Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto; it is owned by Masashi Kishimoto. Game of Thrones and A Song of Ice and Fire is owned by George R.R Martin, HBO, and Warner Bros Discovery respectively. I own nothing and I am just a humble fan.
Author's Note: Hi everyone, here we are with the next chapter. Please read and review generously. I hope you all enjoy it. I am amazed and humbled by the reception towards my stories. I am very grateful and honored that you take time out of your busy lives to read my stories. It all helps a lot for me.
Guest 999999- I like your idea and thanks for your review. I might use some of it.
This chapter will be an interesting one and some new things will be happening here. I think I am set for the pairing to be Naruto/Daenys/Rhaenys/Visenya. There will be more to explain later. Life is stressful right now. I am 31 now, and I am doing my best to juggle my health, work, life, and all the rough patches. I appreciate all the kind words and writing is a good hobby to manage stress of chronic illness and life.
Without further ado, let us begin.
Chapter Eight- An Interesting Idea
Naruto looked at her hand and the soft gentle look in her eyes. He took a deep breath and sighed. After what had happened in his own world and him losing Hinata, he had closed off his heart to the mere mention of love. And here was a woman who was actually, genuinely in love with him. He could see no malicious intentions, no negative emotions; just the desire to be with him and to make him happy.
However, this whole prophecy thing was something he was not comfortable with. Fate and prophecy were things he loathed from the bottom of his heart. Man and woman had the right to make their own destiny. He would not reject her. Rejecting Daenys would be the easy thing to do. It would show her that fate and prophecy mean nothing.
However, he was interested in giving her a chance. He was interesting in seeing her heart and how pure it was and how much love she truly had for him. After all, it would be fun to see the tables turn a little.
"My answer is a yes and a no."
Daenys was worried now… and equally confused. "What… what do you mean by that?"
"Well, what it means is you need to earn my hand, okay? You believe and hold tightly to fate and prophecy. You let it it drive your will and your decision making, which is good and bad. I get why you are called the Dreamer. Your literal dreams allowed you to save your family… and preserve your blood. Yet, I do not believe in fate and prophecy."
"Man and woman must do things to accomplish things in life. We… make our own destiny. We are responsible for our own lives. We have choice, and it is up to us to decide what our choices will lead us too."
Daenys kept her down. She could feel her soul being burned, her heart splitting. She did not expect things to turn out like this. Did she come on too strong? Did she offend him?
She wanted to shed a tear, but then, Naruto's next words filled her with hope.
"This is not a rejection, Daenys. It is in your hands how this will all unfold. You need to decide if you are able to prove yourself and your feelings right and just. I want you to court me."
Daenys looked at him for a hard moment, unable to decipher the mirthful smile on his face as she began to stutter and babble incoherently. She never expected a man to say that to her, let alone the object of her affections and desires.
"What… me… court you? How does that even work? I am a woman, it is for the man to court a woman, it is for a man to prove himself worthy."
Naruto smiled. "Yeah… I am unique. And, I know things are differently in this fucked up continent and this fucked up place, but, like I said, I am different. If you want me, you need to prove you are worthy of me. I want you to convince me that you are the one for me, that I cannot live without you… that I need you."
"Yes, I have always desired a family. I lived a difficult life. It was not always hard… but it was not always rosy. I have been hunted all my life… and I have survived the odds time and time again. Yes, I want a wife and children and to grow old and watch over those I consider precious to me. You wish to become someone precious to me? Then prove that to me."
Daenys nodded her head a little as she listened to and absorbed what Naruto was saying.
"Daenys, I understand you wish to protect your home and house. I can respect that, I do. Yet, the world is bigger than Dragonstone. I am sure I ended up in this world for a reason. I have to find that reason. Not to mention the hundreds of dragons behind me that need a home and a place to live."
"You want to go back to Valyria? Naruto, that place is dead and an evil lies over it."
"Perhaps you are right. Maybe, Valyria is a lost cause. Yet, I have to try. I have to try to repair the land and make a better legacy there. A once great nation cannot be remembered simply because of slavery. Valyria was more than that. I wish for it to be more than that. I know it can be more."
Daenys nodded her head, understanding his words. She too hoped the land of her ancestors could become something more.
"I will be here in Dragonstone for a little while. You need to decide how you are going to woo me."
And as Naruto was leaving, he paused and said something that shook Daenys to her core and would give her much to think about.
"Valyria fell because of its hubris, Daenys the Dreamer. Valyria fell because of inbreeding, the blood and the wars, the infighting, and this foolish fucking thing known as Manifest Destiny. After the Ghiscari Empire fell, Valyria turned to slavery and dark magic. I wonder what truly exists beneath the Fourteen Flames."
"Apart from wooing me, you need to decide what you want to be. Do you wish to be a Queen, an Empress, a hero, or a good woman? You desire to protect your house and its people. You must decide what the legacy of the Targaryens must ultimately be."
"The Valyrians played stupid games and in the end won stupid prizes. They experimented on innocents and began performing dark magic and opening doors you never fucking open. There always has to be balance. The world was not going to sit by and let it happen again and again."
"The fate of your own house lies with you. Figure out what you want, and then let me know. I am sure you know where to find me."
Naruto quietly left Daenys to her thoughts as she too wondered what she would do here and how she could truly answer the man she came to love.
She knew the legacy the Valyrians left behind was a horrible one. The Targaryens, the Velaryons, the Celtigars are the last remnants of Valyria. She knew a new legacy would have to be forged. Was it too much to protect her own house and desire love at the same time? Was it possible to have both?
As she watched Naruto walk away, she smiled all the same. She would have an answer for him soon enough. After all, she loved the Maelstrom, and her love for him was genuine. Yes, she desired to protect her people, but she loved him all the same. She would fight for him.
However, there were other questions nagging her. There were her dreams about the Targaryen conquest of Westeros, but she wondered how it would go? Would the conquest change completely? How would the great houses and lands of Westeros respond to hundreds of dragons? And who were those two silver-haired women she kept seeing in her dreams standing with her and her mate?
One thing was for certain. Daenys the Dreamer loved Uzumaki Naruto and she would fight for him.
At this moment, she needed to follow him. For some reason, she had a strong feeling in her gut… that he was about to go do something psychotic and crazy.
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Dragonstone felt magical and yet mysterious at the same time. Naruto quietly walked all over the island, observing his surroundings. The castle felt dark and mysterious, saturated to the brim with ancient power. The people on the island gave him a wide berth and chose to avoid him out of fear. Naruto simply smiled at them as he continued his walk.
The dragons simply circled the island and some slept peacefully on the grass and hills, as the people brought them some sheep. While the people were afraid of him, they were in awe of the immense number of dragons that were alive in the world. It had brought the people a great deal of comfort.
Naruto had a purpose to his walk. He had sensed something powerful, something mighty within the insides of Dragonstone itself. He decided to investigate this matter personally. He then noticed Daenys who had caught up to him and walked silently next to him. She held his hand gently and dared him to move it away. He simply shrugged and they held hands as she led him to the secret entrances of the ancient castle.
There was a secret entrance that only few knew about. Daenys had pushed a false brick as a door had opened. She held Naruto's hand as she grabbed one of the torches and led him down a staircase. It was long and winding as Naruto noticed the insides of Dragonstone. It was dark and dreary and downright depressive. The castle needed a bit of color and a serious interior decorator.
And soon enough, the pair had arrived at their destination. There was only a door guarding a pit where Daenys and the rest of the Targaryens and the people on Dragonstone knew full well that this place was off limits. This pit housed possibly the wildest dragon of them all. The pit housed a dragon that did whatever he liked and went wherever he liked. Yes, this pit housed a dragon that many called the Cannibal, a dragon that feasted on both human and dragon flesh.
The Cannibal had gained a dark reputation on Dragonstone and people knew better than to approach him. Normally, Daenys would be concerned about anyone trying to meet the Cannibal. Yet, she knew this was not an ordinary man in front of her. No, this was a man who could make the impossible possible. If there was anyone who could befriend the Cannibal, perhaps it could be the most Unpredictable man in Westeros alive.
Daenys placed a hand on Naruto's cheek as she spoke to him.
"Naruto, I know why you wanted to come here. This dragon does not listen to anyone. He does not like anyone at all. He feasts on dragons and human flesh. Yet, if there is anyone who can get through to this dragon, perhaps it is you. Don't go crazy here. Dragonstone is magical, but I do not need you going to war right now."
And as Naruto was going to open the door, he then stopped as he heard Daenys' words.
"I am fire, Naruto. I am fire made flesh. That is what Targaryens are. And I know as well as any Targaryen, that we were part of a system that in the end destroyed us. If I did not have that dream, we would not be speaking right now."
"You and I… we are meant to burn together. And together, we shall create an inferno the likes of which has never been seen before. I believe we are meant to be together. And its not because you are powerful. Its because I love you and I want you in my life. I want to grow old with you. I don't desire power. I just wish to be with you, and I just want to protect my home. I hope you are ready. Soon enough… you will be my husband… and I will be the love of your life. It is not destiny, it is just the pure truth."
And as Daenys walked away, Naruto smiled as he shook his head.
"Woman… you just can't live without them."
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Naruto had opened the large, expansive door and entered the pit as he closed it. He could smell the rotting corpses and saw the skulls and dead dragon bodies. The pit was dark, dank, and dreary. Naruto ignored the horrendous smell as he focused on the creature in the dead center. The little light in the pit confirmed Naruto's guess that this indeed was a dragon.
The dragon in the center was munching on a skull as dead skulls and skeletons and dare he say dead flesh surrounded him. Naruto could also make out broken eggs scattered around and such. Naruto realized that this dragon was a Cannibal.
The dragon then stopped munching on his meal as he realized he was not alone. He then turned his eye towards Naruto. Naruto saw this dragon was large and massive and very rugged and menacing in appearance. And the dragon was black, black as coal itself. This dragon looked quite wild.
The dragon then stared at Naruto as Naruto stared back. Naruto circled the dragon as he could see the dragon smiling at him. And then, without warning, it roared so loudly that Naruto could feel the castle shake a bit. It leapt right at him with such deceptive speed, as Naruto sidestepped the dragon and bitch-slapped it into the corner.
This action only enraged the dragon as it unleashed a stream of green flames that seemed to melt everything in sight. Naruto calmly unleashed a water release technique and extinguished the hot flames as the dragon simply got angrier. It then unleashed itself at Naruto in the form of a full-body tackle.
Naruto grabbed the dragon and calmly pinned it down. He had an idea in his mind, and he decided to test it. He put his head against the Cannibal's and closed his eyes as he decided to use Kurama to link his mind with the dragon's.
Truth be told, he had no idea where this would go. This could either work… or not. This could go good or horribly bad. Well, no time like the present.
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The Cannibals' eyes had opened as he looked at his surroundings. It was no longer dark, dreary, and full of bones and corpses. Rather, it was bright and beautiful, as the Cannibal was resting on a large, grassy hill, with the sun shining on him.
The Cannibal was then face to face with the object of his ire and anger, Naruto.
"Where have you brought me… human?"
"Well… this is something. I never thought it would actually work. You are able to understand me?"
"I am a dragon, mongrel. We are far more intelligent than what you humans think of us."
Naruto smiled mockingly which infuriated the dragon.
"Yeah… I can see that. You love to feast on dragons and human flesh. Truly… you are a credit to your species."
The Cannibal ignored that jab as he spoke again.
"What do you want, human? I have been hearing tales of how mighty you are, how you have been able to do interesting things. If you seek to tame me, I would rather die. I will never answer your commands, nor do I answer the commands of inbred."
Naruto shrugged. "I am not here to tame you. If you have noticed, I have seen greater, mightier, and more powerful beings than dragons. You are not the apex predator here. Yet still, I sympathize with your lot. I understand what it means to be used and ridiculed and controlled. I don't want to control you. I want you to be my ally…my friend."
"What sort of madness is this? This cannot be possible! The Valyrians used my kind for war and transportation. There exists only a master/slave relationship between rider and dragon."
"You think so little of humans. Its true that the Valyrians have done some terrible things with the use of dragons. However, I am not like that. And I am sure you can be better. I come from a world where great beasts were tamed by humans, and humanity used them to wage bloody conflicts. Yet, in the end, a human changed the way they where thought of, and now, those great beasts live in harmony with humans."
"You kill your own kind and feast on others. People are going to be wary of you, there's no way around that. However, I think you are meant for more than terrorizing Dragonstone and wanting to be left alone to your own devices. You are capable of so much more."
"I too have a dream, a dream of rebuilding Valyria and transforming it into something purer and noble. I want you to be part of that transformation. I think you and I can be good friends. I just need you to understand that killing other dragons and feasting on humans is not a good idea."
"Besides, having friends is a wonderful thing. So… what do you say?"
The Cannibal was really confused. He could not sense any malice from this human; in fact, he could sense that whatever he said was genuine. He had no idea what to make of this. He had come to exist Dragonstone long before these inbreds, and he loathed the fact that dragons had come to be subservient to humans and wielded as weapons. Yet, this human seemed different.
"I do not believe your words, human. I have seen many liars and many who enjoy speaking the "truth". I have seen my kin and brethren used as weapons. I made a vow to live my life the way I wished. Yet, I am willing to give you a chance. You say you can understand my plight? We will see whether you can."
"I will be your friend for the time being. You will not command me, nor will I answer to your beck and call. We will be allies of a sort. And I will…stop my consumption of human flesh and baby dragons. You will find me a new food source. And if I find you to be a liar, I will destroy you. Is that clear?"
"You don't demand much, do you? By the way, it is customary to bump fists with your friend?"
"What? What does this bump fists mean?"
"Its what friends do."
"I am your friend now? Brat, you must have had one interesting upbringing for you to call me friend this early. We shall see what your promises are worth."
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"You knew this would happen, didn't you?"
Daenys smiled. "I know some things about you and your future. Sadly, I don't know everything."
"You shouldn't believe in your hype this strongly, Dreamer. Humans have the option of choice. Our fates are not always set in stone the way we think. Besides, prophecy has its own negatives to it. Only fools would cling hard to the notion of prophecy."
"Perhaps you are right. Yet, I will never ignore the fact that my dreams led to my family's survival. And you are right, madness can be seen in many ways. Perhaps, I am arrogant, being Blood of the Dragon and all. Yet, I am not a fool nor am I crazy."
"Naruto, everything that I see about you is still cloudy. It still is unclear as to what role you will play. I have no idea what you will do… and what your existence means in Westeros."
Daenys turned around and walked towards him as she placed a hand on his cheek. He could feel her warmth as her eyes held unshed tears.
"What I am able to see about you is good. I see the two of us married and happy with one another. I see our nights full of passion, and our lives full of children. And this is the best part… we grow old and die together."
"However, you are right in the end. I do not know whether that future will come to pass. Yet, if it does, would that be so bad? I am not looking to replace the woman you once loved. I just wish to make my own place in your heart."
Daenys then did something bold as she rose up on her toes and placed a soft kiss on his lips. It was fast, short, and sweet as Daenys did not linger. She walked away as she spoke again.
"I guess… I need to figure out how to woo you."
Naruto then looked at Daenys' retreating figure and wondered if he truly lost in this moment. Was he truly afraid of this woman? Or… was he afraid of losing another loved one?
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Chapter End
Well everyone that is the chapter. Please read and review generously. I hope you all like it.
I have to admit I am stuck with the next chapter. I need your help and ideas to determine how Daenys will woo Naruto into accepting her. I will probably devote one or two chapters to that, and then, there will be a marriage. Soon enough, we need to get to Naruto developing Valyria and fixing the dead nation. There is also Naruto meeting Rhaenys and Visenya. And yes, Daenys will be the love of Naruto's life in this story. There might be interesting moments, perhaps moments of jealousy as Rhaenys and Visenya will compete to have his affection.
There will also be sad moments as well, to balance the happy moments too. If you have ideas for these sad and happy moments, then please do share.
I also wish to read your ideas about the Conquest. Perhaps, the Conquest will go differently, or things may stay the same, let's see what happens. I look forward to your ideas. When Visenya and Naruto meet, their battle will be legendary.
Stay safe everyone and well wishes to you all. I hope you enjoy the rest of December and have a happy new year. I wish you all good health and happiness. The next update will be the Son of Thor story.
See you all in the next update.
