A/N: Would you look at that? Rapid updates!

Weekly updates!

Amazing what a little feedback can do, eh? Downright miraculous.

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.

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

I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time.

So here we have a little something that never quite made it past the cutting floor. Hope you enjoy it.

As ever in the words of Kaif...

...SPOILERS!

"He is my boy. My first boy.

Harm him, and I will move heaven and earth to find thee.

Dost thou understand? If thy harm so much as a hair on his head...

~Queen Marika.

Golden Son

Marika worried for her boy.

How could she not? She was a mother, after all.

Any true mother wished nothing but the best for their children, from eldest to youngest alike.

And make no mistake t'was her eldest for whom she wrung her hands these days. Godwyn wasn't like Mohg or Morgott. Marika knew that. Understood that. Her dear darling boy was hale, he was healthy, he was...awfully insistent about visiting his brothers down in the sewers, but such were the ties of kinship she supposed. As heir to the Golden Lineage and her successor, he was allowed such eccentricities. All her children looked to him for guidance, despite his eccentricities.

As well they should! He was her eldest after all.

He'd rambled with Rykard, roughhoused with Radahn, and raged with Radahn. Miquella and Malenia debated with him often, ever eager to share ideas. Even wretched Mohg and Morgott were not immune to his charms; it was he who kept the Omen in line after all; even if he had much to say about them.

Yet another reason Marika, looked upon her son with ever-increasing concern these last few days.

She loved her boy, truly, she did, but his deeds had begun to concern her. Godwyn was all had left of her beloved Lord Godfrey until his inevitable return. Godfrey, who was even now gathering an army of Tarnished unto himself for her sake. Godfrey, who had willingly accepted exile, knowing full well what she entailed for him. Godfrey, who would return one day -someday soon!- and help her rip the Greater Will from these lands, root and stem.

But their son, oh, their son! He acted so strangely sometimes! What was she to do with him?!

Godfrey would know. He'd always understood Godwyn better than her.

Without him, she was left to fumble in the dark.

To watch as their darling boy with whiskered cheeks grew up, made friends wherever he went; he who befriended dragons, conquered the Crucible, and tamed those of the Misbegotten. Now there were rumors that he wished to take the dragon Lansseax as his bride. In her human form, of course. And what a form it was-no! Don't get distracted. Their love was not real. It could not be real.

Markia could tolerate much. She was a goddess, after all. But dragon as a Godwyn's beloved bride?! Pah! She'd never allow such!

Something would have to change, and soon. The Greater Will was pressing for such.

Still she tried to push such thoughts aside as best she could.

Until that awful night came.

(.0.0.0.)

The Black Knives descended.

A grinning God caught one in his open hand.

...that wasn't very nice. I do believe you killed my outfit."

His would-be killer yelped in surprise as they founded themselves hoisted into the air.

"Do be careful." the smile of "Godwyn" was pure and bright as ever, but now there was an edge to that golden grace, a bite to his voice that hadn't existed prior. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you lot were trying to kill me." firm fingers closed around the weapon, both crushing it and the arm of his would be killer. "That would be terribly rude, you know. I haven't done anything to you...or do you know who I really am?

His hand reached up further, seeking their neck with effortless ease. Twisted.

An awful snap filled the night. His killer crumpled to the floor. He stomped down on their body with a smile. Crimson flowed forth.

"That won't do, ya know." he tittered a little, touching one hand to the side of his bloodied face. "I worked real hard to blend in, too. So hard. All these years. All this time. And yet you ladies went right for me. Did someone put you up to this? No.

The assassins didn't answer as he doffed his armor, of course. Whether they would nor or could not was another matter, and one that didn't concern him. He'd find the one responsible and tan their hide. If it was who he though it was...well. He would be sure to give her a good spanking. Once he finished with the six women before him.

...alright. I've given thee courtesy enough!"

He reached up, plucking away the last bit of his armor. It was next to uselessly against those knives anyway. Didn't need anything weighing him down.

"Before we get started," Naruto stepped forward and spread his toned arms wide. "Does anyone wanna get out?

There was a moment of hesitation. Then the Black Knife Assassins descended upon him as one.

The god grinned, whipped his victim at them, and lunged with a roar.

Bodies hit the floor.

A/N: Yup. Went there.

And there we have it. Another Request fulfilled.

Do you want this to be a story? Yes? No? Maybe so? Make yourselves heard! Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this particular 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.

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? And have some previews -potential blot bin things- that I'm working on.

(Previews)

Hyetta tilted her head. Then tilted her head some more.

"I can see."

"Yup." the grinning young man before her crossed both arms before his chest and bobbed his head. "How's it feel? Pretty good, huh?"

...why can I see?"

"Because I healed your eyes, silly!" That cheeky smile flashed out again. "Felt kinda bad for ya, so I did for you what I did for Kakashi."

The maiden blinked -how strange it felt!- and tilted her head anew. "What is a Kakashi?"

Her savior laughed. "Lemme tell you a story...

Naruto tapped his foot. "Ranni."

His daughter flinched. "It wasn't me?"

The tapping intensified. Tenfold. "Do I have to spank you?"

Rennala hummed in the background as she combed Rykard's hair. "Are they fighting again?"

Radahn rubbed his bruised cheek. "T'was my fault, father. I started it. I'm sorry...

"...I don't like you, but I'll be taking your hat."

"Never! Let chaos take the world!

Shabriri gurgled in surprise as a hand burst out his back. He looked down, alarmed to find the rest of the limb jutting through his impaled body.

"I am chaos." those crimson, cat-like eyes regarded him as though he were naught but an ant. "And I will be taking this world. But I won't burn it to the ground..."

THe blond tore his limb free, pitched him forward and left him to bleed out in the snow.

...now, goodbye."

"Hmm? This? This is my Elden Ring now. You can have it back when your God stops being a prick."

The Elden Beast snarled.

An open palm cracked across what passed for its face.

"Boo-fucking-hoo!" another slap, snapping its long neck to the side. "Get off your ass and stop bullying everyone!"

R&R~!