A/N: Looking forward to your feedback!
Short chapter this time. I'm not pushing myself this week, lest I have another anxiety attack.
The spree begins. It was torture waiting this long. Seems I was right to pause and wait for the DLC after all. Now we can continue.
Just wanted to say, I appreciate you all! More feedback means faster updates! It's especially important, in these, trying times, with the main site notifications down. Every word counts and i appreciate you all! All these reviews really keep me inspired! Looking forward to hearing from you~!
Speaking of which, I finally bested the last boss on NG + 4 after many hours, I've beaten the DLC...and I am dead inside.
What. Was. THAT ENDING?! How am I to sleep after that! The DLC also forced me to change up a few story beats in several of my stories for Elden Ring, while, oddly enough, enhancing others. Runt of the Litter -Naruto reborn as Godrick- and Forget Me Not -Naruto reborn as Miquella- come to mind. To say nothing of the others. Slifer and I are preparing a story given Marika's official origins now, and it's going to be a doozy.
As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes. They're tributes to legends far greater than little 'ol me.
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~!
SPOILERS FOR SHADOWS OF THE ERDTREE AHEAD!
"I HEREBY VOOOOOOW!"
~Dragons.
I Hereby Vow
His wounds ached.
It was an old pain, a dull one that seeped into the very core of his draconic heart. He was falling apart. But in that very same vein, that pain gave him strength, fanned the flames of his fury to new heights; a great and sparking fury that roared louder than thunder itself. He held to that fire now, clinging to it atop the jagged peak where he'd made his home. He would not die. Even down a leg, his wings shredded, his body broken, he refused to die.
He was Bayle the Dread.
Terror of the skies! Destroyer of dragons! Mangler of men! Fear incarnate!
And he would have his revenge.
Even in his broken state, he was not without his servans, his loyal vassals. Word had reached him even here, in the realm of shadows he called home-and it disgusted him. Placidusax dared to employ humans -HUMANS!- to call them comrades and kin. The gall of it all. Morals were mortals and dragons were dragons. The two were not meant to mix, dragon communion or no. He vowed to destroy them, to pluck them out, root and stem. He would return to Farum Azula in all his glory, and reclaim what was rightfuly hiss.
Soon. It would be his time soon. But how best to go about it. He had no one and nothing, his drakes were foolish and weak, his followers few.
His daughter...no, he would rather not unleash her. If he was fear and doom made manifest, then she was death itself.
One could not have a realm to rule if naught but ash remained.
Nay, needed a pawn. A minion. One easily malleable with a hatred for all things drake and dragons.
The fog door of his lair rippled once again, heralding a familiar arrival.
Indeed, the shout that followed spoke for itself.
"CURSE YOU BAAAAAYYYYLE!"
...he would do.
(.0.0.0.)
Sennessax heard the howl of draconic laughter that followed.
Curious. Bayle wasn't one prone to laughter these days.
Intrigued, the ancient dragon roused herself.
A fiery meteor shot into the heavens.
Thins were getting interesting...
(.0.0.0.)
"I'm bored."
Naruto heard those words and immediately rolled over in bed to pinch Tomoe's arm.
His second-in-command recoiled with a yelp. "Young master?! What was that for?! I didn't do anything!"
"No!" He jabbed a finger in her face. "Bad Tomoe! Bad!"
"But I-
"NO BEING BORED!"
"Awwww, but why not!"
Things had...well, not quite settled down, and Melina wasn't much pleased at being contained here in Crumbling Farum Azula, but at least she wasn't prone to starting mischief out of pure boredom. With the matter of Radahn and Malenia somewhat in hand, he could at least take some small comfort in the fact that they hadn't been And besides, he'd gotten a grant gift for his birthday. All in all, they were lucky to have gotten off with only a minor scolding and a grounding. No could possibly take issue with that.
Tomoe would.
She absolutely would.
Wild, wanton, wasteful little dragon!
"Because," he absolutely hissed, propping himself up on his elbows, "The last time you were bored, you convinced me to go after Radahn and Malenia!"
She tilted her head. "It worked out, though...?"
"And we got grounded for it!" he flung up his hands with an aggravated shouted at her blase behavior. "I ain't havin' that shit again!"
""You say that like its a bad thing."
He reached over her head and hefted a heavy cushion. "I will pelt you with this pillow, I swear."
She scowled, fearless as ever in the face of danger. "You wouldn't dare."
Naruto cocked the pillow -cracked it!- as one might a shotgun.
She winced a little. "Ahehehe...surely you wouldn't?"
His brow furrowed.
"Mercy?"
There was none to be had.
Naruto jumped her with a yowl.
So began the pillowfight to end all pillowfights.
All the while, time ticked ever onward, to its fateful conclusion.
(.0.0.0.)
At long last, she had found what she sought.
Malenia knelt, reached into the treasure chest, and withdrew a small, glowing object from within.
She set her helmet aside, bowed her head, and let the blessed light wash over her stricken body, welling up from within...
(.0.0.0.)
Placidusax was not blind to the plotting of the black drake he once called brother.
Just as Bayle moved one piece on the board, so too did he his own.
May the best dragon win.
(.0.0.0.)
Maliketh looked up as a two-legged fool entered his domain.
Farum Azula was meant to be an escape, a respite.
He had an...understanding with the Dragonlord.
That peace had just been shattered forever.
His muzzle peeled back in a snarl.
"Who seeks Destined Death?"
(.0.0.0.)
"Good morrow, my lord."
Naruto creaked an eye open with a yawn.
Paused. Blinked now. Squinted for good measure.
That wasn't Tomoe cuddled up against him. Definitely not. Tomoe didn't look a thing like this naked, pale-haired raving beauty currently tucked into his side. Definitely not her! Panic bleated through his brain, an anxiety that he barely managed to master before he sat up, and even then, the sight of her threatened to steal his breath away.
"Lady, what the hell?" in all fairness, he wasn't feeling terribly eloquent at the moment. "Who the hell're you, why're ya naked, and why. Are you. In my bed?!"
"I am Florisaax, my lord." She tilted her head and blinked slitted golden eyes at him. "You seemed distressed. Would you prefer my draconic form?"
"No, no, no!" He waved his hands frantically to stave off her transformation. "Your human form is fine, but-
She snuggled closer with a noise dangerously akin to a purr. "It is well. A pleasure to meet thee!
Tomoe snarled in the background, awake at last. "Unhand him, you hussy!"
Naruto heaved a sigh as a shadow fell over them.
Tomoe's pillow proved swift and merciless.
All hell broke loose.
A/N: Aaaand scene.
If you're an Elden Ring fan, you already know what the gift is. If not...you'll see next chapter.
Well? Should this remain a story? Yay or nay? Your feedback matters! That's no joke. Reviews keep me writing.
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this particular story, and others. If folks don't like this, it will remain, but won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular...well, I'll not be able to continue it. I'm working two jobs -taking on 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, which are mostly the same.
We're keeping it light this time to avoid spoilers.
But just in case! SPOILERS AHOY!
(Previews)
CURSE YOU BAAAAAAYYYYYLE!
"LET ME OUT!"
"No." Naruto palmed his face. "Not yet."
"You're mad! I won't allow it!"
...wasn't askin', Tomoe...
She grabbed him by the face and kissed him.
"TOGETHA!"
"Hey, is it blasphemy if I let the fox eat the snake...? He's getting hungry.
Rykard whimpered.
"Ah, there you are. I've been waiting for some time."
Malenia was waiting for them, a pack slung over her shoulder. She'd cast aside her helmet, revealing piercing golden eyes and a most inquisitive expression. She looked...younger without her armor. Still terribly tall, but more at peace than she'd been since he had seen her last, and all the healthier for it.
She saw him looking and smiled, a small subtle thing that made his heart race.
"Here. My Great Rune, as promised. I no longer have need of it."
"Shall we go?"
Lansseax tittered. "She is smitten. How amusing."
"How can you tell?"
She preened. "A mother always knows!
EDIT: Hey, you made it!
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story, and others. Meaning folks don't like this, it won't be continued. If the story itself ain't popular/well-received...well, I won't be able to continue it. I'm working two jobs -taking on 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 from work!
Hope you all have a great day~!
R&R~!