A/N: New year equals sick Neon. Bit of an update on things here; would you kindly read this? It would mean the world to this tired old soul.
Strike a Match, Running for the Edge, Apples and Atoms and Doctor of Demons will be updated this week most likely in that order.
Thursdays are, of course usually reserved for "Surpass Your Limits". I'm truly humbled by all the feedback that one's getting.
Foxfire is nearly ready, as is Dance of the Dread and Forgotten Son, Stag, and Shed No Grace on Me. I'm also debating making Vector Prime a story -see the last two fragments- as well as writing DBD -Dead By Daylight- story involving Naruto in addition to working MASSIVE OVERTIME to acquire a PS5 so I can finally properly play Baldur's Gate 3 and Honkai Star Rail.
I'm also doing all this while recovering from long Covid, to say nothing of updating other categories. Slifer and Advent are helping.
And strangest of all, I'm getting requests for me to do a Naruto x Yu Yu Hakusho stories. Why that now?! Wasn't much a fan of that rushed live action, but I have fond memories of the actual show back in the day. Especially the sheer sass of the english dub. Its a bit tempting, honestly.
So please have mercy on this old soul while I get things in order.
Alright then, 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 quotes, references, themes, or memes. Not a wit or a one! 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~!
"Whoa, hey! Nope! Nuh-uh! Not happening! Get me off this crazy train!"
~Defiance.
Shadow of Defiance
"You are my Shadow; you shall do as I say.
"Nah."
"You will obey me!"
"Nope."
"Yes! You! Will!"
"Not! Happening! BRAT!"
Little Malenia recoiled at that last exclamation; indeed, absolutely twitched. Had she her sword she might have tried to run her surly shadow through...for all the good it would've done her. She was a child and so was he, yethHe towered over her in a way few did; not with a bow or humility nor any sort of deference, but outright defiance. Not even Mother and Father spoke to her in such a way!
Yet this damnable cur did!
He even had the gall to look human unlike the other bestial Shadows. Ranni had Blaidd, Miquella had Priscilla, and even Mother had Maliketh.
But what did she have? A b-b-b-bloody boy! Whiskered cheeks and blue eyes though he might have, he was human!
They were all laughing at her because of it, she just knew it! Rykard, Radahn, Godwyn, all of them!
Such shame she could not bear! It burned worse than the Scarlet Rot!
To them, she was nothing. No, less than nothing!
She was the Accursed Child, the Infected, the Rotten; the shame of the golden lineage with her fiery red hair and the foul toxins that ran through her veins. Her strength had not yet blossomed fully, nor was her crumbling body able to properly stave off the Rot. As such her embarrassments were many, her accomplishments nonexistent. Now she had a Shadow who would sooner sprawl about under the sun than obey her!
Even worse, this churl had the nerve to talk back to her as though they were equals! As if such a thing were possible
The Greater Will had created him to serve her! He was tailor made for her! Didn't he understand that?!
Malenia drew herself up, lifted her chin, and glared down at him. "Know your place, fool!"
A lazy hand waved her way from where he lay. "Gee, lemme think about tha-no."
Malenia heard a passing servant snicker under their breath as they left them behind in the garden. Doubtless word of this would reach Mother and Father soon, which meant she would be in for another talk. Her shoulders still ached from the last one, the painful lash-marks barely concealed beneath her pale gown. For her to take another so soon...no, she had to avoid that at all costs.
Her shadow raised his head from where lay. "Look, kiddo-
She absolutely bristled from head to toe. "I am Malenia, future Blade of Miquella!"
"Great!" He held up a hand, forestalling her rant. "Lemme stop ya there. I made a deal with your so-called twiggy tree god to be reborn when I died. I'm sure you've got it rough here, but don't expect me to bend the knee because it decided to screw me over in the worse way, eh? Now if you're done screaming at me...why don't we just enjoy the shade and...awww man, m'yawning again...
His eyes drooped shut. She stared down at him, incredulous.
No. Surely her Shadow wasn't that disrespectful...
.
..
...ah, but he was.
Naruto absolutely, was!
She flung up her arms with an aggravated cry. "Don't fall asleep!"
A/N: Malenia as a potential Tsundere? I really haven't done that before.
Aaaaand that should do it for the teaser this time around.
Hope this little tidbit of a teaser made you smile!
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.
No previews this time. I'm exhausted.
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?
Hope you enjoyed this, and may your day be filled with lots of luck!
Warm regards,
~Nz.