A/N: Can anyone see this? Yes? No? Maybe so?
As of Monday, new stories and new chapters are randomly disappearing. Stranger still, profiles are randomly rolling back to the first week of June, only to mysteriously fix itself, then snap back to the wrong format again.
I myself didn't notice it until my latest story "At the Edge" started acting strange. Case in point, this is the message most receive.
Story Not Found
Story is unavailable for reading. (A) Story Not Found
Hopefully the devs can get this fixed. Let them know through the usual support email and the fictionpress twitter.
But until they do...
I'm afraid to update anything significant with these glitches.
Maybe its time for a good long break.
Sorry for the inconvenience,
With my fifteen year anniversary on this site 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. The recent earthquake in Turkey/Syria serves as a terrible example. 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.
As ever, I own no quotes, references, quotes, themes or memes!
They're simply tributes to legends far greater than I; an old man who writes as a pastime.
"...thank you, for bringing me here."
"No, thank you for being my friend. It was a great journey. I had fun."
"What-wait! What are you doing?!"
"I'm sorry."
~?
Flamebreaker
It didn't hurt.
Naruto wasn't sure why he found that funny, but he did.
He watched tongues of fire dance across his fingers. Race up his arms, now...
.
..
...and still, it didn't hurt.
He experienced only a vague, tingling numbness as it crawled up into his chest, searing his neck. In a matter of moments it had engulfed him completely, and still he felt no pain. He could see it curling in the corner of his peripheral vision, hazing everything he saw and yet he felt nothing. Was that a curse or a blessing? He wasn't sure which.
With a long-suffering sigh, he turned a weather eye on Melina's prone form, sprawled at his feet.
He'd known she would try to knock him out; try to sacrifice herself. He wasn't having that. A quick blow to the back of her head had sent her to dreamland instead. She looked so peaceful in sleep, her pale brow free of the worry and anguish that had consumed her only a few moments ago. She would be livid when he woke up. She had a right to be. Here he was, usurping her purpose. Were she awake she'd give him a good hard shake and shout at him besides. She had a fiery temper when roused to action.
And what a temper it would be when she awoke to take the Throne...!
A tear rolled down his cheek and smoldered away into steam. Was this what love felt like? What a wonderful feeling.
In another life he might've married her. They would've lived a happy life and had so many children...
Here at the last, he hesitated. He was doing this to save her...but he didn't want to die.
He wanted to live! He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her! He wanted to do so many things!
"Oh, spare me the sentiment. You know what needs to be done. Don't hesitate now."
He supposed there was no point in it. "Are you with me?"
...always."
Yes. Had to be them. Somebody else might've gotten it wrong.
On a whim, Naruto knelt and touched a hand to Melina's head, idly stroking her face. From there he dipped down and pressed a chaste kiss to her cheek. The ghost of a smile graced whiskered cheeks as he stepped away, and yet the Flame didn't spread to her. He didn't let it; he held it tight within his body, letting it surge and burn away everything that he was. He was the sacrifice. It had everything it needed right here.
.
..
...no point in stalling now.
The Forge of the Giants beckoned, and the flame within. It was eager to burn, eager to be given direction after so many years.
On weary limbs he stood to face the forge, and beyond it the Erdtree. That stupid, blasted, infernally sturdy tree.
"Alright, Greater Will." he growled, raising his arms. "I'm gonna put some dirt in your eye~!"
He didn't need Destined Death for this. His soul was more than enough.
A growl built in the back of his throat, piquing into a roar.
And the Flame answered.
He closed his eyes.
And burned.
Golden boughs buckled as a pillar of fire surge forth from the Forge of the Giants and into the Erdtree; both piercing and searing it from within and without. He urged the fires onward and upward, burning away the wretched thorns as he willed the heat to spread in all its glory. Here at last, he felt some small semblance of pain. He looked to his arms and found the skin there charred, beginning to blacken as the inferno overtook his healing factor. Huh. Not dead, then. He had expected to die instantly once he fulfilled his purpose, to burn and be consumed.
He still had time, then. Good.
There was one last thing for him and Kurama to do.
No, wait. He told a lie. Three things to do. Three bosses yet to face.
...we'll tear them apart
His body was burning. Collapsing from within. But he still had his strength for now.
Naruto gave Melina's slumbering form one last lingering look. "Be a good ruler for me, okay? I'll see you in the next life."
He wished he could've left her something, something more than mere words.
"Oi. Look."
Baffled he did, turning his gaze lower upon the Kindling Maiden's sprawled form. What he found there made him blink. He recoiled, startled at what he found there within Melina, nestled in her belly. Something small. Tiny. A spark so minuscule that she probably hadn't even noticed it herself. He certainly wouldn't have if Kurama hadn't pointed it out.
Life.
He laughed. "Well, I'll be."
She'd have something to remember him by after all.
Then he gathered his legs beneath him and leaped at the Erdtree.
A/N: Aaand scene. A more humor-driven story, but something new all the same.
Sooooooooo, do you want this to be a story? Yes? No? Maybe so? Make yourselves heard!
Really need to hear from you guys and gals here; if not this will simply remain a Shard like others.
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this particular tidbit, 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, as such, 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?
Bit of a switch up for previews this time.
(Previews) For actual Elden Ring stories I've already written this time time! Shocker, I know!
I'll not say which of course; that would spoil too much~!
Radahn tutted once, idly ushering Friede and Gwnyevere behind him with a large arm.
Only then did he face his foes. "Right. That does it. EVERYTHING DIES."
And the skies opened up above them.
He looked down, alarmed to find a dagger in his chest. "Why...?"
"I'm sorry. I cannot let you do it...
Godwyn inhaled deeply. And then he began to roar.
His body glowed gold and the heavens shook.
"I'm sorry, did I touch a nerve?"
Lansseax tutted behind him. "You pressed the Ranni button."
"I'm sorry, the whaaaaaaargh?!"
Whatever else they might've said dissolved into wordless gibberish as a fist punched up and through their torso, bursting out their back in a shower of scarlet blood.
Godwyn -Naruto!- planted a hand on their shoulder and leaned in, tutting softly.
"You shouldn't have done that...
"Hello there~!"
The Fire Giant blinked. She blinked hard.
Who was this small human waving up at her and what did he want?
Naruto considered his latest work It would be an Orange Blasphemy indeed.
"Rykard! What art thou doing now?!"
He grinned. "Nothing~!"
R&R~!