A/N: EDIT: Flames will be flames, I suppose. Lets all get along, eh? Fixed a typo with Summer.
Ach, these daily updates are starting to kill me.
As ever we're still sticking to the "Embers" rule here, folks.
Every review no matter how large or small, keeps me writing. No reviews? No inspiration. No inspiration? No story. So speak up! Your words matter!
After all, I do so enjoy chatting with my readers.
Now that we've gotten that out of the way...
*coughs* Ahem!
...
...
..
Come one, come all, to the beatdown of the century! Brought to you courtesy of one VERY angry blond!
Hope you've brought some snacks and popcorn, because this was a treat to write.
Now then, lets answer your questions. A few should do this time:
Q: Naruto's the embodiment of Escanor thanks to Nora's wish, isn't he? Well. Raven's boned.
A: You have no idea. Nora just passed out in Naruto's arms.
Now, neither of them know about the Maiden power. Who do you think he's going to blame?
*grins*
Q: What's the pairing?
A: Pretty sure I've already said it. By all means, read on. And prepare to laugh.
After all, a King must have his Queen, but Naruto hasn't found his...yet.
Q: Wait, is Leonardo in Salem's employ at this time?
A: Alas, he is. Its been stated that Salem got to Lionheart LONG before the events of Volume One.
Q: Aha! I saw you mention those silver-eyed girls! Are they OC's of some sort? Will we see them again?
A: Minor ones, of a sort. And yes, you will.
Alright then, I think I've kept you long enough.
Lets get on with the delightful madness that is this story.
As ever I own no reference, quotes, themes or memes. Not a wit or a one. Now, then. Here. We. Go.
"Why is Kuroyuri still standing?"
"Y...Your grace? I'm afraid I don't understand.
"No? You told me it had fallen. It has not. Why is this, Leonardo?"
"I...I don't know. Rest assured, I will send someone and get to the bottom of this at once-urk?!"
"No. You will fix this. Yourself. Today! NOW!"
~Salem and Lionheart
Cowards and Cravens
Raven Branwen was no fool.
She might be a coward and a craven and certainly a bad mother, but foolish? Never. She knew a losing fight when she saw one; knew when to hold 'em and when to fold them; when to cut her loses and run. She had fled from Ozpin, fled from the futile war against Salem, even fled fro her own family. All to survive. At the end of the day, she would do anything to survive.
And this?
She was thinking it was time to run again.
"Nora!" Naruto's voice split the afternoon with a cry. "Nora, c'mon! Wake up! Don't do this to me!"
Wreathed in golden flames, he clutched his ward close to his chest. She wasn't moving. Of course she wasn't moving. She'd just absorbed the full might of the Spring Maiden into herself. That was a shock to your system even as an adult. But for a child? Small wonder she'd been knocked out, slight as she was.
Blast it, this was going to throw all her plans out the window.
Her right hand strayed to Omen's scabbard and drew forth another dust blade. Wild sparks scrawled across the edge, though she didn't dare bring it to bear for fear of provoking the titan before her. She ought to take that girl and claim the power for herself, but that seemed impossible now. She looked up, squinting at the sun. It was high noon.
That shouldn't mean anything. And yet somehow, she felt it did.
Her boot shifted a little against the gravel.
"You."
Naruto's head snapped up with a wordless roar, blue eyes bleeding golden flames, teeth exposed in a snarl. Beneath his boots, the ground began bake into clay, cracking and splintering away in the face of his fury. Nearby bandits caught fire and tumbled to the ground with a shriek. His ax swept out in a fiery arc, hewing a number of them down at the waist. And he saw her.
He.
Saw.
Raven.
"YOU."
There it was. That word again. Dread coiled in Raven's gut, twisting it into terrible knots of terror. In a moment, she understood. He didn't know. He thought she'd done something to his kid. Blood drained from her already pale visage as he climbed to his feet. He didn't understand. She had to make him understand, yet her tongue defied her, hanging still and dead in her mouth. She couldn't speak, such was her fear.
"YOU!"
That mighty ax smashed into the ground, creating a crater as wide a she was tall.
And he was pretty damn tall right now! Why was he growing?! His jacket shredding away, burning in those unnatural flames. What as he!
He thought it was her fault. And she couldn't beat him. He was going to kill her. She knew it by the look in his eyes; it was the glare of an enraged parent come to wreak vengeance. Her mind gibbered, fear overtaking all her common sense. She hadn't been able to handle him before all this. He was coming for her; wouldn't be satisfied with anything less than her head on a spike.
"I'm going to ask this once." Naruto spoke slowly, words a low growl in the afternoon, a resonant rumble fiery and ancient as the sun itself. "Just once. What did you do to her, and how do I fix it?"
Raven took a step back and raised her hands. "I didn't do anything to that kid. She's a part of something greater now. No thanks to you."
Naruto absolutely twitched. Damn her arrogance. Shouldn't have said that! Portal. She needed a portal. She flicked Omen to one side, already reaching out with her semblance. Fear got the better of her again. A portal was all well and good, but to whom? Not Ozpin. He'd never let her live it down. Yang? Tai? Qrow? Each one carried complications and humiliation in equal measure, paralyzing her with dread-
"LIAR!"
With a mournful howl his ax swung down at her head before she could choose, forcing the battered Branwen to brave her blade with both hands or be cut in twine. Her arms went numb from the impact. A razor edge bit deep into her weapon, splintering cracks across the battered blade. His weapon came up and struck down again. A second brought her her crashing to her knees. A third had her seeing stars. All the air in her throat dried up, turning the very oxygen to napalm. The very act of breathing became torturous in his presence.
"Don't just stand there!" Raven bit out at the terrified men and women of her tribe. "Shoot him! SHOOT HIM!"
Bullets pinged harmlessly off those broad golden shoulders.
Naruto frowned, took one hand from the handle of his ax, and raised it over his shoulder. Trapped as she was, Raven couldn't quite see what that thing in his palm was, not properly. It looked like some kind of giant blue sphere, shrieking with wind. A terrible keening cry split the daylight to rend at her ears.
"Bandits." he spat the word. "I don't know why I ever spared people like you. You're scum."
A lazy toss flung it over his shoulder.
Raven forced herself to watch. Her riflemen didn't just die; their bodies evaporated like so much mist in the wind.
Some dared to strike at him with their blades; they failed as well, for their weapons melted into slag long before they could reach him. A particularly enterprising soul tried to rush him regardless of the fact, but without Aura, his body burned to cinders immediately. The others -and there were more than a few!- shrank back when faced with his fury.
"That's right. Stay. I'll deal with you lot later. But for now...
A large hand clamped around Raven's throat. The other ripped Omen from her grasp and cast it aside, leaving her unarmed. He hoisted her into the air, dangling her with ease.
"What did you do to Nora?!"
"Nothing!" she kicked out against his chest in a vain attempt to free herself. "She brought it upon herself! She's a Maiden now! Nothing can change that!"
He drew her close. "What's a Maiden?!"
"You...you really have no idea, do you?" her hands gripped the taut muscle of his arm. "You fool. You'll draw the devil herself down on you." she dared a sneer. "Doesn't matter. The girl will wake...in time. From this day on, both of you will be hunted! All your lives! Your days are numbered!
For an awful moment, there was silence. And then.
"So are yours."
He squeezed and her world began to darken at the edges.
"I can train her!" She bleated out the words, voice piquing with fear. "Make her strong! I know how her power works! I've seen it!"
Furious golden eyes regarded her without a word.
Without air, Raven felt her strength shrivel up in the heat, leaving her helpless. Powerless. All the colors of the world bled away, reducing her world to an ugly, awful grey. Death! This was death! She would die here, and without her blade, she had no way of making a portal. There would be no rescue; no last minute miracle. She would simply...die. Perish and pass from this world as many had and no one would miss her. No one would mourn her. None would care about the demise of Raven Branwen.
"Please!"
It burned. Oh, how that burned.
She didn't want to die. She wanted to live. Live, live, LIVE!
Something snapped in the back of her mind as her eyes rolled in raw terror.
"I'll serve...you!" new words emerged in a low rasp. "I'll be your slave! Your maid, anything you want! Just don't kill me! Please!"
Naruto didn't answer; she didn't even think he could, so lost to his rage was he. In his eyes she was to blame for this; all of it, every bloody bit of it. Maybe that was true. But not like this. She couldn't bear the thought of going out like this. They say your life flashed before your eyes when you die. Hers didn't. She saw only a single face.
'Yang...I'm sorry...
...hey." a tiny voice squeaked. "Don't I get a say in this? Always wanted a maid...
Naruto's head snapped around with such force that Raven heard the muscles in his neck creak.
"Nora?!"
Without warning, the hand gripping Raven's throat went slack. He didn't so much drop her as he did throw her. She crashed to the floor, hacking and coughing, retching for air. Light and life crept back into the world, but still the persistent ache in her throat remained. Everything. She could feel the burns he'd left there.
Sword. She needed her sword. Had to defend herself before he came back.
But he didn't.
She found him less than a yard away, fussing over a dizzy Nora. His ward wobbled a little on her feet, eyes alight with wild azure flames. Whatever strange heat had surrounded him was gone now, gradually bleeding away before her. Raven still regarded him with fear.
"Don't," Nora rasped, "Don't kill her. No more killing. Nobody else needs to die." her knees twisted for a moment before she caught herself. "Wow, I feel weird...Achoo!"
She sneezed and lightning crackled overhead with an almighty howl.
For a moment Raven almost dared to hope she could escape.
She looked down and reached for her broken blade-
"And just where do you think you're gone?"
Only to look up and find her staring into a pair of very familiar eyes, blazing with fury.
"There's still the matter of your punishment." Yup. Still angry. Very angry now. "I know just the thing."
Raven crashed backward as he swept her legs, only to catch her not a moment later. He bent her over his knee like a surly child. Realization broke like the dawn. She tried to escape, tried to squirm her way free, only for an elbow to plant itself against her spin. His other arm swung back ponderously, fingers splayed.
No. Surely he wouldn't do that. Not here. Not now. Not in front of what remained of the tribe.
Naruto's hand descended and struck her flank with an awful crack.
Raven jumped in his lap with a shriek.
And the hand descended again.
"Damn youuuu!"
(.0.0.0.)
"Where am I...?"
An Ren opened her eyes with a groan.
"Mother!" She felt a small weight crash into her chest. You're finally awake!"
(.0.0.0.)
Samson considered himself a decent smith.
He did good work with good tools. Simple as that. It had been his father's craft, and his father before him. He forged as he created, breathed life into his creations as they had before him. Tools, weapons, armor for the occasional adventurer. He didn't concern himself with much beyond that. Work and Family, keeping food on the table and a roof over their heads. Such was his life.
Higher concerns were for Lords and Ladies.
Lords like Naruto.
Good lad, that one. He had a strong arm and a good heart. Without him, Kuroyuri would have fallen long ago. He did work that the old mayor wouldn't dare; indeed, his boys were even now leading the effort to reinforce what remained; shoring up walls, building better gates and watchtowers alike. He kept the town safe. The girls liked him.
Well, Scarlett certainly did, judging by the way she harassed his clones at every turn.
For a wild moment the old Smith imagined the wild boy wedding either of his daughters; envisioned little lads and lasses with bright hair and brighter eyes running underfoot. It proved a rather...pleasant thought. Men could sow all the wild oats they liked, but Kuroyuri needed more children if it was to survive the years to come. Not much in the way of young folk around here. They needed to look to the next generation; to youngsters like like Ren and Nora. The future lay with them, or perhaps even-
A harsh clang caught the smith's ear, jarring him forth from such thoughts.
"Blast it, girl!" He clicked his tongue in mild disapproval. "Be careful with that billet!"
"Yes, pa." Sapphire chimed, her eyes distant, cheeks gone rosy. "Sorry. Lost focus there for a moment...
Didn't take much to imagine what.
Shaking his head, Samson went back to his own task. There were blades to be made, armor to be forged. Still had the order of horshoes to attend to. And they needed more coal for the fire...
"And where the devil did your sister wander off to?"
"Market." she chirruped, moving the metal to a barrel of water. "She left an hour ago."
"Ah." a smile creased his weathered visage. "Flirting with one of the Lord's clones now, is she?"
She looked away and whistled a nameless tune, avoiding his eyes. "No...?"
Cheeky little lasses. They'd give him grandchildren yet.
"Hey, pops!" Speak of the devil, a shadow clone bulled its way inside, slinging a large, bulging sack over its shoulder. "Brought you some more coal. Hope you don't mind."
"That's a good lad. Mined that yourself, did you?"
"Pretty much." The doppelganger shrugged. "Seemed right to help out, y'know. I've got a bunch of lumber and steel outside for the walls. Where d'ya want this?"
"Bah," he clapped him once on the shoulder. "Put it wherever you want."
The clone saluted and launched it into an open corner.
Sapphire touched a hand to her mouth...and wiped away the thin line of drool running fro her lips. She mastered herself quickly and went up to him to talk, hands linked behind her back, and chest pushed out that way she did sometimes. Her cheeks flushed a pretty rose red. For his part, the clone replied readily, greeting her with a cheery smile. Samson strained an ear to listen.
"Perhaps later we could take a walk around the walls...?
Aye, he knew that look, even if Naruto didn't.
Kuroyuri loved its lord, but honestly, he and his clones could be dense a brick when it came to the fairer sex. You needed a hammer to get through to him sometimes.
And like any good Father, Samson couldn't help but tease his Daughter.
"You can hound the lad later, girl!" he nudged her aside with a knowing smile. "There's work to be done!"
An indignant gasp and a slap on the arm was his reward. "Pa!"
Heh. Life was good, and by the look of it, grandchildren were well on the way. What more could a man ask for?
As though answering that very question, the town's bell began a long and sonorous toll.
"Open the gate!" the sentry cried! "Our Lord returns! He brings guests!"
Like any good vassal, Samson knew how to pay his respects. The lookout was still braying about by the time he'd cleared the door, crossed the square and reached the gate proper. He wasn't dissapointed. In the brief time he'd come to know the Lord of Kuroyuri, he'd soon realized the man wasn't one for pomp and ceremony. Wasn't hard to find him out there. Oiled hinges swung open, pulling back to reveal a weary blond in burnt clothing. Nora waved from her perch on his shoulder."
"Samson! There you are! How's business!"
And behind them...wait. Was that...?!
"What the devil?"
Raven Branwen brought up the rear, her hands bound by heavy iron manacles. Unarmed and bound alike, she limped after them like a cowed cur; head down in a vain attempt to conceal a black eye. All around her, the villagers began to shout and jeer. Everyone knew of the Bloody Branwen. Menace of Mistral and scourge to towns everywhere. If he'd brought that bitch low, Kuroyuri would celebrate indeed.
"This is our prisoner." he shrugged. "Or maid." this amended with a glance at Nora. "Haven't decided yet. She's not to be harmed."
"As you say, lord. Although...
Naruto frowned.
Right, best tell him what he'd missed. He'd nearly forgotten about it in the chaos; but Kuroyuri had not been idle while their Lord was away. They'd received another visitor...of a sort. If he could even be called that. Really it wasn't every day one of the big-wigs came down from the city to greet them. Best to let their Leader know sooner rather than later.
"Begging your pardon," he grunted, "but we had another guest while you were away. An important one.
Naruto's brow furrowed. "Who? I told you not to open the gates for anyone but me."
"That be true, but how could we refuse the Headmaster of Haven?"
Naruto sighed. "Damnit, I'm too tired for this...where is he?"
"We put him up in the tavern. Its one of the few buildings still intact."
"You say that," Naruto looked over in that direction, sniffed once, and grimaced as though he'd smelt something foul. "But why the hell is the Headmaster of Haven here?"
Raven snorted. "Maybe he heard about the situation and came to supply aid...?"
Their Lord sighed.
"Sarcasm doesn't become you. But I guess that's where I'm going." he thrust Raven at him. "Lock this one up. We'll deal with her tomorrow. Bind her legs."
She balked after him. "You can't put me in a cage!"
Smoldering blue eyes met hers.
"Can. Am. Will."
(.0.0.0.)
Cowards never prospered.
Never had this saying held more weight than it did for Leonardo Lionheart.
You see, Leo was not a brave man these days. Far from it. He was a weakling, an old soldier so far from his prime that he could barely remember it.
And this old soldier had fallen far.
So very far.
When that witch first came for him Leonardo had been brave, bold and defiant. Brimming with youth and determination, ready to fight until the bitter end...until she laid him low. Until she broke him. All his power, all his strength meant nothing. Leonardo was a marksman, and a damned good shot at that. A very good shot indeed. But all the accuracy and firepower in the world meant nothing when you couldn't kill your enemy. His Semblance was a keen gift, one that kept him from danger. That night, it failed him.
He'd fought despite it. And paid dearly.
Salem couldn't be defeated. Couldn't be killed. Couldn't be stopped.
"Your loyalty or your life," she'd said. Which will it be, huntsman? Choose wisely."
Leo made his choice. Since that awful night, he had done terrible things to survive; served the dark queen in all that she decreed. He wasn't proud of it, mind you. There was a special place in hell waiting for him when he finally passed on. He just knew it. Yet the destruction of his soul continued, a slow ugly thing that wore him away more with each year.
A town here, a huntsman there, so long as Haven was kept safe, he obeyed.
Recently she, -Salem!- had demanded Kuroyuri's fall. So he'd drawn his huntsmen away. Stripped it of protection, slowly but surely until it stood vulnerable. And the Grimm came. With no one and nothing to stand before that dark horde, its doom seemed certain. Refugees had fled to Haven speaking of its destruction, telling tales of the awful monsters they'd seen.
And yet it was still standing!
Now he'd been forced here by Salem's whim; both to preserve his image in the eyes of the people and see what Miracle had saved this simple village of smiths and artisans.
They let him in of course; as Headmaster it was his sacred right. He could not be denied.
And what did he find? Nothing!
A few men who looked like one another, but little more. Nothing to arouse suspicion. Pity. He'd suspected to find a stray Hunter within, perhaps a rogue team that had defied his orders. No, it seemed their survival was a fluke, and he'd have to report as much to the Queen-
"Nora, slow down!"
Something slammed into his leg.
"Sorry!" A cheery voice chimed. "Didn't see ya there!"
Leonardo looked down.
And blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Thrice, now.
He found himself gazing upon a girl with burning eyes.
In a moment, all became clear. Spring! Yes, it all made sense now! No wonder they'd fended off the Grimm. Nothing else could have wiped out such a horde. How could he have been so blind? Kuroyuri held the missing Maiden. Mere mindless Grimm were no match for the raw power of the seasons. Of course. Yes, yes. This was news to be told, information to be delivered to his mistress at once. He barely even heard them speaking. His mind was already awhirl with possibilities. This could be his chance. If he gave Salem the Spring Maiden, she could take the Vault and the Relic within. He would finally be free.
This...this would change things.
Salem must be told.
She must.
(.0.0.0.)
Naruto felt the spike of fear long before he met Lionheart. It made him wary.
No lion was this, no matter what kind of Faunus he might be. This was a cowardly cat. A craven. He didn't trust him for an instant and immediately drew Nora close to his side. In that moment he knew he wouldn't let him near her. Not once. Not ever. Negativity clung to the haggard headmaster like a cloud; more a miasma really, and it instantly set him on edge.
So it came as a something of a surprise when the man took one look a thim and immediately tried to run away like a cowardly dog.
"Well, it was nice to meet you, but I'm afraid its time for me to return to Haven-
Yes, quite the surprise indeed. Why leave so soon after meeting him?
Juxtaposed to the idea of letting him go, he seized his wrist.
"Sit."
(.0.0.0.)
Leo tried to flee. He really did.
He knew the moment he laid eyes on him; this man wasn't a man. This was a monster. His trusty Semblance had not failed him before, and it was presently shrieking at him. Run! Flee! Hide! Escape! Merely standing in the presence of this thing threatened to give him a heart attack and send him into paroxysms of sheer terror. Nope. All the nope. Not having it. Whatever this thing was it was worse than a maiden.
So he did what any sane many would do.
"Well," he dispensed with the small talk and rose from his chair, "It was nice to meet you, but I'm afraid its time for me to return to Haven-
Naruto pinned him with a glance. "Sit."
It was like staring into the sun itself; Leo's body locked up and betrayed him at once.
Naruto smiled. It was not a nice smile. "You reek of fear. Care to tell me why?
"N...No reason." he gulped and tugged a this collar. "I was simply afraid you might act as a weapon for these people, a deterrent to be-
"No, no, no," The Lord of Kuroyuri shook his head. "I'm not a weapon." He hefted the ax on his back, then slammed it into the ground, shaking the street. "THIS is a weapon. Where's yours?"
Leo whimpered.
As ever, Stalwart was still strapped to his wrist; the battle discus ready to be deployed at a moment's notice. He didn't dare draw it for fearing of conjuring his doom. He knew that if he drew it now, he would undoubtedly die. And at the end of the day, death was something to be avoided. he would do whatever it took to scrape and survive. Anything at all.
Still, he tried one last time.
"Perhaps you should come to Haven-
"Enough." Blue eyes narrowed, burning with the hint of something else. Something...more. "You're talking in circles. Tell why you're really here, Lionheart...or you'll regret it."
Leo cracked like an egg.
Beneath that gaze, the Headmaster quailed. His word was final. Absolute. There was no arrogance or posturing behind it; just pure fact. No quarter. No question. For the first time in his life, he met someone who terrified him more than Salem. It was too much. Appeasing Ozpin and Salem was one thing, but a third party?! Caught between a rock and a hard place, his brain came to a singular, logical conclusion.
Nope. it spat. Fuck this shit! I'm out! No more of this! I quiiiiit!
Someone else can be headmaster! Better him than me!
Truly, passing out was a mercy.
A/N: WE AIN'T DONE WITH LEO OR RAVEN YET.
Once again, As ever we're sticking to the tried-and-true "Embers" rule.
I don't want this to meet the fate of other discontinued stories, but I'm very much a man of my word.
So by all means, speak up! Make yourselves heard! Your words matter!
And now Naruto's got more on his plate.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly?
And have some previews.
(Preview)
An Ren bowed low and deep at the waist. "Thank you for taking care of my son."
Naruto scratched at his cheek. "Yeah, well, anyone would do it...
"No, I don't think they would...
Ren shrugged. "She's not that bad. I think this power will help her."
Naruto sighed. "You just jinxed it. Definitely."
Nora giggled. "Oooh! Sparks!
"Well, she's learned to shoot lightning from her fingers. We're boned."
"UNLIMITED POWAH!"
"Nora, no! Bad Nora! None of that!"
"Why do this?! You're like a god to these people! Why lower yourself to help them like this! The world could be yours!
"They'll get it all wrong without me." He shrugged helplessly. "I hafta to help them."
"A wise man once said, never be cruel and never be cowardly." Naruto pushed himself upright, grimacing a little. "Hate is foolish and love is always wise." he planted his ax in the ground with a dull crack. "Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind. Laugh hard. And fast. Be kind."
"Kindness doesn't win wars!" Leonardo snapped back. "It only dooms you to failure."
"I'm not trying to win." the whiskered warrior cocked his head. "I'm not doing this because I want to beat someone, or because I hate someone, or because, because I want to blame someone. It's not because it's fun and God knows it's not because it's easy. It's not even because it works, because it hardly ever does. I do what I do, because it's right! Because it's decent! And above all, it's kind. It's just that. Just kind.
"..."
If I run away today, good people will die. If I stand and fight, some of them might live. Maybe not many, maybe not for long. Hey, you know, maybe there's no point in any of this at all, but it's the best I can do, so I'm gonna do it. And I will stand here doing it till it kills me. You're going to die too, some day. How will that be? Have you thought about it? What would you die for? Who I am is where I stand. Where I stand, is where I fall.
Leonardo flung up his arms. "Then you will fall alone!
"No." Naruto grinned. "Never alone."
"I have come to pledge my fealty to you, Lord of Light."
"Is this a cult?" Naruto slapped a hand to his forehead. "Have I started a cult?!"
Nora giggled. "Well, you do shine like the sun...
"Nora! I said headphones on!"
"Alright, alright...
"Nice place ya got here."
Her clothes hit him in the face.
"There. Is that invitation enough for you?"
R&R~!