A/N:Many thanks to Advent, without whom this chapter would not have been possible.
Still dealing with the long term effects of long Covid -its awful- but I'm alive.
Just wanted to thank everyone for their support.
In other news, Slifer and Advent really stepped up, helping to crank out rapid fire updates. Shed No Grace on Me should be next, and hopefully "Apples and Atoms" with "Doctor of Demons" alongside my other categories. I also owe you all an update for Forgotten Son and GOT, but those chapters are fighting me.
Likewise, RWBY updates are coming back thanks to Evermore -fantastic RWBY series on Youtube, go check it out- but as far as my set schedule goes, it varies, I really only have one story I update weekly -Surpass Your Limits- and that's entirely dependent on fan feedback. In a perfect world I'd like to update everything weekly, but there are only so many slots available, and I update every day save Wednesdays. If I miss a day, that usually means a double update or a far longer chapter is coming.
So do let me know what you'd like to see, when, and how. Feedback keeps my gears turning.
With my sixteenth-year-anniversary on this site rapidly approaching, 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 world, one word at a time.
Time and feedback will determine if this remains a story. Simple as that.
As always, I don't own any quotes references, themes, or memes.
Brace yourself. This IS Game of Thrones, after all...
"You overreach yourself, boy."
"No, I overreach you...
I will always overreach you."
~?
The Approaching Storm
Daemon was indeed ill.
Rhaenyra found Naruto quick to assess the situation; quicker still to claim the maester's quarters for treatment, then quickest yet to throw her complaining uncle on a cot commence and treatment. Under his expert ministrations, he soon ascertained the cause and she watched intently as her dear heart laid healing hands on the man's chest.
Much to her surprise, he drew them back thrice as fast.
"How long have you been drinking poison?" Naruto questioned as he looked at Daemon seriously, somewhat startled that this was now the second time he has removed a lethal poison from a living person's failing body. A Targaryen, no less. It was too convenient, too much of a coincidence to ignore.
Something was going on around this castle, and the Uzumaki did not like it one bit.
Daemon tried to sit up in bed, only for a palm to force him back down. "What? Why would I...?"
"Its been in your blood for a little over three months by now." Naruto said with a look of apprehension on his face.
Daemon thumped the bed with his fist, "That damn snake Otto... Not once, not twice, but thrice!" he snarled.
Naruto's brow shot straight into his hair; she imagined her expression mirrored his.
That was a damning accusation.
Rhaenyra shook her head at her uncle, "You don't know that-
"I know enough," he scoffed, "Enough to know he's trying to grab power not his own." he grumbled, "Besides, who else would want me dead?"
"I mean, he isn't wrong, it is politics." Naruto shrugged.
"An even better way to say it." Daemon stated with a snort, "Fucking cunt has been after my head for who knows how long now. Guess he was waiting for me to take a arrow to the knee or some such, aye lad?"
Naruto rose a brow, "Do you really want me to answer that question?"
Her elbow jabbed his ribs mercilessly. "Naruto!"
He raised his hands up, "Alright, alright."
Daemon sighed as he rolled over with a grunt. His keen gaze settled upon them and lingered for a moment.
"What?"
At length he smiled, "So...finally did the deed, did you?"
Rhaenyra thumped him on the arm even as Naruto choked behind her.
As such, it was she who found her voice first, "How in the sevens hells did you know?!"
Daemon smirked back, "I have my ways." The rogue prince sat up, looking every bit the amused uncle, "And how did my dear brother take it? I assumed he approved?"
Fire. Her face as on fire. She wanted to curl up into a ball and die. Not from shame, she had nothing to be ashamed about, nor would she for finally finding her own happiness, but rather that Daemon had sussed them out so easily. She wouldn't breathe a word about Alicent. Not a single, solitary word. He'd never let her be if she did and she refused to betray her her friend's trust should she intend to join them.
Even if she dearly wanted her to-SHUTTING UP!
Face...
Fire...
Unending embarrassment!
"Come now," Daemon loosed a low chortle, doubtless mistaking her silence for anger, "Don't make that face. I'm happy for the two of you."
Rhaenyra paused, "You are?" she asked.
"Prove it." Naruto crossed his arms.
Daemon snorted in response, "Why would I lie about such a thing? Of course I am. The people may hate me but they'll love you."
She could hear the honesty in his words, and it worried her more than she cared to admit.
"How can you say that?"
Daemon hummed to himself merrily, "Quite easily in fact. The smallfolk love a good romance. A boy with no wealth, no tiles, no lands, and yet somehow," he gave he a poke to Rhaenyra just above the collarbone, "he managed to win your heart. The bards will have a field day with that alone." his words trailed off in a soft hum.
"Stop teasing me, uncle!" she burned red.
Daemon jerked back at her response, "Have mercy on an ill man. Can I not have a little fun?"
Rhaenyra huffed and flounced away, "Not when it comes to this you can't!" she answered.
Naruto moved to follow after her.
Daemon snagged his sleeve.
"A word? If you'd please..."
.0.0.0.
Upon the Prince's request, he lingered at Daemon's side.
Naruto looked at the older man with a curious gaze, "What is it?" he asked the rider of the Bloodwyrm.
"This is your last chance to back away, you know."
His brow furrowed. "Hm?"
"Fire and blood, you know those are our words. The Targaryen Words." a fist thumped his chest. "They might be your own someday, if you marry into the family. But know this." his wry gaze hardened suddenly, becoming sharp as steel. "Break my little niece's heart and I shall run my sword through yours. He as he sat up, gaining a look that quite frankly reminded him of an old friend. "Are we clear?"
Naruto nodded, "Crystal. And Rhaenyra's not so little anymore you know. She's old enough to make her own decisions.
"...I'm well aware. If I die, do me a favor and gut Otto, won't you?" he asked, extending his hand.
Naruto smirked as he clasped his palm.
"Happily."
.0.0.0.
Alicent longed for more.
No, she mustn't. It was improper.
Terribly, horribly improper in the worst of ways.
Yet she couldn't forget what had transpired on Dragonstone.
The feel of Rhaenyra's mouth on hers, her lips caging her own, the flutter of her heart, the realization that she need not be alone.
The unspoken promise of passion, an offer of a night beyond her wildest dreams...
.
..
...if she just gave in.
Naruto was... sweet-gentle, caring. He had proven himself kind and true, but she'd never been touched by a man before. Would it be just as good as she hoped...No! Could it be so much better? No, she didn't think anything could be better than that first kiss with Rhaenyra-stop thinking about that!
But she couldn't now, could she?
She doubted she would be able to go to anyone else ever again after that kiss...
Alicent buried her head deep in her pillow and heaved a long-suffering sigh.
Blast Rhaenyra for dragging her into this madness. She'd ruined her.
She would have them take responsibility for this.
Both of them!
(.0.0.0.)
Naruto entered the throne room at a steady pace.
As ever, he took a moment to admire his surroundings; no matter how many times he came here.
The Iron Throne really did look imposing these days, didn't it?
But he wasn't here to sightsee now, was he?
Viserys awaited him upon the Iron Throne in full regalia, crown atop his head, hands resting upon the hilt of his sword, its valyrian steel edge digging into the stones below. It made for an imposing image. One might even think him an accomplished swordsman, when the truth was anything but.
He looked...proud. Proud, but weary. The latter faded a little when he saw him.
"You wanted to see me?"
...yes. There are things of which I would speak with you."
Naruto blanched. 'Here it comes...
"Rhaenyra has chosen you." it was as close as he would come to saying she loved him. "It is a match I admittedly hoped to make for her, but she made it for me. As such," he sat up a little straighter upon the Iron Throne as he looked on, "I am entrusting you with my daughter, my very blood, that which I value more than anything else in this world. She has chosen you," he leaned on the word when he said it again, emphasizing it, "As you have chosen her. Do not break her heart." his eyes narrow intently. "I shall be very cross with you, if yo do.
Well, well, well! Wasn't today full of warnings!
"Frankly, I'm more worried about her breaking me." He muttered under his breath.
"Ha!" That got a laugh out of the old king. "She has her mother's fire."
He wished the moment could last.
Naruto's look soon turned serious, "Unfortunately, I gotta talk you about something...less pleasant."
Viserys cocked his head to the side in curiosity, "How so?"
Taking a deep breath, he barreled forward. "Remember when we found out Aemma was poisoned?"
Viserys nodded silently, "I do. That was a dark day. But you healed her. She is still well I trust? Unless...?"
"No, no!" he waved a hand quickly, "She's fine. I just find it funny the moment we get back from Dragonstone, someone else "fell ill" all of a sudden," he made quotation marks with both hands, "And the timing of it just doesn't add up...
"Daemon." he saw the moment Viserys understood. "Otto said he fell ill..." He let the words fall between them.
"If only that were true." Naruto answered, "Didn't Daemon warn you about him before? I believe he's done it on multiple occasion's."
The old king went terribly still. "This is a grave accusation you lay at my feet. Do you have any proof?"
Naruto shook his head, "No, not yet, but I'll know soon, one way or the other. Thought it would be better to warn you; just in case something happens to me." Better to be prepare a plan and not need it, then have no plan at all. "I'm not arrogant enough to say I'm invincible, ya know?"
"I dare say you're close enough!" The king's laughter was strained, even to his ears. "I trust you to act discreetly in this matter."
Naruto granted him a careworn smile and thumped his fist with a chest. "Hey, I can be subtle when I need to be, ya know...
In this world there was no such thing as DNA tests or cameras, or any means of recording someone.
He could sense negative intent, yes, but how did you prove that to regular people?
No, it would come down to his word against Otto's.
This time, he would make no mistakes.
Be prepared.
(.0.0.0.)
"Well, how was he?" Aemma smiled at her eldest daughter
Rhaenyra balked as her cheeks became red, "Mother!"
"It was just a question dear heart...
She tried to look backward, only for a hand to tug on her hair. Blast. This was why she didn't let anyone care for it!
"Come now," her mother soothed as she brushed her long locks, "Your father and I were of a similar age when we were wed. There's no shame in it. Now what if we did your hair like this..."
"I am not ashamed," she edged out hesitantly, "its just...we only began courting a short while ago. I do not wish to speak of such thing so freely."
"But you enjoyed him."
Rhaenyra made exasperated Rhaenyra noises.
Mother was relentless. "And yet you intend to have him as your husband by the end of it."
Anyone else would've been subject to a slap.
But not Mother. Aemma was a stabilizing influence on her. Not for the first time, Rhaenyra thanked her lucky stars. She was so glad she'd survived. She would have missed her terribly.
Little Visenya, too.
As though sensing that very thought, her baby sister cooed from her crib, ever under the watchful eye of her own little dragonling. Those two would truly be wild when they grew up. Her thoughts lingered on her sibling for a moment and the softest of sighs escaped her lips.
"I intend to have Naruto as my husband, yes...and perhaps Alicent as my fellow wife."
There it was, her feelings on the matter out in the open. She expected some semblance of shock, denunciation, even anger at the very least.
Mother merely tilted her head and hummed, "I thought there might be something there. You do realize this won't be seen as a popular decision, no?"
Rhaenyra scoffed in response, "What we do in the red keep is our business and ours alone."
Aemma granted her a nod, "That may well be, but you will face resistance at every turn. Even so will you still persist?"
What kind of question was that?! She'd come much too far to turn back now.
She lifted her chin, "Even so."
Mother kissed her forehead, "Good girl." Her eyes widened a little as she continued, "The blood of the dragon runs thick through your veins, does it not?"
A nod.
Her smile grew. "And you love Naruto, do you not?"
Fire lanced up her cheeks, but once again, she nodded...yes, she did.
"Good." she gave her cheek a pinch. "Do that which makes you happy, my little dragon. And if people tak issue with this, then to hells with what others think of you." a warm smile caressed her worn face; in hindsight, she should've know it wouldn't end there. Not by a long shot.
"Now, then...when do you intend to have your wedding?"
Rhaenyra flung up her arms.
"Mother!"
(.0.0.0.)
That evening, minds were meeting to discuss how to bring about plans that were ages in the making.
.
..
...and suddenly they had to revise essentially everything they had all thanks to a single chink in the chain.
"That boy, is going to undo everything!" a masked individual ranted with a snarl, "Two centuries of planning, to end these incestuous purebloods, and their lizards, and it could be stopped before we can even begin!"
"Calm yourself brother, even if there is a chink in the chain, we can still revise and strategize on what to do when it comes to the boy." a female voice spoke, "All we need to do is find a chink in the boy's armor."
"Shouldn't be that hard." another man shrugged. All men had a weakness, all they needed was to find the boy's.
"How, the man is invulnerable to fire, dragonfire, and he battled the Cannibal in open daylight with not but his bare fists!" the same man rounded in anger, "How can we combat the man who can fight the beast that is now as large as the Black Dread itself unarmored and unarmed? And not only that, but who knows how much life remains inside the beast, let alone this child who has ruined almost everything for us?!" he roared.
"Oh boo hoo, so the poison on the queen didn't work, who cares, there is no male Targaryen to inherit the Throne aside from Daemon who has no heirs to call upon to take control after." the third voice stated, "In time, the poison inside the King's brother will take effect and he will die, just like the King will, just like the Dragon's, just like all of those who are in power because we allow it to be so."
"And yet, the boy has magic that can subservient all our efforts." a second female voice spoke, "He healed the Queen, and while her passing would have been sad, it would have paved way for Brother Otto to place Alicent up for the position to take over as Queen while we ran the world from behind the scenes." she stated.
"Let's just be glad that despite our most recent failure to kill the queen succeeded in giving us a way to secure more time for ourselves. Two princesses is better than having a male heir to legitimately inherit the throne, not including the King's brother." the first female spoke up.
"Let's focus on something specific here, shall we?" a sixth voice spoke, "Cannibal." he stated as everyone stiffened up, "How in the name of the God's did he manage to temporally mount the beast? He was seen clearly the other day flying about the capitol, even burned down one of the towers of the castle." the speaker said, "Claims were made that there was somebody mounted upon the back of the creature, it could have been him."
"As unlikely as it seems, I have to agree." the first voice stated, "If he manages to bring in the Cannibal to the ranks of the Targaryen dragon's, and successfully breeds it with any of the females, then it could bolster the ranks of the dragon riders, and these self proclaimed god's would have dragon's that are not descended of Old Valyria." he said.
"If, and this is a big one, this boy does claim Cannibal then we will poison it like we are doing the other's. The poison we give the dragon's in the pit are already stunted, growing smaller with each batch born from the eggs. Vhagar is old, probably only another fifty to sixty years left in her. Vermithor, Silverwing, Caraxes and Meyles have roughly a century each, give a decade or so, left to live. When these elder dragon's die, the younger ones will have already birthed weaker hatchling's, and those will have birthed even weaker ones. Our long term goal is already secured in that regard."
"The poison has to be administered directly into the food source, and on a daily basis, long term or not, we cannot afford to be wasting such precocious resources on the beasts." the fourth voice spoke.
"Oh really, and what exactly do you suggest?" the first female demanded.
And what of the boy.
"It's simple really..." the man stated as he began to explain to them in detail of what they would need to do, and then a secondary plan on what to do if that failed them. "But before that...
He lifted his mask and revealed a smile.
"The boy must die."
A/N: Good bloody luck with that!
Weeeell? What did you think? Should this remain a story?
Would you like weekly updates for that matter? Yay or nay? Really need to hear from you, here.
As stated, this has a high chance of being upgraded to M later down the line, but I need to know if folks want to see that.
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story, and others. Meaning folks don't like this, it won't be continued. If the story itself ain't popular/well-received...well, I won't be able to continue it. I'm working two jobs, holidays are here too, meaning 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.
So? Should this little tale continue? Or fall into oblivion?
By all means, speak up! Make yourselves heard!
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas…
...Review...Would You Kindly?
And enjoy the Previews!
As ever:
SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!
PLOT DETAILS AHOY!
YE BE WARNED!
Read at your own risk!
As ever, these are from the far flung future...or are they~?!
Previews are mostly the same, wouldn't want to spoil things now.
(Previews!)
"Is the safety and security of the realm not worth one life?"
"You'll never stop at one!" he righted himself with a grunt, turned his head, and spat out a bloody tooth. "I'll take you all on!"
"Our lives are the sum of our choices. Good. Bad. Blacks and Greens. This is going to hurt you, Naruto."
"Let it. Pain's an old friend. I've gotten used to it. Their lives means more to me than mine."
"Your fate is already written. You'll die. All men do...why are you laughing?"
"Because! I stopped being human a long time ago! Fire can't hurt me! I can walk across water for crying out loud! can't smother me. Whatcha gonna do, smite me with lightning? No? Didn't think so."
"If you're that worried about the Stepstones, send me. I'll have them cleaned out in a year. Probably less. I can keep you and Aemma safe at the same time."
Viserys heaved a sigh. "You are skilled, but even you cannot be in two places at once."
Naruto smiled. It was a smile that would terrifying their enemies. "About that..."
Smoke bloomed. Viserys blinked. He blinked hard. "I stand corrected!"
Otto's heart sank into the pit of his stomach. "This...complicates matters."
"You think this hurts? Compared to what I went through, being forced to watch you hurt innocent people, and even my own blood! This is NOTHING! Well? How does it feel? To be utterly hopeless and not being able to do a damn thing about it? Fools! How do you think they felt when you ganged up on them in the rain and they had no way out? Well now it's your turn. I hope you enjoy it. Do you feel defenseless? Scared? Good, now you know how they felt before you killed them!
Naruto stared at the massive ebony beast before him, eyes narrowed as he waited for it to make its own move.
The people of Flea Bottom had already fled, the Gold Cloaks having done their duty to safeguard the people. The Dragonpit was locked up tighter than a ticks ass when the announcement had came, the emotions of hunger and rage swept over him long before them. And then, it happened, a roar sounded through the air as the Black Dragon charged, Naruto's own challenge was given as the blond Uzumaki rushed forth as well. He rolled under the snapping jaws, and he pushed his feet down, and jumped.
Senjutsu chakra channeled through his veins as he crushed the earth and filled the air with his vastly smaller body and slammed into the massive drake and tackled him not only away from the Mud Gate, but off the cliff and down to the beach, the snarl of the Cannibal filling the air as the sound of crashing rocks did. Crashing upon the sand, Naruto grabbed the massive horns and flexed, all of his Sage Chakra filling his muscles and straining them to their limits, and then he slammed the dragon upon its back, the earth shaking from the beasts crash, water spraying as its mass landed across the sand and water.
Flame filled the beasts maw, and Naruto acted before the Cannibal, smashing a powerful uppercut to the jaws of the beast causing it to miss, the flames blasting the cliff and burning away a majority of the walls of the city in which they sat. However, this didn't stop the Cannibal in the slightest, as he continued to roar, his fire burning down across the stone, ripping everything apart as it turned the roar that had been blocked upon the whelp of a human. Now clad in his golden shroud, he felt the insatiable hunger rise. He needed to FEED! NOW!
Naruto didn't hesitate, seeing the rage and fury-the hunger-of the dragon. He swiped his hand through the air, dispersing the flames,
"No more!" he called out, "This is the last time, I told you that if we met a third time, you were to be my friend..." he stated. With a leap, he stood upon the back of the startled beasts head, placing a hand to the scales beneath his flesh, and pushed chakra into the creature... wait... was that... HOLY SHIT, there was a reason for the mindless settlement upon the creature, the endless hunger and constant rage!
He'd been cursed by a former master, to never stop, to always feast upon those who could not defeat him...
A choice lay before him. Kill or save. He had mere moments to choose.
But could he save one so mad with hunger?
"If you do this you will make enemies. There will be nowhere left for you to run!
"Run?" he tilted his head to look back at them. "Who's running?" Blue eyes bled into red, snapping into furious scarlet slits. "Where?" Golden radiance flashed around him. "And why?!"
The world burst into light.
Visenya whooped, leaned back in the saddle, and flung up her arms. "Dracarys~!"
Her dragon answered in a rush of fire. The girl grinned.
Riding on dragonback was the best!
Pressing the hilt of the spear down on the back of his head, the attacker sneered at him, "Kneel..."
With a swipe of his hand, he knocked the spear of, and taking a trick from his nephew-in-law leapt up and struck out with a round house, "Not today!" Oh that felt good! And then, shock settled in, and turned to rage, "YOU!"
Naruto crashed into the wall a second later, ripping the blade out with his left hand while smashing his fist into the man's face, "That's for Daemon!" he roared as he spun around and slammed the hilt of his blade into the mans face-ripping the wall of the castle apart.
"Faster, papa! Faster!"
His daughter bounced on his back, grinning from ear to ear as she tugged at his hair.
Naruto smiled despite himself. "Feisty as your mother, I swear..."
EDIT: Hope you enjoyed! Have a great day!
Warm regards,
~Nz.
R&R~!