A/N: Still alive, still kicking, still updating.
Shorter than I'd like, but alas, work calls. Didn't get the best news at the doctor's yesterday.
Speaking of news...
As my fifteen year anniversary on this site draws near, 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. The recent earthquake in Turkey/Syria serves as a terrible example. 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 story, and all others.
As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes. Not a one.
They're tributes to legends far greater than I.
"Every journey comes to an end, sooner or later. You are no exception.
Oh, yes. Yours is nearing its end, Naruto. Take care.
The ending may not be what you expect."
~?
Thy Fracture
"We must seek out Nokron at once."
"Hmm?" Naruto looked up from the book he was reading as Ranni approached him. "That a bit sudden, don't you think?"
Ranni pursed her lips. She wasn't letting him skirt the subject; not this time. Rather than retort as he no doubt wished her to, she sat in his lap and took a moment to peer at the tome in question. Curious. She'd though it would be a book of jokes or somesuch but no; it seemed to be a fascinating tome on swordplay. Perhaps he was eager to put his new weapon to use. Of course she could give him a true sword-no! Her face went red at the thought as her mind ran away from her. Not yet. T'was much too soon, surely. Wasn't it?
"Ranni?
Right, right, she must attend to him She shifted her weight against his and trapped him in place with her body. Blue eyes rose to meet her gaze, mildly confused perhaps but she had his attention all the same. Books were all well and good, but a beautiful woman sitting in his lap, wearing naught but her undergarments? That was distracting. It warmed her more than words to know she could evoke such a reaction in him, especially after last night.
As well she should be! They'd not done the deed yet, but they'd come close, almost perilously so. Even now she found her focus slipping. She wanted to push him out the chair knock him down and have her way with him. Or him with her. She wouldn't mind either frankly...
Focus. There was tasks to which she must attend.
"I was speaking of Nokron." she said instead, using one of her many hands to snatch the book out Naruto's grasp, even as another pair settled about his waist. She used the third to cup his face when he frowned at her, fingers tracing over a whiskered cheek.
"That came outta nowhere." a curious note threaded its way into his voice. She wasn't sure she liked it. "What brought this about?"
"Not by choice but necessity." Her fourth hand came back around to settle on his shoulder. "The agents of the Greater Will won't sit idly by as we gathered our strength. Time we spent dallying here in Raya Lucaria is time wasted. We can afford to tarry no longer."
"I thought you didn't want war."
"I do not". And she didn't! What she wanted was to break the cycle; shatter the wheel as it were, take the power from the gods and give it back to the people. Even if that meant leaving the Lands Between. They'd not spoken of that argument since it first reared its ugly head. She knew a reckoning was coming, but it would not be today. Perhaps putting it off wasn't wise, but she couldn't bear to speak of it now. In the end, she shook her head. "Better to be prepared for naught than to be found wanting in times of crisis."
"...fair." he was still digging his heels in. She couldn't blame him. He'd grown comfortable here. They both had.
How best to motivate him, then? No, not motivation. She owed him a great debt. More than words could possibly hope to describe.
"My immediate family is whole once more thanks to thee." she leaned in, lips brushing his. "I shall not forget what you have done. This I swear to thee. Ask anything of me and it will be yours."
"You don't have to-
She growled. "I want to. And so I shall."
"Heh." Her consort smiled. "You'e kinda cute when you sulk-ow!" His voice piqued in a laugh when she pinched his cheek. "Alright, alright. I'll take your favor seriously." Pinky promise. He reached up with a lazy hand and hooked his little finger in one of hers. "Might save it for a rainy day."
Ranni felt her face burn anew. "You had best, consort of mine! And you would do well to watch thy wagging tongue!
"C'mon now," He laid his hands on her hips, pulling her close. "Where's the fun in that?"
A frisson of delicious warmth pooled in Ranni's core.
Her body was still deliciously sensitive still and likely would be for some time yet. Ordinarily she disdained such hypersensitivity but here and now she found herself reveling in it all the same. His hands came back to caress her hips, drifting lower now to hold her rear as her own danced across his chest. He was neither rough with her nor gentle but some mad blend of the two that left her crazed with desire. She liked being able to feel again, to touch, to taste his lips against hers, to hear her heart pounding frantically in her ears as it was now. She just couldn't help herself.
She kissed him softly, then tilted her head to deepen it, holding him fast as she leaned in.
Mine. The viciousness of her own thoughts momentarily alarmed her. No one else could have him. She would sooner die than give him to another. But she may well have to, if only to ascend. If she did not, her goals, her dream, could never be realized. She would have to leave him, soon. Seek out the wretched Two Fingers hiding away from her, and then...! The thought made her heart ache and turned her desire to ash in her mouth. No! she shoved it away with a snarl. No, no, no! Don't think of that, now! Don't ruin the moment!
"Did you say something?"
Naruto was looking to her now, trusting her implicitly. Sometimes she wished he wouldn't.
"No." Stilling her traitorous heart, she leaned back with a sigh. "Not a thing. Will you take me to Nokron, then?"
They would do this together. She would look him in the eye, deep under the earth, and explain it all to him. She owed him that much.
And who knew? Perhaps she might yet convince him to join her on that final journey, to leave this world behind. Such was her hope. Her plea. Her most fervent wish.
"I was thinking we could bring Blaidd with us."
"That...would not be wise. He's been acting rather odd." She knew why but feared to say it. Once the treasure of Nokron was found there could be no turning back. Surely they could find a way to save him. And if they could not then at least they could spare him the pain. "In any case, I've not seen him since he went after Seluvis."
A blond brow quirked. "You sent him after that weasel?"
"You were concerned. He needed something to do. I thought it prudent." An awful thought occurred to her. "Did you wish to kill him yourself?"
"Kinda." he shrugged. "But Blaidd's a good boy. He's got this."
"As you say. But back to Nokron...
He sighed. "Ranni...
"Do not Ranni me!" she smacked his chest, for all the good it did her. "We must be quick about this. If there truly is an army rising up from the south then the path to Nokron may soon be blocked and...I would not have Mother learn about this. She will try to stop us."
"Let her try."
"Hmm. You say the nicest things."
She leaned into him and thought no more of such things.
(.0.0.0.)
Blaidd wasn't hard to track.
He burned like a beacon in his brain, a dying fire in the mind's eye; hard to find at first, but easy enough to locate once he knew what to look for. A quiet tip from Rennala had helped spur him on his way, all in exchange for a single question. He felt it was a worthy exchange, even if she'd embarrassed him terribly.
Rennala had smiled knowingly at the two of them. "When can I expect grandchildren from the two of thee?"
Ranni had sputtered incoherently. He remembered that well.
Naruto very nearly choked on his own spit himself.
"Soon" didn't seem like much of an answer, but he'd said it anyway, if only to see Ranni's reaction. They hadn't rightly done the deed -not yet!- but he looked forward to the day they did. These days the idea of children running around underfoot didn't terrify him now as much as it once had. He'd always wanted a family and the idea of brash boys and grasping girls made him smile a little. Was it too soon to start picking out names? He thought so, but the idea wouldn't let him
Thoughts of the future warmed him; just as well they did; because the sight he found chilled his blood.
He located Blaidd on an island well outside the academy grounds. Ranni's loyal hound was hunched beneath a tree, looming over a gaunt-robed figure that vaguely resembled a humanoid corpse. Skewered clean through by his greatsword, dragged behind him in a trail of blood like some grisly trophy, he nevertheless clung tight to his prize, leaning against the hilt of his weapon for balance.
Kurama sensed the disquiet first. "Careful, now. He's not quite himself."
He knew Blaidd wasn't, but there was nothing to be done for it yet. You alright there, big guy?"
Ranni's shadow rounded on him just a little quickly and for an awful moment he glimpsed a feral gleam in his eye.
"Hey, hey!" he raised both hands, just as he had once before. "Friendly, remember?"
...hrrngh." he shook his head. "Forgive me. You startled me, there."
"You're grouchy today. What got under your skin?
Blaidd turned to face him. His chest was red.
Naruto recoiled. "Oi?!"
"Its not my blood." the half-wolf ran a hand down his chest, idly patting the battered armor. "I found that traitor and ran him through. Chopped him into little bits, just to be sure." he sounded pleased with himself, waiting but there was a note of something else there, something darker, as though he were waiting for praise. "Serves him right, doesn't it?" he turned and hawked a wad of phlegm onto what he could only assume was the body of Seluvis. "Now I just need to find his master and we can be done with this...
Still he paused, waiting for praise.
Naruto gave it. "You did good.
"Yes," Blaidd seemed to stand a little straighter at that. "I did, didn't I? I'm sure Ranni will be pleased. Did you need me for something, mate?"
Time to break it to him, then. "We're headed to Nokron."
A flicker of light flitted through the wolf's weary eyes. "At last. I'll join you, of course."
Should he? He was holding on by a thread even now. But to deny him might make things worse.
...good." he settled for a sigh instead. "Let me know if that headache of yours gets any worse, alright? I don't want anything to happen to you."
"Will do." Blaidd bobbed a nod. "I'm off to the academy then. You coming with?"
"In a bit." Naruto forced a smile he didn't quite feel. "You go on ahead."
"Have it your own way. I'll met you there."
He watched Blaidd lope away, dragging Seluvis' body behind him like the trophy it was. Something was wrong with him. He couldn't quite tell what it was, only that he could sense it all the same. He'd need to keep an eye on him in the future; if only to prevent disaster. He hadn't lost anyone so far, and he'd be damned if he began with Blaidd.
Everything would be alright. It had to be. He would make it so.
"Do you truly believe that? If so, I envy your faith."
Soft words rang through his mind. He winced.
"Kurama?"
...that wasn't me."
"I would speak with you, herald of gold." the voice came on again, faint and indistinct. Who was it? A man? A woman? He couldn't tell. Their words were distorted, echoing, as though from a great distance. "Might I borrow a moment of your time?"
His brow furrowed. "We're doing that right now, aren't we?"
"Hmmhmm." the voice hummed. "So we are. I would ask you a question."
"Shoot."
...shoot what? I do not understand."
A muscle jumped in his jaw. "It means speak, ya know!"
"Very well." a poignant pause followed. "I have observed your efforts for some time now. Where does he go, I wondered? Why does he act as he does? You have fought hard for the sake of this world. To what end? Do you seek the Throne? Will you mend the Elden Ring? Or bring forth a new age? I would know your aims before we progress any further; lest we reach the point of no return."
Apparently this one liked their riddles. "Don't see why its any interest to you...
"It is very much of interest to me!" a note of heat crept into their voice. "I dedicated my-
He blinked. "My?"
...forgive me." the nameless voice muttered. "I did not come to her argue. I merely wish to warn you. Ranni the witch -Your Witch- is not to be trusted. She will betray you as she betrayed me, as she betrayed our family
...I don't believe you."
"Believe what you wish, it is of little consequence. She will betray you. If not now, then latter. Once she has the Blade in hand she will cast you aside."
That old argument again. He hadn't wanted to believe it back then and he didn't want to believe it now.
"Even now you do not believe? When will you learn?" the voice grew rife with scorn, dripping with derision. "Your witch isn't the hero of this story. She is the one who started this. Countless lives suffer because of her...all because she did not wish to be leashed."
He looked away with a scoff. "Is there a point to his?"
"Heed my words. I once thought the same as you do. She was the blood of my blood. We were family, she and I. And yet she damned us all the same."
"Enough games." his brow furrowed. "Get out of my head."
...as you wish. In due time, you will see."
The silence was his answer.
A/N: Who was that at the end? It may not be who you think...
Aaaaand scene. Hope you liked our work.
Well? What say you? Hope you're enjoying this, so by all means, lemme know!
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this little tale. Sad to say, but if folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? Well, I'll love the drive to continue it! I'm working two jobs during the holidays 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.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review, Would You Kindly?
And have some previews.
Mostly the same here.
Don't want to spoil anything.
(Previews)
...curious. It seems another Demigod has made the underground their home. But whom...?"
"He trusted you. Just as I did. Will you betray him, too?"
...you're not real.
"Aren't I?" the specter spread their arms, eyes hidden in the gloom. "It matters not I suppose. Believe what you will. There's nowhere you can hide, Ranni. Put as much distance between you and the truth as you want...it changes nothing. Pretend to be everything you are not; witch, wife, mother-to-be...
She glowered darkly at the last word, tugging on the last of her armor over her dress.
...but there is one unavoidable truth you will never escape." the specter before her sneered as she completed her preparations. "You cannot change. You will always be...a monster."
"'Tis true, I know." the witch stood, staff in one hand, dagger in the other. "But I am your monster no longer. After all, it takes one to know one." She pivoted to face them fully. "Prepare yourself, wretched creature. I come for thee next."
The specter smiled. "You will try, dear sister...
"Thy reckoning is nigh."
Miquella is mine and mine alone! My dynasty shall reign supre-ack?!"
"Heed my words. I am Malenia, Blade of Miquella. And I have never known defeat.
Naruto smiled. It was not a nice smile. "You're about to. I brought friends."
The doorway shimmered behind him. "Hello...sister."
"Usurper! Smoldering with thy meager flame of ambition! You shall not pass!"
Footsteps resounded behind him.
...I already have. I'll just be taking a look at the tree now...
Morgott rounded on them. How had he gotten past?! In a frantic fit, he lunged at him!
"I've shown thee courtesy enough...
Naruto tore off the last of his damaged upper armor, leaving his torso bare. "Right back at you...
Ranni flung up her arms. "You are such boys!"
"Look, foul witch. Look upon your work. Look at what you have made.
She saw Godwyn's ruined, bloated corpse.
"No, I never wanted that for him!"
Fortissax roared.
Naruto snarled back at the dread dragon. "COME ON THEN!"
EDIT: Hey, you made it!
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story, and others. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? Well, it won't be continued. 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.
Looking forward to chatting with you all when I get back~! Have a great day~!
R&R~!