A/N: Feeling a bit better after yesterday's health/allergy scare.

Still not fully recovered, but I can crank out a double update real quick.

Unfortunately the site is still bugged with notifications/email alerts, blank pages and the like.

Its driving me mad. TWO weeks of this, with no response from the admins, and the problem is getting progressively worse.

But hey, the app works right? Only problem is, some of us can't us the app, or don't wish to. That's a lot of people not getting alerts.

Its driving me batty.

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. The tragedies in Hawaii 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.

Time and feedback will determine if tales like this become a proper story. In other words...its up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know~!

This is short for a good reason; I'll not waste energy on it if folks don't want to see more.

Henceforth, the chapter titles will start with the word "Let"...

Naruto/Malenia is an adorable little spaz to write~!

We're still referring to him as him for now.

It'd get far too confusing otherwise.

"If I'm going to be stuck in this damn body, then I might as well make use of it.

You didn't think I'd just lay down and take it, did you?

Oh, no, no, no. This means waaaar!"

~Naruto.

Let Them Laugh

It...took a long while for Naruto to grow used to the name Malenia.

How strange it was to be a child again, to have a proper childhood indeed. Even five years after the fact, Naruto still found himself -his mind remained emphatically male as always- hesitating more than once when someone called him Malenia. There was still that brief moment of confusion, a disconnect, if you would, the brief urge to pivot and argue that such wasn't his name.

Try as he might, she wasn't used to being, well...a girl.

Sage knew he didn't act like one. No pretty dresses or gowns for his new body, give him a white tunic and black breeches any day, no matter what anyone might say. You couldn't run in a dress and running was something he well and truly loved to do, much to the consternation of his new siblings. Let them call him a hellion if they liked. Let the royal court scratch their collective heads over his antics. Let Radagon turn up his nose at his so-called "daughter" as others whispered behind his back. He didn't care.

That said, he felt he made a brave showing of it all the same; better than most would have upon fining themselves thrust into a such a strange second life. It would have been easy to run away once he learned to walk again, but he hadn't. Instead he'd chosen to stay.

"Malenia!" A voice called to him somewhere in the distance. "Sister! Where have you gone this time?!"

Miquella was amusing constant in that regard; he wasn't just a reason to stay, but rather a perpetual reminder of, oh hey, I have a brother now. Having a twin made things better. Amusing even. Almost like having a good 'ol partner in crime for her mischief. Even now the other demigods didn't seem to know what to do with them.

That was fine~!

This was fun and fantastic and free because today, today, oh, today!

Today they'd get their shadows. That meant a new friend. She was rather looking forward to it.

Contrary to what most might believe, Naruto wasn't stupid. Being reborn as Malenia had given him time to contemplate things, to asses, to consider between his many and myriad mischiefs. He knew what a shadow was "meant" to do. They existed solely to slay you if you turned on the Greater Will.

Ha! Shows what they knew.

Blaidd was Ranni's so-called Shadow and he was loyal as they came. He'd sooner slay himself than attack her. He meant to have the same relationship with his, and he'd make certain that Miquella was much the same once the time came for his little...surprise. But like any child awaiting a gift, even a reborn one, he found himself curious. Indeed, he wondered what -who!- he would receive as a partner. Ohhh, hhe hoped it was a girl. She had absolutely no patience for boys, as Rykard and Radahn would happily attest.

But that was nether here nor there now, was it? He had an appointment to keep!

Leyndell was a veritable maze of corridors for the uninitiated, twists and turns without end- something he often took great pleasure in when planning a prank- yet today he didn't have time for that sort of thing. He was late, oh so late, for a very important date! There was much merriment to be had, yes, but...Hmm?

Movement up ahead.

Naruto slowed, not quite stopping, but curiosity stilted his anxiety somewhat.

A robed figure stepped out of the hall not three yards ahead of him. Their back was turned cradling something in their hands, quite unaware of him in their headlong rush to get wherever they were going.

Oh? Was that who he thought it was? Well, well, well! An impish smile hit the corner of his mouth and split his pale face. Perhaps a bit of fun could be had after all. Target acquired!

Kicking himself upward, she alighted upon the wall and kept running, careful to keep his footsteps soundless.

Even after all these years, he'd not forgotten his shinobi training, not a jot.

Bare feet padded against polished marble, making not a sound.

He was silent. He was shadow. He was stealth.

So close now. Close. Closer. Closest. And theeen:

Like the ninja he no longer was, he pounced!

"Raaaaaaaannnniiii!"

He struck his half-sister's back like an almighty arrow loosed from one of Radahn's bows and bowled her over. Down they went in a tangle of arms and legs, head over heels. The distinctly unladylike yelp that followed was utterly worth it. Less so the litany of curses that flowed forth from the sorceress' lips...heh. Who was he kidding?! Definitely worth it.

Something caught his eye; a black sliver of steel on the floor. Like the shard of a blade or somesuch. Had she dropped it just now?

Curiosity compelled him. Finders keepers. Intrigued, the redhead snatched it up and tucked it into his pouch.

Just as well, too; a groan told him Ranni was coming around. "Malenia?! Get off me this instant!"

Naruto most assuredly did not; if only because he didn't feel like it. "Nope."

If Ranni had a problem with him, maybe she should take a page from one of her books and leaf. Ha, good joke, much funny.

A baleful glare was his reward. "Sister, get off my back."

"I think...not."

Ranni made angry Ranni noises, but failed to dislodge him. Really she was a testament to what this new body of his would would be one day, tall and imposing, her pale face framed by a curtain of crimson hair and a gaze that could cut you in two. She was making a fair effort at that now. Awww, how cute. Such a shame they were related. Despite his recent reincarnation, he had absolutely no interest in boys. None whatsoever. That was some small comfort. It meant he was still himself. Herself. Meh, semantics.

...what do I have to give thee to make ye move?"

A grin bloomed across his face. "A few lessons would be nice...

"Done." she replied just a touch too quickly. A mistake on her part. "Now let me up!"

...I wasn't finished." she'd shown weakness and now he was going to milk this moment -and her!- for all it was worth. "I want us to go on walks in the garden again."

She huffed angrily. "You're getting much too old for that."

"I'm only five!"

Sure, he had plenty of brothers, but only one sister. Was it any wonder he wanted to spend time with her?

"And speaking of time, I think you should-

A large hand closed around him from behind and hoisted him upside down before he could make further demands.

"And what do we have here?" A low gravelly growl greeted him. "A little kitten running about the halls? Don't you know there are wolves about?"

Naruto grinned despite the awkward position, uncaring of the long messy red hair getting into his eyes. At first he thought it was Blaidd who'd snatched him, but no, the land holding his ankle was much too large, the voice far too deep and their presence all too towering. Even so, he still could've broken free at any time, used a shadow clone, and drove a rasengan into their face. But they didn't know that, which was also fun in its own way. Instead, he smiled, just for them.

"Hello, uncle Malekith."

A clawed finger poked his still-nonexistent chest, drawing a laugh from him. "What did I tell you about tormenting your siblings?"

He giggled despite himself, swaying in place. "Not to."

The old wolf sighed. "And yet here you are."

"Yuuup."

Idly, he noticed Ranni had gone terribly still behind them. He wondered why. There was no danger here. None at all. In another lifetime "Mother" would've kept her Shadow far away from the capital, away from herself and everyone else. But he wasn't having that now, was he? Big families were the best families and the more the merrier.

Maliketh didn't seem to notice the tension; and if he did, he concealed it. "Off with you now, little niece. Lest you be late. Your shadow awaits."

Naruto kicked his way free and ran off with a merry cackle, blissfully unaware of the crisis he'd just averted.

As such, he didn't see the confrontation that followed.

In hindsight, perhaps that was for the best.

"You try my patience, Lunar Princess...do not attempt to take Destined Death from me again."


(.0.0.0.)


There were times when Miquella feared for his twin.

Malenia was...wild. Energetic to be sure, but she didn't act at all the way an Empyrean should. Not like him. Not like Godwyn. Not even Ranni. From her earliest moments she had been a bane to the Golden Order-fiery and fierce, not at all a composed demigod. She railed against her Curse and fought it at every turn. She just...fought. And fought. She loved to fight and kick up trouble like nothing else.

He loved his twin make no mistake, but she was everything he was not; wild and rambunctious, ever eager to be somewhere. Today was no different.

Scarce had he found her again than she was running off again, forcing him to jog after her just to keep up.

"C'mon! We're going to be late!"

She ran past him with a wild grin, scarlet hair lofting in the breeze behind her. As he looked on she vaulted away, kicked off a wall an launched herself into the air, all but rocketing ahead of him. Gods be good but he pitied her future husband. Assuming she ever took one. She didn't seem all that inclined toward boys. Girls, on the other hand...well, he wasn't one to judge.

"Miquellaaaa! C'mon!"

He stifled a small smile. "Coming, sister."

As his sister willed, as always. She'd ever been the sort to lead.

They were the youngest of the demigods, mere children compared to true titans that were their siblings; General Radahn, Praetor Rykard, Lunar Princess Ranni, and of course Godwyn the Golden. They were the outliers of course, for they were Empyrean. Today was their fifth name-day, the day they would receive their Shadows.

Malenia seemed quite excited about that, despite her...condition. Did she not understand the ramifications of such a thing? Their shadows were simply another shackle, another way to better bind them to the Greater Will. Silent blades, poised to strike them down at the first sign of treachery. And for what? The Golden Order could not cure their curses. Of that much he was certain-

"Irina!" Malenia chattered at a serving girl ahead of them. "There you are! Sorry, no time to talk! We're going to be late!"

Miquella sighed and considered warning the poor girl just whom she'd made friends with, then thought better of it.

She'd realize what Malenia was eventually, just how wild she was. Everyone did. Sooner or later.

He could only pray their soon-to-be Shadows understood that.

They had their work cut out for them.


(.0.0.0.)


Light.

Blessed be the light.

So this was what it felt like.

To think, she'd almost forgotten such a sensation.

Her body had been cold and silent in the Dark for some time now; unable to see, unable to move, but able to feel everything. It had been such a lonely existence after the Fire faded. She had lamented her choice, her mistake, her foolishness. And why wouldn't she? Such was her curse, her fate, the last living soul at the end of her world. She'd prayed for a release. For some small semblance of escape, for someone -anyone!- to take her away from it all.

Imagine her surprise when a higher power answered.

She was swept away from her dead world to another, here, in the Lands Between.

The Greater Will had been brutally precise in their contract. She was to serve and obey, so long as she did so, she would not be cast back into the dark.

And she was content to serve, really, she was! In a sense her new role was not unalike her first. She would attend to one greater than she and steer them toward their destiny. Little had changed. She knew how she must appear to the outside world. A beautiful blond woman clad in dark, burnt robes, a silver mask clamped over her blind eyes. Harmless. Insignificant. A woman who no longer remembered her name.

What a pitiful wretch she was.

And then she saw her.

HER.

The woman who once kept the fading embers of a fire "saw" whom she was to serve as she was brought before her, shepherded by the Two Fingers. She glimpsed her in her second sight, a little redheaded girl that almost seemed to glow from within. Perhaps it wasn't so much vision as sensation; she could feel her presence. She burned. Shone like the sun in her mind's eye as no other could. Truly she was a beacon among beacons. Merely standing in her presence filled her with warmth.

So, this was the one, then.

This was it. Her second chance. She had to do this right. "I am your shadow, my lady Malenia." the young woman bowed before her charge. "A pleasure to meet you. Use me for whatever you see fit."

The girl tilted her head, regarding her curiously. "Do you have a name?"

...I do not, my lady." if she did, she could not recall...

"Then I'll give you one."

.

..

...I beg your pardon?"

She Who Once Kept the Fire wasn't prepared for said girl's bright, sunny smile, nor her response.

"Ino!" the girl thrust a finger at her. "That's who you remind me of. So I'll be calling you Ino. Hope you don't mind~!" She didn't even give her a chance to respond; instead taking her by the hands and pumping her arms up and down, shaking them happily. We're going to be the best of friends~!"

Oh.

Oh, dear.

Oh, very dear ,indeed.

This wasn't what she expected at all!

By the embers...what had she gotten herself into this time?!

A/N: Aaand scene.

To be clear! "Malenia's" shadow is essentially the Firekeeper from Dark Souls 3. She fits the theme, as does Irina.

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.

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? Well...I'll not be able to continue it! Sad as that may sound, 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? And have some previews -potential blot bin things- that I'm working on.

References ahoy~! And ideas for new stories. Hopefully this will sate my muse for the time being.

(Previews)

Naruto huffed and cupped her bosom. "Damn boobs. How does anyone walk with these...?"


Today was war. And war, like his sister, never changed.

"Sister! Please stop!"

Malenia most assuredly did not. She was a red dervish of death, destroying everything in her way. Another knight rushed her and she grabbed their face, swinging them about like a human flail. Her laughter filled the battlefield as she smashed them down. Two more rushed her and she beheaded them without so much as a backward glance, cutting their compatriots apart with them. Only then did she turn. Wild gold-red eyes looked back at him as she tilted her head to stare at him.

A bloody smile was his reward. "Isn't this fun, Miquella...?"

The youthful Empyrean sighed softly.

His sister was utterly insane.


"I enjoy that look of confusion." she tutted softly, bare feet ghosting over broken glass. "When an inferior beings meets a higher power," Red light built around her body. "Its intoxicating...

Her victim gasped in pain.

"It burns, doesn't it? Knowing you can't fight back, can't do anything at all. How do you think your victims felt? Much like this, I'd wager.


"Don't do this, Malenia. I can give you everything you want."

"Then die!"


...wait."

Radahn tensed.

She rose behind him, dragging herself upright.

But she did not bloom. She glared at him with red, ruby eyes.

"That hurt." he heard her rasp. "That actually hurt. You'll regret that...


She clicked her tongue. "I will not.


A fist crashed into her face. She didn't budge.

"Is that all?"


Will you marry me?"

Malenia barked a laugh at them; it was a decidedly unladlylike sound. "Sorry, but you're not my type."

"How so?"

Her lips quirked, ever so slightly. "You're a man for starters...

Wait. But that meant she preferred...oh. Ohh.

Ohhh.

R&R~!