A/N: EDIT! Well, its nice to see all that Cinder hate and all those death threats again.

Great. Just great. T_T

At this point, I'm genuinely considering ending all my Cinder stories early. Not only do they not get much in the way of feedback, but the sheer VITRIOL I have to deal with for trying to make her even remotely likable...

...well, its a lot to deal with. Coupled with my worsening health, and I'm at my wits end.

As ever, we're following the Ember's Rule here. Sorry if this seems short, gotta work early.

If folks don't like this, it'll be deleted. Poof! Gone! That rule still holds true here. I don't WANT to do that, but I will if people aren't interested. So by all means speak up! Make yourself heard! Your feedback matters! I cannae write without them!

Next, this particular chapter is told in excerpts, though the rest will be in regular format. Hope folks don't mind that...?

Now lets answers some questions:

Q: Wait. I saw those references. Is this story connected to "Best Served Cold" by any chance...? Like a prequel?

A: Yes, this story is loosely tied to "Best Served Cold" though not in the way you might think; I'll say this in advance, this story's going to have many a twist and turn; it won't end the way you expect it to. In a sense, can think of THIS tale as the proper route.

Q: Can't wait to see Naruto and Cinder take the world by storm!

A: Remember, at this point int he story Naruto and Cinder are children. KIDS. Naruto may well be from his world, but he's not the mountain-breaking powerhouse we know and love...

...yet.

There will be time skips of course, but I'm going to do my best to keep those few and far between. Don't want to spam those, you know?

Q: So...has Cinder been saved from her fate?

A: Time will tell.

Q: Wuh-oh. That preview doesn't bode well.

A: Even a cornered rat will bite if left no other choice. As to the events that lead to THAT scene...well. Why don't you read on and find out? I promise you won't be dissapointed.

Alright, I've kept you long enough, I think.

As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes. Not a wit or a one!

Personally, I listened to "Yearning for Dark Shadows" while writing this. Really worked out well.

By all means, let me know what you think~!

"Ah! And here they they come, not before time. A boy of sunlight, and a girl of ash.

But are they late, or are they early? Before their time or not?

Do I believe? Why, I believe I do!"

~ramblings of a madwoman.

Gifts We Gave

It was a terrible day for rain.

Not just any rain mind you, but the icy sleety sort that almost always heralded snow; the kind that made the trusted paths treacherous and safe roads slippery. The miserable sort that you didn't want to be caught in dead or alive, least of all when you had no place to go.

And yet here they were, two children, were trapped in it.

Naruto yelped as his boots slipped in the muck, sending him crashing to the earth. His forehead kissed an impossibly hard root, sending stars snarling before his vision. Anyone else his age would've pitched a fit; thrashed about and thrown an utter tantrum as they hollered their displeasure to the world Instead he crawled to hiss feet, spared the bleak grey sky one last scowl beneath his cowl, shouldered his pack, and trudged onward.

"Stupid storm." he grumbled under his breath. "Stupid day. Stupid, stupid, stupid...!"

They'd not found a single settlement in their week of wandering...no intact ones, at least. Bandits and Grimm seemed to be ever a step ahead of them. A small part of him was grateful for that; if only because he wasn't sure he'd be able to fend them off alone. In truth it was beginning to wear on them. All this time sleeping in the rough, unable to hunt or forage for food had seen their supplies dwindle. At best, they had another days worth of food left. And then...well. He'd have to try his hand at hunting, horrible as he was.

"I found a cave!"

Cinder's voice broke through the evening gloom like a clarion call; completely claiming his attention. Sure enough, he found his traveling companion waiting for him just over the next rise.

Gleaming golden eyes lit up at the sight of him.

A small hand waved in his direction.

"Look! See for yourself!"

It was a rough-hewn thing that looked to be carved from the mountain itself, manmade rather than any real natural formation. Empty pitted torch sconces lay arranged on either side of its maw, long since dampened by the deluge. A wide tunnel stretched out and down, a deep dark abyss promising them safety and shelter from the storm. They had but to venture inside...and take their chances with whatever lurked within.

Naruto spared Cinder a reluctant glance.

"Careful," he cautioned. "We don't know what's in there."

She clutched her cloak tight. "Has to be better than this, though...

She was still a bit tense after their fiery escape, but there was a spark in her eyes now, a hunger for life that hadn't been there before. She'd let her hair down out of those awful pigtails, leaving it to fall carelessly around her ears. She seemed all the livelier for it. Getting her out of that orphanage was something he'd never regret. Burning it down gave him more relief than a thousand lying adults. Her smile was worth it.

Still, storm or not, he really didn't like the look of that cave...

Fresh sleet pelted his back, drawing a shudder.

And so he offered her his hand. "Together?"

Cinder latched on for dear life.

"Together."

And so, despite his recriminations, in they went.

Once they were safely in the entrance and out of the rain yet, Naruto drew a bit of flint from his pack, followed by a pair of branches. Tearing a bit of cloth from the edge of his cloak, he bound them together, creating a crude bundle of sorts. A few sparks proved more than enough to light them both. In a matter of moments, each had a small torch of sorts.

Down they went into the dark, alone but for each

They walked in silence for a long moment, footfalls echoing in the dark.

"You sure about this?" He winced when his voice bounced off the walls. In the silence it seemed to take on a life of its own.

"Of course I am." Cinder tilted her head. "Because of you, I am who I am; that means I trust you."

Deeper they delved.

Fire flickered further within beyond the range of their torches, and a spark of hope ignited in the blond's chest. Fire meant warmth. Warmth meant people. Surely that was a good thing...until one considered who might be out and about in weather such as this. Amber light limned the walls as they crept closer, casting dark and terrible specters about the cave. Their shadows became terrible, twisted things and neither wished to look at them.

In the end, they didn't have to.

A faint and tiny flame awaited the within; tended by a hunched and hooded figure. As they crept closer a wrinkled hand emerged from the shadows of their cloak and threw another plank onto the fire. Rather than smolder silently it sprang to life at once; tongues of angry heat and fuel clung to the wood and devoured it eagerly.

And in that explosion of heat, Naruto glimpsed a woman's face.

There was blood on her cheek.

Fear!

In hindsight, he couldn't rightly explain what it was that caused him to feel such terror, only that he did. He gasped and stumbled back, torch falling from numb fingers his grip on the torch as he did. It fell and guttered out in a puddle with a sullen hiss. Cinder tried to catch him as and lost her own light in the chaos, sending it clattering to the floor.

The stranger heard it and looked up sharply.

Rheumy white eyes regarded them, nearly gone blind with age. They locked upon him and Cinder like a hawk.

"So small." she whispered in a creaking voice like dry leather. "So frail. Your flame is still embers. And yet someday, you will burn the gods themselves."

Cinder blinked, somewhat taken aback. "Excuse me?"

Rather than answer, the crone laughed.

"Never you mind. And so comes the prince and the princess!" A merry cackle filled the cave, caroming off the walls like a crazed cat. "You're both late. So very late. For a very important date." she flung up her arms and tittered softly, those stooped shoulders hunching even further. "Or are you early? Such a silly thing time is!" a grin exposed blackened, missing teeth. "And I have been waiting for quite some time."

Cinder cocked her head like a wary she-wolf, not liking that remark one bit. "Who are you waiting for?"

"You of course!" the woman cackled. "Don't you know its rude to keep a lady waiting?"

Naruto pushed Cinder behind him.

Whoever she was, the old crone was clearly off her rocker. Had to be. Only a lunatic would be out and about by themselves in the wilds, let alone a storm like this. He didn't see any real weapons on her, save for a gnarled staff; one that looked just as weathered as she. Closer inspection revealed it was decorated with strange runes and...oh, dear. Those were human skulls hanging from its branches.

Nope! His mind bleated. Not having it!

"We don't want any trouble." he began to back away slowly, nudging Cinder with him. "We'll just be going now...

"Nonsense!" the ancient woman shook her head. "There's plenty of room by the fire." a veined hand patted empty space beside her. "Come. Warm yourselves."

Naruto nearly refused on sheer principle...until Cinder sneezed. It was a small, tiny sound, but it swayed him all the same. One look confirmed his suspicions. She was pale and trembling beneath her cloak. To venture out into the storm now promised more than a mere cold. She may well come down with something worse. He didn't want any harm to befall her. And yet he had seen blood on the woman's face. The sight still stuck with him even now, needling him furiously. He'd heard tell of cannibals in these parts...

Cinder tugged at his sleeve. "What should we do?"

"No idea." he whispered back to her. "She's crazier than a bag of rats."

"Well, I'm cold." she hissed, repressing another sneeze. "Might as well die warm."

Cinder broke ranks first and scuttled forward, forcing Naruto to do the same or be left behind in the dark. Rather than sit next to the woman she plonked down on the other side of her, careful to keep the flames between the them at all times. At least she wasn't foolish enough to place herself in harm's way. Naruto mirrored her and shucked his cloak, letting it dry near the fire.

"There's a sensible lad." the hag chortled. "Be careful whom you trust."

Naruto wrinkled his nose. "Like you?"

"Ha!" she guffawed openly at his skepticism. "Such a skittish little fox. I'll not harm you."

"..."

As they looked on she dug about in her satchel.

"Come, child." the old crone crooned. "Eat. Drink. Good food will bring you joy."

Naruto and Cinder exchanged a wary glance as she removed food of all things. All told the meal looked...well, harmless really. Fruit and grains, simple bread, a bit of dried meat. Nothing sinister here. Truth be told, he had half expected juicy red meat, raw and dripping Perhaps that was cliche. They tore into it with wild abandon, caring not for their manners. Whomever she was the hag knew how to prepare food. A small silver flask of what smelled faintly like berry-water was passed between them, and they drank of it greedily.

Warm and full they subsided, tucked into another for warmth and huddled closer to the fire.

Cinder found her voice first.

"Who are you?"

"No one of importance, dearie." came the reply. "Just a moldy old woman wandering the wastes. But not you." Her eyes narrowed upon them. "Sun and ash, the two of you are. Light and dark. Savior and slayer. Do I believe? Why, so I do!" she laughed again, only for her words to end in a rheumy cough. "Come closer." when neither did, she only guffawed anew. "I have gifts for you...if you have but the will to take them."

Well, that sounded every bit like a trap. Still...

"For the boy who fell out of his world." she reached over the fire -uncaring as it blistered her flesh-!- to handed him a wickedly sharp knife bearing a curved edge. "I give you the means to protect yourself. This will serve you well enough until you uncover your gifts."

Gifts?

What gifts?

Did she know what he was?

Naruto considered it for a long moment, regarding its ebony blade and tapered tip. It felt warm in his grasp. Almost alive. A far sight better than the shoddy kunai and shuriken he had on him. He gave it a lazy twirl and frowned at the length of chain dangling from its hilt. Why the chain? Was it meant to be thrown...?

"Thanks...?"

But the old biddy had already turned to face Cinder.

"And for sweet little Cinder," she reached into the folds of her cloak and produced a beautiful crimson garment from her pack. "I give you this dress. Its warm and soft. A perfect fit."

And far better than the rags she was wearing. Those words went unspoken.

Cinder accepted it with awe in her eyes. Then her gaze narrowed. "How do you know my name?"

"Come now," The hag leaned back, her gnarled face twisting in a thin, secret smile. "Allow an old woman some secrets."

Naruto leaned back, regarding the old crow intently. All this stank of a tricky semblance...that or magic. Magic didn't exist in this world, surely. Yet this woman acted as if she knew them; indeed, like she'd been waiting for them. An icy shiver stole down his spine. This woman was more than she appeared. Much more. Worse, he couldn't tell if she meant them harm or not. Here at last, his sixth sense failed them.

"I have one last gift for you." those milky white eyes narrowed upon them. "Your future."

Naruto snorted. Prophecy? Bah! More hocus pocus! "We really don't need-

The fires flared, stilling the words on his tongue.

"Seek the raven on the morrow." still their host continued to ramble. "Her camp lies to the east. You will find safety and power with her...for a time. But do not linger!" A bony finger stabbed at them. "Your fate does not lie with her flock. Trust to one another." she giggled again, at some unspoken joke. "Be better than your elders, lest you blind each other. Show mercy where you must. Keep your friends close. And your enemies closer still. Heed my words, and the world will be yours."

"No, really." Naruto sat up, scowling. "Who are you? Have we met?"

"Persistent little fox, aren't you?" Before their very eyes, the crone sat up, abandoning her hunch entirely. "Miranda is my name, if you know." her voice sounded stronger suddenly, sharper, somehow. "I have done my part." she shivered a little. "The witch sees me. I can do no more. May this be a fruitful experiment."

"Experiment?" Cinder frowned. "Wait, what witch-

"We will meet again."

Her staff struck down and a storm of birds burst forth them, sweeping up and out the mouth of the cavern. Cinder fell back with a yelp. Naruto covered his face with an arm, yet the foul fowl had no interest in either of them; so focused were they on their filight. When they looked back, the old woman was gone. All that remained was her twisted staff, covered in worn runes.

Cinder gave it a kick and clutched her shoulders for warmth. "Creepy. What was she?"

"Just a crazy witch." Naruto shook his head. "Nothing to worry about."

They huddled close for warmth that night.


(.0.0.0.)


Cinder woke first.

Though the fire had long since died, their sleeping bag was still warm, and so she tucked herself in tight. Naruto didn't stir against her. A low snore told her he was quite asleep. And so she nestled closer, laying her head against his chest. His heart beat steady in her ear, a low thump-thump-thump that slowly lulled her back into sleep.

Still, that prophecy nagged at her.

Why would she blind Naruto? It didn't make a lick of sense. Bah! What did it matter what some old hag said.

Cinder tucked her head against his chest with a scowl. Sleep came swiftly thereafter and she spared no more thoughts for mystics or prophecy.

They very next day they finally blundered into someone sane.

Unfortunately...they weren't happy to see them.


(.0.0.0.)


"Take the girl!"

Cinder thrashed backward as strong hands sought her shoulders; when that didn't work, she lashed out and drove a knee into their groin. Her attacker doubled over with a whimper and she clamored between his legs, crawling for dear life. Behind her she heard Naruto snarl and felt the man crash into the ground. She didn't dare look back; when she did, she saw her partner go down not yards away, swarmed by bodies, fighting like a devil.

Bandits. Why did it have to be bandits?! Of all the people they could've met on the road!

Someone grabbed her and wrestled her to the ground. An ugly face filled her vision, bald and scarred and sneering at her like a piece of meat. Warm, fetid breath filled her nose and she pushed at him with both hands, to no avail. He was too big. Too heavy. She couldn't budge him. Sunlight poured down on her, shadowed by his filthy bulk.

"You'll fetch a high price on the market." he leered at her and licked his lips. "I'm sure the boss won't mind if I take a piece...

Cinder stilled. He was going to...hurt her.

Something clicked in the back of her head. Her eyes flashed.

Burn. He should burn. They should all burn. Every. Last. One. Of them.

Cinder reached out and grabbed her captor by the face, no longer trying to move him. He scoffed...and that scoff became a scream as heat flared between her palms. His scream warped into a shriek as skin bubbled and muscle melted. The sound was muffled against her palms. His grip slackened and she writhed around him, clamoring onto his back when his arms couldn't reach. He tried to stand up but she only burned him all the more, never once letting go of his face. Slowly, gradually, his struggles weakened. Stilled. His body twitched and fell still. Still she bore down, rendering his face so much molten slag.

"She killed Mercer!"

Someone cried out behind her. Another bandit, no doubt. Cinder paid them no heed.

She tumbled off the bandits back, balking at her bloody hands. Even now they still shimmered with faint flame, burning away the red. This...this was her semblance. It must be. A small, disbelieving laugh tumbled from her lips. This was her Gift. This was power. This was strength. With this, she would never be weak again.

A heavy body slammed into her from behind and ripped her back to reality. Something cracked against her skull, shattering her tenuous grasp on her power.

"I'LL KILL YOU!"

Cinder kicked out with both legs, to no avail. "Get! Off!"

Powerful hands closed around her throat, choking the life from her. All the world began to darken at the edges; her hands slapped at his face, to no avail. She was took weak. Too dazed by the blow that had cracked her skull. Panic flared deep within her. This...this was death! She was going to die here!

No!

Not like this!

'I don't...want to die here!'

A chain pierced the back of her attacker and burst through his chest, spattering her face with blood. Her attacker froze and choked in surprise, regarding the gaping would with wide eyes. His hands slipped from her throat, allowing Cinder to take a ragged gasp and look up.

What she found there warmed her blood more than any flame.

Behind them, Naruto exhaled harshly, surrounded by fallen bodies. Blood ran down his hair and streaked his face. Stained his clothes, his arms, even his boots. But it was his eyes that held her. Those once gentle blue orbs were red. Stranger still, glowing chains of...what could only be called light burned from his back. One was lodged in the bandit, and another wrapped around a burly forearm, even now preventing him from killing her.

Naruto yanked on that wicked weapon with a snarl, reeling it in like a fishing line.

"GET OVER HERE!"

Cinder's tormentor didn't scream. Calling it a scream would've been generous. It was more of a surprised croak as Naruto yanked them back into his grasp. He didn't have a chance to stand, to fight, or even resit. A cruel clawed hand closed around the back of his head with furious force. Clawed fingers dug into the man's skull, uncaring of their resistance...and squeezed. Something popped like an overripe grape, leaving his headless body to topple toward the ground.

Chest heaving, eyes wild, Naruto stumbled back. Cinder blinked back at him, eyes wide.

...you alright?"

She managed a jerky nod.

A tentative smile blossomed across her face.

When he reached down for her, she took his hand without hesitation and allowed him to help her stand. Why wouldn't she? He'd protected her. Killed for her. That was...well, more than anything had ever done for her. Ever. She didn't know what those strange chains of his were, but even as she looked on, they wound back into his shoulders and vanished.

In the silence, a rasping grasp filled the air.

Cinder jolted, realizing one of the bandits was still alive. Wretched and gasping for air, bleeding from a dozen wounds, the poor unfortunate soul tried to crawl away from Naruto.

He didn't get far.

"What's going on here?!"

A wicked-looking woman wearing a bone mask appeared from a crimson portal to bar his bath. Clad in black and red she surveyed the massacre, eyes hidden behind that bony facade. She took stock of it all, not fazed at all by the carnage, but by something else entirely. A furious growl rumbled from behind her mask. She tore a sword from the sheathe at her side, exposing a ruby red blade to the afternoon air.

"Idiots, the lot of you!" she kicked the poor bandit about the head, sending him sprawling. "What did I say about kidnapping kids?! We don't do that shit anymore!"

"But...boss...the money...

"To hell with the money!" Her blade sliced down, and the man expired with a rattling gurgle. "My tribe! My rules!"

Then she saw truly saw them.

"Well, well, well." the murderer planed a boot on her victim's back and ripped her blade free. "What do we have here?" the woman cocked her head, regarding them as a goddess might an ant. "Did the two of you do all this? By yourselves?"

Naruto frowned and shifted half a step backward pulling Cinder with him. "What if we did...?"

Cinder mirroed it with a scowl she hoped looked impressive. "And just who are you...?"

Low laughter spilled through the air, like smoke through honey.

"Bold little things, aren't you? Even wounded as you are, you'd fight me to the death." Their mysterious benefactor chuckled behind their mask. "Very well. You've proven your strength." firm hands reached up and plucked the ghastly facade free from her face. Red eyes gleamed back at them, sharp and intent, set in a pale visage. "There. You've seen my face." She planted one hand on her hip and smirked. "Do you recognize me now?"

Naruto and Cinder exchanged a baffled look. "No...?"

Raven Branwen absolutely twitched. "Brats!"

It was just too much for Cinder to bear.

Yes, she just couldn't help herself.

She started laughing.

A/N: Remember, Embers rule. This will be deleted forthwith if folks don't like it. Forthwith! So speak up! Make yourselves heard!

Not to much to say here...but Little!Cinder is just too adorable to bully. Lets see if she can have a normal life this time around. After all, with Naruto around, there's no way she can possibly turn into the monster we see in canon...right? *takes a look at the next arc* Oh dear...

As stated above, reviews are my lifeblood. Can't write without 'em.

So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...

...Review, Would You Kindly?

And enjoy the previews.

(Previews)

"Hunters?! Us?! Bad idea! I'd rather be mercenaries...


"I want power!" Cinder's fist smashed into a wall. "I never want to be weak like that again!"


"I love you. Please, never leave me...


Cinder frowned at her arm. For a moment there it almost looked...black.

She blinked and found it the same as it always had. Bah. Shadows were playing tricks on her.

R&R~!