A/N: Not much feedback this time, eh? Ah, well. I tried.
EDIT: Added more content for this chapter, because frankly, it needed it.
Warning! Emotional chapter. Hope you're prepared.
In other news, I'm hoping to update Just a Shinobi relatively soon.
Also on the update docket, we have Misadventures in Mordor, Embers of Hope, and A Most Unlikely Berserker, possibly even Set Your Heart Ablaze if I can get my muse to behave. Demon of Ashford is fighting me -big battles and wars are hard to write- but I'm getting there.
Of course there are other surprises coming down the pipeline a well...
You know, feels strange, realizing that this "Grace" is more than halfway done. I'd say about three quarters, even.
Health problems come and go as always, but this old man is trying to push through.
Do forgive any errors, won't you?
With my fifteen year anniversary on this site finally here, 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. Feels like everyone's lost their minds sometimes. 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.
No questions this time. Someone complained. Ah, well. I think I've kept you waiting long enough already, dear reader
As ever, I own no quotes, references, themes, or memes. Not a wit or a one!
Elden Ring has a lot of cut quests, and there's a reference to one here:
"Elden Ring - Asimi Questline Restored - Cut Content"
You can find it on youtube. I'll not say anymore.
This chapter doesn't pull any punches~!
"You'll be Elden Lord yet."
~?
A Maiden's Heart
Who was she?
Who was this strange woman?
Who was she and what did she want?!
Dark thoughts abounded through Melina's mind as she walked into the gloom; haunting her alongside a strange sense of...nostalgia? Was that it? Was that the word? She felt it must be; if only because she couldn't think of a better one. Try as she might, she couldn't quite quell the unease coursing through her. She couldn't find the truth, couldn't find her peace, couldn't even find the right words to say as she sullenly stalked after her. It was maddening; driving her completely utterly insane.
Because you see, this stranger felt familiar; this erstwhile guide of theirs, this woman leading her and Naruto down into the depths.
And it was that very familiarity that was driving Melina slowly, inexorably mad.
She'd taken to calling her the Bloody Woman, if only because she didn't know what else to call her.
This was was not Marika; it simply could not be Mother, no matter how much this erstwhile blonde resemble her in speech and mannerisms. She remembered Mother's presence; it was warm and comforting, like being swaddled in a thick blanket. Not...this eerie feeling of amusement and quiet curiosity concealed behind a subtle smile. Stranger still, that was undoubtedly the Lord of Blood's great rune carved into her forehead-which implied this Stranger had slain him and taken his bounty for herself. A pity perhaps, but she had always known the omen's fate would be an ignoble one.
Yet the question lingered. Who was she? Who could she be?
Aaargh! It infuriated her!
Melina knew of simple magics to disguise oneself, but none were so potent. And her list of suspects was growing deplorably thin. Radahn was dead, Rykard slain, to say nothing of Godwyn's ignoble fate. Godrick? Pah! The less said about that dead spider the better. Ranni remained in her Rise, communicating with them through her tiny doll.
Morgott was still stationed at the Erdtree, tending to his thankless duty. She could sense him even now. Malekith lingered in Farum Azula, protecting what remained of Destined Death. Every other Demigod was accounted for, save Miquella and Malenia. This could not be either for obvious reasons. Neither looked like HER, and no manner of disguise could be so thorough.
...a third possibility presented itself. Was this someone new?
Might mother have another child? One she did not know of? No, no, that was absurd. She'd been the last.
So why did this strange seem so familiar?! Questions upon questions!
Regardless she remained wary of her.
And stranger still, Naruto trusted this woman!
So quick to trust, so eager to believe and help anyone he encountered. Even now he was striking up a conversation with her, blast his bloody bleeding heart. Her headache was rapidly evolving into a migraine. Melina liked it not. Ranni likely had a great deal to say on the matter, but she was hiding away in Naruto's satchel, refusing to reveal herself while this Lady of Blood was nearby.
"That does not preclude me from making conversation."
Melina nearly missed a step. She flicked a glance back to Naruto. He hadn't noticed. 'I see. A limited form of telepathy? How quaint.'
"It suits my needs. What think you of this stranger?"
She scowled at the Lady of Blood's back. "Dangerous. She cannot be trusted."
"On that, we agree." a note of bitter anger weaved its way into her head. "T'would seem we must save our oaf from himself this time."
Melina blinked once despite her reservations. "Our oaf?"
"Nay." Ranni corrected quickly. "Yours."
"Didst thou not just say-
"You heard nothing!"
My, my, someone couldn't be entirely honest with themselves, it seemed. No matter. She did not trust the Lunar Princess either, but at least she and her "Age of Stars" were a known quantity and no threat to her Tarnished as a whole. Besides, she too would leave at the end of it all. Unlike this...Lady of Blood or whomever she might be. Melina didn't know what she wanted, nor with whom she wanted it.
"A truce, then?"
"For now." Ranni made a pleased noise. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend?"
"Indeed-ow!"
Melina bumped into someone and jolted. It took her a moment to realize who.
Naruto had flung out an arm ahead of her and lost in thought as she was, she'd walked right into him.
A fog door loomed ahead of them. This one felt different. As though something were amiss with it. Usually the fog was gold. But here...it was grey. Almost silver, really. As though the haze had a life of its own. And yet she heard no sound, sensed no life within...
.
..
...this boded poorly.
"Perhaps we should wait," she suggested in vain. "Prepare for a fight...?"
"Nah. We've got this."
Naruto walked up to the fog door with that damnable smile of his, braced himself, and shouldered through. The Lady of Blood followed with nary a sound.
"What are you waiting for?! Ranni's voice stabbed at her temples. "Get after them!"
Not one to be outdone, Melina raced after the duo.
Her brief moment of hesitation cost her most dear; in the second it took her to push on, the enemy had already appeared. Another mimic tear fell from on high; this one assumed Naruto's likeness, right down to the color of his eyes and his armor. It was like looking in a mirror.
"Do be careful," their guide warned. The creations of Nokron can mimic almost anyone. They are dangerous begins-
"So that mimic tear thing's gonna act like me, eh? Naruto cracked his knuckles, much to Melina's chagrin, and wade in. "Alright. Lets see how quick it is-
CLANG!
Naruto flew past them with a laugh, struck the fog wall and bounced off it. He was still laughing when he climbed to his feet.
Melina tutted softly. "He can be such a boy sometimes...
Was he...actually smiling? He ws!
"Now that's more like it! Lets kick things up a notch!"
They closed with one another.
It was like watching a hurricane; they raged back and forth, exchanging vicious blows between them. She could scarcely keep track of it all; fist met fist, knee crashed into knee, it was almost impossible to follow it all. No spells or any of these "jutsu" Naruto was so proud of; just blistering combat. Blocks, counter-blocks, shifting blows slapped aside by another hand. It was madness. Leaping lunges narrowly diverted at the last second, only to become grapples and slams, a series of raw martial display that would have made Great Godfrey himself weep with joy.
For while the Mimic Tear could mimic Naruto, it could not match him. Not forever. He began to overpower it.
Slowly but surely he dismantled the mimic tear; dismantling it with calculated precision.
It was horrifying.
He could kill her. The realization startled Melina.
Perhaps it was the fear talking, but the thought nagged her all the same
She'd seen him battle before of course, but never against someone his own size, let alone a facsimile of himself. Never like this. He was vicious. He didn't hold back here; his blows battered the mimic tear about the arena like a doll and it was far stronger than her. She would be powerless against him in a fight. If she ever moved against him, ever did something he disliked, would he defeat her in such a manner? Would she even be given a chance to speak?
Yes, she knew Naruto could must certainly kill her if he ever thought to...and yet he never would.
Just as fear reared its ugly head, so too did reason. Killing senselessly wasn't in his nature.
And then, quite suddenly, the bought ended.
His copy moved a hair too slow, mistimed a block when it should have dodged. Naruto powered through its defenses and hammered a kick home in its gut. It staggered with a wordless noise, unable to defend itself against the punch that followed. Then another, another, another still, once punch after the other; a storm of blows raining down from seemingly everywhere all at once.
At last, the mimic tear slumped and dissolved into a puddle at his feet. Melina felt her heart soar at the sight.
And then, once again, her Tarnished surprised her.
"You're not half-bad." Naruto nudged the gelatinous mass of the mimic tear-or was it a Silver Tear?-with the toe of his boot. "Seems a shame to kill you, ya know? You'd make a decent sparring partner...
Melina stiffened.
Surely not. Surely he wouldn't.
The Mimic Tear burbled a noise that might have been a question.
"Now, now," he wagged a finger at it. "Use your words. If you can copy me, you can talk. Or would you rather die?"
...n-no." a tiny, reedy voice arose from the puddle, quavering not unlike that of a small child. "Please don't kill me. I want to live."
"Nothing wrong with that." Blast that smile of his. "What's your name? If you can talk, that means you're sentient. You must have one, right?"
...Asimi."
"Sparring partner it is, then." his grin grew. "Lets shake on it, then. Whaddya say?"
"I would like that, I think. If it means I can live and grow stronger...
A hand sprouted from the puddle and clasped his offered hand. The Lady of Blood made an amused noise, even as Melina grit her teeth.
"There we go!" Naruto patted the Tear with a pleased laugh. "I knew you'd come around. Just lay there awhile and recover. I'll come back this way and check on ya in a bit."
His peace said, he turned and walked way. The Lady of Blood followed with a silent smile. Had she anticipated this very outcome? Melina found herself stalking after them.
No.
No, no.
No, no, no.
This was not happening. It could not BE happening. She'd seen all manner of absurdity, but this was too much! Even for him!
"You did not just befriend a mimic tear!"
Naruto glanced over his shoulder, never once breaking stride. "Should I not have...?
"Precisely so!" she huffed at him. "You should've slain that creature while you had the chance!
"Didn't feel right. She as just doing her job, ya know."
"She?!"
Sounded like a girl. Why're ya so angry?"
Melina whirled away, face blazing. "I-
Naruto raised a hand, stalling her.
"Did you hear that?"
(.0.0.0.)
"Did you hear that?"
"What are you on about?" Melina was still cross with him. "I hear nothing."
"No, I definitely hear something." Naruto craned his neck, tilted his head, and listened intently. There. Up ahead. He heard something. Someone was...singing? Not with words, he would've recognized those, but a melody of some sort.
Kurama exhaled in a breathy sigh within his head. "Careful now...
"The song of the shamans." their blond guide hummed at his side, wearing that faint smile of hers. "I haven't heard it in centuries. Beautiful, is it not? Would you like to meet them?"
Melina scoffed, remaining unusually waspish toward the woman. "So says the Lady of Blood."
"Is that what you have chosen to call me?" Their guide tutted softly, sadly, as a disappointed sibling might toward their little sister. "You would not call me such if you'd been to the Haligtree."
For some reason, that made Melina clam up.
The singing grew progressively louder as they drew near; a clarion call that seemed to beckon him closer with each passing moment. He'd never heard the like before. That high haunting note coming from just over the rise seemed to sing in very blood. Melina said something to him but he didn't hear her, so fixated was he on the music.
And so he crept closer.
He could see a distant horned figure ahead, her song echoed by the faint rhythm of stomping feet.
Approaching felt like a bad idea, so he chose to sit instead. Their guide did the same. Melina did not, but instead lingered two paces behind them. Even her anger seemed to soften in the face of such beautiful music.
Without warning, someone gasped.
The song ended and he sensed company long before he saw them.
Horned warriors emerged from the brush. Others materialized from the air itself; great big brutes wielding axes, scythes, even bows. In a matter of moments they were surrounded; corralled in a loose semicircle of blades and makeshift weapons.
"Hey, hey!" Naruto raised his hands to defend himself. "We come in peace! We're just here to listen!"
A particularly big brute heft his bow. "Many have said that before!
"But we mean it!"
"And yet your companion reeks of blood, outsider."
All eyes fell upon the Lady of Blood. She, at least, had the good grace to wince. "There is...a reason for that, but I have shed none since I awoke."
"See?!" Someone cried out. "She does not deny it!"
Others took up the call. "Monsters! They shouldn't be here!"
"Begone, dogs of the demigods! Leave this place and do not darken our hallowed halls again!"
"Dogs of the Demigods?" The Lady of Blood tilted her head, and this time her smile held a wicked edge Naruto didn't like. "Do you have any idea who we are? Who I am? You do not want this fight, children of the trees." Weapons were readied in spite of her words. She tutted softly at the sight. "How far you have fallen. Your ancestors would weep to see you in such a state.
Her words were the spark to violence.
An arrow sprang from a bow. Naruto swayed aside; tracked it with his eyes, frowned as he realized its trajectory, then reached out, catching it just shy of piercing Melina's forehead. It would've been so easy to turn around and fling it back at the archer in question. Effortless, even.
But that would've started a war. He chose not to.
"Hey, now." he crushed the barbed shaft in his grasp. "Don't do that."
Melina darted behind him and pulled a long dagger from the folds of her robe.
The Lady of Blood conjured a wicked-looking trident to her right hand. "If it is a fight you want-
"HOLD!"
A voice rattled the word.
The horned men froze. As one their ranks parted.
A tall, well-muscled young woman with white hair and dark amber eyes emerged, clutching an delicate deer skull to her chest. She moved with power and purpose, the horns on her head swaying with each step she took. They were wicked glowing things, sharp enough to easily impale a full grown man and dangle him there. She was not the tallest among the horned or even the strongest-indeed, she seemed almost slender compared to some of the giants among them, yet her voice carried weight all the same.
Each of her people bowed to her, whispering reverently.
Naruto caught a single word among the rest.
Shaman.
"You." She pointed a dark finger his way. "You are known to us, third Elden Lord. Your purpose here is not. Speak."
Naruto felt his brow shoot up into his hair. "Third Elden Lord?! Me?! I think you're making a mistake...
"Third Elden Lord." the shaman intoned once more, regarding him with dark eyes. "For that is what you are, or what you will be. We have foreseen it."
"Now wait just a second! I'm no fan of prophecies and I'm not about to-
"You bear the great runes of champions past." her eyes held his with ancient wisdom. "It is what you will be, in one form or another. Throne or no, you are destined to unite this land. Thus you are Elden Lord, the next to come after Great Godfrey and Foolish Radagon. That makes you the Third."
More riddles and vagaries. He had neither the time nor the patience for either. "Who are you?"
We are the ancestral followers." the horned woman -shaman?- clutched the deer skull close to her breast and stood a bit straighter. "We keep the old ways. We will not yield. Tell this to your Queen."
Now he was just plain confused. "You mean Rennala?"
"No." she scowled, a rare note of anger threading through her voice. We speak of the queen eternal. Marika."
"...!"
The rune ring on his finger pulsed painfully.
Naruto wondered why, even as he covered it with the other hand. "I've never met anyone by that name."
"You will soon. Already you have three of her kin among you." The shaman's gaze raked over them as she considered them anew. "One whose future is Fire," her gaze fell upon Melina, then traveled to the pouch in which Ranni hid," another of Stars," now to their erstwhile guide, "And a third of blood-stained Rebirth. What curious company you keep."
Ranni made an annoyed noise and poked her little head out of her pouch. "You will say nothing of this!"
The Lady of Blood looked to her. 'Ranni...?"
The tiny doll squinted her way. "Do I know thee?"
...no. You do not." He didn't miss the hitch in her voice, even if the others did. "We've never met face to face like this. Nor should we. You owe me a debt."
"I beg your pardon?!"
It was as much as a hint as it was a warning.
"None of this matters right now." Naruto slashed through the tension with a wave of the hand before anyone could come to blows, or worse. "I've made friends with strange folk before. We're all on the same side here."
"Hmhmmhmmm." The shaman woman hummed a soft laugh at that. It was an oddly musical sound. "So you have, and so we are. What do you seek in the depths?"
"You mean you don't know?"
She shook her head. "Our visions grant us much, but not all. We are neither omniscient nor omnipresent.
No harm in telling the truth then, was there? "Well, I'm down here looking for the hidden treasure of Nokron."
A murmur went up from the ancestral followers.
The Shaman planted her hands together. "You seek the blade."
Ranni's head poked out of his belt pouch once more. "It is here, then?!"
"Indeed it is, lunar princess." her head bobbed. "Its location is known to us. Your interests align with ours. This world would do well to be rid of the Two Fingers and their ilk."
Great! Everything was coming up roses!
.
..
...so why did Melina look absolutely furious?
Shaking off that nagging doubt, Naruto looked back to the shaman. "You got a name?"
"Once upon a time." She granted him a small smile. "I cast it aside when I became shaman. Astrid will suffice. That is what we are. Come. Nokron awaits.
(.0.0.0.)
Melina wanted to scream.
Whatever was the reason, you ask?
Another one! THAT was the reason! He'd stumbled upon yet another stranger!
She knew how this went, knew this song and dance, just as she knew its steps well. Oh, yes. Astrid seemed harmless enough, but so had others in the beginning and look where they were now. Naruto just couldn't help himself. Worse, she suspected he wasn't even trying to do this in the first place; it was simply his natural charisma and kindness that drew others to him. They made their own choices, gravitated toward him of their own free will. And that Lady of Blood! She knew who she was now! How could she have been so blind...!
Would it ever end?
Why could it not be her? Where was her happy ending?
She knew the answer. Her happiness lay in her duty, her peace in ashes.
Not in the warm arms of another, not with a child bouncing on her knee. Such could never be her fate.
Her heart ached. She tried to shove the feelings away, but they persisted, gnawing at her.
It wasn't fair.
'Do not dwell on such things. You know your purpose. You are meant but to burn, to be a piece of kindling, nothing more.'
She knew that, Melina had always known that, but she found herself beginning to doubt as of late. Even with the rift mended between the two of them she knew it was hopeless. What choice did she have? Pain one way, and pain another. No matter what she said or did, she would be hurt. What then, was the point in continuing? She had to burn the Erdtree, she must-such was the reason for which she'd been created-but more and more she found her place being usurped. A bitter anger had begun to gnaw at her heart and with it...
"We'll make camp here."
It wasn't Naruto who said the words.
Melina's head snapped up, panic bleating in her heart. "Must we? We are close to Nokron. Should we not press on?"
The Bloody Lady shook her head. "All the more reason to be well rested. The city is dangerous."
She looked to Naruto, only to find him agreeing with their guide. Damn him!
Her eyes flashed. That...wicked witch! What did she know?
Melina stalked away, refusing to look at any of them.
...then I shall take first watch."
(.0.0.0.)
"Say something to her, you dolt." Ranni's miniature dole glared pale daggers at Naruto within the palm of his hand. You've upset her."
Naruto chuckled ruefully. "I do seem to keep hurting her, don't I?"
"Yes, and she you. Honestly, 'tis infuriating. Fix it!
...as my lady commands.
Ranni sputtered. "I am no lady of yours!
Heh. She really was too easy to tease sometimes.
With a sigh, he heaved himself to his feet and approached the fire.
(.0.0.0.)
The fire faded.
Melina watched it with a weary eye, craving the sweet embrace of slumber. That shadows played havoc with her mind and she found herself regretting taking first watch. It had seemed such a good idea at the time; it got her away from everyone and granted her some small semblance of peace. It also left her alone with her doubts.
And they were driving her mad again!
At least she'd be safe from temptation in her dreams. Damnitall. She couldn't falter now. She mustn't falter now. To do so was to fail, and if she did...
.
..
...perhaps if she closed her eye for but a moment?
She must have nodded off at some point, because she awoke to someone nudging her. The fire had faded to near darkness, casting dancing shadows in the gloom. Yet the false starry skies of the tavern provided dim light of their own...just enough for her to know who was trying to rouse her from her stupor.
"Hey."
She squeezed her good eye shut.
"Listen!"
A hand nudged her shoulder.
She groaned softly and kept her eye shut. "Leave me be."
"Sorry, no can do. You're gonna get sore if you sleep like that. C'mon, get up. Its my turn to take the watch."
She whined as she hadn't since she was very small. "Noooo...
Melina tried to roll over only to remember where she was too late; she was still sitting upon the log, not laying in her cot, and in twisting aside, she physically threw herself off the former. There was no handhold to save her, nothing to catch herself against. Down she went. The yelp that followed was decidedly unladylike and when asked later, she swore she'd never made such a noise.
In short, errors were made...or so they would have been, had someone not caught her.
"Easy there, sleepyhead."
Naruto beamed down at her, wholly unaware of her thoughts. He wasn't wearing his armor. It made him look smaller. More human, somehow. Faint firelight flashed across his face, lingering upon his lips. She found herself tempted to surge up in his arms and kiss him again. Her good eye narrowed. She really was half asleep if she was thinking such things. Fool! She should've hidden in astral form! At least then she would've been spared the indignity of it all.
Naruto guided her back and sat her down. "You alright?"
She couldn't meet her gaze, such was her shame. "...I am fine.
The blasted blond bastard shrugged and sat behind her. "Doesn't look like it."
Her heart hammered in her chest. "You shouldn't get attached, Tarnished." the words escaped her in a forlorn sigh.
A blond brow rose. "Its a little late for that, don't you think?
It was, and they both knew it. Still, she had to say something, if only for his sake. "I will only bring you pain."
"You won't."
She scooted closer to glare at him. "How do you know?"
"I just do." He matched her. "You haven't hurt me yet. Not like you think. And I won't let you die."
And now they were back to this again. She firmed her trembling lips. "Do not deny me my purpose. If you do I shall never forgive thee."
"How can you say that?" An anguished look crossed his face, as though she herself had been the one to stab him. "There's no purpose in death! Once you die, that's it! You're gone! Game over!"
"I was born for this."
"Bullshit!" the vehemence of his words rattled her resolve. "You're born to live, not die!"
Melina felt her sealed eye twitch, such was her fury. "AND YOU THINK I WANT TO?!"
Naruto took her shout in good grace. "I think you don't know what you want."
His words were a hammer, shattering her utterly. "You...!"
He tilted his head and stared at her, unflinching. "Me?"
With that, Melina made her decision.
"You despicable tarnished!
She grabbed him by his jacket, yanked him in, pressed her lips to his, and held them there in a scorching kiss.
Technically speaking she had kissed him once already, near the beginning of their journey. That had been an angry, rushed thing, done in despair as much as spite. This one was slower. Longer. Lingering. Her mouth moved over his with repressed passion; if she was going to have one night with him, then it would be one to remember.
His arms encircled her waist, holding her fast. Not good enough. She leaned in, deepening the kiss, throwing her arms around his neck.
"Damn you." she hissed, breaking for air. "This is all your fault!" she bit his lip so hard she nearly drew blood. "I hate you...
He only smiled and held her, the utter silly boy. "You really don't."
She didn't. She couldn't even muster it for him.
And so she kissed him again. He returned her affections gently. Touch by touch, kiss by kiss, she knew him anew, and he her. Just as she knew her fate, knew she was going to die soon. SO be it. She had made peace with that, even if he hadn't. Who was yet left to oppose them? Few indeed. And once they were gone...her time would come. She would burn for him and die.
But until then she would live.
She kissed Naruto again and pushed him down to the ground, refusing to think of such things. Her hands tore away his tunic, even as his found purchase upon her own attire, baring her bosom to the wold. He rose to kiss them and she gasped softly despite herself. Unsatisfied, she guided his hands lower, helping him to shift her skirts aside as she mounted him. Her hips straddled his and...oh. Oh, that felt rather nice. She muffled her cries against his mouth. In a matter of moments they found a rhythm together, her hands intrinsically seeking his as they sought solace with one another in the dark.
Let him may have her body. He could never have her heart, not truly, for it was not hers to give.
Naruto would understand that soon, in the fullness of time. And once he did...
...she prayed he wouldn't do anything reckless.
How very little she knew.
A/N: Melina, you just jinxed it...
Reckless, you say? Our boy is the very definition of reckless!
Well? Did you like this story? Yes? No? Maybe? Speak up! Make yourselves heard! Your voice matters~! Silence hurts worse than any flame.
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story.
If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? It will remain, but it won't be continued! Gone. Completely. I'm working two jobs to keep the lights on, as such 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.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas....Review, Wouldst Thou Kindly?
And have some previews. Some are quite off, but still...
Mind you, most of these previews are the same.
Wouldn't do to spoil what's coming up.
Vote for what you want to see!
And as ever:
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
SPOILERS LAY AHEAD!
YE BE WARNED!
(Previews)
"Elden Lord. A word of warning." He paused, looking over his shoulder at Astrid, and let her speak. "We shall rise when the time comes. With or without you And should you fall to Frenzy...
She laid a hand to the ax in her belt of furs.
...you will die."
You're reaching the end of your Journey, Naruto...many paths lay before you. Which ending shall you choose...
...oh? A most curious answer indeed. Will you create your own?
What will you sacrifice to achieve that ending?
...what is that thing?"
Hewg offered him the Weapon.
"Its what she asked for. The power to kill a god."
"I AM HOARAH LOUX!"
"I AM NARUTO UZUMAKI!"
Milicent flung up her arms in exasperation. "You are such boys!"
"I'm so sorry!"
"And so we meet again Tarnished. You shall not triumph this time...
"GIVE HER BACK!"
He grabbed the needle.
There was a blade in his chest. He looked down with a sigh.
"And you thought this would work because...?"
"Please don't go...please...I can't do this without you...
"What was this? A projection? He didn't think so. And yet...
"I am Malenia, Blade of Miquella. And I-
CLONK!
-am not in the mood." Naruto finished as he stalked over her prone form. "Buzz off."
...wait."
Aw, hell.
Death roared at Death.
"Whoa, now!" He waved up at the fire giant. "Friendly! Friend! No stomping, please!"
The behemoth squinted down at him in utter confusion. Progress.
Naruto beamed up at it. "Wanna be friends?"
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 isn't popular? Well, it won't be continued. 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.
Silence...silence only hurts.
Looking forward to chatting with you all when I get back from work~!
R&R~!