A/N: Weeeeeeeeeekly updates are still a go~!
Amazing what a good bit of feedback can do for motivation, eh?
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? 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.
Now for your questions, comments, and concerns.
Q: Did you know Ranni used to be a redhead? Her original body -or at least the corpse you find of it atop that tower- had red hair!
A: Yup. Food for thought.
Q: Update scheduleeeeeeeeee!
A: Working on multiple projects, Demon Slayer, Arcane, RWBY, Fate, and My Hero Academia included.
Q: No timeskip! Don't you dare!
A: This chapter picks up relatively soon after where we left off, don't worry.
Q: Sooooo we gonna get that romance seen soon, or?
A: Erm...Ranni's still in her doll body, remember? Also, consider this; Naruto knows jack-all when it comes to romance. Ranni? Even less. Yet here she is, taking the initiative...with no idea what to do next. Acting out of fear for losing someone is one thing, but what comes after.
Ought to be fun seeing them dance around this.
I'm not afraid to write lemons, I just want them to well written and come off well, not forced. Same goes for their romance.
Q: Wait, is Naruto going to save Radahn and Renala in both stories? He will, right? Right? Neon?!
A: *zips lips*
I can't speak to that, you know this.
Really though, we're still dealing with the Rennala fallout in this chapter, among other things.
In case it isn't obvious by now, Shed No Grace on Me and For Love of a Witch are headed in two VASTLY different directions. For instance, when Grace!Naruto stumbles upon Rennala -and he will!- its going to be a veeeeeeery different encounter from what we've seen here. Won't say when or how or why~! Conversely, I'm tempted to kill Rykard both iterations for obvious reasons; but I try not to let my personal feelings cloud these stories.
Even if he is a blasphemous monster with very few redeeming qualities, he loved Tanith and he DID father the cinamon roll that is Rya...
Alright, then, this old man has kept you long enough! I'll let you enjoy the story.
As ever, I own no quotes references, themes or memes. Not a wit or a one!
Now then, I'll not keep you waiting any longer. The brawl begins~!
"There is nothing stronger than a Mother's love...and nothing so painful."
~?
Thy Bleeding Heart
Ranni fled soon thereafter.
Run she did, feeling like some naughty child.
Some might call her a coward for such. Perhaps she was.
T'was not her fault! Mustering up one's nerve was one thing, but to stay and linger in the afterglow of such was not her way. It never had been. She'd made her intentions clear! The first move was hers. The second would be his. She hadn't fled out of cowardice. No. Surely not. She had not run from his expression, nor for fear of what she might find there. She'd had time enough to watch his eyes widen, to see his lips part to speak...before her nerve utterly failed her. Then she was away, haring off into the academy at speed before he could grab her and reel her back in.
"Oi!" he'd shouted after her. "Wait a second!"
But she had not waited. She couldn't. She absolutely did not dare.
Naruto could've caught her. If he truly wished to hunt her down, nothing would stop him. Ranni knew that. But shock -or perhaps indecision?- had slowed him and so she'd made her escape. This was for the best, she told herself. If that blond braggart wanted to find her later, then so be it. But for now she had a task to attend and other bonds to mend. She wasn't trying to distract her frazzled mind from that startled mien. Anyone fool who claimed otherwise would receive a cold spell to the face and a tongue lashing besides.
Her feet carried her aimlessly at first, setting her to wander for a short time, blessed though it was.
A pale hand traced the length of a pitted wall, lips pursing into a frown as she beheld the scars and stains there. Her nose curled in disgust. Blood. There had been violence here, too. Though much removed from the the senseless violence of the Shattering, Raya Lucaria had its own woes.
Violence that you caused. A nasty little voice hissed in the back of her head. Could you not have found another way?
Pity stirred inside her at the reminder. Pity, and regret. She held fond -if distant- memories of the Academy, faded though its glory was. Mother had brought her as a child to master her sorceries alongside Rykard and Radahn. Ha! They'd not done much in the way of studying at first. They'd been little hellions, the three of them. Simpler times, those. Happier times. She'd once hurtled through these very halls with both brothers and Blaidd, slinging silly spells and giggling as outraged teachers gave chase.
Father -Radagon!- had caught them eventually.
He'd admonished them in public of course; only to wink and nudge them on when no one was looking.
"Remember, dear daughter." a large finger curled around her pinky, dwarfing her hand in his. "Don't tell your mother. Its our little secret."
Mother had encouraged them in her own way; rather than admonish them, she played ignorant and ever turned a blind eye to her antics. Yet she was always there for her when she fell or scraped her knee. Quick to hold her close whenever she clutched at her skirts and sought attention.
"Oh, little Ranni. Whatever will I do with you...
Stifling a shiver, Ranni clenched her teeth and made her way to the lift.
What grand those days were. Days devoid of madness, when she was ignorant of her destiny, of the cruel fate looming over her family. Before Godfrey had been hounded from the capital. Before Radagon left them to become the next Elden Lord. Before mother's madness. Before...so many things...
She could still see their ghosts in these hallowed halls. Still hear them, if she listened.
"Sister! Where are you going? Come back!"
"How could you do such a thing?"
"Don't leave us!"
"I hate you!"
"Traitor!"
She steeled herself against them and kept moving, kept walking, ascending into the highest heights of the place she'd once called her second home. None dared to bar her path as she made the climb and took the lift to its highest reaches; perhaps they sensed her mounting fury, perhaps they recognized their princess. Who could say? She cared not a jot for their thoughts. Glinstone sorcerers, and broken soldiers, fools all.
...hmm. Perhaps not all fools.
One, a knight bolder than the rest, stepped out the shadows to bar her path.
Ranni quirked a brow, noting his curiously dented helm, but paid him little heed. "Stand aside at once. I would speak with mine mother."
The man stiffened, "...Lady Ranni?"
Pah! The cat was already out the bag thanks to Naruto. No point in hiding it.
"Indeed." she tilted her head, regarding him with her good eye. "'Tis I. Now, will you move, or shall I move you?"
Much to her surprise the man sputtered, knelt, and removed his helm. "A thousand pardons, my lady! I did not recognize you in that form!"
That voice...? Hold a moment. She knew this one, though the memory was faint and flickering, like fleeting moonlight. Silver hair, an eyepatch over his right eye, a grizzled face worn by many battles. Moongrum. Knight of Caria and mother's sworn sword. Once upon a time she'd sat on his knee and demanded stories from him, stories he'd gladly given; grand tales of knights and dragons, heroes all. As she'd grown, he'd even gone so far as to sneak her storybooks despite the Academy's embargo on such. A fond smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
Had he been protecting Mother all this time?
Suddenly the fist-shaped indent in Moongrum's helm made sense.
Ranni nearly laughed aloud. Honestly! Naruto could be such a boy sometimes.
"My thanks, you have." she touched one hand to his shoulder. "For thine exemplary service."
"My sword was lacking," The man made a choked noise, and bowed his head further. "Your mother, I failed her."
"You did not." taking a page from her Warrior's book, she flicked his forehead. "T'was my sworn sword that bested you. He was acting under mine orders. Doubtless he wished to spare your life."
...as you say." As a Tarnished, nay, as a Carian Knight, her word was all he needed. "Still, I did not know you lived." His head all but scraped the floor as he prostrated himself before her. "Such failure is mine to bear and I will gladly atone with my life."
Indignation sparked.
"You will do no such thing!" She would not seem him cast aside so easily; not now, not ever, and certainly for this. "Your sword is needed to safeguard my mother in the coming battles. Ye will serve!"
A ponderous silence pushed itself between them. At length, the old knight dared to raise his head. "If you will still have this old veteran...
"I shall."
Ranni paused to grant him a nod, little more. Then she walked past.
Soon, the doors yawned wide for her once more. She eyed them warily; knowing full well who awaited her within.
At first she had through to bring Rennala back with them but...no. She did not trust Seluvis. Better for Mother to stay here than fall to his depredations.
Sure enough she spied her within at the hallways end, cradling that amber egg to her bosom. She didn't dare approach. Not yet. Even devoid of her crown and thusly bound, Rennala of the Full Moon was a dangerous woman. Naruto and Blaidd had gone through great effort to restrain rather than harm her, but for a wild moment Ranni almost wished they'd simply slain her outright. To live as a shadow of oneself, there could be no greater shame.
Says the girl possessing a doll...
Accursed guilt! Out! Out of her head! Ranni grabbed the voice with all four hands and sought to strangle it, only for it to slip through her fingers and burrow deep into her heart. She stomped a foot, then winced when her leg cracked. She wanted to scream. It was this place. T'was stirring up memories, feelings best forgotten.
Rennala raised her head suddenly, swiftly. Too swiftly.
Across the distance, their eyes met.
"I see you."
Ranni reared back and hid with a curse, heart hitching in her chest. Laughter greeted her.
"Come, child." the madwoman crooned. "I shan't bite."
It sounded so much like the woman Rennala once was. Ranni almost wanted to hope-no! No hope! Hope only led to fear. Fear, which in turn boiled into to anger. Anger became hate. Hate, suffering. And suffering led to the same blind, bloody madness, which afflicted her mother. She would not falter. She would not.
.
..
...
Ranni peeked through the gap, feeling every bit a little girl again. "Mama?"
She chastised herself for the slip immediately, but it was too late to take the words back.
"Closer, now." Rennala crooked a pale hand toward her, a hint of longing lurking in her words. "Its so dark. Let me have a proper look at you."
Must she? Ranni wanted to run. To fly, flee from this place and never return. And what would that avail her? Nothing. Nay, she had to face her. This wasn't something she could flee from. Mother was mad. This was not something that could be cured so easily; not even by Naruto's hand. Perhaps if he were stronger he might be able to heal her mind as he had her body. But alas, he lacked such power. It fell to more conventional means to see her restored...which
She needed her mother.
She had to see her, had to speak to her, face to face. Even if things went wrong. Even if it hurt.
An open palm planted itself between her shoulders to propel her forward. Ranni stumbled, yanked down her hat to hide her face and spun, knowing full well who she'd find there. Sure enough, Naruto beamed back at her, one arm still extended. Blast it all! He'd caught up! And he didn't look the least bit discomfited with her! And why was her heart beating so fast? She didn't even have one!
"What're ya waiting for?" he made a shooing motion with his right hand. "You can do this."
Nay, she could not! She'd changed her mind! This was an awful idea!
Her eyes snapped down. Considered. Narrowed.
"She ain't gonna hurt ya." Mistaking her silence for something else, the blond barreled on. "I can sense that much. Blaidd's just down the hall, too. If you need us, shout." he looked like wanted to lay a hand on her head, but he flushed suddenly and pulled back. "I believe in ya, ya know?" his eyes flitted away from hers as he scratched the back of his skull. "Go on. You've got this."
Ranni released her hold upon her hat with a huff. So be it.
...I shan't suffer this indignity alone."
That got a blink out of him. "Eh?"
She surged forward and struck like a serpent, seizing the fingers of his right palm in hers. Twin hands clamped down with intent, held fast and then she was moving; walking, marching, all but running, not giving him time to think, let alone react as she dragged him in after her.
"Oi?!" he tried to tug back, but it was too late; judging by the noise she made, Rennala had seen him. "What're ya doing?!"
Ranni glared at him over her shoulder. "Did I stutter?"
"This is a bad idea!" he flailed, to no avail, unwilling to use his full strength for fear of harming her. "Very bad idea!"
Just as well, too; because Ranni ignored him wholeheartedly.
Only five steps now, and they were upon her.
"Hello, mother...
Rennala looked at her for a long, ponderous moment. Ranni stiffened, senses straining, ready to cast a barrier at the slightest provocation. She would not be caught unawares. The very moment she senses even the tiniest swell of mana she would deploy countermeasures. Without her staff though she might be, Rennala was not one to be trifled with lightly. No doubt she would rant and rage at her, curse her, hurl all manner of imprecations at her as she raved in her luneacy.
"Ranni~!"
...why was her face in her mother's bosom? Why was Naruto there too, for that matter?!
"Let me have a look at you." Rennala drew back, holding her at arms length. "Are you alright? Have you been eating well? Did you shrink?" she didn't wait for an answer to any of those questions before yanking them both back into her embrace one more. "My, but you seem shorter than I remember! Wherever have you been hiding?!"
Shame burned her ears. "T'was not by choice and there's much to tell...
An understatement, that. Rennala still wasn't well. Still, surely this was an improvement. She wasn't attacking them. But why was she being so friendly?!
"And who is this darling boy, then? Is he your consort?" Mother's gaze swept to Naruto now, who for the first time, froze like a deer under the moonlight. "He seems nice." as the boy sputtered Ranni once more found her Have you given thought to children with him? I'm sure they'd be "
Naruto's tan face turned seven shades of startled scarlet. "Kids?!
Ranni covered her face with all four hands. "Mama!"
Wait, she was acting as if this was her first time seeing Naruto. That didn't make sense.
Yet was this not better? She wasn't attacking them. Even if she...wasn't entirely there, this was a far cry from the raving rage she'd visited upon them prior.
"Speaking of which, have you seen your brothers?" Rennala touched a hand to her face, glanced about, then frowned when she found nothing. "My, but they've made themselves scarce of late." she cast her gaze about the empty library, searching in vain. "Your dear Father seems to be hiding as well." she shifted her legs beneath her, causing her shackles to clink softly. "T'would seem he lost the key to these...
Naruto hissed out a breath. "Uh, no. We put those on you, for your own safety."
"Didst thou?" Rennala tilted her head. "But this is the first time we've met."
Ranni froze.
"...!"
Understanding dawned and with it, Ranni's world went darker than the cold moon she'd learned to fear. It all made a twisted sort of sense now. This was worse than she'd thought. Far worse. To have forgotten such things outright, nay, to deny them with such a simple smile on her face...only one thing could have caused such. One could not call it selective amnesia at that, for her emotions burned true. And yet, she'd simply forgotten much of what had transpired her. To even think of such...
Horror curdled within her, souring her every thought like rotten milk.
Had she willingly used Radagon's golden egg upon herself, to try and strip away her trauma, only to break herself even more? The grim art of reincarnation was seldom perfect, even for Mother. To even attempt the rite alone was a process fraught with peril. She'd seen the "Sweetings" her mother so favored, broken girls all, able to do little more than crawl and babble nursery rhymes. To her own eyes Mother, unclouded now, Rennala looked...younger. Not by much, but noticeable enough to catch the eye.
"Didst thou rebirth thyself?"
"Nay." Rennala's response was just a touch too quick. "Whatever do you mean?"
...mother, Father's egg is in your arms." she stepped forward, even as the older woman shrank back. "Do you deny it?"
"Do you mean this?" she looked down, still clutching her egg. "I wonder from whence it came? Such a curious thing. So warm...
Evidently that was enough for Naruto; because he stepped forward, pulled out of Ranni's grasp and grabbed a fistful of Rennala's robes. A quick tug brought her down. His marked hand came up, alighting upon Mother's cheek. The other joined it, holding fast. His forehead touched hers.
"Its okay." his words were a whisper as he closed his eyes. "You don't have to pretend, not for our sake. The rebirthing didn't work, did it? Let it out."
Her smiled cracked, a hairline fissure etching across her mask. "I haven't a clue what you mean."
"Don't you?" he didn't budge the stubborn sod. "Aren't you happy to see Ranni again?"
"Of course I am, you knave!" Rennala snapped back- "Think not I...ah...!
Naruto leaned back, eyes narrow and intent. "Gotcha."
Ranni gingerly stepped into take his place. "I'm sorry, mother." she laid a trembling palm on her arm. "For everything. All of it."
Rennala's facade continued to crumble. Still she clung on...for another second.
Then she broke. This time, Ranni didn't try to dodge the that followed.
Slim arms wrapped tight around her as her mother wailed.
"Little Ranni! How I missed thee!"
A/N: Here comes Rykard.
Why Rykard, you ask? Because "Grace" is getting Radahn soon and it wouldn't feel right to write him twice in a week.
Ranni makes the first move~!
Ah, but there's still Rennala to deal with, and the others...
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story.
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 during the holidays 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.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review, Would You Kindly?
And have some previews.
Granted, some are far off, but still...
(Previews)
Speechless are we? Never thought I'd see the day."
"Not another word. I will bite you."
"Probably how she likes it."
"BLAIDD!"
Naruto took one look at the Volcano Manor and sighed. "I've got a bad feeling about this...
He tugged up his cloak to hide his face and stalked down the rise.
The things we do for love.
Ranni's head snapped up. "He didn't go there alone. Surely not!"
"Will you not join us?"
"Join the Serpent King as family!"
Her fingers curled around a stray stone and crushed it to fine powder. "Interesting. I couldn't do that before...it seems I have thee to thank for this."
R&R~!