A/N: ...still alive, somehow.
Double update today; this and Not My Lady...if I'm not in the hospital.
Smacked my head and can barely write today from the pain, probably going to get X-rays if the pain doesn't stop. Wish me luck T_T
As you all know, this story will be ending early.
Came within an inch of canceling this altogether -most folks don't seem to like it- but someone asked me to give it a go,
If by some miracle this makes it to 900, I'll make it a full length story. It doesn't seem possible and just don't have much hope for this particular tale, but who knows? I've been surprised before.
With my fifteen year anniversary on this site finally here, I find myself reflecting on the little things in life. What was once a lazy pastime meant for me and a few friends really grew and evolved over time. There are days when I look back on the last fifteen years here and I wonder if anyone will remember me; if I made an impact, despite never making a single cent on any of these stories. Some days were happier than others, and some stories I enjoyed writing WAY too much; to the point where I'd stay up all night working on them.
There are times when I look to the future and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone.
Of course, I try not to dwell on the latter overmuch; I'm still alive and still writing. In an ideal world, I'd like to keep doing so for as long as I can. But old age is catching up to me and these days, the world is filled with so much madness and death. Even before that, so many friends and fellow writers I once knew are gone, now. Will I still be here in twenty years? Ten? Five? Its a chilling thought. But for now, I'm still here, still writing.
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story, and others. Meaning that if folks don't like this, it won't be continued. If the story itself ain't popular/well-received...well, I won't be able to continue it. I'm working two jobs, holidays are here too, meaning 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 all hours of the day keeps me absurdly busy; I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.
No questions this time around.
Alright, I think I've kept you waiting more than long enough. With that said here we go.
As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes! Not a wit or a one.
They're merely tributes to legends far greater than I.
"You will learn plain glimpsed only in myth."
~The Moment He Finally Snaps.
Taking Charge
The Black Knives reaped a grim toll.
Naruto cursed them for it; his carefully crafted facade of "Miquella" breaking but briefly as he beheld the bodies. The blood. The carnage. Come the dawn most of the assassins were slain or captured. Most, but not all, and the damage was already done. Leyndell lay sundered, the royal family gutted by blackest betrayal. Nothing would be the same.
Godwyn and Ranni were...gone. He'd seen their bodies.
Radahn had gone haring off after the stragglers in a towering rage, hounding them out of the capital to chase them through the Altus Plateau.
Radagon lay blinded; the healers were uncertain whether his sight would ever return. Regardless, his right arm would not.
Marika had shut herself away and wouldn't to see anyone, not even her own family.
Malenia outright refused to leave his side. Kurama had...vanished.
Everything was in disarray.
Thus it fell to him to pick up the pieces.
He didn't want to, but someone had to. It fell to him.
No knight liked taking orders from someone who appeared to be a child, but orders from a "child" were better than no orders at all. He wasn't about to waste the precious time he had in his adult form on them. He needed every second he could get. In the end they capitulated to his commands. Well, his commands, and Malenia's glares.
What choice did they have?
Rykard might've been able to rally the men, lead them better than he, but the'd been dead for ages now and Morgott with him.
Who else did that leave? Mohg? In his wretched little sewer oh so eager to fawn over him?
No, it fell to him. It always did. Anger threatened to break through.
It took...more effort than he cared to admit.
He was tired of this. So very tired.
Maybe it was better this way.
Maybe it should just end.
Maybe, just maybe...
"My lord...?"
"What're you standing around for?!" He looked up from his chair and snapped at a stunned Tree Sentinel. "Fine me the ones who did this or you'll join them!"
(.0.0.0.)
Miquella led well.
Of course he did. He was her brother. He sat the Throne like he was born to it. No one else could command their forces in this time of crisis. No one else could rally their men, no one else could assure the people that all was well. Malenia preened a little as she watched him browbeat a final of the Tree Sentinels to their duties. The last of the knights dithered a moment, then saw her standing coming down the stairs him, blade drawn. He gave a quick, hurried bow and scarpered down the long staircase leading back to the sanctuary.
Her dearest twin sighed and slumped upon the throne. It seemed to dwarf his small body.
She lingered behind the latter, unwilling to speak.
Didn't have to, really; he did that for her. "Were you watching the whole time?"
"A little." She granted him a small smile. "You did well. I didn't want to interrupt you."
...how's mother?" He wouldn't look at her. Instead he looked up, gazing at the Erdtree towering above them.
"Still raving mad." Malenia winced even at the reminder even as she said it. "Losing Godwyn broke something deep inside her. She may never be whole again."
...and father?"
"He will be blind." there it was, his grim fate revealed at last. "You did your best, all you could."
"My best isn't good enough." he muttered into his fist. "Never is. She was right.
Something stilled in her sullen, silent soul. "She...?"
Had some wench approached her brother...?!
He didn't seem to hear her; he was too busy muttering to himself. "I tried so hard to be kind, to be gentle, to be fair; tried so had and got so far, but in the end it doesn't matter.
"Miquella...
"Forget I said anything." her twin shook his head and looked to her at last." Still, you have good timing." he reached into his belt. "There's something I need to give you. "So speaking, he held out something for her to see. "Here. Come closer."
Malenia did as her brother bade without hesitation. She could do no less.
She gazed upon the item in question, not quite comprehending at first. It was unalloyed gold, yet also dark ebony, black and yellow twined within one another before tapering off into a fine point.
"Is that what I think it is?"
"Hopefully." he offered the needle unto her. "I just finished it this afternoon. Try it."
Reverently, she did so, took it from his hand and set it to her flesh just below her ribcage. Here it was. The moment of truth. Closed her golden eyes, Malenia took a deep breath to steady herself...then she thrust it in with brutal dispatch. Her entire body quivered. Convulsed now, as she trembled form head to toe.
The effect was immediate as it was pleasing. There was no pain. The Rot ceased to writhe within her, stopped pressing down on her temples and tainting her every thought.
How is it?
Beautiful. Glorious. Peace incarnate.
She opened her eyes and rolled her shoulders. ...There's no pain."
"Good." His head bobbed in agreement. "I'll have to make more, but this way, you won't need me by your side every hour of every day.
The words hurt her more than she thought they would.
It sounded...like he was going away.
Nonsense, surely?
Their was still so much to see and do. Surely their journey couldn't be nearing its end. Not yet. They still had to save the Lands Between and avenge the Night of Black Knives. She still needed to figure out her feelings. It was too soon to call this an ending, surely? Miquella was her brother. It was wrong to feel this way. She had seen what had come of two siblings having a go at one another. She and Miquella were proof of that.
The path they trod upon promised disaster.
Yet she could not simply let go. Not just yet. She snatched at his sleeve an tugged
"Wait." She cuddled him close now, holing him to her chest one might a teddy bear. "I don't want to go...I wish to stay like this just a little while longer...
(.0.0.0.)
He would interrogate the Black Knife Ringleader that very night.
It wasn't something Naruto was looking forward to, worse, it was something he had to do alone. Without Kurama. His old friend had returned from Raya Lucaria, looking inordinately pleased with himself. Yes, he was up to something; he didn't know what it was, but whatever it might be, it threatened to upset the delicate balance he'd fought so hard to create. No, had to be him. No one else could be trusted with this...and no one else would see what he was about to do.
He swung the cell door open.
Darkness awaited him, an abyss teeming within.. There was no light here. He'd seen to it personally.
The Black Knives liked working in the shadows, did they? Fine. Let them live in them. See how long they lived without light.
He conjured a small flame to his hand and lit a torch. Set it into a brazier, now. Flickering flame flashed forth, revealing the prisoner. Chains rattled in the dark, their bound by chains and curses most foul.
She looked quite the sight. Not surprising. Malenia had not been kind to those who sought his death. Nor was he. She stared at him coldly, bruised faced framed by blond hair, dirt, blood and bruises. A woman of Numen heritage just like the rest, it only made them all the more difficult to subdue, let alone capture. This one had lost her right eye and several fingers besides.
Alecto, her name was. He'd learned it from one of the survivors before he disposed of them. Stripped of all armor and weapons and pressed into a rough linen shift, she hardly seemed a threat anymore. Naruto knew better. These assassins were not to be underestimated, even chained. And so he wouldn't.
"Enjoying your accommodations?"
"..." Silence was her answer.
"You're going to die." He informed her primly." All that remains is the matter of your death. It can be peaceful or painful. This is the choice I offer you. Tell me why you did this, who you work for-
She spat in his face.
A sigh trickled out of him. Was that really necessary? You're only making things more difficult for yourself."
She laughed at him.
"Do you think I fear you, boy?" Alecto's voice was a dull rasp, allowing him to glimpse the missing teeth in her mouth. "I do not." She'd been interrogated already he realized, but by whom he knew not. Regardless, she didn't look to have broken to them, in any case. "Little boy, little failure, little demigod. You will die, you and all your kin. In the end you are alone. You will always be ALONE."
"Hmmhm. You make a fair argument. Allow me to offer my rebuttal." He reached up to wipe the spittle from his face, but didn't strike her. He was above such things. Instead he took his adult form once more, burning up precious seconds if only to make his point.
Judging by the way Alecto squawked in surprise, it was a point well made.
"Not so little now, am I?" he tilted his head. "You're right. All men must die sooner or later. Be they mortals or gods. The same is true for all women as well. It was also true for your daughter, Tiche."
Alecto froze. "You didn't. You wouldn't dare. You're too soft for murder."
"I was, once. Not anymore. And unfortunately for you, I'm far from alone.
He drew a blade from his belt...
.
..
...and slashed a bloody trench...
...in his arm, opening from elbow to wrist.
The abrupt bloodloss nearly staggered him outright, but he stood firm and tore the blade free from the wound, preventing it from healing just yet. An open wound was required for this. Reeling a little he steadied himself against the wall, took a brisk step back and let it drip down. Pool across the floor. That puddle grew larger as Alecto looked on aghast.
A great hulking shape emerged from the depths to tower over them both. "You called, dearest Miquella...?
Here at last Naruto saw the fear on Alecto's face.
"No." the word was a whisper, a most fervent prayer.. "You wouldn't. You won't. You can't."
"I would, I will, and I can." Ohhh, now she was afraid of him? The gall of it all. "You had your chance." he reached down to take her chin in his hand, and gave her face a vicious squeeze. "You could have confessed. You could have turned your cloak. I might have even let you work with me, if you truly felt guilty for all those murders." He hardened his heart to what was to come. "Now you will learn plain glimpsed only in myth, suffering whispered in the darkest of dreams, agony you can only imagine.
He turned to Mohg.
"Take her. Make her talk, but make sure she doesn't die before she reveals everything she knows. No price is too great.
The one-eyed Omen bowed. "Of course, dear one. I live to serve."
Naruto shuddered. His lips curled in disgust, his very skin crawled in revulsion. Kurama and the others would understand. It would be fine. This fiend had his uses. He was using him. No more, no less. He would not fall for any tricks. Steeling himself, he closed his own wound and stepped to Alecto now. From there he brandished his blade in her face
She tried to shie away, but the chains wouldn't let her.
In the end, he cut a deep visceral slice down her cheek. The wound wept freely, as did she.
"Please...mercy...
Close your heart to it. She is an enemy.
"There is no mercy. Not anymore." He turned back to Mohg, "You may begin.
Morgott's brother dissolved into so much boiling blood and dove through Alector's wound to enter her body, pouring through with a raspy chuckle.
Alecto tried to resist. She even managed it...for a full thirty seconds. Then she broke and screamed.
She kept screaming as her eyes rolled back into her head.
Naruto watched it all without blinking.
He said not a word.
A/N: Nearly done now.
Its a shame to end this early, but the people have spoken. Unless...?
Do you want this to be continued? Yes? No? Maybe so? Make yourselves heard! By all means, let me know!
Aaaand there we go. As ever, reviews keep me alive. Without them, I cannot write. So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly? No previews this time.
You know what? No.
PREVIEWS IT IS!
(Previews)
"When were you going to tell me, Kurama?"
Credit where it was due-his old friend didn't flinch.
He'd corned him, and yet despite that, he still didn't flinch.
"Tell you what?"
"Don't play dumb. Rennala went missing last night. And you were nowhere to be found."
"I haven't the foggiest idea what you-
"How many more have you killed? All this time, Kurama. Behind my back...
"What would you have me say? This is for the good of everyone."
"The good of everyone? Or just me? Damnit, I didn't want this, I NEVER wanted this!"
Marika raised her hammer. Took a deep, shuddering breath. Her shoulders trembled with a sob...
Ashes. Her world was ashes, and her legacy with it. No longer. Today it all changed.
..with a single blow she shattered the world.
"Well met, Miquella!" Radahn boomed a laugh as he climbed down off his horse and unslung his swords. "Finally! A worthy opponent! Our battle shall be legendary!"
Naruto found himself mirroring the man's grin despite himself. This guy...was just too damn nice. Honorable to a fault, and refusing to disparage him even now that they were at odds with one another. He couldn't possibly be Ranni or Rykard's sibling. Or maybe he'd grown so noble and kind because those two were such bitter, cruel souls. Regardless, it didn't change what he had to do.
"Alright." With a groan, he dragged himself upright. "I'll play."
He took hold of his drooping shoulder...
"Aaargh!"
...and popped it back into place.
"Y'know," he rasped out, bending down to retrieve his weapon, "I'm glad I met you...
Radahn grinned right back, a pure and boyish thing for one so large. "And I you! TO BATTLE!"
R&R~!
