A/N: EDIT: So many errors! That's what I get for writing while sick.
Please read this note, would you kindly? Its important and contains my update schedule.
I wanted to wait until Season 3 finished, but I couldn't hold back any longer.
Being sick -and these infernal site glitches!- have decimated me for the time being. Apologies. I'll update what I can, when I can, but it may be touch and go for a bit. Apples and Atoms, Running to the Edge, Breath of Fresh Air, Long May He Reign, Elden Ring, Claws of a Lion, Gotta Adopt 'em All, and I Want it All are looking likely thus far.
I've not forgotten the others, Everything else needs time in the oven, and the week is young. Here's hoping I improve.
That said, this cough is driving me crazy nearly three weeks later! Hopefully it's not bronchitis or pneumonia. No fun. Then there's these blasted site glitches, new chapters and new stories aren't appearing; admins say they're working on it, but it must be a bad issue; because we've not heard hide nor hair from them for almost a week now...
Every review truly does help, large or small, anything is better than nothing at all.
Every bit of feedback is the wind beneath my wings, so...please...?
I know its weak of me to ask, but it truly does lift my spirits...
This chapter...well, I guess you could say its my way of hitting back at the show after Mark's boneheaded decision. You think his spat with Cecil is bad? That he made a bad move and acted rashly there regarding the whole Darkwing thing? Sinclair, yeah, that was justified, but the rest? NOPE.
I've read the comics to the end. That ain't nothing. Try looking up *SPOILER* Dinosaurus and Thrag sometime.
Would you prefer this story to become weekly once more? Several slots have opened up.
Kill the Boy, Arcane, and Running to the Edge tend to be monthly, as does Archon, time and schedule permitting.
Once more, my update schedule usually looks a little like this these days:
Monday=...?
Tuesday=Hazbin Hotel! (When I'm Well!)
Wednesday=...?
Thursday=GOT/HOTD!
Friday=Elden Ring/Double Update Day!
Saturday=RWBY!
Sunday=HOTD/GOT! (Subject to change!)
Its not perfect, and sometimes life gets in the way, with at least one of those days is a recovery day for me; heck, sometimes I update seven days a week regardless! Do let me know what you want to see and when! 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.
Now then, we'll be listing Naruto's current offspring in order from oldest to youngest from here on out to prevent confusion.
First and foremost, there's Samantha (Eve), then Joshua, Luca, Jessica, and finally little Amanda.
As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes.
They're tributes, one and all.
Now off we go.
"Hey...the actions that you're taking now...
Are they based on the ideals you cling to? Or are they based on actual truths?
And if they are...how much of the truth do you think you know?"
~You Know Who.
Deal with the Devil
Naruto felt good.
More than good, he felt strong, back to his prime, better even.
Amazing what a little prep time could do, no?
Alright, a lot of prep time.
But still!
Grinning, he pushed off against the weight trying to grind him down with both hands, forcing the massive hydraulic press back through sheer force. He felt the machine try to resist, try to hold, but it couldn't. Not against him.
Sure enough, it began to buckle, as all machines did; until finally, with an angry squeal of steel, it yielded to him.
Blue eyes bled red as he fed more chakra to his muscles, the golden shroud around him gleaming a baleful shade of smoldering scarlet.
Pushing harder, he forced it up until he felt something given the machine, and with a triumphant twist of his wrists, he tore the whole thing free from its mooring snd flung it across the room.
Startled scientists and terrified technicians fled in droves, scattering like ants before an earthquake.
The machine cared naught for them; it landed hard upon steel-plated flooring, gouging a great deal as it went before, finally striking a wall where it came to a juddering halt.
Naruto sprang to his feet, quite pleased with himself. "There!" laughter bubbled out of him, darkly exultant as he pivoted to face the responsible party. "Satisfied now?!"
Director Cecil Stedman regarded him from a raised platform above, the latter of which lowered after a moment's pause to bring them face to face.
Donald adjusted his glasses beside him, rattling off the readings from an electronic tablet of some sort. "Speed, strength and stamina all increased by...bya percentage of...
He choked on the last word and tugged at his collar, visibly distressed.
Cecil glared at him, scarred face twitching in agitation. "Well? Don't leave us in suspense. Spit it out."
"Yeah, Donny," the blond in question crooned, knowing full well what the answer would be. "Tell 'em."
"Its over nine thousand, sir."
Naruto couldn't quite contain a bark of laughter.
A pall fell over the entire room as everyone heard those words. Judging by the smell, someone had soiled themselves.
Having a sensitive nose came with some drawbacks, ya know.
Still, he lifted his chin and preened, basking in their fear as much as their adulation. Maybe they'd remember this the next time one of their number got uppity ideas about experimenting on him and his.
Cecil whistled, alarmed, but quick to hide it like the soldier he was at heart. "Neat trick. How'd you pull that off? Lemme guess, pushups, situps and plenty of juice?"
Ohoho, so he did get the reference after all. Always nice to treat with someone who appreciated the classics. Even if he didn't entirely trust him.
"What can I say?" He shrugged a shoulder, reveling in his former friend's scowl. "I trained all day yesterday."
"Now you're just yanking my chain. Since when could you pull off a stunt like that?"
"Recently. And it ain't a trick." He sucked in a deep breath and let it out in a cloud of scalding steam as the last of his overcharged chakra bled off, leaving him a little winded. "Its a form achieved through sacrifice, taking two forms of energy and smashing them together to create something new."
Alongside a a great deal of pain, but he was hardly about to reveal that to someone who might become his enemy.
Still, Cecil wouldn't be Cecil if he didn't ask. "What kinda energy we talking about here?"
He quirked a brow. "Does nuclear fusion ring a bell?"
Cecil blanched. "Well...shit."
Bingo.
"Used to be it would kill me." He held up a clawed hand, watching idly as the jagged digits shrank back into human fingernails. "Its not a form Kurama and I particularly enjoy using regardless."
"And lemme guess, you've perfected it?
"Not perfect," he wagged a finger his way, chiding him sternly. "Nothing's perfect. I'm just become more efficient at bleeding off my life force.
Donald grimaced. "Isn't that...unhealthy?"
He grinned. "I've got a lot. Every Uzumaki does. Remind me to tell you about Mito Uzumaki sometime."
"Who?"
"No one you need concern yourself with." He changed the subject before the man could try to dive into his ancestry. "You know, I could probably lift something heavier if you like...?"
The bespectacled man took a step back, sputtering at the very notion. "Please don't, that was the heaviest weight we had."
"At the moment." Cecil interjected. "Give us time, I'm sure we'll cook up something that'll blow your socks off.
Naruto grinned toothily. "Make as many toys as you like, I'll happily break them all."
Kurama batted the back of his head. "Oi."
Right, right, don't provoke them. Cecil had offered him the proverbial olive branch by allowing him to use this facility in the first place, so he knew he should respond in kind. After all, he was here to make peace...
.
..
...more or less.
"How's the eye?" he asked, just a little spitefully.
The man touched a hand to the right side of his face, and the eyepatch there. "Hurt like a bitch, thanks for asking. C'mon." Without waiting for his answer, he pivoted on his heel and turned to leave. "We have what you asked for...
Naruto planted both hands in his pockets and moved to follow, shoulders tense, just in case it came to a fight. "I'm surprised you had the guts to go through with it."
Cecil glanced over his shoulder, glowering at him with his good eye. "What can I say, you said a pound of flesh, more or less, and I need my hands. Think of it as a peace offering."
"Peace, huh...?"
It certainly spoke well of Cecil that he'd been willing to maim himself in the first place. Most would've balked at it, tried to beg, plead, escape even. And yet he hadn't. He'd taken responsibility -and an eye- without missing a beat. In that, at least, he had proven himself honest.
"Glad to say you're being reasonable about this." his would-be-ally muttered as he led him deeper into the white room, past another array of experiments.
Naruto glowered at his back. "Was what happened to my wife and kids reasonable?"
"Come on, kid, you know I had nothing to do with that...
"Your organization did; you're lucky I haven't burned the GDA to the ground."
It wasn't an idle threat, and they knew it. He was still working his way through the ranks, eradicating anyone connected to the Project without hesitation. Most of them had died. Slowly. Others gave their cohorts up in an ugly attempt to save their own hides-not that it did. For all his cut and burn approach, however, he still hadn't found the true mastermind behind it all.
Hence why he was here today, treating with the man he'd once called friend.
"I appreciate your restraint." Cecil paused before a keypad and placed his hand upon it. "Heaven knows that's in short supply these days."
"Do you? Seems like you're still treating me as a threat."
Cecil sighed. "I treat everyone as a potential threat, you know that."
He made a fair point there, loathe though he was to admit it.
From there Cecil lifted his eye-patch, exposing a bionic red eye. A scanner flashed forth, followed by a distinctly metallic chime and door irised out of the metal, permitting him access. He strode through and Naruto stalked after him, only to pause when he saw what lay within.
He'd expected an ambush. There wasn't one. Instead a simple room awaited them beyond, replete with bland, padded white walls and folding table replete with two cushioned chairs and a bottle of water set before each. Cecil took one, pulled out a chair, sat and gestured for him to do the same.
Naruto lingered at the threshold. "Padded walls. Really? Do you think this place would hold me?"
Cecil shook his head. "Not at all. Its for my protection as much as yours."
A muscle jumped in his jaw. "How so?"
"In case you decide to throw me."
"Ah." He supposed that was fair given his temper, but trust didn't come so easily to him these days. He stayed put.
Cecil noticed. "For the love-look, the walls aren't reinforced; and even if they were, we both know you could blitz your way out of her faster than I could teleport."
"Isn't that expensive?"
"Very." he clicked his tongue, grimacing at the mere mention of it. "So don't make me do it."
...fine. He wasn't going to get any intel lingering out in the hall like a little bitch, so he took the plunge, grabbed a seat, and flounced into it.
Cecil sighed heavily through his still-mending nose. "So, are we square?"
"That depends entirely on you." he met his gaze with a blank stare of his own. "You gonna give Brandyworth his job back? Guy's practically an uncle to my kids but he's been out of work long before this whole debacle started."
"Doctor Elias Brandyworth," Cecil emphasized the man's full name and rank, "Will be gainfully employed by the GDA first thing tomorrow morning. We'll put him to work making up for his past mistakes."
"Mistakes?" a muscle jumped in his jaw at the phrasing. "The man was practically an uncle to Eve and my kids. If you've harmed him...
"You think I have a death wish? He's fine-will be fine." he amended at his cross look. "You have my word."
Words, words, words. That was what it came down in the end, didn't it?
Planting one fist on the table, he leaned forward to glower at the maimed soldier. "You once told me something; we can either be the good guys, or we can be the guys that save the world."
"Yeah, I said that. Why? What are you up to?"
"You need to change that viewpoint of yours; it's gonna land you in hot water one of these days." He held up his free hand, palm open, then his fist, weighing them both before him. "I like to think of myself as the good guy, and I've saved the world on a daily basis. After everything that's been done to me, I could've easily become a villain. Who's gonna stop me? Nolan?"
"Kid, I get your point, but I've got literal powerhouses flying around my country and you?" he palmed his forehead then proceeded to drag said hand down his scarred face. "You're the equivalent of a living nuke who just bench pressed enough weight to lift a freaking planet. What's next, the moon?"
A blonde brow rose. "If I must."
"All right, all right, fair play." he held up both hands to ward him off. "Have it your own way."
"You said you had information for me. That was the deal. I take your little test and you give me the guy who started this mess.
Cecil grimaced. "I do have information," he hedged, "But you might not like it.
"I'll be the judge of that. Fork it over."
Cecil withdrew a file from his jacket and slid it across the table. "You're welcome."
Naruto tore it open with a flick of his wrist, parting the manila envelope with ease.
Almost immediately a file slid out, and with it a pair of faded photographs, each worn by time. In the left a costumed face stared back at him, wreathed in emerald green. The other was a more familiar visage. One he hadn't seen in years. A bald african-american man, possibly in his late thirties, with something of an athletic build. His face was friendly, his smile warm.
His eyes widened. "Is this...?
"Green Ghost." Cecil reaffirmed with a nod, tapping the photo with a finger. "Not the current one with the Guardians, the original, back in our heyday."
Naruto leaned in to inspect the image warily, the beginnings of a frown tugging at his whiskered cheeks. "What about him?"
"He went dark the same day you did," Cecil replied, "Vanished off the face of the earth, left his suit and that weird green stone of his behind. Nobody's seen him since."
"And you think he's responsible?"
"I think its a lead." Cecil countered quickly, not wanting to get his hopes up, but unwilling to deny the possibility either. "He was a real secretive fellow. No address on file, no known relatives, we didn't even know his real name. We've taken to calling him John Doe-
"John Stewart, actually."
The agent blinked. "You know him?"
"I did." he traced the second photo with his thumb. "At least, I thought I did." he hated himself for the doubt that crept into his words even as he spoke them. "We were friends. Sure, there were things we disagreed on, who doesn't, but... we had a barbecue with him and the Guardians almost every other Sunday. Bastard always did make the best steak this side of the block."
Something dark and ugly curdled in his chest.
John wouldn't have been able to stop him, not alone, not for long, but his powers he could've immobilized him. He'd always been weak against ghosts; certainly those he couldn't hit. It would've been easy for him to stab him in the back, thereby giving someone else the chance to take him out. He never would've seen it coming. Not from him. Not John. No.
But why?
He didn't know.
It concerned him.
"Naruto...
...I'm fine.' He would make himself now. taking a deep breath to center himself, he fixed Cecil with a stern stare. "Where is Stewart now? I wanna word with him."
Cecil heaved a sigh and he knew, he just knew he wouldn't like his answer. "We can't find him."
Knew it.
He scoffed and leaned back in his chair. "Excuse me? You're the GDA. Finding people is what you do."
"Yeah, well, we can't find this guy." came the counter. "Haven't had any luck at all. At the time I thought it coincidence, or someone was going around knocking off Heroes, but...
"But...?"
"But nothing." Cecil thumped a fist on the table, momentarily losing his temper. "Stewart vanished like his namesake. If he's alive and involved in this-he probably skipped down-fled the country if he knew what was good for him. Which means he's not in the states."
"If you're saying he's out of your jurisdiction-
"Between you and Nolan, the entire world feels like my godsdamned jurisdiction these days." Another photo slid across the table, one he didn't recognize. "The current Green Ghost is a girl by the name of Alana, as you know, and surprise surprise, she's working with the Guardians, just like her mentor before her.
He stiffened. "Are you saying she's involved."
"Hardly. She young; wasn't even born back when this happened. Still, she might know something, maybe ask her.
He took the photo, folded it, and tucked it into his jacket pocket. "Ohhhh, I'll do more than ask...
"Please, don't." it was a testament to their former friendship that he didn't make it an order.
Even so, the remark sparked something in him. "I don't work for you, Cecil."
"Don't I know it." Stedman dragged a hand down his face, inadvertently tugging at his eyepatch as he went. "You're a rogue asset. Off-leash. Trying to control. You would be like trying to put handle bars on a hurricane." he shrugged. "Can't be done. Lets face facts, you're the only bastard on this planet, who can fight Omni-Man to a standstill. To say nothing of any other interstellar...friends.
Did he know? "Have you been spying on me?
Cecil rolled his remaining eye. "Course, I've been spying on you, I'm trying not to piss you off."
"Doing a rather poor job of that...
"Buddy, I've already prevented three assassination attempts, five kidnappings, and at least seven bombings on your property. And that was just this week...
He grimaced. It had seemed strangely peaceful as of late. "I can handle it."
"But you shouldn't have to, kid." much to his surprise, his old comrade stood, circled round the table and laid a hand on his shoulder. "If you spend the rest of your life looking over your shoulder, expecting someone's tack you, or stab you in the back you're going to become a paranoid wreck. Is that what you want, for you, or your kids?
His temper strained against its leash, chomping at the bit, itching to lash out. He shouldn't have come here, shouldn't be entertaining this offer in the first place. He was already livid with Cecil, seeing him, face-to-face, or only provoked him further. Despite that, he somehow wrestled it down.
And then the oaf opened his mouth. "Look, I get it, I fucked up, but-
"You did more than that!" Naruto burst to his feet, slapping the man's hand aside as he went, eyes wild, "They had me hooked up to machine for years, my kids grew up without me! I'm trying to make up for years of absence and my wife...!
His throat closed and he choked, unable to finish the word.
He pivoted and lashed out at the first thing he found.
Namely, the wall.
Credit where it was due, the padded cell held, absorbing his punch; until it didn't. The sheer concussive force behind it, the magnicent momentum was simply too much. Material shredded, metal warped, twisted, bulged outward, blasting a gaping hole through and out the other side. A series of shocked faces stared back, took one look at his blazing eyes and fled in fear.
Shame stirred within him, but he shunted it aside, dragging a hand across his face. There could be no denying it now; his temper wasn't what it once was. 'I used to be calmer than this. Need to stay in control...
Cecil didn't dare approach him; which was good, he'd lose an arm if he did, but when he spoke there was genuine sorrow in his voice. "How much longer does Polly have ?
He bit back on a growl. "I don't know."
"We could-
"I said I don't know dammit!" he glared at the ceiling. "I'm looking into ways to keep her alive, and happy, if nothing else."
He knew what Stedman would say next and hated him for it. "If, and I do mean IF, she passes away...
"What's wrong Cecil?" He rounded on him, looming large, fingers clenching into claws at his sides. "Afraid I'll snap? Go postal? Lose my mind? No." he shook his head, blonde, bangs, swinging, "I have a family to protect, friends I can't neglect, so I'm not taking chances here." And then, because he saw the doubt in his eyes. "I do what I must for the ones I love. If that means cultivating a few friends here and there, then so be it. I don't waste talent. Neither do you."
Somehow, the man stood his ground. "Friends, huh? Like old Angstrom Levy? And the Mauler Twins? Or this Anissa girl you've become so fond of?
A blond brow rose. "Anissa?"
"Don't play coy; you and little-miss-alien tore things up on the eastern seaboard and nearly rutted like a pair of wild animals. That's hard to miss. No idea what she said to get you so riled up, though...
It was both a statement and a question all wrapped up in one; the man was fishing for answers.
His lips pursed, forming a thin line of defiance as he refused to take the bait.
"You don't wanna share? Fine. Congrats to you and Polly on keeping her contained by the way; but it still doesn't change the fact that you're keeping some pretty shady company...
Naruto bristled at the insinuation. "What choice did I have?! You left me to rot!"
"This again?!" Cecil flung up a hand. "I didn't know! If I had, I would've busted you out of there in an instant. If I weren't running this place, I'd be out there busting kneecaps with you."
"Words, words, words." He whirled away from Stedman. "You talk the talk, but don't walk the walk...
"Don't I?" his former boss didn't back down. "I could be an ass about this. The GDA's got egg on its face; we look like shit because of what happened to you; we've bitten that bullet. Haven't blamed you, or asked you to make a statement exonerating us. But at some point you have to accept that we're on the same side."
He craned his neck back to glare at him. "And which side is that...?"
"Earth." Cecil was actually brave enough to elbow him, which made him tougher than most. That, or suicidal." Something big is coming, kid. I don't know what, or when, or where, but it is. Call it an old man's intuition. And when it does, we need to be ready to stand against it. All of us. Together."
The ghost of a smile graced Naruto's face despite his best efforts to hide it. "You're not that old."
"My point still stands. We were friends once. Partners." so speaking, he offered him his hand. "You did good work for the GDA back when you were Fire Shadow. Not that you aren't anymore." He waved that hand about to ward him and the subsequent temperature spike off until the blaze in his eyes faded. "You were hero to the people, a beacon. You still can be."
"Under your supervision?" Naruto couldn't keep the sneer from his so voice, so he didn't. "I think not. I have a family to raise now - I won't be taking orders from you. Neither will my children."
Cecil shook his head, surprising him yet again. "I'm not asking you and yours to work for me, but with me. God knows I wish I could do the latter, but I know you'll never agree to that; not after what you've been through. Do what's best for your family. If not for the sake of our friendship, then for them, I won't be around forever. The next guy who takes my spot might not be so agreeable."
He scoffed. "Is that a threat? I thought you don't do threats."
A shrug was his reward. "Wish I could say people change, but they don't, not really. All I'm asking, is you keep an eye on Miss Space Invader. She's up to something, and I don't like the look at it.
He waited for more, but it never came. "That's it?"
"That's it." Cecil's head bobbed once in a grim nod. "I'll admit, I have some ulterior motives. Your kid, and Mark, they're good friends. Someday they might be something more. A kid with even a fraction of their powers would be...
"Invincible?" he offered.
A chuckle. "Not the word I'd use...
He was making some very good arguments, much to his annoyance.
And he was so very tired of being angry with one of the few friends he had left.
Cecil pushed the envelope further. "Look me in the eye, and ask me again if I was involved in that shitshow. You can tell if someone's lying, can't you? Tell you what, if I am, you can tear my head off. How's that sound?"
Facing him fully he took a step forward to glower down at Stedman, once and for all.
"Were you involved?"
"No." An immediate response, stoic in its surety.
Naruto blinked, momentarily taken aback by what he found in the man's remaining eye; or rather the lack thereof. No doubt, no uncertainty, no guile. He was telling the truth. Whatever his motivations now or in the past, Cecil Stedman didn't have anything to do with that dark, devastating day.
And he did have his family to look out for.
What was the saying again?
The devil you know?
He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I can't believe I'm even considering this...
To his credit, Cecil didn't perk up. He was better than that. He simply planted both hands in his pockets and waited.
Bastard was good at that. Waiting. Making sense.
He wasn't above making deals with good guys or bad guys; the problem was, Cecil was technically neither. The emotional part of him wanted to just tear his head off anyway, and be done with it, to eliminate all possibilities, even if he hadn't been involved.
But he made a valid point...
Still, he had to be wholly certain.
"What separates a man from a slave, Cecil?"
His old friend blinked at that, briefly taken back. "What kinda question is that?"
"Money?" Naruto ignored his remark and ticked down his fingers, impatiently counting them one by one. "Power? Fame. No. A man chooses. A slave obeys. Maybe you're a slave to your government, or maybe you're doing what you think is right. And maybe you believe that. It doesn't matter. Because I don't care about your government. Are you a man, Cecil? Or are you a slave?"
Cecil planted his feet, crossed both arms before his chest, lifted his chin and stared him dead in the eye. "A man. And I always will be."
He granted him a nod. "Good answer."
"What, you want some song and dance about how we should be friends again? Let bygones be bygones? Act like nothing happened?"
"No." here at last his smile faltered a little. "We're well past that. I don't work for you, and you certainly don't work for me; but you're right, we can't afford to be enemies anymore, either."
"Comrades, then?" he offered him his hand again. "If you can stand to work with me."
Naruto accepted it and shook, squeezing the man's fingers until he drew felt the bones beneath creak. "I've already taken my pound of flesh. We're square..."
For now, the words were left unspoken. Cecil might screw up in the future, and if he did, there would be a price to pay.
It would likely be his life.
"That's fair," Cecil squeezed his hand in return, not as firmly, he couldn't, he simply didn't have that kind of strength, "Its like you said. I don't waste talent. I use it. And you? You're one talented sonovabitch."
"My mother was a wonderful lady, thank-you-very much."
Cecil exhaled ad dropped his arm. "Heh. You know, for a second there, I thought things were going to get ugly.
In another world, they might have. He had no counter against him, no leverage that wouldn't result in mutually assured destruction.
And if he tried laying a hand on his children, on his wife, they both knew where that road would lead.
Despite his capitulation, he had the upper hand here.
Not Cecil. Not the government. Him.
"You get one opportunity." he raised a finger, waving it before his face. "You turn on me, and I will tear your entire organization down on your balding head. Are we clear?"
"Another shot at the hair, huh? We can't all have demigod genes."
Naruto growled. "Cecil."
"Alright, alright. We're clear. Crystal."
A small part of him released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Right, then. They were in the clear. Nothing could stop him now.
Kurama growled sullenly in his ear. "Don't jinx it."
Almost on cue, his phone rang.
"What did I just say?!"
Irritated, he snatched it from his pocket and placed it to his ear. "What?"
One of the Mauler Twins answered. "We've got trouble."
He heard an explosion in the background.
His eyes widened.
(.0.0.0.)
A building crumbled in the chaos of battle.
Beneath it, a little girl screamed and covered her face, desperate not to see the end of her life.
War Woman raced their way, knowing she wouldn't make it in time.
Someone beat her to it.
A figure carved from of golden fire caught the rubble with one arm and wrenched it aside, safely lowering the collapsing building to the street before it could crush anyone. He pivoted and she glimpsed the child nestled in his arms, giggling a little as he said something and patted her head. He set her down and shooed her toward her parents.
"Naruto...?"
That smile faded the moment he saw them.
Oh gods, he wasn't here to help them, was he?
Sure enough, he confirmed it a moment later was he stepped between them and the Maulers.
They were, all of them, here. Darkwing, the Immortal, War Woman, Red Rush, Aquarus, Martian Man even the Green Ghost herself.
She still didn't feel good about their chances.
"You seriously couldn't help yourselves, could you?" His voice once so sunny and smiling, now dripped with the darkest derision as he stood between them and their fallen foes. "Did they even start this fight? Or did you?
The Immortal bridled. "They're building some sort of machine in that warehouse behind you! Help us destroy it!"
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Of course they're building a machine, I paid them to."
Darkwing choked. "You what?!"
Realization dawned, and War Woman winced within it. "Its for Polly, isn't it?"
He winked her way. "I'll give you two guesses, first two don't count...
Red Rush inched forward. "They're wanted criminals."
"They were, I'll give you that." Naruto's nod was curt, almost militaristic. "Now they work for me. There's a difference." Pivoting, he helped the big bruisers to their feet, muttered something to them, and sent them on their way. "Off you go. Battle's over. There's work to be done.
With a smirk, the big blue brutes wandered back into the warehouse. None dared follow them for fear of crossing Fire Shadow. Not even the Immortal himself, for all his surly staring.
When he made to leave however, War Woman caught him by the wrist. "Hold a moment! We need to talk."
Blank blue eyes met hers, deep and fathomless as the ocean. "Do we? I have nothing to say...
He walked away, only for her to grab his wrist. "Not this time! Talk to me!
His gaze flitted down to her fingers, still gripping his arm. "Let go."
She didn't; if only because she knew what he would do. "Not until you hear me out!"
"I'm warning you...hmm?" His phone rang again, but this time, he knew who it was. He took great pleasure in raising it high and showing her the Caller ID. "Would you look at that? Its for you.
War Woman accepted it. "Hello?"
Cecil's voice snarled at her through the speakerphone. "The fuck're you doing? I just made peace with the kid! Get outta there."
"But the Maulers-
"I didn't know they were with him. Now clear out. Preferably before He levels a city block."
The rest of the Guardians hesitated as the phone was passed around to each of them in turn.
Naruto retrieved it from Red Rush last, grinning ear to ear. "Go ahead. Do as you're told. After all, good soldiers follow orders."
Her spirit bridled at the challenge; if only because she knew what would happen. It hurt her to see him like this; all sharp, jagged edges, his smile a razor's edge ready to cut. They had been such close friends, once. She might've snatched him up for herself before Polly came along.
Where had everything gone wrong...?
Aquarius raised a finny hand, oblivious to the danger. "It's seven to one, chum."
Blue eyes blazed red. "I like those odds."
No one moved.
"You want me to call Nolan?" Naruto held up his phone anew, prepared to end the call with Cecil and summon someone far worse. "Because I can. I've got him on speed-dial, and lemme tell you, he won't be happy you've interrupted his vacation with Debbie."
Green Ghost raised an anxious arm. "I say we leave."
"Ha!" Naruto barked a laugh, sharp and angry. "This girl's got a good head on her shoulders. You know what? Fine. This is good timing. I've been meaning to talk to you anyway. Y'see, I have several questions for little miss Green Ghost over there...
War Woman looked to the girl in question. The poor waif waved her arms, showing she had no clue.
Her ignorance -supposed or otherwise- didn't save her. Nor any of them for that matter.
Kurama burst from Naruto's back in golden glory, arms crossed before his chest.
The blond began cracking his knuckles, one by one.
"You're gonna give me answers."
(.0.0.0.)
Polly stepped through the portal after Angstrom Levy, stepping forth into another dimension without fear.
The room itself had seen better days -as had this world- but she supposed that was the point.
After all the greater the risk, the greater the reward.
Anissa was only a few steps behind, warily emerging through the green gateway with a sullen scowl. "This is your home in another dimension...?"
"Bit of a fixer-upper, isn't it?"
She huffed.
It was all she could do not to smile at her and tickle her ribs. Such a skittish Viltrumite. For all her claims of strength and pride, she really was quite fearful towards the concept of change. As though she weren't changing already. Naruto had laid the groundwork there, the railroad tracks, if you would.
It fell to her to run the train over them, straight into her heart.
Full steam ahead!
Choo-choo~!
Alas, all those thoughts and more were wiped away as she beheld her prize. Levy had left it in full view for her, the smug bastard.
Her eyes widened at what she found there, one hand coming up to cup her mouth. "Is that what I think it is...?"
"I do not understand." Anissa shook her head as she gazed at the machine. "What even is that...?
Polly allowed herself to smile.
"A solution."
Levy sketched a low bow as she looked his way. "It took me quite some time to find a universe like this, let alone what you were looking for, nevermind intact." he had the good grace to look suitably embarrassed at least, but she supposed that was a given, since Anissa had barely paused to throw on a night-gown before following him; or a sweats and a hoodie in her case. "For what its worth, I hope you succeed."
Such a charming young man. "And I'll be sure to relay word of your assistance to Naruto."
He beamed. "Would you? I didn't do this for him...
Polly patted him on the back like a proud parent. "You did this because you wanted to help. That's what you do, isn't it? Help people."
He stood just a little taller, pleased by her praise. "I suppose so."
"And this world? Is it safe?"
A distant tremor rattled the ceiling above them. "Not as such, but that's what have your friend for."
Poor Anissa, relegated to being a bodyguard. She probably didn't enjoy it.
"Nonsense." Sure enough, Anissa's scowl deepened as she scowled at her salvation. "You do not need this. My people may be able to cure you-
Polly rounded on her, a hint of steel in her gaze. "And how far away is that cure? Will I even live to see it? Or will your "regent" scoff at me and cast me aside?"
The silence was her answer; she didn't know for certain.
"Make no mistake, I may be dying," she sniffed up at her, quietly indignantly, "But I don't intend to go quietly."
No, she needed this. A cure or a stopgap, she wasn't sure which, but something was better than nothing, and this "something" would buy her precious time. As for Naruto...well, this was either gonna blow her husband's socks off...or piss him off right and proper. She wasn't entirely sure which; she supposed that made it all the more exciting.
Pivoting to face her unlikely allies, Polly Uzumaki coughed once into a fist, cleared her lungs, and stood tall.
From there, she tugged up her hoodie, clasped both hands behind her back with a smile.
"Shall we begin~?"
The roof ruptured above them, raining down dust and rubble on their heads.
"Well, well, well." A masked figure in gold and black and orange descended from on high, lazily gliding down through the gap, long golden cape trailing behind them as they smiled. "What do we have here? A group of rats scurrying in my maze? I didn't think there was anyone left."
Her poor, injured heart skipped a beat.
"You can run, if you like." he flicked a hand their way, almost dismissively. "After all, its been so long since I had someone to chase. I'll even give you a head start."
Angstrom backed up. Polly didn't blame him. The poor fellow wasn't equipped to fight something like this.
Something like him.
Already her blood- what little of it she had left-ran cold through her veins.
Who was that? She couldn't quite tell with the mask, but that voice, those colors, that smirk...why, it almost looked like...no, no, that couldn't be right. Angstrom had already explained as much. This was a different dimension. The rules -people!- were altered here, weren't they? Different circumstances, different events, different people. Had to be. After all, that couldn't be...there was just no that was...no. She refused to even utter their name, to honor their existence by acknowledging them any further than she already had.
Polly gulped, still quietly anxious despite herself, such was the horror of what she was facing. "Anissa? Now would be a good really good time to let the monster out...!"
The Viltrumite regarded the newcomer for a long moment, cracked her neck once and smiled. "What have we here? A challenge?"
The intruder blinked, squinting at the warrior woman behind his carefully constructed facade. "Who the hell're you?"
Her hand closed around his face, levering him into a wall. "Your worst nightmare."
"Yeah, no."
He turned his face aside with a bemused, slugged her in the stomach hard enough to make Polly and Angrstom flinch, leaving her doubled over, retching for air; from there he raised both fists high and delivered a mighty hammerblow to her back, smashing her into the floor. She struck the ground, bounced once, tried to roll over and rise-
"Heeey, I remember you now." laughing, he planted a boot on her stomach, grinding her down, preventing her from getting up. "You're the bitch that jumped me awhile back. Didn't I kill you already? Are you a ghost? Did I finally lose my mind?"
Anissa grunted and grabbed onto his heel, to no avail; no matter now hard she tried, she couldn't extricate herself. "Damn you...!"
"Damned, huh? "The Stranger leaned over her, leering. "That about sums me up, huh? I've been damned for awhile now thanks to you and your little empire; and here I thought I'd seen the last of your kind since Thragg. Now," he growled, grinding his boot into her torso, "I don't know who brought you back to life or how after I tore your head off, and frankly I don't care. But I know this.
A savage grin split the Stranger's face, wide and feral.
"I'll enjoy killing you even more the second time!"
His fist descended like lightning.
Polly cried out. "Naruto!"
Paused, now.
"Polly...?"
Baleful blue eyes swung her way. That was all the confirmation she needed. She tugged down her hood, freeing her hair, revealing her face to him.
"You too, huh?" The Stranger saw both and hissed out a breath trapped somewhere between a sob and a snarl. "I'm seeing all sorts of ghosts today...
"I'm not a ghost." she took a trembling step forward, one hand over her heart. "I'm real. Come and see for yourself."
He stepped off Anissa's battered body, just as she hoped he would, giving her the chance to drag herself away.
Angstrom hissed out a breath and tried to grab at her sleeve. "Don't...!"
Polly slipped out his grasp; well that she did too; because the Stranger stood and removed his mask. Much to her horror, he looked exactly like her husband. A little leaner in the cheeks perhaps, a bit angrier, eyes bright and sharp, but it was undoubtedly the spitting image of her her husband.
He touched a hand to her cheek. Her face. Her forehead now, wholly at a loss.
"You're as beautiful as the day I lost you..." he muttered again, bereft. "But you died...I saw you." He glared at Anissa, scowling as she hauled herself to her feet. "You, I killed. And you," he looked to Angstrom, confused. "I don't know you at all, I've never met you." his brow furrowed as he squinted his way. "Who the hell're you?"
Was this a universe where everything went wrong...?
"Stop," she begged of him, hands fisting against his costume. "Just stop. Let us take this machine and go and we'll leave you in peace."
"Leave?" panic bloomed in his eyes. "No," he shook his head, latching onto her arm. "No, you can't leave, I won't let you."
Oh, dear.
Anissa stumbled upright, wiping a thin line of blood from her lips, "We weren't asking...
"Naruto" craned his neck back to regard her intently. "You have spirit. More than my Anissa did." an ominous scarlet energy began to stem from his stomach, boiling around his shoulders. "I'll give you a choice. Would you rather be torn apart like Conquest? Strangled like Thula? Or would you rather be trapped in the sun like Thragg? Choose wisely now...
Conquest? Thula? Thragg? More names she didn't know.
Yet she did know none of them stood a chance against him. Not here.
"And you, dimension hopper." Her-not-husband scowled at Angstrom. "Maybe I should kill you on principle. If you die, there's no way home for them."
Levy drew back, frightened, but unwilling to bolt without them.
"I could let you run," the scowling blond mused. "But you might return. Bring reinforcements." A hand rose, brimming with a wrathful sphere. "I can't have that...
"Kill me if you like." Levy lifted his chin, not in defeat, but defiance. "He'll stop you."
"He?" The false Naruto looked between him and Polly, paused now. "You can't be talking about Nolan. He's gone. Which means..." She saw the moment realization dawned behind those baby blue eyes, and the savage smile that followed. "Another me! Ha! So she was right about the whole multiverse theory after all!" Still clutching her tight, he leaned forward to regard Angstrom. "Tell me, what's this other me like? Is he strong? Does he have-
Anissa spat blood upon the floor. "Nothing like you...
He backhanded her in a blink, sending her flying. "Broken bitches shouldn't speak unless spoken to...
Polly struggled in his grasp, to no avail. She couldn't break free.
She was the only one he'd listen to, and he'd lost her.
Wait. That was it.
Her.
A wild idea dawned in desperation. A mad idea. A beautiful, brilliantly bombastic idea.
The Maulers. Weren't they working for Naruto? Their cloning tech might not be able to help her just yet, but they COULD help this iteration of him; couldn't they? It hurt her to see him like this; for him to have fallen so far, his world in ruins, devoid of their children, of his Anissa, of anything and everything that could ever make him smile. Surely he deserved better. Did he not?
This was clearly a world where he'd relied on her and her alone. With her passing, he'd fallen apart. Broken. She shuddered to think what might've become of their children.
Had they died? Or were they taken?
No, don't dwell on it.
That said, any clone of her the Maulers made wouldn't exactly be his Polly now, would she? By his own accounts, she was already dead and gone. Some might argue that something was better than nothing; others might say this would be akin to spitting on the grave of "this" Polly Uzumaki by replacing her with a copy.
It was a risk.
A gamble to be sure.
Perhaps the riskiest bet of her lifetime.
Still, she'd made worse wagers than this and they'd paid off.
After all, was not life itself one gigantic gamble? The house always won sooner or later...
Time to see if she could beat the odds, one last time.
"Come back with us." she took him by the hands, idly stroking his palms in a way she knew relaxed the original. "Let us help you."
He scowled, but the tension began to bleed from him, further proof he was so like her husband. "And how can you help me?"
She took a deep a breath, steeled herself, and took the plunge "...we can give bring your wife back."
His knees nearly buckled for a moment - until his eyes snapped into scarlet slits.
Angstrom slapped a palm to his face. "Damn bleeding heart...
Her not-husband paused, considering her. And then:
His hands tightened around hers.
"Explain yourself. Quickly."
A/N: Oh, dear~!
This can either go very well or very POORLY for our boy.
The original Naruto better get his act in gear before its too late...
Would you like weekly updates? Do let me know? What chaos awaits? Who will live? Who will die?! Find out next time, on Apples and Atoms~!
Well? What say you? Do you want this to remain a story? Yes? No? Maybe so? Make yourselves heard! Really need to hear from you, here. 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 isn't popular? Well...I'll not continue it. 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? Hope you enjoy the previews below, can't spoil too much.
Don't mind the X symbols, the site doesn't like scene breaks down here.
We've got some new ones and some are...intense.
They've been expanded and then some!
Read at your own risk:
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
SPOILERS AWAIT YOU!
YE BE WARNED!
(Previews)
"Who am I?" the masked man laughed. "That's a surprisingly difficult question. I couldn't become who I was supposed to be, so who does that make me now?"
x
Polly threw a fit, and not in the way he expected. "You saw War Woman without me?!"
"Well, I was a bit busy keeping her and the Guardians off the Maulers-
WITHOUT! ME!" she kicked her legs against the cot. "How am I supposed to get her into our bed if I never run into her!
"POLLY!"
"Not sorry!"
x
Naruto gazed upon Naruto.
A moment of silence followed.
And then:
"Alright, this is weird."
His other self tilted his head. "Yeah, its like looking in a mirror. What do I even call you?"
"Hey, hey! This is my universe. Far as I'm concerned, I'm the original."
"The lucky one, more like. Your universe didn't go to hell in a handbasket. Mine did...
Josh raised his hand. "Sooooo...does this mean we have two dads?"
Here at last, his dystopian self looked positively overwhelmed.
Polly giggled in the background. "No, sweetie.
Anissa looked on and silently suppressed the longing in her chest.
Two of her mate? Urk. Be still my heart...
x
"Great, now there's two of them!"
x
"You must be Rex." The man stood before him, idly wiping blood from his hair. "Your boss had good things to say about you...before I popped his skull."
Ah, shit. That would explain all the blood then, wouldn't it? He looked like he'd gone through a blender.
The boy raised his hands. "Whoa, whoa! I don't want any trouble."
"No, son. No, you do not.
x
"Had enough?"
He planted a fist in the dirt and took a long, shuddering breath.
"I don't care how fast you are. I don't care how strong you are, and I don't give a s*t how smart you are." righting himself, he growled. "I know your future. You don't live to see tomorrow."
"And what makes you say that-
Blood flew through the air. Teeth danced in the sky. Alongside an eye.
"Is this still fun?!" he slammed his fist down, pulping his foes face with every punch. "Are you enjoying yourself?! Having fun?! Well?! Answer me!
x
Unless you don't think you can do it.
Bold words for someone within punching distance.
See, now you're resorting to threats. Can you do it or not?
Hold my beer.
x
EDIT: I still haven't forgiven the show for making Thula old and ugly, messing with her voice, and just casting her aside for no reason.
Needless to say, we're sticking with more-youthful comic version of her, not the mad maniac we got in the show.
...what are you?
"Just a family man." he took a long sip from his mug. "Thula, was it? Run along now." his fingers flicked out in a shooing motion. "I'm not in the mood." A thought occurred to him and he cocked his head. "Unless you want to fight. It won't end well. That blade in your hair won't help you."
...I am not here to fight. I am here to talk."
"Go on, then." he took a long drink. "Talk. You have one minute."
Thula gulped and clasped both hands behind her back.
"Very well, then...
DOUBLE EDIT: Hope this story brightened your day and made things better, even if only a little.
Looking forward to chatting with you all when I get back from work~!
May you have a great day and lots of luck!
Warm regards,
~Nz.