I OWN NOTHING
Thank you all for enjoying this ride, I hope the next chapters entertain you as much as writing this has done so for me.
-0-
Blinking to herself, Glimmer felt disoriented, confused and utterly lost. Looking around, she noticed tall buildings with an architecture she had never seen before. People all around her were giving the pink-haired girl suspicious stares. Everyone wore clothes unlike anything she had come across in her trips around kingdoms and villages. Needless to say, she wasn't at Mystacor. However, she wasn't in any familiar land, either.
"What just happened?" she tried to shrink herself and avoid looking at the others in the eye. "Shadow Weaver… She used that spell and…"
Everything went dark, she opened her eyes, and was at a village. Dirt roads all around, wood planks serving for fences, and odd buildings. The windows were made to be practical, doors were meant to have someone slide them to open them, and there was a cliff. A large mountainside had four faces carved on it, each the size of a small palace. To make her feel more isolated, she could tell there were walls all around the village as well as guards. She could feel their presence looming in on her, so she had to excuse herself and fast.
Gulping as she tried to make sense of the situation, she stepped back, "Ah!"
And immediately stumbled on a child who fell on the floor, causing her to yelp and apologize immediately, "Oh my goodness! I'm so, so, so so-"
Realization hit her like a sack of bricks when noticing which child she accidentally knocked down. Suddenly, all the adults seemed to forget her existence and focused on the figure currently on the floor. Many of them took their children with them away from the scene. Glimmer herself could only gape at who was before her. Looking down at his features, it was undeniable and ridiculous. Mostly ridiculous.
"Naruto…?" she asked in shock. In front of her was a small, slim boy in a white t-shirt and orange shorts wearing a pair of stylish green goggles and blue sandals, but his hair, face, birthmarks, and eyes were the same as her bodyguard's, "What happened to-"
"Oi, what're you looking at?" the boy growled at the adults, who sneered at him. Pouting as the men and women turned away, he angrily yelled at them, "If you tripped me, say sorry!"
"Can you… not see me?" she asked and waved a hand in front of the boy's eyes, which didn't response to the motion.
Unfortunately, something happened which she wished she could forget, "Return to whatever hole you crawled from, brat."
"Like I'd listen to someone like you!" Naruto yelled at the condescending figure in front of him, a large man who held nothing but complete and utter disgust for the child.
"What is this?" Glimmer asked in shock.
"Did you not hear me?" the man growled shoved the kid back to walk past him. "Get lost and don't show yourself ever again."
"You-" Naruto snapped, but his anger was cut short when a group of strange individuals in black outfits appeared.
"That's enough out of you two," said one of the mysterious figured.
"He started it," Naruto told the nearest man, who had a white animal mask like all the others. "I was minding my own business, and someone just tripped me."
"You didn't have to yell at him," the masked figure told him and crossed his arms. "Let alone make yourself such a nuisance."
"But I didn't-" the boy argued, but the men and women left in a blur of speed. Sighing, the kid hung his head low and made his way to a small apartment building, grumbling to himself, "That guy's on my list… When I see him next, I'm throwing whole buckets of paint on him."
Following the child, Glimmer tried to reason with herself, "If this isn't Mystacor and Naruto's a child… Am I in a memory?" she asked out loud, knowing no one would see or hear her. "No, wait, it's still somewhat real, I think. Naruto tripped because I bumped into him… Wait, why am I unaffected?"
Looking at her own hands, the pink princess patted her body for any clues, but found none just as Naruto arrived home, "I'm soooooo hungry…"
Both entered a small apartment which was minimalistic to say the least, and quite lonely. There was no decorations and everything seemed beyond barebones. With the exception of a few belongings, it seemed like her bodyguard's home just offered shelter and little else. She could only watch as the boy opened an almost empty fridge. Without much ceremony, the kid pulled out a bottle of milk and went to the cupboard for a cup of instant noodles. Glimmer noticed the worst of it.
"Where are his parents?" she asked with dread running down her spine.
"Naruto, I'm coming in," said an elderly voice.
Turning to the door, Glimmer expected to see a guardian, a grandfather figure to take care of Naruto. Entering the small apartment was a man in red and white robes with a gray goatee, a balding head with spiky hair at the sides, and a large white hat. He was of short stature and smoked a pipe, but he had a stern expression on his wrinkled face. His arrival didn't cheer the kid much.
"Old fart," the boy said as he watched a teapot filled with water boil.
"What's this I heard about you getting into fights?" the elder asked with an exhausted tone.
"But I didn't do a thing!" the kid snapped. "I was tripped and no one would confess about doing it!"
"And yet, you got into an argument with others without thinking it could be your fault," the man said before sighing deeply. Reaching into his pocket, he produced an envelope which he left on the counter, "Listen, I came here to leave your allowance. Do not waste it all at once."
Looking down with a miserable expression, the boy sighed, "Yeah, yeah, I know…"
"If you get in trouble again, I cannot interfere for you," the man told him strictly. "Naruto, you want to be a ninja of this village. You told me you wanted to be like me. Do you think I go around looking for fights?"
"No…" the boy said with a defeated expression. "But… I… I wanted to talk and-"
"Sorry, but I have matters to attend to," the man cut him off dryly. "As leader of this village, I can't look after you beyond this. You wanted to leave the orphanage, did you not? Prove to me you can be mature enough to be on your own, then."
"Yes, I can do it!" the kid replied fast, but he seemed to want to say something else, which he was struggling with. "Believe it! I can! But… but I don't like to-"
"Fighting with others or getting attention because you're alone isn't an excuse for your actions, Naruto," the elder told him stoically.
"Do I have to be alone?!" the boy snapped, having tried too hard not to shed tears.
And then, without hesitation, the man answered his question somberly, "I can't do much else for you. You have to find how to fend off on your own."
Choking slightly from the shock, Glimmer turned to Naruto as he was left alone yet again when the man closed the door behind him. She couldn't even come to words after what she had just seen. Vulnerable, young and alone, Naruto Uzumaki stood before her at his worst. Those who seemed to uphold the order didn't take his side. Adults treated him like unwanted garbage. The one man who looked after him left the kid alone. If she hadn't seen it, she couldn't have believed such a thing to be the real origin of her energetic, happy-go-lucky bodyguard…
Until she recalled a detail, "You… You don't want to be alone…" she said upon kneeling next to the child and, albeit hesitantly at first, wrapped her arms around him. Feeling him freeze up, she held him tighter with a sorrowful expression. "Naruto, I-I don't know what led you to have this life, but you-"
Naruto would have none of it, glaring at the princess with fury no child should ever muster, "Who are you?! Leave me alone! I don't want to hear it!"
Shoving past her when he realized what she was doing, he stumbled away, unsure of her and less sure of her behavior showing his suspicion with his movement.
Suddenly, the people around them spoke up, one talking directly to Glimmer, "Just ignore him. And you, brat, don't be rude and stare…"
The voices in the crowd murmured, but people didn't touch or hit him. That would acknowledge him. Worse, they shunned him. Acting like he was a stone in the middle of a wave, they parted around him. Not a soul dared stare further at him. Not a single soul conversed to anyone but themselves. Everything they did was to leave Naruto alone, or rather make sure he remained away from them.
"Grr," the boy growled and pulled a rice ball from his pocket, throwing it at a sneering man right on the head. "Screw you!"
"Damn accursed brat!" roared the man while shaking off the food off his hair.
Everyone glared at the child, who had long since run off away from them, "Good thing he's gone."
One woman spoke venomously, "To think he's protected by the Hokage."
"It's a good thing he was kicked out of the orphanage," added another equally apathetic.
Glimmer stood in stupor at the brutal bluntness of their hateful words, but that quickly gave way to her anger, "How can you say that?!"
Yelling that, she hoped to get their attention and tell them what was on her mind, but things didn't go as planned, "And he's at the academy."
"What was the Hokage thinking leaving that brat with our kids?" questioned a woman.
Bright Moon's princess took a step back, blinking in shock, "Can they not… hear me?"
Reaching forward, she attempted to touch one of the people in the crowd but hesitated. Something cold rushed up and down her spine, giving her horrible goosebumps. Quaking where she stood, the pink-haired girl turned to try to find the source. Instead, she found nothing but an empty street. Turning around, she was met with another road devoid of people. Not a single sign of life…
Swallowing the lump in her throat, the plump girl tried to figure out her next move, "Naruto… I… I've got to get us out of here and find my aunt!"
-0-
Following after the child, the princess called out to him, but he was too fast. Pondering on whether she should use her teleportation to catch up or not became a problem. On one hand, she had a limited use of magic and could never tell when she'd need a hasty retreat or to fight back. Another problem to think about was that Naruto was still a kid but ran far faster than even regular soldiers at her castle. Running after him was at least not as hard as pursuing the more grown-up version she was used to, so she managed to at least find a trail. Tiny footsteps led her to a small apartment building.
Opening the door furiously, the foxy child growled and slammed it shut, "Whew… He sure can run…" Glimmer panted as she doubled over, hands on her knees from the exhaustion. "He may not recognize me, but if I teleport then he's sure to have some memories stirred."
Closing her eyes, she prepared herself to surprise the kid… "Stubborn child," said an elderly man passing her by.
"What?!" she exclaimed, looking at herself. "I… I can't teleport!"
"Naruto can't get himself out of trouble," the man muttered to himself.
He was short and had an obviously balding hair under his large hat which carried a symbol in a language Glimmer had never seen before. On his shoulders was a white robe over a stylish red one, and he carried a cane with him as well as a pipe. For the pudgy princess, his features reminded her of an ape of sorts, especially with the goatee and frown. Looking at him, she could tell he wasn't dressed that way for nothing, and she could tell he had to be a high-ranked figure when the people around him parted ways. However, some were vocal about their thoughts.
"Why must you always protect that menace, Hokage-sama?" asked a woman, and it took all of Glimmer's willpower not to slap her.
"Like you've got any right to-" she was willing to reply, but then remembered a crucial point. "Oh damn it, they can't see or hear me…"
"He's still a child born in this village," the elder told her coldly before walking to the kid's apartment. "It is my duty as Hokage to look after him for being one of us, is it not?"
"If only he counted his lucky stars," growled the woman as she turned.
Shifting her gaze up, Glimmer noticed that the boy had been looking out his window before angrily closing the curtains, no doubt having heard and seen the conversation, "Naruto…" the princess whispered sadly. "I… I never thought he'd… How can such a life make you-"
It clicked then and there. Naruto's words raced through her mind as she recalled their conversations. Flashing images of his smile and declarations to be recognized. Countless times he was the center of attention and his proclamations about his greatness. Everything he did was to never be denied. Denying his existence…
"Everything he does is… to escape being in their shadows," Glimmer whispered to herself. Arming herself with determination, she stepped forward, "I'm not-"
"Whoa there," a newcomer cut her off quickly, slicing the air in front of her with a familiar sword. "Hold your amazing ass there, princess. Kiddo's about to get his allowance."
Glimmer couldn't believe it, but he was in front of her, "Naruto?!"
Indeed, the same face, birthmarks, and outfit. There was no mistaking her bodyguard. Until she noticed the obvious difference. The smile he possessed didn't have the confidence she had grown to love. Cruelty was displayed in that smirk, a mockery of everything the boy she was fond of was. And then, there was the eyes. Whereas Naruto's blue eyes were filled with wonder and excitement, these ones were cold and malicious. Black sclerae surrounded red irises which burnt into her with evil intent, taunting her yet threatening the princess at the same time.
"Oh, not quite, Glimmy," he teased her with a quirked eyebrow and his smile turning lopsided.
"Who… what are you?" the girl asked, fearfully taking a step back.
Every fiber of her being shuddered at this dark copy, "I'm the real deal, even more than the brat locked in there waiting to have some crumbs handed his way."
"If you dare harm him…" she started, mustering all her courage and taking a fighting stance which the blond before her scoffed at.
"Do you think you can take me?" the double questioned her with a bored tone, not even taking her lightly, but considering her below inoffensive. Childishly shrugging, he walked around the nervous girl, "Come on, Glimmy! I'm finally out and having fun! I am the real Naruto Uzumaki! Or do you want me to kiss you to make it clear?!"
"Stop, don't come any closer!" she squeaked fearfully, subconsciously knowing this blond was as strong as her friend, and she didn't fancy a chance to fight him seriously.
"But I do like you, Glimmer," the other Naruto informed her. "Gee, your ass is a good quality of yours, but I do like your attitude as well. It's fun to just mess with you. Heh, and that kiss we had was a-may-zing."
"Forget that and tell me what's going on!" the red-faced princess shrieked.
"Oh, how droll…" the dark-eyed Naruto sighed in disappointment, hands on his hips after sheathing his wooden sword. "See, I told you, I am the real Naruto… or rather the one he's kept hidden. Like a shadow, I'm a part of him that's been around ever since he was born. Unlike him, I am far more honest…"
"What do you mean honest?" Glimmer challenged him. "He's been sincere with me, and he's never lied!"
"Aren't you adorable?" he playfully teased her, pinching her cheek until she slapped his hand away. Chortling darkly, he stood up to his full height, making the short girl feel much smaller than usual, "I'm all his dark secrets come to life, Glimmy. I am what he's kept bottling up ever since he was capable of thought. And, I am the one who will have you."
Blushing darkly, the princess stepped back when he caressed her cheek, "I'm not interested in a fake like you!"
"Then I'll be the real one," he told her and pressed her between a wall and his body. "After all, that witch Shadow Weaver made a deal with me. I get to be the real Naruto Uzumaki, and she can play around thinking she's bossing me… Until I get a nice shot at her back. Once that's said and done, how about we enjoy our freedom together? Just you and me, Glimmy."
Lightning fast, Glimmer's hand came in contact with the other Naruto's cheek, smacking him hard, "Like I'd ever say yes to you, faker!"
"Fine…" the dark Naruto muttered with an odd tone to him. After all the attitude, he sounded, dare Glimmer say it, genuinely disappointed when he turned his head to look at her with a cold expression, "It's only a little longer. Once it's all said and done and he accepts what I am… I can be with you."
Gripping her by the shoulder, the red-eyed blond shoved the princess back… and into another world.
-0-
Stumbling onto her feet, Glimmer held her aching body. Where was she now? The answer was fleeting since the world around her was distorted. Metal everywhere, pipes blowing steam, and the feeling of an oppressive weight that dragged her down like chains. The realization gave the girl a terrified shudder. The stuff of monsters and legends, stories that she had known for many years, everything came back to her. Knowing that her enemies were beatable was one thing. This was different. This was where everything that her planet had feared lived.
"Am I in the Fright Zone?"
Walking from empty room to room, Glimmer was unnerved by the artificiality of the internal Fright Zone. It was disgusting to watch, a pollution of nature that did not end. Vulgar sprays of unmentionable fluids burst from pipes like the viscera of a mighty behemoth. Each and all of which were disgusting shades of putrescent colors. Machines growled, roared, snorted, and choked all around her. A cacophony of noise that was at odds to the harmonious settings she was well used to.
Amidst all the discordant noise was an eerie noise, that of a child laughing. "Heheh~!"
When Glimmer turned about, she was stunned to see a youthful version of Catra standing in front of her. Appearance wise, Glimmer thought this was a lazy thing herself. Young Catra resembled the current version of the Horde Soldier in every way down to having a shorter if equally messy haircut. The only difference being the outfit which was more suited for a child, a pair of shorts and a top with a torn appearance. Naturally fitted to the Horde's red and white color scheme.
Glimmer stared at this giggling impish kitten and nodded, "Right. Young versions are a running theme. Let's…just go with that."
"You're not supposed to be here!"
Glimmer did not just jump half a foot with a rapidly accelerating heart pace. And if anyone ever asked her, she didn't fumble and scream in terror.
An equally young Adora had spoken to Catra from behind the hyperventilating princess, running through Glimmer as the plump girl held her chest with wide eyes.
"I know that Adora! Don't shout so loud either!" The little Catra told Adora, crossing her arms before they both went silent. They were listening for something clearly, "Do you think she's around?"
The she was emphasized, and Glimmer knew without even needing to have anything else said. Their expressions of fear and concern spoke more for them.
Glimmer instead walked past them, only stopping when Catra turned her head to face her back, "Don't go any further! This isn't a place you should be in!"
Glimmer chalked their acknowledgment up to the fact that this was a combination of a mental projection embedded in the memories that they had. They were both a part of history that had already happened, and outside of it. The girl however had a mission, and she wasn't about to just listen to kid versions of her enemies.
"If you can listen to-"
"Adora, what do we do? She'll make Shadow Weaver mad…"
The princess continued to walk on, pausing when Adora ran in front of her with her arms stretched to the side to block her, "Please! Go back! This world isn't for you!"
Having a clearer glimpse of the machinations of the spell casted by the witch, the plump girl had enough, "And who is it for? You two? I'm sorry, but news flash, I'm not your friend. And I have to keep going."
Glimmer resolutely walked towards Adora and brushed the child aside. Catra held her hand close to her mouth in a gasp, gulping with a weak stare until her eyes narrowed at seeing Adora look down.
"Adora…! Adora said that you're not moving from this spot!" even as a young child Catra had high agility and had managed to run around the cumbersome environment to get in front of Glimmer with her claws out. "Shadow Weaver will-"
Glimmer reached her in a heartbeat, looking down on Catra with the full authority she had as a princess, "Not in the mood to hear what Shadow Weaver will or won't do. I'm here to save someone important to me. You can either get in my way or get out of it. But I'm not stopping."
"Would you stop if we were big and strong?" Adora asked her, her child self's body seeming to grow into its proper age, her muscles and a proper sword reappearing as she looked at Catra.
No hesitation as the cat girl made the change as well, growing into her full height and with her personality back, "Hey Adora, let's get her."
Glimmer exhaled. Like a Phantom, step away. Catra's swings were precise, focused, and relentless. And yet every single strike was missed as her target seemed to dodge at the last second. A hand moved at a deliberate slow pace, blocking Catra's arm. Another strike was dodged by a single step back.
"I'm not in the mood to fight you two," dodging Adora's swing down, Glimmer walked past them, before pausing. "If you're even the 'real' Adora and Catra."
"What gave them away?"
That dark malevolent tone… It wasn't Shadow Weaver, but the new acquaintance she had made. Dark Naruto. Glimmer crossed her arms and faced him as he dissolved the shadows that had created the two imposters. He had come into existence like a shadow himself, emerging from the darkness while giving her a cold smirk.
"A simple thing," she told her crush's dark self. "Teamwork. Those two aren't weak, and if I were really in their home field… they'd have a home advantage. This place isn't the real Fright Zone."
Dark Naruto decided to her, his cold eyes giving her a look over, "Good eye. The real pair are somewhere deeper inside their minds. You want to 'save' the faker? Then you'll need to perform a Deep Dive. Sink into the abyss of their wallowing minds and find the truth. If you can. Or give into the reality, that I'm the only real article. I'm the true Naruto, that egotistical loser is just a hollow façade that walks about in my skin."
Glimmer didn't respond, her eyes only took on a fierce glow with her Princess Shine on full blast, "He's more real than you'll ever be!"
She was furious and her words were delivered with a biting ferociousness that had him throw his hands up in mocking fear "Temper, temper! You'll realize it soon."
He blended into the shadows and then departed, chuckling as he delivered his barb, but the girl could see more through his acts, "He's better than you for keeping such twisted desires in check, you know?!"
Dead silence met her remark, causing her to frown.
-0-
Like the dark copy told Glimmer, Naruto was miserable when the Hokage arrived, "Here's this month's money. Don't waste it right away."
And with that, the child was all alone yet again, growling to himself, "Stupid old fart…" he felt himself about to cry, the sting in his eyes infuriating him when he wiped them off. "Stop… Stop it! I'm not crying! Not… I am not crying… Never again…"
"Oh, sweet child," a female voice cooed to him. "So alone, forgotten… And yet, caged by those who are supposed to take care of you."
"Shut up…" the kid's infantile response had the invisible woman laughing softly.
"It is a sad fact of life, my child," she told him in a sing-song voice. "However, that anger's good. It lets you be human, it allows you to be alive, and… it provides insight into the cruelties of others…"
"Can you stop talking?" the boy groans once he finished wiping his tears.
"Do you deserve this, child?" she asked, freezing him where he stood. "Are you truly a criminal? Or… has this punishment, the way they deny your existence, just a petty act of evil from those who loathe you? Are you not allowed to hate them?"
"I do, I hate it, I hate what they've done to me!" the boy snaps, baring his teeth.
"Kicking you down isn't enough for them, child," the woman continues. "They keep secrets from you, not even sharing the reason why you're despised like vermin, nay, a demon… However, what can you do but be a prisoner? Locked in this room, in this village, in this… life. An existence in which those who are your brothers and sisters from other parents deny the fact you're there next to them…"
"But I can't do anything…" he growls, feeling a burning sensation no kid his age should be put through: true anger.
"Then, why not cut loose and drop all pretense?" the shadows merged into the form of a tall woman whose pale, grayish skin bore a kind smile to him. "Be you, Naruto… Be the true you that is hidden… And let them all know that you history cannot and shall never be denied…"
Opening his mouth, the boy was about to reply… but fell to his knees, hugging them into his chest as he shut his eyes.
"Aw, throwing a temper tantrum now?" and the woman turned to see the other Naruto who smirked at her with his arms crossed.
"Silence," she hissed while the child in the room processed the dark thoughts she was drilling into his head. "If you want full control, then we need to make him accept the darkness. What about the princess and the High Sorceress? They must not get near him."
"Glimmy's fun to play around, but she can't get past me," he told her with a confident stride to his suddenly petrified other. With a wave of his hand, shadows materialized and slithered from the walls, coiling around the boy's small frame like a dark blanket of discomfort, "Ah yes, that's good despair he's feeling… Mm, just about done, too."
"Do not forget this is part of our deal, Naruto," the witch growled.
"Call me something else until I'm the real deal," the doppelganger replied, then mused to himself. "Hm, I know, why not Yami?"
"Whatever pleases your ego," she dully remarked before going back to the shadows. "Ensure that those two are taken care of if you want the princess to be yours."
"Don't worry, her aunt may be strong, but she's not in charge," Yami told her with a cruel grin. "Just finish your job so I can truly play with them. Bye-bye!"
Observing him casually wave made the witch groan, "To think he'd keep such a strong sense of self even with the eclipse powering my spell… No matter, I am still in control."
-0-
Running through the twisted mindscape version of the Horde, Glimmer decided to bury the hatchet, "Catra! Adora! Auntie! Entrapta!"
Dashing around a corner, she looked for the two Horde soldiers, knowing they were against the witch. After such a brief interaction, the princess of Bright Moon knew they could be trusted. Partially trusted, but still a much-needed asset. With the philosophy of the enemy of someone's enemy is a friend, the plump girl called out loudly. Entrapta and her aunt were a priority, but the more people backing her up, the better. And the fact a dark version of her bodyguard was conspiring against her in a twisted attempt to win her over didn't give her many options.
Speaking of Yami, "Racing around the halls is good for your cardio, isn't it?"
His smarmy smile annoyed her since it was the same her friend and love interest used, "Shut it. If I don't take that sass from the real deal, what makes you think you can get away with it?"
"Perhaps the fact I don't care and love seeing your feathers ruffled," he teased and leaned forward, putting himself at eye level with a charming smirk. "Let me give it to you straight, princess. I want you. I truly have a fondness for your strongheaded attitude. Unfortunately for us, the real me holds back because of course his village would deny him an idea of interaction."
"If you want me to feel sorry for you, it's not working," she shot back, her hands glowing as she got ready to fight.
Yami was capable of pushing her around, but there was a problem which made him click his tongue in mild annoyance, "You're too cute for your own good, Glimmy."
"Try and hurt me if you dare, I know the real Naruto well enough," she challenged the double.
"Ah, you make it too hard to stay mad at you," he poked her nose to taunt her and get a reaction.
But she saw through it, "You're a part of the real one, and he promised he would protect me. I'm thankful he's not one to break his word to the point of affecting you."
"Give yourself a pat on the back, you're correct," he told her with a wave as he stood up to his full height, looking down on her literally. "But it doesn't mean you're right. After all… It can all change if I give that other me the right motivation to be a tad more forceful."
"Like messing with his head in that fake village?" she questioned.
"Unfortunately for you, Glimmy," Yami snarked. "It's an exact replica of the original village, as in everything you saw regardless of your actions is, was, and will forever be how those people act towards me."
"Keep babbling, like I'd buy that," Glimmer growled.
"Now, I could lie, but when have I done so?" Yami pointed out with a finger up, pacing around her. "After all, I can't be the real Naruto without being true to myself and accepting the truth. Those people you saw are real, and their actions of turning me into what you see are the truth."
Doubt settled in Glimmer's mind, who had trouble believing it wasn't another trick of the copy, which he used to grab her by the collar, "Wha-"
"Worry not, I'll kiss you once I've become the only Naruto," he warned her with a soft smile before shoving her back with a cheerful tone. "Enjoy the sights!"
Glimmer landed on her rump in an ample training course, grunting to herself as she found a familiar face, "Perfect… Perfect… Perfect…"
In front of her was the tiny child version of Adora running through the large arena. It was suddenly the middle of the night, and bags under the girl's eyes proved that she had been pushing herself too hard. During an intense set of flips, dashes and evasions, the girl grew more and more exhausted. Weariness was obvious in her face, but it was accompanied by something else. Just as she was slowing down…
"Come on, Adora, you're making good time," said none other than Shadow Weaver, patting her back. "You can do it, can't you? You're growing to be an exceptional soldier, my child."
"D-Don't worry, I've got this, Shadow Weaver," the girl forced herself to smile despite the sweat caking her face and continued to run laps around the course.
"Stop it!" Glimmer heard herself calling out to the girl and the witch, but the child kept moving forward.
And just as she was about to go and do something, anything, there was another noise, "Freak!"
Turning around, Glimmer was horrified to see the small version of Catra curled into a ball while older, bigger kids held up staves. It was something which Adora herself noticed.
"Hey, cut that out you-" she chastised the other child soldiers, but ended up slipping and falling on her face.
"Adora!" Catra cried, her heterochromatic eyes filling with tears before a staff was lodged into her side to keep her back.
"Not good enough!" Shadow Weaver roared to the two. "Adora, that's another hundred laps! And you'll have to start from the beginning yet again! If Catra distracts you, she will have to be disciplined!"
"Please, no, I'll do it better this time!" the small blonde pleaded, tears in her own eyes.
Sniffling, the kitty girl spoke up, "No, Adora, just… Just…"
"Oh, nothing but a burden," one child mocked her.
"Dead weight to the end, like the freak she is," another sneered.
"She's not a freak!" Adora snapped, but it cost her.
"Adora! She is to be disciplined for her actions, now you can take the weight off her shoulders by improving yourself!" the witch snapped.
Quivering, the blonde was about to collapse, but forced herself to smile, "I'll… I'll do it beyond perfect this time!"
Caressing her cheek, Shadow Weaver softened her tone into a loving coo, "That's much better, my child."
Feeling sick was an understatement for what Glimmer was going through, which Yami took glee in, "Oh, think this is fake? Well, partly. I just added a little of memory A and memory B together."
Seeing him casually wave around his hands as if he was directing an orchestra made the princess snap, "Why are you doing this?! Don't you feel sorry for them?! If you're truly the guy who went through what I saw, what do you even gain from making them feel as miserable as you?!"
"Absolutely nothing," he replied honestly with a smug grin, clasping his hands. "But then again, I've had nothing else to do locked up in this mindscape… Making them feel even lower than me, sinking them more than they think they can go… It's oh so much better than being miserable on my own."
Horrified, Glimmer took a step back, "You're sick."
"No, I'm twisted," he retorted and advanced. "And you can do nothing about-"
"Brilliant Mystic Sword Arts: Thousand Sun Arrows!"
Yami had a split second to react to the wrath of Castaspella stepping in with an ethereal sword in hand. Before he could properly unsheathe his sword, the woman had unleashed a flurry of stabs his way. Thousands of light blades seemingly materialized while he was forced to use the sword with the blade still in the scabbard to block them. It allowed her to stomp forward and deliver a solid palm strike to his chest which pushed him off balance and onto the floor. With a heavy thud, he was down but not out, forcing himself to roll out of the way before the high sorceress could pin him down.
"Gah, perfect timing!" Yami sarcastically cheered when jumping to his feet. "Oh, Auntie Casta! Missed me, your future nephew-in-law?"
"Do not use that tone with me, young man," the woman scolded him with her magical sword aimed at his face. "As expected of Shadow Weaver, she takes the easy path to gain power, and it's thanks to that which has made you and her sloppy."
"Ouch, go right for the throat, why don't you?" he quipped while ruffling his hair. "Man, I thought I left a good army for you to fight."
"Again, sloppy," she retorted.
For her part, Glimmer was floored, her head unable to wrap around itself that the woman before her was related to her, "Auntie?"
"Stay back, Glimmer," Castaspella warned her. "This spell is a dangerous illusion to make those with darkness in their heart sink into it. I could only cast a spell on the two of us before it was completed, and I apologize for being so selfish."
"Oh, so that's why Glimmy's immune to my charm, huh?" Yami joked while rubbing the back of his neck. And then, he furrowed his brows, "Wait, if you only cast it on yourself and Glimmy, then what about-"
"Hi!" everyone jumped when Entrapta appeared right behind Yami, her notepad ready. "Oh my! A real-life construct of someone's negativity! You're powered up by this energy inside Naruto, too, right?! How do you function?! Do your eyes have any special properties?! Could you tell Naruto to join my project for-"
"Ah!" the dark double snapped, hopping back with a terrified expression. "Seriously, how do you even do that?!"
"Unfortunately for you, her only desire's to study and there's never been jealousy, anger or even sadness in her endeavors for science," Castaspella explained.
"I can't believe I'm grateful that she's that obsessed with research," Glimmer muttered.
"Enough of this bullshit already!" Yami snapped and pulled out his sword. Running at the three women, he started to strike, pushing them immediately on the defensive since they knew who they were fighting with, "I'll become a true human! I've been cooped in this place for far too long carrying the other me's crap! And there's no way you'll stop me!"
"Said every villain ever!" Glimmer taunted him, letting his first swing go wide past her to step forward.
Up until she realized that her opponent wasn't using Naruto's own techniques, "Glimmer!"
Her aunt's cries were silenced when the doppelganger threw his sword at her and the sheath at Entrapta. Both women had to deflect the attacks with their own weapons. But it proved futile as the scabbard flew right through the tiny inventor's hair and nailed her overalls to the wall. The high sorceress lost her footing when creating a shield, the amount of brute force behind the strike was enough to send her skidding backwards. A terrified expression covered their faces.
"Ha, I'm not like ANY other villain," Yami caught Glimmer's hand when she attempted to fire a blast at him, his other hand pushing her head against the ground in a smooth counter. Restraining her by holding her arm back while his hand held her in place, Naruto's dark side taunted her, threatening her safety with a cold sneer, "I'm everything he isn't. His rage, sorrow, resentment… They're who I am."
Dropping on all fours while keeping a hold on Glimmer, pinning her down, Yami resembled not a human any longer. Baring his teeth in a sneer while gazing up his enemies, the blond was like a fox about to play with a bunch of cornered rabbits. It wasn't a complete transformation, but the stance alone caused the audience present to stay on their toes. Even the child versions of Adora and Catra were unnerved by it.
"What a rancid bloodlust…" Castaspella groaned. "Such hatred emanating from you… It's pitiable to see someone so driven by such raw anger."
"Oh, we're barely started," Yami snickered.
Lunging at Castaspella, knowing the high sorceress was the most serious threat, the blond started to throw strikes. And the woman could barely keep up! Kicks, punches, and even headbutts put her on the defensive stance. It was a chaotic, ruthless barrage of strikes driven by instinct. Her Brilliant Sword Style allowed her to remain calm and react accordingly to an enemy, but her opponent was a beast in human skin. It was as if a feral version of her style attacked her using a raw natural mindset to pounce on her.
And then, he got creative with his reckless attacks, "Ugh!"
Putting up a shield, the woman watched as the blond cartwheeled to her and used the momentum to slam his heel on her skull, which she struggled to stop with the magic barrier. To her shock, the blond kicked off the magical construct and launched himself backwards, returning to his low stance. Jumping at her yet again, he went lower, swiping at her legs and practically making her dance to dodge punches and kicks. However, she could tell he was acting too much like an animal, and he had flaws.
"You're wide open!" she said when delivering a spinning, sweeping kick, showing off her long, shapely legs.
It was meant to force Yami to hop over the strike and leave him open to a counter, but he was not acting like an animal or a human, he was both, "Gotcha!" Grabbing onto her leg, the blond easily pinned her down, pulling her limb up to have the high sorceress crash on her back. With a smarmy grin, he gripped her throat to threaten her, "Don't make it hurt, auntie."
"Hands off my aunt!" Glimmer wasn't idle and had used the chance to run at Yami from behind, knowing her reserves were low.
"Don't waste your energy, Glimmy!" Yami taunted as two copies of himself appeared, grabbing the girl by her armpits, and lifting her up to then slam her on the ground. They made sure not to hurt her, but still pinned her with their full weight, "After all, did you forget who's the top player here?"
"Ah, fascinating, being a construct of this mindscape, we should've figured he'd be in control of everything!" Entrapta surmised while two more Yami-clones captured her, to which she frowned. "Oh dear, it appears a fight was our worst approach to this predicament."
"Being you has to be fun, huh?" Yami quipped before turning to Glimmer. "You are so adorable when you're mad."
"I'm not mad… I'm livid!" she snarled, glaring daggers at the copy.
"Oh, you wound me, Glimmy," Yami snickered.
"Well, I better, because… because I love you, you idiot!" the girl finally confessed, shutting her eyes tightly.
Everyone stayed in stunned silence, most shocked of them being Yami himself, "What…?"
"Do I have to spell it out for you?!" the girl felt tears flowing out through her shut eyes. "I love you, Naruto Uzumaki! You are the stupidest, most stubborn, and least tolerable idiot I could've fallen for! And I want to be with you regardless of that! All the good, all the bad… I want to be with that Naruto Uzumaki!"
To everyone's further surprise, Yami blushed, "What…?"
"Ugh, you're still the same fool!" Glimmer grunted before letting everything out and pouring her heart out! "I'll repeat it as many times as needed, you dumb jerk! I love you! I love you! I love you, Naruto Uzumaki! I'm in love with the one who carries this kind of darkness in him but still smiles! I want to spend more time with the guy who boasts about being the best with the strength to move forward despite having such a horrible life before! And I am an idiot for liking you, but I'd like us to be stupid together!"
Tremors rumbled around the mindscape, and Yami himself gasped, "You can't be serious!"
"You… If you're really a part of Naruto, then…" Glimmer blushed and glared at him. "Then I will love you, but I want you and the real Naruto to be open with me! Did you hear me, you fool?!"
"Grr…" Yami collapsed to his knees, clutching his head. "Ugh… What is… What are you doing…?"
Castaspella finally pieced it together, "Glimmer, this is a part of Naruto who hasn't been shown love! Your sincerity is breaking the spell!"
"No, I'm… I'm…" Yami sneered, but his clones disappeared, allowing Glimmer to walk to him. "I'm…"
"You're an idiot…" the princess said and kneeled in front of him. "But you're part of the idiot I love."
"Heh…" Yami let out a weak chuckle as the room around them shook. "I'm… stupidly lucky to have you… Just… be sure to not get crushed."
"Wait, what?!" Glimmer squeaked while the quaking intensified.
-0-
It is at Naruto's memories of his apartment that Shadow Weaver noticed the shackles of darkness around him breaking.
"What's going on?!" she exclaimed in horror, conjuring more shadows to try to keep the boy down. "No, sink into the despair! Embrace the hatred you have and-"
"Naruto…" it was a familiar voice accompanied by those of others.
First, it was an excited male voice, "You're, like, an inspiration to this world!"
Then, an airy but sincere and innocent woman, "Forest Gale, thank you for keeping us safe…"
A seemingly apathetic but honest girl spoke next, "Thank you for, like, making me care…"
Excitement abound from a warrior princess, "Not bad, kiddo! You and I need to spar!"
Kindness and motherly instincts came next, "You're improving in more ways than one…"
Joy personified followed them, "One of a kind doesn't begin to describe you!"
Pride swelled in a sagely voice, "I know you can protect her…"
Shadow Weaver's face turned into a furious frown as her skin sprouted deep scars which she covered with her mask. Before her were images of Bow cheering along Naruto. Perfuma thanked him with her most sincere smile. Mermista herself tried to remain aloof but opened up to him. Netossa accepted him as an equal with a genuine smile. Spinnerella welcomed him with a soft laugh. Entrapta finding him to be beyond fascinating and meaning it. Castaspella accepting him as someone who could protect her only living relative. And Glimmer…
"You've helped me get so far…" that grin, the voice, and the light she radiated… "Let's keep going together."
"Grr… this should be impossible!" Shadow Weaver growled when the room was covered in that beautiful light. "How… How can a life so filled with misery remain so strongly attached to these cognitive images?! This should not be! It should never be! You can't-"
"You underestimated their power," a wave of magic pushed the witch back, Castaspella holding both hands together as a heavenly corona radiated out from her. "My power as well, Light Spinner!"
Forming a shadow shield in front of her face, her opponent uttered a vile curse, "Damn you! Damn you! Damn you! Castaspella!"
Castaspella's eyes burnt with determination, "You will not harm my people. You will not harm my niece. And you most certainly won't harm my pupil!"
Forming a halo above her head that split apart into three rings that extended out behind her, each one larger than the last. Her eyes glowing pure vermillion, the mistress of magic clapped her hands together. Clasping them as if in prayer, she conjured an incredible amount of magical energy. For her part, Shadow Weaver was draining the power she gained from her own magical stone.
"I shall not be outdone by the likes of you!" the witch roared, charging her own spell.
However, there was only one high sorceress, "Brilliant Mystic Arts: Once Again Blade!"
Slamming her foot down, a pillar of radiant energy gushed in front of those present in Mystacor. The spell master pressed her hand against it and pulled out nothing less than a perfect energy blade. It was made of the same sorcerous energy that suffused her being. Tracing a glyph with her opposite hand, Castaspella held her sword in a traditional grip. The blade which had formed a Dao saber was held behind her back, her other hand pointing both index and middle finger at Shadow Weaver.
Furious didn't begin to describe the witch, "Shadow Mystic Arts: Yawning Chasm!" Desperate when she realized her opponent meant to cut her into ribbons, Shadow Weaver ripped open a hole in space and time. Dark tendrils flailing out and attempting to grasp onto her opponent and take her within their revolting grasp, "You'll never win, you worthless caster!"
Without hesitation, Castaspella stepped forth, "Brilliant Sword Arts: Twice Stricken Hallowed Impact Zone!"
Cutting each tendril as it came out at her Castaspella seemed impossible to stop as she kept approaching her foe! Striking down with her sword, using both of her hands to grip the handle Castaspella completed a perfect circular strike! Cleaving the hole and sealing it away, her sword struck a second circular rotation, hitting Shadow Weaver's shield! The blade itself glowed as Castaspella let go of it! Letting the resulting magical explosion crack Shadow Weaver's mask and send the wicked witch screaming back!
"Holy…" Glimmer gasped like a fish out of water at the sight of what her aunt had done.
And so, the spell was broken…
-0-
"GRRAAAAAAAAARRRRRGH!"
The guttural scream of the witch echoed in the Fright Zone as she collapsed to her knees, completely and utterly defeated by the superior sorceress.
It was the sight of her lowest point that greeted Hordak when he entered her room, hands behind his back, "Well, well, well… So that's the extend of your power."
"Lord… Lord Hordak…" she wheezed when looking up, her mask shattering.
"Using our soldiers to gain a new tool for you to use, I see," he hissed with narrowed eyes.
"I…" the witch felt her blood freeze.
"Do not attempt to hide your mistakes," the man growled as he snapped his fingers. A compartment underneath the large Runestone Shadow Weaver used for her powers opened, swallowing the enormous rock and preventing her from gaining more magic, "It is time we have a talk…"
"No… no… no, no, no…" the witch trembled in utter terror when he approached and the door closed behind him.
Back in Mystacor, Castaspella looked at her niece in the middle of the ceremony site with everything back to normal, plus an unconscious Naruto at her feet, "Not bad… for your doting auntie, is it?"
Entrapta agreed, "Wow! Such mastery of the arts never seen before! Now I see why King Micah was said to have reached his full potential thanks to you! Please, you MUST let me know of your secrets!"
"All in due time, first…" Castaspella turned to the limp Naruto and sighed. "He will need to recover from the spell, but those two…"
They turned to the equally out cold forms of Catra and Adora, Glimmer feeling remorse, "What we saw… If that's how they live in the Fright Zone…"
"Ah, Catra, Adora!" the princesses and sorceress turned to see the other Horde soldiers arrive, with Scorpia leading them to pick up her fellow captain. "Oh boy, are you two alright?! Say something!"
Kyle panicked when seeing Castaspella, "We must retreat! Now!"
Lonnie would've disagreed, but knowing they were outmatched made her bite her tongue, "Can we even do that?"
Glimmer shut her eyes, stepped forward, and spoke up, "Go."
"What?!" everyone conscious in the room exclaimed, or hissed in Rogelio's case.
"I think I owe those two a little boon for standing to the witch, even if she used them as tools," the princess stated before looking at her aunt. "These soldiers aren't bad people… They may be our enemies, but it's not by their choice."
"What would you know?" Lonnie questioned her.
"Believe me, we saw a lot in this battle," Castaspella replied with a curt nod, then sighed. "And… your two friends need the rest. We cannot apprehend you seeing as most of our forces are out cold thanks to the drugs you used. However, I know for a fight you wouldn't risk those two's safety."
Scorpia surprised everyone when she bowed deeply to the enemy, her head on the floor, "Thank you, ma'am."
"Wait, you can't-" Lonnie tried to argue, but Kyle's hand on her shoulder and Rogelio's shake of his head made her concede.
The Amazonian captain looked up at the princesses and magic caster, "We are still enemies, but… I am glad to call you our rivals. I won't forget this. Guys, I'll take responsibility for this."
"Are you sure, Scorpia?" Kyle asked. "You could get in serious trouble for this."
"We already are," the white-haired woman beamed. "Plus, it's our friends who have had it the worst."
"Take care," Glimmer told them sincerely.
"Same, and keep him safe," Scorpia told her with a wink, making the princess blush slightly.
And yet, Glimmer still smiled, "Sure will."
-0-
And that's my rap!
So… you could say, as Huey Lewis stated… The Power of Love. I regret nothing.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter despite the short fight. Several events from this will affect the characters later on, and since Glimmer's confessed… Well, things will get a tad interesting. I think we can all agree that some parts of the later seasons could've been skipped, which I'll admittedly due given the early changes I had with Hordak having the sword in his possession. Not much of a spoiler there since most of you must have seen it coming. Other than that, I hope the cheesiness was the good kind of cliché.
Bit of a side note, but my logic for Yami Naruto being defeated by love and acceptance is that, well, that's the one thing Naruto wanted most. Glimmer just saying she wants to love him after seeing the kind of person he is regardless of the bad would've been a stronger response than Yami getting hugged by Naruto in the manga. It's one thing to accept yourself, but when someone does so sincerely there's a stronger punch there. I also showed that he's more than fond of her with Yami utterly refusing to harm her.
Oh dear, I've become a shipper…
Swordslinger out!
