A/N: Quadruple update today. Took a lot out me, but I had to update something fun, lest I lost my mind.

Running to the Edge and Claws of a Lion need more time.

Slifer's helping me with Blood Upon the Snow; I definitely need it.

In other news depression's starting to hit real hard these days. Like a sledgehammer paired with concrete.

Sometimes I wonder why I do anything at all. can't claim to understand what's going wrong with my head anymore.

I don't even know why I'm feeling this way! One moment I'm fine, then my mood craters for a few hours, then I'm back again for a bit, and the cycle repeats. On and on, round the bend, forever and without end! Its rather annoying; as though I've become a prisoner in my own mind sometimes. Sure, what's one more mental problem on the pile. Not like I don't have enough, what with already being this old. Feels like every day is a battle sometimes. Meanwhile, my doctor insists that I'm fine. Take a health walk he says. Go fishing. You'll be fine.

*siiiigh*

Right. Suuuure.

Don't bloody feel fine, doc.

As ever, I own no quotes, references, quotes, themes or memes! They're simply tributes to legends far greater than I.

I'm just an old man who writes as a pastime. I don't make any money doing this, not a single cent.

I'm sure you'll recognize this jolly 'ol reference.

Trying to keep my spirits up here:

"I raised you better than this."

~?

Papa Knows Best

Six little words.

A simple set of syllables.

Yet they made Marika wince all the same.

Isn't it remarkable how one singular sentence can break you? Make you physically flinch as you hadn't since you were but a child? Because that was precisely how she felt under his gaze. Those stern eyes seared into her very soul and made her feel small. The scowl adorning those whiskered cheeks left her feeling like an ant crushed beneath the boot of a giant. Not THOSE giants, mind you; the being before her could have slain them with a flick of his wrist.

"..."

There he stood, her hammer in his had, clad in golden light etched with black markings. His hair shone like the sun, his face dimpling further in a scowl, his body still-shimmering with the faint heat of his arrival. He cocked his head toward her and said not a word. He made no a sound. Not even a singular noise. His gaze strayed back to the Elden Ring-which she'd nearly shattered-then found her once more. She looked away, unable to meet his gaze. Because you see, she remembered this man well, he who had once bounced her upon her knee, read bedtime stories to her, tucked her in at night. Her was her first memory...

.

..

...and now it looked like he just might be her last.

She was the Eternal Queen. Ancient. Immortal. Untouchable.

And she was terribly, horribly afraid of this being. He could unmake her in an instant, if he so chose.

That fear got the better of her and drove her to near-hysteria. "Stop that!" She flung up her arms. "Stop staring at me, Father! How long are you just going to stand there...menacingly?"

Naruto, her sire, Lord King and God-Emperor, closed his eyes and inhaled deeply through his nose. The disappointment in "Long enough."

He tapped her fractured hammer down against the Elden Ring set upon an anvil, creating a soft chime as metal struck light. As she looked on, it restored itself to its former glory. All of her rage, her grief, her pain, undone in an instant. It reformed before her very eyes and took its place in the skies once.

Only then did he turn to face her. She felt like a little girl beneath his gaze once more.

"Father, we can explain-

"Can you?" his gaze held sharper than any blade. "By all means, go right ahead. I leave for a few decades and I come back to find this? I don't recall telling you to start a holy war while I was away," his staff tapped down once, eliciting another flinch from her. "Come to think of it, I don't remember telling you to split with Godfrey and to shack up with your brother, either. And I certainly didn't tell you to shatter the Elden Ring. Do you have how long it took to me to make that thing?! But noooo, you just had to remove Destined Death from it, which started this whole mess!"

Radagon, silent by her side until this very moment, snorted in mild amusement.

"I'm sorry?" Naruto rounded on him with all the fury of an inferno made flesh. "Did I say something that you found funny, son? No? Good. Wipe that smile off your face and stop being a dummy! Servant of the Greater Will indeed! Greater Twit, more like! I know you have a brain in that head of yours! Your children, my grandchildren, deserve better! And don't get me started on the rest!"

Marika tried to protest.

She really, truly did. She just wasn't quick enough.

"You know what? No! I don't want to hear your excuses." Naruto thrust a finger at them. "You're grounded, the both of you! Go to your rooms!"

A/N: Aaand scene.

Hope you enjoyed the hint at the multiverse I'm making.

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?

(Previews)

"Father! Look what I made!"

A tan hand patted the princess' head.

"That's adorable, Rennala. Such a lovely drawing."

She beamed up at him.

"Right, that does it! You're grounded for the next decade, young lady!'

Ranni sputtered in sheer disbelief. "I am no child of yours! You cannot ground me!

"Grandpa privileges. Definitely can." he plucked the fragment of Destined Death from her fingers despite her protests. "I'll just be taking this...

"Listen, you little shit...

One step. That was all they saw.

Right before his hand closed around their throat.

...If she doesn't wake up by the time I'm done with your pals...I'll make sure you won't either."

"Perhaps I didn't make myself clear." his right eye blazed with blue balefire. "I SAID SIT."

Maliketh dropped down on his haunches.

"Good boy."

EDIT: Hope this made you smile, and have a great day!

Warm regards,

~Nz.

R&R~!