A/N: EDIT: Made some tweaks and added more content, hopefully folks enjoy 'em.
Alright, here we are second chapter...sort of. In a sense its both a prologue and a second chapter.
Haven't retired yet, but still eyeing it if this optin thing doesn't pan out.
I'll say it plain, if this email opt-in business with the site doesn't get resolved soon, I'm probably going to retire.
It HURTS to say that, but with this new system, reviews and readers have dropped to an all time low, authors are leaving the site in droves.
If you're not already aware of it, ever since the 16th of November, you now have to turn ON your email alerts in account settings -AND MAKE SURE YOU CLICK SAVE SETTINGS!- else you won't be notified when anyone updates. No alerts, no email, no nothing. Apparently that's a thing we all have to do every ninety days or so, now. Alas, not many are aware of it...which is a problem. As things stand this new "fix" as it were, has cut everyone's viewership/reviewers in half because most folks don't know about it.
Sometimes opting in works. Sometimes it doesn't. Really depends. I hope the admins tweak/update this system before everyone up and leaves.
So here we go. The fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this story, and all others.
Bloody hel -ha! There's a fine pun~!- guess this plot bin is becoming a story after all. Its now been renamed Blood Upon the Snow, inspired by the now infamous song in Ragnarok. As ever, the Embers rule remains: If people don't like this story? If they don't enjoy it? Well...I' won't be able to continue it. That's no joke, folks. I'm so busy these days with two jobs; holidays are HERE and basically, I don't have time off. Not anymore.
As of now, it'll be open to close for me almost every day.
My free time is limited and as such, I can't afford to focus on something folks don't like. Reviews keep me writing in these times, and keep the daily updates flowing. Silence...silence only hurts. I hate having to beg for feedback, but without it...well, it feels like I'm not making an impact.
Alright, then. As ever, I own no references, quotes, memes or themes. Not a wit or a one.
I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time.
Time and feedback will determine if this remains a story. Simple as that.
In other words...its up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know~!
Minor spoilers for Valkyrie names here.
"Its not a sin to crave knowledge, son. We all want to know our place in the world. There's nothing wrong with that.
Mortals find meaning in praying to us, and perhaps there is, at the end of the day. But you and I?
Where gods -or demigods- go when we die? What does it all mean? That's the answer I seek."
...you say that now, but I've seen what too much of one thing does to a man."
"That's what I've got you for. To keep me on the straight and narrow."
Fine. So long as your quest doesn't consume you...I'm in."
~Meeting of Minds.
No Good Deed
Naruto remembered the moment like it was yesterday.
It began with a deal you see, as these things often do. He was no stranger to the concept of rebirth. If anything he'd become intimately aware of the strange cycle of reincarnation. He was living proof of it. Sasuke had been, too, once upon a time. Ashura and Indra, they were. Souls reborn throughout countless lifetimes over and over again, until they reached them. It was a fascinating thing when you looked back at it. What kind of strength did that take; not only to pass on one's will to future generations, but their ideals?
Not that it mattered anymore.
Ideals were all well and good, but ideals had gotten them killed. They had died. Both of them. Their final battle in the Valley had taken more than their arms, but their lives as well. Awful way to go, you know? Strange as it might sound, he didn't feel any regret over the way he died. Death had a way of clearing a man's mind.
Sasuke had already passed on to the great beyond. Good for him. He hoped his old friend found peace from his tortured existence.
Even so, he wasn't ready to walk into the light just yet. Neither was Kurama.
So when a Voice offered them an out...suffice to say they jumped at it.
"A god of light and peace? Of kindness?" Even now he remembered the words he'd said in that moment. "Why didn't you say so?! Go on, send me right through! Don't mind living a second life with a title like that. Sounds fun~!"
How little he knew.
Still, he'd taken the deal, and Kurama with him.
"Alright." now he opened his eyes. "Lets see what we're working with here."
"Its a boy!"
His eyes snapped open. 'Lady say what now?'
Light rushed in and he found himself looking at a beautiful woman's face, her weary eyes framed by dark hair. Poor girl. She looked exhausted and...oh. Oh. He understood, now. She was holding him. He was being held by this woman, who seemed large, but in reality, he was...small.
"Hello, my sweet boy." she crooned softly, stroking the blond crown of his hair. "Welcome to the world...
Realization broke like the dawn. 'No. No, no, no. This did not just happen.'
Yuuuup.
Had he possessed full control of this tiny new body of his, he would've rolled his eyes. As things stood he merely huffed. Sneaky old man. When he'd taken the deal he'd thought he would be reborn instantly near the age he'd died at the very least, not forced to start all over. Bit of a raw deal this.
"Speak for yourself!" an angry rumble echoed at the forefront of his mind. "Its cramped in here. I barely fit!"
'Kurama?' he strained to answer back. 'I'm not imagining you, right?'
"I wish you were. This is torture. I want out!"
On that they were in agreement. He wasn't used to being so...restrained, swaddled up as he was. Yet for all that he didn't feel any weaker. The spark of chakra still lingered within him. That, and something else. Whatever it was it left his mind sharper than ever. He was aware of every instant, every sensation, of the faces looming over him. Having his memories wiped would've been a colossal disaster. He wouldn't be himself without them. Maybe a restart was just what the doctor ordered after all. Better that than a reset.
"He's silent." The woman's voice intruded on his thoughts, fraught with worry. "Is he alright?"
'Uh-oh.' Thoughts for later. 'Right, should probably make a noise or something...
...wah?" it almost came out as a question.
"Thank goodness." Her face softened. "Hello, little Baldur."
Baldur?! That was his new name?! The old Voice hadn't mentioned that. Still, the woman seemed so sad. Why? Wasn't childbirth supposed to be a happy thing?
Nevertheless, she smiled when she a hand ran a hand through the crown of his blond hair. "Will you smile for me?"
He found himself doing so despite himself.
"Let me see him." In an instant he found himself spirited away, swept out of her arms and into anothers.
The sudden motion dizzied him, so much so that it took a moment to orient himself.
"Aha! There he is. My boy." when he came to, he found himself blinking up at balding, one-eyed man. The latter grinned down at him with manic glee, his dark beard going grey. That one eye of his saw far too much for his liking. "Well, well," he hummed. "Here you are. As promised. Aren't you remarkable...?
'Wait a second!'
Naruto knew that voice, if not necessarily that face. It was the same he'd made the deal with. He scowled at him.
"Sh, shh. Shhh." the man's smile softened a little in the face of his anger. "Everything will be alright. I promise. We're on the same side, you and I. You'll be walking and talking in no time." He booped his forehead with one finger, his emotions burning bright even to his sixth sense. "We're going to be working very closely together."
A sigh echoed behind the two of them. "You're acting like he'll respond, Odin."
The old man, this "Odin", only smiled. "Perhaps he will, Freya."
"Let me see my son."
"Of course, of course." he hummed and handed him over. "Didn't mean to monopolize him. Here you are...
Naruto found himself passed around once more, already feeling felt the beginnings of a scowl form on his new face. So. The voice he'd heard belonged to a man named Odin. He had an agenda. Of course. Men like him always did. Time would tell if this bargain came back to bite him. Hopefully not. But if it did-
"Thor, get over here." Odin's voice distracted him. "Come see your little brother."
A low rumble reached his ears. "Fine, fine...
In an instant there was a third face staring down at him. A solid young boy, not quite a man, lumbered over to peer at him. Naruto noted dark eyes and red hair. The beginnings of what would one day be a great bristling beard filled his face.
"He's tiny." the older boy grunted. "Gonna be a runt.
Naruto slapped a tiny fist against his nose.
Thor recoiled, terribly started. "Hey!"
Freya smiled. "Well, well! We know what he thinks of you. Now hush. I need to feed him."
She pulled him close. It was then that Naruto realized something else.
No one could understand him yet. Or his protests.
This time, his cry was far from feigned-
(.0.0.0.)
"Are you prepared, lord Baldur?"
A low voice brought Naruto back to himself, hauling him out of the daydream. He blinked. Crackled his knuckles. Squinted against the sunlight. Remembered where he was, what he promised, and just what he was meant to be doing. Right, right. He'd spaced out again, hadn't he...?
Ten winged women stood arrayed before him, warriors all.
He wished they wouldn't wear their helmets. They really did look quite lovely without them. But that was neither here nor there. No, today was a day for teaching.
"Wow." he couldn't help but smile as he stroked his blond beard. "Ten Valkyries against little 'ol me? I'm honored."
Gna pressed a fist to her bosom and bowed her masked head. "It is you who honor us today, my lord."
"None of that. Honor's all well good, but honor won't help the ten of ya win a fight against me-
His fist crashed out as he spoke. Hildr rocketed backwards, hit a wall, and went limp.
-oops." he lowered his fist with a mad grin. "Nine, now."
An anxious murmur went up from the rest.
No, no, no. That wouldn't do. Not at all.
He lunged to meet them head on.
"Let the lesson begin~!"
What followed wasn't as much a lesson as a mad brawl, full of wild wings, brutal blades and flying fists. Eir, ever the gentle sort, bowed out first when he knocked the wind out of her. The sisters Hrist and Mist went next, flung out the ring, followed by Gunnr, whom he sent sprawling with a single swipe. Gna gladly traded blows with him for a solid three seconds before he drove a knee into her gut, got ahold of her shoulders, and sent her spinning to the dirt.
In less than a minute, their number was cut into five.
Less now, when Rota made the mistake of flanking him with Olrun, only to recoil as he grabbed them both and bashed their heads together. Their helms rang out with a sonorous crash. They slumped facefirst into the dirt, leaving but three of their number remaining. Kara smashed a fist into his face, the first to land a blow. He took it out of sheer curiosity, rode with, swept her legs, and kicked her into Geirdriful
Only Gondul remained. He ducked her weapon, blocked a shot at his gut, and swept around her.
His hands closed around her wings and tugged in warning.
"Yield!" She yelped. "I yield!"
...great!" He let her go, planted a palm against her back, and nudged her toward her sisters. "That was great. You all endured a full three seconds longer than last week. That's an improvement! Now, go walk it off. Gna, I want a word with you tonight about your footwork...
His mother's handmaiden tugged off her mask, took a step forward, nodded. He didn't miss the way her bright eyes flashed. "In your chambers, my lord?"
"But of course."
The sound of clapping hands ruined the moment and left him contemplating deicide. "Magnificent as ever, Baldur!"
Gna bridled. Without her helm, her expressions were painfully honest. "I'll kill him. Just say the word."
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Don't tempt me."
Even without turning, he knew who he'd find sauntering their way. The hearty crunch of someone biting into an apple only confirmed his irritation. He knew of only one god who delighted in eating those awful things. Still, it would behoove him to at least act polite...for now.
"Nothing to say?" the words riled him to no end. "I thought a brute like you could do more than grunt. Or are you too buy with your whores?"
Every Valkyrie within earshot stiffened as one. Heimdall didn't seen to care.
"Now, now, no need to be cross. You all know its the truth, don't you?"
Naruto's tongue betrayed him. "Heimdall. Stop being a prick."
"Aha! He speaks!"
If there was one God he couldn't tolerate, it was this one. He rather enjoyed working with Týr and Thor at times, but the watchman of the Aesir aggravated him to no end. He'd chosen a particularly poor time today, seeing as his blood was still up and the Valkyries were still very much nearby.
"Punch him." Kurama growled in his ear. "Punch him hard."
He blew out a sigh. "This is your one chance to leave. Heimdall."
"Now, now, Baldur! WHY would I ever listen to a faker like-argh?!" his would-be-tormentor stumbled back, gurgling as a fist slammed into his face. "My nose!" he touched a hand to the bent, swollen orifice now occupying most of his face. You bastard!" words slurred out of him, muffled by the injury as he glared at him. "You boke my dose!"
Naruto was tempted to break more than that.
Because you see, Heimdall read people. Their intentions. Likewise, he read him. He knew what he was, where he'd come from, what he intended to do to this realm. He wasn't sure when-only that he had. He'd been quite vocal in his attempts to antagonize him since. Unfortunately for Heimdall, no one liked him. Ergo, no one believed him. Such was the case now as the Valkyries laughed at his plight.
Naruto lowered his fist. "Read my mind all you like; you're still slower than a cow compared to me."
Heimdall seethed, glaring at him between his fingers. "Luck! That's all this is! Blind lu-
A fist found his face again with an audible smack. He cried out anew.
"Bathtard!" he slurred! "I bat ma tawn da time!"
"Did he mean bite his tongue?"
'Yuuuuup.'
Gna turned her head, eyes alight, and hid a muffled snort behind her dominant hand.
"Luck, eh?" Naruto had no need to shelter any such of his smile. "What do you call the second time then?"
Heimdall snarled and spat at him. "Wait until I tell the Allfather! Son or not, Odin will be sure to punish you for this-
He was still snarling when a third punch caught his chin and sent him flying into the distant wall of Asgard. He struck it with an audible crack. Were one to possess superior vision -which every go and Valkyrie certainly did- they would've seen the stunned Aesir god tumble all the way down to the ground. More than let out a ragged cheer at the sight of Heimdall's humbling.
Gna sighed and ran a hand through her dark hair. "You do realize that won't kill him. He's going to be absolutely insufferable now."
Naruto rolled a bare shoulder. "Not my problem. Shall we go?"
She looped her arm in his. "As my lord commands."
Blood Upon the Snow.
A/N: Catharsis.
To be clear, Naruto's appearance is essentially overwriting Baldur's here. Had a lot of complaints, concerns about that.
Still in the Golden Age of Asgard here, before Odin screwed everything up and the world went to ot.
Surprised no one took a swing at this. A reincarnated Naruto, reborn as Baldur.
God of Light? God of Peace? Right up his alley, methinks.
Surprisingly, Baldur had a son too, Forseti, though he was only mentioned twice by Sif...
Do you want this to remain 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 -potential blot bin things- that I'm working on.
(Previews)
"He broke my nose!"
"Eh." Odin shrugged. "You're alive, aren't you? Walk if off."
"Allfather?!"
"For the love of...look, if Baldur wanted you dead, you'd be dead. Like all those other guys." he waved a hand at him, not looking up from his desk. "Now get outta here. I have work to do."
"Why do you keep punching me?!"
"Dunno. Why do you keep being a prick?"
"I am NOT aaaaaaargh! Stop smacking me already!"
"Hrist. Mist. Come here."
The Twin Valkyries obeyed.
"So you're that Aesir god what been runnin' around the realms, eh?"
He laughed. "You must be Brok. And I take it you're Sindri."
"At your service~!"
"Alright, I'll bite. What can you make for me?"
Sindri balked a little. "W-Well, that depends on you. What do you want?"
Naruto smiled.
"Aha! There's my darling niece~! I come bearing gifts~!
Freya opened her hands. "Do you trust me, son?"
Thor raised his tankard of mead and drank deeply. "Thinking too much again, little brother."
Naruto slammed a hand down on it. "And you not enough. You said you'd stop this."
Sparking blue eyes met his. "I did stop. Now I'm starting again. Sif's fault."
...you two had another argument again."
Thor kept drinking.
He swatted the mug out his hand. It flew across the mead hall. The Einherjar fell silent. Thor growled. "Listen, you-
"No!" he grabbed him by the beard. "You listen to me! Look, I get it. You screwed up. But you can be better than this. You have to be! Think about little Thrud."
"Easy for you to say. You're the favorite. You ain't a father." Thor glowered down at his hands. They still had blood on them. "You don't know what its like."
"No, but I'm about to."
That sobered Thor right up. "The fuck you say?"
"Well, apparently Valkyries can bear children after all. Who knew?"
"I'm gonna be an uncle?"
"That's the part you take away from this?!
Thor continued to stare at him.
He sighed. "Yes, you're gonna be an uncle."
EDIT: Say hello to Drunkle Thor! He'll be a hoot at parties.
As ever, the Embers rule remains: If people don't like this story? If they don't enjoy it? Well...I' won't be able to continue it. That's no joke, folks. I'm so busy these days with two jobs; holidays are HERE and basically, I don't have time off. Not anymore.
My free time is limited and as such, I can't afford to focus on something folks don't like. Reviews keep me writing in these times, and keep the daily updates flowing. Silence...silence only hurts. I hate having to beg for feedback, but without it...well, it feels like I'm not making an impact...
Looking forward to chatting with you all when I get back from work~!
Warm regards,
~Nz.
R&R~!