A/N: Looking forward to your feedback!

Short chapter this time. I'm not pushing myself this week, lest I have another anxiety attack.

Somebody better pick up that phone a...because I caaaaaaaaaaalled it! Way before the DLC came out!

Just wanted to say, I appreciate you all! More feedback means faster updates! It's especially important, in these, trying times, with the main site notifications down. Every word counts and i appreciate you all! All these reviews really keep me inspired! Looking forward to hearing from you~!

Speaking of which, I finally bested the last boss on NG + 4 after many hours, I've beaten the DLC...and I am dead inside.

What. Was. THAT ENDING?! How am I to sleep after that! The DLC also forced me to change up a few story beats in several of my stories for Elden Ring, while, oddly enough, enhancing others. Runt of the Litter -Naruto reborn as Godrick- and Forget Me Not -Naruto reborn as Miquella- come to mind. To say nothing of the others. Slifer and I are preparing a story given Marika's official origins now, and it's going to be a doozy.

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

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.

In other words...its up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know~!

SPOILERS FOR SHADOWS OF THE ERDTREE AHEAD!

"Snake, am I?! Perhaps you'd like to see how serpentine I can be?!"

~A reference.

In Shadow We Rise

Ever onto the next battle.

The dawn came, and with it, plans for the revolution dawned anew.

Gathered around the Roundtable, his forces arrayed to make their next move...

.

..

...Naruto wished he could say it proved simple.

It was not; not by any measure:

"What's our plan of attack?"

"Do we hunker down here in Stormveil?"

"We can't move on the capital, we haven't the forces for it."

"Radahn is currently besieging Morgott in Leyndell. Should we ally with him?"

"Preposterous! He's an enemy!"

"Then we must take his head!

"Can't we all just get along?"

So many dissenting voices!

Naruto pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled deeply. "If you're all quite done...?"

Maria drove the hilt of her blade into the table for silence. "Hush! Our lord speaks! Attend to his wisdom!"

Heat crawled up the back of his neck. Why did she have to phrase it like that? So embarrassing...

He looked out amongst them. His blade remained ever by his side, while Fortisaax had laid claim to a corner of the room for himself. His vast bulk took up a great deal of space; for reasons he couldn't fathom, the ancient dragon was either unable or unwilling to assume human form. Instead they'd made a crude window of sorts for him to stick his long neck in, bringing his snout just short of the table. Little Theresa was currently giving him the mother of all chin scratches; truly, the tiny tree spirit child seemed to delight in the sight of him.

Judging by the sullen snort he made, the wyrm wasn't much pleased. "What is our next move, heir of Godwyn?"

He blew out a sigh. "I told you, just call me Godrick...

And that was the question, wasn't it? Maria was eager to take the offensive, such was her nature. Fortisaax favored a more measured approach; time meant little to him in the long run. Yorshka had not a word to say to him, she was still sulking after their quarrel over Malenia, and...

Huh. Speak of the devil and she shall arrive.

"Apologies for our lateness~!" Alexander trundled in loudly, bearing the demigod herself in his arms, body bedecked in a rich green dress as she clung to him for dear life. "Our new comrade needed proper attire, which was rather difficult given she only has one arm at the moment, but here we are!"

Malenia's face was redder than her hair. "I told you I didn't need a dress...

"Nonsense!" he boomed! "A lady must always be dressed properly."

His aunt made angry aunt noises, the amusement of many.

Naruto stifled a laugh behind his hand. That jolly jar warrior really was too pure for his own good. "Its no trouble, none at all...

Yorshka leaned forward to hiss at the redhead as Alexander lowered her into a chair. "You may have a seat at this table, but you are not granted a rank among this council; you are far from our equal."

Malenia looked like she wanted to bite back at that; to say something nasty to that effect, but she held herself back. He saw it in the twitch of her eye, the vein throbbing in her temple. Yet for all that she smiled, even if it was a restrained one, she did not go berserk. Was she trying to impress him? Prove she could change, perhaps? Be better? It was plausible, and if so she was doing a good job. An admirable job.

...he'd give her the benefit of the doubt for now. Miquella had well and truly betrayed her, leaving her with nothing. Now that he'd slain the Scarlet Rot within her, her fate was her own.

He was curious to see what she would suggest. "And what do you suggest we do, dear aunt?"

Malenia tensed, painfully aware of all eyes upon her. She knew he was putting on airs, but she was powerless to call him on it. A shame. He wasn't used to seeing her so subdued. Miquella had broken more than her body it seemed; he'd shattered her spirit. He couldn't blame her for being loyal even now, after all, he was her twin-

"Miquella must die."

A sudden hush fell over the table.

Naruto's brow shot up into his hair. "Color me surprised. Why suggest this?"

He took control of my body and my mind, and I failed to realize it until he cast me aside." Wobbling a little in her chair, she set her remaining arm on the table for balance, sparing Alexander a grateful glance as he kept her steady. "Miquella is the most dangerous Empyrean of us all; he uses love to shrive clean the hearts of his foes, leaving them loyal to him and him alone. He must be stopped."

"Agreed!" Alexander thumped an iron fist upon the table. "Such a rogue cannot be allowed to wander the Lands Between."

...I concur." Fortisaax rumbled after only a moment's pause. "If nothing else, he may know a way to revive Godwyn."

Maria's grin was feral. "Then it is settled-

Kurama perked up, claiming his attention as the conversation ranged on. "Do you hear that?"

Destined Death called to him suddenly, singing in his soul like a clarion call, and with it the distant tremor of wings on the air.

He held up a hand, bringing the bickering to a halt. "There's been a raven."

Malenia squinted at him. "What? How did you know-

"My lord!" the chamber door swung open, admitting a harried hooded page, holding a message scroll -letter, technically- in his off hand. "A message for you!"

"A letter?" He quirked a brow at the rolled scroll. "Whoever could it be from?"

All eyes turned toward him, demigod and dragon and human alike.

"Alright, that was rude of me. I'll read it later in my study...

They kept staring.

Theresa tugged at his sleeve insistently. When had she gotten round the table?

"Or I could read it now...

Breaking the seal -it held a crest he didn't recognize- he unfurled the letter in its entirety and began to read it aloud.

"Dearest nephew...

...or should I say cousin? Its hard to tell.

Relations in our families have ever been murky, I suppose. Regardless, I pray this letter finds you well.

My sister has spared no expense to write to me in the realm of Shadows. I thank you for keeping her in good spirits during these trying times, and in return, I bring thee an offer of assistance.

You have allies, even here in the land of Shadow. Know that there are those who hate Marika just as much thee. My lord would happily join your cause. You have but to free him from his burden. I am told you can do such, O bearer of Destined Death. Contained within this letter is a means to access our realm. The rest, I leave to you. But beware. You are not the only one who has taken an interest in this place.

Please, release my love from his thankless task. Convince him to leave, and our armies will be yours.

I ask for your most timely correspondence in this delicate matter.

Ever your ally, Rellana, Sword of Messmmer."

He set the letter down and idly noticed a small, wrapped parcel within, concealed within layers of deep dark blue cloth. Pulling back the layers of rich velvet A key, black as night, carved from a small fragment of Destined Death. Another reminder. He really needed to track Master Maliketh down and have a word with him...

.

..

...but that was neither here nor there.

Right." he plucked the key up and held it aloft. "I'll be right back.

Maria frowned. "Its clearly a trap. I know of no Rellana in the histories of Caria."

"Likely because she was wiped from them." he closed the scroll, idly clutching the key in his off hand. "Marika always hid that which she didn't like, and I trust Rennala. She has no reason to betray us."

"And if it is a trap?"

He looked her way, bemused. "Then I'll spring it and crush the one responsible."

Malenia made a dissatisfied noise from across the table. "I would render you my aid, but I'm quite powerless as I am now."

"S'fine," he waved a hand her way. "Your limbs probably aren't going to grow back anytime soon, if at all. I'll have Hewg fashion you some limbs in the meantime. Do you desire a particular metal?"

...black will do." She dug her good hand into the table with a growl. "I am no longer of unalloyed gold, no matter what anyone says."

Yorshka pointedly looked away with a huff. "We shall see."

Things would come to a head between them sooner or later, but not today.

"Perhaps there is a remnant of my lord Godwyn's soul in this place." Fortisaax dared to sound hopeful.

Poor lizard. He didn't have the heart to correct the old dragon. Godwyn was gone. Whether by accident or design, he very much doubted he'd find any semblance of his so-called sire in the Land of Shadows. Of course, he wasn't about to say that. Wouldn't do to wound the old wyrm even further.

"I will accompany you."

And now they came to the next obstacle! "Maria..."

She set her jaw and glared at him. "This is not a matter for discussion."

"You're right, its not." he drew his green cloak back and leaned against his golden axe. "I need you here in case anyone attacks while I'm away. You and Fortisaax are our heavy hitters. If we all leave at once, the castle will be vulnerable, to say nothing of the town and those we've sworn to protect.

"I don't care about them, I care about you."

"And I love that," he smiled for her, "But my decision is final."

She looked like she might protest at that. He didn't give her the chance.

He slammed Rellana's key into the air and fell backward.

(.0.0.0.)

The air twisted.

Messmer heard it before he saw it; an ominous creaking, wailing sound as the very fabric of reality was sundered against its will. He knew that sound. It was not a noise one could easily forget; an awful cacophony he had only ever heard once before. Curious, he creaked an eye open atop his throne and leaned forward, peering into the gloom. A wave of his hand lit the candles therein.

The pale, grinning visage of a young man gaze back at him, grinning from ear to ear.

It was not a nice smile. "Salutations, Uncle! Care for another crusade?"

Messmer fell out his chair!

A/N: That's one way to introduce the DLC

Aaaand there we have it...

Would you like weekly updates?

Well, what say you? Should this remain a story or not? It'll likely be rated M soon with Mature themes, lemons, character death, and the like.

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.

Things that may or may not become stories in the far flung future.

Previews are mos the same, don't want to spoil things.

But ohhh these battles are a' coming...

(Previews)

I swear, I will lock you and Rellana in a closet until you sort this nonsense out!

Miquella grit his teeth. "Impudent pup...!"

"I'm an honest man. You had your chance. And you squandered it.

His axe bit deep into their skull.

Another crossbreed?" he regarded the quivering figure sprawled before him. "Now that's not something you see everyday. And who are you? How did you get here?"

I am Nepheli Loux! Show yourself, Godrick!"

Remarkably, he answered. A towering figure emerged.

...I had a door, you know." his voice stilled her. "You could have knocked."

Oh, dear. He was bigger than she'd thought he would be. Wasn't he supposed to be the Runt of the Litter?

His shadow fell over her. "Lets see how good you are with those axes."

Meep.

Rykard took a deep breath to steady himself.

The serpent beckoned, promising him power if he but yielded to it. And yet...

Lady Rennala? To what do I owe the pleasure?"

So this is where you were hiding...Malekith."

A hooded head rose. "Why have you come here, nephew?"

"To snap you out of your funk. You have something of mine, and I've come to collect."

EDIT: Hey, you made it! Thanks for reading! Hope you have a great day!

Looking forward to chatting with you all when I get back from work~!

R&R~!