I OWN NOTHING
I have an odd issue with this reboot, while I want to see its potential taken to the fullest, my dark side wants to see all girls in harem outfits. Don't lie, you do too.
-0-
Cracking his neck with a backwards tilt of his head gave Naruto an idea of how big the place was. Before him stood a massive castle surrounded by more guards. Guided by the captain into it, he didn't let go of his sword and kept his hand steadily on its sheath. Eyes stared at him in disbelief, confusion, wonder, awe, and mostly interest. Every single guard was taller, making him feel far smaller than he was.
"Everything about this place seems so...pink." He stated bluntly while following the deer woman who summoned him.
"Please mind your manners, you are to meet Queen Angella." She warned him with a stern look.
"Can't I be curious as to who designed this place?" he had to ask as he patted a pink wall with his knuckles. Everything was pink with white with silver and golden arcs, ample space, and guards around the corners. It also surprised him that they had a stream running through the castle and what appeared to be floating steps made of gold on some places.
The deer woman gave a sigh and shook her head, "I know you're new, but we need to be serious in presence of-"
"Ugh, stop being so stubborn, mom!"
"The Princess..." the captain sighed as she ended her sentence after such an abrupt interruption. Guessing by the sound of it and her reaction, the shouting had to be common occurrence and the guards weren't a fraction of a percentage comfortable about it. Naruto had second thoughts then and there if he was going to be working with such people.
"I told you that such a tactic was too reckless, and you still went ahead with it!" yelled a woman.
"Unless we do stuff like this, we won't get ahead of the Horde!" the princess shouted.
"Enough!" the authoritative voice of a woman rather than a queen's exclaimed. "Act your age, young lady!"
"Did I arrive at a bad time?" Naruto asked while the captain looked at where he had been and then where he was, having missed him moving in the blink of an eye.
"Who are you?" asked a girl who seemed to be around his age and a head shorter than him.
Possessing a large rounded backside which would ripple endlessly if slapped, she was a pleasantly plump girl. Sporting a pastel pink bushy hair in a feathery bob, tanned skin, pink eyes and long eyelashes, she had his gaze on her easily. Checking her outfit made him arch a brow, for she dressed in a dark purple, sleeveless leotard that stopped at her mid-thigh under a light purple tunic with a blue diamond clasp. She also had matching purple boots with white moons on the fronts and soles with light blue wings on each side. Then were her light blue fingerless gloves, with a long white glove on her left arm and a sparkling blue cape shaped like wings attached to a circular plate on her left shoulder.
"Are you...the Forest Gale?" asked the woman, a rather statuesque beauty who was most likely the queen.
Queen Angella had long pink hair and pink, purple-tinted skin. Naruto felt even tinier than with the guards, she was easily the tallest woman he had met standing a good head over him. She wore a gem in the center of her forehead as a sort of crown and had a pair of translucent shimmery wings. For clothing she dressed in a pink leotard and light purple leggings with purple boots. Being royalty seemed to demand a long cape, a blue one in her case. Regarding accessories she had white earrings with a matching necklace and long white gloves.
Grinning, Naruto extended his arms to his sides and boasted, "It appears the name's gone around. Guess you've heard how easy I kicked the Horde around."
A nod was his first answer, "Indeed, which is one of the reasons we require your aid, mostly my daughter Glimmer." Angella motioned with a hand to the pink-haired girl.
"Say no more." Glimmer grew excited. "If you're as good as they say, fighting back the Horde will be-"
Angella cut her off, "Glimmer, he's to be your bodyguard!"
"What are you talking about?" Naruto asked, confused and slightly mad at the suggestion.
However, he wasn't the loudest, "Wait, I don't need someone to keep me safe!"
Glimmer's anger didn't help her mother's temper, "After the way you endangered your troops, I beg to differ, Glimmer!"
Groaning, the girl clutched the air in front of her rather small chest, "Did you make me a soldier just to keep babying me!?" she screamed, making things awkward for Naruto.
Reaching her breaking point, the pink woman snapped, "You're grounded!" the monarch shouted. "You're acting like a child in front of our guards, in front of the one young man I hear can help you stay out of harm's way! If you won't listen to reason, then go to your room!"
"I will!" the girl shouted while Naruto could only stare in silence.
"Okay, time out, what did I miss?" the young swordsman asked with his hands held in a T-pose, "Last I recall, I was told I'd do more than small-time hero jobs."
"Not now..." the queen grunted with a hand on her face, "We shall continue this conversation later. For now, make yourself at home and-"
The boy snapped, "I was told that you needed me to fight off the Horde, to protect the people of Oakley village! I owe those people for taking me in, teaching me the ways of the Whispering Sword, and treating me better than the people at my home!"
He was angry but did not forget the fact that he was representing his village who had trusted him, he was furious that he was being told that his job was to protect Princess Glimmer. Instead of fighting, he was stuck as a guardian, something that didn't sit right with him especially after what he believed he was supposed to was becausenot only did he have to witness such a ridiculous family dispute, but he had to babysit some girl instead of actually fighting the Horde.
She tried to calm him down, "I understand your outburst, but my daughter-"
Cutting her off, he stepped forward, "Listen to me! I'm not just an ordinary mercenary! I never asked to be dragged into your world, and I sure as hell didn't ask for someone like you to come in and tell me I had a bigger role in store just to watch over one person! I get its your daughter, but there's other people who need help!"
His words stung and stunned her, making her look away briefly before she steeled herself and looked him in the eye, "I protect them with my power, which sadly hasn't been enough, but it is why I asked for your help. What I request of you is a chance for my daughter to properly aid others."
Of course, he wasn't going to her go easy, "Then let me fight with her!"
Her guards gave him hard stares, but at a look from their captain, they stood to attention, his blunt words had served their purpose,but the queen saw his reasoning with a heavy sigh, "I see you are a very headstrong young man, but your heart is on the right place." she rubbed her cheek with a hand and sat on her floating throne. "Please, do not consider my request to be selfish or meaningless. Protecting my daughter is guaranteed to let you face the Horde."
One would try to be polite, but his patience was short, "Look, I'm sorry I was rude, but this is ridiculous. I have a duty to my village, so I'm not supposed to just keep an eye on your daughter unless I want to, right?" Naruto was never anything other than blunt, and he crossed his arms impatiently. "You made it look like I'd be at the frontlines, keeping the enemy at bay."
Queen Angella both admired his direct attitude and reminded herself to tolerate it despite how direct it was, "Please, be calm." She told her guards as they approached him, "My daughter is destined to head into battles with Hordak's forces. And even if it's her duty to protect our people, she insists on engaging the Horde. Should you protect her, you'd also face them."
Soon, he got her idea, "So you want to kill two birds with one stone, have me beat them up if they get close to her or she gets close to them..." He grinned, but gripped his sheathed sword tightly as he continued, "I can do that, but I will step in if the Horde threatens anyone. Your daughter's important, I get it, but I'm not letting those guys get whoever is close enough for me to help."
"Precisely the attitude I was looking for, among other things." Angella sighed, "As my daughter commented, we are losing territory. You may have noticed at your home in the Whispering Woods how they're gaining more ground, covering far more zones to corner us. If they continue on like this, sooner or later they will overwhelm us... and we can't do nothing but attempt to keep them at bay... at best."
Once again, Naruto's bluntness was as perplexing as it was admirable, "Then you want me, an expert in doing just that, to also kick them out." Ruffling his hair, he tried to make his choice, "Not gonna lie, lady, you and your daughter are not who I wanted to fight for, but..." He hooked a thumb to himself and looked serious, "I love the cheers of those I've kept safe, that's about it."
"I understand and thank you for your sincerity. So, I will let you do what you must to protect my daughter." Angella was being as nice as she could, understanding that her request was unreasonable yet at the same time knowing that Naruto was grateful towards those who had cared for him,"Please, go talk to my daughter of this development. I would go myself, but she won't listen to me after this latest fight."
Naruto sighed, and then smirked cheekily, "Fine, but just so we're clear, I like getting paid with good food, a comfy bed, and plenty of people to listen how cool I was defeating my regular quota of Horde soldiers."
"I...I can at least promise the first two with ease." Angella couldn't believe he was serious, but the boy's attitude wasn't that of a liar.
"You better, I'd feel robbed if I didn't get a decent meal out of this." Naruto said bluntly, surprising the queen more at how nonchalant he was. Until he turned with a hand gripping his sword, "That said, if nobody shows your kingdom how to fight, we're all screwed." He looked up into the distance and sighed, "At least I know why you didn't want to keep fighting."
Angella looked up past him, to see what he was staring at. A statue of King Micah gently looking down upon them.
-0-
"Hey, is this really where Pinky sleeps?" Naruto grumbled to a guard as Queen Angella was left with her thoughts.
He found himself in the middle of a hallway leading to the girl's bedchambers and an unhappy armored woman as his guide, "Yes, and you should be polite enough to refer to her as Princess Glimmer."
Giving her a dull stare, the young blond replied flatly, "After their screaming competition I don't think they care about manners, lady." The guard blushed and left Naruto, who just knocked on the door first, "Hey, Princess, are you there? Can we talk?" He knocked again...with no response, "Hey, what's the big idea?" he entered the room, but... "Where is-"
All of a sudden, a flash of light turned his attention towards the window, Glimmer growling to herself as she sneaked out of the castle after teleporting herself right out, "This is stupid… The Forest Gale came here, and now I'm grounded!? No way! I'll prove it to mom and him! I'll nab a Horde Soldier or maybe a captain, and then they'll both take me seriously!"
Naruto's ears pricked, and he ran off after the pink-head. Sadly, he didn't have magical powers, so all he had was the ability to jump over the large distance between the girl's room and the forest over the body of water surrounding her large home. Once his feet touched the grass, he leapt to the nearest tree, following another pink flash. Just as he got out into the forest, he heard a female shout of surprise.
"Everybody, come here! I caught a Princess!" exclaimed a familiar voice.
Running doubly hard, Naruto kept going throughout the woods, finding himself entering deeper into the more forlorn and dark parts. Glimmer hadn't made her way too far, and he was closing in. Emerging into a forest, he found a groggy Glimmer in the claws of Scorpia with a new platoon of Horde soldiers. None wasted time to get ready for battle.
"It's him, the blond pest!" a soldier shouted after spotting him and all soldiers moved their aim from Glimmer to him.
"I've got a name, you know!?" he blasted forward, just as Glimmer was panicking while the scorpion lady and her troops closed in on her.
"And we got a new toy for you." Scorpia said with a smile and produced a stun-rod from her side, "Now, this will hurt, but it'll just knock you out like this, um, what was her name?" she asked while holding the still half-conscious princess on her other arm. "Anyway, yes, new weapon for you. Are you excited to test it out?" she was giddy, like a little girl eager to show her friends a new toy.
"Ecstatic!" Naruto exclaimed and launched himself at her. His sword flew out of its scabbard to clash against Scorpia's free arm with a wooden clunk, surprising the two girls, "Heh."
"What's this thing made of!?" the Force Captain asked while the blond smirked.
He held his index and middle fingers out in front of his face, "Whispering Sword: Flowing Formless Breeze!"
He slid his fingers down over his arm, then pointed forward, gripping his sword and spinning it about. Deep blue energy collected over its surface and formed a perfect smooth surface. Blocking the stun-rod, he shocked both of them as they saw just what he had been using this entire time. What his weapon truly was left Scorpia speechless, but not the princess.
Glimmer realized it first, the shock serving to wake her up fully, "It's…just a stick! He just colored that stick silver and called it a sword!"
One of the soldiers was pissed, "What!? You mean this punk's been beating us with a random branch!?"
Naruto scoffed at the incredulous voice, "Idiot! Just because you have a metal weapon or magic doesn't make you a warrior! If you apply your skills, even a leaf or a bit of grass can become a weapon!"
Grabbing a handful of said grass, they stiffened up before he threw them into the air, gesturing with both hands, index fingers pointing down.
"Get him!" one of the soldiers shouted, but the young swordsman had expected it.
"Whispering Sword: Gushing Spring Rain!" the blades of grass fell like a rain of sharp needles, making the scorpion girl's troops yelp in surprise and pain. Scorpia used her exoskeleton to shield herself. "I didn't just twiddle my thumbs when you guys brought me to this world!" he cheered as he leapt to a nearby tree, sheathing his sword, "I've spent five years mastering the art of the sword thanks to a good teacher!"
"Fire at will!" Scorpia yelled before gripping Glimmer tightly again, keeping her close to her body in a one-clawed bearhug. Her men did as told and five rifles shot out crimson beams of burning energy which Naruto was fast enough to avoid, "You're not getting the princess easily, cutie pie!" she told him while Glimmer went limp.
Suddenly, the pink-head spoke, "Mastering my own powers by myself was the tough part."
"Wha-" Scorpia's shock grew as a cloud of smoke replaced her hostage with none other than Naruto, who proceeded to judo-toss her to the ground hard enough for the scorpion woman's back to crack it. Dusting himself while the soldiers realized the switcheroo, he cheekily motioned with a hand for them to attack.
"Die already, you annoying-" one of the soldiers fired and hit his mark...
Another cloud of smoke took place, revealing that it had been a copy.
-0-
Glimmer was aggravated and flustered, "I-I can move on my own, you know!?"
Naruto snickered, "Sure didn't look that way to me, you didn't teleport at all." He smirked as he looked over his shoulder at the plump girl riding his back, he arms reluctantly but tightly wrapped around him to not fall off. Leaping from tree to tree with ease and away from the soldiers, he had started to talk once his clone was gone, "Don't tell me that scorpion lady scared you."
Heat spread across her cheeks, "It's n-not my fault! That stun-rod of theirs drained a lot of my magic!" she blushed and gasped when he let himself fall from the top of a tree only to kick off its trunk to further widen the distance between them and the soldiers, "A-and can you not use a different, safer route?"
"Do you want them to catch up to us?" he retorted and jumped down, "Just hold tight!"
"Wh-why're you smirk-WHOA!" Glimmer did as she had been told and pressed her small but perky breasts on his back once his feet hit the dirt of a hill. Both started to slide down a slope with the girl unsure of where to feel the due amount of excitement for such a ride or fear from how fast they were going.
However, Naruto was...Naruto, "Listen, I got you safe and sound, so consider me a good bodyguard already and see if your mom can wipe up a good dinner for this." He grinned cheekily, "I do believe I've earned it and a proper thanks, Princess." Glimmer would've wanted to hit him had he not been carrying her and nearing the end of the slope.
"You-watch out!" she yelped seconds before he jumped.
"Woo-hoo!" Naruto cheered as he hopped over a 20 yards gorge!
Both landed on the other side to a skidding halt, Glimmer shaking on his back, "I...I...I..."
"Wanna do that again?" Naruto teased her.
Anger was a great way to recover one's composure, "No! Just-wah!" she tried to get off, forgetting she was still numb from the literal shock from Scorpia's new toy and the emotional shock from the leap. She had to grab Naruto again, nearly making him fall. Her hands fastened around his neck to not hit the ground.
He didn't like it, obviously, "Gah, you're...choking me!" he grunted but let her go.
Once she was back on her feet, albeit on shaky legs, the princess allowed herself a breather, "T-thank you though…I…I appreciate it."
"C'mon, I want to eat something for that hard work." Naruto grunted, walking forward with his hand on his sheathed sword. "Also, your mom will be pissed off at this stunt."
"I-I know that…I just-"
He turned his head as if to admonish her before grumbling, "Alright, alright. I get it. You wanted to prove yourself. I've been there. Just forget it, okay?"
She looked at him with a confused expression, "Y-you're not angry?"
"I'm not exactly a paragon of responsibility here. The Horde are jerks and I want them to stop bothering people, that's all there is to the reason I fight."
She looked at him as if in a new light, "You're a lot less heroic than I thought you'd be…"
"Heh. Well, I never said I wanted to be a hero. Get fame, fortune, food, and riches sure. But helping people I don't care about? Never thought about it." He said as he walked with her. Rubbing the back of his head, he had something to confess, "I can't let the Horde just destroy this world, though. I don't want people to die because some jackass like Hordak feels like he owns the place."
"So, you really aren't from this world?" she had heard that much. "That'd explain a lot... Not enough, though, but..." she was conflicted, questioning whether she should ask about his powers or not.
"Doesn't bother me, to be honest." He snickered, "Back where I came from, people hated my guts. And I mean wanted me gone. Here? At least you guys appreciate how much ass I can kick."
"You're really...something else." Hero or not, his attitude made it hard for her to get a read on him.
Shrugging noncommittally, he decided to get blunter, if sarcastic, "Well, excuse me if I'm honest, princess."
Puffing out her cheeks in annoyance – and somewhat cutely –, the chubby pinkette retorted with, "You could try to be formal."
Expecting her to stomp her feet, he turned his back to her but kept an eye on her as well as a smirk, "Like when I first met you and your mother?"
Blushing angrily, the girl looked away, "Forget it."
Snickering softly, he understood how much he was going to enjoy teasing her a lot, "Anyway, once we're back to the castle, I'm tagging in." was his cryptic reply which at first confused the girl.
-0-
Unfortunately for Glimmer, Naruto was nothing compared to an angry mom. Powerful as he may be, he wouldn't dare stand between a mother and the child she had to lecture. Deep inside him, a part envied how the woman really cared for the girl. Maybe that was an odd sign of love between them and he was missing out. Although he was partially glad to not get so thoroughly chewed out. The queen could get scary.
"...and of all the ideas you could have, going after the Horde!?" the queen's final line snapped Naruto out of his zoning out. Mastering the art of ignoring an adult giving overlong explanations of how awful a kid's choices had been and how damaging their actions were, he was good at finding the right moment to respond. After all, it was better to pay some level of attention than getting smacked by the elder Hokage.
"Actually..." Naruto didn't know what compelled him, but the plump princess looked drained from the long scolding session, "It's not like she wanted to meet them."
Queen Angella narrowed her eyes at him when noticing Glimmer's shock, "Explain." Obviously, she knew he was trying to cover for her, her daughter's reaction said so.
"Let's say I've gotten fans from there." He answered and ruffled his hair, "One of them I recently met, too. Hordak gave her a gift meant for me, but she couldn't wait to test it on the princess. It was a special baton that drained her magic fast."
"If that is true, it is worrisome." The queen commented, a hand on her chin, "It doesn't excuse my daughter running out on her own like that."
"Sure, it doesn't, but it's not like she was looking for the beefy lady that wanted to zap me." Naruto's answer surprised the guards at how casual and informal he was with their ruler.
"Fair enough, that is worth looking into as well as warning other princesses about." Recovering her composure after exhausting her concern-fueled irritation telling her daughter how foolish her mistake had been, she needed to face the dangerous issue at hand. "If anything, your appearance here forcing Hordak to develop such technology speaks of how much of a threat he considers you."
"Heh, now I feel flattered." The blond smirked and put his hands behind his head. "Anyway, about my payment... How does a feast sound? I've never had meals outside Oakley village."
"I believe it's owed to you." The queen smiled and nodded at her guards.
Later that night, Naruto was happily wolfing down on a large piece of meat on the bone by himself, Glimmer staring in shock, "He's eaten an entire beast by himself..." she gaped as he had a pile of bones at his side and enough stomach to keep chewing. Once he cleaned the last bone, he twirled it on a finger before throwing it on the pile and getting a drink.
Queen Angella was more awed than appalled by his appetite, "I see you enjoyed yourself." Keeping a straight face was primordial to monarchs, but it still took effort.
"All I had in Oakley was mostly fruits and veggies, not that I'm complaining." Naruto replied after emptying his glass. "Sadly, I really burn a lot of energy."
"Speaking of, I was meaning to ask..." Glimmer blushed and knitted her eyebrows together, "Just what was that energy?"
"Chakra." He said and recalled his academy lessons to the best of his capacity, "Basically, it's my inner fuel. Everyone in my world has it, and it can be used for crazy things like what you saw me do." He propped his head up with a hand, "I tried using it on my training swords once old man Kukui gave me the idea, and from there I used it to make anything I touch tougher."
"People from your world must be quite exceptional." The queen commented.
"I know." Naruto sighed as he crossed his arms, "I'm basically a rookie compared to them."
"What!?" Glimmer was floored by such revelation, "There's more people like you, and they're far stronger!?"
Groaning at the truth, Naruto looked away, "Not like I can't beat them, but yes, they are pretty badass."
Angella stifled a giggle at how cute he looked with his pride bruised, "I do believe you. We will rely on you and I am certain you are more than a great asset."
"Still, Hordak got him." Glimmer started, "Mom, do you think he could...try to use others from his home?"
That worried Naruto, "You're...joking, right?" he turned to the silently concerned queen.
"It's more than a possibility." She recalled tales of Hordak's actions and spoils of war, "If anything, it's hard to tell what he is looking for. Just be careful, both of you."
"Dammit, now I got a whole new reason to kick his ass." The boy grumbled, "I think I lost my appetite."
Glimmer blinked, "You mean you could've continued? You eat for five people."
"You do too." Naruto countered.
"I-I don't!" the princess gasped.
Digging his pinky into his ear, the blond was honest, "Your caboose begs to differ."
"W-what're you talking about!?" she blushed furiously.
"It's really big, massive even." He explained himself and blew the wax off his finger, "Although, it's not that bad, you really got it going."
Queen Angella rubbed her face and decided to stop any further arguing, "Naruto, I'm...both disturbed and flattered you can be so casual with my daughter, but please keep this talk to yourselves."
"Mom!" the girl wanted the soil to swallow her.
"I believe you two can become friends, if what happened at the forest says anything." Bright Moon's ruler further explained herself, "But, please, make sure I am not in the room to hear...that type of conversation or similar." She let out a deep sigh, inwardly admitting to herself she would be hearing more of that in the course of her immortal life.
-0-
However, as that happened, Naruto's actions affected the lives of others in ways unexpected by fate.
"Adora!?" asked a woman in a dark red dress, wearing a near featureless crimson mask with a red gem on the forehead and only the white glow of her eyes showing any expression at all. Black wild hair wiggled as the shadows around her writhed in worry and anger. And the reason for that was an athletic blonde girl who had just returned after a daring escape.
"I'm, sorry, but let me explain!" she started and stood tall.
Before the woman stood a girl the same age as Naruto, and with her appearance she could've passed as his sister. Slim and somewhat tomboyish, she had deep blue eyes and her hair in a simple ponytail with a stylish small pompadour atop. Hugging her frame was the Horde's uniform for rookies, a white long-sleeved shirt with the symbol on the back with gray pants and red boots. She also had a red jacket with a brand-new Force Captain badge... and a large sword on her back.
"Is that...the sword you talked about?" asked her friend, who was clad in a skin-tight outfit.
Also 17, but not as favored by the woman in red whose eyes narrowed behind her mask at her for a moment. Bushy wild brown hair like a lion's mane framed a feline face with heterochromatic yellow and blue eyes. Cat ears adorned the top of her head, and a tail swished over pert if toned buttocks. She was shorter but curvier than the blonde and showed it proudly with her form-fitting sleeveless red shirt and pants.
Kneeling before the woman, Adora offered her the sword, "This weapon is no ordinary sword. It made me see visions, beckoned me. I know I shouldn't have gone to get it without telling you, Shadow Weaver, but I could feel it calling to me."
Had she kept her head up, she'd have seen the woman's eyes widen at the revelation.
"Understood..." she held the sword... and hissed as it rejected her with a blast of pure blue energy, "Gah!"
"Shadow Weaver!" Adora exclaimed in horror as the woman recoiled and had to lean against a wall for support.
Breathing raggedly, the masked woman growled, "Such a foul instrument must be a weapon of the princesses. Well done finding it, Adora. We must not let them get their hands on it."
"Roger." Adora stood and looked at her friend, "Catra, should anything happen-"
"What're you talking about!?" the cat girl asked in deep concern, "Hey, don't tell me it's washing your brain!"
"Just listen, if it...tries to get me, I need you to keep me locked down, please." Adora begged.
"I...I...fine..." her friend ground her teeth, sharp black claws digging into her palm at the idea.
"Rest assured, child, you won't need her to look after you." Shadow Weaver told the Force Captain, "Now, as much as I'd like to not jeopardize you, we should get this weapon to Lord Hordak." She nearly spat out a metric ton of venom at the name, but held it in. "For the time being, it will be best in his care to make out what secrets it holds..." a glint in her eye said she planned to observe his advances on that.
Adora said with a bow, "I shall deliver it to him immediately."
After that was said and done, the two girls walked to meet their boss, Adora nervous as she gulped, until Catra hugged her from behind, coiling her arms around her shoulders, "Alright, so, magical sword? What's it got for you?" she asked curiously, narrowing her eyes at the weapon like a cat fighting another for its property.
"I wish I knew, but hopefully Lord Hordak can tell us." Adora replied and swallowed some spit again.
"Nervous about meeting the boss?" Catra didn't need to guess.
"Mostly what this thing wants with me, but yes, seeing him doesn't make things less soothing." The blonde took a deep breath.
Frowning, Catra leaned closer to her ear, "Just know I won't let it take you from me, you got that? Just like I won't let Shadow Weaver think I'm weaker than you." Then she smirked and poked her friend's nose, "If I were, you'd never end getting your butt whooped."
Adora smiled reassured, but turned her smile into a confident grin, "You wish. Last time I had to grab you by the tail to not fall into a pit."
"Yeah, but only because that robot threw you in it and I had to get you out!"
"Liar!" The two giggled, wishing moments like those would never end. However, once they reached Hordak's chambers, all playing stopped, "Oh, this is...it."
Seeing Adora gulp, Catra let go and nodded, "Right behind you, Captain. I got your back."
And so, they entered to see the man atop a set of stairs to his throne, overlooking the latest spoils of war as behind him stood a gigantic pillar of pure raw energy, "For...Force Captain Adora reporting, milord." Adora stammered a bit but managed to bow politely as did Catra while their boss waved his hand, holographic screens moving out of his sight to look at the girls before him.
"What is there to report, child?" asked the man with a hissing voice as he stood up. Towering easily over most residents of the world, he pictured an imposing figure despite his lean appearance. Marble white skin, pointy ears, purely red eyes, and a cybernetic exoskeleton for his arms made him look as both a demon and a machine. He wore his uniform with pride, a blue suit with his emblem on the chest.
"I...made a bizarre discovery in the Whispering Woods." Adora replied and offered him the sword, "This item which rejected Shadow Weaver's touch has been calling to me, showing me visions I do not understand or have any recollection of. I believe it's a magical weapon meant for a princess, but it's trying to take control over me."
Curious, Hordak held the weapon and hissed once the same energy that struck Shadow Weaver engulfed his arm...but he didn't let go, "Amazing... Quite the advanced piece of technology for such a primitive world and yet..." he turned to look at the stars and relive a painful memory, "Nothing compared to the power of that world where that fake goddess..."
"Lord Hordak?" Adora asked.
"Leave this to me, Force Captain." Hordak told her, "And..." he then stabbed the floor with the sword and approached the energy source he sat in front of, "I have an assignment for you. Have you heard of that one hero the locals have dubbed...the Forest Gale." He clenched his hands into fists when mentioning the name.
"I-I have, yes, sir!" she replied quickly, looking at Catra with equally wide eyes as the shocked feline.
"He may hold a key to your link to this sword and a similar energy which flows through many worlds." The man smirked and placed a hand on the pillar, "An energy, nay, a power beyond all imagination which could destroy this planet in an instant. Therefore, I cannot emphasize how important it is for you to capture him alive. Such power is a danger in the hands of the princesses."
Smiling proudly, the blonde stood tall and put a hand on her chest, "Consider it done, sir."
"Then please leave at once and don't stop until you do, no matter the cost." Hordak held back a chuckle as the two girls left.
Once outside, Catra threw her arms up, "Oh yeah, our first assignment is making everyone look like fools by capturing that pincushion!"
"I...I can't believe it, but yeah, let's get him." Adora smiled as she and Catra clasped hands together.
-0-
And that's my rap!
Alright, that's the stakes and everything's on the table. Adora will remain in the Horde. Naruto will fight along Glimmer. And Hordak will try to study the Sword of Protection.
As you see, Glimmer and Naruto get along like cats and dogs. As for Bow, I actually feel that I shouldn't use him. I think Naruto and Glimmer have a better chemistry without a third wheel. What say you?
Anyway, I hope you guys get the reference to how Naruto can make his weapon so deadly. If you don't, look for an epic puppet show in anime style.
Also, worry not, he isn't willing to kill someone as sweet and innocent as Scorpia. Hordak on the other hand better have more than a couple spare Luke Skywalker hands should he try to greet him.
Swordslinger out!
