2,366A/N: Read this note, would you kindly?
EDIT: Well, that's an awful lot of flames and trolls in the comments. Can't we all just get along? T_T
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? POOF! Gone. Completely. I'm working two jobs -might need a third soon!- so I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that.
Working nearly all hours of the day keep me absurdly busy, and I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.
As promised, here's Ranni's turn. Much like "Shed no Grace on Me", I've been holding onto this for a good while now, and I'll do my best not to spoil things overmuch for those of you who haven't played, or still wish to play. But really, the game's been out for a month now. Seriously. SPOILERS.
Events will be more fleshed out here, Iji, Blaid, and the others included.
...Seluvis can go die in a ditch. Someone spoiled his questline, but I'm grateful for that, because the moment I knew what he was, I cut the quest -still had the potion on me- turned right around and killed the bastard. I have a special hatred for folks like him, fictional or otherwise.
*spits*
Alright then, this old man has kept you long enough! I'll let you enjoy this sappy little story.
As ever, I own no quotes references, themes or memes. Not a wit or a one!
Now then, I'll not keep you. Get ready to smile~!
"A pleasure to meet thee."
~?
For Love of a Witch
Ranni heard the dragon wail.
Indeed, the beast's bellow woke the witch with a start; she felt its battle cry rattle her body, as it ripped her forth from her dream. A mighty roar rent the very air and tore the mists asunder; an awful sound that soon found itself answered in kind as something snarled back. The very foundations of her abode quaked underfoot as it clashed with said something, then came a strange noise, almost as if something were being cracked, shattered, splintered-
One last tremor and it was done.
The world fell silent, sure as the Shattering once more.
Her open eye blinked, narrowing now in mild consternation. "What madness is this?"
A glimmer of curiosity stirred in Ranni's soul as she pondered the matter yet further. Had she not cast aside her flesh long ago, had she possessed a proper body with blood in her veins, she might've felt her heart skip a beat just now in confusion. As it were, she experienced only a fleeting sense of wonder and...dread.
Someone had slain Adula, troublesome Glintstone Dragon though she was.
No mere Tarnished could hope to topple that creature-not alone, perhaps not even in a group. It was clever even among its kin, incredibly powerful in its own right, able to fell even giants with ease. And yet by the sudden silence that followed, it had surely been defeated, if not slain outright by an intruder. Who then, possessed the strength for such a feat? Had the Two Fingers sent another assassin for her head? Another baleful shadow to end her life when she least expected it?
Nay. She would not falter here. Not when she was so close.
Her intrigue thusly roused, Ranni rose from her sturdy chair, hopped off the great many books she'd placed there, and paced to the window.
So was she granted sight.
There in the fog betwixt her land and the tower she saw it, a great glowing golden-on-black beast planting a paw upon the fallen dragon's spine. No, not a beast. Fox. The name sprung to her mind. It was a fox. The true size of this monstrosity -and likewise its master's identity- lay hidden in the murk, but she could see that it stood large indeed; larger even than the dragon itself. Easily big enough to pin her guardian as one might some unruly child. As she looked on aghast, those giant jaws snapped down at the guardian beast's prone form...
.
..
...there was no blood.
Rather than take the dragon's head and end its life -as was its right!- the giant fox roared at its captive.
Before her very eyes, the dragon's body sagged beneath its snarl, head dipping in defeat. Or was it submission? Ranni found herself reminded of something she'd once seen in more peaceful times; an era before she'd cast aside the cruel certainty of her flesh for the unknown. She'd seen two hounds fight once in the yard. One had been larger than the other, and yet that same one had let its victim live. Strange.
What use was mercy in this world?
As she looked on the fox let the noble beast up. Ranni knew what would transpire. Such was nature.
True to its very own, the dragon took full advantage. Wicked breath blasted the fox in the face. It recoiled with a pained snarl, then surged forward, barreling through the fire and the flames. Powerful jaws clamped down on the beast's throat as it wrestled the Glinstone Dragon down once more. It showed no mercy and for the perhaps first time in forever, Ranni's nerve failed her. She closed her eye and looked away. An awful crunch filled the air. She heard the dull thud as its corpse struck the ground, felt it rattle her tower once more.
When she looked back, there its broken body lay, plain as day.
With neither word nor warning that golden fox shrank down to assume the likeness of an equally golden human. Body burning brighter than the Erdtree itself, they seemed to set the very mists ablaze. She couldn't see his face from here, nor read his lips, but she saw the respect he gave the dragon. They touched a hand to its flank and the beast's body dissolved into runes. The amount was...not insubstantial. He'd been strong enough already; that would only add to their strength.
Pivoting, they made for the door, with purpose.
Their golden form strode toward the entrance, ripped aside the seal to her tower, and began the ascent. Just like a tale from the old stories Mother read to her as a child; a knight slaying the dragon to rescue the princess fair. But she was no maiden to be rescued. Adula had been tasked with guarding her Rise from unwanted guests and while her death did not pain her as much as some, it was still an embarrassment to see one so mighty laid so low, so...quickly.
Who the devil was this man, and what did he want?
She scurried back to her seat and made herself presentable...while surreptitiously readying her sorcery. If he has come for her life, he will not find her unprepared.
Perhaps if she remained perfectly still, he would not take noticed. Her current body was that of a doll, after all. She had no signs of life within her save her soul, and that was not something one could so easily sense. And if her would-be assailant thought her a mere puppet, a harmless doll to be ignored, all the better. He would lower his guard. Be vulnerable.
There! She heard footsteps.
"Hello?" A low voice called. "Anyone here? Sorry about the dragon, didn't really have a choice...
A young man clad in faded rags stalked up the steps, wearing a tattered cloak with hood furled. His face she could not see-no wait, she told a lie; she could see the lower half of it, whiskered cheeks dimpled in a stern-yet-determined expression but the shadows of the gloom hid the rest.
Ranni felt her mouth go dry. She sensed the power from him. And yet she mustn't move; to do so would give her away.
No Tarnished, this. He had no blessing of Grace about him, but there was strength in his spirit all the same. His eyes passed over her still form, taken in by the ruse. Excellent. He thought her no more than some puppet; with luck he'd just turn right around and let her be.
A ringed black staff tapped the tiles. A mage then? She'd not seen one capable of conjuring a giant beast like that.
There was something...odd about him. A staid boldness that rather reminded her of loyal Blaidd, yet this went well beyond it; he walked right up to her without a care in the world and sat down -actually crossed his legs and dared to sprawl out before her, the lout!- without so much as a care in the world.
He flicked up his hood; exposing sunny blond hair and blue eyes framed by whiskered cheeks; cheeks even now dimpling in a sunny smile.
"That's a pretty neat trick." his voice nearly made her jump. "Woulda worked on anyone else. You can stop pretending now."
Curses, she'd been foiled. Nothing to be gained by playing dead any longer.
"I know not what thy mean, but I bid thee welcome nonetheless," Ranni raised her head to glare at him beneath the brim of her hat. She spoke slowly, the lie coming easily to her. "Thou must have some business in mind to come all this way...though I have no memory of inking thee an invitation. What brings thee here?" Her spell was nearly ready now; his next response would determine his fate. Life or death. "Have thou come to seek my life, as you did mine dragon?"
Oddly enough, those were the words to make him flush; indeed, he looked away to scratch at a whiskered cheek.
"Well, its a bit of a long story...
A tale to tell, then? Good. She could attempt to formulate a plan while he told her his story of woe. No doubt it would be little different from the tales of other Tarnished she'd entertained before. No, she cared not a jot for what he thought. If he'd come here for her, his desires would be requited not.
...I kinda fell outta the sky." a pause now, as he considered his words. "Probably outta my world too; because I'm pretty damn sure we don't have dragons or monsters where I'm from...
"I beg your pardon?"
Ranni's every thought ground to a halt. Her composure, once smooth as the sky and serene as the stars found itself summarily ruffled. Another world? She'd heard tell of lands beyond the fog, many had, but to speak of a different world, nother realm entirely? Curious. Was it a world free of the Two Fingers and the Greater Will? One could but hope.
"Yeah," he muttered, looking strangely put out to that effect. "Seems to be happening to me a lot, lately...
.
..
...reluctantly, Ranni released her gathered mana and steepled her four hands in her lap. Such a curious soul. "I would have your name, stranger."
"Naruto." the young man gave it readily, still leaning upon his staff. "Sorry for droppin' in like this."
On a whim, she told him the truth. "I am the witch, Ranni. A pleasure to meet thee."
A blond brow rose. "Don't look much like a witch to me."
Well, didn't he have a silver tongue. "Whyever not?"
"Witches ain't pretty."
Bold, this one.
"This world of yours," she tilted her head just so, regarding him with her good eye. "Perhaps you would care to tell me of it?
Naruto was more than happy to do so. That faintest of smiles touched her cold lips as the man told his tale.
This exchange of words meant nothing. Not a thing. Nay, not a jot.
She was merely indulging her curiosity. Nothing more.
Ah, how little Ranni knew.
A/N: And there we have it.
Ranni is suuuuuch a tsundere once you get into her question, i.e., find her little doll. Been awhile since I laughed like that.
Well? Did you like this story? Yes? No? Maybe? Speak out! Make yourselves heard! Your voice matters~!
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? POOF! Gone. Completely. I'm working two jobs during the holidays 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.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review, Would You Kindly?
And have some previews.
Granted, some are far off, but still...
(Previews)
"Are you here to serve our lady?"
"Eh, I wouldn't say serve, more like I feel I can't leave her alone, ya know?" Naruto looked out into the mists and scratched his cheek. "Feels like she needs help...and I'm really not a fan of gods, you know?"
Blaidd sat beside him. "Bad experience, I take it?"
Yes!" he flung up his arm, frustration slipping its leash at last. "Her name was Kaguya and she was such a pain to deal with!"
"Take care of Lady Ranni."
"Hey, don't gotta tell me, twice. No worries."
He ripped the knife from his back. "Sorry, but I don't die that easy. Still, you've got my attention. Hope its what you wanted!"
It was not.
"Its so stuffy in here. Why not go for a walk?"
Ranni blinked. "A...walk?"
"Be nice to Blaid, yeah? He's a good dog."
Seluvis seethed. Unacceptable. Utterly unacceptable. He would not stand for this.
Aww, a mini Ranni! How adorable!"
"Unhand me at once, you fool! Forget I said anything! Forget!"
"How would you like a proper body?"
...elaborate. I will not accept a form that leaves me beholden to the Two Fingers."
She chose not to speak of her Ring, or the fragment of her strength she'd left within that would allow her to regain her flesh once she was free of their influence. Nay. Not yet.
"Well, old man Sage left me with a gift." Naruto spread his hands wide. "Creation of All Things. Might take some doing, but I can do it. You'd be just like you are now, but actual flesh. Stronger, too."
...you make an enticing offer."
R&R~!