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Dearth of Gold (Elden Ring X Fairy Tail)

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It probably won't be Ranni, and Miquela is straight out.
Radahn would be fun, but he does not seem like a sneaky sort.
Morgot? Maliketh?
Renala is finally over her asshole of an ex husband and is now looking for love in new places?
Or, completely out of the left field, Placidusax has gotten tired of being dead.
Millicent? :V
 
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08. Ambition Reborn
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    • [] Call out now

    Malenia's eyes narrow in the silence. She can not tell where the other is, but that does not preclude her knowing of her presence.

    "Reveal yourself," she barks into the approaching night, startling both youths.

    "I know you are there, Ranni."

    Nothing happens for a moment. An errant breeze plays with Malenia's crimson mane while she resolutely stares ahead. She will not look over her shoulder, there is no worry in her heart. Three times this being came to observe her, yet never attacked; each time it was under the moon's glow in some form or other. And now it hesitates, not yet fleeing nor approaching.

    "What's going on?" Natsu asks, but Malenia bids him silent with a raised hand.

    Happy slowly hugs his companion's leg, shuddering. Perhaps the cat's animal instincts are sharper still. Lucy seems to catch onto the sudden tension, seeing how she also shuffles closer to Natsu.

    Then the presence solidifies. Where it was fleeting before, it now becomes tangible. Malenia turns a half-step to the right, eyes on her half-sister's form. Pale blue and black whispers around her wiry frame, cloth that one could deem silk but is in truth woven from the moon's light. Her skin is a few shades of blue darker still. A wide-brimmed, pointed hat crowns her head, utterly failing to hide the scarlet locks curling down to the small of her back.

    Ranni's steps are measured, her features almost blank. She seems to glide along the earth, ethereal flowers blooming where her feet meet the ground. They flicker and fade in her wake just as fast. She is just like Malenia remembers. Grace incarnate, hiding fine steel beneath her dainty appearance.

    Malenia straightens up unconciously, looking up to the older demigod. Once upon a time it had been so in truth, now it is merely the fact Ranni stands two heads taller than her. She is a veritable giant in these lands.

    "How presumptious to call upon myself in such a crude manner," Ranni chides, voice smooth as silk. "Who art you to command me, Malenia?"

    Malenia almost snorts in response. She barely swallows it, offering a respectful bow instead. "Crude indeed, though no more so than your callous spying upon my person. I do not recall you ever fearing me."

    Despite her scathing response, Ranni returns a curtsy. A single brow is raised delicately and the faintest huff offered.

    "Indeed, I doth not fear you. Nor am I fool enough to approach a lady of war as formidable as yourself without due caution."

    "I see. So that is why even this body in front of me is but a mirage."

    Ranni's lips twitch, her form growing ever so faintly translucent. Malenia is not surprised, especially after her half-sister just admitted to holding such respect for her prowess. Ranni inclines her head.

    "Quite. Now, I believe introductions wouldst not be amiss?"

    She idly motions toward the pair of youths still gaping at her, to which Malenia nods.

    "Of course. These are Lucy and Natsu, both of the Fairy Tail wizards' guild. Children, pay your respects. You stand before-" "Ranni the witch."

    Now it is for Malenia to arch a brow while Lucy quickly curtsies in turn. Why would the lunar princess refuse to announce herself as such? Perhaps Caria was consumed as well, and so she is princess no longer.

    A pained noise draws her attention back to Natsu, whom Lucy forces into a bow after having kicked his shin.

    "We are honoured to make your acquaintance, madam," she greets Ranni demurely. The fact she still holds Natsu down by the back of his head runs counter to her demeanour, but both demigods take the display with grace and a trace of amusement.

    "Well met, Lucy and Natsu. And Happy as well," Ranni greets the familiar, who waves cheerfully. Meaning that she has been listening in for a while and this was merely for show.

    With introductions out of the way, Malenia's mind returns to the question at hand; she had wondered whether others are in this world. Meeting Ranni confirms that at least some made it here, but not who or how many, nor where they are.

    "Am I the first you found?" she queries her elder sister, whose gaze focusses back on her.

    Ranni folds both hands in front of her, a surprisingly non-threatening display for her prodigious size. "There is much to be done," she counters, "Much like yourself, I spend a fair amount of time learning the arts of these lands. I cast out mine feelers beyond the boundaries, but Earthland is vast. Miquella, I have yet to find."

    The younger woman slumps almost imperceptibly. Of course Ranni would see right through her. She attented court since Malenia was born.

    "I see," she answers softly. "But you will continue to seek?"

    Ranni inclines her head in turn. "I shall. In fact, Malenia, I will offer you an accord."

    The gleam in her eyes is visible even in twilight. Malenia's guard rises promptly as she remembers that, indeed, Ranni played the game of intrigue better than most. She wants something; more to the point, she will dangle knowledge of Miquella as the bait. She well knows that Malenia will hardly refuse where he is concerned.

    "What is it you desire?" she asks anyway. They both understand this is a formality, though Malenia will not let anyone twist her arm.

    "An alliance, plain and simple."

    Ranni's admission comes to some surprise. Malenia expected something more outlandish, although allying with the most prodigious warrior on the planet certainly makes sense. Instead of prompting her for more however, Malenia waits. Ranni will talk of her own volition, sooner or later.

    Unless, of course, Natsu interjects in his endearingly bumbling manner: "So are you, like, friends or something?"

    The lingering tension deflates even more with Lucy's sigh. "Friends do not need to forge an alliance with each other," she lectures. Malenia feels for the girl, having to educate another on even such simple concepts. Lucy shakes her head in the meantime, looking between the two.

    "But if I may ask, where are you from? I already thought Malenia a little unusual, but I never heard of people this tall living in or near Fiore."

    She motions for Ranni, who inclines her head once more. The notion is laughable when considering how tiny Ranni is compared to Radahn, but Malenia understands why Lucy feels such befuddlement.

    Ranni, for her part, seems to agree. "I hail from a distant land by the name of Caria," she explains kindly. "Indeed, thou hast never heard her name spoken in thy life. Bother not to seek her, Lucy. Caria is no more, much like Malenia's own home hath fallen."

    Though clearly aware of Malenia's searching look, Ranni keeps lying through her teeth without any hint that she does. Lucy gasps in real shock, commiserating with the truth added to the lie. "Oh no, I am so sorry to hear that. What happened?"

    "Fire," Malenia offers. Once she reinserted herself into the conversation, she turns to Ranni. "I was not concious enough to truly see how the Haligtree burned. Do you possess any insight?"

    Ranni's expression curls in distaste.

    "That, I do," she confirms. "A Lord arose."

    A pregnant pause is left, even Malenia dumbfounded. She soon understands just what has happened and closes her eyes.

    "I see. I met him."

    "Oh?"

    "Yes. Lesser I may have been that day, wracked by the Rot and without my sight, but besting me was a great feat nonetheless. I refuse to believe another could have claimed the Elden Ring."

    Ranni blinks down at Malenia as she explains. It seems even her knowledge is limited, seeing how surprised she is by the news. A thoughtful noise escapes her throat, the erstwhile princess cradling her cheek.

    "Ordinarily, I wish to calleth such claim preposterous. Yet even in distant dreams, I stood witness to his battle with our lord father. Blaidd carrieth word of Radahn's fall by the same hand. And there were whispers among the lizardkin and serpents, that Rykard had been felled as well. Indeed, tis more probable to be the work of one than of many."

    "One," Malenia agrees. "One with the strength of a Lord."

    They circled around to where they were before. This time she doubts Ranni did it on purpose, though. Her demeanour seems distraught in a sense; Malenia can only guess that it is for Blaidd's absence. She can scarcely remember her own shadow these days, but she well recalls the camraderie that Ranni seemingly lost not long ago.

    "What of the flame?" she prompts, partly for curiousity's sake and in part to get her half-sister back on track.

    Ranni takes a deep breath in response. "The flame of primal frenzy devoured the Erdtree," she explains softly. "Chaos returned to the lands as all was undone. The Golden Order hath fallen. Not even ashes remain. Only those who came to these parts were spared."

    Malenia needs a moment to digest this; Ranni seems to have been concious at the time, unlike herself. Which means that she now knows for certain: either Miquella is in this world, or he is dead. The chance of his presence still persists, what with two out of three Empyreans here. But he was never a fighter; being on his own means he has to depend on the kindness of strangers.

    Then again, Miquella was always the kindest of the demigods. If there is any of them who can keep going in this gentler world, it is him.

    "Okay," Natsu disrupts the silence again with a raised hand, this time curious. "What's that fire about? Can I eat it?"

    Both redheads stare at him in utter befuddlement. Malenia is not certain she heard right, but one look at Ranni's equally stumped expression tells her she must have.

    Lucy sighs and thankfully explains the missing link: "Natsu has fire dragonslayer magic, you see. That means he has sharper senses, is a strong fighter, and he can eat all sorts of fire to replenish his Ethernano."

    "Except his own," Happy joins in cheerfully, "he says it tastes bad."

    "It does!"

    "Be that as it may," Ranni interjects with a certain exasperation, "thou art best advised to avoid the flames of frenzy. They art the aura of an outer god, not the domain of any dragon to overcome. The Lord who arose acted merely as their catalyst, not as their origin or their kindling. Do not presume thineself able to devour an entity beyond thy station."

    There is something unsaid in her final warning, but Malenia can not determine what. She can not recall any such incident, at least not on a scale comparable to the divine. Perhaps it was a matter that occurred right before or after she fell into slumber.

    Lucy frowns by now. She is smart enough to guess that Malenia and Ranni speak around a subject obvious to only the both of them. She is, however, not a seer to divine this context. Nor is she so impolite as to push the matter when the other women clearly do not want to bring it up in front of them.

    "I never heard of actual gods before," Lucy admits a little sheepishly. "I know they exist somewhere, but no one ever talked about meeting one, or even signs of one. Although I guess the Celestial Spirit King counts, considering how old he must be."

    The blondes musings are taken in with interest from both. Ranni takes up the thread with a motion into the distance. "These lands art indeed less connected to the divine. Thus far I encountered but two outer gods; one who seems content to observe Earthland from afar with minor involvement, and one whose gaze rests on select individuals. You would do well to avoid them, Lucy. The matters of divinity hardly concern mere mortals."

    "Moreover," Malenia adds diplomatically, "the designs of outer gods are seldom healthy for those they include."

    The Rot in her gut wrenches as if in agreement, though Malenia knows it is just a coincidence.

    Lucy nods quickly, lesson received. Ranni inclines her head as well, though her attention swiftly returns to Malenia.

    "Interesting," the older redhead muses, leaning in with a thoughtful hum as she studies her half-sister up close. "Now, Malenia, about that alliance I proposed. Art you inclined to entertain the notion?"

    "I am not opposed in the general sense, though you have yet to explain concrete terms."

    Her curt response prompts another hum. Malenia can not shake the feeling that Ranni knows something she does not. Her ethereal gaze seems to point at something else even when she looks straight at Malenia. A devilish intelligence gleams behind those eyes.

    Then they focus back on Malenia.

    "Cooperation, primarily," Ranni offers a moment later. "We art adrift, one as much as the other. I seek to rebuild, away from the suffocating pull of the Two Fingers. To do so however, to create something to last, I need your agreement not to interfere with my designs unduly.

    "There will not be another Shattering."

    The last part is a declaration with almost physical weight behind. The promise of an Empyrean, but also a notion that Malenia can empathise with. War is a means like any other to her, but The Shattering was a mess that can not merely be called a war.

    "And what do you offer in turn?" she prods, well aware Ranni is gauging her willingness to agree.

    The older demigod smirks.

    "As of this moment, my search for others is slow and methodical by necessity," she starts If you findeth yourself agreeable to an alliance however, I will instead focus on locating Miquella. Wherever he may be, if indeed he is, I shall find him in due time."

    Malenia's eyes narrow. It is a generous offer in truth; Ranni knows how close Malenia is to her twin and she clearly bargains with that knowledge. Finding any other demigod is far more difficult than the last Empyrean; just like herself and Ranni, Miquella's presence will be stronger. Ranni is liable to find him either way, the important factor is time.

    "What is it you wish to create?" she questions, partly wary but mainly curious.

    Ranni, in turn, offers her empty palm in a simple gesture. "The dawn of a new age," she declares. "An age wherein the presence of gods is distant, never felt and never met. No fate shall hold the world in its strings again."

    Her words are soft yet full of purpose. More than anything however, they are heresy toward the Golden Order. Malenia is not of them anymore, but even she is taken aback by the brazen declaration.

    More importantly, that goal may put her in direct opposition to Miquella one day. Even if there is no Elden Ring to claim, there can not be two sovereigns.

    And Ranni knows this.

    Can she be trusted with the search for Miquella? Is her respect for Malenia great enough to hold her word?

    Their conversation is unspoken as much as they speak. Understanding passes between them, half-sister to half-sister. Natsu and Lucy look between them, befuddled about the sudden change in subject. Neither has the knowledge to follow at this point, so they keep their silence for the most part. Natsu whispers a question on occasion, which Lucy answers in the same way whenever she can.

    Even though neither of them can comprehend the magnitude of the beings before them, they still feel their non-physical might clash softly. Witch and Warrior, each testing the other for weaknesses.

    The sun has sunk, casting them in shadow. The moon rises in truth now.

    What will Malenia do? Remember whom you are dealing with.

    [] Accept the alliance
    (Ranni will search for Miquella, faster than Malenia ever could)

    [] Refuse the alliance
    -[] Search for Miquella yourself
    -[] Continue your studies and find him through the spread of your reputation

    [] Propose alternate terms
    -[] write-in
    (Malenia will only accept the alliance if Ranni accepts those terms)
     
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Accept the alliance
    I don't trust Mohg to not have shown up as well, the sooner Miquella is found, the sooner Malenia can ensure that perverted freak can't lay his grubby hands on him.
     
    Great portrayal of both characters.

    Though the alliance is a very sweet deal, I would like everyone to remember that Ranni is Ranni. Yes, she is a big tier Elden Ring waifu, but right now we are Malenia and though Ranni likely has no grudge against us, she is not one to care about that when she is scheming.

    Marika and her were the Shattering's catalysts I would like to remind.

    I would take the alliance more to be sure she is around us than having her wondering what kind of scheme she will have to prepare to deal with us eventually.
     
    [X] Refuse the alliance
    [X] Continue your studies and find him through the spread of your reputation

    I don't believe that agreeing with Ranni is a good ideas, considering that:
    1) She is the reason for the Shattering
    2) She is literally the backstabbiest person there ever was.
    We'd do well not to ally ourselves with her
     
    Romancic said:
    [X] Refuse the alliance
    [X] Continue your studies and find him through the spread of your reputation

    I don't believe that agreeing with Ranni is a good ideas, considering that:
    1) She is the reason for the Shattering
    2) She is literally the backstabbiest person there ever was.
    We'd do well not to ally ourselves with her
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    You say that, when he is standing right there. *points at patches*
    Also, having done her questline twice, i'm not seeing it.
    Like, the golden order was not exactly all sunshine and rainbows either, nor were the other demigods excactly the nicest people.
    So while things did go horribly wrong, i don't think we can place the blame solely on Ranni (like, fuck Caelid).
     
    [X] Refuse the alliance
    [X] Continue your studies and find him through the spread of your reputation
     
    Romancic said:
    Dude, she literally used the Black Knifes to kill Godwyn, there's no excuse for that
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    I did not say she is a saint.
    But, outside one death, of a fellow demigod in her fight to free herself from the two fingers, she has not shown herself particularily backstabby.
    She did not cause Caelid, she did not cause Godrick, she did not tell Marika to do whatever she did, or all the other shit that came from demigods fighting each other.
    Her cause was, i think, just, her methods, not necessarily the best, but i honestly don't know how much better she could have done, and neither does anyone else here because we do not have much lore of what the fuckwas going on.
     
    [X] Refuse the alliance
    [X] Continue your studies and find him through the spread of your reputation

    Ranni is cool unless you're part of her family, that is.
     
    Well, part of her family, she seems perfectly cool with her Mom, it's her dads new wife and their kids she has issues with.
     
    Valmond said:
    Her cause was, i think, just, her methods, not necessarily the best, but i honestly don't know how much better she could have done, and neither does anyone else here because we do not have much lore of what the fuckwas going on.
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    Sure, she wanted to free herself from the mantle of an Ethereal and the yoke of two fingers with it, but that doesn't mean that we can just forget nor forgive that she literally doomed whole world for it.
    Besides if we're looking at it from character standpoint, for what reason would Malenia trust Ranni with anything at all??
     
    Romancic said:
    Sure, she wanted to free herself from the mantle of an Ethereal and the yoke of two fingers with it, but that doesn't mean that we can just forget nor forgive that she literally doomed whole world for it.
    Besides if we're looking at it from character standpoint, for what reason would Malenia trust Ranni with anything at all??
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    We don't know how much of what happened was actually her fault, and how much the greater will being complete shits about people suddenly not being obedient puppets.
    Did Ranni doom the world, or did Marika/Two fingers/greater will/Radagon destroy it out of pettyness?
    I don't know.
    As for why Malenia would trust Ranni?
    She is not known for betrayal, yes, she killed Godwyn, but Godwyn was not her ally, nor were they in compact together.
    Ranni is clear in what she wants, and that does not oppose Malenia's wishes, and Ranni is able to help her with what she wants.
     
    Valmond said:
    We don't know how much of what happened was actually her fault, and how much the greater will being complete shits about people suddenly not being obedient puppets.
    I don't know.
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    We do know, actually, due to descriptions of halves of death rune, broken shards of knife and other items.
    It's literally a known fact that Ranni is a very untrustworthy person, and even being allies with her implies various dangerous issues to the future of Malenia and Earthland as a whole
     
    Romancic said:
    We do know, actually, due to descriptions of halves of death rune, broken shards of knife and other items.
    It's literally a known fact that Ranni is a very untrustworthy person, and even being allies with her implies various dangerous issues to the future of Malenia and Earthland as a whole
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    We know lot of detached bits of lore.
    What we do not have is whole lot of context and history of people involved.
     
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