A/N: Double update day today! This and "One With Spirits". Hope you enjoy
Head seems to be better for the time being. I've been told to take it easy for the time being. Had a real scare, there. And YES I'm aware of FNAF Security Breach and working on it. The two stories I have in regards to it have been added to the docket. Don't get me started on that new Invincible special. It really lit a fire under this old man -for obvious reasons- and the sight of children suffering angers me like nothing else. I'm an uncle, after all. If anyone hurt my nieces and nephews...
Ahem!
Unfortunately, As of today, "Scarlet Vow," "Forget Me Not," "One With Spirits," alongside "Omen of Change," are officially being moved further back in the update rota. They're not all that popular compared to the rest. Meaning, these stories will have shorter chapters as well, compared to the others. "Take the World" might not be updated at all, depending on feedback; that one's a revamp of a failed story already and I'm keeping my word there.
Of course, that might change with feedback, but for now, I'm standing firm on this.
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 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.
As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes. They're tributes to legends far greater than I.
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~!
Henceforth, the titles will have "Scarlet" in their names.
"If you wanna get strong, little Malenia, you gotta train till you drop.
And if you gotta train, you need serious willpower.
So lets start with that, eh? Go ahead. Hit me."
"I...beg your pardon?"
"Now hold on, you might've misheard me...
~A Reference.
Scarlet Bond
The badlands were...not as Malenia had imagined them to be.
She'd heard the rumors and the horrors that were to be had there, but in truth, there weren't any. None that she'd seen at any rate. The land was rugged and dangerous-she'd seen her fair share of beasts already-but to hear tell from Mother and Father, it was hell, a dark place where the denizens of the Lands Between and their deities dared not tread.
This was not hell.
People lived here. It was a rough life, a hard life in which the strong slaughtered the weak, but life nevertheless. Malenia was beginning to realize she'd lived a very sheltered life indeed. She was just a child after all and she knew very little of the outside world. Terribly so. As a demigod and an Empyrean, she had wanted for nothing. She always had nice clothes, never went to bed hungry, and was afforded the finest of luxuries. Most of the world wasn't so fortunate. How many of these people had starved while she lived in the lap of luxury?
Malenia wasn't blind to their hostile looks. Their anger. Their hate. The way some sharpened their battle-axes whenever she walked by. She was as a stranger to them, her power a foreign one, not to be trusted. Even with her divinity sealed away, the Scarlet Rot persisted within her, ever bubbling to the foe, ever eager to be unleashed...but she mustn't. This was her home for now, her haven, until she became powerful enough to take her vengeance upon those who had wronged her. Until then now, she had to rely on the protection of others.
One such protector was headed her way now.
Great Godfrey-no, Hoarah Loux she reminded herself, for despite the presence of stalwart Serosh upon his back, he bore that name no longer- saw her from across the camp and loped her way. His every step seemed to rattle the ground, promising a mighty stomp to any who earned his ire. Those angry looks vanished in his presence and all present bowed their heads in his presence. As well they should.
This man could crush them -and her!- in an instant.
"Ah. There you are." And yet, he didn't. He only granted her a small smile.
"Your father has spoken well of you these last few days. Even if he is cursed in his own way.
...pardon?" The very word caused Malenia pain and confused her in equal measure. Father? She had no father. No anymore. Unless...did he speak of Naruto? "He is not my father. He is my mentor. That is all."
He granted her a bemused look. "Methink thou doth protest too much, child. Has he not looked after thee? Protected you in my absence, even?"
Malenia kicked Godfrey's leg.
The former lord laughed. "Ha! I would expect no less of Marika's daughter-
"There you are." Naruto's voice had her perking up. He looked mildly amused by something she couldn't quite comprehend; idly munching on an apple as he went. "Feeling better, are we?"
Curiosity had Malenia tilting her head to regard the piece of fruit in his hand. "Can you taste that?"
"A little." He made a pinching motion with his free hand. "But you didn't answer my question. How are we feeling?
She shrugged one shoulder, unwilling to meet his gaze. "Well enough."
"You've had enough time to rest?"
She dared a nod. "Yes."
"You're not tired?"
A shake of the head. "No."
"Good. Then its time to train."
Something her quailed. "...must I?"
Depends. He fixed her with a gimlet stare. Do you still want revenge?
She did. More than anything. Mother aside, everyone had been all to eager to cast her out with Miquella's had taken everything from her without so much as a second thought. And so she would take everything from ther. If that meant a little pain now, she would happily accept it. So long as it meant she could inflict the same upon them.
Naruto saw it and nodded. "That's a fine look in your eye. Lets get to it, then."
In no time at all he drew her aside, to a small patch of blackened earth hemmed in by what she assumed was a line of chalk or some sort of equally coarse paint. More than a few eyes followed them, or perhaps that was the presence of Hoarah Loux that drew their eyes so. Naruto coughed, and she found her gaze drawn back to him.
"If you wanna get strong, little Malenia, you gotta train till you drop." he stepped back three paces, creating space between them. "And if you gotta train, you need serious willpower. So lets start with that, eh? Go ahead. Hit me."
Malenia sputtered. "I...beg your pardon?"
"Now hold on." he held up a finger, wearing a cheshire grin. "You might've misheard me... Not half as hard, not some arbitrary measurement I want you. To hit me. With everything you've got.
She wanted to, and yet a thorn of hesitation held her back. He'd been kind to her. She didn't want to hurt him. "And if I refuse?"
Naruto shrugged. "Then you'll never grow any stronger. Do you want to be weak forever?"
Anger sparked in her. "I'm not weak."
"Yeah, you are."
"I AM NOT!
That spark became a blazing inferno and the Rot erupted within her. She rushed him, fist flailing for his chest in a mindless fury.
Naruto didn't deign to dodge. Much to her chagrin he stood his ground. The moment she reached him, he swept her legs, grabbed her face while she was still the air, and slammed her skull down into the soil. Pain flared through her head and she gasped. He let her go then stepped back, leaving her writhing in the dirt. He could've finished her then and there. Perharps it would've been a mercy. But he didn't. Instead he stood his ground and let her power fizzle out.
"Now, then!" he nudged her up with a booted foot. "You. Me. Hard as you can. Are we clear?"
He was. Gods above, the pain. She wanted to curl up into a ball and cry.
But she could not. No she mustnn't. If she did, she'd never survive.
Malenia hauled herself to her feet. Her knees wavered.
Still, she stood. Took her up stance. "...crystal."
Naruto grinned. "Thatta girl."
A/N: Aaaaand scene.
TFS references really are the best.
Time for a good old-fashioned training montage~!
Do you want this to remain a story? Yes? No? Maybe so? Make yourselves heard! 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.
(Previews)
"Who is this?"
"A child of mine own." Godfrey grunted. "I had thought to send her to the capital, but in light of recent events...
Malenia found herself frowning at this strange girl. "...who are you?"
The girl smiled. "Nepheli Loux. Pleased to meet you."
Malenia dared a bow.
It was the beginning of a timeless friendship.
"Fight as hard or long as you like, won't make a difference." Naruto dodged a swipe, blue eyes flashing. "You'll give out sooner or later. But it does, you oughta know before this ends."
He stepped in, let the weapon bit into his shoulder. Grinned, now.
"I. Can't feel. ANY OF THIS."
"You will always be a monster, Naruto.
"Ha! Where I come from that's a compliment. I'm a monster alright. Monstrously strong." He stood. Cracked his neck. His wounds closed as they looked on. He spread his arms once with that same, kindly smile. "Care to try again?"
Hello, father.
Radagon choked in her grasp.
Malenia snarled at him, rotten wings blooming from her shoulders. "Did you miss me?"
Radahn did not draw his blades. It was rare indeed, to see him without his scrawny steed. "...little sister. I bear you no ill will.
Malenia glared at him. "Then step aside."
She wondered if he would.
EDIT: As ever, the Embers rule remains: If people don't like this story? If they don't enjoy it? Well...I' won't be able to continue it. That's no joke, folks. I'm so busy these days with two jobs; holidays are HERE and basically, I don't have time off. Not anymore.
My free time is limited and as such, I can't afford to focus on something folks don't like. Reviews keep me writing in these times, and keep the daily updates flowing. Silence...silence only hurts. I hate having to beg for feedback, but without it...well, it feels like I'm not making an impact...
Looking forward to chatting with you all when I get back from work~!
Warm regards,
~Nz.
R&R~!