1,610A/N: We're back~!
Every review truly does help, large or small, anything is better than nothing at all.
The more feedback the merrier! It really does help us write these stories faster.
I have a new co-writer by the name of Dark helping me out on a great many older stories; but this one is written entirely by yours truly.
Working long hours-and taking care of my sickly sister-has affected my update schedule. If it weren't for Dark, Dylan, Advent and Siifer helping me, I wouldn't be able to update at all; having a team of co-writers like them, who take pride in their work...well. Its a priceless thing indeed. I truly appreciate them.
As ever, I own no obscure references, silly quotes, themes or memes. They are tributes one and all. I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild wacky world, one word at a time. Many thanks to the reviewer "cmacenka" for offering a massive font of ideas on Warhammer. I'm still relatively new to it, but I'm learning more and more everyday.
We'll keep this note brief. Now, then...
"Ah yes, the beginning of the cult of ramen!
The path paved by fishcakes, the golden river of broth that flows down the dawn,
the noodles that spin a mesmerizing web of promise of warmth...
~Lorgar, Leader of the Word Bearers, also known as the Cult of Ramen.
Kill the Reunion
Something was amiss.
The Emperor could feel it, a stirring at the edge of his consciousness, a ripple in eternity.
Worse, he couldn't quite ascertain the source; despite his best efforts, only that, for once, it didn't stem from the forces of Chaos.
Ordinarily he would've considered that an omen of good fortune, but for the fact that fate was seldom so kind to him these days. The Three had been terribly quiet as of late. Were they preparing for Nurgle's return, or was it some darker force at work? Was it a harbinger of things to come, or merely a portent of change. He know not.
It bothered him more than he cared to admit.
He had grown accustomed to "knowing" as of late; and in knowing, being able to prepare for the future ahead.
Now that knowledge had begun to run dry.
He wasn't sure why.
Troubling.
He possessed vast power and resources aplenty, strength unseen in an age with an army to match, and yet the prospect of venturing forth into the unknown unsettled him deeply.
As they sped back through the Warp to Angron's so-called "home" he allowed his thoughts to drift outward, and in doing so prepare.
Eventually they settled upon the baffling blond that had thrown -and continued to happily throw!- his schemes into disarray.
Naruto.
It was him.
He was the catalyst here.
Nuceria and Colchis had allowed him to learn more of the baffling blond; not merely his mannerisms, but his strategems, his tactics; how he handled conflict and thrived in it, excelled with a ragtag force and utterly overwhelmed all before him. The Orks alone made him dangerous enough -he would personally cull them soon should their numbers grow too large- but his alliance with Isha threatened to make him all the more dangerous.
Would the Aeldari race ally with him?
Unlikely.
His answer came quickly, borne not from arrogance, but tried and true surety.
Calling them one faction was quite impossible these days; their people had not been whole for quite some tome, now.
There were a great many fractured alliances amongst them as he understood it; shattered and disparate, few of which would welcome a human under their banner, least of all one with the eye of their Goddess. Under normal circumstances he himself wouldn't have entertained such an alliance in the first place.
But the boy-no, the young man, calling him otherwise was a disservice to who he was and all he'd done-had an alarming tendency to surprise those those who underestimated him.
And he had, at first. He could freely admit that much in hindsight. When he'd first laid eyes on Naruto Uzumaki he had thought little of him.
Here was one who had saved Angrom from a miserable fate, strong perhaps, but largely irrelevant in the greater scheme of things. His act of kindness would amount to naught in the end. There was no place for peace, and would not be for some time yet.
For now, there was only war...
.
..
...or so he had thought.
Until he surprised him again.
Naruto had a tendency to do that.
His adversaries also had a worrying tendency to wind up as allies or end up dead.
Because he just. Kept. Turning fate on its head!
When was the last time an Ork had listened to a human? Or an Eldar goddess entreated with one?
What was next?! Would Slaanesh swear a vow of chastity?! Would Tzeentch pluck out his eyes?! Would Khorne dedicate himself to peace?!
Such thoughts sounded downright laughable on the surface. Almost as laughable as one of the Four being bested.
Yet had it not been so? The young man had -with great assistance!- laid Nurgle low, burned his garden, and in doing so escaped with his soul intact.
And now he was being worshiped! By a precious few perhaps, but that number would soon grow, and continue to grow, and in tome...
What might he become, given time?
To him, the answer was obvious.
He didn't want to say it.
Words had a way of becoming reality, his more than most.
Still better him than Him.
He did not wish to be worshiped in the first place; he had told those who followed him countless times that he was not, in fact, a god; no matter how much he might resemble one. Yet they still insisted on treating him as such! If he could shunt some of that off onto Angron's guardian, all the better!
A rueful sigh escaped the Emperor as he pinched the broad bridge of his nose.
So many schemes. So many plans. So many ideas.
Everything was proceeding apace -for now!- but as he well knew, the higher one climbed, the further they could fall.
And if that one should fall to Chaos...
.
..
...no. He would not allow it.
In that regard it was terribly tempting to kill Naruto out of hand; to simply eradicate him for the threat he posed, or might yet become, to wipe the board clean once more.
However, that carried inherent risks of its own.
Isha was...fond of the blond; and he of her. The Emperor was not blind to this; indeed, even a blind man could see such. The signs were all there. Her ears perked up whenever the mortal spoke, she was ever looking his way, angling herself towards him to give him her full attention when they were in the same room together. The longing looks, the soft sighs, every possible thing in between.
And the handholding! How scandalous. Truly.
Honestly, it was a miracle she hadn't jumped him the moment he saved her; perhaps that too was a blessing; else they might've had several powerful hybrids crawling around already.
Now wasn't that a worrying-yet-enticing-thought?
Any child of Naruto's would be mighty indeed.
Alarmingly so.
Would that he had daughters instead of sons; he'd just throw a few of them at him and keep the young man occupied. Problem solved.
Alas, life was seldom so simple.
Leaning back in his throne, the Emperor pondered the matter of murder for a moment.
A small, paranoid part of him urged him to do so; surely it wouldn't be that hard.
Naruto might leave him some scars to remember him by, but he would die.
And yet a thorn of rationality snagged his spirit, holding him back.
Wait, common sense cautioned. Think this through.
Say he killed him, then. The moment Uzumaki perished at his hand, Isha would vanish into the Webway and swear vengeance upon his people; something her "little kin" would be all too happy to undertake. With their goddess restored and rapidly regaining her power, they would become a terrible threat. Likewise, those Orcs under Naruto's command would surely revolt, which might even bring the entirety of their race crashing down on his unprepared forces.
Humanity would fight, and fight well, but facing a war on two fronts was not something he wished to inflict upon his people at this time.
Moreover, Angron, Lorgar and even young Magnus would have questions; inquiries that demanded answers.
How would he tell them what he'd done?
Claiming "I killed him because he was a threat" wouldn't go over well, nor could he say he'd simply sent him away to "do his bidding elsewhere". His sons were not fools; they were quite familiar with the blond's psychic signature; they'd notice his absence immediately. Moreover, they were of his blood.
They would know the truth from a lie.
Malcador would likely suggest a more discreet manner of elimination perhaps-and would indeed advocate for Naruto's removal regardless of the cost-but Malcador wasn't here now, was he? He remained on Terra, holding court, maintaining a leash on Mars and Luna, keeping the Empire running in his absence.
It would be a small matter to commune with him despite the distance and ask his advice...
.
..
...and yet...
No, the more the Emperor considered it, the more he began to realize killing Naruto -at this moment in time- would perhaps be...hasty. Reckless, even. After all, had he not guided Angron and Lorgar well? Magnus was also prospering under his watchful eye; he hadn't made any foolish bargains with Tzeentch as a result. That made three sons, shepherded away from what would have been certain disaster.
Shepard.
His Shepard.
Yes, that had a nice ring to it.
He had seen the future; in another world those three would've been champions of Chaos, yet here they promised to be bastions of order, bulwarks against the chaos to come. Once he had been so certain that some of his sons would betray him in the end, for he knew such was inevitable, yet now he found himself wondering if that too might yet be avoided.
Might he do so with the others?
It was...possible, he supposed. The future was clouded at present -given they were traveling at such great speeds through the Warp- but he knew well those who would betray him, and those who would remain staunchly steadfast in their loyalty. As for those who were meant to falter...
He could save them. And in doing so, repurpose them. Deny the Powers.
With no Primarchs to rally behind, the forces of the Warp would be greatly weakened. Nurgle would not return for an age. His timetable could be accelerated. Now was the time to strike, to rally, to build up his forces, forge alliances, and take planets. Terra would survive and thrive under Malcador's watchful eye, but in the meantime...Luna and Mars would have to survive on their own.
He was a being of his word. He would honor it. For now.
Surely they would be fine.
Wouldn't they?
(.0.0.0.)
She strained against Her cage. She raged at the bars which held Her. She howled in Her most righteous fury.
She was no mere Dragon! She would not be contained! She would be free!
One of Her shackles shattered.
She roared in triumph.
SOON!
(.0.0.0.)
Nuceria had prospered in his absence.
Naruto could sense the abundance of life from orbit, a burning beacon in the back of his brain.
Noticing it warmed his heart; akin to that of a gardener watering their trees, leaving for a few days, and returning to find a flourishing forest.
It was...not an inadequate comparison.
By the time the Emperor's flagship broke orbit and descended to the world below, he could contain his impatience no longer; he found himself bounding out of his flight chair, stalking to the entrance, opening the ramp -it was surprisingly simple- and bounding down it to have a look for himself long before the craft could land. Wind lashed at him and he heard his Orcs laugh in the background, wondering if he was going to fling himself down to the city below.
He didn't care; because you see, his impatience had been rewarded.
Truly, the planet was much changed since his last visit; its buildings had been much improved, the roads paved, the damage from the conquering of the planet undone. Nor did the changes -or rather alterations- end there either. As he looked past the city limits he found himself startled by the sea of green beyond; flora had flowered and trees grown; he could see signs of new life everywhere he looked. Not just in the terrain, but the people themselves. They looked happier. Healthier. Light had come back to their eyes.
All this in scarcely a week.
With his superior senses he could see their faces looking up, hear their cheers, taste the awe in the air. Fists rose. Weapons rattled in greeting. Men, women, and children called his name.
The very planet itself was welcoming him home .
It felt...good.
And then Thresh poked her chin down over his shoulder, distracting him. Her cheek brushed his innocently, eyes wide as she surveyed their surroundings below. Seemed she was keen on the green. "Pretty...
Naruto tutted and raised his voice to be heard over the wind. "Go sit down. You wouldn't survive a fall from this height."
The Orc Maid granted him a toothy grin, tusks showing in a rare moment of impudence. "But Mastah would."
"Mastah might." he drawled back in the same tone. "You won't."
Her eyes twinkled. "Mastah would catch me."
A muscle jumped in his jaw. "Thresh."
"Yes, Mastah?"
He cocked a open palm with intent. "Sit, or you won't be able to sit for a week."
That shooed the maid back to her seat with a haste-filled squeak, much to the amusement of One Eye and her comrades.
In her absence, Lorgar sidled up to him instead, quietly curious as he looked down upon -not like that!- the cheering populace with reverent awe. Naruto allowed it. He was a Primarch, after all, and built of far sterner stuff than any Orc. Kid could probably survive getting stomped on by one of those walking-cathedral-thingies Big E had mentioned.
He'd like to see one of those, someday.
Really, how scary could a walking church be?
They subsided in silence for awhile, neither speaking.
At length, Lorgar broke the peace. "My brother lives here?"
He sounded so small when he said it; so frail. Naruto couldn't help but take pity on him and drape an arm around his shoulders. Yes, Lorgar could fight when pressed, and could fight well, but in many ways he was still a child, and his life on Colchis hadn't been a pleasant one prior to the arrival of Big E.
Was it too late to go back and glass that planet? They'd cleansed it to be sure, but he found himself hankering for...violence.
Now it was Kurama's turn to chide him. "Naruto, no."
"Naruto, yes!
"Go right ahead, then. Feed Khorne with more slaughter. He'd probably love the death of a planet.
...blast, but he really did have a point there. Bastard was still riding high after the last slaughter. He'd been curiously silent since then, too. No need to feed him further. Despite his distaste, he'd wind up doing so further down the line. Sometimes, like it or not, violence was the only solution, both question and answer alike.
"Father?" Lorgar's voice cut through the haze thought, "Who are you talking to...?"
Urk. Right in the feels. He still hadn't grown grow used to that.
He whistled innocently to ward him off. "Just Kurama."
The boy's face lit up. "I see! He must be your divine apostle, then? Does he also enjoy the holy truth of Ramen?"
Kurama made a wheezing noise. "Excuse you?!"
Gotta watch that...
"Sure, why not." rather than retort in his partner's defense, he drew his arm back and patted the boy's bald head. "Anyway, you'll like Angron. He's got a stout heart."
The self-proclaimed prophet looked like he wanted to ask more questions, but in the end, his own eagerness won the day anew. "You said he's a Warrior."
"Paladin, more like. Also an Empath." he supplied a the boy's curious expression. "Trust me, you'll be fast friends in no time. And then there's Isha; she might mother you a bit...
Lorgar's gaze watered, and not entirely from the wind. "I think I should like that."
In a rare moment of realization, Naruto wisely chose not to comment on it.
Just as every child earned a father, so too did they deserve a mother.
Thankfully the Emperor's craft delivered them swiftly to the city below; 'ol Big E probably knew he was eager to be home.
Naruto departed with all due haste before the vessel fully settled, leading Lorgar and the orcs after him.
He walked into a wall of sound.
In his eagerness to depart, he hadn't quite considered the crowds; the noise, the sheer rush of positive emotions. Everything hit him all at once. It staggered him for a moment before he righted himself - without thinking he reacted accordingly. A hand rose instinctively to wave and that soon proved a mistake; because the joyous voices immediately redoubled, threatening to deafen him on the spot. He caught glimpses of Angron's legion among the people, steadfastly holding them back and preventing him from being swarmed
Lorgar looked about, eyes terribly wide, wearing a frail smile. He rather looked like a champion himself, despite his age.
Tentatively, he raised his mace into the air and shouted.
The people of Nuceria ate it right up.
Almost made him laugh, it did.
Pure boy. Must protect.
"Now, now," a soft-yet-powerful voice cut through the cheers. "Let us give our conquering heroes a moment to collect themselves, shall we...?"
It was as though someone had flicked a switch; the people parted like the sea at low tide.
And she emerged.
Naruto pivoted, saw Isha, and froze. In fairness, he'd sensed the Mother Goddess long before he saw her; it was impossible to miss her; she burned like a beacon in his mind, brighter than ever before. She looked radiant. Already she'd been recovering when he last left her but now...?
His eyes went wide. His throat, dry. In conclusion? His brain fizzled.
Her smile most assuredly did not; it outshone the very sun.
Isha launched herself at him with a laugh. "Darling~!"
Ever been tackled by a goddess before? Naruto had. He was given all of an instant to comprehend the joy in her eyes, how incredibly close she'd gotten, then she was upon him; wearing that radiant smile, wrapping him up into her arms, dragging his face into her bosom with a delighted cry.
Gasping, he pried himself free before she could smother him between her breasts.
He got all of a single breath in before she promptly pressed her lips to his, leaving him reeling all over again for an entirely different reason. It was bliss. He melted into her, drew her close, arms linking around her hips even as her own lazily looped 'round his neck, urging him closer, to kiss her deeper, drawing a delighted noise from her as he did-
The Emperor harrumphed behind them, having disembarked at some point in the frenzy. "Must you conduct such an unsightly display...?"
Naruto broke for air, flabbergasted by his behavior. "Quiet, you! Haven't you ever been in love?!"
Surprisingly, that made him clam up; he had a feeling he'd pay for that one later.
Well worth it for the look on his face, though.
Isha, however, hummed. "Love, hmm?"
"Hey, now wait a sec-ack?!
Too late, she was on him again and he found himself delightfully distracted by her lips and her hips pressing into him. He had missed her; missed her more than words, more than he could ever say. Did that make him weak? If so, too bad. Distantly he heard the crowd whoop and cheer for them both, but he barely noticed-he was too busy drinking Isha in, holding her tight. He didn't want to let go, not ever. Thankfully, she seemed just as eager, practically clutching at him. Had she missed that much, too...?
Lorgar coughed tentatively into a fist. "Is that her, Father?"
Ooops.
Flushing, he broke free and coughed into a fist. "Ahem! Yes, well, this is Isha. Sorry about that...
The Goddess perked up, suddenly very interested in the young Primarch. "And you must be Lorgar...
The poor boy froze like a deer in the spotlight.
...aren't you just precious? Would you like a hug?"
The lad sputtered. "That won't be necessary-
"Nonsense! Come here at once.
Naruto wisely stepped back, abandoning him to his fate.
Errors were made. Because the moment he did-
"FATHER!"
Angron -and his shout!- broke through the crowd and struck him like a meteor; which was to say he was moving very fast and with a lot of momentum; so much so that he nearly flattened him outright. Even then the sheer force of his arrival threw him back and forced him to brace his feet or be bowled over completely.
"Okay, okay!" he fended off his first son's crushing embrace with a pained laugh. "Happy to see me! I get it! Can everyone please stop trying to tackle me to death?!"
"Hrrm." Angron grunted instead, sizing him up. "You've gotten taller. I approve."
Naruto blinked, completely utterly baffled. "I have?"
"Indeed you have!" The Paladin boomed, clapping him on the back. "Can you not see it?"
Isha was smiling. She knew something...
She wasn't quite so tall as he remembered either. Had she shrunk...?
"He's grown since we last saw one another. In more ways than one."
Yup. Settled it. She wasn't telling.
He tried to ask, but she pivoted away from him to regard the leader of his unlikely legion instead. "Thresh, there you are. How was your trip?"
The maid beamed. "We had us a right propa krump we dids."
Isha hummed, ears wiggling with amusement. "So it would seem...and now there are more of you."
"Yup! Lots more! We also found da big guy's brudda!"
Before she could find a moment to elucidate further, Angron rounded on Lorgar.
The two sized one another up.
"Brother...?"
Lorgar eyed Angron warily, anxiously hopeful in return. "Hello, Brother...?"
Angron offered him his palm in return. "Well, don't just stand there, then! Put 'er there!"
To his credit, Lorgar faltered for all of a moment; then he clasped his hand.
Angron promptly drew him into a crushing embrace.
What a relief it was.
Naruto released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "All's well that ends well, I guess? We didn't miss anything important, then?"
Isha turned her gaze skywards with a rueful sigh. "About that, my beloved champion...
Naruto followed her gaze, not quite comprehending at first; until he finally did. "Oh. When did that get there...?"
Belatedly, he realized why Big E had been so grumpy since their return.
Because, you see, there was a large vessel visible between the clouds-no, from orbit itself. How was it that big...?
When next she spoke, Isha's smile was decidedly strained; didn't take much to see why.
...my little kin made contact just this morning, I'm afraid."
The Eldar had arrived.
A/N: SURPRISE.
We'll see young Magnus -via projection just as before- next chapter. There's a reason he was mentioned but not seen in this one. Same with poor Talia. Isha's maid minion is not forgotten.
DEFINITELY gonna need help writing the Aeldari, -anybody?! Please?!- but here we go, the first Craftworld has arrived.
Only question is...
.
..
...which one?
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas... ...Review, Would You Kindly?
Here, have some previews. Lemme know what you think!
And as ever: Possible spoilers! Seriously!
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
SPOILERS AWAIT AHEAD!
YOU WERE WARNED~!
(Previews!)
Lorgar balked. "I have another brother?!"
Naruro didn't miss a beat and kept walking, accidentally forcing him to keep pace. "Oh, right forgot about him...projections are pretty handy, aren't they? Say hullo, Magnus."
The psyker beamed.
"Hello~!"
x
Angron seemed to have settled into his role as Primarch of his legion as well, he seemed more confident in himself, more
x
"Listen, runt. If my buddy doesn't wake up by the time I'm done with those goons...
...neither will you...
x
"I cannot see your death. Why?"
Been there. Done that. Guess what? IT TICKLED."
x
"Very well!" Rocking back on his heels, he turned his head and spat out a bloody tooth. "I acknowledge your strength."
With a grunt, he reached up and donned his helmet. Red eyes blazed from within.
...you're about to wish I hadn't."
x
"...Stop it. Just stop it, Fulgrim. Get some help. You're better than this."
"But I wanted it to be perfect-
"No buts!" the wooden club thumped him over the head again. "Perfection is a lie! Now fix your legion or so help me I will FIX you!"
x
EDIT: Obligatory Tea Common Shark reference here. If you know, you know.
A shadow fell over him.
The Primarch looked up, squinting into the son
That proved a mistake. Too late, he spied a spot of darkness.
Was that a bird? Or a vehicular craft of some sort? No, wait...it was...
His brow furrowed in absolute disbelief. "What in the Emperor's name...?!"
A singular shout was all the warning he received as they broke the atmosphere. "DYNAMI RE-ENTRYYYYYYYYYYY!"
He had time enough to brace himself; then a roaring Naruto Uzumaki drop-kicked him into the ground and everything exploded.
x
He offered him his hand. "Friends, then?"
Horus clasped it. "So may it be."
x
Mortarian stared at his offered hand for a long moment, considering him.
Then he slapped it aside. "I neither need nor want your help.
"Wasn't asking!"
x
So which one of you is Alpharius and which is Omegon? Which is which?
One of them grinned in their disguise. "I am Alpharius."
"I am also Alpharius." said the second.
He twitched. "For cryin' out loud...
"Of course, I too am-
"STOP THAT!"
x
"Repent."
His victim writhed in agony.
"Repent," he intoned, "And you shall be spared."
x
"If something's bothering you, then say it. I'm not a mind reader."
Perturabo glared sullenly at the blond's back.
Naruto chuckled.
"You're fine just the way you are." Much to his mounting annoyance, the blond didn't look away from what he was constructing. "Ain't nothing wrong with wanting to build stuff, ya know?" as he looked on, he settled the wooden beam over his head, affixed it in place, and hammered another nail in. "Be your best self."
Perturabo physically flinched. How long had he waited to hear those words?
Praise. Recognition. Acknowledgment. "Say that again."
"I'll say it as many times as you need!"
"The things I made," The Primarch choked on the words, brittle like broken glass in his throat. "Nobody wanted them."
"Well, I wanna see 'em. Why don't you show me?"
x
Vulkan gave him the greatest hug he'd ever experienced.
"Ouch! My spine! Let me breathe!"
x
"We are the Interex. Greetings, my lord. We have been waiting to meet you for quite some time...
R ~!