A/N: Alright, I waited until July as promised. Now the time has come!
*cracks knuckles.*
Lets get 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? 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: Will you continue with the double update days?
A: I'd like to, but they drain me badly. Updating daily is difficult enough, but two or more a day really pushes me to my limits. Heck, I updated FOUR stories in one day about a week ago, and that left me with a crushing headache.
That said, the Boy's finale pissed me off right and proper, so I might be able to swing some double updates on that front.
Q: Update schedule?
A: No Heroes Here, hopefully. Already have the rough draft penned, its just a matter of taking time to sit down, flesh it out, and th elike. Its gonna be...diabolical. Not to mention An Endless Hunt, Audience with Eternity, and a host of other updates.
Q: How's your health?
A: Exhausted, my leg's messed up, and might need surgery for m'back. Fun stuff.
Q: More Elden Ring soon?
A: Yup. If the DLC rumors are anyhing to go by, it'll be well worth the wait.
Alright, then, this old man has kept you long enough now! I'll let you enjoy the story.
As ever, I own no quotes, references, themes or memes. Not a wit or a one!
They're tributes to legends far greater than I~!
"At the end of the day, family is all we have...and you're her family."
Now man up and make your choice.
Life or death. What'll it be?"
~?
Thy Inevitable Triumph
Something was wrong.
Tanith felt it in her bones; something was terribly, horribly awry. Then again, perhaps that wasn't quite the right turn of phrase here. To say something was such implied that it was currently happening; that there might yet be some small, minuscule chance to avert this catastrophe; to forestall the crisis currently consuming her home. Such was not the case. The mistress of the manor knew better; from the moment she'd first felt those tremors rising deep underground; nay the second she'd heard the screams, it had already been too late.
For you see, her lord had met his match.
And it was all her fault. She was to blame for his untimely end. T'was she who'd let that wretched blond into the manor, she who made no attempt to impede him, she who thought he falter and fail like all the rest. To her it mattered not that he served Lady Ranni; all would be fed to Lord Rykard in due time. He would devour the very gods.
It had all been so perfectly planned! Losing her consort would've drawn Ranni out of hiding. She would've come to them and then, she too, would be consumed.
Now the walls were crumbling, the earth shaking, the sky gone dark...and still no sign of her lord. Rya was nowhere to be found. Diallos had scampered off the worthless wastrel to parts unknown, and by the look of him, Patches was strongly considering the same. Only Bernahl and her loyal crucible knight remained steadfast in this, but if the tremors continued unabated even their will would be tested. Honestly, she had half a mind to go down there and see what the devil was going on-
A sudden clamor in the hall drew her attention.
"What in the world?!" She heard Bernahl's voice boomed, just out of sight. "Stay back! I'm warning you-
Another clamor went up, the harsh ring of someone striking steel, and he fell silent.
She heard it then; coming from just around the corner. The faint tap-tap-tap of approaching footsteps...the sound of something -or someone!- being dragged behind them. Was it Bernahl's body, perhaps? Had the traitor slain them as he'd slain their lord? Was he to parade his corpse before them?
Tanith's knight tensed at her side. With a wordless hiss, she readied her blade, doubtlessly intending to lunge around the bend and strike.
"Peace, my friend." she laid a hand on the woman's arm. "Wait for my signal."
Just as well too; because in the next moment he emerged.
She saw him suddenly, this Naruto fellow; he came stomping down the hall, covered in still-steaming blood. Oh gods, the stench. She could smell him from here. He'd come straight from battle, then, and looked all the more fearsome for it. Baleful blue eyes blazed out at her from within that haggard face and Tanith decided it was just as well that she was sitting; for his gaze would have compelled such. He looked well an truly furious with them; the spear in his right hand caked by viscera.
"You...its true, then." she swallowed her fear and forced herself to speak. "You've defeated our...lord?"
Tanith trailed off as she beheld the figure he was dragging behind him. T'was not Bernahl at all, or even that of a serpent, but a man...one that yet groaned with life. Her throat closed. No. It couldn't be. It was. He looked just as she remembered; every bit unchanged from the portrait that hung just behind her. One had but to glance between them to see the striking similarities...and she could see his Great Rune, sill smoldering faintly in the chest of her beloved. Which meant...!
"Here is your lord."
Naruto, consort to Lady Ranni, threw Lord Rykard down at Tanith's feet. The demigod landed on the carpeted steps and wheezed softly.
The noise reactivated Tanith.
"My lord Rykard?!" She dove at him, all but throwing herself over his prone form to protect him from further harm, then back to the bloody blond. "But how...?!"
"You knew." it wasn't a question.
Tanith looked up. Mistakes were made.
The spear flicked out. Tanith tensed, fearing death...death that never came.
Fresh air kissed her face as that honed edge tore her mask aside, exposing her face to the wanting world. He must've seen the fear in her eyes; because his own blazed a molten shade of shadow-gold. The Serpent Hunter sang in his hands and he swung one arm back as though to strike-
Her knight lunged with a yowl.
The blond backhanded her without so much as a passing glance, shattering her armor to fling her clear across the room. The woman's helmet flew free, struck the ground once, then rolled away into the gloom. It landed just shy of the perch Patches had claimed for himself. The sniveling little man took one look at it, saw the state she was in, then reached for his spear and shield.
"Easy now, friend! Lets just reset our tempers...
Those blazing eyes met his. "Get out."
Patches got.
Just like that, she was alone with her executioner. At least, she assumed he was going to kill her.
Why else would he be here...?
"I must thank you." she bowed her head low, dreading what was to come. "Our lord was yet weak. You have taught us that." she tugged Rykar's slumbering head into her lap. "Now he may yet regain his former might." A pause followed, and when she didn't feel the cold kiss of steel against her throat, she dared to continue. "Defeat is not the end. Our lord is immortal and will one day rise again, stronger than ever before." the words that followed galled her, but without them, she knew she'd surely perish. "I...we...would gladly pledge ourselves to your service for this selfless deed."
Naruto swung his spear forward, the great serpent hunter, and planted it in the floor.
With the other, he dipped a hand into his pouch and plucked forth a...tiny doll. Nay, a familiar doll...oh, dear.
"Hello, dear Tanith." Ranni's voice was colder than the moon that was her namesake. "A pleasure to see thee again."
(.0.0.0.)
Radahn gazed at the moon.
It seemed brighter tonight somehow, close enough for him to grasp in his hands. Even his madness he'd felt it. There had been a shift. An awakening. For better or worse, something had changed. As if a piece of it had been restored somehow, a long lost fragment coming home. And so he strained, reaching upward with his great rotten bulk, fingers reaching, grasping..
.
..
...in vain.
Soon. Very soon.
He felt it in his rotting bones.
Surely he would be released from this pain soon...?
(.0.0.0.)
She was so terribly cross with him!
Ranni couldn't help but seethe as she awaited Naruto's inevitable return. Rykard was not one to be trifled with on a good day, and still he'd gone to face him. She'd thought herself calm. Resolved for what was to come. And she had been. But now that the danger was past she found anxiety seeping in.
What if he'd gotten himself hurt? Or cursed?
Her brother had ever been adept with his hexes; indeed, the might of a demigod was not something to be trifled with.
And yet Naruto had gone after him anyway.
She'd not though it possible to pry him from the Serpent but nevertheless the deed was done. They were siblings once; had she failed in her prior plot it would have fallen to him to face Maliketh. Could they be allies? After all their goal was the same, in not neccessarily the means and method to reach said goal. To usurp the Erdtree, tear down the Great Will and lead this world into a new matter the cost.
Still...
...victory or no...
She would have words for her consort upon his return!
(.0.0.0.)
The headaches were getting worse.
Blaidd could feel them creeping up on him...like a shadow.
They would pass, as they always did. Ranni was all that mattered.
This was nothing in the greater scheme of things. Her happiness...was all that mattered.
(.0.0.0.)
Ranni was not best pleased with him when he returned.
Naruto knew it the moment he crept into her chambers. As well he should! He crept into Rise and found her sitting there. Waiting. Glaring. Credit where it was due, he met her gaze evenly and gave his report with all the due diligence of his station...which is to say nothing at all. It lacked detail, but she was able to summarize it well enough.
Therein lie the problem. She could see anxiety in his eyes. He was keeping something from her.
...and in the end, I left a buncha clones to watch 'em before I came back to get ya." his smile was decidedly cheeky. "All's well that ends well, eh?" Ranni began to tap her foot. He winced. "Oh, and you're kinda an aunt now, which makes me an uncle. Surprise..."
Ranni's brow shot up to her hair. "I beg thine pardon?"
Naruto told her of Rya in no short terms; ironically, it was here that he held nothing back. He spoke most kindly of Rykard's offspring. That was it? This was the secret she'd so feared? She nearly laughed at herself for her own foolishness. Of course he wouldn't keep secrets from her. Only a fool would so such. It wasn't like her to jump at shadows. Still, to think she had a niece. Curious indeed..wait.
Ranni sniffed. Once. Twice. Thrice, now.
She'd striven with her sorcery to regain some of her senses in this wretched body and failed...for the most part.
Still, she'd managed to recover one in his absence. "You did well...but what is that smell?"
He winced and scratched the back of his head. "Well, it was a bit of a bloody affair."
"Indeed? And you did not think to bathe before coming to me?"
...no?" his smile was almost sheepish.
"Then see to it at once!"
"Awww...don't I get a hug for a job well done?"
Naruto stepped forward, still smelling like a grave...and smiling! Ranni paled, but it was too late.
Her consort pounced.
"Nay!" She squirmed in his arms. "Release me at once! You'll ruin my robes!"
Naruto did no such thing. Rather, he held tighter.
"Oh, very well! Regardless, this world will be better off without Recusants preying upon it." she said at last." In any case, it matters naught. Once the Age of Stars is begun, this world will be left to its own devices, and they shall have no need to fear red phantoms any longer...
Naruto's face closed down as he drew away.. "What?"
Blast it! Fire and damnation blight her tainted tongue!
Ranni cursed herself for the slip. "Forgive me; I had not yet revealed this part of mine plan to thee."
Dread dawned in his eyes. "Wait. You're leaving?"
"That is my intent, yes."
"When?!"
"Not now, but at the end of mine journey, once Marika is dealt with-
"You can't just take her power and leave!" he latched onto her shoulders, forcing her to be still. "What'll happen to this world if ya do?!"
She raised her head beneath her hat to regard him. "It will fare well enough. We need not worry."
He growled at her. "And what if another one of those Outer Gods come?!"
She hesitated. "They shan't."
"Are you sure?"
Ranni huffed and reached for him. "Thou doth protest too much-
"No!" he batted her hand away with a hiss. "You protest too little! Think! If you just take that power and leave everyone -the world!- to fall apart like this for your own selfish gains...you'll be no better than Kaguya!"
His words sent a lance of bitter ice through Ranni's heart. She knew that name well; how could she not? Naruto had spoken long and at length of his past to her; both of his deeds and the enemies he'd faced. The Rabbit Goddess was by far the worst of the lot. For him to compare her to that witch...it stung her more than any blow ever could. With it came anger. Hot and heady, full of fury.
It burned in the pit of her soul, fiercer than the frenzied flame itself. Oh, how it burned.
"Do not compare me to that parasite!"
His eyes widened, just a little.
She bit her tongue.
Ranni vacillated for a moment, swallowed once, choked down the smoldering ashes of her ire, and fixed him with a stern look. Naruto glared right back. He was prepared to fight her on this she realized; even now his body burned from within; wisps of golden light stemmed from his shoulders, ready to be unleashed into dazzling, blinding brilliance at the slightest provocation.
If it came to a fight, she would lose. Nay, more than that, she did not wish to fight him in the first place.
Did his words have some merit perhaps? She didn't want to dwell on them, but linger they did. What would happen to the Lands Between if she left? Should another Outer God come; they might well find themselves worse off. If the Lady of Rot resurrected, or the Formless Mother found a proper foothold, or worse, the Lord of Dragons returned...
And if she stayed what then? To rule over Marika's subjects...she hadn't even considered such...
"To be a tyrant is not mine intent." she said at length. "I do this for the good of all."
"Yeah?" Naruto crossed both arms before his chest. "Coulda fooled me."
Silence reigned between them.
...I would not have us fight over this."
"I don't wanna fight with ya either. Lets drop it for now, alright?"
His face softened and hers with it. Each released a quick breath of relief. They'd been mere inches away from saying things both of them might come to regret. Ranni took the opportunity to steer the conversation to safer waters. Someday they might rant and rail at one another over this, but not this day, not if she would help it.
...speaking of discarding things," she said, apropos of nothing, "Couldst thou truly craft me a body?"
Truth be told, she was tempted. Ohhhh, was she tempted. Terribly, sorely, greatly tempted.
Her suggestion was worth it, if only for the look Naruto wore.
Ha! Served him right. Shoe was on the other foot now!
Then he smiled, and the tables turned anew.
"Well, that depends on you...
A/N: Crisis averted...for now.
Still, that's an ugly argument brewing there.
So? What say you? Hope you're enjoying this, so by all means, lemme know!
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this little tale. Sad to say, but 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 remain far off, but still...
(Previews)
"Well, I guess that just leaves Radahn for the time being. We can deal with Godwyn and Malenia, then Radagon, once we find them, but we at least know where Radahn is...
"When you leave," she hopped down off her chair. "I will accompany you."
Naruto opened his mouth to protest. Ranni glared at him, chin lifting in mulish defiance.
"Do you think me so weak?"
"No...I'd just like a chance to rest a bit."
"Then rest. Mother is busying herself babying Rya."
Rykard steeled himself...and pushed the doors open.
...I have returned to thee, mother. Please, forgive me mine transgressions."
Renala dropped Rya. Her eyes widened.
"My baby boy!"
"Do you have it?"
Seluvis opened his hands.
...you alright there, Blaidd?"
"Just a headache." the half-wolf waved him away. "I'll be fine."
She drew him down to the bed and into her arms.
It felt...nice. Warm. Comfortable.
"Are you well, dear brother?"
Rykard grunted and looked away.
"Come now, do not be cross. You live, do you not?"
...thine consort nearly had my head. Was that on your order, sister?"
"No, no," she smiled, "I can no more command him than I can demand the sun rise and set."
"I would have thee cease, brother of mine."
Radahn heaved himself upright. Sniffed. Shuffled forward.
Naruto grimaced, eyeing the man's vast bulk. "Ranni, this is a bad idea...!"
R&R~!