A/N: PLEASE READ THIS NOTE, WOULD YOU KINDLY? It would mean the world to this tired old man.
EDIT: Aren't those flames adorable? I'm starting to find them funny now...
So...tired...
But I'm not dead yet!
Let the daily updates continue~!
Well, my dog's officially blind now. There's nothing we can do for him. He pretty much uses his nose to get around now...
In other news, I tried my hand at writing a more family oriented chapter here, wanted to cheer folks up during these crazy times. Hopefully people will enjoy it, but I'm sure some won't. Rest assured, the action's coming back soon; we can't have explosions and deaths in every chapter now, can we?
*braces for flames*
As ever, this story remains under the Embers rule.
If folks don't like it? Poof! Gone! To the void it goes! DELETED. So by all means, speak up!
Every bit of feedback, every review, no matter how large or small, means the world to this tired old man.
Now lets answer your burning questions, shall we:
Q: Naruto's pushing Salem into a corner, isn't he?
A: And as he does, she's...well, lets say she's branching out with her experiments. Yeah. That ain't a good thing.
Q: Timeskips when?!
A: Timeskips now! We're jumping a head a solid month!
Q: We demand uncle Qrow! He has so many nieces to spoil now! And wait, will he have a kid?
A: He does doesn't he? Don't worry about the pairings. He'll find someone.
Said someone just might surprise you...
Q: Well, canon's right buggered by now, isn't it?
A: If that wasn't obvious before, this chapter cements it. Rest assured, we'll still see the character we all know and love, but they may not be the same as you know...
Really, its driven home here.
Q: I know who the Spring Maiden is~! I caught those hints of yours! I don't think anyone's used HER before...
A: Not getting baited by that.
Q: Is Ozpin at all aware of the games Naruto's playing here? You gather that many Maidens together, and its bound to attract attention.
A: Ozpin really isn't the best when it comes to conventional plans. Case in point, the whole Relic-Vault-Maiden-System. If it were me I would've had at least a dozen fail-safes in place after locking the vaults. Or just disbanded the Maidens altogether and, reclaimed the power, thereby forcing Salem to deal with him and no one else. Not sure if he was unable to do so or what after giving most of his magic away, but still...eh, maybe I'm ranting.
Alright, I've kept you waiting long enough.
Once again, I own no references, themes, or memes. Not a wit or a one.
As per the story, each story will have a unique "Heart" theme for it.
Now then...prepare yourself. Quote is meant to be familiar.
"I come bearing gifts!
~Future.
Hearts of Family
The Tribe had finally stopped beating the girl.
She knew it if only because everything had stopped spinning. Her body lay sprawled out in the dirt, her clothing reduced to little more than bloody rags. Her ears rang and her body ached in the worst of ways, but at least they weren't hurting her anymore. She took some small solace in that. They'd been lenient today. Perhaps they might even feed her.
.
..
...
Unlikely. They hadn't fed her for quite some time now. Her stomach, already treacherously thin, groaned plaintively at the thought. So weak. So tired. There had been a time when she craved vengeance for what had been done to her; justice for the wrongs visited upon her and her kin. That had been...what...months ago? Now she wanted to close her eyes and never open them again. Surely that would be better than this. To die meant she could be with her parents again, away from here, away from the bandits, away from all of it...
And as she lay there, she heard her would-be killers discuss her fate.
"Who's the kid? We got a name, yet?"
...not sure. She won't talk. Hasn't said a word."
She wouldn't. And she hadn't. Even after all this, she refused to give them the satisfaction of her screams. They could torture her all they wished. She'd not make a sound...even if she heard their screams in her dreams. A small comfort perhaps, but it was hers. Imagining their deaths gave her strength in her darkest moments. Her ruined face twitched in a small smile.
"Cheeky brat!"
The bandits didn't like that. One of them kicked her in the face. Teeth whistled through the air and clattered to the dirt.
"Do you desire power, child?" a dark voice, a woman's voice whispered in her ear. "I could free you from this. You have but to say the word."
Was she imagining things? Hallucinating in her final moments.
Who...?
"Do you seek power? Do you crave justice for what has been done to you?"
An ember ignited in her scarred chest. Yes. More than anything. With a start, she realized she hadn't given up after all; she wanted to live. No. More than that. She wanted to thrive. She wanted to show the world that she was something, that she was someone. Not some urchin to be taken from her village and ground underfoot, to be branded and beaten everyday. Even the dogs were treated better than her.
"How fortunate." the voice came back again, oozing curiosity. "I desire a disciple. The last has proven...disappointing. Will you serve?"
...yes." she croaked the word little more than a whisper. "I will serve."
"Then swear yourself to me."
She did.
"So let it be. Try not to die."
Something twisted in the girl's chest.
Her soul, what was left of it, screamed in agony.
Human eyes blazed red as the whites of her eyes stained themselves black. She curled inward as her chest burned; as a foul and awful corruption took root in her heart of hearts. Fire flooded her veins, reducing her breath to little gasping hitches of pain. It was the work of an instant, and yet it felt like an eternity that she lay there, suffering.
With neither word nor warning, the pain abated.
"Hear me, you who have survived." the voice was her world now, her everything. "Know me. I am Salem. And you are MINE. Now...kill them. Kill them, claim the tribe for yourself, and bring your people to me. There is much to do."
"Beat her some more." the lead bandit spoke suddenly, snapping the Girl back to reality. "Might talk than-ack?!"
Strong hands latched around him, dragged him down. Blood spattered the earth.
"My name," their captive growled as she tore out his throat, "Is Vernal. And this camp?" she kicked him down and stomped out his skull. "Your tribe? Everything you have? THIS IS MINE NOW."
The world would be hers.
So she swore.
(.0.0.0.)
"I have no idea how to be a father."
It took Naruto only a month of parenthood to realize this fundamental truth.
There were times when he had such thoughts; rare, brief flashes of realization when he understood just how badly he'd been bamboozled. Make no mistake, he considered himself a capable fellow. He could fight and kill with the best of them, even talk his way out of trouble if things truly grew dire. Yet for all his strength and silver tongue, here he found himself at a loss.
How the hell did one raise three girls with a fourth on the way?
If there was a manual for such a thing, Naruto had yet to find one.
...it back!" a girlish shout pervaded the calming zen of his meditation in the yard. "I saw it first!"
A blond brow twitched. Ignore it. He was no helicopter parent. Girls would be girls; they were bound to fight every now and again.
"I will do no such thing you...you urchin!"
Calm. This mustn't register on an emotional level. There was no anger. No irritation. He felt nothing. After a moment, he calmed himself. He held tight to his Heart of Stone; his already dampened emotions suppressed to the point of nonexistence for a singular moment. He would not be roused by such petty arguments. Summer could handle it.
"You're such a Schnee!" Arslan's angry shout came back.
"And you're a no-name wretch!"
It didn't bother him.
This did not bother him.
.
..
...
...IT BOTHERED HIM ALOT!
His concentration shattered like so much glass and all the noise of the world -and his house!- snapped back like a rubberband. Blue eyes snapped open; all the precious sage chakra he'd painstakingly gathered burst out at once to stained his eyes a vividly shade of gold. A low grow pierced the yard, laced with the faintest hint of killing intent.
"Girls!"
Weiss and Arslan froze before him, fists tangled in one another's hair. Clothes scuffed, eyes ablaze and faces dirty, they looked an absolute mess.
"Well?" Naruto glared at them for a long moment, conveying the full weight of his disappointment with a single look. "What do you have to say for yourselves?"
At length, the little Maidens wilted.
Children. They were enough to make his head head spin. And not just any children, oh no, normal ones were bad enough. But these were Maiden children. That added a whole other layer of complexity that he had no idea how to deal with. When tempers ran hot, so too did the the elements. He spared a glance for the ruined yard, frowning now when he saw the scorched-yet-frozen grass.
This was his life now.
"Arslan, use your words, not your fists. And stop that!" quick as a flash he reached down and plucked a knife from her hand before she could stab Weiss for some slight he hadn't heard. "Don't stab your sister."
"She is not my sister!" Angry green eyes rounded on him. "She was being a bitch!"
Weiss absolutely hissed. "Me?! If anyone's a bitch here its clearly you-
Summer's head poked out the patio door. "Language!"
The Maidens wilted. "Sorry...
Naruto sighed.
Instinct had him pivoting to search for Neo. Sure enough, he found her sprawled out in the grass only a few yards away, watching their squabble with a gleeful expression. She caught him staring and waved. Cheeky little instigator. She always did enjoy setting her siblings against one another. He'd have to punish her later. Maybe take away her ice cream privileges for a day or two.
His gaze slid back to the two children before him.
"Arslan."
She squeaked a little under his gaze.
"Tell me, did you stab people for being rude in Vacuo?"
The younger girl scowled and scuffed a foot in the dirt. "Sometimes...?"
"Right." he stifled a sigh as he climbed to his feet. "Survival of the strongest and all that. But that's not how we work here." a gloved hand came down on her shoulder. "If you're upset with someone, talk to them. Try to understand them. Don't go stabbing them if they piss you off.
Guileless green eyes blind once. "But that's what you do...?"
Despite his best efforts to curtail it, the ghost of a smile touched Naruto's face.
"No," a lone finger rose, "I stab criminals, Grimm, and madmen. Entirely different kettle of fish, that. Now, then...
"I didn't do anything wrong!" Weiss bridled as he turned to face her fully. Unlike Arslan she managed to stand her ground under his gaze; stubborn little Schnee that she was. Naruto cocked his head just so and she made a keening noise through her teeth. "She insulted my sister! I'll see her sued for this!"
"Yeah?!" Arslan leaned around him. "You and what army?! You're the last Schnee!"
Just like that, her fury sparked back to life. "Take it back!"
"Oi!" Naruto reached down and plucked them both off the grass by the scruff of their necks. "Act like this and I won't train you. Either of you."
Arslan kicked furiously in he air. "But she started it!"
"And I'm ending it!" his eyes narrowed upon her. "Your actions bring shame to you, Arslan. Apologize."
Se subsided with a snarl. "Alright, alright...'m sorry...
"Good girl." he set her down with a scowl.
Weiss huffed. "Ha!"
"I'm sorry, did I say something that you found funny?" Naruto pivoted on her, still dangling the small Schnee in the air. "I expected better from a noble bloodline of Atlas." his eyes narrowed. "What would Winter say if she saw you like this? Would she be proud of you?"
That got her to clam up.
Weiss hunched her little shoulders and for a moment she seemed terribly small. She took a deep, shuddering breath.
"You'll...you'll keep healing my sister, won't you?"
Her misery shamed him; that brief spark of anger guttered out, a candle in the wind. In truth, he didn't think there was much more he could do for Winter. He'd healed all her wounds, kept her fed and hydrated using arts not known to man, even repaired the crippling organ failure she'd suffered under Tyrian's twisted poisons. She wasn't degenerating, but she still had yet to open her eyes. The rest was up to her. She had to find the will to live. He couldn't grant her that. Not anymore.
"Of course." he set Weiss down and drew her in for a quick hug. "You know I won't hold that over you."
"Hey!" Arslan wriggled into his arms from the side, all but squishing Weiss against him. "Don't forget about me! We've got training to do!"
"Stop it!" she hissed. "You're crushing me...!"
Naruto sighed. "Greedy girls."
On a certain level, he knew the universe was probably laughing at him, but there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it. He might have hardened his heart, but he wasn't cruel. Summer was an absolute godsend in that regard...and also part of the problem. Even now she was letting him hash things out with the girls while she made dinner; because she knew he needed this.
A child. By the log, he was going to be a father again.
Eight months from now, there would be a baby in this world. Little Ruby Rose.
Sometimes it felt like his emotions were beginning to return of their own accord. Bit by brick, the wall he'd built between himself and the world was beginning to crumble. Sometimes he caught himself wondering what he might find on the other side; if he opened his heart and allowed himself to fully feel again. Nothing good could come of that surely.
Surely...?
And then Neo was quite suddenly there, materializing with a freshly inked sign that conveyed her intentions where words could not. "I was first."
Arslan bridled at the slight. "Hey! No fair!"
Weiss joined her. "How rude!"
Another sign joined the first. "Get on my level, newbloods."
Neo did a little spin and tittered soundlessly, delighting in the chaos she'd caused.
Yes, this was his life, now. Might as well accept it. If he tried to run away, they'd just follow him...
(.0.0.0.)
"What is this...?! What's happening to me?!"
Blake Belladona gazed at her reflection in the mirror and tried not to cry.
It was an exercise in futility. Because her eyes were glowing. Spitting living flames.
She did what any little girl would do. She called for help. "Mommy! Daddy! Why am I glowing?!"
The door to her bedroom crashed open. That was all she heard before Ghira and Kali swept her into their loving arms.
(.0.0.0.)
"Knock, knock!"
Naruto looked up as he finished setting the table.
"C'mon, whiskers." a low voice drawled the door. "I know you're in there. Open up already!"
Summer rolled her eyes and looked away from the stove. "Naruto. Let him in."
"Nope." he shook his head once. "Don't hear anything. Must be the wind...
Weiss and Arslan exchanged a dour look but held their tongues.
"I'm right here~!" their guest sang through the wood.
Neo tittered soundlessly.
The weary warrior exchanged a rueful look with Summer and tried to ignore her glower. He knew who was waiting for him on the other side of the door. Indeed, he had sensed their approach long before they'd announced their arrival. As such, he didn't want to open it. No. Nope. Negative. To hell with what Summer said, that door wasn't opening for anyone or anything. He was rather keen on that last bit. Maybe if he ignored them, they'd give up and go away. Yes, that sounded quite nice. Just pretend they weren't there and-
"I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves~!
A muscle jumped in his jaw. Resist!
"Naruto Uzumaki!" A spatula poked him in the nose. "You let Qrow in right now, or so help me, I will break your arm when I have this baby!"
"Oh?" The ghost of his smile returned. It brought with friends. "And here I thought you'd say no sex."
Summer's pale face turned the color of her namesake and she swatted him on the arse as he glided to the door. Almost made him laugh, that did. Neo tried to follow like the silent shadow she was, but he shooed her back toward the table to finish setting the table. She went with a huff. Sassy little thing.
He swept the door open; sure enough, a familiar face awaited him.
"Qrow." he sighed, forcing a smile he didn't feel. "We were just about to sit down for dinner. Did you need something?"
"Sorta." The surly drunk leaned around him before he could inquire further. "Hey, squirts. Miss me?"
One could hear a pin drop in the silence that followed. And then:
Naruto knew better. He got the hell out of the way.
"UNCLE QROW~!"
Neo, Arslan and Weiss fell upon him with delighted shrieks -or perhaps a lack thereof for the latter- all but bowling the bleary Branwen down in their haste to get at him. Qrow never stood a chance. Then again, he didn't put up much of a fight, either. He went down with a laugh, aura crackling as he smacked his head against the floor. Happy chatter filled the air and for the life of him, he couldn't find it in him to disparage them.
Girls would be girls after all.
"Ach!" Qrow flailed his arms, warding them off. "Give me some breathing room, brats!" he raised both arms; belatedly, Naruto noticed the multicolored bags and satchels. slung over his personage. One was pale blue, the second a striking red-gold while the last looked to be some strange bled of white-brow-and pink. Not much point in guessing at that one. "I come bearing gifts!
The girls all but clamored off him. All save Neo. She remained planted on his chest.
"You, ah," he coughed, "Gonna move there, kiddo?"
She shook her head and stared at the bag.
"What, you want yours now?"
She nodded quickly.
"Neo!" Summer grabbed their fiery little fairy and swept her under an arm. "I'm sorry, she's always like this."
"Like what?" A familiar figure stepped over Qrow's prone form with languid ease. "Way I see it, she knows what she wants. That's a good thing."
Naruto raised his gaze, only mildly nonplussed to find that Qrow hadn't come alone.
"There you are, you old devil! C'mere!"
The wayward warrior recognized Taiyang at once; if only because the big brute couldn't be anyone else. Was he going to...yes. yes, he was. He'd only just raised a hand in a halfhearted greeting when the man swept him into a crushing bear hug. He coughed once and clapped the enthusiastic fellow on the back. Really, it was impossible to smile when he was around.
Naruto feigned a smile for his sake. "I keep telling you, I'm not that old...
But behind him, pulling up the rear and looked every bit out of sorts for it...well. She was beginning to look rather gravid this far into her pregnancy he supposed; but that was a testament to her new lifestyle. She'd be burning off all that extra weight soon enough. Raven might be many things, but she wasn't the sort to sit around and grow soft. Not too soft at least. She was clutching a tray of some sort, and there was a rather curious smell coming from it...
She saw him and nodded curtly. "Fox."
He returned it in kind. "Hello, Birdie. Another bun in the oven, eh?"
Her glower was nothing short of legendary. Shame it didn't have an effect on him.
"Raven!" Summer nearly slammed into her side. "We weren't expecting you!" Silver eyes flitted to her teammate's round belly. "Is it safe for you to be out and about like this...?"
"Bah!" the warrior scoffed. "I didn't let one kid stop me, and I'm not about to lose a second. Besides, we brought supplies...and my brat."
They'd brought food, he realized. Quite a bit of it.
"Hey, auntie! Hi, Uncle!" Yang poked her head around her mother's leg. "I came to play!"
Neo silently hissed.
Arslan cocked her her like a curious cat.
Weiss bridled as only a Schnee could. "Who is this ruffian?!"
"Who am I?" Lilac eyes flashed red. "I'm the girl who's gonna put some dirt in your eye if you don't cut that crap out...
Arslan grinned. "You, I like...
Naruto clapped a hand to his forehead.
Yes, this madness was undoubtedly his life now.
"Come on in," he sighed. "Make yourselves at home...
Unbeknownst to him, another crack etched itself into his heart of stone.
A/N: EDIT: As ever, flames make me not to write. At all. Anything. So does silence. Keep that in mind.
Well this was a nice fluffy warm chapter~!
So lets clarify!
Neo = Fall Maiden.
Blake = Spring Maiden.
Weiss = Winter Maiden.
Arslan = Summer Maiden.
As ever, reviews keep me writing. They're the only form of payment I'll ever receive. Without them...I can't write.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...Review...Would You Kindly?
And of course, enjoy the previews.
References for daaaaaaaays!
Surprise, surprise~!
(Previews)
Naruto creaked a blue eye open.
Summer yawned beside him. "The girls are awake."
He rolled over with a groan. "Before sunrise, they're your girls...
"Hell is descending!" Tyrian tittered madly. "The maidens will be gathered! All shall be reborn in the image of my goddess!"
Ozpin raised his can. "Not if I have anything to say about it...
"What's happening to me?!"
Ghira Belladona was a good father.
He knew what must be done."...I need to make a call."
"Look at you, playing the proud parent." the specter before him shifted. "Does it amuse you, pretending to be something you're not?"
"At least mine are still alive...unlike yours, Salem."
"YOU DARE?!"
Winter sat up slowly at her gentle prodding. Blinked. Once. Twice. Thrice.
Blank, glassy orbs regarded Weiss with confusion. "Who are you?"
And Weiss screamed.
Naruto shook her awake. "Wake up! Its just a dream!"
"No." Blake raised grave golden eyes without a hint of fear. "You won't win."
Her captor scowled. "And what makes you say that, dear girl?"
"Because." Her shadow stirred at her feet. "I have friends."
Her would be killer was still scowling when a dozen shadowy hands burst from the dark and dragged them down kicking and screaming into the void.
R&R~!