A/N: Not my best chapter, still really sick. Hope folks enjoy this. That said...
Hello, hello~! Can anyone see this chapter?
Yes? No? Maybe so?
The site broke down a day or so back night for everyone across the board; major crashes and everything; hopefully the admins have fixed everything up by now; if not, I'm going to seriously consider stepping away and reassessing my path here. Every time a glitch happens -power outage or otherwise- on their end it throws everything I'v set up way out of wack. The stress isn't good for my heart or head, either.
That's not a healthy setup for a writer, let alone someone of my age. I'm trying to stay positive, but its so very difficult...
Case in point, had a whole schedule set up, double and triple update days planned, then everything went barmy and shot my inspiration to hell and back. I LOST THOUSANDS OF WORDS. I can't even begin to describe the pain of that. I'm still here, despite the site breaking, and still writing for now. These constant breakdowns are testing my patience...
...but I remain. We'll see where this goes. I've started posting on other sites now as well.
In other news, updates for "One With Spirits", "Scarlet Vow" and "Omen of Change" are being pushed back, their slots being replaced with "Let Them Rot", "Upon My Name" and an unnamed Elden Ring story -Naruto as Morgott- that I'm contemplating. They'll still be updated, mind you, just not as quickly. They're just not as popular compared the rest. Heir of Dragons managed to claw its way out of that pit, and I'd like to think that they will, but I don't have much hope.
This story and Forget me Not may be ending soon as well, as reviews have dropped off. It all depends on feedback.
Take the World is in limbo; its fate will depend on the reception to the next chapter...which is going to be intense. But onto other matters.
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.
And of course, 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. Feels like everyone's lost their minds sometimes. 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.
So here we go. The fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others.
I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild, wicked world, one word at a time.
Once more, I own no quotes, references, or memes. Not a wit or a one. NOT! A! THING!
They're all tributes to legends far greater than little 'ol me. Disclaimer over.
Time and feedback will determine if this little ficlet remains a story.
"Our path is clear. We merely need to deal with this happy harpy of a harlot and remind her of her place in the order of things."
"And that is...?"
"Beneath us, squirming in pleasure and crying out our names."
~?
Pieces of You
"Talk."
Marika squirmed under his gaze. 'Tis not a story I enjoy...
Naruto folded both arms before his chest. "I can tell, but even so, you have a sister.
The Eternal Queen winced, looking mighty guilty beneath his gaze; he could sense it all the same. "I do."
They had retired to their chambers for the evening, the both of them, the better to prevent any prying eyes from seeing, nor eager ears from listening. Renna had run off to gods knew where, while Reyna and Melina had insisted upon having a sleepover with Godrick here in the capital. He wouldn't be surprised if the children were trying to eavesdrop. Let them. They probably wouldn't understand half of what was said here anyway...and if they did...well. They were strong girls. It wasn't as though they would be in any danger.
Kurama chortled softly in the back of his head. "Godrick might be."
Perhaps. Then again, perhaps not. Those two had taken a liking to the young scion of Stormveil and quickly taken him under their wing. He almost pitied him. His daughters were going to eat him alive when they grew up, sooner or later. On a normal night he might've taken Godwyn's boy aside and given him some pointers, advice even, to endure the chaotic storm that was his daughters.
Tonight was not a normal night.
He looked back to Marika. "You didn't tell me." It was not a question.
His wife made an unhappy noise and squirmed where she stood, studying her feet. "I did not."
...she was going to make this absolutely difficult, wasn't she? "And I never heard of this sister because...?
"You were not meant to!" she flung up her arms and paced away from him with an exasperated sigh. "She was an experiment. An accident, if you will. A mistake-Not like that!" She amended hastily at his thunderous expression. "It would help to think of her as a piece of me, one that caused me no end of trouble until Malekith slew her god-slaying flame with destined Death long ago. I had thought her dealt with." she turned back to him, muttering crossly. "Clearly, I should've known better. She is me, after all...
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because," she looked up at him at last. "I had hoped to forget her; hoped that she would learn her lesson and fade into obscurity."
"Marika."
"What?!" She flung up her arms. "Do not stare at me so! Am I not the fairest in all the land?"
'And with the biggest ego besides.'
Naturally, he chose not to say that. No one's questioning that. "I'm more curious as what this promise is that she's on about.
She blinked quickly. "You do not not know?"
"No?" and he didn't. "Do you?"
She shook her head. "I never met you until you came storming into my chambers that day. 'Tis possible you had a past with her, perhaps some sordid tryst you do not remember."
"You're not mad about that possibility?"
"Why would I?" she flicked her golden braid back over her shoulders. "She is me. I am her. It merely means you loved me before you ever met me."
..there's that ego again!'
But she had her hand on him distracting him.
"What is the first thing you remember of the Lands Between?"
That was the question, wasn't it? He'd not thought about his arrival here in years; never really had reason to. Trying to recall it now was...difficult. He had to reach back decades just to recall it.
...lemme think." He thumbed his chin. "I remember...snow. Darkness. Cold. I think I was injured...? The memory was fuzzy, dulled by time, but he could recall that much. "No, I know I was." the more he leaned into his past, the more came back to him. "Someone looked after me. I remember pale hands, but not a face. They had a soft voice.
"Oh, heavens. Whatever will I do with you? I suppose this makes you my guest...
A chill shot down his spine. He shook his head, shrugging off the past. "Pretty sure they told me about you massacred other people, including the fire giants."
-for which I will not apologize!" Marika stomped a foot, producing a small crater under her heel. "They were wicked, slovenly, drunken brutes who would have happily burned MY Erdtree to the ground for shits and giggles. This realm is well rid of them."
"If we can get back to the topic at hand, please?
Yes, yes, carry on." she waved a hand. "Where were you?"
Well, after that I went straight to the capital and the rest is pretty much history."
"Good history." she hummed fondly, licking her lips. Bloody insatiable woman. "I'm pleased to see you haven't forgotten that at least." a quick step carried her to him, where she laid her head against is chest once more. It was a sign as much a please; a warning that she was feeling clingy, and he lazily looped an arm around her to mollify her temper. "But as to the matter of your memory, it entirely possible you did forget. You haven't been acting strangely, have you?"
"No?" His conscience gave him a good hard nudge. "Speaking of strange, Godwyn's been acting pretty odd...
"I'll have a word with him." she waved a hand. "He is my firstborn. He will listen to any case, you haven't been acting strange at all. Perhaps those memories of your past were simply sealed away."
He recoiled. "By me?!"
"Not by your hand, no." She drew back considered him for a long moment. "Maybe you took a nasty blow to the end. Or perhaps...?" Her frown deepened now as she took him by the face with both hands, turning his head to one side. "Hmm. I see.
...see what?"
"Hmmmmmmm..."
You gonna answer me?"
Marika leaned closer. "Hmmmmmmmm...!"
He slapped her flank and she jolted back to reality with a start.
"Calm yourself. I was merely thinking." Quick as can be, she turned his head back to her. "It seems someone put a very effective mental block on you; and I'd bet my crown it was her. I can't seem to undo it." she absently pinched at his cheek. "As expected of me. She was most thorough. Can that beast of yours...?"
...I can't." Kurama almost sounded surprised. I didn't even notice it there until she pointed it out. Very subtle, but strong."
What in blazes was it? He could feel something in the back of his head now that he'd been made aware of it; not pain, but a gap, as though someone had reached inside his head and carved out a memory. The thought chilled him, moreso that he might have willingly allowed it to happen.
"Well, there you have it. Clearly you made some sort of promise to this Gloam-Eyed Queen, or should I say this piece of me. And now she's come to collect. She is our enemy, the Gloam-Eyed Queen, Empyrean leader of the Godskin Apostles and the original owner of Destined Death. Do you understand this?
He winced, worried by her tone. "Marika-
"And the fact that she has returned means I was right all along!" Her triumphant cry utterly baffled him. "Victory is mine!"
His brain fizzled out. "Ha?"
"Don't you see?" she faced him with a smile bordering on euphoria. "You fell in love with me from the first. We were always meant to be together." Her hands came together in a delighted clap. "We merely need deal with this happy harpy of a harlot and remind her of her place in the order of things.
"And that is...?"
She licked her lips. "Beneath us, squirming in pleasure and crying out our names. Possibly with a baby or two in her belly."
His face burned. "Marika!"
"Honesty is the best policy, dear husband." she turned a smoldering grin upon him. "I'm sure she'll lose her patience and come to claim you eventually. Its what I would do."
His eyes widened. "Are...are you using me as bait?"
"There, there." She patted his bicep. "Don't think of yourself as such my dear consort eternal, you are but the honey meant to entice the beast and I the steel trap that shall clamp down upon them, holding them down as I ravage their flesh...
A beat of silence followed. And then:
Naruto arched an eyebrow. "Do you have any idea how dirty that sounds?"
Marika opened her mouth to retort. Closed it now." Hmm. Perhaps you are right. And perhaps this piece of mineself is more dangerous than I thought. Why, she might even seek to defile you!"
He laughed that. "Oi! I'm hardly a virgin by this point-
It was no use, and he realized what Marika wanted a moment later.
She grabbed him by the hand and dragged him to the bed. "We must protect your chastity!
Naruto absolutely twitched.
"Oiiiiii!"
(.0.0.0.)
Reyna took her ear from the door and looked to Melina with a most curious expression. "What's chastity?"
Her sister's little face screwed up. At length she shrugged. I do not know. Nor do I wish to."
A low, lusty moan echoed from behind the door.
The girls exchanged a disgusted glance.
"Ewww~!"
That was all the excuse they needed to scarper back down the hall and well away from their parent's bedroom. Together they fled, from the noise as much a the images in their head.
Reyna broke the tableau first, skipping beside her sister. "Are we going to have a baby brother?"
Melina shrugged. "Possibly. It would be nice to have someone to boss around."
Her head tilted. "What would we even name him?
"Gehrman sounds like a grand name."
"I disagree. I prefer Gwyn..
"Bah! Of course you do!"
"Artorias sounds nice...
As one the girls paused. Together they looked back to young Godrick. Their playmate had been wise enough to hold his tongue and follow them in stoic silence, letting them have it out among themselves without fear of turning their attention -and their whims!- upon himself. No longer. Godwyn's descendant gulped beneath their gaze.
...what?" he shrugged a pale shoulder, trying to defend himself. "It does."
Reyna and Melina looked among themselves, considering.
"A compromise, then?"
"Indeed, dear sister. That sounds grand."
Reyna cocked her head anew, dark hair falling across one eye. "Would you like to play tag, Godrick?"
He shrugged with a rueful little smile. "Against my better judgement...yes?"
Melina beamed. "Excellent. You're it."
The boy balked. "Why me?!"
Because there's two of us and only one of you, silly!"
Their accord made, the children scarpered, fleeing deeper into the castle...
.
..
...
None of them noticed the silent shadow detach itself from the wall behind them.
None saw the assassin crane its neck after their retreating footsteps.
None noticed the twisted black knife in their hand.
She lingered there for a long moment, considering her options. Behind her lay Queen Marika and her consort/husband. Killing them would plunge the world into chaos...but they were no easy prey. She was alone in this corner of the castle, her fellows not yet present. Why risk herself? After all yet three delectable targets had just passed by under her very nose. It felt like fate.
With soundless footsteps, the Black Knife pivoted on her heel.
After a moment's pause, she made her choice.
She followed the children.
(.0.0.0.)
As the children played, the Lands Between settled into a deep slumber.
All the world slept, blissfully unaware of he danger.
And in the darkness, shadows silently stirred.
A night of death. A night of infamy.
So it began.
(.0.0.0.)
"The preparations have been made, Lord Godwyn."
...then let us begin, Fia."
Marika's firstborn knelt before the corrupted altar, shed his deep blue robe, and took a deep breath to steel himself. The pain would only be temporary, he knew. This was necessary. Death was not the end, it was merely a gateway; a mean to transcend one's physical flesh and move to a higher plane.
But do to that, one must die with him.
The timing was paramount in that regard.
One's flesh would die, and another's soul would be slain.
He wished it hadn't come to this, but it was the only way to properly affect change in the Lands Between. This would hasten Godfrey's -Father's!- inevitable return and put things right. No more Naruto. No more of what he called peace, only the blessed crucible of war. His treacherous mother would pay for her betrayal, for her sins, for forsaking him, and all would be well. Sacrificing his flesh seemed a paltry price to pay in that regard. If the loss of his body was all he need give then he would do so gladly.
Raising his head, he spread his arms wide, exposing the broad shoulders of his back for the ritual.
"Alecto, Tiche." he intoned the names of his oldest, dearest friends. "You may begin."
Black knives gleamed in the moonlight. Their leader gave the signal.
In unison, the blackened blades descended.
A god died smiling.
A/N: Aaaand scene.
Next time: Night of Knives.
Well? Should this remain a story? Yay or nay? Do let me know!
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this particular story, and others. If folks don't enjoy it, the story will remain, but it won't be continued. And there we go. As ever, reviews keep me alive. Without them, I cannot write. Just wanted to thank everyone for sticking with me.
I'm weary from work these days, but coming home after a long one to read feedback really make it worthwhile~!
So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas....Review...Would You Kindly? And have some previews~!
I'm deliberately being coy with them this time around.
Some are far off. Others are closer than you think.
Once again, SPOILERS AHOY!
Seriously, ye be warned~!
Mostly the same here.
(Previews)
"MOMMY! DADDY!"
Naruto burst from his bed with a snarl.
Their children were screaming, wailing for help.
Marika was only a heartbeat behind him, hammer in hand. "WHO DARES?!"
Everyone felt it. Across the Lands Between. The Death of a God.
Miquella flung the book down with an exasperated hiss. "Blast it! Why is it so hard to find answers?! Has even this library been censured?!"
A door crashed open behind him. He turned on instinct, ducking a thrown dagger. It clattered harmlessly against the wall.
"An assassin? You have god timing." he rounded on them with a snarl. "I needed to vent."
Malenia raised her blade, Rykard and Radahn at her back. Together the trio stood their ground as the Black Knives closed in.
Ranni pitched backward with a yelp, blasting her would-be killer in the face with a spell. "Away, vermin! You shall not have me this night!"
Marika took the news about as well as one might expect.
Which was to say not well at all.
"THIS MEANS WAR!"
Her arm still itched. How annoying.
Mohg saw what he thought was an opportunity and took it. More fool he.
"A challenger at our gates? How quaint."
"He says he's a messenger...for someone called the Gloam-Eyed Queen."
Marika smiled. It was not a pleasant smile. "Finally got too big for her britches, did she? Perhaps I should send Maliketh after her...
Malenia came crashing through the door. "I know who the traitors are!"
All eyes turned towards her.
"Oh. I'm late, aren't I?"
EDIT: Hey, you made it! Thanks for reading! Hope you have great luck and a great day~!
Looking forward to chatting with you all when I get back from work~!
R&R~!