A/N: EDIT: Made some tweaks and improvements. Hope you enjoy them~!
More of an interlude this time around. Please have mercy on this weary old man as he runs around.
Sorry for any delays, holidays are running me ragged given the nature of my two jobs.
That said, notifications are back, and so is Elden Ring~!
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. Feels like everyone's lost their minds, the world over. 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, despite depression clawing at me.
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.
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. I'm just an old man who writes as a pastime. I don't make any money doing this, not a single cent.
This is ALL done for free. 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~!
"Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds...
~A reference.
Kneel (Interlude)
Not all were so accommodating toward Malenia.
It was a hurdle to be expected naturally, Naruto knew; after all only yesterday she'd been their sworn enemy, a foe determined to destroy him at any and all costs. If she'd had her way, Stormveil would've been a pile of rubble while her army trampled over his and put everything to the torch. Again, if she'd had her way. But she hadn't now, had she?
Life loves her little games.
Rather than the triumphant scarlet valkyrie she should have been, now Malenia lay in bed, sound asleep, a beaten and battered cripple placed under heavy guard by Maria herself. Dangerous perhaps, given she still held her left arm, but so long as they stayed out of their reach they were quite safe.
Not that she would attack them mind you. Even if this were some elaborate ruse on her part-unlikely, you couldn't fake the kind of emotional agony he'd seen- and she had duplicitous plans, she was an amputee an all but name. Down to a single arm with no legs to speak of, she could hardly flee the castle even if she were to attack anyone; and if she did, Maria would dispatch her quickly. His aunt wouldn't be able to put up much of a fight.
After all, he'd devoured and destroyed the Rot within Malenia's body, consuming the very essence of an Outer goddess in the process.
.
..
...which actually might make Malenia stronger in the long run come to think of it. If she healed. Scary thought, that. Not stronger than him of course, but stronger than she had been.
Still he had shown mercy at the end, even if he wasn't entirely sure she deserved it.
Didn't she?
Her own brother, her twin, her very flesh and blood, that one person who should've been with her through thick and thin, had forsaken her. Abandoned her in all but name. Miquella had practically thrown his sister to the dogs in a desperate attempt to destroy both him and Limgrave. And what was that bit about her not being the first Malenia? No, he had questions for her, and she would remain his "guest" in Stormveil for the time being.
Which brought him full circle to more... personal matters.
"I won't accept that woman. Do not ask me to."
Naruto heaved a sigh. "Yorshka...
"Do not "Yorshka" me, my lord!" Her tail lashed at the ground as she stamped a foot and glared at him, all but pinning him up against a wall in the hall with one hand...which really said something for her ire, given how tall he was compared to her. She cornered him while he was on his way to speak with Malenia, and the moment she learned of his intentions, she wasn't having it. "You cannot be serious. You're sparing her?! She was your enemy!
He did not expect his Shadow to be so opposed to the idea. Maria, yes and she'd eventually come right round, but Yorshka...?
Troublesome...
"She is-
"Was." he held up a finger to forestall another argument. "She was betrayed, just like me, and she's seen the error of her ways. That's reason enough to spare her."
The draconic half-breed looked like she wanted to bite something...but she restrained herself, if only just. "She's a one-armed cripple for crying out loud!"
"If she doesn't grow her limbs back, Hewg can forge her new ones," he reasoned. "And a proper sword. If anyone can do that, its him."
"And then what, hmm?" she stepped back and planted both fists on her hips, the most defiant she'd ever been. "We let her and her army go on their merry way, is that it? What happens when they decided to turn around and try their luck again? What will you do then?"
He shook his head and turned away, shouldering past her. "She won't."
Yorshka seized at his sleeve. "But if she does?"
His temper sparked.
"Then I lop off her head and mount it on a spike outside the castle gates!" His voice piqued in anger as his emotions briefly slipped their leash. "What else do you want me to say? Her own brother turned on her right in front of me and she was crying and begging for help. I couldn't just ignore her-it the same way you couldn't ignore Fortissax.
"That may well be, but I must ask." Yorshka winced, but rallied, crossed both arms before her bountiful bosom and stared at him in return. "Has your resolve faltered, my lord? Do you intend to show mercy to the rest of your tormentors, as you have her?"
The words were a knife in his gut. Was she really losing faith in him? Over something like this...?
She was his Shadow. Was she supposed to have his back...?
An ugly feeling stirred in him and he buried it deep.
"It hasn't." he shook his head at last, refusing to falter under her glare. "And I won't. Miquella will die. As will Rykard, Radagon, Marika, and everyone else who forsook us."
Her full lips pursed. "What of Ranni?"
He shrugged a shoulder. "I'll ask that silly girl when I track her down. Likwise, Radahn and Godwyn will decide their own fates when I find them."
That seemed to mollify her somewhat but nowhere near as much as he would've liked.
Shaking her head, she smacked his leg with her tail and stalked off.
"Your kindness will come back to bite us. Mark my words!"
Naruto watched her go, shaking his head.
She'd cool off, given time.
.
..
...right?
(.0.0.0.)
Everything ached.
Malenia creaked an eye open.
Mistakes mere made, they were many, and they were hers.
The moment she tried to rise she became terribly, horribly aware of her missing prosthetics and flopped back down to the bed in a heap. Confusion flitted through her mind-but only for a moment. She dearly didn't want to to remember, but she did, and in remembering, realized where she was.
A quick glance for her surroundings only confirmed her fears.
Her room was a humble one, consisting of little more than four walls, a flickering candle mounted by the windowsill, and the soft downy bed upon which she found herself splayed. But where in blazes had this frilly white bedgown come from...? She'd been next to naked before with naught but Godrick's cloak draped over her...
.
..
...his cloak?!
But then that would mean...!
She was still pondering that when she looked over and saw a small child leaning over her beside, grinning ear to ear.
"Hello, grand-auntie~!"
Malenia blinked. She blinked hard. "...who is this small sassy child?"
"That would be Theresa, your jailer." an eerily familiar voice chimed just out of sight. "Do be kind to her."
She groaned and covered her eyes with her remaining hand, wanting nothing more than to sleep. "Why is she calling me her grand-auntie? I've never seen her before. Wait." He brow furrowed and she took her hand away from her eyes. "Does Godrick have a daughter?!"
"He does not, and yet he does."
The little one chirruped happily. "Which makes you my grand-aunt!"
Malenia stared at the ceiling and pointedly refused to look at this baffling child. "...I'm afraid I don't follow.
"Meh, roll with it."
Malenia didn't want to look at the other speaker.
In the end, her wants proved immaterial. Her eyes betrayed her.
"I dressed you while you were asleep," Sure enough, Maria beamed back at her with a smug smirk, leaning against the door. "I hope you don't mind. And yes, by the way, you were defeated."
Her face fell.
"Ah, it wasn't a dream, then."
"It most assuredly was not!" the lady of the astral clocktower chided her. "I don't think I've seen someone lose so spectacularly before." and oh how that made her face burn! "But what happened to you at the end there, that, at least, was no doing of ours." her pale face creased with pity. "I know what it is to be betrayed by one you called kin."
Malenia found herself feeling somewhat...conflicted at that.
On one hand, she was somewhat grateful to be alive.
On the other...Miquella. Dearest Miquella.
He had betrayed her. That hurt. It hurt, it hurt, it HURT so much so that she wanted nothing more than to cry, curl into a ball and die. It would've been less painful had he torn her heart out and stamped on it. At least then she would be dead. But no, she had to live this. The knowledge. The pain. The misery.
Why had he turned on her? Why would he do such a thing? It didn't make a lick of sense and in trying to understand she only twisted he thoughts into angry red knots. She wanted to chase after him, to find him, to demand answers, but she was in no shape to do so. She'd never been weaker than she was now, and they all knew it.
She was, in a word, helpless.
Trying to sit up again, she faltered.
Then the door creaked open and a towering figure ducked their way into the room.
Theresa beamed at him. Maria bowed her head in naked deference to her lord.
Malenia recognized them at once and her throat went horridly dry.
"You're awake," Godrick rumbled at her with approval, "Good."
He sat at her beside, causing it to creak beneath him.
"You'd best start talking now, aunt, and do it fast."
Malenai froze, pinioned by that stern stare.
There could be only one response.
She squeaked. "Meep."
Godrick quirked a pale eyebrow at her.
Right, she couldn't just lay here, could she?
She dragged herself upright as best she could...
.
..
...and knelt to him.
A/N: Meep indeed.
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)
Onto the next battle.
"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~!