A/N: EDIT: maybe it's time to retire... there's hardly any feedback for this chapter. Or anything Elden Ring related as of late .

Really breaks my spirits, and here I was trying to get back into the groove of things...T_T

I had planned for a double update day, but what's the point if no one cares to read...

Slifer's nearly finished the next chapter for Strings, while Dark is working on Dear Consort Eternal which just leaves Kindness, and the Golden Son to be updated, bringing everything current.

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 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~!

Worry we not, we haven't forgotten Greyoll and Lansseax diving into the Land of Shadows...

"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!

...no."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Didn't hear me the first time, you meddling twink? I do not consent, WE do not accept, and YOU can piss right off!"

...then see the price of your defiance."

~A legend.

Ashes to Ashes

The Roundtable Hold lay in tatters around him.

More than tatters, set ablaze.

Everything was burning.

Naruto could taste it in the air; feel it in coiling deep within his lungs, the smoke choking him, strangling him even as he gazed upon the crackling ruins he'd once proudly called home. Warding one arm before his face, he used the other to wrap a bloodstained handkerchief around his mouth, the better to conserve what little oxygen he could.

It availed him naught.

No matter how strong he was, how powerful he'd grown, he still needed to breathe. The cloth bought him some time, but only just; he had to move while he still could...

.

..

...Wait.

Something was wrong.

He shouldn't be here...or should he?

Hadn't he been somewhere else a moment ago? He was sure he had; if only because he'd doing something before this. Fighting someone. There had been a battle. Hadn't there? It was hard to think, harder still to recall, and hardest yet to remember. But he hadn't been here.

He'd been looking for Latenna and Millicent, hadn't he? Yes, he was sure of it. Rellana was helping him, he'd found Melina, fought Messmer. Spared him, too; because Rellana had been so insisted...

Yes...yes! He remembered!

So why was he back in the Roundtable Hold now? He didn't remember returning here.

It didn't make a lick of sense, unless-

Someone screamed in the burning hold, a pitch cry of pain demanding his attention.

Nevermind that! Move! Now! Had to save them before it was too late! Before everything and everyone burned!

Wading into the flames, he forced himself forward, hissing a little as the hot air scorched his lungs. The flames were intense; unlike anything he'd ever experienced before; he could feel them melting his armor, charring his skin, burning his lungs; his regeneration taxed despite his best efforts to endure.

Skirting around the main table and the molten slag where its weapons once rested, he squinted into the haze,daring to venture deeper into the hold.

Something was calling to him.

No, someone.

Where was everyone?

Surely they'd gotten out in time. Hadn't they?

"Hewg?" he raised his voice and kept his hands to his cheeks, shouting to be heard over the blazing inferno, "Roderika? Rya? Nepheli? Trish?! Greyoll! Lansseax! Anyone! Where are you?"

No answers.

Gritting his teeth, he forged ahead, ignored his rapidly-melting armor and worsening burns. They needed him. Had to save them...

He rounded a corner and found them...

.

..

...what was left of them.

Slashed and burned and broken, their mangled bodies lay before him in ruins.

Horror dawned, but it was too late to save them, even as he knelt to try, he could see that.

No pulse. No heartbeat. They were gone.

His throat closed.

No, no, no...

He looked up and found Rennala nailed to the wall by a web of golden barbs, the largest of which had been thrust clean through her chest, piercing through her very ribs. Her face was frozen in a mask of awful dread, her once lively blue eyes little more than smoldering husks in her skull.

Why? her forlorn expression seemed to say. Why weren't you here? Why didn't you save us?

Naruto whirled away, gripping his head in his hands, hastily averting his eyes.

This wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening. This isn't real!

Rationalizing didn't help; no matter how much he might wish otherwise. The sight had burned itself into his brain. He stumbled past the corpses and found more bodies, ruined and dismembered, their faces frozen and silent horror, burning with yellow flame. But the only one he didn't see was...

.

..

...oh.

Dread choked him.

"Fia!"

He barreled into the next room like a madman, dodging a falling timber as he went, seized the doors and flung them open, all but tearing them free from their hinges in his haste to enter.

An armored man's corpse lay at the foot of Fia's bed, broken and twisted, broken body brimming with black briars.

Who was that? He'd never met them before.

Of Fia herself, he saw nothing; he dared to hope she was long gone, and his unborn children with her.

But as he crossed the threshold, he saw her.

A thin coating of ash covered her hunched body in her burnt black robe, curled protectively inward, hands warding protectively over her stomach. That, at least, she had successfully protected. But she hadn't been able to shield herself from the sword thrust through her chest. The unknown knight had left her there, nailed her to the floor by the blade before before expiring himself.

She was gone.

Dead, taking the twins wit her.

Two children he'd never get to meet; never have a chance to hold...

.

..

...never...

Something shattered deep within in him at the sight. His mouth worked wordlessly for a moment, but no words came. He was left standing, struggling to breathe amidst the fire and smoke, unable to move among the ash even as it continued to spread, creeping in among

Why had this happened?

Why was he being shown this?

He fell to his knees, clutched his head, and hunched inward with a pained cry.

As he screamed everything gave way; the Roundtable Hold, the world, everything around him burned to ash.

And there, above the terrible roaring of the flame, he heard five horrible words:

"THE DEPTHS OF YOUR FOOLISHNESS!"

(.0.0.0.)

"Wake up!"

Something struck him.

His eyes snapped open with a start.

He couldn't see. Everything as a burning blur...!

A sharp cry dragged him from the dregs of his slumber all at once, bringing with it the stabbing sting of pain in his cheek as he jolted upright. He couldn't see straight, couldn't think, couldn't...!

"...!"

Warm lips met his before he could panic further, a searingly passionate kiss that all but swallowed the shout from his lungs before he could muster even the slightest semblance of sound. Someone-a woman judging by the tenor of their voice-was speaking to him but he could scarcely hear her words over the abysmal ringing in his ears.

Then she kissed him again.

Almost immediately, he found himself leaning into her liplock with gusto, frantically flinging both arms around responsible party's waist, desperate to forget what he'd just seen. In his human need, his desperate greed for comfort, he all but pulled them into his lap and held them there, kissing them furiously as his fingers bit down into her flank.

Someone moaned; even half-deaf as he was he recognized the sound. "Calm yourself...!"

His ears popped and sound returned a moment later.

With it, his sleep-blurred vision cleared...

.

..

...oops.

A panting, trembling Melina sat in his lap, wasted and gasping for air. Her good eye was half-lidded, her cheeks flushed, bodice askew, hands clinging to his shoulders for dear life. Belatedly he realized she'd bitten his lip; he could was healing even now, tended to by Kurama, yet pain lingered in his cheek.

Now that the initial burst of panic and passion had faded, he found he could take stock of things.

They'd left Messmer's keep behind and taken refuge in a beautiful field of flowers, as far as the eye could see, dotted by crumbling buildings long since abandoned.

And there in the midst of it all, nestled beside a shard of grace...what was that? It was too small to be a lesser Erdtree, but the nascent sapling within still gave off a gentle golden light all its own. Something about this place felt strangely peaceful...and yet so terribly sad.

His rune ring hummed once. "This place was the beginning...and the end. You should not be here. Please, leave this place. Do not look upon my shame."

Looking down, he frowned. His Great Runes were burning in his chest, glowing like stars.

Well, that wasn't ominous at all...

Frowning, he touched a hand to his cheek. "Did you slap me?"

Kurama breathed a sigh, still somewhat fazed by what they'd seen. "She most certainly did...

"I am sorry." Melina granted him a small smile, but made absolutely no effort to disentangle herself from him. "I had no wish to strike you, but you wouldn't awaken. And once you did...

Radahn's specter drifted in from the corner of his vision. "You were having a nightmare, my friend. Glad we snapped you out of it."

"We?" Melina glowered at him. "You were of little use yourself, Shardbearer."

The general flinched. "I see your tongue is sharp as ever, little sister...

"No thanks to you, foolish oaf of a brother!" her glare redoubled, drawing a flinch from her fellow demigod. "'Tis your fault we are in this predicament in the first place!" she spat at him and jabbed a scarred finger into his transparent chest. "Whatever did you do to bring down Miquella's attention upon us in such a manner?!"

The spectral spirit flung up his hands. "I already told you, I don't know! Mine memories are fuzzy and I cannot remember...

Waitaminute. These two were related? Well, he supposed it made a twisted sort of sense...

Letting them squabble -and ignoring it- he cast his gaze about.

Wait, weren't they missing someone?

He glanced up and found Rellana stood off to one side, fussing over her helmet, hesitant to approach him. He didn't blame her. He must look a sight; probably gave her quite the fright tonight.

Coughing once, he gained her attention and beckoned her over.

The swordswoman's face lit up like the moon itself.

Naruto shifted ever so slightly where he sat, and belatedly felt the weight of the sword she'd given him resting snugly against his back. Memory stirred in the back of his mind, reminding him of the oath he'd inadvertently made, and the accidental...well...matrimony he may have stumbled into...

Right.

Married.

Hooo boy, that was gonna be "fun" to explain to the others.

Rellana, for her part, didn't try to tackle him as she had before. She sat demurely beside him, knees tucked in beneath her, took ahold of his right arm, and tucked it against her side. Unfortunately, -or fortunately as some might say- her arrival put a stop to the demigod's argument in a single breath.

Radahn chuckled and took his chance to fade for the moment, wisely evading the argument that was to come.

Well that he did, too; because Melina sat up in his lap and took ahold of his other arm, her reaming eye stormy. "Ah, yes. You. I'd nearly forgotten. Don't you have somewhere else to be, wench?"

For her part, Renalla's sister lifted her chin and met her glare for glare. "Do not think to make me cower, churl. 'Tis not my fault he chose me as his wife before thee."

Right, should probably head off that argument before it blew out of proportion. "Oi, now, I really didn't choose anyone over anyone...

"He promised me a ring as well."

Rellana tittered falsely. "Did he now? I suppose you'll have to settle for second place."

Melina's smile sharpened and he knew what she would say next. "I could say the same of thee." sneering, she leaned in against him. "I've already laid with my lord. What have the two of you done again? Held hands?" she held up a hand to hide a brittle laugh. "How very bold."

The knight's smile died an ugly death. "Are you actually challenging me...?"

"That sounds like an excellent idea. You could use some humility."

"Ladies, please, this really ain't the time-

They both ignored him and glared daggers at one another.

Annoyed, he grabbed them both by the hair and clonked their heads together.

That bought him a reprieve, if only for a moment.

It was more than enough.

Rearing back, he fixed each of them with a stern glare before they could resume hostilities. "Enough, both of you! Stop fighting! I care about you both, for crying out loud! Now cut out, I swear I'll spank you both!"

Melina clicked her tongue at him. "She'd probably like it!"

Naruto brandished his hand. "Are you volunteering to go first?"

Melina huffed. "No, my lord...

Rellana bowed ger head. "Apologies, dearest one...

They subsided, only for now.

Naruto blew out a sigh.

He could only hope that Milicent and Latenna were having a better time of things than him. He shook his gead, determined to dispel his nightmare.

They would be alright. They had to be. They must.

A shadow swooped down from on high.

It was his only warning.

And then:

WHUMP!

Greyoll crashed down out of the morning sky like a falling star, knees bent, wings flaring out behind her back; Lansseax was only a heartbeat behind, wings tucked in between her shoulders.

Neither looked particularly pleased to see him, much to his chagrin.

Lansseax, at least, granted him a demure nod.

Greyoll, however, wore a petulant frown.

Rellana pursed her lips. "More interruptions? What business do Dragons have with us?"

The self-proclaimed Mother of Dragons ignored her remark, stalked over to them, grabbed him by the armor and hoisted him to his feet without so much as a word, bodily dislodging Melina from his lap and simultaneously ripping him free from Rellana's grasp. She held him there for a moment, whirled to slam him against a nearby tree, leaned down, and savagely smashed her lips against his in a scorching kiss.

He swooned, just for a moment.

Oh, wow, he'd really, really, REALLY missed that...

"There you are!" Breaking for air, the dragoness gave him a good hard shake. "Where have you been?!" Everyone's been worried sick!"

He managed a dazed grin. "Its not like we planned to fall down here, ya know...?"

"Is that so? Was it the gaping hole in the ground? Whatever gave it away?!"

He laughed a little. "You're...kinda hot when you're mad, ya know...

She glowered at him. "Flattery will not save thee, lover."

Frankly, he didn't want to be saved right now...

"No, no, no! I've seen enough!" Rellana bulled in between them before he could get a word in edgewise and find himself ravaged. "Unhand my husband this instant!"

"Husband?" Greyoll met her star evenly, nearly of the same height with her. "This is my mate. By what right do you claim him?"

The knightess made a strangled noise, face draining of all color. "Not you, too. Just how many of you are there?!"

Greyoll grinned. "Dear girl, I'm afraid you'll have to get in line...

The poor woman looked between the three of them, looked to Lansseax, then Melina, followed by Greyoll again. Something sparked in her eyes. In that moment, Naruto knew, he just knew she was about to cause a whole heap of trouble for him. With that in mind, he squirmed out of Greyoll's grasp and tried to calm Rellana down.

No such luck. The second he was free, Lansseax latched onto him, slowing him for a crucial second. Damnit!

He flung up an arm in a last ditch attempt to stop her. "Wait a sec!"

Too late.

Rellana inhaled deeply, red in the face...

.

..

...and unleashed havoc. "He married me first!"

Naruto clapped a hand to his forehead. "Now you've done it...

Silence reigned in the wake of her declaration, but only for a moment.

Greyoll's gaze went slitted. "Did he now?"

All eyes fell upon him once more.

Naruto raised his hands.

No point in knocking them all out, he might as well explain himself as best he could. "I can explain...

Melina tapped her foot and coughed.

He chuckled, scratching the back of his head.

Her tapping intensified tenfold, much to his chagrin.

Oh, dear. "I'm guessin' you want a ring now, then?"

Lansseax sucked in a breath. "A ring?!"

He made the mistake of nodding. "Well, I guess I should take responsibility and all...

Errors were made, and they were his.

Greyoll pounced on him.

"Me first!"

As the insanity continued, his nightmare soon became little more than a bad memory...

Gone, but not forgotten.

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, he would never lose faith in those to whom he gave his trust...

A/N: Aaaand scene.

Next chapter title: Put a Ring on It. Needless to say, its gonna be hilarious.

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!

"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...

x

...what is that thing?"

Hewg offered him the Weapon.

"Its what she asked for. The power to kill a god."

x

"YOU'RE MARRIED?!"

x

"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.

x

"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 ~!