A/N: Still alive, still kicking, still sick.

Now my back's acting up. Suppose that comes with being iold.

Shorter than I'd like, but alas, work calls. Didn't get the best news at the doctor's yesterday.

Speaking of news...

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. 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.

"Long May She Reign."

~?

Thy Blade

"Do not let go of mine hand."

Naruto bit his lip and tried to back a grin.

Ranni must have seen it; because she absolutely scowled over her shoulder. "Must you be so insufferably smug?"

"Yes, I must."

He had a good reason to be; for all her arrogance, Ranni was the one clinging to his hand as she led them. The Lunar Princess was afraid of the dark. Who would've thought?

Nokron was...well, he didn't quite have the right words for it. One word answers just didn't seem to cut it here. Beautiful? Lively? Old? He could see ruins all around as far as the eye could see, rather than the gloomy cavern ceiling he gazed upon a false sky of stars above.

Down into the depths they went-down past rock and stone and into darkness. Blaidd plodded behind them, not entirely silent, but watchful...and annoyed.

He too, had a good reason to be grouchy. "Do I have to wear this bloody thing? My ears are itching.

Naruto stabbed a finger backward without looking.

"Keep that helmet on, buddy!"

Ranni's shadow huffed but otherwise didn't protest. Not that he could tell if he was with that helmet he was wearing. The miniature mirror helm Iiji crafted for him was a good start to keeping the Greater Will at bay, but a temporary one at best. Temporary and fragile. One hard blow might shatter it to pieces, and even if it didn't, Blaidd could hardly wear it for the rest of his life now, could he? No the helmet was there as a stopgap measure, nothing more.

Something moved in the dark ahead of them. Ranni squeaked.

Naruto wagged a brow at her. "Scared are we?"

"Nay!" She silenced it with a spellbolt.

A ghastly pale figure toppled out of the shadows ahead of them. Others fled soon thereafter. No more challenges were made, nor ambushes attempted. It didn't stop her fuming. He hadn't a clue where they were headed, but he trusted in Ranni's directions as always. She hadn't led him or Blaidd astray yet.

She will.

'Stop that.'

There it was, that voice from yesterday.

Next she guided him and Blaidd through ancestral woods filled with strange horned creatures and enchanting singing. Had he been alone, he would've happily wandered that way to investigate; alas, there were things to do and they had a mission to complete; preferably before Rennala and the rest realized they were gone.

Ranni led the way without fail, barely saying a word.

That said, their journey certainly didn't lack for entertainment. Tehir first true obstacle was a great big brute with a mighty sword and a horned shield. He refused to speak with them, and was defeated in similar silence. The second was a strange creature, a teardrop of metal that could mimic any one being at a time. Against three it was spoiled for choice and made the mistake of hesitating; three guesses as to how that ended, friends.

First two don't count.

Really, the worst danger they dealt with upon reaching the lost city wasn't so much the enemies within, but the terrain; hoping across sloping rooftops, navigating twists and turns, evading enemies and the like. After all, they didn't have to fight all those mimic tears down there, did they? The worst of them could be avoided easily enough or outright run around. Stealth was simple for a shinobi, less so for an Empyrean and her half-crazed shadow.

Of course, there was more to it than that.

"Must you carry me like this?

"Carry whom like what?' Naruto hummed as he continued his descent. "You said you couldn't make these jumps, remember? I'm helping."

I said mine legs were still unsteady!" she kicked in his arms, looking every bit a petulant child as his shadow clones paused to open another door and raid another treasure chest. "Not that thou need carry me like...like...

"Liiiiike?" Naruto drawled, wearing a shit-eating grin as he took another jump. "You're a big girl, Ranni. Use your words."

"Thou knowest full well what this looketh like! I look like a princess!"

Gotcha. Naruto snickered.

Blaidd chortled behind them. "Really? I think its kinda cute...

Ranni absolutely hissed. "Thou art a traitor and a fiend, my shadow!"

"Now, now...

No dice, she was full on pouting now. She slapped his chest with two hands as he performed another limber leap, looking more vulnerable than he'd ever seen her. No doubt she would've used all four to smite him if she weren't clinging to him for dear life with the other two.

"Well, you're a princess to me". And then, just because he knew it would mess with her, he dipped down and kissed her pale forehead. Rann stiffened like the puppet she no longer was. He took wicked pleasure in watching her face go red. "Would ya look at that? You really can blush now...

Ranni made angry Ranni noises and buried her head in his chest.

Naruto would have howled with laughter, but he knew that would've got him an ice sorcery in the face. Well worth the smile though.

Still holding Ranni, he hopped over one Mimic Tear, kicked another's head off in midair, locked his legs around a third's skull and slammed them to the ground.

Ranni squirmed out his grasp the moment he landed.

The mimic tears did not die well.

"Show time~!"

(.0.0.0.)

His head ached.

Blaidd shook it off with a growl.

It was just a headache. That was all. Just a headache...

(.0.0.0.)

All too easy.

In truth Ranni found herself concerned by just how easy it was.

When it finally came to a fight, as all tings often did, the defenders of Nokron were no match for the three of them. Those who did not fall to her cold sorceries were summarily trampled by Naruto and Blaidd. Although the Mimic Tears fought as they were meant to, it was a rout. And for what? Against an Empyrean, her Consort, and her Shadow there was no contest. There could never be.

Only one obstacle yet remained.

Their enemies had been bested, their defenses destroyed, and the treasures of Nokron lay bare for the taking. As did the chest.

She didn't walk towards it. Ranni ran. Perhaps that was childish of her, but she couldn't help herself.

Because here at last, she had it. Her goal. Her dream. Her destiny.

Seizing the lid with all four hands, she pushed hard...

.

..

...nothing happened.

She strained and strove and struggled, but still it wouldn't open.

"Lady Ranni...?" Blaidd sighed. He sounded fondly exasperated with her.

"Hush, Blaidd! I have this well in hand!" She strained further still, feet sliding, arms heaving 'till she was red in the face. "I just...need...!"

Naruto chuckled.

"Do not give me such a look!" Ranni turned her most smoldering stare upon him, desperately trying to quell the embarrassment she felt. "This chest must be charmed against my kind. How else would it fail to open?"

"You sure you're not strong enough?" He was having her on. "Maybe that's what you getting for putting all your points into intelligence."

Her brow furrowed. "What was that, mine consort?

"Nothing! Here let me have a go at it." He reached past her, placed one hand on the chest and pushed.

A lazy shove pushed it open with ease. Light shone through.

Naruto stepped aside and beckoned. "Ladies first."

Ranni scowled and reached into it.

Something warm greeted her grasp. Was this...it was? Her hand emerged clutching a wicked blade. She gasped and observed the wickedly curved instrument with naked awe. So this was it, then. The Finger Slayer blade. She'd heard tell of it, but to see it, to hold it in her hand...well! T'was another matter entirely.

"With this," she whispered, "I shall at last carve my own destiny...

"Nasty thing." Naruto whistled. "But hey, you finally got it. Was it worth it?"

Ranni managed a nod. Gingerly, she hooked the blade into her belt. The deed was done, but she was not. The enormity of her task came crashing down on her a moment later. She had her weapon. Now.. She...she would have to leave soon, wouldn't she? Leave and seek out the Two Fingers that sought to control her wherever they hid, though she knew not where at present. After that...no she'd need to tell him.

She took a deep breath.

"Naruto, I-

Something moved in her peripherals.

Her consort nudged her aside almost gently as seven feet of steel perforated the space he'd stood in.

A furious howl reached her a moment later, then the beast was upon them.

"Blaidd?!"

"His helm's must've cracked in the fight." Naruto grabbed the blade, launching both it and her feral shadow over his shoulder. His skull struck the ground, shattering what remained of the helmet. "You betrayed the Greater Will, so he turned on you-hey!" he blocked a blow that would have run her through. "Easy there, big guy." a hand rose, causing bloody red eyes to fix upon him. "Just calm down. You remember us, right-

Blaidd dove at him, fangs bared. A roundhouse sent him stumbling.

"Calm down!"

Ranni winced. "Do not hurt him!

"He's trying to hurt me!" he swayed back, blocked the blade and shoved him. "Isn't there anything you can do?

There might be, but she was understandably loathe to do it. No matter. He would forgive her when he came to his sense.

Her eyes snapped to Blaidd. "SIT!"

Her shadow's body locked down and slammed face first into the dirt, bound by gravity magic. Thank the moon for Radahn; she'd never saw a use for the spell as a child, but she was suddenly inordinately glad he'd taught her all those years ago. The command only worked once a day, and even then only for a moment, but it was enough for her purposes.

Now!

Naruto jumped him. Golden hand clamped down on either side of his head. Ranni tensed, fearing the worst. He didn't yank. Instead her dear consort wrestled him down and held. "Gotcha," he rasped. "Huh. Easier than I thought it would be. Now lets just reach in there and-

Blaidd yelped as he hadn't since he was young, spasmed once, and went limp.

"Got it!" Naruto tumbled off his back with a pained cry of his own. "Ouch, my head...

Ranni hurried to his side."You broke the Greater Will's hold over him?"

...Not quite."

Horror dawned in her. "Tell me you didn't bind yourself in his place!"

"Didn't," the whiskered warrior grumped, rubbing at his head with a wince. "I just connected myself to it for a second. Had to do that to break the bond. "There's so much...anger...and hate." He turned wide eyes on her. "You defied it and hurt it and I...it hates you for that." His words flowed together. "You have to kill it, because I don't think it'll ever stop hating you...

Something rumbled overhead.

Blaidd mumbled a groan. "What...is that?"

Ranni followed his gaze. There was an awful red viscera dripping from above, and with it, dark laughter. A trap of some sort?

Naruto squinted up at it. "Might wanna get on that teleport spell of yours...

T'was easy enough. Ranni raised all four of her arms and cast a quick cantrip. Her magic remained powerful as ever; it would be the work of a moment to teleport them back to Raya Lucaria. The air shimmered around her as she drew on the full breadth of her power, glowing from within. She squinted her eyes against it. Finally it faded...

.

..

...and she saw.

"This...isn't Raya Lucaria."

"No," An-all-too-familiar voice intoned. "I'm afraid not. Welcome, honored guest. Its been some time...

Ranni's blood ran cold. No. Not here. Anywhere but here. Where were Naruto and Blaidd? The false skies of the Eternal City still loomed overhead, but her surroundings had changed. All around her she saw naught but gravestones. A shadow fell over her. Against her better judgement she turned to face it.

"Mohg...?

Her half-brother was even worse than she remembered. The last she'd seen of him he still had both eyes and at least some semblance of wits about him. But now...

"I'm terribly sorry to interrupt your spell, but I thought this a fine time to have a chat." what remained of his good eye was a twisted yellow color, his gnarled body draped in ornate robes sprouting horns from the oddest angles, his voice a gnarly rasp. "After all, are we not family?"

They were-but wait, where was Naruto? And Blaidd?!

"Where are my companions? If thou hast harmed them...!

"Peace dear sister." a clawed hand waved. "I mean you no harm. You will be reunited with them shortly on the surface...once we've concluded our business."

"What. Do you. Want?"

The omen tittered."Can we not talk for a moment? Its been so lonely down here.

Cold sorceries sizzled at her fingertips. "Mohg."

"Very well," the Mad Omen tutted. "To business then. I have need of that Finger-Slaying blade you possess. Would you be so kind as to lend it unto me once you're done?"

Her brow furowed. "And why would I do that?"

"Because little Rani," he leered, "I know what you seek and where it is." Her cold blood became so much ice. "'Tis a fair deal, no?"

He knew where her Two Fingers hid?! "And if I choose to wring it out of you?"

"Be assured that I won't talk, no matter the torture." his smile was an ugly thing to behold. "Come now, you've made dark deals before" he offered her a gnarled hand. "All I ask is a chance to wield the blade once you're done with it. Sometimes, the shortest path is the quickest way to victory."

She winced.

Mohg's voice was the sweetest of honey. "You've made all manner of dark deals before, have you not? What's one more?"

Ranni dithered. It WOULD make her vengeance swifter and spare her the search. But what would Naruto think...?"

The Lord of Blood tapped his trident against the ground. "I haven't all day, dear sister. What will it be...?

A/N: The plot thickens! 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)

She ran.

"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~!