A/N: EDIT: Well, thats not a lot a feedback. Ah, well. I tried. Back in the update rota this goes.
Just wanted to thank everyone for sticking with me.
I'm weary from work these days, but coming home after a long one to read feedback really make it worthwhile~!
As my fifteen year anniversary on this site draws ever 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.
Only a few questions to answer this time, and they're big ones:
Q: Update schedule?
A: Only Omen of Change and One with Spirits -Slifer's manning that chapter- remain to be updated this month for the Elden Ring category. I wanted to update this Thursday but I was exhausted and collapsed. With that day of rest, I can keep going at this daily pace, and we'll get back to something other than Elden Ring in March. One Helluva Team is a MASSIVE chapter, as is Foxfire.
Once again, apologies for going dark like that *bows head*
Also got another Naruto/House of the Dragon crossover in the works at the behest of Adventreader221.
Q: Oi, oi! I see those death flags! Don't you do it! Don't kill them!
A: Death flags? For whom? No idea what you mean. *whistles innocently*
In all honesty however, you may well be surprised soon. We're officially in the second arc of this story, and its going to be a doozy...
Q:...this is the calm before the storm for Naruto, isn't it?
A: You'll soon see.
Q: Hey, hey! Show us more of the demigods!
A: As you wish...
Alright, I think I've kept you waiting more than long enough. With that said here we go.
As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes! They're merely tributes.
Not a wit or a one. They're merely tributes to legends far greater than I.
And finally, a warning. Spoilers. Goes without saying, I suppose.
Also death flags. Sooo many death flags. But for whom?
"When the world falls down around you and all hope seems lost. When you find yourself alone, amid a lightless place. When you can't find the strength to go on.
Look to the distance. Know that I am there. And that I watch over you, always.
That's the promise of a parent. My promise to you."
~?
Peace is Eternal
Was it really?
Naruto suspected it was a matter of perspective.
For all his vaunted talk of peace, he knew his body was made for war. There could be no denying it. He had strength that could bring the very gods to heel, annihilate armies, crush continents if he so chose. He'd only grown stronger since he came to the Lands Between. Did he want such strength? No. But that didn't change the facts-or what he was.
Marika was much the same in that regard. She had great strength of her own; power that, if left unchecked, could bring ruin to those around her.
Yet rather than wage war they used their talents to keep things in check. Preserve the status quo, as it were. Peace was all well and good, but at the end of the day, peace didn't get the blood pumping. Songs weren't sung of peace, no matter how pretty it was. Their skillsets were best tooled toward war and while they could talk their way out of a fight, the ugly truth remained.
They were growing bored.
Not with each other of course, or their children -never!- but the state of the world as a whole. And boredom bred...well, Naruto wasn't entirely sure what per se, but he knew he didn't care for the current state of things. It felt like the world was moving on without the two of them and while he was quite happy to entrust its safety to future generations, he was also concerned for them.
Miquella and Malenia at least, were above reproach. He'd taught them well, the same values he was even now working to instill in Melina and Reyna. Radahn and Radagon could be trusted to do the right thing at the very least, as could Rennala, but beyond them friends were few and far between. While he saw Morgott just about every day now, Mohg and Godwyn had been quiet as of late. Too quiet. Rykard as well. Coupled with the odd rumors he'd heard as of late an the stirrings in the North...
This was the calm before the storm-and make no mistake the storm was coming. He knew it. Felt it in his tired bones. Best they prepared themselves while they could.
Which brought him to the present moment, or rather the curious sight before him:
"Big Brother Morgott! There you are! Lets play a game! Play, play, play~!"
"Careful princess, do not tug on my horns overmuch lest you-ow!
"Why is your tail so terribly long? Were you born with it...?"
"Melina! Dear girl! Please get down from there at once!
...I think not. I am quite comfortable here."
Naruto clapped a hand to his mouth to muffle his laughter as he rounded the bend.
Seemed little Reyna and Melina had tracked down Morgott again, much to his amusement. Despite all his complaints the old omen looked utterly at peace where he sat in the garden, uncaring as the children dangled off him like some kind of mad jungle-gym. Reyna swung from on of his many horns while Melina dangled atop his tail. He appeared relaxed yet one had but to see his eyes to realize he was in a state of constant readiness; though one hand rested against his gnarled cane, the other lay open upon his knee, ready to save his half-siblings at any given moment. It was a good look for him.
A shame he had to sour it with his questions. "Have you seen Mohg around?"
"Greetings to you as well, Father." The grace-given Omen made to shake his head; thought better when he remembered Reyna was currently danging from it, then heaved a sigh instead. "And to answer your question, I have not. Last I saw of him, he went down into the catacombs in search of something. He sends the occasional raven at times.
Concerning. He'd always been wary of Mohg, but his interest in Miquella -and him!- was well known. What was he up to this time...?
"I'd appreciate it." The words caught up to him a moment later."And I thought I told ya to stop calling me that...
"I cannot." This time Morgott did shake his head, accidentally dislodging Reyna. She tumbled down in his lap with a happy yelp, bounced up, and leaped onto his back again, paying them no heed. "My sword is yours, as always. You raised me out of that pit and reunited me with my family. With mother. My loyalty was yours from that day, as it shall be until my last day."
"Told you." Kurama chortled softly in the back of his head. "His allegiance is beyond question."
"Well, thanks in any case." his shoulders heaved in a sigh. "Don't suppose you know where I can find Godwyn?"
Morgott perked up a touch. "I believe he is currently in Stormveil, tending to his descendants."
Naruto's jaw clicked open. He snapped it shut. "Since when does he have...?"
"Surprising, is it not?" The aging omen chuckled hoarsely. "Time does not stand still, even for our kind. When last we spoke he told me he'd taken an interest in one of them. Young Godrick, I believe the boy's name was. He is nearly of an age with young Reyna and Melina. Perhaps they could visit him sometime. The lad could use a friend."
"A new cousin?!" Reyna cooed appreciatively. "Yes, please!"
Melina tilted her head, quietly intrigued.
Naruto pitied the boy already.
Nor did he miss the naked hope in Morgott's voice. In his heart of hearts, he wanted them all to get along-no, he genuinely believed they could. It was a simple hope. Pure, even. He hoped it would come true. He had no desire to see everyone tear one another apart over a senseless misunderstanding.
"There is another matter."
"Oh?" he blinked, drawn from his reverie by Morgott's words.
"I am to marry." Such a humble admission, and yet it floored him all the same. He bowed his head a little, scratching at an ashen cheek. "I would...appreciate it if you and Mother could be present for the ceremony."
Naruto felt his brow shoot up into his hair. "Eh?"
Morgott?! In love?! With whom?! He'd never show an interest in that sort of thing before!
The girls ceased their swinging atop their brother, silent for once, and utterly fixated upon him. Morgott must've noticed it too; because he wrung his hands hastened to explain himself.
"She is a skilled fighter." he said. "Warrior blood truly runs through her veins."
"Nevermind that! Names, man!" Naruto grabbed him by the cloak and gave him a shake. "I need names! How did you meet?!"
...I cannot give hers, not yet." Morgott lowered his horned head, hiding the ghost of a smile in the shade. "As to the day we encountered one another...I shall tell all when you meet her. She is quite charming, with a heart of gold to match. I believe the two of you would get along swimmingly.
Ah. Now he understood. "Which is why your telling me this first, and not Marika?"
"Mother would overreact."
Naruto opened his mouth. Closed it, now. Marika would be over the moon, which meant she'd likely drag Rennala into this. Both would want to make a grand ceremony of everything; after all, it wasn't everyday a demigod was to be wed. Doubtless it would be a day to remember.
"Fair." he relented with a sigh. "Want me to break the news to her?"
Another nod. "...I would appreciate that, yes."
"When can we meet her?"
"Soon. We wish to be wed by years end."
"Hmmhmm." he hummed his agreement and began counting off on his fingers. "That's, what, six months from now?
"Indeed." Morgott stood -carefully, as Melina was still sitting atop his tail, and Reyna his back- to sketch a deep bow. "Once again I give you my utmost thanks. You did more than save me that day. You changed my life. You saved me, showed me what it was not just to love others, but myself as well. I shan't forget this.
Heat rose to his cheeks. "Alright, alright! You're makin' me blush!"
Morgott barreled on. "My beloved and I even considered naming our first child after you."
"...!"
Naruto's brain fizzled. It took a full three seconds of silence before he could think again. He immediately sputtered. "No, no, no! Bad idea!"
"As you wish." Morgott capitulated all too easily. "Is there anything else you wish to know?"
"Did anyone else get eloped when I wasn't looking?!"
"Rykard has taken a consort, if you wish to know."
Naruto slapped his forehead. "Of course he has. What's next, Radahn fathering a gaggle of girls?! Did Ranni adopt an orphanage when I wasn't looking?!
"No, no, none of that. Not at all." Morgott laughed a little at that, much to his chagrin. "But is only natural for gods to seek happiness, much as mortals do. Is that so wrong?"
Naruto flinched. Though he doubtlessly didn't mean it as such, Morgott's statement only served to hammer home his own insecurities. Their world was changing. Their children, moving on. He and Marika slowly but surely being left behind. It brought back unpleasant questions, left his mind dwelling on them all the more. If there was truly Peace in the Land Between for the time being, then what was he to do? What could he do?
Rule, obviously, but that was his duty these days, not his joy. He ruled with Marika because he had to; because he loved her, yes, but also because there was no one better suited to the task.
No that wasn't the right question. What did he want to do? What would make him happy, what would bring him joy? He wracked his brain for an answer and found none. Unbidden, he recalled something Marika had once said to him, shortly after their precious twins were born.
An answer came to him, then. He seized it. "Mind if I leave the girls with you for the rest of the day?"
Morgott shrugged. "I've no plans. Might I ask why?
Naruto grinned. "Something I wanna do."
(.0.0.0.)
Peace is boring, isn't it?
We were made for war, Naruto, you and I. Deny it all you like.
You think yourself so clever. But you deny your true nature. You are a ruler, yes. A father, too. But what you truly are is...!
(.0.0.0.)
Naruto eased the door open.
It was very impressive as doors went; forged of finest oak and squeaky hinges all; which made his feat of slipping in without so much as a sound all the more impressive. A subtle nudge closed it behind him just as quickly and on a whim he deigned to leave it unlocked. Probably for the best. He'd be needing it in a second. Quick footsteps carried him forward
He found Marika sprawled out in her grand bed, enjoying a leisurely afternoon nap.
She didn't wake as he approached. As expected. She was a sound sleeper.
More fool she.
He plucked a scroll from his belt, unfurled it over her head now. A moment passed. Another now, just to make certain she wouldn't spring awake and deck him. When she did not, he ran a chakra-clad hand over the mark within. It pulsed once at , released a thin plume of smoke and...
...upended its contents onto the queen.
Cold water splashed down.
And then:
Marika jolted up with a shriek, hollering at the top of her lungs. "YOU SON OF A WHORE! WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!"
"My mother was a very nice lady, I'll have you know." still smiling, Naruto pushed a second parcel into her trembling hands. "Hold this, would you? Might help ya dry off."
Marika accepted the scroll with a sputter, still blinking the water from her eyes. "Now see here you-
Orange ink burst froth from the parchment to spattered her face, hair, and gown.
"You do realize," Credit where it was due, his lady wife did not cry out again. Not this time. She was much too proud for that. She merely reached up, wiped the worst of the pain from her scowling visage, and glared grave golden daggers at him. "You do realize of course, that this means war. If it was a fight you wanted, you had but to ask."
"I know," he planted a fist on his hip, "But now you're motivated to try and kick my ass."
"There shall be no trying." Marika snapped her fingers and her hammer rocketed across the room into her waiting grasp. She turned it toward in as one might a key in a lock. "I COMMAND THEE! KNEEL!" her lips quirked in a smug smile. "Do so and perhaps I shall spare you the indignity of defeat or the pranks to follow."
There she was, the fiery feisty woman he'd fallen in love with all those years ago. He couldn't help but smile and egg her on. "Didn't you kneel to me last night?"
Marika's pale face went red. "Irrelevant!"
"Was it?" he tapped his fin with one finger and twisted the verbal knife. "I seem to recall you saying...
He knew he'd pushed his wife over the edge when she lunged at him with a yowl.
Naruto met her with a merry roar all his own.
Hammer met fist. Neither yielded. The entire world shook from the force of their clash, yet for them, it may as well have been a breeze. Nor did they stop there. His knee crashed into her chin and snapped her head back. Undaunted, she retaliated with a jarring headbutt, to which he grasped her wrist and wrenched her hammer free from her fingers.
Naturally, that only emboldened her. Her heel crashed into his face and cast him out her room, sending him slamming down the stairs and into the city.
Rather than reclaim her hammer and wield it like any sane goddess would, Marika leaped down after him, hands free.
"Get over here!"
Naruto surged up just in time to meet her; and well he did; because she went for his throat. He caught her hands at the last instant and grasped them over his head, and she his. They clasped fingers together, tensed their bodies and planted their feet, straining against one another. The ground trembled beneath them. A fracture formed in the earth. A crack, now. Larger it grew, then larger still founding a fissure underfoot. The entire capital began to rumble around them. Neither cared.
Marika's grin matched his own as they warred against one another. "T'would seem you've grown stronger since last we clashed."
"Right back at you." Naruto felt his own grin grow. "Show me how much you've improved after all this time!"
"Happily, dear consort of mine~!"
They broke their clash, and collided in a storm of blows and laughter, wreaking havoc as they fell upon one another. Leyndell would later christen it as the Day of Laughter. From it a rather strange festival would spawn; one in which every citizens of the Lands Between would both gather for combat and endeavor to play practical jokes upon one another, the greatest of which would earn an audience with the Lord and Lady of Leyndel themselves.
Peace might be boorishly boring to some, a blissful blessing to others.
Yet one immutable truth remains.
Pranks were eternal.
A/N: LET THERE BE SMASH!
The irony isn't lost on me. This clash is a bit of an antithesis to the bout we saw in "Orange Blasphemy" really. Here, Naruto's initiating, and both are vastly more powerful; and no twiggy tree god is going to interrupt them this time!
Ought to be fun writing a prank fight.
But who is Morgott's mystery bride? I've left clues, crumbs, and I'm sure you can guess who...
Hope you enjoyed it. Gotta get to work, now...
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this particular story, and others. If folks don't enjoy it, the story will remain, but it won't be continued. And there we go. As ever, reviews keep me alive. Without them, I cannot write. Just wanted to thank everyone for sticking with me.
I'm weary from work these days, but coming home after a long one to read feedback really make it worthwhile~!
So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas....Review...Would You Kindly? And have some previews~!
I'm deliberately being coy with them this time around.
Some are far off. Others are closer than you think.
Once again, SPOILERS AHOY!
Seriously, ye be warned~!
Mostly the same here.
(Previews)
Reyna tilted her head. "Are they fighting or f***ing?"
"Reyna! Who taught you such language?!"
"Mama did."
"Miquella~!"
He had all of an instant to tense before Reyna landed on his back. "Hello, little sister. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Can you take us to Stormveil?
That got a blink from him. "...whyever would I do that?"
Little Melina tugged a this sleeve. "We wish to make a friend."
Young Godrick had low expectations when he first encountered his cousins. After all, he was weak, sickly, and so very pale. What possible interest could they have in him?
Perhaps that was his cynicism talking. Regardless, it availed him naught.
Reyna and Melina shattered his expectations immediately.
"You look tired, cousin.
Malenia WAS tired. She was bone dead, dirt tired after her journey and wanted nothing more than to fling herself into the first bath she could find and scrub this filth off her. She resisted the urge to huff and refused to let it show as she slung herself forth from her horse.
She shouldn't be angry, she knew.
It was hardly Radahn's fault she had encountered so many difficulties on her journey, least of all the lunaitcs who'd tried to kidnap her. In any case, she was here now. Nothing else mattered at the moment.
"Indeed, I am. How fare you?"
"Better than you, I'd say." Radahn looked healthy as ever. "Come in, come in, lets get you cleaned up. I believe Ranni is around here somewhere.
Malenia tensed. "She's here?"
We all are." Radahn tossed the words ove rhis shoulder. "All three of us. There are things we must discuss.
Miquella flung the book down with an exasperated hiss. "Blast it! Why is it so hard to find answers?! Has even this library been censured?!"
"The preparations have been made, Lord Godwyn."
"Then let us begin, Fia."
"Marika, put the hammer down."
"No, I don't think I will...hold this, would you?"
"Hold whaaaaahey!" He growled as she shoved her hammer into his grasp and leaped into the fray. "No fair getting a head start!"
"First come first served, husband of mine!
"You can't touch me!"
"Alright." Naruto inhaled slowly. Deeply. Angrily. "Parry this, you filthy casual."
"Parry whaaaaaargh?!"
Their scream was the sweetest music to his ears.
"A challenger at our gates? How quaint."
"He says he's a messenger...for someone called the Gloam-Eyed Queen."
Marika smiled. It was not a pleasant smile. "Finally got too big for her britches, did she? Perhaps I should send Maliketh after her...
"Godwyn's been acting strange...
"I'll have a word with him.
"Hammer down!"
"Aaaaand that is why you never piss off your mother."
Black knives gleamed in the moonlight. Their leader gave the signal. As one, the blackened blades descended.
A god died smiling.
EDIT: Hey, you made it! Thanks for reading!
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story, and others. Meaning, if folks don't like this, it won't be continued. If the story itself isn't popular? I'll likely discontinue it. I'm working two jobs -holidays are kicking my ass!- 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 from work~!
R&R~!