A/N: Mama Knows Best should be updated next.
Aaaaand there we are. No more Elden Ring requests for awhile. I'm all tapped out!
I've got one for Irina/Hyetta gnawing at me, but I refuse to write it. I'll not be tempted! Nope, nope, nope!
So here we are, the Godwyn story I promised, a completely different take from Forget Me Not. How, you ask? Well! Why don't you read and see~?
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, I won't be able to continue it, sad as that may sound.
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.
As ever, I own no references, quotes, memes or themes. Not a wit or a one.
I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time.
As ever in the words of Kaif...
...SPOILERS!
"My dream? I want us, all of us, to see eye to eye.
From gods to dragons. Mortals to Albinaurics. Omens to Misbegotten.
That is my wish. And I'll see it made reality. After all, this ain't my first time around...
~The Golden Son.
Golden Son
"Its a boy!"
Three little words.
And yet they unseated an Elden Lord.
Godfrey was a warrior first and foremost; some might even say he lived for battle. Magnificent were his foes, mighty his victories, and many more yet to come. Once upon a time he had lived for the thrill of steel clashing against steel, testing his limits against strong opponents, pushing his body to the absolute limit then exceeding it.
And yet here in this moment he found himself laid low by the least expected.
His son. His heir, cradled in the arms of his beloved Marika -his wife!- could not be considered strong. Not yet. Of course not. T'was a baby after all. He would not be a warrior for quite some time. And yet for perhaps the first time Great Godfrey found himself at a loss for words. His strong arms quivered uselessly at his sides as he gazed upon the perfection that was their child, unable to do anything other than stare. His tongue felt like a leaden weight in his mouth, unable to give voice to the sheer tumult of emotions he was currently experiencing.
"Isn't he wonderful, Godfrey?" In the end it fell to his Queen Eternal to speak, and speak she did as she cooed at their child. "His name shall be Godwyn."
...a fine name."
'We made this.' a proud voice in the back of Godfrey's head preened. 'Our son. The first Demigod of the Lands Between.'
"Come beloved," Marika held her arms out to him suddenly, startlin ghim. "Hold your son."
For perhaps the first time in his life. Godfrey felt fear. Not for himself. For the babe. What if he didn't hold him tightly enough? Ancestors above, what if he held him too tightly?! His once-heated blood ran bitter cold at the thought. Nevermind dropping him, the idea of crushing him proved far worse!
"Calm thyself, mine husband." In the end his dithering availed him naught. His wife pushed their child into his arms.
Serosh leaned over his back and sniffed once, inspecting this strange pink thing.
The baby laughed at him. Actually laughed and the beast lord recoiled.
Godfrey gazed at him anew. His child. A son. Golden hair crowned a red face from which bright blue eyes shown. He loved Marika and her pale complextion, truly he did, but it heartened him to see that the little lad took to his side most strongly. His sole imperfection -if one dared to call it such- were a trio of odd whiskers upon his cheeks. Birthmarks, perhaps? Still, there were no horns. Not an omen. He thanked the spirits for that tiny mercy. He didn't think he'd be able to consign his children, any of his children, to the depths.
This was the first true Demigod in the Lands between.
Holding him close, he gazed at his heir. "A fine warrior you will be."
Was it just his imagination, or was the boy smiling? And such a strong grip he had...!
(.0.0.0.)
The lad grew quickly, both in body and mind.
Godwyn the Golden they called him, both for his striking blond locks and sunny demeanor.
By the tender age of seven he'd already proved himself mighty indeed, and not at all for the reasons one might expect...
(.0.0.0.)
The boy cracked his neck and glared bloody red daggers at his hated foe.
"You're not getting out of this alive, you bastard." He growled, thrusting a finger forward. "Not this time."
"..."
"Giving me the silent treatment, eh?!"
"..."
"Fine!" he flung up his arms with a scowl. "Be like that! We have ways of making you talk!"
"..."
For its part, the practice dummy stared back impassively, its blank face defying him as it always had. No longer. Today was the day he tore it apart. His way. Not the way he'd been taught by his parents. No sword nor hammer, nor ax and spell, just his bare bloody hands...or so he would claim if anyone stumbled upon the wreckage.
...you're talking to an inanimate object again. I'm starting to worry for your sanity."
Whiskered cheeks dimpled in a scowl. "Quiet, Kurama. Let me handle this."
"Handle what?! Its not even alive!"
"..."
He looked left. Now right.
Good. Not a single soul in sight.
Raising his right hand before his face, the whiskered warrior clenched his fingers into a claw and pushed out with his will. Tattered threads of chakra, remnants of a bygone world that was no longer his own, stirred within him. Gathered now, in his outstretched palm. A snarling sphere swirled to life between his fingers; a writhing vortex of energy ready to annihilate whatever it touched.
"Godwyn" gazed upon that cerulean sphere, held it before his face and grinned at the maelstrom of energy he'd created.
"Heh." a rueful chuckle leaped from his lips as he gazed upon his old technique. "Still got it. Wonder if I can still...?
Blue eyes drifted shut. When next they opened they burned a serene shade of gold.
On a whim he cradled his free hand around the Rasengan and molded wind into the sphere, strengthening it. A bead of sweat ran down his brow, but he held fast. No need for a clone. He wanted to do this himself. Had to, if only to assuage his wounded pride. Unruly golden locks lifted in the breeze that followed the technique's creation, slightly at first, then whipping away as a keening shriek filled his ears. The storm swirled in his grasp; a dirge of death to whomever was unlucky enough to hear.
"Right," he hummed to himself. "Now for the real test."
Hoisting it aloft, he glared at the his target.
How many times had he tried and failed in this new body of his? More than he cared to count. And all the while this man of staw and hay mocked him with its silent state. No longer! A quickstep brought him forward; from there he twisted his body his palm -and the Rasenshuriken- pivoting to launch it as one would a disc.
In truth, he didn't so much see the destruction as he did hear it; his target utterly evaporated in a cloud of splinters.
Lowering his arm, the golden son whistled as he surveyed his handiwork.
A grin tore across his face as he pumped a fist into the air. "Alright! Finally got my chakra back!"
"And it only took you how many years to master it in this body?"
Naruto clamped both hands over his ears. "Lalala! I can't hear you!"
Being reborn had proven an...interesting experience thus far, but he felt he'd acquitted himself well over the last seven years. It helped that he still had the lions share of his strength. Really, it was just a matter of getting it to work for him in this new body; a form so much stronger than his old one, yet still fundamentally different. He'd struggled to use even the most basic jutsu until this year. But not anymore!
Some might argue that this leap forward was a chance for him to cut loose; but he disagreed.
In his eyes, this the more reason to be careful and check his strength to avoid suspicion...
.
..
...for now.
After all, if Marika realized her "son" had the soul of a stubborn shinobi, she might start asking questions; inquiries he wasn't prepared to answer; if only because he didn't have the answers to them yet. Why was he here? Why had he been reborn after his final battle. Had he died? Been sealed somehow? He didn't remember. Couldn't recall. At some point, his past had been wiped away, leaving a gaping void behind.
Naruto, now Godwyn, remembered befriending Kurama.
He remembered going into battle against his fellow jinchuuriki.
He remembered fighting Sasuke to a standstill, bleeding out from his right arm...and then nothing.
Anyone else would've been petrified by the gap in their memories. And he had been, for a time. Had he done something terrible? In the end, he wasn't given time to dwell on it; if only because his second childhood proved the exact opposite of his last. He found himself drowned in love and affection here, so much so that he didn't know what to do with it all.
Time heals all wounds, and seven years had done much to mend his.
Of course, that didn't mean he'd limit himself forever, of course. Where was the fun in that? Once he was fully grown he intended to cut loose completely. Holding ones self back for the sake of a fight? Yeah, no. Not doing that, not by any means. He wasn't a battle maniac. Not like dad.
"Heh." just thinking of it brought a smile to his face and made him rub his hands together. "Can't wait to see the look on his face in our next spar."
"I still say I can eat that old lion of his."
"Kurama, no. You can't eat Uncle Serosh. He's a good guy.
...Naruto, he's literally glued to your old man's back. He tried to bite you the last time you touched him."
"Meh." Grinning, he pushed his young body upright and went about setting up another target for himself. "He's comin' around."
"In what world?!"
In this one, of course. What else? He was determined to get an early start this time around, if. Make as many friends as possible, ya know?
His parents were alright, all things considered. Marika reminded him of Kaguya only a little; in the sense that she was wicked strong and not afraid to throw said strength around to get her point across. At least she wasn't going around turning her subjects into White Zetsu; and the Erdtree wasn't trying to devour this world. Moreover, she was actually a good mom, unlike that rotten witch. Even with his eighth birthday on the horizon, she still fussed and fawned over him as only a first-time parent could. And it felt kinda nice, if he was perfectly honest about it.
Markia was not Kushina, she could never be Kushina, but she'd proven herself a good mother.
It was almost cute, how desperate she was to keep him safe and sated.
Adorable, really.
By contrast Godfrey -Dad!- kinda reminded him of Minatr, in that he was really just a big teddy bear. Strong, and willing to thrown down in a fight, but a big softie where family was involved. Moreover he felt a certain sense of kinship with him, moreso than Marika. While the Eternal Queen flaunted her power openly, his lord father restrained himself so as not to harm those around him with his raging instinct. He could respect such a mighty warrior for limiting himself the way he did. After all, wasn't he doing the same thing?
"I ain't sitting on your back like Serosh."
"I'd be worried if you did." he laughed a little as he kicked another board away and flipped into a second exercise. "You'd crush me."
He knew he'd have to drop the ruse sooner or later, but for now, he was content to see where this life had led him. After all, an only child he might well be -for now!- but he relished the idea of having a big family. If his parents had their way he'd soon get his wish. Come to think of it, mom had been looking a little on the heavy side lately...
"Naruto, no." an golden paw burst from his shoulder to swat the back of his head, drawing a whine from him. "Don't even think about it. You're reading into things again."
"You know, I always wanted to be a big brother...
"Godwyn!" A voice pricked at his ear, shattering his reverie. "My lord Godwyn! Oh, heavens, where has he run off to this time...?"
A frown creased Naruto's face as he craned his neck back. Godwyn? Who was God-oh, right. That was his name in this world. Still forgot that, sometimes. Seven years old and already stuck with a handmaiden. Sasuke would've laughed himself silly if he saw this. Broody bastard...
Placing two fingers to his lips, he whistled sharply to draw attention unto himself. "Over here, Tiche."
He heard someone cry out. Not a heartbeat later a blur of blue-on-black robes burst out the door and into the plaza. Paused now, as they noticed him. He managed a lazy wave-then a grunt as little Tiche struck his chest at speed, latching onto his tunic for dear life. He would've been worried...if she wasn't so short.
Blue-green eyes glared up at him. "You ran off again! Mother's been looking everywhere for you!"
He let the golden hue fade from his eyes. "I told her I'd be training today..."
She puffed her cheeks out in a pout. "But not where!"
.
..
...oops?"
"Don't you "oops" me!" tiny hands gave him a shake. "I thought you wandered out the capital again! I was worried sick!"
Naruto laughed and let her rant.
Felt good to have a friend, you know?
Perhaps that was a bit selfish of him. But he'd died once already. Couldn't he have one thing for himself in this world? Or maybe more than one...
With her pale blond hair and slender build Tiche reminded him very much of a young Ino Yamanaka; only more brash and not afraid to give him a tongue lashing if he did something stupid. If she grew up to be anything at all like her mother Alecto, she'd be a raving beauty in a decade...assuming things went well in the future.
That was the crux of the matter, wasn't it?
Both mother and daughter were technically handmaidens of Markia, yet each were more than they seemed. His sixth sense said much about the mother-daughter-duo. Alecto and Tiche weren't the humble handmaidens they claimed to be; a maiden didn't move the way they did. They'd been trained. Still they'd been nothing but kind to him thus far and he had no reason to hate them. He'd give them a chance. Yes, he'd do it right this time, too; bring peace to this world, just as he had in his own...
In the end, Naruto let the thought pass and smiled for his dear friend.
"C'mon," he took Tiche by the hand and led her away. "Lets get some lunch. Cook's serving venison today."
...can we train a little, afterward?" she blinked up at him pleading eyes. "Just the two of us?"
He laughed, slipping back into his Godwyn persona all too easily. "As my lady wishes...
Whistling softly to himself, he sauntered away with her, hand in hand.
Mom had been right about one thing. The world was his oyster.
He couldn't wait to see what came next.
A/N: To clarify, yes, I'm speaking of THAT Alecto and Tiche.
Furthermore, this iteration of Naruto is downright dangerous. Gotta watch that max charisma~! I'll let you guess when his first life ended. Wasn't subtle about it. Not at aaaall.
And there we have it. Another request fulfilled, and my last for awhile.
Unlike Forget Me Not, this story has Naruto with all his power intact, and some new ones besides thanks to his "rebirth" as it were. Eldest of the Demigods, and not afraid to throw his weight around.
Do you want this to be a story? Yes? No? Maybe so? Make yourselves heard! Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this particular story, and others.
If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? POOF! Gone. Completely. 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.
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? And have some previews -potential blot bin things- that I'm working on.
(Previews)
"Morgott! Mohg! Get out of that tree! Right now!"
An accord bounced off his head. "You'll never take us alive!"
Naruto twitched, then began to roll up his sleeve. "Fine. Guess I'm uprooting the tree...
"Silly girl." Hewg swatted Tiche on the shoulder. "He's like his mother, Marika. Its not his smile you need to worry about. It when he he stops smiling that you need to run."
"I don't understand. He's always smiling. And he's so kind."
"Not always. I watched someone push him too far, once. They're still finding pieces of 'em in the capital.
The dragons sent their first envoy to the capital; they arrived in a storm of fire and blood.
Marika wondered why her eldest seemed oddly displeased by that.
And what was all this talk about a worthy opponent?!
Fortisax reared back, looming large over him. "You would face a dragon? Bold, even for one of your kind."
The man's smiled worried him ore than he cared to admit. "I've faced worse."
"You don't lack for spirit, it seems." He conjured a scarlet spear to his claw. "Come, then! To battle!"
Lansseax blinked. Once. Twice. Thrice.
On the third, her golden eyes narrowed to dangerous slits.
"Peace?!" laughter burst out of her human lips, a harsh, bitter bark that drew a frown from the golden god before her. "Between our kind?! No. Nay. Never."
"What will it take to convince you?"
"Lop off your right arm. Then I'll give you peace."
Naruto shrugged and raised his blade. "A small price to pay."
She grabbed his wrist as the weapon fell. "What are you doing?! T'was a jest! A jest!"
"Harder~!"
"A harem, you say?" Marika smiled into her wine. "Of course they're fighting over him. He is my son. I would expect no less."
"Hast thou lost thine mind?!
"On the contrary. I've found it. Now move."
Godwyn -Naruto!- blinked down at the little girl scowling up at him. This was his half-sister? Huh. He'd always wanted one of those. Still, she was so small!
"Well, aren't you just the cutest little thing."
Ranni kicked his shin. "I am not little!"
"Compared to me, you are."
Radahn chuckled. "He has you there, sister."
"Brother! Whose side art thou on?!
"Put the knife down before you do something you regret."
R&R~!