Royalty

by Nasha Rei-Kun

Lineage was a big part of Etheria and Naruto Uzumaki was forced into making one of his own. To protect his comrades, his friends, his family, and even people like Shadow Weaver and Hordak. Adora and Catra had a big part in it, too, despite all the pain and trials they'd go through. They were a big part of his 'royalty', in the end.

6. Year Long IV

~NRK~

Naruto kept his eyes closed as he tried to stay as far away from Catra in the waters as possible.

No such luck as she leaned back in her stone seat and kicked her feet up onto his knees, sitting horizontally a bit away, raising his hopes and then doing this shit.

Adora blushed beside Frosta, looking embarrassed as she peeked at the smug-looking Catra.

"Hmm, this looks like fun," Frosta wondered in awe as Catty giggled while Rogelio smirked. "Mmmm…"

"I-It's definitely not as fun for Naruto as it can seem," Kyle said with a nervous blush as Lonnie snickered. "But it's typical for them," he whispered.

Frosta was intrigued.

~NRK~

The next two weeks saw nothing other than resting, training, eating, searching, and purifying.

Like right now, watching Naruto transform to quickly purify the area before turning back was curious.

"How are you feeling?" Adora asked him, her and Rogelio the two who followed the blonde that day. "Sage Mode back to normal?"

"Eh, it feels like it's changed," Naruto said as he walked back over, the spreading of grassy zones a familiar sight by this point. "Considering that I keep leaving these kinds of zones around, I think we can all agree on that," he added as green grass and golden sunlight began to spread to a point.

"It's so far," Adora said with a hum, following the spreading light up into the sky to their moon's glows. 'Why are even the moons affected?' Or was there something else up there?

The golden light didn't… She felt like it was matching with the moons but there was a difference.

What could it be?

~NRK~

Returning in four days, leaving them with one week left in the Land of Snows, Naruto, Adora, and Rogelio nodded to a couple guards that received them and their rider.

Heading off further into the icy castle, Adora rolled her shoulders as her sword glinted a bit.

"Any breakthroughs?" Naruto asked her as she hummed.

"Well… Only a couple ideas. I think… I-I think I should find out how deep this sword takes its effects," she told him, confusing the blonde while Rogelio nodded. "I… It affected me," Adora reminded him, one hand's fingers touching the marks now around her eyes. "But I don't know what this means. Am I now capable of shadow magic? I've tried without the sword and nothing has happened but… The point is, I'm just curious about how this will work."

The winged fox hummed. "Well, we're here, obviously," he grinned as she smiled

Getting back to their shared rooms, they entered the girls' room to find the other half of their team there along with Catty.

"Hey, Adora," Catra said as she finished her push-ups, Catty getting off her back, while Kyle read riding manuals for the Hinter Bears. "Sup, Lio, Naruto."

"Hey," Adora greeted the others as they put their things down and came over to sit on a series of mattresses on the ground. "So, anything new in the past four days?"

"Well, the Ice Princess finally learned a new skill," Catra said as she sat up, Catty floating in the air above her. "She used Naruto's spell book and summoned her own spirit. Little thing that looks like a diamond of ice," she explained while pinching her fingers together. "Really tiny."

"He's just compact!" The familiar girl grinned before gliding over to Naruto and sitting on his shoulders. "What about you, dad? Did ya find out anything cool?"

"Well, so far? Just more of the same. Those zones I make just seem to work on their own, ya know? Magic from outside is slowly filtered into the magic inside… Or, really, it's changing its nature," Naruto chose those words specifically.

He had a feeling there were some of his shinobi skills at play here. It only made sense when he considered the areas simply didn't vanish and yet the energy of outside and inside of them were so similar.

"What about the dragon?" Kyle asked, looking up from his studies. "There's no way it just disappeared. You said that the spider was back to normal, too, and that it left before you fell unconscious."

"I know, I just don't get it. I can feel its purified energy but it's all over the first green zone I made."

Rogelio nodded, tapping his nose before crossing his arms with a shake of the head.

"Lio's not able to differentiate, either," Adora hummed. "It doesn't make sense, it's clearly there but they can't find it."

"Well, I hope it doesn't explode on us," Lonnie grunted as Scorpia kept on sleeping. "So, the coming week is it, ya know? We've gotta leave. We're supposed to meet our pilot back at our original 'base' spot."

"And Scorpia's been pretty out of it due to the cold," Kyle added with a concerned look. "I mean, she's clearly alive and not sick, I guess the cold really isn't nice to her."

"Seems about right," Catra shrugged. "Well, I guess what we should really be thinking about is what to tell Shadow Weaver and Lord Hordak," she threw out there with a frown. "We need to explain things."

Naruto nodded. "Well, um, we can just say the Princess handled the situation with it… But we need to tell them about the dragon," he frowned deeply. "If that thing is gonna come at us in complete form, we can't be caught unaware."

Adora nodded. "We know what we want to do after we get back but we still don't know when things will happen. Finding Mystacor, Chackles's attack, getting strong enough to fend it off, the time to go and find the Princesses, and more. At present, guys, we don't know anything."

They stewed on that for a bit, Kyle considering something.

"... What if…" He began slowly, gaining their attention. "Right now, the biggest thing we're dealing with is getting Naruto back up to 100%. We need him to be at full power and nothing can come before that. The more time we spend not getting strong enough, the more time Chackles has to attack us when we're not ready."

"So, we need to go and find Mystacor ASAP," Lonnie said before blinking at Kyle's shake of the head. "Huh?"

"No… I-I think what we need to do… Is to split up our team," he said, alarming them. "Look at what happened with the dragon. Think about it, what exactly were most of us able to contribute when Naruto was fighting that thing?"

All of the others sans Naruto and Catty flinched.

"I-I know! I don't want our team split up either, it's just…"

"We were damn near useless," Lonnie said with crossed arms and no hesitation. "Kyle's right, at present, what exactly do we offer to Naruto that he can't do himself."

"Lonnie… I don't-" Naruto began.

"We know, ya idiot," she grinned kindly. "But Kyle's got a point. Right now, we need to be more prepared for this whole situation. We can't just do nothing while you three are fighting for your lives."

Catra's tail wilted a bit as she looked away from Lonnie's sigh. "I… I'm sorry," she admitted.

The black young woman was surprised but that reaffirmed her position. "Thanks, we get it. There was both good and bad, Catra, that came out of you doing what ya did… And we literally had no hand in helping."

Catra winced again. 'It's true,' her mind said.

But, even deeper down, they were her team. How could she accept separating from her friends-

Her eyes widened as she blushed some more, grumbling.

Adora frowned before sighing. "What are… W-What are you guys implying?" She asked, not hurt but worried.

"You know how we originally began taking on different tasks, right?" Kyle smiled as Naruto nodded. "We think it's time to fully throw ourselves into those things."

"I can offer insight into making new weapons against the dragon," Lonnie said with a pat of a hand on a notebook. "Naruto's account, calculatin' his strength, the dragon's feats, all of it. I want to help and that requires several things. I'm gonna see if I can't find some First Ones Tech."

"W-What?" Adora asked in shock.

"We all know how powerful that kinda stuff is and we do have teams looking for that stuff… And I know, I don't want 'em getting too much advantage but it'd help a lot."

"..." She understood.

Really, Adora did. Wanting to keep up had been the whole reason she was trying to learn the ins and outs of her power, wasn it?

Could she really be sad about them feeling the same way and trying to fix it?

"Rogelio is our medtech," Kyle explained. "He's also got some of that goop in vials. If he can learn more about it, he might be able to teach us some things about it."

Naruto considered that before nodding. "I understand. What about you, Kyle?" He asked with a smile as Kyle reciprocated.

"Did you know you guys can choose a pilot as your personal pilot?" He told them, surprising Naruto while Catra and Adora nodded. "That. Going at the speed I had been, we might not have been able to do it in a year but I can focus for the rest of it to gain my registration. Most teams have a head pilot."

Catty looked around with a pout and a small whine, Naruto's hand rubbing her back as he grinned.

"I get it," he admitted. "I'd love for all of us to stick it through but I know we all have our own ways of helping," Naruto closed his eyes with a nod. "Alright. In that time, me, Catra, and Adora will find Mystacor."

"That's what we can hope for," Lonnie grinned. "And, without us occupying you guys' heads, you can focus on your magic stuff and combat."

Catra fiddled with her tail. 'Them, you mean,' she didn't have magic stuff to use.

She was the odd one out… Catra's eyes narrowed at a thought.

Adora frowned, expression twitching into a somber one before she sighed. "The next eight months?" She asked weakly.

She loved her team. They were special to her, in so many ways.

And now they wanted to separate? She… Adora understood the logic but she just couldn't fathom it… Like, emotionally.

"I-I understand."

"Adora…" Kyle said softly as their blonde female Captain looked down. "W-We can still meet up! I'm sure, it's not like we'll always be away from base."

"Kyle's right," Lonnie grinned. "Looking for First Ones Tech isn't some always happening endeavor. Usually, they come and go every month with a week of rest between. I'll have time to visit."

Rogelio nodded, showing his notepad.

I might end up on trips for medicinal chemicals but I should always be at the base.

"S-Same, I mean, I'll likely be out every other week but I'll be here for the rest!" Kyle reassured them. "This is our way to keep up, we want to help our leaders and team to be the best."

Naruto smiled.

Catra frowned somberly.

And Adora sighed sadly. "O… O-Okay, I get it," she didn't want to.

She really didn't want to but she understood.

"So, when we do meet," Naruto grinned with a snicker. "We'll treat you guys to a feast!" He declared as the entire group looked at him in surprise.

Kyle swallowed at the thought while Rogelio chuckled and Lonnie grinned hungrily.

"I-I guess!"

"Hmph."

"YES!"

Naruto chuckled as Catra stared at him in shock and then some, really a TINY BIT, of admiration.

'I didn't think about that,' not that she wouldn't want to celebrate with her team but she was still kind of reeling. 'Emotionally mature, huh? Blue's right.'

The guard had spoken to them on occasion with his own observations of the blonde.

How he handled the conflicts, worries, and even Frosta. The man had been very specific about that.

---

"Naruto seems very intelligent, emotionally," the man smiled. "I don't know how this young man could ascertain so much wisdom but he's truly the kind of inspiration Frosta needed. He helped her so easily I'm surprised he didn't already have a kid," Blue laughed.

---

Catra's cheeks reddened as she looked down, hair hiding most of it. 'Naruto's a good dad, huh?' Her eyes snuck a look at the grinning blonde talking animatedly to the others, his hand rubbing Catty's back unconsciously. "... Maybe," she whispered.

~NRK~

Sitting back in the waters of the communal baths, Naruto was prepared this time.

Mostly because there weren't any 'surprises' he had to worry about… Hopefully.

So, there he sat, eyes closed while relaxing in the hot water.

"Hmm," he let out a breath of satisfaction while Kyle chuckled embarrassedly, also dipping into the water with closed eyes.

Rogelio just hummed, leaning over the edge on his arms and seemingly asleep.

"Enjoying the water, guys?" Frosta grinned as she sunk in up to her shoulders, looking at peace. "Mmm~."

"I am, over here," Naruto said with still closed eyes, Catra's smugness not seen but felt. "I'm feeling evil intentions all of a sudden."

"You're seeing things," the young cat woman smirked.

"Not from this angle."

"Oh, you know math."

"Not on anyone's life," Naruto admitted as she snorted while Frosta giggled. "So, it's gonna be a while before we, or me, really, see you again, Frosta. I know you've got this."

The Princess blushed before muttering. "S-So, you're coming back?" She asked.

"Yep. It might not be a lot but remember, the headspace," he tapped on his noggin as she perked up. "You can reach me here… Or, wait, um… Just keep doing that serious meditation I taught you, trust me, it's gonna help a lot."

"Oh, right, you've got a Princess Zone," Lonnie snickered as Rogelio laughed. "So, how's it feel? Is it like you guys mixing up senses? Because I can't imagine how that works."

"It's like being in a big pool!" Frosta said in awe as Naruto chuckled. "And we could see each other and their Runestones," she said. "I've only met most of the other Princesses once a-at the previous Princess Ball."

"Wait, right, you said something about that," Naruto blinked. "The heck is that?"

Catra raised a brow at that while Adora hummed.

And all words came to a stop as a familiar scorpion woman arrived.

Scorpia grinned. "Duh, it's a big ball for Princesses," she continued smiling as she walked on over.

Naruto's eyebrows twitched as they opened the slightest bit-

"My God," he wheezed before facepalming.

Lonnie whistled in utter disbelief before laughing at Naruto's 'observations'.

Adora gawked in shock and astonishment. 'They're huge!' Who carried those things on their chest and acted normal?!

Catra snickered with a red face while Rogelio didn't turn around with a grunt as Kyle blinked once-

"Eep?!" He sunk into the waters in an instant before turning around in blushing horror. "No… T-That's just obscene," Kyle burned up.

"Oh, that's nice," Scorpia smiled as she descended into the waters, tail covered in fluffy towels. "So, yeah, it's for Princesses and stuff."

"H-How… Ahem," Naruto sat up with clenched eyes. "S-So, you know…?"

"Yep, I mean, I've gotten the invitation twice. Once when I was a baby and another when I was 11."

"Wait, you're a Princess?!" Kyle choked as Rogelio hummed. "I… I what?" He asked.

Scorpia was a bit surprised by how well they were taking it. "Um… You guys don't have an issue with it, right?" She asked nervously, tapping her pincers together. "Most people who know usually don't take to it too well, h-hehe?"

Adora blinked at that, thrown out of her bust-madness-induced reverie to shoot Scorpia a look. "Um, what? Look, you're on our side… It doesn't mean much to us, you're not dangerous."

"Actually, now that you said it out loud," Catra began, the real meaning behind it translated differently to the others. "So, what? You can use magic?" She asked.

Scorpia blushed before grinning sheepishly. "Yeah… Um, well, not really?" She tilted her head. "The thing is, from what I knew before the Horde came, all Princesses can use the magic of their most valuable energy source but that doesn't mean that they're capable of regular magic."

Naruto blinked-DAMMIT!

He groaned into the waters. "W-What do ya mean?" The fox asked, wings folded but now sporting some ruffled feathers.

"Well, think of it like Adora's sword."

"Oh," Kyle realized as Lonnie hummed. "So… That feels kind of…" He wore a nervous smile as Scorpia nodded.

"It's a bit flimsy of an excuse but it's basically the deal. I know there are 'Princesses'," she waved her claws. "... Um, air-quotes!" Scorpia said quickly as Catra snickered. "So, 'Princesses', quote-unquote, who are called that but don't really follow the same rules."

"Wait, why?" Catra blinked, amusement cut into confusion. "I don't… What?"

"Well, um, Peekablue, remember? He's a Princess… Prince," Frosta reminded them.

"So, he doesn't have a big old gem or stuff?"

"Nope. Him and Sweetpea are considered Prince and Princess but they don't have a Runestone."

Wait, so how flimsy was this title?!

"Oh yeah, it's kinda weird," Scorpia admitted. "The thing is, people like them do have some kind of special trait. I think there was a trio of Princesses, maybe, called the 'Star… Sisters'?" She asked.

And all eyebrows raised at Frosta's huff and pout.

"Um," Kyle did his best to focus only on the small girl. "Wait, do you not know about them?"

"I know them… They're just stupid," Frosta muttered as Naruto perked up before ruffling her hair with an extendo arm. "Mmmm…" She pouted some more before sighing. "We're not exactly friends, they caused a super-annoying political issue a bit back when they were at the height of their power."

"?"

"The thing is, like I said, there's always something special about the people with the title," Scorpia reminded him as Kyle tilted his head. "So, like, if I'm remembering right the Star Sisters are called that because they're powered by the stars' alignment."

"Yeah and t-they're so stupid!" Frosta growled as Naruto chuckled. "They visited one day last year and made a mess!"

"Alright, alright, what happened?" The amused fox asked.

"Ohhhh! They're so annoying, Naruto! One of them said 'Frosta, why don't you rearrange some of this ice?', 'Frosta, you should totally make some of these glow a special color, you're a Princess, come on', 'Frosta, why don't you let US redecorate your castle with star motifs? We can spruce it up a bit', they're so annoying!"

"... Alright, I kinda get it," he said, ruffling her hair some more. "I take it these gals aren't too… aware?" Naruto tried.

"The Star Sisters are kinda all about themselves," Scorpia grinned nervously as Lonnie rolled her eyes.

"Lord, you're trying to tell me they're full of it?" She asked.

"... Yes."

"No wonder."

"Yeah! If they could stop looking at their reflections for once in their lives, it'd be nice," Frosta huffed.

Catra tilted her head. 'So, all the people with the titles have special abilities…' Curious. "Wait, so, they're all like that on their own?"

"Yeah."

Well, there went that idea. "Well, glad to know who to not get along with."

"You're doing my kingdom a favor," Frosta whined as the others chuckled.

Adora hummed at that. 'So, wait, now that I think about it?' They'd never been informed about a couple of these Princesses.

Had Hordak not known? Or were they not informed yet.

"Ah, it's fine, you guys just didn't get all the info yet," Scorpia told her and Adora rubbed the back of her head with a sheepish smile. "The thing is, the Horde just doesn't care about it so…" She whispered with a worried look at the pouting Frosta listening to Naruto.

'What?' Adora blinked at her before assuming a normal expression. '... Does… Does Scorpia not agree with the Horde?' She wanted to assume so but the woman had to have been on missions before, right?

Why not defect… Unless she hadn't known.

It made her curious and hopeful?

Possibly, Scorpia would be a part of their team from now on, for the foreseeable future anyway, so maybe… Maybe they had their seventh… Eighth teammate?

~NRK~

Two days later, they rode with one of the familiar Hinter Bears of the Land of Snows back to their cart.

Blue nodded to Kyle as the human young man focused on his reins.

"You're getting better," the hidden former king said with a smile as the younger man nodded with one of his own.

"Thank you, I… I need to, for my team, m-my friends," he said as Blue observed him.

"... You all really don't believe in your faction's ideals, do you?"

"... Things changed for us four months ago. Things became a lot more clear and the more we learned… The Horde's done so many horrible things," Kyle sighed with a somber look. "I-I used to think how great it'd be that we'd have order everywhere and then we could go to amazing places like here and Plumeria but now… Now I feel like the biggest asshole, sir."

Blue understood a lot more of these teens over the past month.

They'd never learned about anything but Horde 'culture' or would it be 'brainwashing'?

Not a single thing outside reached them, likely not until they were older and more conscripted or when they were Captains which would usually be a show of their skills as Adora had explained to them.

They simply couldn't know better from childbirth and that picked at many of his fatherly heartstrings.

'They'd know nothing… Unless for him,' his eyes went to Naruto currently laughing inside the cart with the others as Frosta's own familiar sat atop Catty's head. 'To not know what even a family is sounds terrifying but Naruto's changed that for them,' he filled so many roles in their lives, likely.

Brother, friend, confidant from what Kyle told him, partner, wise man, leader, and inspiration. The more he watched the blonde interact with his team, the more Blue realized where the boy got his knack for helping others develop.

'Well, it's not the same for a few of them, yes?' Kyle had admitted on one occasion that he liked both genders.

Rogelio had shrugged at the question so Blue had assumed he didn't care either way.

They'd said Lonnie was 'worldly', Blue wanted to laugh, in her desires of what she wanted on any specific day.

And then there were two of their four captains. Adora and Catra fed into a 'relationship' of sorts with the blonde that Kyle called 'checks and balances' but Blue knew.

They were the closest of the group due to their stations while Scorpia was a recent addition.

Apparently the two girls had had the same personal teacher for years but Naruto had recently, and possibly long before that, snuck into that dynamic and just… lived in it along with them.

And that had its effects. 'Wait, do all of them…' The man's face went blank. 'Best to not think about the youth of today,' lest he go crazy at the sheer amount of mental gymnastics that allowed all of that to happen.

~NRK~

A day later, they rested in the mountains near their pick-up point.

Naruto breathed out a calming breath as he looked out at the rising… moonlight.

'Why do the moons even do that?' He'd never get it.

Like, there was no sun but they had bright days. It really did bother him sometimes that it made no sense.

"?" He heard the steps behind him and nodded to Lonnie and Frosta. "Sup?" Naruto grinned for the Princess who pouted. "Hey, hey, I promise, I'll be back."

"I-I know, you have to come to the Ball next year," Frosta blushed again. "I-It's super important."

"... Alright," he'd find a way or just accept the trouble.

He was stupid like that.

"So, from our signal, our pilot's supposed to be here in six hours," Lonnie smiled as they looked at the brightening light. "It's really amazing here… And the Horde can't find it. I'll do my best to help out."

"We trust in you, we know you will," Naruto grinned as Lonnie scratched her cheek.

"Lord, you are such a… Whatever."

"?"

Frosta gasped at the blonde before giggling. "You're so clueless, Naruto."

"Most of the time, yeah," Naruto slumped as the two laughed at him. "I'm kinda sailing these ships of confusion alone when it comes to women, I'm never sure what they're scheming at the best of times."

"Scheming?" The two smirked at him and Naruto's cheek twitched.

"Exactly what I'm talking about."

~NRK~

Six hours later, they lifted off the ground, Naruto and the others sitting in the back with Kyle giving the pilot the excuse of 'too cold' that had been easily accepted.

So, they looked out a window and smiled with a small wave at a small shining blue light.

---

Down below, Frosta grinned from the mountain pass, her familiar turning off his light show.

"And so, they are gone, madam," the seemingly posh spirit said as Frosta nodded.

"We've got a lot of things to do before they come back, Frosty!" Frosta said as Blue cough-snorted off to the side. "You should get that checked out," she told him.

The man's shoulders shook before he took one more throat-clearing cough. "KAUGH! Y-Yes, ma'am, I will."

Frosta beamed and Wunder couldn't break it to her.

~NRK~

The trip back to the Horde Empire had been done… Asleep.

Now in the medical bay, they all sat around, laid down, or laid on the best or one another.

Naruto hummed in the middle of the best, laying horizontal on it on his front, tail and wings flaring out or laying down over the others.

Kyle and Rogelio slept at the front, the blonde's wing and tail working as a warm cover and heating pad.

Lonnie laid next to Scorpia on the main bed while the scorpion woman had sort of leaned over the bed edge in a small nook by a shelf, face down in her crossed arms.

Finally, Adora laid down across her fellow blonde's back on the bed, head on his shoulder blades, while Catra had humorlessly curled-up at her side.

Finally, Catty curled up on her father's lower back, 'asleep' so much as joining her creator's dreams.

The team slept well and together.

~NRK~

Six hours later, they all yawned as they left their carrier, Catra leading the charge with a hand rubbing the back of her head.

'Thank Hordak that we had bathrooms for both sides,' it made getting the horrible morning fuzz out of her mouth easier. 'Now, where's the-'

A troop of soldiers headed towards them along with a familiar 'Imp'.

Naruto caught the flying creature who blinked at his wings and then the child around his neck?

Imp blinked thrice as Catty waved at him.

… He waved back.

They went through the same song and dance with the Urgent Elevator, finding themselves in a familiar room.

Hordak turned away from a clipboard as a pair of Force Captains grimaced at the group.

Naruto's eyebrow rose high. 'Oh, come on,' he whined as he, Adora, Catra, and Scorpia stepped forward, Imp flying from the young man's arms to land on top of Hordak's seat.

Hordak observed them… Before blinking at the child sitting on Naruto's shoulders. "... Explain?" He said but it sounded more like a question than anyone could muster.

Naruto chuckled sheepishly, his wings now confusing the man more. "Um, well…" He began as Adora and Catra wore similar nervous looks.

Explaining the beginning of their trip had come with a bit of 'version control' on Catra's part.

"Ahem, so, through a familiar spell from Shadow Weaver and some untimely movement of my foot," Catra lied as Lonnie smirked in the background. "The spell inundated itself with our, um… DNA and that's how Catty came into existence."

"Catty?" The man asked with a raised brow as Catra wheezed with a red face while Adora smiled.

"It was something I and Captain Naruto came up with while Captain Catra was… Asleep," the blonde young woman found the right word as Catra cleared her throat. "We'd come up with three names j-just in case one didn't stick. She's not really picky."

"Nope," Catty said from the floor beside her creator, Naruto rubbing the back of his head. "But we've got more stuff to tell ya, sir!" She saluted energetically as Scorpia gasped with a hidden squeal.

Hordak smirked a bit. "I see…"

They went on to explain the proper things and his eyes narrowed in interest.

"It turns out that Chackles was doing some really crazy stuff," Naruto nodded. "Catra went to check on that front while I was following the Princess to the location of the cult at the time. Catra," the blonde gave the feline the floor.

Catra nodded before explaining, vaguely in the case of Catty's skills, what her journey had involved.

Hordak cupped his chin before turning to the two Force Captains behind him. "Captain Dray, Captain Lou, you two are in need of a new assignment, yes?"

The two perked up, the Force Captains in question being another lizardman like Rogelio and a beastkin like Naruto and Catra.

With Dray being a taller but more slender lizardman, he sported dark green scales, wings, and dark yellow eyes in a black bodysuit, a yellow sash, and a pair of goggles on his head.

Lou, on the other hand, was a wolf beastman of Scorpia's ridiculous six foot-six height with dark gray fur on his forearms and tail, similar-colored hair, angular features, fair skin, and red eyes. Wearing a similar bodysuit to what had to be his partner, red arm braces and shin guards, and a pair of metallic boxes on his hips, he seemed set on frowning at the four.

Mostly, Naruto and Catty but the blonde just locked gaze with the man and didn't look away.

He snarled a bit before crossing his arms and focusing on Hordak. "It would seem so, sir," he told him, voice deep and smooth.

"Then, it seems we'll have you both working on a similar string of connections with Team Seven," Naruto grinned at that one while Adora smiled. "There has been another sighting of cultists recently."

"SERIOUSLY?!" Team Seven balked in unison, Scorpia included.

"Yes, it seems you all are aware?" Hordak asked.

Naruto, Catra, and Adora explained the situation in detail, Hordak's eyes widening in disbelief along with Dray and Lou.

"What?" The man's jaw dropped a bit. "She took up that man?"

"That man?" Naruto asked with a frown as Hordak grimaced. "Uh… Yo? Boss man? You seem to know who this guy is."

"... I do," Hordak frowned deeply, turning away from everyone and walking towards his throne with an expression that even had Imp looking worried. "... I've met this man, once, through Shadow Weaver's research for personal interest… And he abandoned my cause a year into our partnership."

"... Wait," Scorpia's eyes widened as Hordak nodded. "That quack?!"

"Wait, you know this guy?" Catra asked as the Princess nodded nervously.

"Duh, remember? My family was the first to meet the Horde but that doesn't mean they didn't get attention," Scorpia frowned as Hordak grunted. "Around when I was twelve, there was this old scrawny magician, I wasn't sure if it was him from Catra's words but now I am. He was a man by the name of Chimera. He'd mastered mostly animal-based magics and stuff even from other races but…" She looked a bit ill.

"He made a mistake," Hordak declared as he turned to his soldiers. "A magical circle for his work went awry and cost him most of his vitality before he fled," his eyes narrowed. "It seems that he's still around despite being easily above the age of 100 by that time."

"Y-Yeah and my old man knew him," Scorpia told Team Seven who gawked. "Duh, powerful animals would be nice for digging and stuff. It's just, the old man always said that he was already dangerous to know much less work with-"

"Of course," came a familiar voice that formed from within Adora's shadow, the young woman shivering before finding Shadow Weaver's hands on her shoulders. "Chimera was old, you see, very old and accomplished. He's also a runaway magician, I'd informed Lord Hordak of this in the beginning."

The man grimaced with a hiss but didn't rebuke her claims. "I promised him things he couldn't possibly imagine and yet he fled for reasons… And must be dealt with," he declared with a small snarl before clearing it away with another grunt. "And soon. Chimera was a traitor but he divulged many of his abilities to our science wing while Shadow Weaver could research him."

"The issue with Chimera is that his powers take time to mature," the shadow magician said, looking around and then down at…? "... What?" She stared at Catty, the familiar currently holding onto Naruto's hand. "What did you all do?"

Catra shook her head as Naruto chuckled sheepishly.

"Um, can we explain this later?" He offered with a grin that Shadow Weaver's eyes twitched at. "Promise. For now, um, we'd kinda like to know more about this 'Chimera' guy, ma'am, sir."

"... Mmm, his powers mature," she emphasized, looking between the three with a gaze that they blushed at. "Quite… Depending on the strength of the animals he digests, he needs time but those same animals he's 'digested' have given him an enhanced vitality. Before the event, he supposedly only looked around his 30s. He's similar to the Immortal Queen but his immortality is known and that sadly backfired on him."

"It did?" Kyle asked before shivering as she hummed. "MA'AM!"

"Yes, Chimera was supposedly working on something else alongside his time here. A greater spell for his consumption of beasts but it turned on him and left him barely a skeleton… Right?"

"N-No, actually," Catra swallowed. "He has some kinda First Ones Tech and it apparently helps him."

Shadow Weaver's eyes narrowed in annoyance. "That blasted fool."

"He's been up to no good," Hordak growled. "Did you see it?"

"No, sir, I only heard it from the cultists I was shadowing."

Not good. "..." The dark lord cupped his chin and looked down with a frown, Imp flying over and landing on his shoulders. "This must be dealt with soon enough, I can't imagine…" He looked at the four and their frowns. "... What else?"

They finally explained the big 'elephant' in the room.

It just so happened to have been a dragon.

All other eyes outside of their group widened in disbelief and slight horror.

"What did he do?" She turned to Catra who frowned.

"We interrupted some kind of ritual to mature it, too," Adora explained. "From your own words, this magic must have copied his own and it needed… W-Well, actually, we don't know how long it'd been going on for," not good. "But we stopped it a day ahead of time from the cultists' own words but that thing… It wasn't… It was beyond anything I can imagine."

"It was taken down with the Princess's power," Naruto said vaguely. "Using the forces of the Land of Snows, it got put down but it wasn't finished," he frowned as Catty held onto his hand tightly. "It was born wounded and already leaking power at a crazy rate. If it'd been born perfectly…" He allowed the words to hang. "It would have likely destroyed half the kingdom."

Shadow Weaver's eyes narrowed at him, the collar around Naruto's neck glowing softly. 'Oh?' Someone wasn't telling the full truth.

Interesting. Yet, more so…

She looked at Adora's eyes and the marks around them.

She chuckled. "You used the final spell," Shadow Weaver whispered to her favored student, the blonde nodding with a dim look in her eyes. 'It's likely affected her deeply,' the sorceress was sure it'd pass.

Adora was strong, after all.

"That thing wasn't small, either," Scorpia admitted nervously. "Sir, that thing was easily the size of a mountain."

"..." Hordak's eyes narrowed as Catra shot Scorpia a look of confusion that was quickly hidden. "None of this bodes well. We don't know where they are and are following hints," he hissed before clenching his fists. "It seems we may need to bolster our forces and numbers," he said, surprising the group.

~NRK~

Now sitting in their usual training room, the nine mulled over Hordak's words.

"We're pulling in everyone?" Kyle balked. "Um, will that end well?" He asked Shadow Weaver who hummed.

"Honestly, for the time being, we'll likely not know when these cretins will attack," she shrugged. "Your efforts from four months back are still working so far. We're following Huntera's tracks as best we can and we've finally made up an expedition team for the Crimson Wastes."

Scorpia hummed. "Maybe… Maybe I should go on that," she offered as Shadow Weaver shrugged.

"I'd suggest you do it if you can but we did just receive information on our Lord's next move."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Well, things should still go how we're expecting," Lonnie said as the sorceress shot her a look. "Ma'am, we want to specialize more. Me, Kyle, and Rogelio."

"Speak, Cadet Lonnie, what are you all up to?" Shadow Weaver crossed her arms with a curious tone.

"W-We want to pursue our programs more intensely," Kyle said as the woman cupped her chin. "Outside of Naruto, Adora, and Catra, we were useless… We want to rectify that. I'd like to focus more on our vehicle programs."

Medical and Sciences. Rogelio showed his notepad.

"And I wanna focus on finding First Ones Tech and weaponry. I've got info from all sorts of sources for ideas to fend off that dragon," Lonnie said. "Naruto, Catra, and Adora are our best fighters. We want 'em to focus on their own stuff, especially that magic stuff."

"Ah, you've revealed your studies?" Shadow Weaver asked Naruto who nodded.

"To help find Mystacor. I need to be at 100%, Master," he told her and Shadow Weaver was, thankfully, able to hide her hiss of breath.

'Stop calling me that,' it made it weird and too much. "... I suppose you all have made up your paths. Well, I'll give my recommendations, you all have been doing well. It's worthwhile to have more worthy facets," she considered before nodding. "And if you three are really focused then I suppose we'll speed-up your studies for your eventual trip," Shadow Weaver said to Naruto, Adora, and Catra. "Now… Will someone explain the child in the room?"

Naruto chuckled at that, Catty sitting within his lap and smiling with him.

The fact that it looked so similar terrified Shadow Weaver in ways that couldn't be understated.

"Um, well, you remember how the familiar spell works, right?" The fox boy asked as his wings spread out before resting again.

Shadow Weaver tilted. "EXPLAIN."

Doing so in quick fashion, Catra's blushing visage alarming Shadow Weaver more, Naruto finally came to the end of it with a sheepish grin and a hand atop Catty's head.

"So… Yeah, that's how my familiar-kid was made," he said.

Shadow Weaver held the sides of her forehead. "Why… Why are you doing this? Is this some sort of ironic twist of fate? Did you find a loophole? This feels like petty punishment," she said with horror as Naruto sweatdropped.

"Master, it's just things that happened."

"Happened, you say," she groaned. "STOP mutilating the laws of magic, you keep doing it and it's beginning to get old AND tedious."

"... I-I can give ya a soft 'hopefully' on that," Naruto grinned nervously.

Shadow Weaver was close to wondering if falling off one of their spires was a good use of her time. "Sssss… Alright," she recovered fakely as Adora chuckled, the woman clapping her hands together once. "Ignoring that. For the sake of simplicity, she will help you in your endeavors. A spirit with your 'element' is likely going to help you expand your search by looking for Mystacor's hidden isles."

"Alright!" The girl spirit grinned, confusing the sorceress some more. "So, me and dad will find it with our powers!"

Shadow Weaver's mind stuttered for a moment. 'Why is she calling him THAT?' No, stop, the spirit clearly had her intricacies and the like.

And the fox boy… The winged fox boy seemingly just allowed her these trivialities.

How bold. "Right."

~NRK~

That night, Catra had ignited a rather small but big change with her title as 'Captain'.

Naruto chuckled as he flopped down onto the large mattress in his pajamas, Kyle and Rogelio following suit moments later.

"Oh, that's nice," Kyle grinned before blushing at his gawking fellow cadets. "C-Captain privileges!" He told them quickly.

"Not fair!"

"Unfortunately," Naruto snickered as more whines rang about the room, the rest of their team coming up to them, the blonde finding his familiar daughter flying over before jumping onto his chest in a small cadet uniform. "Sup, hon."

"Hey, dad!" Catty grinned.

Naruto's grin said it all as he heard the cadets' cries.

"YOU'RE A WHAT?!" They shouted.

Lonnie's laughter reached the three boys in quick fashion before the big bed dipped.

"Oh, I've been waiting for someone to ask," the black girl said with one more chuckle. "Lord, these guys are a hoot."

"Why'd she call him that thing?!" One of the other girls asked.

Naruto sweatdropped. 'Right, they don't know what that is,' sadly funny. "It's just a thing that some familiars do," he answered vaguely, ruffling Catty's hair as Adora came over with a smile. "Just some weird magic mambo-jumbo."

None of them believed him as the cat girl squealed in his grip.

Catra rolled her eyes with only slightly red cheeks as their eyes went to her. "No, by Hordak's name, she ain't our 'kid' kid."

"H-How does that even work?!" One of the guys asked.

"Magic bullshit."

Getting on the bed with all their sheets in it with a couple extra, the group settled in.

Naruto hummed as he laid down with Catty curled-up on his chest, the young man's armless sleeve thrown over her.

Rogelio, Lonnie, and Kyle, in that order, slept on one side pretty quickly while he, Adora, and Catra, not in that order, were occupying the other one.

Not in that order because Catra was curled up over the two blondes' heads with a blanket over her, the young feline woman laying down with her eyes closed on the big headrest she'd added to the bed.

Adora considered her place right beside her fellow blonde Force member, the Captain looking at the Scout's empty sleeve with half-lidded eyes. '...'

Naruto blinked as Adora reached out and touched his armless shoulder, the winged boy sighing softly as she did.

She closed her eyes before stuffing her face into her pillow.

Naruto just looked up at Catra, his fellow beastkin looking down at him with a calculative expression before shaking her head.

He whined softly as she smirked.

He'd never get women, dammit.

~NRK~

The following morning, their personal choices began.

That's why, after another meeting with their fellow Captains that informed them more about Princesses/Princes, the trio of Naruto, Catra, and Adora made it to Shadow Weaver's library/office in their usual clothes.

Catty sat on her creator's shoulders with soft snores coming from her mouth, Naruto chuckling at that bit.

"She's worse than I am with those meetings," he said.

"Only on certain days," Catra said with a stretch and her tail curling to the side. "Mmm… It's really just gonna be us for a bit," she brought up, arms folded behind her head.

Adora considered it while Naruto nodded.

"Yep but we're still a team and we can check-in with them anytime… Well, ya know," he elaborated. "And if they're going to be doing their best, so should we," Naruto declared. "I want to heal up as soon as possible. Right now, we're about to go up against something we can't possibly imagine."

"A dragon that trumps the one you fought," Adora frowned as Catra's eyes narrowed. "Naruto's right, at the moment, we need more and more advantages."

"In a way, aren't we thinking too little?" Catra asked.

"... Well, I mean," Adora looked a bit sheepish. "I know the entire Horde will be against anything but we're assuming that it'll only be one," her eyes narrowed as Catra flinched. "If they make more than one, you guys, I don't think even the Horde could win. That's why we need more to our advantage."

"Y-Yeah, now that you said it…"

"If it comes down to it," Naruto slapped his fist into his palm. "I'll take on one of them on my own. If I can hit 100%, it should be possible."

"But you need to also focus on your studies," Catra reminded him as he blinked before chuckling embarrassedly. "Idiot but that's why we're here, too," she smirked before perking up and walking ahead before walking backward. "Actually, Naruto."

"Yo?"

"Can you learn how to enchant things first and foremost?"

Adora perked up with a look of interest. "Wait, yes, that's perfect," she grinned. "If Naruto can give us more powerful equipment-"

"We'd really wreck some shit," Catra said smugly. "And we have perfect targets. We still have our vests in our team locker."

"Alright," the young man grinned at the idea. "Actually, Master did say that that'd come in time. Maybe we can push it up, first-?"

"Out of the way, rookies," came a familiar smooth voice, Catra blinking as a hand pushed her aside and allowed a pair of men to pass. "Stop getting in the way of our business."

"Excuse you," Catra said with a twitching brow as Naruto's eyes narrowed back at Lou.

"That wasn't very Captainly of you," the fox said with a frown as Lou snarled.

"We don't have time for small fry like them," Dray said, voice raspy but he could talk. "Hmph," he turned his nose up at them.

Adora's eyes glinted dangerously. "... Come on, let's go," she told Naruto and Catra. "We don't have time for them."

A hand nearly landed on her shoulder before being caught in a glowing grip.

"Keep your hands to yourself since you have problems doing that," Naruto said, throwing the older Captain's hand back as he growled in confusion.

'When the hell did this kid move?!' Annoying-!

"Kid if you don't watch your mouth," Lou's hackles raised and his fangs were bared. "We're gonna have a problem."

"I doubt I will," Naruto said right to his face, expression unchanging and unbothered. "You don't scare me, none of the other Captains scare me, so cut the crap and screw off. You don't want this end to your issues," he threatened as Catra's hand caressed the shaft of her hammer.

Adora's finger touched the bottom of her weapon as Dray's wings flexed and Lou began to grow, rumbling muscle and shifting skin reaching their ears-

"What in the world are you all doing?" Shadow Weaver called out with narrowed eyes, the sorceress opening her door with a glare that caused all hostility to stop. "Ah, Dray, Lou, I wasn't aware you were bothering my disciples."

Her words dripped like honey but hissed in their ears like venom.

Lou grimaced as his enlarging form died down and he stepped back to Dray's position. "Keep those little bastards away from us and we won't have an issue," he scoffed.

"You're a real piece of work, you know that?" Catra growled as Adora grimaced before sighing.

"That's it, stop," she tapped the sides of her forehead. "We literally have better things to do, we can't get caught up in their pace," Adora glared as Dray snorted before pulling Lou's shoulder back.

"Stay out of the experts' way, kids," the lizardman said before Lou threw them one more sneer.

He turned around with his partner before walking off, leaving the three Force members and Catty frowning.

"What exactly is their deal?" Catra grimaced as Shadow Weaver hummed.

"Dray and Lou are some of our best Captains, I'm sure their pride hasn't exactly stayed the same as when they were cadets," she shrugged. "And you three are currently the youngest Force members beating out their own record at the age of 17 by you all being 1 year younger."

Naruto frowned before sighing. "Alright, yeah, let's just ignore 'em for now." He offered his team.

"I believe so, too," Adora's eyes narrowed. "But if they come to mess with us, there's only so much I'm willing to accept."

"Ditto," Catra crossed her arms with a growl. "The moment they try, we're laying 'em out like laundry."

"Agreed."

Naruto rubbed the back of his familiar's head with a pair of fingers, Catty pouting atop his head.

"Dad, why did you just let 'em go?" She asked.

"While I ain't a fan, we can't just attack people because they're mean to us. Besides, Scorpia told us, remember?" Naruto said to Adora and Catra. "Fights between Captains aren't allowed outside of the simulation rooms. Hordak's not a fan of infighting, I guess?"

"Tsk," Catra grunted before ruffling her head of hair. "Fine, yeah, whatever."

"I get it," Adora sighed before turning to the amused-looking Shadow Weaver and clearing her throat. "M-Ma'am, erm, we'd like to double-down on finding Mystacor if you would."

"Hmm… Very well, come along," the sorceress beckoned them into her study. "You want to speed-up your training, don't you?" She asked Naruto who nodded.

"Can you teach me how to enchant stuff? Is that alright?" He asked.

"Well, it shouldn't be too difficult but you should know that, unlike barriers, Enchanting isn't as easy. You need to make a formula and put that inside of the thing you're trying to enchant. There's a good reason why I didn't schedule it sooner but I supposed recent events made things volatile," her eyes narrowed.

"So, what do you think about all of this?" Catra asked with a tilt of the head as their mentor stopped and cupped her chin. "We only know about this one guy, there's a chance they'll have two of those damn dragons, and Chackles's abilities are still not fully known along with the rest of her gang."

'To you all, yes,' Shadow Weaver wasn't idle while they were away.

And she knew Chackles wasn't that big of a deal… No, it was the people around her that gave her worries.

"For now, we'll focus on magic formulas and applications."

~NRK~

The first week apart had been… It'd been a bit rough, for Adora and Catra, at least.

Those rare moments where they'd end up in 'their' training room and find just Naruto and/or one another there was oddly solemn.

Then, there was their new bed. Only broken-in once by their full team and now it was seemingly almost too big.

'Almost' because Naruto and Catty were still there. With more space, the four simply laid down next to one another and absorbed one another's proximity.

Catra, mostly, had been seen following around either of her blonde comrades more than ever before, Adora and Naruto not even questioning it.

Though, there was a little 'light' in that situation as the young woman did start spending more alone time with Catty. That seemed good.

Still, their main focus of the first week wasn't to be understated.

~NRK~

Sunday, Naruto, Catty, Catra, and Adora sat in a circle with Shadow Weaver standing behind the fox blonde.

"Apply the basic principle, take the formula, imagine it, and then activate its parts," the sorceress told Naruto.

The blonde focused on a piece of metal in front of him before drawing out the magic formula the woman had taught them.

When it was finished, oddly perfectly like most of the boy's other handwriting much to Shadow Weaver's surprise, it glowed as he pushed in magical power.

The metal floated in the air a bit, Naruto taking a deep breath as he focused his mind.

The metal's symbols and formula glowed bright gold before crawling over its form and fully finishing after ten seconds.

"W-Wheew!" Naruto wiped his brow as Shadow Weaver hummed and glided over.

A small blip of shadow had the item in her hands, the woman observing it from different angles.

"... Hmm, decent work," she said as she allowed the item to float above her hand. "You've enacted your element into it perfectly and now a little bit of energy wil… No," Shadow Weaver blinked in shock and… And some awe. "Naruto, what did you do with this?"

"Um, just what you told me," he told her. "I just applied my energy to it… Is something off?"

"It's constantly gathering energy by itself."

Naruto, Catra, and Adora flinched. 'Right, anything made will have that property,' especially since their trip.

'It's downright amazing,' Shadow Weaver couldn't help it.

This boy… He likely held a truly special trait that couldn't be understated.

Energy-refillment. Well, not in so many dull words but it was apt.

"It's constantly charged, this formula of yours… Hmm," the sorceress cupped her chin as she mentally willed the item around her head. 'This could be useful beyond measure,' Naruto's element now had more interesting attributes. "Hm, hm, hm, Naruto, it seems your ability to enchant might match the greatest in history with this little discovery."

"Wait, seriously?" Catra asked. "How come? Is being always powered that great?" She asked 'ignorantly'.

"Magic has rules. You can't enchant something without the correct amount of capacity and energy to enact its enchantments," Shadow Weaver explained. "The only things that usually break that rule are Runestones but Naruto's attributes change that for his work. If it's constantly powered, it will be capable of handling passive abilities."

"Wait, is there that much difference?" Adora asked.

"Yes, Adora, there's a world of difference between your sword's activated abilities and Naruto's energy's traits. This might work well for you all."

Naruto considered her words before nodding. "Please teach me everything I need to know," he asked her with a bow. "Master."

Oh, it wasn't as painful.

In fact, Shadow Weaver quite liked the reverence.

"I will," and she'd likely gain something beyond a mere Runestone if Naruto's powers progressed well.

~NRK~

With that discovery, things had kicked into overdrive.

Naruto, now having a basic understanding of magic formulas, began to learn how to apply different aspects of his magic to items.

Nature, elemental affinity increases, wind, protective wind barriers, and a small buff in the form of 'Nature Reinforcement', as Shadow Weaver put it, along with others.

All new and amazing things that were delved into.

By the time he was more familiar with it, a month had passed.

~NRK~

Naruto grinned as he and Rogelio bumped knuckles, the lizard boy chuckling with a pair of crossing belts around his waist.

"Long time no see, dude," he said as his friend nodded.

Lonnie stretched her back by Catra.

"Lord, it is not easy work," she told her feline Captain, her comrade crossing her arms with a raised brow.

"Find anything?" She asked.

"No but I have been slowly learning how to apply a bit of First Ones Tech that we understand the bare minimum of," the young black woman grinned as Catra perked up. "Yep, there are so many ways…" They chatted.

Meanwhile, Adora smiled as she and Kyle sat on the edge of their bed, Catty flying around with a big beaming smile.

"So, far, I'm ahead of the others," Kyle smiled. "At present, I'm learning how to manage our tanks. I've read over a quarter of the manual and use the p-practice simulators so much."

"I'm glad, maybe you and Lonnie will make a super-tank," the blonde young woman grinned as he laughed. "Actually, do you know how many vehicles you'll be handling?"

"Yeah! Skiffs, smaller ships, parts of our bigger sea-faring ones, tanks, and even… Okay, so," Kyle leaned in as Adora perked up and followed suit.

"What?"

"Well, you know how Lord Hordak is focusing our forces on defense, right?" She nodded. "Well, we're designing new exoskeleton suits," he told her as Adora's jaw dropped.

"No way!" She whispered as he nodded.

"And they're having us test them out," he continued. "Adora, those things might be experimental but they can enhance our strength by five times. I-It even comes with a mini-barrier."

Adora filed it away for later thought. "That's crazy."

~NRK~

Their table was quickly covered in food the world over, Naruto snickering as their gathered team, including Scorpia, sat around with hungry looks.

"Go on, dig in, no time to waste!" He grinned.

They ate in an instant, food of all their cafeteria varieties there on the table and free to pick from.

Adora ate some sausage with a pleased air around her, Naruto patting her shoulder as he sat down next to her, Catty between him and Catra.

"I'm glad our team's back together, too," he said as she swallowed and nodded.

"It's only been a month and yet it feels like it's been forever," Adora admitted bashfully. "Maybe I'm just a worrywart."

"Not like it's not alright," Scorpia said with a big smile. "Man, I've never really done stuff like this. It's great!"

"Welcome aboard," Kyle smiled.

As they ate, topics passed between them with most attention going to Naruto's enchantment ability.

"I've got a real hang of it now," Naruto said. "I've made my own magic formula circles and array stuff with Adora and Catra's help. Right now, I'm trying to figure out what kind of effects I want to give our vests," he explained to the group.

"Whoa… Well, I mean, they're vests so," Kyle said with a thoughtful smile. "What would be preferred outside of extra protection?"

"Hmm," Lonnie swallowed while twirling her fork. "Well, let's look at it this way. What kinda stuff can Naruto add that'd make our specialties easier?"

Rogelio perked up and Naruto grinned.

"I've got an idea of what I'd like Rogelio's to do," the blonde said as his lizard friend nodded. "Purification Protection. It's another thing I figured out recently. I can protect you guys against negative influences and chemicals."

"Dude, that's so wicked," Lonnie smirked. "Hmm, I mean, that's good for Lio but what about me and Kyle? In our cases, we're not dealing with stuff like that."

"... I wonder," Adora considered, perking up as Naruto blinked at her. "Naruto, you can 'gift' different aspects of your powers. Why not give Lonnie sensory skills?" She smiled.

Catra's head snapped to her in shock at the idea, swallowing her food before following it with some vitamin drink. "Hmph! I-I didn't think of that! Dude, what if he can help her easily find First Ones tech?" She whispered.

"Is that possible?" Scorpia tilted her head in thought. "I mean, Naru's never sensed that stuff… Right?" She asked him.

"Nope, I wouldn't even know what I'm looking for to be fair," Naruto said. "But giving Lonnie sensory skills is still a good idea. She does go on expeditions now, that'll require all the safety I can provide her."

"Nice. So, what to give Kyle," the black cadet wondered as Kyle blushed before looking down in thought. "I mean, these are passive, right? Or can you do activated ones, too?"

"I can but I haven't learned how to do those yet," Naruto admitted. "But I'm sure there's something I can do. The thing is, 'passive' skills are a bit different in that they can act like active skills but their effects won't be that crazy. If I gave Kyle wind abilities, he could control it but not do much else like spells."

"Oh," Scorpia nodded. "That makes sense. It's not like sensing wouldn't be an active skill but if Lonnie can get it…"

"Yeah, it makes sense," Adora said as she messed with her beans. "Ideas, ideas," she considered their options.

What could Naruto give all of them? That was where she wanted to lead this conversation.

With Lonnie and Rogelio handled, there were still five of them… Six.

"Wait," Catra blinked before looking at Catty. "C-Catty, can't you also enchant things?" Adora's eyes widened as the group perked up before their attention snapped to the grinning girl.

"Yeppers! Ever since dad learned it, I can do it," she told the group, Catra's eyes alight with interest.

'If that's true,' well, well, well.

She had some ideas.

"Still, do you know what Catty could do?" Kyle asked, a bit excited. "I mean… Actually, Naruto," he realized something as his fellow blonde male grinned.

"Shoot away."

~NRK~

Kyle sat in front of the third vest as Naruto crafted his formulas.

"Alright…" The taller blonde focused with closed eyes and raised hands. 'Environment Protection,' to give Kyle the ability to adapt to the different temperatures of his surroundings. "..." His eyebrows furrowed.

The vest glowed with a golden light as the others watched the proceedings, Lonnie and Rogelio already wearing theirs and practicing.

"I-I can kinda feel it," Lonnie said in awe as she closed her eyes and scrunched up her nose. "I-It's so weird, dude! Damn, how do you not get caught-up in this?"

Naruto chuckled a bit despite his concentration, the golden light on the vest slowly fading into a series of formulas he'd placed on it.

Ten seconds later, Naruto let out a breath with a grin, Kyle looking at the glowing symbols on his newest equipment.

He took it and slowly put it on, the bone vest actually rather flexible and snug. "Thank you, Naruto," Kyle grinned as Naruto nodded.

"Alright, I guess now we have you gals," the fox said as he turned to their other four members. "Any ideas?"

"Protection against elements, please," Scorpia asked with an excited grin. "It'd be so much easier dealing with that kind of stuff, Naruto."

"Gotcha. What about you girls?"

Adora cupped her chin… Before nodding. "There's actually another thing I'd like you to enchant, Naruto," she said before coming over and pulling something out of her jacket pocket. "Can you add Purification Protection to this bangle?"

It was a metal thing ring with extendable cord on two parts, the color of it being gold.

"Sure but not your vest?" Naruto blinked at her.

"No, I want to make the most of this," Adora smiled. "Sensory skills for the vest, please."

Naruto hummed before nodding with a smile and turning to Catra and Catty. "Catty?"

"I don't really need something like that, dad," the familiar said. "I mean, I am part of your powers so…"

"And I want Catty to enchant my stuff," Catra grinned as the familiar gasped in excitement.

"REALLY?!"

"Yep. We need to find out about her skills, too, remember?"

Naruto considered that before nodding. "Alright. Let me do the others' stuff and then we'll focus on Catty Ware," he chuckled as his familiar daughter squealed.

Doing everything he'd done before for Adora and Scorpia, Naruto nodded before the entire group was sitting in a circle around the blonde's notebook, Catty, and Catra.

"So, we know that she's got fire skills, sensory skills, barrier skills," Catra counted off. "Most of that stuff you have along with the terrain accommodation."

"I mean, Catty's able to move with her barriers," Adora offered as Catra hummed. "She can also communicate over long distances between two different individuals and that has wide-range capture traits."

"Oh yeah, that is a thing," Scorpia blinked. "Anything else?"

"..." Catra observed the familiar as she tilted her head at her. "... Give my hammer fire skills," she grinned as she got up before moving to grab her weapon and bring it back. "And you can give my vest the barrier skills."

Catty nodded happily and Catra rolled her eyes before ruffling her hair anyway.

With the two items sitting in front of her, Catty beamed as she reproduced her father's own Enchanting Ritual.

The two items glowed red with a flicker of gold, the energy forming over the hammer first and causing its side not bearing technological symbols to hiss before a formula began to engrave itself onto the weapon.

Twenty seconds of focus and effort later, the girl let out a breath as she finished, Catra's grin shooting on all cylinders as she caught the hammer before it hit the ground.

"Amazing work, ki-Catty?!" Catra began to say, impressed beyond words.

And then flinching at the seemingly sleepy familiar, Naruto scooting behind her and holding the wobbly girl up as she yawned.

"Wait, what's wrong?" Scorpia asked as Catra nodded, scooting over to look at the yawning spirit.

"... Oh," Adora realized with a wince. "Catty doesn't get tired usually due to the environment she's in being full of energy. She doesn't really sleep but now that we're in the Fright Zone…"

Catra flinched once more. 'I totally forgot,' she thought worriedly as she reached out and touched the familiar's cheek.

Naruto smiled softly. "Alright, alright, ya did good," he told her as he pulled the child spirit into his grasp, Catty quickly going to sleep seconds later. "I'll probably have to take her out of here tonight to recharge outside of the Fright Zone."

"E-Easy there, Naru, the Whispering Woods are dangerous," Scorpia said nervously.

The entire group looked at her like she was insane before collectively realizing that, right, this was the kinda bullshit they'd been fed almost all their lives.

Scorpia didn't know better.

"I'm strong, Scorpia, you know that," Naruto grinned. "Right now, I'm more worried about Catty. I'll probably chill with her on the bed and just meditate. You guys should focus on learning your new skills and stuff," he said as he got up. "We've learned a lot today so don't let it go to waste."

~NRK~

That night, Catra sat cross-legged next to Naruto as the blonde meditated, the feline feeling guilty.

"It's not your fault, Catra," Naruto said kindly as she scoffed off to the side. "None of us remembered, you're not the only one who has some guilt."

"Yeah?" Catra groaned before sighing. "It feels like I messed up again."

"You didn't. You were right that Catty had potential, too, it's just that we took for granted her status as a Nature Familiar."

Catra grunted at his words as the others showered. "... Dammit, stop doing this to me," she mumbled.

"Doing what? I want to understand you, to help you, all of you guys," Naruto grinned with twitching ears as she blushed some more. "I don't think that's weird or wrong."

"Maybe not for you, boy scout. The rest of us aren't so capable of saying that stuff."

"Hehe~ Maybe, for me, it just comes naturally," he whispered as he shifted his hold on Catty, the familiar smiling in her… Daze? Sleep?

In her pleasant dreams, Catra supposed.

Still… Her eyes went to the blonde and how he grinned, how he held Catty rather happily and protectively, how he spoke, how he expressed himself so freely.

How he cared about someone like her and did his best to bring her up despite her being a real case of problems.

Her gaze went downward to her hammer before…

Naruto blinked at a tug on his armless sleeve, turning his head to see Catra's hand pulling at his top.

"... It's not you guys' fault-"

"Can you please… Not… Please?" Catra asked him and Naruto's eyes widened at the look on her face. "I want to feel bad, I want to stew on this, Naruto. I've got so many fucking problems but you seem to keep babying me."

He opened his mouth only for a finger to place itself against his lips, stopping him.

Oh no, this pattern!

Naruto immediately grew nervous as Catra looked up at him with eyes that gleamed like obsidian, filled with glistening emotions he wished he could understand and help.

Catra, meanwhile, considered her… Everything. She just wasn't sure anymore.

What the hell did she do? What could make her a better Captain? A better warrior?

… A better person? Someone who didn't run off at the drop of a hat and cause problem after problem?

"I'm so fucking pissed and yet I've got no idea what to do about it," she kissed her teeth as her finger slid off before turning into a cheek caress. "Am I supposed to find the damn answer? Is it going to come to me?"

She locked eyes with the confused and concerned blonde.

"I. Don't. Know."

Her hand slipped south and grabbed his collar.

Catra pulled Naruto down and pressed up.

Their lips met.

Naruto's eyes widened in shock before, looking at his friend's closed eyes with confusion, his fluttered closed as Catra pressed deeper into it.

Into this odd mish-mash of emotion that passed between them through firm but innocent lips that felt out his own. Her hand gripped his accessory tightly as she pulled his lips further against hers while their chests rested against one anothers.

Ten seconds later, they separated, swallowed, and turned bright red, eyes wide and going down.

"... C-Catra, I…" Naruto cleared his throat, the taste of savoriness utterly baffling to him. "What… What did that mean?" He asked her.

He didn't know… What she was feeling, what Catra was doing.

Or why she kissed him.

Catra's burning cheeks dimmed a bit but she didn't look at him. "... I don't know," she admitted to him as the sounds of steps greeted their ears. "I don't know. I don't know what to do anymore," she admitted weakly to him.

Naruto considered his downtrodden friend, the one who'd conveyed what he realized was confusion to him in every way she could but didn't understand.

That kiss? There wasn't romance behind it, he felt.

Catra was hurting and she wanted something to help it. Because she didn't know better or how.

Naruto considered the energy signatures of his friends and where they were before nodding.

His magic arm sprung to life before pulling Catra in close to press their foreheads together.

"I know what you'll say," he began slowly as she went a bit limp. "And I know I didn't do anything but I'm sorry you feel like this. I didn't know you were dealing with so much. I'm sorry but, Catra, it's not easy to become a better person," Naruto said solidly as Catra let out a shuddering breath. "I don't know what's at the center of all of this but I know you've got something amazing in you and that you need to accept parts of yourself that are going to be hard to deal with… But, when you do, when you've finally gotten past it? You'll realize how much better you've become."

She gripped his pajamas for a bit, her heart beating rapidly in her chest, down her fingers, and against his own.

"... Fine," she muttered with the smallest of sniffles that he chuckled at, slowly releasing her so she could wipe at her face. "Dammit, I'm such a fucking loser right now."

"... Um."

"Shut up," she sniffled one last time before sighing and getting up. "I'm gonna clean up, Hordak-dammit."

"Gotcha," Naruto said with a smile and thumbs-up as she powerwalked away. "... God," he blushed despite knowing better.

He'd kissed one of his best friends and he'd liked it.

'... M-Maybe, Bow or Glimmer will have an idea?' He considered, doing his best to control his emotions, looking at the door.

---

Drying off some more, Adora blinked as Catra blew her nose in the background of her mirror, the blonde putting on a white shirt.

"You alright?" She asked her fellow disciple and Captain.

"... No? I don't… Fuck me, I-I made another mistake," Catra said, back to Adora as she threw away her garbage. "Shit," she powerwalked over to a locker and disrobed.

Seconds later, Adora blinked as Catra disappeared into one of their private stalls. 'That's weird, Catra was the first one to shower,' which had been weird in and of itself.

What happened while she was taking a shower with the others?

Adora put on some shorts before going to the active stall and leaning against it.

"You sounded confused."

"I am, dammit, I messed up so much and I have no idea what to do," Catra said through the door.

Currently looking up at the shower head, the feeling of cool water rushing down her face helped her somewhat.

Her hot cheeks, the feeling of Naruto's lips against her own, and the rush of care that seemed to flow into her had been so damn distracting and WARM.

She crossed her arms and blushed harder, one hand coming up to palm her face.

"Adora, I need to get better," she told her.

On the other side, Adora closed her eyes with crossed arms, smiling. "You will. We will," she told her. "We have things we have to do, I-I might not be saying it well but we've got dreams and things we want to do," her eyes opened and she looked at the mirror in front of the stall.

Determined blue eyes bordered by black looked back at her.

"I want to make sure we become something great? I-It's weird, I don't know but even now I want that for us. To show we're something greater than even the Horde," she chuckled embarrassedly. "Naruto would probably have all the answers."

"He's usually like that, yeah," Catra said as the sound of scrubbing reached Adora's ears. "But… I don't want to just keep leaning on him, to slow him down, to latch him down with all my bullshit. Not anymore," she admitted. "I just don't know how… And before you say anything, I said the same thing to him and got an answer. I'm processing, dammit."

Adora chuckled. "Alright, alright, I… I think I do get it, though," she smiled. "What do I need to do to become great, Catra?"

"Preaching to the barracks on that one."

"I figured."

~NRK~

Naruto hurried out of the realm of the Fright Zone with Catty in tow in his arms.

With his newest skills, training, and just ability to reinforce himself, Naruto cut down what was usually an hour trip into a 20-minute one.

'I can feel them, they're together… With the Queen?' Maybe they had a meeting? '... M-Maybe she'll have something for me?' She'd lived for a thousand years, right?

Maybe she'd know.

~NRK~

Glimmer grinned at Bow as they looked outside the window, Angella standing behind them with a smile.

And then they all blinked as a familiar blonde waved from the treeline. "Huh?" Glimmer blinked as Bow grinned.

"Sup?" He whispered over.

"Can we talk about some really crazy personal stuff that just happened?" Naruto whispered back and Glimmer was intrigued.

Two twinkles later, he was inside Glimmer's room, Angella raising a brow at his embarrassed visage and then Catty's yawning-awake form.

"So, what's up-" Bow began to ask with a smile.

"Catra kissed me!"

The other boy wheezed out a language that couldn't be understood while Glimmer gasped with a big bright grin.

"YES! GOSSIP!" She squealed as Catty perked up.

"Y-You kissed mom?!" The familiar asked.

Angella blinked very slowly. "Um, right, that wasn't… cleared up," she added just as fast.

Naruto burned.

He explained both situations for the next ten minutes before the room was silent, the three gawking at his facepalming form while Catty grinned.

"So, he's my dad and Catra's my mom!" The familiar said even as Bow and Glimmer kept gawking at her. "A-And dad kissed mom s-so that must be good!"

"Um, child, Catty, I believe you're rushing things," Angella said after some thought, confusing the spirit. "... Your… Parents aren't exactly in such a relationship to my knowledge."

"B-But parents kiss and stuff, right?!"

Angella's cheeks reddened a bit as Naruto groaned. "Yes, they… T-They do," she said, embarrassed as Glimmer swallowed.

"N-Naruto, what are you going to do?" She asked him. "I mean, I'm happy for you, go find a nice girl."

"Glimmer, this could totally ruin their dynamic!" Bow whispered to her. "Think about it. Four Captains, all of a sudden two might be dating."

"It's not that crazy, it happens all the time."

"Yeah, in normal places."

"I…" Glimmer's opened mouth closed as she wore a nervous grin. "Right, um, I am curious, Naruto. What is the Horde romance culture like?"

Naruto blinked at her, looking confused. "... Uhhhh," he droned on for a bit. "I don't… I don't know, actually," he realized. "It's not something that really happened, ya know, at the empire but I do know that some of these guys are way too frisky when they're not there," the blonde grumbled as his fellow teens blushed.

Angella cleared her throat. "Yes, well, I believe that's inappropriate for Catty to be hearing," she told him and Naruto whined.

"I don't know what to do. I… I know Catra was confused when she was doing it, alright? I was worried and she told me as much but she still KISSED ME, I can't… How do I look her in the eyes after that?"

Angella's expression softened. "I can say that this was point-by-point," she began as he perked up. "But I and Micah had such a situation at one point."

"Wait, what?!" Glimmer turned on her mother, the woman smiling a bit.

"It was before we were dating. I… I'm old, Glimmer," she told her daughter. "I've been around for so long that many did form their own opinions of myself and being."

"Um, what do you mean?" Bow asked. "Like, what? Did they think you were God or something?" He chuckled a bit.

Angella's smile but lack of a response had his chuckles dying into nervous grins.

"Oh no."

"One does not just become immortal, you all should know. The thing is, that puts a pressure on a person that can make normalcy seem odd," Angella blushed. "Micah and I were… It was a series of trysts that made us grow more enamored with one another until I was put into a precarious position. I was Princess and leader, I didn't know what to do and Micah was always my rock. He made the world make sense and yet… And yet that same inspiration and love befuddled me for years, you all," Naruto winced as she wore a sad expression. "I don't know what Catra might be thinking, Naruto, but I have a feeling I know what she's feeling. She needs time to think and, not an affront to you, she needs…"

"You mean, she should stay away from me?" Naruto asked softly as Bow looked a bit bashful.

"I don't want to pose it like that," the Queen said kindly. "But Catra… I might be wrong, I might be right, but Catra likely needs to find herself outside of you before addressing what you mean to her," he blushed a bit and she smiled. "And, I suppose, I'd ask you what you feel? Feelings are a two-way street, Naruto, it's not just Catra's feelings that matter."

Naruto looked at her like she'd bopped him, the young man frowning and looking more confused by the second.

"... I…" Bow came over and laid a hand on his shoulder. "I've… They're my team, I care about them a lot. They're my friends, my family, and my precious people. I want to help them no matter what and make sure they can live good honest lives. I've never considered…" Naruto groaned. "... No, I've never felt the kinds of feelings that'd make me want to kiss Catra for whatever the heck that'd even mean, ma'am."

Angella understood, she did.

Naruto may have been wise but he was just a young man. He'd experienced a lot, likely from his own adventures, but the world didn't just fold to a man with experience.

It had a wicked way of throwing curving paths at an individual when it felt like it.

"So, not once?" Glimmer asked him. "Not to force you! I mean it! You guys have been so close, haven't you? Surely you've felt feelings at least once."

Naruto blushed at that. "... I-If someone had me at gunpoint…" Glimmer perked up as he groaned. "... Adora and Catra do have a bit more… Space in my head," he admitted painfully.

"Oh my gosh!" She twinkled beside him with a grin. "Wait, no?! A love triangle?!" Glimmer twinkled away in shock, pacing about before reappearing up in a small canopy bed. "Naruto, why is your love life so complicated?! Your Princess demands answers!"

"One, on a technicality," Naruto sweatdropped. "Scorpia is my Princess."

"Huh?" Bow blinked in shock while Angella also looked confused. "Wait, wait, go back, what do you mean?"

"Oh, right… Um…"

He explained the situation with that and Scorpia as a person.

"Their family… Gave into the Horde and she's a PRINCESS?!" Glimmer's jaw dropped again as Catty rested high in the canopy bed. "W-What the hell is going on at the Horde?!"

"I don't know, it's all so weird, man!" Naruto cried crocodile tears as Bow hummed.

"So, wait, does she have a Runestone?" He asked.

"... I actually don't know but I think so?" The blonde said unsurely as Angella frowned softly.

'A Princess within the Horde…' But from Naruto's own words, Scorpia didn't seem like a bad person.

In fact, Angella was sure that she wasn't and likely just did as she was taught as she grew up, like the rest of Naruto's team.

"Oh, right, um, there's actually something serious that you need to know about," Naruto began after some thought with a frown, his hand running through his hair. "Something that had to do with what happened with Frosta."

Explaining the entire situation with Chackles, their eventual attack, and Chimera, the last name seemed to get a reaction out of Angella.

"That name is… Chimera still walks this earth?" She frowned deeply as Naruto sighed.

"I'm learning a lot of people didn't get along with him recently."

"He's from a series of invisible isles filled with magicians. He used to be in their council from what Micah told me of their old legends. He was exiled due to his unethical practices on his fellow mage."

"Wait… I wonder," Naruto cupped his chin. 'Did he come from Mystacor?' If he did, that meant… Well, nothing, unfortunately.

"Wait, w-what was that about a dragon?!" Bow said with excitement. "A REAL DRAGON?!"

"Bow, dude, come on, it was a literal corruption-bringing bad guy, it wasn't as fun as it could have been."

"R-Right, um, yeah."

"Haa, for now, I guess I'll go back and… Do whatever I can, I guess," Naruto said with another sigh. "Goddammit, man, I'm gonna make this so awkward."

"Well, just do what your heart says," Glimmer smiled. "My dad used to say that a lot and now my mom does it," she smirked as Angella rolled her eyes. "Even if she stops me, it's sound advice. Do what you think is right, you've got a good head on your shoulders, Naruto, I think you just gotta get more pieces to this puzzle."

"Maybe. Alright, later, Glimmer, Bow, Queen," Naruto smiled as Catty flew down to his level. "I can only hope for the best, right?"

~NRK~

He returned to the Horde Empire with a rapidly-beating heart to that familiar spire…

Naruto blushed before running a hand through his hair at Catra leaning against the wall by the entrance inside.

Catty flew over to her without hesitation while he took a deep breath before jumping off and landing on the platform, Catty smiling happily as Catra ruffled her hair before they faced the cloaked Naruto.

Once he walked over, Catra's cheeks burned before she ruffled her own head of hair.

"... Catra, I… Whatever you say that was," Naruto continued after a bit of thought. "We'll go with that," he told her with care.

'He's always like this,' this would get him into such a mess one day, she's sure. "Thanks," Catra said with a small sigh. "I want to be able to not be so confused all the time," she admitted.

Naruto, after some cooling down, nodded. "I get that. I… Whatever you want to do to help you sort things out, go on, I know you can do it," he smiled as she closed her eyes and tilted her head.

"I know."

~NRK~

The following morning, Team Seven walked around the Empire with some jokes between them and their new vests painted and colored by Rogelio himself in crimson reds.

The enchantments on them even shifted in color to fit their color schemes, the symbols shifting from gold to black marks like a fashion-sensitive hairdresser.

Or Shadow Weaver, really.

So, they walked around and looked at the new ongoings of the Horde.

A bit of time later, they were leaning on some railings on an outside platform, Lonnie rubbed the back of her neck.

In front of them, a new pair of large spires could be seen at the very edges of their occupied land, two more of them currently being made at the back, too.

"Those are the new energy shields I've heard about," Lonnie said as Catra hummed, her tail curling in interest. "They're supposed to be able to take several loads of battalion tank fire before going down… So, I-I don't know if that's gonna last."

"It should, hopefully," Catra muttered. "What about the return of troops?"

"We're almost done," Kyle said with a frown. "All 7,000 members of our forces will be back in another month. Several of them have been going out for emergency ration runs before we can hold up for the next year. Following that, though… Lord Hordak seems to be prepared to stage an all-out assault on nearby lands," he whispered.

They all flinched, none more so than Catra and Adora as they watched the shield poles be made.

Naruto's eyes narrowed. "... I don't think it'll work," he added as he relaxed, confusing the others as Catty sat on his shoulders.

"D-Dad? They have 7,000 bad guys!" The familiar said as he chuckled.

"The thing is, you guys probably don't know it but I've spoken with the Princesses over the past month," he told them. "And they were already preparing more in case of anything… W-Well, except for Perfuma but she's a whole different case of a personality."

"Oh, right, the hippie," Lonnie's eyes squinted. "Do you think Perfuma sees that word as offensive? I mean, I would."

"Hmph," Rogelio tapped his chin before nodding. "Mmm."

"See? Lio gets it."

"Probably, it'd be like someone calling me an 'angry kitten'," Catra's eyebrow twitched as Kyle wheezed off to the side while Adora chuckled. "I'm fine with accepting someone using the word 'cat' but anyone who uses the word 'kitten' is getting a swift kick to the nads or ovaries."

Naruto laughed at that as Catty pouted on his head. "About right," he said as he rubbed his familiar daughter's back. "Eh, I'm pretty sure most people can call me anything and it won't stick… Well-"

"Except for 'Idiot'," the others chimed in as he sweatdropped. "We know."

"Yeah… Well, ya know."

"Ah, here you all are," Shadow Weaver said as she glided up to them. "Ah, yes, Hordak's new measures are quite expensive-looking.'"

"Hey, ma'am," Catra waved nonchalantly. "Something came up?"

"Hmm… No but I've had some words I'd like to have with Naruto," the sorceress said as the group grew confused.

"Well… That checks out."

Naruto chuckled weakly before getting up and following after her. "Alright, well, where do you want to talk about this?" He asled before she glided to the side and he shrugged, following after her.

As they reached a farther part of the platform, a familiar black box formed around the two of them.

No inside voices getting out nor outside voices getting in.

"So, be honest with me, you have before," Shadow Weaver began as Naruto tilted his head, Catty syncing up in the act. "..."

"Well, what about?" Naruto asked her.

"Obviously, from our first meeting, you made me very aware of how little you care for Hordak's cause and will likely defect," she shrugged as he blinked before nodding slowly.

"You're right," he said truthfully as she raised a brow. "I mean, you know that from my own mouth even if I didn't reveal all I was feeling."

"And I can imagine you have plans for Adora and the others?"

"I don't want them hurt, no matter what. I don't 'have plans for them', I'm finding my own way to protect them when things go south."

"Yes, you're as wise as many say. So, out with it, what really happened in the Land of Snows?" The sorceress asked.

Naruto hesitated for a moment before sighing. "... I and Frosta defeated the dragon."

The area was silent as Shadow Weaver processed it.

"So… You mean you hold power beyond your own beginnings?"

"... Well, to be fair, I synced-up magic with her to do that," Naruto admitted.

Her eyes went to his collar and narrowed at no glow.

The truth, eh?

"I have 'Nature' as an element, ma'am, remember?"

"Ah," now it was making sense. "And, being realistic, how strong is this upcoming dragon?"

Naruto's eyes narrowed at the 'view' beside them.

"Beyond anything even the 'me' back then could handle with her help," he said. "That's why we've decided to up our training, too. I need to be at 100% before everything I care about is destroyed."

Shadow Weaver's gaze turned away from him. 'A foolish boy,' but… if his words struck true.

Naruto Uzumaki held power beyond imagination.

And she knew from his tutelage that he could make generators of constant energy.

There was something there that she needed to piece together.

"Hmm… And, tell me, with the Horde in shambles if you succeed, what will you do? The Princesses will notice that much destruction and the Queen has very little patience for the Horde. Ex-member notwithstanding," she said before seeing something.

A big bright grin that confused her to no end on a chuckling blonde.

"I'll find a way. Hell, Perfuma seems to have no issue with accepting all types of people and Frosta, the more time I spent there, is neutral on our sides. I somehow doubt they'll care about Ex-Horde if I'm the one who stops the threat to the planet."

Shadow Weaver's eyes narrowed at the blonde. "... They know, don't they?"

"Yep."

The barrier was silent as she mulled over that.

'First-name basis?' Had this boy truly gained two Princesses' favor in those times? 'He's either cunning or truly a big-hearted fool,' and the woman wasn't sure which would be more laughable or annoying.

Naruto leaned back against the railing caught in Shadow Weaver's barrier. "You had an idea, didn't you?" He asked her as Catty came off his shoulders before finding herself in his arms. "I mean, you seem to know more than Hordak does at times."

"... Flattery?"

"It's just what I can see. I mean, we're having this conversation, Master."

'There he goes again,' that title he'd labeled her with so easily that it somehow surprised her he wasn't some subservient animal like most others to her whims. "... You're not wrong. I did, knowing you're a fundamental contrast to the Horde makes it easy. So, you hold the ability to gain asylum outside of this place? Is their trust in you so large?"

"We've worked together to help each other," Naruto smiled. "Does it need to be weighed like that?"

She stared at him for a moment before looking away. 'Too much,' too much like Micah.

Too kind, too nice, and yet Naruto was MORE.

Too bold and wise, why? Why did she end up with this stupid child who could even feel other emotions than disdain for their people?

Why did she end up teaching him? Was this fate? Some sort of wicked humor of the universe?

And why… Why did she care? Why did she enjoy teaching him?

What was wrong with her?

"Ya know, ma'am, this isn't a part of our deal so I've always wanted to ask," Naruto spoke up as he nuzzled Catty a bit, the familiar giggling as he did.

The sight of it caused a nerve to twinge within her heart and Shadow Weaver reached out with both hands.

The two beastkin's eyes turned to her as she held their cheeks.

As she observed them in ways that even confused herself.

"..." She removed her hands before folding them at her waist. "What is it?"

"... Why exactly do you believe in the Horde?"

She didn't freeze or flinch because she painfully knew.

Knew that any unwarranted anger wasn't… Fair. That it wasn't a question he knew had connections to her own feelings in the contract.

"... Belief is a strong word," she said to him as Naruto nodded. "... You seem to have an inkling already."

"I mean, I don't, seriously. When I think about why you might be in the Horde, there aren't a lot of reasons that aren't kinda intense," he chuckled sheepishly.

Her eyes went flat. "Say it, I'm curious all of a sudden."

"Don't get mad?"

"I'm pending."

"Whelp," Naruto grinned nervously as Catty giggled. "So, uh… Biggest shot in the dark… You like someone her-"

"Uuuuugggghhhh," the most guttural groan in existence had the blonde feeling embarrassed. "Don't do that again," she felt sick.

How dare he.

"L-Like I said, shot in the dark!" He reminded her as her eyebrow twitched something fierce. "S-So, next, erm… You really just don't like the Princesses?" Naruto tried.

"... Ugh," she grunted again as he whined. "Despite my position, no, outside of… Perhaps Angella and one other high-status individual, I don't hate anyone else… Alive."

Well, that wasn't ominous or anything.

"Really? I mean, that seems kinda small. I'd have thought someone hurt you."

"... Perhaps they did, it won't matter to you."

"... Last night, I told Catra a lot of things," Naruto admitted, looking red in the face as Shadow Weaver's eyes widened. "No, wait, not that!" He said quickly as the woman's gaze didn't go away.

"What… You what?" Naruto blushed some more before shaking his head.

"S-She was just confused about some stuff, we did something that was totally out of confusion, and I told her that I was sorry even if I have no idea what's going on."

"What are you doing to your fellow disciples?"

"Nothing!" He pleaded. "I just… Look, all I'm trying to say is, like I told Catra, I care. I do, I want to help them all, her especially, and even you," he admitted as Shadow Weaver stared at him some more. "It's who I am, I can't help it, alright? I can feel emotions, whenever Catra's confused, Adora's unsure, or even your anger, I want to help. I can't do otherwise."

Shadow Weaver stared at him for a time before her eyes closed and turned away.

"Dad's really helpful," Catty told the woman as she sighed. "I-I don't think it's bad," she pouted as the sorceress peeked at her out of the corner of her eye. "People are happy when dad helps them."

"... Because he's a fool that others of his ilk would see as grand," the sorceress uttered as Naruto chuckled sheepishly. "I don't understand your 'father', spirit, he does nothing but give me headaches and migraines."

"He does? I thought he only did that for mom."

Naruto sweatdropped at Shadow Weaver's chuckles.

"I'm not surprised, he has that effect on most people who use their brains," Catty giggled. "Be that as it may… He seems to hold a 'power' that, unfortunately, attracts people to him. That makes them want him on their side."

Naruto blinked before grinning again.

"I mean, I don't mind. Especially when I can make that spell," he said with a smile as she hummed.

"You never did say what that was…"

"Hehe, I want to make a Shadow Clone spell."

She blinked once, twice, three times before mechanically turning her head to the cheeky blonde.

"I want to make use of a spell that copies pure energy and my own shape and form. I figured, well, why not my own shadow?" Naruto grinned again. "It's part of me as much as my soul is. You've even said that the shadow of an individual can allow different access to them depending on the magic. I want my clones to copy me down to the whisker marks, I want them to trade the power to take too many blows for the ability to pass on whatever they learn back to their user when they're destroyed. Fragile but powerful and versatile."

His smile almost fooled her but Shadow Weaver realized something… Something unfortunately amazing about this boy.

That he was amazing in many ways. That he had a mind he used, not for studies, but for his life and those around him.

A mind that cultivated an odd but curious technique that could make him immensely powerful with proper usage and tutelage.

She shot the blonde a 'look' that he just kept smiling at.

Her tutelage.

~NRK~

So… There's a lot that happened here, a large amount.

Not gonna go through all of them but let's address the biggest ones and not in chronological order.

One, Catra has kissed our favorite knucklehead out of confusion and her own attraction. Naruto and she aren't sure of what that could even mean so they handle it as best they can, they just… Try to ignore it.

In the grand scheme of things, there's an obvious harsh difference between this Catra and Canon!Catra. Just the amount of support and camaraderie she has with her team is utterly reversed from the show.

So, she's not deterred by lacking connections but hyper-focuses on two. And only one of them was there at the time with more effects on her.

Had it been Adora, it might have taken longer to reach there but, yes, it would have happened, too.

Secondly, the entire group is separating more drastically compared to their original plan. This helps me keep the side characters to a minimum while also giving them actually important things to do for the future. With that, we'll likely be having Naruto-Catra-Adora-only chapters for at least the next chapter and possibly the next.

Add: And a higher chance for Adora-focus. It'll be a lot more even when she becomes She-Ra but I'll definitely raise it in the coming chapters.

This should work well with the new enchantments that they got from Naruto and Catty.

Finally, my last talking point, Shadow Weaver's breach of her own self-contained feelings/gripes.

It's been referenced constantly over the last two chapters but, now, here it is. Naruto finally breaks down her walls through the entry of her trauma and distaste, ironically.

That opened the way for his words and feelings to reach her.

Now, where she's taking this is going to push some boundaries, for sure.

We'll have to see.

Ciao.

~NRK Out~