I OWN NOTHING

Few of you have voiced your dislike of a physically weak Naruto, but I write things the way I enjoy them.

-0-

Pain coursed through Adora's head in her deep dream, unable to wake her up as her mind was assaulted by vivid images. Towering woman made of light. Sword glowing with power. Magical words chanted to her. Pure light emanating from strange giant crystals. Most importantly, a voice rang through her head, calling out to her. And as it did, there were images of one of her friends.

"Adora...Adora..." it started. "Come... Balance must be... For the honor of..." and then, an image of Naruto, "Error... ERROR! Outs... Detected... Danger, danger, danger... Adora... Adora..."

"ADORA!" opening her eyes to Catra's worried sick face made the blonde bolt up into a sitting position, and unceremoniously headbutt her friend! "OW!"

"Argh, dammit..." Adora hissed and rubbed her soft spot. Catra's forehead warmer was quite durable even if she managed to make the two of them share the same pain, "Naruto... Where is-"

"He's still fighting the princess and her midriff sidekick," the cat girl hissed while rubbing the sore spot under her headgear.

"We've got to..." the blonde started only to stop by the heterochromatic eyed girl's hand on her wrist.

"Hold up a second, you passed out upon grabbing that stupid sword which you still haven't let go of," she snarled and held up Adora's hand, not letting go of her hold on her wrist to show said broadsword. "Tell me what the hell was that about? What even happened to you? Did it shock you? Drug you with something?"

"N-No, I'm fine, for the most part!" arguing weakly, the newly-minted captain sighed and rubbed the red spot on her forehead, "I had some odd dream, though. Like visions which seemed to warn me about..." her pause made Catra uneasy, but the blonde couldn't even put what she saw into words beyond bizarre or life-like.

"Either explain it now or save it once we rescue our dork," her feline friend hissed urgently.

"Wait, I think..." Adora looked at her own reflection on the blade. "It tried to warn me... Tell me something about Naruto."

"Duh, that may be brain damage telling you we have to save him!" Catra snapped. "Look, we don't have time to waste. He could be-"

"No, Catra, the sword was telling me he was the danger!" the athletic blonde shouted.

"What...?" Catra quirked a brow, tilting her head to the side, but her shock was truly beyond normal.

Just like the cat warrior, Adora couldn't believe what she was saying, "I know it sounds stupid, but this sword sees him as a threat."

"Alright, then we snap it in two," Catra showed her sharp claws. "Stupid thing's making you hallucinate the dumbest crap. It may be like a princess trap, a spell to brainwash you."

"I don't-" Adora started, interrupted by the sound of earth shooting upwards.

Both looked at a pillar which reached for the skies, sending a familiar blond and pink blurs upwards, "That dork!" Catra didn't think, she leapt to a tree branch before looking back at Adora. "Either leave that thing or put it to good use! Let's go already!"

Grinding her teeth, Adora ran after her friend, the sword held in both hands, "Right behind you!"

Both soon found Naruto and some unknown Force Captain facing the princess and her archer friend, the latter swiftly being incapacitated by Catra. Meanwhile, Adora raced forward with her new weapon dragged on the ground. Once close to the princess, she swung upwards, bringing up dirt in a cloud which blinded the pink-haired girl. Glimmer had only a fraction of a second to react to the blade cutting through the air.

And it stopped, right at her neck, "Yield." Adora's cold tone, blade inches from cutting her enemy, and harsh eyes almost made the sparkling girl comply.

Key word being almost, "Never!" Glimmer shouted and teleported away in a pink flash, quickly grabbing a hold of Bow. "Time to go!"

"Wait, we can't let them leave," the archer said, taking out a strange pad. "That sword's what we've been- Ah!"

Due to his wound not being deep yet still stinging, he dropped his device to clutch his cut, making Glimmer's eyes widen at the sight of more blood. Not one to let an opportunity go to waste, Naruto grabbed the fallen device by a simple spell. First, he made a circle on the ground with a foot, then stomped the floor. Soon, the strange pad flew thanks to a small bump from the soil straight into his hands.

"Would you look at that?" his carefree grin unnerved the Bright Moon warriors. He pointed the pad to the sword, smiling as at the numbers on it, "This little toy says your new sword has a lot of energy coming off it." He tapped the screen to get a clearer reading, then whistled, "Adora, could you let me take a look at it? That thing seems magical and, well, I am the expert."

"Sounds-" Adora started, but as soon as the idea hit her something worse did as well, a powerful headache which threatened to split her head in two. Attempting to clutch her head with a free hand, she fell to her knees, clenching her teeth as her brain throbbed, "Ah! Stop it! Stop it already, you piece of junk!" she glared at the sword, bringing utter confusion and worry to everyone else. Dropping the blade, she clutched her head with both hands, which finally brought some relief to her, "Ah...ah... Ha..."

"Hey!" Naruto slid on his knees to her side, placing a glowing hand to her temple, "Talk to me, is there..."

Questions wouldn't be answered soon, for Adora fell unconscious on his lap, "Did you put her to sleep?" Catra asked worriedly.

"Not, but I got her and-" just as Naruto gripped the sword's handle, it blasted his fingers back with a lightning shock! "Whoa!" he yelped from both surprise and pain as his hand smoked from the white electricity it discharged. However, as he waved his hand around to clear the smoke, he couldn't help but chuckle, "Seems it doesn't like me..."

"A-As it should!" Glimmer exclaimed, slightly dumbfounded by the turns of events but thankful the magical weapon rejected Naruto. "It just goes to show how crooked you Horde soldiers are!"

"Really?" Scorpia asked, having grabbed the sword by the blade with her pincers out of reflex to pull it away from Naruto. "It's not zapping me."

"What!?" Bow yelled with eyes wide as saucers.

"Let me try," a curious Catra said, to which Scorpia kindly let her take the handle and then watched as the cat girl took a couple practice swipes. Realization hit her as soon as Adora's words echoed in her head at a bizarre revelation, "Is this what she meant?"

Naruto furrowed his brow as he and Scorpia held Adora up, "What are you-"

"Give me that!" Glimmer exclaimed as she teleported, grabbed the sword, and teleported with it. "Bow!" the princess extended her arm to the archer, who took it as the two vanished in a pink flash, leaving behind a furious Catra who needed half a second to realize the sword was stolen from her, then voiced her ire.

"That little glittery floozy is double-dead!" she growled, baring her fangs as her pupils shrunk. Both her tail fur and her mane of hair frizzled out more, "Let's find those two twerps and teach them a lesson, take the sword from them, and get them to cry in any order!"

"No, let's patch up Adora first," Naruto said with a tired grin and a sigh. "We're in enough trouble already, and she's still out."

"Adora found that sword, it is our only answer to whatever's happening to her!" Catra snapped. "You saw what it did to her for trying to give it to you! Who knows what'll happen if it's gone for long!"

"Well, with logic like that..." Scorpia tapped her chin with a pincer, then held the blonde girl in a bridal carry. "I can take care of her to see what's really going on."

Sighing deeply, Naruto looked around the forest, "Fine, they can't be far." He turned to Catra, "Do know I'd have taken the blame for this to get the mistress to check her up."

"Yeah, no, I'm not leaving you with that crazy witch when she can be mad at you," Catra said defiantly.

"Fair enough..." he smiled in appreciation, a small and tired grin but a genuine one. "See if you can find water with your smell, even listening to any stream works. I need it to see where they are."

"Got it!" Catra launched herself upwards, focusing on her surroundings.

"Can we really do it fast enough?" Scorpia asked concerned as she made sure Adora was comfortable in her arms.

"I can tell that princess doesn't have enough juice to leave us too far behind," he crossed his arms with a knowing smirk. "Part of knowing magic is sensing it. She's got great power and potential, but unlike me or a real princess, her supply is limited. Guess the queen hasn't let her take full advantage of her Runestone."

-0-

"Alright, we got away, now what?" Glimmer asked in a clearing for her and Bow to catch their breath.

"Going back to the castle is our safest bet considering how powerful that guy is," the archer replied, wincing at his treatment when he tightened the bandages on his wounds too much. "And we got that sword the girl had. It's got to be worth something."

"I wish we had captured him," Glimmer sighed, leaning back. "No more silly missions like securing supplies or checking on routes. Getting him to Bright Moon for interrogation and learning how he learned magic is still a priority." Then, she grimaced, "One which my mother won't listen to considering we wasted so much time to get this sword we know little to nothing about."

"Define nothing," Bow answered, finally done patching his wounds. "It's obviously First Ones' tech by the looks of it. Also, that crystal does look like a Runestone."

"It's way too small," Glimmer narrowed her eyes, then touched said gem. "And rather than generating magic, it seems to...channel it, I'd say."

"Good enough reason to not let them have it," Bow told her with a grin to cheer her up. Standing up, he looked at the forest, "Let's get home, preferably before those guys come after us."

"Easier said than done, I..." Glimmer panicked as she confessed her mistake. "I...I didn't know what to do when I saw that chance. All I did was react and move."

"Wait, you don't mean we're lost, do you?" Bow asked, but her slow nod made his cheer drop. "Uh, um, well, no need to panic, we can-"

All of a sudden, the sword sparked to life, glowing and humming with low vibrations which made Glimmer drop it, "What's going on!?" she yelped as the blade acted as if it wanted to be far away of where the two of them stood, to not be touched by anyone, "Is it reacting to something...?"

Realization hit her and she grabbed Bow, who yelped, "Whoa-hmph!" she slammed a hand to his mouth to shut him up, hiding behind a bush after also grabbing the sword.

Flashing a light into the clearing, Naruto smiled as he entered it, "Hello, Blinky. You there?" he asked with a cheerful tone, cupping a hand to his mouth. "Listen, Your Highness, I've come to make a deal. You've got the sword with some strange link to my friend. Give it back and we let you go, free as a bird. Force us to chase you for it, and we'll get mad."

"How did he find us?" Glimmer asked under her breath.

"If you're curious, I can see what you're doing thanks to a tracker spell," Naruto replied as he held up a bowl of water in his other hand. Then, he decided to be a smartass, "It's easier to make when you have a link to the one you are looking for. Sadly, it doesn't last long if we don't stay in touch for a whole day."

"What!?" the princess whisper-exclaimed in horror. "Did he k-kiss me to make that spell!?"

"Oh, and no, we didn't have to trade saliva for that," Naruto beamed as he took a wet piece from Glimmer's cape out of the bowl. "I guess you didn't notice me pluck this from you."

"He's seen us!" Bow exclaimed, reaching back for an arrow...and finding his quiver gone.

"Looking for this?" Catra asked with a snarl before kicking both princess and archer out of the bush.

The two landed in a heap at Naruto's feet face down, the blond lifting a hand for his next spell, "Stay." Magical chains made of golden energy shot from the yellow circle in front of his palm, coiling around the two Bright Moon soldiers and capturing them quickly, "Don't try to break those, or it'll really hurt." He warned them with a smile before sitting in front of them, "Scorpia, you can come out now."

"Got it!" the hulking woman jogged to him with Adora still in her arms.

Catra approached her with the sword in her hands, "Should I cut a little off the top?" she mocked the duo as she touched a few pink strands of hair with the blade. "Just a little gift for the queen to know her cutesy daughter is in our hands. Safe and sound as long as she knows what's good for Pinky here."

"Jealous I may like her?" Naruto quipped back, then narrowed his eyes at the sword. "First things first, though. Let's make sure Adora is fine. Then we can have fun with the princess."

Quivering as a nasty thought crossed her mind, Glimmer asked in fear, "What do you mean fun? You..." she gulped, then glared. "You won't-"

Poking her nose, Naruto squatted to be closer to her level, "Please, I'm a guy who wants to rule with admiration from his people. Ruthless killing or torture isn't going to inspire confidence, is it?" Flicking his wrist, he had Bow and Glimmer sit up with their knees on the floor and their bottoms on their heels, "Besides, I've got more important matters to attend to with you. Tell me about this sword. What did it do to Adora?"

"As far as I know, it realized she was with you Horde scum and didn't like the idea," Glimmer shot back defiantly.

"Hey, I'm holding it just fine without migraines," Catra warned her with that line by aiming the sharp tip of the blade to Glimmer's neck. "Now, answer honestly."

"We got no idea!" Bow shouted to get her attention. "And we mean it. Everything about that sword screams First Ones, and they've been gone for countless generations."

"First Ones?" Naruto echoed, raking his brain for memories. "The mistress' books did mention them. Super-advanced technology, ancient civilization, all that stuff. Are you sure?"

"As much as it's the only piece of information we have about it," Bow admitted.

"Lord Hordak could study it, though," Scorpia told them. "He's got this huge lab in his chambers which I've only glimpsed at rarely when he summons us Force Captains. Everything in it looks really high-tech, maybe enough to figure out what that sword did to Adora here... Preferably soon, it's, um, getting a bit weird to have her cling to me like this."

Blushing made Scorpia look cute. Seeing Adora hold onto her like a baby would their mother was odd to say the least. Catra felt herself flare up, from jealousy at Scorpia cradling Adora or the white-haired girl's cup size was anyone's guess. Naruto had to suppress a shudder when remembering he nearly met his end in a position similar to his fellow blonde. Bow and Glimmer were unsure of what to say or feel.

"Mm..." Adora stirred, opening her eyes slowly.

"Hey, sorry, did we wake you?" Scorpia asked with a beaming smile.

Adora held her head, wincing, "Sword..." she muttered mid-standing thanks to the other Force Captain's help. "E... Ether... Etheria..."

"What is she..." Catra said, but her ears twitched seconds before the ground trembled. "Something's coming!"

Out of the woods came out a gigantic bug the size of a tank, and it had one clear target, "Naruto!" Adora regained her senses when her friend was attacked by the bug, its mandibles clashing in its charge towards a surprised boy, "Catra, give me the sword!"

"Hey, I'm still alive!" Naruto told her behind a large hexagonal barrier he held up with both hands, his magical shield kept the beast's jaws wide open and its body stuck in place. It wasn't all good, for the giant bug didn't stop its attempt to swallow the boy whole, its feet kicked up dirt as it ran in place, "Please, don't feel pressured to hurry! Feel free to bring a drink and food with you!"

"Do you ever shut up!?" Glimmer exclaimed.

"You could try and steal a kiss for that!" he quipped with amusement and a slight strain to his voice.

He attempted to dig his feet on the ground, but the bug kept trying to chomp on him, "And now I suddenly don't mind if a giant bug eats me if it gets that guy into its belly first." Glimmer grumbled, trying to break free from Naruto's chains to no avail, 'I've got to give him credit for being this adept at magic.'

"Not bad, you know. But you could stand to be a bit more frugal with your power. You're running low without help!" he warned her as the bug reeled back to smash once more against his shield.

Luckily for him, Scorpia was quick to stand in the large creature's way, "Hey, play nice!" somehow, she sounded both authoritative and intimidating, but Naruto was grateful. He traced a path with both hands, using the freedom he now gained to form a spiral pattern. Glimmer realized what he was up to and gaped as he threw out a pair of twisters! Wind itself heralded his call and launched the bug up- and away!

"Adora! Now! Spring tactic, number 3!" Catra used Adora's sword, held flat in the air to launch herself forward. Once the bug was pushed away from Scorpia, the cat girl's leg crushed its eye to force it back, away from them and deep into the forest in a screaming fit. Catra landed next to Adora who fist pumped her.

"Not another step!" the joy didn't last long when a pair of net-arrows impacted her stomach. Trussed up, Glimmer appeared next to Adora with her hand over the blonde's face, a glow covering the surface.

"Why can't you just give it up?" Naruto asked, although holding Adora hostage was enough to force him and Catra to freeze, "And don't play tough, you're running on fumes, aren't you? Do you even want to fight again?" then he narrowed his eyes, showing a rare glimpse of anger in him, "Because if anything happens to Adora, you will see what I'm really capable of."

"Some real gratitude from you princesses," Catra snarled. "We saved your sorry hides and you try to take one of us?"

"You were saving yourself and your bargaining chip to use against my mother," Glimmer retorted. "Don't play innocent after all the lives you Horde bastards have taken from us!"

"Oh, using big swear words, now I'm intimidated," Naruto mocked her, the sight of Adora in danger was enough to get him mad. "Again, think about where you stand, Blinky. Now, I'll give you credit for escaping from my magical chains. Then again, my focus was on a giant bug..." he made another circle, preparing a spell for anything, "And you got my full attention."

"Good, here are our demands!" Glimmer shouted, just as mad. "Drop your weapons, put your hands behind your backs, and let Bow tie you up. Comply, and your arrest won't result in any harm coming to anyone. Your friend will come with us to figure out what is her connection to this sword, and you will be questioned."

Naruto was seconds away from blasting her, but then had an ingenious idea, "Catra, Scorpia... Let's do as told."

"WHAT!?" the two plus Adora asked in unison, the feline warrior adding, "Did you lose your freaking mind!?"

"See, the problem is that we're lost," he both admitted and informed her, "Do you even know where we are?" Catra struggled to answer but bit her bottom lip, looking around the woods for any sign, but every tree looked too similar. "Besides..." he whispered for only her sensitive ears to hear, "...what better chance do we have to see the castle and get back with info about it?"

Forcing out a grin only Naruto was able to see, she shut her eyes and clenched her fists to fake her surrender convincingly, "I...I guess it beats dying from hunger lost here."

"Don't worry, little guy, Scorpia will keep you safe and sound," the large Amazonian captain told him with her pincers on his shoulders.

Briefly, the blond sorcerer felt guilty for not letting her know the plan but decided to keep her on the dark considering how open she was with everyone. At least Adora didn't take long to connect the dots. After a lifetime dealing with two troublemakers, she could tell when they had a plan. Glimmer and Bow did, too. However, the two Bright Moon warriors didn't know what else to do.

So, as Bow went to tie up the Horde soldiers, Glimmer warned them, "Do not try anything funny or remotely suspicious, you are our prisoners. Make this easier for all of us, and you may also get answers about the sword and how it's affecting your friend."

"Oh, how kind of you," Scorpia said.

"Either she means it or wants to use that to keep us compliant," Catra whispered to Naruto.

"I'd be fine being her prisoner for the night, though," he joked, and the cat girl snickered.

"Same, that booty seems to never end."

"I-I can hear you two perverts!" a bright red Glimmer snapped.

Adora sighed deeply with a blank, dead expression, "You get used to it." Her dull tone said everything.

-0-

Naruto whistled upon reaching everyone's destination, "So, that is Bright Moon, it's so-"

"Big, majestic?" Bow tried to guess, much to the blond boy's amusement.

"Pink," he chortled.

"Any problem with that?" Glimmer found everything Naruto did suspicious after their surprisingly calm, eventless walk to her home.

"No, no, no, I do like pink, second to orange and red in my opinion," he retorted with a large grin.

Pointing to her eyes with her middle and index fingers, Glimmer then aimed them at the blond, "My eyes are on you, sorcerer."

"I'd prefer your lips on mine again," he quipped...and was immediately punched in the gut from the deceivingly strong plump girl. He wheezed as he doubled over, "Oof! Okay... I kinda expected a slap..."

"You know you liked it," Catra said with a smirk.

Adora looked at the princess almost apologetically, "You should've really put a gag on them."

"Kinky," Catra couldn't resist...and Adora used what little mobility she had to elbow her in the gut. Like Naruto, she doubled over, "Alright, I might have deserved that one..."

"Knock off your insolence, you'll see the queen soon," Glimmer said and turned serious once on sight of several guards. Statuesque women rushed forth in white robes, donning steel helmets and carrying odd spears with circular blades for the tips, "I've returned with a platoon of Horde soldiers. Please, tell my mother we need to interrogate them and show her this."

She handed a guard the sword, and they all nodded, "At once, Princess."

"Be careful with him!" the pink girl shouted once Naruto was held by two guards, lifted up in the air by his arms. "He may not look like it, but he's dangerous. That boy's capable of using magic. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT let him make any circles with his fingers, toes, even his eyebrows!"

Adora saw Naruto's intentions as soon as his feet dangled inches from the ground, "No, don't you dare say any-"

"Our first kiss wasn't that bad, was it?" he couldn't resist himself.

"Bow," Glimmer started with a deadly cold voice, a hand extended towards the archer, "give me your arrows and let me shoot him."

And Naruto had to push his luck further, "Wow, no physical violence, I may have a chance!"

Moments later, Naruto was placed on his knees at the throne room with half a dozen spears aimed at his neck, his hands and fingers tightly bound, and his friends at his side. Looking around the banners and many guards, then at the steps leading to a magnificent seat, he had to admit he envied royalty. Especially their livelihood and lifestyle. However, that was another reason he wanted to reign. Being at the top is cool.

"Mother, I've apprehended some Horde soldiers," Glimmer stood in front of him, hands clasped behind her back – although he liked the view below, so plump and enticing...

However, he could see where she got some of her curviness from. Seated on the throne for a moment, then standing up to her full height which could dwarf Scorpia, was the queen. Possessing long pink hair and pink, purple-tinted skin, she easily stood out. A gem rested in the center of her forehead as a crown of sorts. Behind here were a pair of translucent shimmery wings. Dressing in a pink leotard, light purple leggings, purple boots, and a long blue cape definitely indicated she was Glimmer's mother. Although she had better taste in accessories with her white earrings with a matching necklace and long white gloves. Last but not least, her hourglass figure, firm and plump breasts second to Scorpia's and wide child-bearing hips Glimmer inherited nearly got a quip out of Naruto.

"Glimmer, you disobeyed my orders, put yourself at risk and left without a way to trace you," the woman intoned as she walked to her daughter, making her wince. "Do you know how worried I was for you?" she placed a gentle, tender hand on the pink girl's cheek, making her look up.

"I know, but doesn't this prove I can finally take on serious missions at the front-"

"Um, not to be rude, but can we get to the point?" Adora asked, the ponytailed girl could only take so much for one day and family drama could wait.

"Certainly," the queen briefly tried to compose herself. "I must admit, I never expected we would capture soldiers when your troops have destroyed every village under our protection."

"What protection?" Adora asked with a snarl. "You princesses-"

"Can I cut in?" Naruto interrupted with a smile, gathering everyone's attention. "Hey, hi, lovely meeting you. Queen Angella, right? With two L's as well? Listen, Your Highness, I surrendered because I wanted to get any info you have on why that shiny toy which we found in the forest affects my friend here. Could we kindly negotiate something that may benefit us botth?"

"You're a silver-tongued one, aren't you?" the queen said dryly.

"I'd ask your daughter for confirmation," he smiled proudly. Glimmer fought back a blush when recalling how tempted she was to open her mouth into their kiss and... "However, I'm serious here. You got us right where you want us. We need some answers more than anything for the sake of my friend. For all I care, the Horde can burn."

"What do you mean?" Angella asked, though when Scorpia did as well, she was slightly bumped into by Catra, who mouthed something to the scorpion woman.

Adora listened intently at Naruto, seeing him smile calmly through it all, "Please, I've heard countless tales of Lord Hordak's heroics. Coming here to establish order and fight the wicked princesses to make a better world. Fighting to free the Fright Zone from tyranny, cruelty, brainwashing, blah, blah, blah. It gets tiring!" he let out a long, deep sigh, then beamed. "I mean, I do like the parts about him having allies who he lost. It got really romantic when talking about him letting their will for peace live on in him. However, that's too cheesy for me."

"Lies and slander!" the queen snapped, listening to Hordak's story made her visibly madder. "That man stole all the good things we've had ever since he arrived! We tried to be diplomatic, but he spat on our faces and ransacked villages. Trampled over civilians, family members, loved ones! All for the sake of expanding his hold of this world!"

"We're on the same page, then," Naruto continued with a small smile. "You don't like the guy, I would want to be set free from him."

Breathing deeply to calm herself, the queen closed her eyes as she asked a heavy question, "What do you propose...? What is your offer?"

"First things first," he started with a devil-may-care smile. "I just told you how Hordak convinces kids he's a big shot. You could tell us about that sword... Fair is fair, you understand how he gets to be so loved by a lot of younglings, and we learn something about this... Hm, did you say it is a sword of the...First Ones?"

"It is..." Queen Angella said with some effort. Growing wary, she tried to conceal some information, "If your friend is affected by it, the question is what connection she has to the First Ones, and old civilization that time has almost forgotten. So little remains of them, and we know for a fact none have lived for countless moons."

"Well, it sure is picky because that thing hates me," he informed to clarify some doubts. "Any tales about natural enemies of theirs? Because everyone but me can touch the blasted sword."

"Could you explain yourself?" Angella asked fully intrigued.

Glimmer took her chance, "Allow me to demonstrate," she put on a professional face, but Naruto felt her sadism oozing in waves.

"Wait, no, don't you dare t- Gah!" Glimmer held the sword by the handle and lightly tapped Naruto with the pummel! Sparks of electricity shocked his whole body like a stun baton, "Ah, ow! Ow, ow, ow, ow, ouch! That really stings!" he fell on his side, groaning and almost rolling if not for the guards keeping a close eye on him, and their spears closer to his body, "Ugh, is this revenge for the first kiss?"

"Alright, he asked for it," Adora said, not really feeling any pity for her friend digging his own grave deeper.

Instantly regretting his choice of words, Naruto saw Glimmer about to repeat the process, "No, this is!"

"Wait," luckily for him, Queen Angella halted her. "What are you, boy?"

"Ugh... sorcerer in training, future Horde Captain if all goes well, pupil of Lord Hordak's right-hand, and..." he had to, he just had to, "Your daughter's first kiss."

The queen's reaction was swift, cold, and deadly, "Glimmer, hand me the sword."

"Worth it," Naruto stated.

-0-

"Lovely cell," Catra quipped as she, Scorpia and Adora were pushed into a large guest room with plenty of cushions, ample space, a stream of water running through it and a waterfall.

One of the soldiers glared, "Be thankful we never had a need for a dungeon until you Horde soldiers appeared."

Queen Angella walked into the room, Naruto dangling from the hold of two guards, "You three shall remain here until further notice under strict watch. None of you shall leave for any reason without direct orders from me. As for your friend..." she motioned to the sorcerer, hoisted up by his arms with the two guards at his side keeping their spears near his neck, "...he shall be given special treatment due to his magic."

Glimmer stood forward, "Perhaps I am paranoid, but I cannot stress enough that they must be kept under the strictest of surveillance with no guard left alone nor with any of the prisoners on their own." She sent a glare at Naruto, "Interrogation will start tomorrow. Until then, do not let him move a single finger, literally. Feed him at a safe distance and do not allow him to move a single muscle."

"What if I need to scratch something?" he smiled softly.

"Tough it up," Glimmer huffed.

Eventually, Naruto was shoved into a special, far more empty room which had far more guards and a chair to which he was tied to, "Wait for dinner in silence and think carefully what you want to discuss with us." The queen warned him, "Behave yourself and we won't use the sword again."

"Can't I get something to read at the very least?" he replied.

"No!" mother and daughter shouted in unison.

Meanwhile, Adora had some questions, "Everything he said sounded so...real. Like he really put thought into it, but that can't be it, right? Betraying Lord Hordak is a death sentence."

"If you ask me, that's a red flag for what kind of organization we work for," Catra retorted as she sat beside Adora, right between her and Scorpia, on the floor.

All three red clad girls were given comfy cushions at least, Scorpia needing three due to her size, "Maybe he's hatching a plan to break us all out, get the sword and return home. The speech must have been a way to catch the queen and her daughter off guard." Adora argued with worry and doubt, but couldn't fool herself, "And yet...the way those two looked hurt..."

"Fright Zone to Adora, this is war and it's never pretty," the cat girl huffed, then leaned against her to relax a bit. "Good, bad, it doesn't matter unless you win."

"Even so..." Adora argued weakly with a miserable expression.

"Oh, I know that face," Scorpia told her as she leaned on the two, careful not to crush them with her massive frame. "Loyalty is a hard thing, isn't it? Now, my grandfather was a tough guy. He always told me about how my people were bound to those they owed something to. Better to be debtors than beggars, kinda. My people have a big debt to Lord Hordak, one we couldn't pay after gifting him our Runestone and-"

"Runestone...?" Adora felt every piece come together at the mention of that single word.

"Yeah, um, super-powerful and gigantic gems of limitless magic, linked to this planet, powering princesses," the scorpion explained awkwardly. "Shadow Weaver's got the Black Garnet, and let me tell y-"

"Now it makes sense..." the blonde Force Captain looked at the guards, who were on edge.

Years ago, when she, Naruto and Catra formed their bonds, the boy took them for a tour...

Right at Shadow Weaver's chambers, "I-I don't like this place." Tiny Catra whimpered, holding onto Adora from behind for protection.

"The mistress is not here, and if she arrives, I won't let her hurt you," the only male in their group told her. Smiling widely, he approached the Black Garnet, opening his arms to the sides dramatically, "And here it is! This is Shadow Weaver's juice generator! This enormous rock powers her up!"

"So, why did you bring us here?" Adora looked at him questioningly.

"If this giant pebble gives her magic, perhaps I can take some for you, too!" he exclaimed and extended his hand for them to take. "Think about it, you'd no longer have to be afraid of her, Catra! And you, Adora, a bit of this power could make you ace all trials!"

Catra had a starry-eyed expression and was ready to say yes, but Adora knew it was too good to be true, "Wait, what's the catch?"

"Fine..." he sighed deeply, ruffling his spiky hair. "I think this thing hates me, it doesn't give me any magic despite the mistress forcing me to try it out." Turning to the girls, he beamed, "Maybe it'll be different for you two. Runestones only affect princesses, and princesses are only girls, so it should work with you."

"Is that really it...?" Catra asked, finally more self-aware.

"Okay, okay, okay..." Naruto grumbled, then looked down miserably. "I'm...really lonely in here. Every part of this section is for the mistress and me, and I don't get to talk to you two that much. So... I had the idea that if you gained magic, we could, you know..." he blushed and poked his fingers together, "...be together. Only if you'd like to."

"Do you even have to ask!?" Catra's mood immediately brightened and she went to the large stone. "Magic powers, here I-"

"What do you think you're doing?"

Only one voice could freeze Catra in utter fear, and Shadow Weaver had finally returned. In an instant, the cat girl was lifted by the crawling darkness and put face to face with the witch. Wild black hair swayed at all angles furiously. Cold, unfeeling eyes locked on with her mismatched pair. And a hateful hand gripped her jaw, clamping her mouth shut as tears ran down into green digits.

"Let her go!" Naruto exclaimed.

"What did you say, boy?" the woman growled, her voice turning the room into a frigid graveyard.

Shivering slightly but not falling back, the boy gave a step forward, "I-I said t-to let her g-go, mistress!" he knew he was too weak to put up a fight with his mentor, but for Catra's sake he was ready to.

Fortunately for him, just before he managed to move his fingers with the courage he was summoning, Adora intervened, "I broke something!" just to make her lie believable, the tiny blonde girl held up a piece of equipment she found lying on the floor, one of the many tubes connected to the Runestone, which she tore off, "Catra tried to fix it for me!"

"Yeah, so don't hurt her!" Naruto knew the witch wouldn't harm Adora – she'd discipline him, but Adora was too much of a perfect student for Shadow Weaver to get mad at.

Even luckier, the witch was too in shock to maintain her anger, "No!" she dropped Catra unceremoniously and kneeled to grab the large wire from Adora's hands. "Leave, all of you! Now!"

Not needing to be told twice, the kids did as told, Catra hugging Adora from behind and sobbing into her back. All three made it to the rooftop, hoping the witch would calm down before she looked for them. As a pale Catra breathed raggedly, a sweating Naruto patted his madly beating chest, and a sad Adora held them to soothe them, they had to speak. Everything that happened solidified what their lifestyle was life.

"I'm...I'm so tired of being afraid..." Catra panted with tear-stained cheeks. "It makes me sick..."

"It's alright, Catra," Adora rubbed her back. "It's no one's fault, really. And once we move up on ranks, you can show her how valuable you really are."

"No, it's not alright..." Naruto said and stood up, growling. "If we're here only to serve Lord Hordak, then why is Catra treated so badly? Why must we be apart?" roaring out in childish anger, he scratched his head madly, "Ugh, I only wanted a way to be with you two! Not get you in trouble! If someone should take the blame, it's me!"

"Naruto..." Adora started, but he had enough.

"You know what!?" he exclaimed. "I'll become a powerful sorcerer, no, the MOST powerful sorcerer in the universe! No Runestones needed, just me, my magic, and whatever I learn! And once I am at the top and the mistress can't compare to me..." he smiled at his friends, then pumped his fists, "I'll change the whole world! I'll remake it so we're together, so people who are afraid like Catra can fight back against those who treat them like crap! And also be an even greater leader than Lord Hordak! Get them all to like me almost as much as I like you two!"

"How will you do that?" Adora asked.

"I guess I'll start by finding other Runestones, and then...well, see why my magic's so different from the mistress' own," the boy then chuckled smugly. "Also get a kingdom for the three of us."

"No way, the kingdom will be mine!" Catra shouted with a large grin.

However, Naruto's beaming smile and declaration finally planted the seed of a crush Adora kept hidden as best she could during his troublemaking phase – which has lasted until the present.

Speaking of current events, Adora's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, "Is he still trying to-"

As if to answer her question, there was a loud "KABOOM!" echoed through the castle. Glimmer bounced off her bed, which was suspended in the air, and grabbed onto the edge to avoid hitting the floor. Queen Angella had to use her wings to not slip out of her throne. Bow, who was walking around the libraries, had to bring up his arms to protect himself from an avalanche of old tomes.

Meanwhile, Naruto took a deep breath as sooth, smoke and some bursts of fire covered the walls and ceiling of his room, "Huff, alright... Didn't think this through, but that works." He panted with some sooth over his face and the guards too disoriented to believe what happened.

"Did he really blow himself up!? How!?" one of the warrior women asked, and Naruto answered.

"By fooling around when extremely bored," then, he did a demonstration by poking out his tongue and moving it in a circle.

"You have got to be kidding me..." the guard grunted when the boy's oral muscle created a magical symbol which conjured a fireball.

The next explosion knocked him back, breaking his chair and also loosening his shackles, "Okay... That one hurt a lot more than usual." He thought out loud through gritted teeth, slowly getting up.

"Don't move an inch!" the guards shouted.

"Come on, where's the fun in that?" he smirked and raised his hand, "Let's have some fun, ladies!"

-TBC-

And that's my rap!

I'll try not to leave cliffhangers, but this chapter was getting long. Next one will be packed with revelations and madness. Just so you know, yes, I'll be taking a different route from canon even if I do acknowledge some facts. I hope you enjoyed this.

Swordslinger out!