A/N: EDIT: not a lot of feedback for this chapter. That's a real spirit breaker, I really did my best to get this out before work today, too,... T_T
Short chapter is short, I was rushed again by people, and I have so little time to write these days, can't wait till Slifer and Advent are back and able to help out again...looking forward to your feedback!
May the chaos in this chapter put a smile on your face!
Just wanted to say, I appreciate you all! More feedback means faster updates! It's especially important, in these, trying times. 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 won, after many hours, I've beaten the DLC...and I am dead inside.
What. Was. THAT ENDING?! How am I to sleep after that!
Life and expenses are still weighing me down, but I'm trying to push through
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!
"Congratulations. You're married."
.
..
...what?"
~?
Happy Nuptials (Interlude)
Radahn was smug.
Naruto didn't know why, he didn't know how, and truth be told he didn't know when it began, but he could sense the good general's mirth all the same without having to see it. The demigod didn't deign to manifest himself after his duel with Rellana for reasons he couldn't understand, yet he felt his emotions simmering at a low boil. Like a man holding back a great peal of laughter at a joke only he understood.
Had he done something funny? He didn't think so.
Kurama heaved a sigh into his ear. "You cannot be this dense, brat. Its just not possible. I don't even know Carian traditions and I STILL figured this out an hour ago."
Figure what out? His brow furrowed as followed Rellana deep into the shadow keep, noting distinct the lack of enemies. "Any chance you could tell me?"
"No, nope, aaaaand negatory. All the runes in the Lands Between couldn't make me step on this landmine for you. I choose life!"
There it was again, the implication that he'd done something by defeating Rellana.
But what?!
Sure, he'd bested the tall lady in single combat and claimed a sword from her; thus far the Twin Moon had proven herself a woman of her word; she was all too happy to lead him into Messmer's domain, only occasionally glancing back at him for reasons he couldn't quite comprehend. Also for some reason, she became terribly red whenever he mentioned that sword she'd given him. Which was fairly often because hey; rare sword that spits flame, of course he was going to talk about that, but he still didn't understand what the big deal was.
...yeah, he was missing something here, he just knew it. But what, exactly?
Kurama stoically held his tongue and refused to answer him.
Therere was no one else to ask.
Freyja had peeled off from the group first chance she got and dragged Moonrithyll with her, something about finding a library and hunting down a man called Ansbach. More power to her, he supposed. He wouldn't say no to another ally in these trying times. They still needed to find Melina, Millicent, and Latenna; sage knew where those three had landed in the Shadow Realm...
But the longer his questions went unanswered, the more pressing they became.
Fine, desperate times called for desperate measures.
"Oi, Radahn. Come on out."
Right on cue, his spectral ally manifested over his shoulder in a rush of blue light, wearing a cheery grin, gleeful as can be. "You rang?"
"Yeah, I did," he grumbled under his breath, "and I'm gonna ring your head like a bell if you don't tell me why you're smiling."
"Perhaps I'm simply in the mood for some more jolly cooperation...?"
Naruto's sword arm came up. "Radahn you're about to be RadDONE if you keep teasing me like that.
"Forgive me, it's nothing so dangerous." his ancient ally drifted back out of blade range. "Be assured, she means you no harm. Quite the opposite really."
"Can't you just tell me?"
A hand clapped his shoulder. "I could but then I would be culpable to the chaos that follows. I would rather not disturb mine mother's wrath."
"Wait, wait, why would Rennala be angry? Rellana's her sister, isn't she?"
"Little sister, actually."
Naruto's sword sparked with fresh fire. "Oiiiiii...
"Alright, alright." The smile of Ranni's brother really was far too smug for his enjoyment. "Allow me to give you a hint. My aunt likes you, methinks."
Naruto recoiled, somewhat taken aback by the insinuation. "She does not!"
A placid blink followed. "And why shouldn't she?"
He glanced Rellana's way, thankfully, she was far enough ahead not to hear them. "I...well...I kicked her butt!" he flailed his hands, trying to find something else to grasp at, and found little else. "There's just no way, nope, nuh-uh, not possible. Can't be...
"And this is a problem because...?"
"Was it not you who told her to find love and happiness?"
"Well, yeah-but nobody should like anyone after an ass-kicking like that!"
"I beg to differ." the ghostly general furled a finger and flicked his forehead. "Your track record with tall women rather speaks for itself...and besides, she gave you one of her swords, did she not?"
Naruto idly laid a hand upon the hilt of his new fiery blade, humming in confusion. "Is that supposed to mean something? I mean, its a very nice sword and all, but...
Radahn waggled a red brow at him. "I believe Rellana's rather interested in another blade...
Naruto tilted his head and squinted. "I'm not sure I follow."
A rare flicker of irritation crossed his battle brother's ghostly visage. "My brother in arms, may I speak plainly?"
"Sure...?"
Radahn raised a single finger. "Do you think Carian princesses just hand out swords to every man who defeats them?"
His train of thought ran over a rock and hitched. "Wait a minute there, Relllan's a princess?"
"Former princess, technically," the first Redmane shrugged expansively. "My dear aunt gave up her birthright in pursuit of Messmer long ago, but yes, she was a princess nevertheless. And how did that turn out for her? I needn't spell it out for you; thou canst see it for thineself." He risked a glance back at the twin moon knight herself, looking a little forlorn as she tirelessly forged on ahead. "Forgotten and forsaken, abandoned in all but name, and ignored by the very man she once desired above all else."
What should he say to that? What could he possibly say to make it right? Nothing at all; so he listened instead.
"I too know how it feels to fruitlessly chase after another, to have your feelings go unrequited for years on end." the general ground one ghostly hand into an open palm and growled a sigh akin to that of a slow moving avalanche tearing down the side of a mountain. "It is torment, agony, death by a thousand cuts; a pain I would not wish upon even Malenia herself. Yet you have helped my aunt turn a page there, whether you know it or not."
Naruto flung up his hands. "But what does this have to do with swords?!"
A spectral fist thumped him hard over the head, drawing a pained grunt as he doubled over.
Radahn quirked a brow. "Are you quite done shouting? Or would you rather my aunt hear all this?"
He rubbed his skull. "M'kay...
"This has everything to do with swords. The blade she gave you? That signifies a promise. A bond, a commitment, if you will. It is essentially a pact between two souls signifying...no. I've already said too much." Radahn opened his mouth to reply, closed it now, opened it again, then seemed to think better of himself. "If she gives you a ring for "safekeeping" be a good lad and think about it before you wear the bloody thing, alright?"
Something sparked in the back of his head as the proverbial wires finally crossed.
All this talk of swords, and now a ring, claims that Rellana fancied him...
...oh.
Ohhh?
Ohhhhh!
Walking suddenly became a conscious effort on his part, breathing even moreso; craning his neck, he made certain their guide wasn't looking their way. While no enemies had reared their heads, she seemed blissfully ignorant of their conversation, or perhaps she too was lost in her own little world at the moment.
Only then did he whip around and hiss at Radahn, blue eyes bulging in his head. "Did I just accidentally a marriage..."
"Not quite the proper sentence structure, but yes. Glad you finally realized. Welcome to the family."
A keening whine escaped Naruto's mouth. "But why me...?"
"Because you are willing to listen where Messmer would not." Radahn said. "Because you knocked my aunt out of her doldrums and led her back to the light. And, perhaps most important of all, because she has become fond of you; if she weren't, she would've tried to take that sword back by now. Search your feelings, you know it to be true."
Naruto looked down to his blade, fingers idly curling about the handle.
Marriage.
It felt kinda nice, to know that someone besides Greyoll wanted him that badly. Flattering, really.
Oh gods, Greyoll was going to lose her mind. To say nothing of Melina and everyone else!
But then Radahn nudged him with a spectral arm. "And how do you you feel?"
"I...don't know?"
From a superficial view one could say Rellana was a tall, beautiful woman, and she filled out her armor quite nicely. But he cared for more than skin-deep beauty. He knew her soul was wounded by her long loneliness, but beyond that, she didn't seem like a bad person. Just...someone who had lost their way.; omeone who didn't realize that there was still good in this world; someone who needed a helping hand...
"Isn't helping people your shtick these days?"
"Ohhh, now you chime in! Where were you when I needed you?!"
With a keening hum, Marika's rune ring on Naruto's finger zapped him indignantly, pulling a yelp from his lips.
Radahn noticed. "Ah. Seems my step-mother isn't best pleased by this. I'll leave you to it, then."
Shaking his head, he trudged after Rellana; who deigned to wait for him near a ladder.
He could sense her curiosity, her questions about Radahn, the burning need to know why her nephew was bound to him in soul and spirit, but mercifully, she refrained from speaking them. Instead she gestured to the long ladder and stepped back. Then, in a quiet voice...
...could you please go first?"
"Why?"
The lady knight stared stoically at her feet and squirmed like a smitten schoolgirl.
A rare flash of realization dawned. She didn't want him staring at her backside while she climbed. Understandable.
Up they went.
Rellana led him on a wandering, meandering path that seemed to lead them incessantly upward, through a number of adversaries, none of which, curiously made so much as a move toward them. A few knights bowed for her, others made commiserating noises, a few even dared to shake their heads, but to a one, not a single soul dared to attack either of them. None even went for their weapons.
Curious.
When asked why, the moon knightess had the good grace to look embarrassed. "I have come this way a great many times to visit Lord Messmer. I am known to these soldiers."
Naruto squinted at her, concerned. "How many times a day we talkin' about, here?"
She tented her fingers and looked away. "Mayhaps a few dozen...
"And did this Messmer guy ever talk to you...?"
"Not terribly often, no. Less and less as the years went by." An adorable flush tinted her pale face, contrasting nicely with her dark hair. "But that's not a problem now, is it...? After all...
It very much was a problem, now that Radahn had finally clued him in on their...m...mar...gah! He couldn't bring himself to say the word!
Even now he found his gaze lingering upon Rellana's rosy cheeks, her pensive expression as she bit her lower lip and squirmed anew, the way she idly rubbed her knees together in thinly veiled anxiety. Ignorance was bliss and he missed it dearly; because he began to notice these things now, aspects about the lady knight that flew clear over his dense head during their first fight. He almost wished he'd remained ignorant; it made him angry not for his sake, but Rellana's. How on earth could anyone turn away someone so loyal, so determined, so...so...so...!
Unbidden, his tongue betrayed him spectacularly. "Beautiful...
Rellana squeaked and spun around. "Onward!"
Reluctantly, they climbed ever upward.
And the world spun on...
...and on...and...
...on...
(.0.0.0.)
Fia stiffened.
Frowned ever so slightly, now.
"How strange...I sense a disturbance...
(.0.0.0.)
"Halt! None shall approach the-
A single arrow was loosed his way with incredible force.
Caught unawares by the sudden ambush, Gaius took it in the shoulder and crashed backward off his boar.
Latenna lowered her bow with a smug smile and loped forward on her recently restored legs. "Thou wert saying, cousin?"
(.0.0.0.)
Romina raised her arms high. "Children of the Tower! Welcome our new sister!"
The butteflies sang and danced amidst the Rot.
And from the mire...Millicent rose.
(.0.0.0.)
They stood before a pair of black iron doors.
Jammed at first, a few solid blows from him Rellana soon forced the gateway to open wide, yawning like the jaws of some great beast. No resistance emerged to stop them. No alarm sounded. Nothing at all. Together, the. two of them pushed the doors down, ducked their heads to endter, and bulled through,
Naruto half-expected darkness within; instead he found himself greeted sea of candles, with only a single darkened corner hidden in the gloom.
It looked almost empty at a glance.
So where in blazes was this Messmer guy-
"How kind of you to bring the intruder to me, Rellana."
The Twin Moon tensed, but Naruto scarcely noticed. Instead, his gaze snapped to the middle of the room and found a redheaded man seated upon what appeared to a throne of some sort. He hadn't seem him there before impossible as it sounded; as though he had appeared out of nowhere; emerging from the darkness itself.
Rellana hissed out a breath. "Messmer...
His good golden eye narrowed upon her. "I am your lord, Rellana. Or have you forgotten?"
She barked a bitter laugh. "You are my lord no longer."
"Is that so? A pity. You were a most useful pawn." Lounging almost lazily in his seat, the stranger righted himself to peer at Naruto. "Tarnished, art thou? We have been expecting thee. I had thought we might have to hunt for thee, but for you to come to straight to us, well." he raised a hand, conjuring a baleful red flame to his palm as he rose, bathing his visage in wicked light. "We couldn't be happier."
His blood froze. "We?"
The doors slammed shut behind them, sealing him and Rellana within.
Radhan hissed in his head.
"Its a trap!"
"Oh, yes. I will not abide a lord devoid of light." Messmer -this must be him- looked past himself now, craning his neck back to peer into the gloom. "Isn't that right...little sister?"
A baleflul blue eye opened in the dark, burning impossibly bright.
And then she emerged from the gloam-filled gloom.
Naruto tensed despite himself. "Melina...?"
A/N: Oh, no...
The many myriad misunderstandings are marvelous~! We'll cut it here for today~!
Well? Did you like this story? Yes? No? Maybe? Would you like weekly updates? By all means, speak up! Make yourselves heard! Your voice matters~!
Silence hurts worse than any flame. Looking forward to reading your feedback when I get home from work~ If this chapter gets a ton of feedback-hopefully!-then I'll do my best to ensure another early update again.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...Review, Wouldst Thou Kindly?
And have some previews. Some are quite a ways 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, in no particular order. You all know the first one~!)
All hell broke loose.
Everything descended into a mad, frenzied fight.
A Knight is Sworn to Valor! His Heart Knows only Virtue! His Blade Defends The Helpless! His Might Upholds The Weak! His Word Speaks Only Truth! His Wrath Undoes The Wicked!
I hereby swear! To every living being, and every living soul! Now comes the age of our Eden! A thousand year voyage guided by compassion! Beginning here, love encompasses all! No living thing will be denied, no deed censured in the name of Order! I am ready! To embrace the whole of it! Let us go together!
"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?"
It stabbed a hand into its stomach.
"Whoa, hey?! What're you doing?!"
Flame flared forth and took on a strange shape...almost humanoid in nature...
I am Rakshasa! Face me if you dare!
Ow! Dang, she hits hard...
The Roundtable Hold lay in tatters. He flung open the doors. A man's dead body lay on the floor, broken and twisted with black briars.
Of Fia, he saw nothing; she was gone, and his unborn children with her.
All that remained was a note nailed to the wall.
...what is that thing?"
Hewg offered him the Weapon.
"Its what she asked for. The power to kill a god."
"YOU'RE MARRIED?!"
"CURSE YOU BAAAAAYYYYLE!
"Yeah, what he said! You tell 'em, Igon!"
Florisaax tilted her head. "What am I watching, exactly?"
Sir Ansbach heaved a sigh. "She's a feisty lass, that one...
Reminded him of the old days.
"I'm so sorry!"
"GIVE HER BACK!"
He grabbed the needle.
"Please don't go...please...I can't do this without you...
"I AM HOARAH LOUX!"
"I AM NARUTO UZUMAKI!"
Two titans collided with a snarl. And the Erdtree trembled.
Naruto's head snapped back against a rousing right hook barreled into his face, leaving him spitting blood.
Godfrey did the same, eyes squinted shut as he reeled in pain. They reared back and struck as one with a mighty roar.
Their fists collided in a shockwave, sending them reeling back with ruined arms.
Never one to be outdone, Naruto stepped in and headbutted the larger man fiercely.
Godfrey -no, Hoarah Loux, now- granted him a feral grin in return.
"That's much better! I can actually FEEL that!"
EDIT: Hey, you made it! Hope you enjoyed this!
Looking forward to chatting with you all when I get back from work~!
May you have a good day filled with luck and peace,
~Nz.
R ~!