in the mood."

"It is as he says." his companion stepped up beside him. "Let us pass, dear Maria. We mean you no harm."

Her gaze shifted.

Against all odds, it really was Ludwig-no mistaking the holy moonlight blade clutched tight in his grasp!-though his attire was different. He'd kept his cloak, now a ragged, tattered facsimile drooping over one shoulder, but beneath that he wore robes of purest black. Where had he found those? And why was he looking at her so? Did he truly think she would yield here?

...I cannot."

"As I thought." Her fellow hunter offered a wistful sigh, shoulders slumping. "Then you shall meet the same fate as I."

What fate? Did it have something to do with this blond warrior? Was this why he'd become human once more?

No. That wasn't her concern. She had but one goal. "You wish to see what is beyond here...?"

The duo exchanged a wary glance...and a reluctant nod.

"Oh, I know very well." a small, sad smile plucked at the corner of her mouth as she stood. "How the secrets beckon so sweetly. Only an honest death will cure the two of you now. Fear not." she reached up and snapped her Rakuyo apart, bearing a blade in each hand. "I shall liberate you, from your wild curiosity!"

Ludwig's smile surprised her. "My dear, if that were possible, we would not be here."

Naruto was on her a moment later. "Borrowing this!"

"Borrowing whaaaaaargh?!"

Maria's retort piqued into a strangled yelp as the Moonlight Greatsword -now in Naruto's hands!- hurtled in at her head. She crossed her blades and blocked.

Errors were made.

The moment, nay, the the very second she successfully defended herself, Naruto smashed her down to a knee. That wasn't swordplay! He was using the thing like a bloody hammer!

And it was working!

She disengaged and slashed at his legs, seeking to hamstring him. The Moonlight Greatsword sang as it caught her strike, punched through her guard and slashed down. Maria jerked herself to the right. It wasn't enough, no, not nearly enough. The blade struck true. Blood splashed through the air. She stumbled back, clutching her shoulder with one hand, fumbling for a blood vial with the other.

Rather than pursue, Naruto craned his neck back to look at Ludwig. His smile galled her. "This sword's amazing!"

Ludwig preened like a proud father handing his child off at the altar. "Do be careful with her, sir Naruto!"

Naruto? Maria hissed as her wounds began to close. Was that the boy's name...?

He ignored her. "Ha! I don't think I could break this baby if I tried!"

"Are you two quite done?!"

"Sorry~!" the blond pivoted with a lazy laugh, blade effortlessly interposing between a thrust that would've surely punched through his throat. "Did you need something?"

They spun apart in a wild flourish of steel. Here at last, she felt she had the measure of him. He was faster than her, stronger to be sure, but he was clumsy with that sword of his. His were the swings of an amateur, raw speed with little finesse. Surely her superior skill would prevail-eh?!

Maria squeaked as he ducked and cut out at her knee, mimicking her earlier move with frightful speed. She skittered back-not daring to block. He lunged after her, giving her no time to think. Moonlight sang and this time she wasn't quite quick enough. The blast caught her and she crashed back, splintering a wall.

He was on her a moment later, forcing her to roll aside or be skewered in turn. A flawless follow up.

'Blast it! He's learning as he fights!'

She was, in a way, teaching him. Every thrust was met with a riposte now, his blade biting into her flesh, tearing free, her supply of blood vials dwindling.

They did not fight from there. To call it such would have been an insult. They danced.

And for the first time in ages...Maria smiled.

She laughed.

When was the last time she'd felt like this; the simple joy, not of the hunt, but pure combat? She couldn't remember. It had been an age at least or more, since she'd found herself challenged in such a way. The notion saddened her. Combat had begun to bore her in later years; even Gehrman couldn't compete with her once she truly began to use her Vileblood abilities. But this-what was this? She parried a swing and shot him in the chest, only for him to laugh it off. This wasn't the combat she was accustomed to to.

What if it was better?

There was beauty in this nevertheless, a noble grace in the way they fought across the clocktower; trading blows, never giving an inch.

Naruto pivoted, wiped a line of blood from his jaw, and planted the Moonlight Greatsword into the ground. Laying both hands atop its worn hilt, he smiled at her

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

She was. The realization rattled Maria. This duel would end as all others did. With her foe's death and herself returned to slumber once more. She didn't want that. Her earlier distaste had been burned away, her blood was up for the first time in years and the thought of being denied this fight -this pleasure!- threatened to make her weep.

But what was she to do?

She could hardly give up now, could she? And even if she did, what then?

No. They mustn't reach the fishing hamlet beyond here. There was only one way this would end. As things always did.

With blood.

Maria thrust her blades into her chest and bent double, coating them with her very lifeforce. Pain! She tore them free a moment later to stand tall once more. How would he deal with this now, she wondered? He'd proven himself a close range fighter but now her range had grown beyond his. He would struggle to get close.

Naruto frowned at her. "You a masochist or something?"

.

..

...excuse me?!' Maria didn't need to see her face to know she was blushing; she could feel the head in her cheeks as she sputtered. "I am no such thing!"

"Yet you hurt yourself to get stronger." he pointed out.

"That is not a masochist!"

"Then what is it?"

"Raaargh!"

He stepped back and let her lunge carry her past. Clenched knuckles barreled up into her gut, blasting her from the floor and into the ceiling. He came rushing up after her, forcing her to kick off in turn or be nailed there like some trophy. And so they fell together. Moonlight clashed with bloody steel as they plummeted to the floor. Blades locked. They leered at one another. She glimpsed her expression in his eyes and was startled to find her grin mirrored his own.

Then they were apart once more, spinning away before they hit the floor.

Maria's pistol barked as she went, the silver bullet slapped aside.

Naruto flickered behind her. A low whisper on the air.

"Rasengan."

Maria never saw what struck her. But she felt it all the same.

Her world went white, then her vision black. When had she crossed the room? She didn't remember moving. How curious.

A palm planted itself in the ruined floor to push herself upright. Blearily, she took stock of herself. Her hair was down, freed from its braid. She'd lost her hat and a good chunk of her armor besides; what remained hung from her shoulders, exposing her pale neckline and back to the gloom. Everything ached. She fumbled for a blood vial, only to realize she had none. They were gone; destroyed in the blast he'd struck her with. Her knees were weak. Arms heavy. She felt sick, an inch away from vomiting.

But she mustn't give up.

"Are you finished?"

...not yet."

Maria drew herself upright with a growl. Fresh power coursed through her, hovering in the air blood rose from her wounds to coalesce around her. She'd not wanted to use this, but he'd left her no choice. Her last card to play. Ace in the hole. Last resort. Flame flashed out in a fiery explosion, burning down the length of her blades, setting her very weapons aflame with hellish death. Her feet alighted upon the floor once more. Here at last, she got a proper reaction out of Naruto. Here at last, he hesitated. His lips parted and she paused, awaiting the words to come. Would he beg now, she wondered?

It was not what she expected. "Why is your blood on fire?!"

Her lips thinned. 'Of all the asinine things to say!'

Ludwig's muffled a snort behind one hand. Maria glared bloody red daggers at him before her gaze swung back to the baffling blond. "That is not for you to know."

"Oi, oi!" A finger stabbed her way in outright anger. "Like hell it isn't! That's bullshit! Doesn't it hurt?! Are you enjoying that too, miss masochist?!"

Ludwig absolutely howled with laughter. She realized what he was getting at a heartbeat later. "Do not call me that! I feel nothing!"

Naruto planted a fist on his hip. "Seems like ya do."

Maria's face turned a pale pink. "Arrogance does not become you, good sir."

"Says the lady with the crazy blood fire. What's next? You gonna grow wings and attack me with bloody butterflies something?"

Now he mocked her? Enough of this churlish behavior. Their duel ended now. "If you won't hold your tongue, then I will gladly remove it for you!"

Naruto plucked his borrowed blade free, swept a hand through his bloody hair and grinned; it was the first real smile she'd seen from him. "Come and take it, miss masochist."

Maria blitzed him.

If theirs had been a dance before, then now it was a wild one, all pretense and civility stripped away. Steel struck steel in a frenzied flurry. Fire flashed across the walls. Dark moonlight clashed with maddened bloodflame, painting the world dazzling shades of red.

Someone was laughing. Maria never knew who. He was going to wear her out at this rate!

She thrust for Naruto's shoulder, only to find him gone. A merry whistle behind her was her only warning before he swept her legs. She kicked off the floor and stabbed for his gut. He stomped down upon the larger blade of her Rakuyo, trapping the leftmost blade in the floor. No time to tug it free. She gave up on it slammed her remaining blade through Naruto's shoulder. A wise warrior would've backed off. He barreled through, skewering himself, casting Ludwig's sword aside to get his hands on her. Five firm fingers closed around her throat, ripping her from the floor.

Up she went. Down she came.

Air burst from Maria's lungs as her back kissed the ground. Even then she didn't give up. She locked her legs round Naruto's waist to keep him from getting away, drawing a squawk of surprise from him. She used that brief moment of inattention to lever herself up and twist her blade in his chest.

Blue eyes widened in realization. Too little, too late.

Maria set the last of her wretched blood ablaze, incinerating them both in a pillar of raw bloodflame. It was a suicidal gambit; one last desperate act of spite, to finish him once and for all.

In the end, it was all for naught.

Even as their armor smoldered away, Naruto burned brighter than she. No. That wasn't quite right. Blue eyes smoldered into scarlet as his entire body erupted into golden flame. That strange fire snuffed hers out. He even went so far as to heal her wounds, the bastard. The absolute bastard.

Maria was still cursing him when his head swept down and rang her skull like a gong. Stars burst before her vision. Her grip slackened for a moment. He acted. She heard the clatter of steel as he tore her weapon free from his chest and flung it aside. Disarmed, she could only cling to him in her weakness as she cursed him. His grip intensified, refusing to let her go. It was her loss. Why was he making this difficult?! Why couldn't he let her win?! Why couldn't he just...just...JUST...!

It infuriated Maria to no end. She snapped.

Fingernails bit into his shoulders as she reared up and smashed her lips against his, kissing him. Naruto recoiled in surprise. She took full advantage, wrestling him down.

Her forehead hit his, eyes wild.

...marry me."

The sputtering intensified.

Maria blinked. She blinked hard. "Did I say that...?"


(.0.0.0.)


Darkness.

Birth.

Life.

Pain.

Light.

Meaning...?

It dragged itself into existence, spindly arms scraping across the shore.

Thoughts were slow to manifest; dark, murky, watery mud, but manifest they did. And with it came confusion. Questions.

'Who am I? Why am I here? Why does it hurt? Why does it hurt, hurt, hurt?! Mother? Where is Mother? Why can't I hear her? Why am I alone?

"It" looked about, searching for meaning on the shore. Saw the boy. Realization dawned. I came from that. Her body was still. Cold. No. Not a body. A corpse. It knelt on trembling limbs and nudged her, to no avail. She did not move. Did not respond. Did not breathe. Did not sing to it as she had in the womb. A tiny keening noise fled from its lips.

It was alone.

Alone, alone, alone.

Realization dawned. It was an orphan.

Adrift, the creature tilted its head back and looked out to sea. The bleak waters held no hope for it, no answers, no meaning. Nothing at all.

It began to weep.

Wrong.

Wrong, wrong.

Wrong, wrong, wrong!

Everything was wrong! Why was it here?! Why had it come into this cold place?! Why?!

Noise pierced its pain.

"Oh, hell." Someone whispered behind it. "What is that...?"

The words meant little to the Orphan. Why should it care about that? About anything?

A man approached. Paused. Sat down beside the Orphan. "You've had a rough time of it, eh, buddy? How'd you get here?"

The Orphan made a confused noise, turned to take him in. Blond hair. Blue eyes and whiskered cheeks dimpling in a sorrowful smile. There were two others with him, some distance away. A man. A woman. It didn't care about them. This one was closer. It saw the man, his bloody garb and knew him for a Hunter. Hunters were bad. It had been left with memories of mother, memories of men with cold steel and burning fire. Sharp tools, cutting into her flesh, rending, ripping, reaping!

A scarlet veil fell over its thoughts.

At the end of the day, the Orphan of Kos was just that. An orphan. A child, however powerful, is a child still. And like any child in pain, it lashed out, latching onto the first thing its saw. Its fledgling mind came to a single conclusion as it looked upon this smiling hinter.

This man! Human! HUNTER! His fault! ALL HIS FAULT!

"Hey now, there's no need for violence." The foul Hunter smiled at it, ignorant to its anger. "Wanna talk?"

Talk?

No. Not with this.

It did not want to talk. "Roooooo!"

SMASH!

"Oi, oi, oi!" the Hunter ducked back, evading the barrage of blows. "Put the club down!"

The Orphan of Kos flinched like the child it never had the chance to be. For a moment there, it almost sounded like. "Roooo...?"

"Don't you "Roooo" me, mister! I said drop it!" the Hunter tapped his foot quickly and stabbed a finger down. "Right now! Or you'll get no desert!"

N-no! It didn't take orders from this...whatever this thing was!

The Orphan struck again.

The hunter did not dodge. He raised his arms to either side without a care in the world. He took the blow head on, uncaring, unblinking as it bit deep into his collarbone and split his shoulder down to the marrow. He didn't flinch. Didn't bat an eye, despite the blood on his face. A hand came up to pat its head, as a father might a naughty child. Blue eyes gazed placidly back at it.

"I'm sorry." blood ran down his mouth. "Sorry you suffered."

"ROOOOOOO!"

A hand came up to clamp down on its wrist, holding fast. "You can talk, can't you?"

The Orphan was evolving to be sure, but its mind was still that of a child. Words formed in his mind. Three of them, giving shape to its pain.

"Hate!" It screamed at him, tearing its weapon free. "Kill you!"

"I really am sorry that you're so upset, but I didn't do this. And I can't let you kill me." Those bright blue eyes, once so gentle and full of life, became cold as his wound closed. "I have to fight back now." The orphan found itself shrinking back beneath his stoic gaze. "Don't worry. I won't hurt you. I'll try to make this quick."

His eyes flashed with red fire.

The orphan glared at him.

And then...fear!

An aura of overwhelming despair burst from the Hunter. He loomed large before the Orphan, as though someone had replaced this humble hunter with a giant golden fox. It saw him. Teeth gone sharp, eyes blazing red. So large. So big. It made him feel small. Pathetic. Puny. Weak. The Orphan stumbled backward, reeling from this hunter-no, this Scary Man. It was the largest thing he'd ever seen in his short lifetime, a creature so massive it dwarfed imagination. Just the sight of it made him want to flea into the ocean.

And then that thing looming over him...smiled.

"I SEE YOU."

Scary Man! Scary fox!

All the fear and fight fell from the Orphan. Infant Great One or not, it was just a child. Children don't like fear. The Orphan was no different. When faced with such an overwhelming force it reacted as any child would, come rain or shine. It curled up into a ball with a whimper, knees tucked into his chest.

"Kill it now!" The man with the glowing sword shouted. "Whole its weak! Put an end to this madness, this nightmare!"

"This is a child!" The Scary Man swept a hand up, cutting his advance short. "You lay one finger on his head and I take yours, Ludwig! Are we clear?!"

The Orphan's head snapped up. "...?"

Faced with such protest, the Swordsman lowered his sword and withdrew with a grim look. "As you say...

His gaze snapped to the woman. She raised her hands. "I have no intent to harm him, dear."

"Don't call me that! Jeez." The Scary Man looked back to the Orphan. "Now for you...

The orphan's ever-evolving mind came to a singular confusion.

The Scary Man wanted to kill him, himself.

'I'm going to die! No! I don't wanna die!'

"NO!" It wailed. "No, no, nooooo!"

Its body burst into life and light, gaining wings and newfound power. Lightning split the sky as Mother's corpse responded to its cry. The clouds above split. The world erupted. The Scary Man grunted in pain, but stood firm in the face of it. He shook himself off and walked forwards. The Orphan screamed again. The Scary Man took a second hit without so much as a complaint. Red eyes met his. Still he stalked forth. Bolt after bolt struck him, yet his stride didn't slow, never once impeded.

And then, just like that, he was before him.

"NOOOOO!"

The Orphan flailed at him with a shriek. A hand caught his wrist, wresting his weapon down.

"Shhh." the blond man hummed. "Don't worry. I'm not here to hurt you.

Lies! Clawed fingers raked across the scary man's face, annihilating his right eye. He bulled forward. It was already regenerating.

This was it! Death! Cold, miserable death...

...warm? Why was it warm?

Was this not death?

"Its alright, now." The Scary Man drew him into a warm embrace. "I know you're afraid." A hand stroked its bony back despite the height distance between them. "I know it hurts." another palm touched the back of his bald head, tucking his wizened face into his chest with infinite care. "I know you wanna scream." he hummed a little, rocking him side to side. "Tell me how to help you. How can I make this better?"

No one had ever hugged the Orphan before. Not once. Not ever. None.

Faced with such simple compassion, it broke. Slim shoulders bowed, body bending inward.

The Orphan whimpered. "Mother...want mother back...

The Scary Man drew back to look at him.

"I'm sorry." Sounded like he meant it. "I can't do anything to bring back the dead. But I can give you something else."

The Orphan tilted its head like the child it was in spirit, if not body. "Give...?"

"You don't have a name, do you?" The blond man beamed. "Here. I'll give you one. You're an orphan, so...hrrm..." he thumbed his chin with a frown. "I know! How about Orpheus? That sounds good, yeah?"

He laid a golden hand on his head, humming softly.

And quite suddenly. The world got bigger.

Bright, too! So very bright!


(.0.0.0.)


"What now?!"

Naruto flung up a hand to ward off the sudden surge of light; squinting into the wild brilliance in vain. It didn't so much hurt as it did startle him, but startle it did. He hadn't done anything just now. He'd simply given the Orphan an name. Nothing more. Nothing less. He didn't expect its mothers' body to glow, nor for said glow to consume the Orphan.

When it cleared, he found himself blinked. Once, twice, thrice now, and still no changes. "Eh?"

Against all odds, the Orphan of Kos still remained, and yet it didn't.

He found himself staring at a small child in its place; a boy, skin so pale he almost seemed to glow. He barely came up to his waist. His eyes were a deep dark blue, like the sea itself. Even his hair was unnatural, a pale shade of stark silver that fell to his bare shoulders. Waitaminute. Bare?

Why was the kid naked?!

"Gah! Clothes!" He ripped off his spare cloak with a sputter and draped it around him, then cinched it shut. It drooped around the boy's feet. The clutched at it in confusion. Blinked up at him with wide eyes.

"You're bigger!" His voice was soft, a reedy cry, echoing faintly, nothing like the guttural growl it had once been. "Why are you bigger?!"

Ludwig fell to his knees. "By the blood...

Naruto flicked a glance his way. "Guess he doesn't have any answers. You're...Orpheus right?"

"Mmm." A nod now as the boy clutched at his trousers.

"Thought so." Naruto absently reached around to pat his head, drawing a pleased hum from him.

Maria came closer, taking the change in stride. "Hello, dear boy." she crouched down. "My name is Maria. Who might you be?"

The little lad shied behind Naruto's leg. "Don't know you. Scary."

"Its alright." he gave him a nudge. "She's one of the good hunters...I think."

"Such a sharp tongue." Maria tutted softly. "You need not fret. I shall spend the rest of my days in atonement." Her eyes flicked to his. "Among other things."

Why, why, why did he have to flip her switch?

The boy, no, Orpheus, didn't look like he trusted her at all. He clung to him tighter. Kurama was of no help whatsoever. The laughter in his skull was doing his head in. Really, what even was this?! He'd hoped to put the Orphan to rest without hurting it. Give it peace or...something. Not...whatever this was!

"Never a dull moment with you, I swear! Ha! Enjoy fatherhood!"

"Oi! Just because I named him doesn't mean he's my-

"Mister." Orpheus shivered. "M'cold...

Urk.

His heart twitched.

Naruto sighed and scooped the boy up into his arms. Orpheus was light. Almost eerily so. The little lad didn't waste a moment and latched on, nestling against his chest form warmth. The rain might have stopped, but it did little to ease the chill of the ocean. Orpheus all but snugged into him.

Maria cooed softly.

Ludwig dared to approach.

Naruto watched him like a hawk.

"Don't tell me to kill him." he glared daggers. "I didn't come this far to throw a child away."

"I would not dream of it." the older man surprised him with a bow. "Young orphan. I would speak with you."

Orpheus perked up. "Me...?"

"On behalf of every Hunter...I wish to apologize for the fate that befell you and your mother." the Holy Blade bowed deeper still. "If you wish to strike me down, I will not defend himself. You may have my head."

Naruto watched the boy like a hawk. He looked...tired. Too tired to even muster proper anger. "S'fine. You didn't do it...

"Great." He shifted his grip on his passenger. "Only one thing for it, then."

He paced over the corpse of Kos. Here at last, Orpheus perked up.

Naruto lowered the boy to the ground and knelt before what he assumed was his mother's face. So this was a Great One. Ludwig had told him about them, what little he knew. Supposedly death didn't so much kill them as it did inconvenience them. She might exist in another plane of reality now. Or her soul might've moved on. He hoped the latter might be the case; hoped she gazed fondly down on his actions here today. Her face almost looked human. The rest...not nearly so much, but who was he to judge? It did nothing to change his intentions.

This was a mother. He'd just taken her child under his wing. He could hardly leave things like this now, could he?

"Alright."

He bowed his head and clasped his hands. In his peripherals, Orpheus mimicked him. Clever boy. He'd do well if he learned that quickly.

"I don't know if you can hear me, but, well." Naruto swallowed once. He'd never been one for funerals. Best to get on with it. "I've got something to say. I hope you'll hear me out."

An odd, foreign presence brushed his mind. It felt like approval.

"You didn't deserve what happened to you." he bowed his head anew, hands still clasped in his lap. "Neither did your kid. You did something earlier, didn't you? Used the last of your power to give him this body." He wasn't sure if that was the truth or some other miracle, but he suspected the former. "I wanted to thank you. I'll take good care of him. He'll have a good life, I swear. And I never go back on my word."

A warm sea breeze blew across his face.

"Uh, is that approval? I don't wanna take him without your say-so...

High above, the clouds parted, bathing the fishing hamlet in light for the first time since the Nightmare's inception.

"Okay? I'm gonna take this as a sign!" he turned his eyes to the sun. "Don't there anything I can do to bring you back...? It'd be nice if the kid could have a mother."

The impression he received from Kos's corpse...muddy at best. A series of flickering sensations and flashing images he couldn't quite comprehend. And there, above them all, a woman with pale hair. Strange. She seemed vaguely familiar. Not a yes, but certainly not a no at that. In a word, confusing. Great Ones might not be the best when it came to communicating. Something to consider later, he supposed.

"Hey, hey! I draw the line at reviving eldritch gods. They're nothing but trouble. Remember Kaguya."

'Yeah, but this one...

He turned to face the Orphan.

"So, kiddo!" he plastered a smile to his face. "You wanna come with us?"

Orpheus didn't even hesitate. Nope. Not in the least. A tiny hand curled around his.

And with that simple beautiful gesture, a gentle voice trickled in his ear, spoken from far, far away:

"Ahhh, sweet child of Kos, given a home at last. A bottomless curse, a bottomless sea. Accepting of all that there is and can be...

A/N: Did I just adopt the Orphan of Kos? Yes. Yes I did. AND I AIN'T DONE YET!

Worry not, we've not forgotten Laurence or the poor Queen down in the Chalice Dungeons...

That said, this chapter took a lot of me. I'm about ready to collapse; probably won't update again until Novembr.

Still, I hope somewhere, somewhen, somehow, this makes someone smile.

Well? What say you? Do you want this to be a story? Yes? No? Maybe so? Make yourselves heard!

Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this particular story, and others. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? POOF! Gone. Completely. I'm working two jobs -might need a third soon!- so I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. Working nearly all hours of the day keep me absurdly busy, and I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.

Aaaand there we go. As ever, reviews keep me alive. Without them, I cannot write. So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...

...Review...Would You Kindly? And have some previews

Get ready to smile. Or laugh. Whichever comes first.

Hope they brighten your day~!

(Previews)

"Laurence!" he flung his arms wide. "I've come to bargain!"

The fiery beast began to stir.


Orpheus tilted his head. "Are you my mother?"

She squeaked.

Naruto fell back laughing.


"Welcome home good hun...wait. Who is that?!


"Nice clinic you got here."

"You think so?" Iosefka preened. "I've been a bit busy, I have so many to look after. A curious woman came by, but I turned her away...


Amelia screamed. "Stay away! I'll hurt you!"


"Spiders. Why is it always spiders. You friendly?"

Countless eyes turned to him. "...?"

"Great. Can you talk?"


"Way I see it happiness is light as air, sweeter then sugar, and disappears just as you get taste for it. So cling to it while you can.

After all, you only get one life~! Might as well enjoy it, no?"


"Shh, shh. Hush little baby, don't say a word. Mama's gonna buy you a rocking bird...


"Orpheus, put the bad man down. I need him alive...for now."

"Yes, papa."


"I have had it up to HERE with people suffering. But you?" he stomped down, crushing the creature underfoot. "There's no saving something like you, someone who takes pleasure in the suffering of others. They're rotten. THEY DIE."


"Ohohoho and now the big bad shows his face! C'mere, ya sonuvabitch!"


She jumped him, bearing him down to the ground.

"There's not really a bed here...

"Does it look like I care?"

EDIT: Hey, you made it!

Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story...and others.

If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? Well...I won't be able to continue it.

I'm working two jobs with ever-increasing hours and the holidays are right around the corner; I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matter! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustains me. Without them, I cannot write a single word. Simple as that.

So by all means, speak up! Raise your voice! Make yourself heard! Your reviews matter! Really, they do!

Looking forward to chatting with you all when I get back~!

R&R~!