A/N: The people have spoken.
"Upon My Name" aka Naruto reborn as Godfrey has officially become a full-fledged story.
I well and truly nearly retired with the site breaking, but I'm still here and still writing...for now.
Unfortunately, it seems Let Them Rot didn't get a lot of feedback, but that's to be expected given its humorous nature. Ah, well. I tried.
We'll see if folks enjoy "Name" and "Rot". If they do, great! They'll be granted Weekly UpdateS, much like Shed no Grace on Me and For Love of a Witch might be getting. If not, it'll be updated later with the rest.
We're also getting ready to update the Boys stories. That's right, Payback, Diabolical Invincible Me, No Heroes Here, and Bones. The whole nine yards.
Alas, other news depression's starting to hit real hard these days. Like a sledgehammer paired with concrete. Sometimes I wonder why I do anything at all. can't claim to understand what's going wrong with my head anymore. I don't even know why I'm feeling this way! One moment I'm fine, then my mood craters for a few hours, then I'm back again for a bit, and the cycle repeats. On and on, round the bend, forever and without end! Its rather annoying; as though I've become a prisoner in my own mind sometimes.
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.
*siiiigh* Right. Suuuure. Don't bloody feel fine, doc.
Worse, I can't seem to find a better doctor willing to see me. Trying to push through...
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.
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~!
"I've gone by many names...
~?
Upon My Name
It was the duty of the Strong to guide the weak.
It was the duty of the Strong to destroy the wicked.
It was the duty of the Strong to stand where everyone else fell.
Powerful words. Old words. Ancient beyond counting really, but He held to them all the same. He took strength from them. Solace sometimes, in his more morose moments, few though those were. He was Strong, and so it fell to him to look after those weaker than him. Such was his purpose.
After all, he was Naruto Uzumaki and even here in the Badlands of the Lands Between, stranded far from his home, he still had purpose.
Kurama scoffed softly in his ear. "Oi, now. You know that's not your name anymore."
His lips pursed. He didn't like his current name. "Sorry. Old habits really do die hard."
"Speaking of dying...on your left."
How rude of him. He'd forgotten all about dinner.
The Runebear hadn't.
It rushed him!
He planted his feet, grit his teeth, and faced it head on with a smile. The very earth trembled at the beast's charge through the forest, its massive bulk bowled down a mighty oak, a rock shattered in the face of its fury and still he didn't budge. Hair gone preternaturally white rustled in the wind and flashed across his face; he blew a stray strand out of his eyes, hands rising...!
Rough palms slammed forward and snagged the beast by its paws.
As always, he reveled in the look of utter shock and surprise his prey wore. Runebears could not speak, but the beast made a noise of confusion all the same. Its ilk were used to being the biggest, meanest things for miles around. They killed where they wanted, when they wanted, how they wanted. Those that dwelt in the Badlands were bigger still, even bigger than a boy in his nineteenth year.
And he'd just caught one.
Then again, most men his age couldn't just wrestle a Runebear.
He supposed that was hardly sporting, given the circumstances, but needs must.
Seizing the moment, he dragged said bear forward and headbutted it, stunning before driving a vicious punch right into its eye. The roar that followed was one of purest fury. It lashed out like any animal would and tried to drive him to the ground, only for him to catch its arm and sling it over his shoulder. The earth trembled as it crashed down on its belly.
From there leaped onto its back and grabbed it by the head.
It went wild in return, snarling and thrashing for all it was worth to dislodge him...all in vain. A shame. He'd had high hopes for this one. Without him, it would've taken a score of warriors from the Loux tribe to bring a behemoth like this down. Alone? It was just a warm up. How the old him would have balked to see him now. What did that say about him -about what he'd become- when he could wrestle a Runebear with his bear hands and triumph?
"That was a bad joke and you should feel bad."
"Hmmhmm." he hummed a laugh, lost in the noise. "Maybe so."
The Runebear bit up at him, only for its teeth to shatter on his foerearm.
"Sorry about this," he rumbled an apology in return. "But the little ones need food."
Naruto tightened his grip upon its head and closed his eyes.
"I give thanks for this meal."
His hands twisted.
CRACK.
Breaking someone's neck really was an awfully lot harder than it looked. Least of all for a Runebear. The old him would never have been able to manage it without Kurama's aid. Now he had the strength for it. The bear's body went limp as he snapped its neck with an awful crunch, slumping to the ground beneath him. He rode it to the ground and strode off its spine. Silence reigned supreme in the Lands once more, leaving him to assess his prize. He had been right to hunt this beast down after all. Its meat would feed the tribe for a few days, at least, and its hide would be put to use.
By all accounts, he had done well. Nothing here would go to waste...
.
..
...so why did he feel so empty inside?
An all-too-familiar whirl of golden light sprouted from his shoulders, claws gripping his shoulders for balance. A vulpine visage loomed over his shoulders to glare at him. Had anyone else seen it, they might've had quite the fright. As thing stood, Naruto merely sighed. He knew what his partner was going to say. This argument had been a long time coming.
"Because you're bored! This one was even less of a challenge than the last!"
He clicked his tongue and waved a hand through the chakra, shooing the fox away. "Don't sulk, Kurama."
"What else can I do?! We haven't had a single worthy foe since we were reborn in thesese Lands Unseen."
"I believe you mean the Lands Between."
"Bah! You know what I mean. The fact that I can't even remember the name of this bloody continent proves my point!"
...he was right about that much, at least. In the nineteen years since he'd been reborn as Hoarah Loux, he hadn't once faced a worthy challenge. Not enough to make Kurama emerge at any rate. He liked to pop out every now and again if only to stretch his limbs and prove he still could, but he could deny that the last few years had been almost...peaceful.
How boring-no, don't think like that. Mustn't think like that. "We'll eat good tonight, at least."
"If you say so."
Naurot spared a glance to the corpse.
It was going to be a long walk back to the tribe...
(.0.0.0.)
The Loux tribe awaited him at the foot of a hill.
Naruto could see the smoke rising from the campfire even from here. He had fond memories of this place, brutal though his second upbringing became. The tribe was a place of strength, where the strong thrived and the weak died-or so it had been until he usurped the last chieftain and claimed his seat. Nevertheless it was his home. He remembered the smell of tanned leather, the warm fires, and watching the setting sun with the other children when he'd been younger. Of that generation, only he had survived to reach adulthood. But the camp remained.
Arrayed in a series of concentric rings, each portion of the tribe was protected by a number of planted posts in the dirt; the better to defend from an attack. Warriors were stationed on the outside rings, with cooks inward, medicine men and women deeper still, and the chieftains tent -his tent!- positioned squarely in the center.
It was here that he brought the Runebear to divest it of its head...
.
..
...and was here that he learned he had a guest.
"A woman came to your tent chieftain." One of his guards saluted with his ax as he drew near. "We tried to stop her, but she wouldn't be deterred." he jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "She awaits you within."
"Hmm. Here," he hauled the headless Runebear their way. "Take this carcass and divvy up the meet. Make sure the women and children get their fair share first."
"Women and children, eh?" the guard made an annoyed noise. "Orin's liable to take half the damn thing if you let her."
"Orin likes cutting and carving, so long as blood's involved. Let her help you and that should sate her...for today."
His fellow barbarian grunted, then gave the corpse a kick. "You're keeping the head, then, boss?"
"I am." he hefted the beast's skull. "It was my kill, so I get first claim. This is mine."
"Halsin and his boys won't like that. You're hogging all the trophies."
He shrugged. "Then they are free to challenge me for my seat."
"They just might."
A silver brow rose. "Is that a threat?"
The man balked, realizing he'd overstepped his bounds. "N-Not at all chieftain. Just remarking on it."
He wasn't. Remarking or not, a challenge was a challenge. Her mounted the bear's skull on a nearby hook and turned to face his so-called guard.
Up went the facade once more.
"Have you forgotten who I am?" he towered over the smaller man, casting him his looming shadow. "I am Hoarah Loux, your Chieftain. I climbed a mountain of broken bodies and shattered bones to lead this Tribe." he touched a hand to his bare chest. "I still wear the teeth of my last challenger around my neck; still drink from his skull as a cup." he leaned closer still, all but glowering down at him. "If you have a challenge to declare, speak it with steel or not at all. Am I understood?"
A quick, bob of a nod was his reward. Not good enough. He was in no mood for games.
His fingers bit down on the man's arm. "I said, am I understood?"
The guard yelped in pain. "Yessir, chief!"
"Good." he laid a massive hand on the man's shoulder. "Now, you have a bear to skin. Best get to that before I skin you."
He watched the man take the Runebear by one leg and drag it away, watched him until he was certain he was gone. Only then did he sigh. What did it say for his leadership when these people only listened to strength? His silver tongue was next to useless here. Anything viewed as weakness was to be cut out. It was the reason maniacs like Orin did so well here. Folks like her enjoyed their bloodsport a tad too much much. He didn't. Lording your strength over those weaker than you was a sin in his eyes. He didn't enjoy hurting people, but sometimes, violence was the only language these people understood.
Change would take time.
If he had things his way he would've simply talked these people the right way round and been done with it. Therein lie the rub. He'd already tried. It didn't work. The people of the Badlands didn't care for flowery words or long-winded speeches. He had learned that awful, immutable truth the hard way. To them, strength was all. Strength was everything. Strength was life. There was some small semblance of hope for the children, for the little ones, to keep them from being indoctrinated, but he held little belief in the rest.
Kurama heaved a sigh of of his own. "You'll be having another challenge soon, methinks."
Naruto clicked his tongue at the thought. "Not from that one, at least.
In the badlands only strength mattered.
So long as he was strong, they would follow.
He'd drag this tribe to survival, kicking and screaming if need be.
Shaking his head, he pushed the tent flap aside and stepped through. His tent was bare of ornamentation, save a humble cot and a stand where he kept his weapons and armor. Not that he had much use for either these days. In the nineteen years since he'd been reborn in this barbaric body, he had yet to find anyone capable of standing against him. He preferred his bare hands to an ax, but he could swing one better than any other in a pinch, though the need rarely called for it.
That changed today.
For you see, there was indeed a woman in his tent.
She was sitting on his bed, damnit. He'd wanted to use that...!
He took her in at a glance. She was rather tall, only a head or so shorter than him. Her long hair shone like spun gold lopped in a loose braid, her eyes a deep, piercing shade of yellow amber, framing a youthful face and a bemused smile besides. She wore a long flowing black gown that clung to her bountiful bosom and proud posterior, enhancing her every curve, of which she had many. Here was a woman who knew she was beautiful and was proud of it. He'd peg her in her early twenties. Nearly of an age with him.
Yet for all her curves and easy smiles, he wasn't fooled.
This was no homely harlot from the civilized lands; this was a warrior. He could see it in her stance. She kept her balance on her left foot, yet leaned forward just so on her right, ready to spring into action at the slightest provocation. Her smoldering gaze raked over him intensively, probing for any signs of weakness. She eyed him and he eyed right back without so much as a hint of an apology.
In the end, he took the initiative. "Bold of you to walk into my camp without an escort, let alone unarmed."
"I am never unarmed." Her voice was soft yet powerful and rang with truth. She sounded confident if nothing else. "And you...you are Hoarah Loux, are you not? Chieftain of the Badlands."
That was the name he'd been given in this strange second life of his, yes. He would have chosen something better.
Godfrey had a nice ring to it, you know?
She stood and considered him a new. her gaze flicked up and down the length of him once more, regarding him as one might a cut of prime meat. "You're every bit as I imagined you'd be. But are you strong?"
A dangerous thing to ask a barbarian of the badlands. He tilted his head in return. "I could say the same of her?"
The retort achieved the desired effect; a hammer of golden in at his head with blistering speed.
Naruto had no idea where it had come, nor how she'd conjured it out of thin air, but the result was still the same. He caught it an inch from his face and held it there, stopping her assault cold. She made a startled noise and struggled against him, tried to overpower hi, only to find herself outmatched. He bent her backward, nearly forcing her to the ground.
"You come into my home and attack me?" the words tumbled out of him in a low growl. "Do you have a death wish?"
He was utterly unprepared for what followed. The stranger woman didn't try to attack him again; far from it. Wild delight broke through her impassive facade, shattering it like so much glass. She dispelled her hammer of light and gave herself to gravity then fell backward; bouncing on his bed with a euphoric grin.
"I knew it!" She brought her hands together in a delighted clap and but squealed the words. "I thought you'd be a bit shorter, sure but you're definitely the one!"
Naruto's mind fizzled. "...ha?"
"You have no idea how relieved I am right now!" Quick as a flash, the buxom blond sprang back to her feet, bosom bouncing. "How long I've spent looking for someone like you!"
"Someone like me?"
His words doused her enthusiasm and she realized she'd been gushing. "Ahem!" She flushed and mastered herself with a quick cough into her first. "Forgive my enthusiasm. I lost myself for a moment, there. That is to say...I have need of a strong champion to help me set the Lands Between in Order. Will ye serve?"
He turned away from her and lumbered to the wash-basin at the foot of his bed. "...No."
"Excuse me?!" her noble facade cracked again. "Do you have any idea who I am?!
He ran his hands through the water and began to clean his face. "...Should I?"
"I am Queen Marika the Eternal!"
.
..
...should that name mean something?
He blinked once. "I wasn't aware we had a queen."
"Urk." Here at last, she faltered. "Yes, well, I'm not queen yet, but I will be once the Erdtree is fully grown and my capital is constructed."
Bold, pretentious girl. The ghost of a smile fractured his weathered, dirty face. "Why are you here then, oh not-yet-queen-Marika?"
She huffed and stamped a foot. Good. He found himself amused by this less-than-formal side of her.
"I am new to my Godhood and was told by the Greater Will to choose a consort for my reign to come." she palmed her face, heaved a mighty sigh, and blew a stray strand of golden hair out her eyes. "Every man in these gods-forsaken lands has been lacking...all save you and one other, and I am NOT bonking my brother no matter what that silly space slug says, thank you very much!" grumbling under her breath, she looked away. "Not a chance in the darkest hell, Radagon...
Kurama started to laugh in his head. "I like this one! She has spirit!"
His brow crept higher. "What was that last bit about...?"
Her face went red. "Think naught of it."
"I'm fairly certain I heard-
"You heard nothing!"
Strange girl.
Ah, but this wild woman was speaking again, and he found his curiosity aroused regardless. "The Lands Between are in turmoil. Fire Giants rage in the North, the Sorcerers of Raya Lucara lord over the west, and the Storm King consorts with dragons in the east. And there are...darker things that lurk in the shadows and wear the flesh of their fallen foes." a brief flicker of fear flashed across her radiant face before she banished it again. "I came to these lands to serve as a champion of the Golden Order to come, but I am beset by foes on every side and cannot best them all alone. My loyal shadow, Maliketh, was grievously injured in the last battle. Radagon and I cannot be everywhere at once; as such, our forces are suffering greatly."
"I fail to see why any of this should matter to me."
"It should, because you're like me." She jabbed a finger at his chest. "I can see it in your eyes. You crave a proper battle. Join me and you'll never lack for strong foes."
Had he only been Hoarah Loux-blasted name!-that might have been enough for him. But it wasn't. He'd lived a life of plenty once before, and he was...not necessarily content with the order of things here in the Badlands, but he was resolved to protect his charges. "I have my own people to look after. I must refuse."
"Ally with me and I shall see every man, woman and child in the Badlands cared for. Better yet, I'll give your warriors foes to fight."
Her counter gave him pause. "Didn't you just say your forces were effectively bogged down at the moment?"
"We have resources aplenty, but not enough warriors. There is food aplenty in the Altus Plateau."
Tempting. Very tempting. There had to be a catch. There always was.
He stared at her. "And all I have to do is be your consort."
"None better!" She beamed up at him radiantly.
"I'm not bending the knee to another God."
"I'm not asking you to!" Marika smacked his bare chest with an open palm, only to recoil with a wince as her hand smarted. "You have my word, not just as a queen, but as a fellow warrior. As to the whole consorting bit," she gave a small shrug. "We can bond over slaying our enemies." She grinned up at him as she blinked once, fluttering long lashes "Familiarity and intimacy can come afterward, Hoarah Loux."
...Godfrey." he said.
"Pardon?"
"If I'm leaving my life here behind, then I'll need a new name." Now seemed as good a time for it as any. "I don't much like my current one. I've decided upon Godfrey."
Marika's grin grew. "You really do live as you please, don't you?"
Naruto arched a pale brow. "I do. What of it?"
Errors were made. "...that settles it."
"Settles what?"
Marika jumped him and buried her face in his chest. "I'm keeping youuuu~!"
A/N: And scene. Hope you like it.
Young Marika is a bloody treat to write, lemme tell you.
Recall her antics in "Dear Consort Eternal" and dial them up to eleven. Yup. That's her.
Never really seen someone do something pre-Golden Order before that I'm aware of, so here we are.
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, as such, 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?
(Previews)
"Can you kill something that big?"
"I'd prefer to talk with it, first
...you must be Radagon."
"And you're the brute that my sister has chosen."
It was in that moment that he knew. They'd never be friends. Rivals for life.
Gransax loomed before the capital. Before him.
Naruto -Godfrey!- raised a hand and waved. "Mind putting that Bolt of yours down?
She'd been drinking.
"Marika, you're drunk.
"M'not."
He picked her up.
Her eyes lit up. "Princess carry!"
He sighed and carried her back to bed.
"Father, look!"
Godwyn really was a golden child.
Naruto heaved a small, bemused sigh as he watched his son conjure up a fresh gale. "Thatta boy...
"No. They won't be sending our sons to the sewers. Morgott and Mohg will stay. Right here. With us. If the Greater Will has a problem with that I WILL BREAK ITS NECK."
EDIT: Hope this made you smile, and have a great day!
Warm regards,
~Nz.
R&R~!