The Red Riots
The front lines were often the most dreaded part of any conflict. But they were always the place where the most powerful and experienced warriors were born. And these often became groups that helped make a difference on the battlefield. Or sent out on missions to change the possible outcome of a campaign.
Like the campaign of the Lone Tower.
On the edge of a large cliff stood a lone white tower, made on top of the ruins of a First One's communications tower. It was as tall as the Sea Gate and as ancient as any construction at Brightmoon. The Lone Tower had been built by a sorcerer in search of the mysteries that the First One's had left behind, but now it was an abandoned tower that watched over a narrow pass that went into a Horde controlled territory where a prisoner camp was stationed. If captured by the Alliance, the tower could be used as a base to free the prisoners.
But the tower wasn't as abandoned as some would believe.
A large armed army of Brightmoon soldiers approached the tower, using the trees as cover. One of the soldiers pulled out a pair of binoculars and observed the tower, before giving the signal to advance. The army held up their shields and spears as they broke out of the forest cover and into the open space between them and the tower. Their marching feet echoed as they approached, keeping their eyes open for the dreaded terror that held the tall structure. The wind was blowing against them as a last warning against their actions.
The soldiers were almost at the halfway point when they heard it. A loud bang in the air echoed briefly. And before anyone could say or do anything to warn the others, one of the soldiers had a hole in their head. Before that soldier fell to the ground, another shot echoed in the air, taking down another soldier with a clean kill. Panic spread like a wildfire as more and more shots tore through the soldiers like a ravenous plague. Their shields were turned into hole-filled scraps of metal. Their carriages exploded as the bullets pierced the fuel tanks. The soldier in charge ordered a retreat from the field, making all those that could turn and run back for better cover. The armored army was no more, only a few lucky wounded soldiers were able to return alive.
The stand against the tower lasted less than five minutes. And during that time, the small army was no more.
Fire, metal and bloodied clothes were all that was left of the soldiers that had braved the path towards the Lone Tower.
Back in the forest, four figures stood behind a group of tree with the remaining members of the army.
"So, Jiro, you got anything?"
"Apart from a damn headache from all the shooting? Yeah, I got some info."
"This is so unmanly on our part. But please tell me you got something."
"The shots all came from the tower, the very top. One lone shooter using a strange long-range rifle."
"The wounds of these soldiers don't show any signs of burns from lasers. But the projectiles were powerful and explosive enough to do more damage than any turret I've ever seen."
"Ochaco's right. We need help if we are to capture the tower, Kirishima."
The four figures revealed themselves as four young warriors, two women and two men.
The first one was a young muscular man with spiky red hair, sharp teeth and a fierce stare. He wore a dark red long sleeved jacket, black pants with matching boots, a double 'RR' belt, and a lion-shaped headpiece on his head. This was Kirishima, leader of the Red Riots.
The second man was a skinny kid with blond hair with a black lightning bolt stripe in it and yellow eyes. He wore a black jacket with a matching set of pants, a white t-shirt and a large backpack with a radio antenna coming out from it and on his wrist was an electric blaster. This was Kaminari, communications expert of the Red Riots.
The first woman was skinny with black bob cut hair and long earphone jacks coming from her ears. She had fair skin with dark eyes and red paint under her eyes. She dressed as a punk rocker with a black jacket, light red t-shirt, black pants. Her hands and feet were covered with specially designed speakers in her gauntlets and boots. This was Jiro, tactician and sonar scout of the Red Riots.
The fourth and second female member of the group was a slightly curvy young woman with a round face, brown hair and matching brown eyes. She had pink cheeks and a kind look to them. She wore a pink and black suit with a special helmet on her head with a red cross on it. She carried lots of medical potions, bandages and medicines to help treat those on the battlefield. This was Ochaco, the field medic of the Red Riots.
"We need to get back to Brightmoon and get some aid from the princesses," Kirishima said, glaring at the Lone Tower, where, for a brief moment, he thought he saw something.
At the very top of the tower, there stood a lone figure with mismatching shades of purple hair.
"All for the sake of balance."
Back in Brightmoon, the news of the dangerous situation at the Lone Tower had reached the war council. The situation encompassed more than just a prisoner camp and a growing Horde presence in a nearby territory. The Lone Tower was rumored to have an intricate collection of First One's artifacts and records. Some believed that the collection and the records showed the locations of some very dangerous relics and weapons.
At the Brightmoon War Council, Angella and the rest of her council were not happy.
"A whole army wiped out in a matter of minutes!" Netossa slammed her fist on the table. "How could that be possible?"
"You think this was done by a new Horde weapon? Or by one of Shadow Weaver's spells?" Bow asked. "If that's the case, then we are unprepared for what might be happening past that tower."
"This doesn't feel like something Shadow Weaver would do, it is her style though. Might be a special agent of the Horde, they had several of those back then," Izuku surmised. "If that's the case, we've got no idea who it might be."
The situation wasn't good. They needed to get the prisoners out of that camp and stop the Horde from gathering any of the information in the Tower. But a frontal assault would be the last thing they should go for.
"Maybe we could strike when no one is looking. I doubt that they'll be observing all the time," Catra suggested.
"That might be a good option, but we don't have enough information on the shooter to make a decent plan." Angella sighed. "If this does involve magic, then we have to get involved with the Lone Tower."
"Maybe we could-" Glimmer began.
"No, Glimmer, you won't go unless we know it's safe. That place is dangerous and for that we'll only send aid from people who can handle it." Angella stated, giving Glimmer a message that was as clear as day.
Angella loved that her daughter was taking a more serious approach to helping the Alliance, but after she returned drugged and bruised, she would stay out of the field for a while. She turned her sights to Izuku, Catra and Bow.
"Izuku, Catra, Bow, you three will go to the tower and join up with the Red Riots on the front lines and help them in any way they can." Angella directed. "Glimmer, you may go but only as support. No unnecessary risks."
"You got it, your majesty." Bow bowed as they got up.
"Yes, your majesty." Glimmer added with a noticeable lack of enthusiasm.
Izuku could tell that Glimmer wasn't at all thrilled about being forced to stay back and play support. So, he gave her a reassuring smile and a thumbs up.
"Don't worry, Glimmer. I feel a lot better knowing that you'll be covering our backs," Izuku said.
"Yeah, if things get hairy you can help us pop behind the shooter and whack them in the head." Catra jumped in.
Their words helped encourage Glimmer slightly. She gave them a reassuring smile.
"Thanks guys, I appreciate it." Glimmer teleported out to go get her stuff ready.
Izuku and Catra shared a slightly worried look. They could tell that their friend was feeling down after the last mission and wanted to prove herself. But they were unable to get her to open up about it since they were all too aware that she was too proud to say so.
The group went on their way towards the Lone Tower, mostly in silence. However, Bow was nice enough to break the silence and share some information.
"I can't believe we'll be working with the Red Riots! This is such a great opportunity! Should I get them to sign my bow? No! My quiver? My face?" Bow ranted much to the entertainment and confusion of the other members of the group. "Oh my gosh, this is so exciting!"
"Um, Bow, could you take it down a notch?" Catra asked. "I think everyone back at Brightmoon can hear you."
"I'm sorry, I'm just so excited!" Bow apologized before skipping in happiness. "I wonder if we'll be able to exchange stories of great adventures with them. Maybe even be asked to join them!"
"Um, Bow, who are the Red Riots?" Izuku asked, scratching his head sheepishly at his lack of knowledge.
"Wait. You guys don't know of the Red Riots?!" Bow gasped in shock, only for Catra to give him a deadpan look.
"Um, no, this is the first time we've heard of them." Catra pushed Bow's face back as they continued walking.
"They are a special task force that the Alliance calls upon from time to time. They're all young but each has a special ability that comes from their respective people." Glimmer explained, teleporting ahead of the group. "It's only for members on the team but they are incredibly efficient."
"Are they princesses, like you?" Catra asked.
"Not as far as I know," Glimmer sighed. "I bet they'd do a better job than me back on our last mission, though."
Izuku placed a hand on Glimmer's shoulder, stopping her.
"Glimmer, what happened back there wasn't your fault. Shigaraki was the one that tried to get me out of the fight," Izuku explained. "Besides, you gave it your all and only lost due to a technicality."
"Yeah, besides, that sicko wanted to bury us alive." Catra jumped up, joining them. "That guy is beyond twisted. Anyone that has been around Shadow Weaver and calls her 'master' has to be completely deranged."
"Not to mention a complete psycho," Glimmer muttered.
"See, you're getting it." Catra wrapped her hand around Glimmer. "If anyone says that you don't do enough, you tell us and we'll have them eating their words through a straw. How about it?"
Glimmer blushed at her closeness to the attractive cat girl she had seen naked no less than a week ago.
Izuku then joined in on the hug, wrapping his own arm around Glimmer and Catra.
"Yeah, you're with us no matter what, Glimmer. You're our friend and we've got your back." Izuku smiled, turning Glimmer's blush crimson.
Glimmer's heart was beating out a samba inside her chest as she became enamored by the warmth of their shared hug. She looked down embarrassedly as the memories of what she hallucinated the other day. Her mind was flooded with images of Izuku and Catra standing over her, wearing nothing less than their bare skin and whispering sweet flirty words. The thing that made her blush all the more was that she liked those words. Glimmer didn't know how much she wanted to submit to those words and plunge into those desires. The Princess of Brightmoon had little experience in the ways of romance, but now she'd gotten a taste from two of her friends, and she wanted more.
"Ha, ha, thanks guys, but I-I-I think we're here!" Glimmer pointed at the small camp in the middle of the woods.
"Oh, we are." Izuku saw that most of the soldiers were covered in bandages with their spirits in the dumps. "This is not good."
"Yeah, this shooter must be something." Catra tensed as they approached the main tent where the Red Riots were.
"Okay, let's go in and make a great first impression!" Bow pumped. "Oh, we need a team name. How about the Best Friend Squad?"
Izuku, Catra and Glimmer looked at each other with confusion and raised eyebrows.
"Um, Bow, are you sure that's the best name for us?" Izuku asked.
"Yeah, if we need a team name it should be something that doesn't sound like a little kid club." Catra rolled her eyes.
"Okay, how about the Archers?!" Bow asked.
"Bow, you're the only one with a bow and arrows," Glimmer chimed in.
"How about Princess Strikers?" Bow suggested.
"... Don't let Mermista hear you say that name. Ever." Catra and Glimmer blushed.
Izuku blushed as well, knowing what the two girls meant.
"Okay, okay, how about Team She-Ra?" Bow asked.
Catra raised an eyebrow, feeling intrigued by the name. She stroked her chin, thinking how the name felt when saying it out loud.
"Team She-Ra? Team She-Ra." Catra mused. "It has potential."
"Um, excuse me. Can we workshop the name of our team later?" Glimmer asked, pointing to the tent. "We're in the middle of something. Taking the Lone Tower and saving people in the prison camp on the other side of the ridge. Remember?"
Bow sheepishly laughed off the team naming moment before they entered the tent.
The team from Brightmoon was then introduced to the Red Riots as they peered down on a map set up on the table.
Kirishima looked up and eagerly smiled.
"Looks like the reinforcements are here." Kirishima smiled, showing his sharp teeth.
"Hello, we're here on behalf of Brightmoon. I am princess Glimmer of Brightmoon, this is Bow, Izuku and Catra." Glimmer introduced her friends. "We're here to help."
"Nice to meet you, I'm Kirishima, and this is my team, Jiro, Kaminari and Ochaco," Kirishima introduced.
"How's it going, ladies?" Kaminari asked, giving them finger guns.
Catra and Glimmer were not amused. They could already picture this skinny blonde saying the same things that Sea Hawk would say to them. They raised their eyebrows, making it clear that Kaminari's pick up line was not doing it.
Jiro came up from behind and slapped Kaminari over the head, causing him to drop his glasses.
"Behave, you living bug zapper. That's the princess of Brightmoon," Jiro scolded. "Sorry for that, I swear he's in the process of being housebroken. I'm Jiro, the strategist and scout. Nice to meet you. He's Kaminari, our communications specialist and walking power box." She shook hands with Catra and Glimmer.
"Nice to meet you, Jiro." Glimmer shook Jiro's hand.
"And don't worry, we've heard worse from this guy called Sea Hawk." Catra shrugged as Ochaco walked up to them. "You must be Ochaco, right? Nice to meet you." Catra shook Ochaco's hand.
Ochaco shook Catra's hand before noticing the sword sticking out from behind the cat girl's back.
"Nice to meet you too," Ochaco replied. "Excuse me, is that your sword? I think you might need something else if you're going to help on the mission."
Catra pulled out her sword from her back before laying it on her shoulder.
"Don't worry, Pinky, we've got this." Catra smirked.
"Pinky?" Ochaco asked.
"Don't pay her any mind, she gives everyone a nickname," Izuku interrupted. "Sorry, my name is Izuku. Can you tell us what the situation is like?"
Kirishima pulled up the other side of the tent, revealing the sight of the Lone Tower. Even amongst the trees and leaves, the sight of the tower still stood out like a needle in a bag of coins. It was like a wolf looking down upon a flock of sheep, waiting for a chance to sink its teeth into them.
"Well, we've tried to take the tower twice but the end result is still the same one." Kirishima closed the curtain. "The shooter is good. Scary good. Whoever this is, has some kind of weapon behind them."
"Do you know what they're shooting?" Izuku asked. "If this isn't a laser rifle then there must be a shell or used up bullet left after the shot."
"That's the second problem we've got. Every time we try to get one of them, we nearly get shot ourselves, even our strongest shields can't keep the bullets from piercing." Ochaco pulled out a large shield with holes in it.
Catra looked at the shield, noticing the holes on it. She also noticed the weight of it. It was heavy and that meant that no ordinary bullet could pierce it. Her nose twitched as she smelled something. She sniffed the shield, picking up a strange smell on it.
"Maybe we could give you cover while we go in search of the bullet casings?" Bow suggested. "With Izuku's speed and your knowledge of the area and Glimmer's teleportation we'll get them in no time."
"Do any of you use grapefruit scented perfume?" Catra asked, earning curious looks from the group.
"Um, what?" Kaminari asked.
"Do we look like we've got time to have that on us?" Jiro asked.
"Glimmer, smell this." Catra gestured to Glimmer and Ochaco. "You two, Pinky."
The two girls did as Catra instructed. They smelled the shield as their noses were filled with the smell of grapefruit. They looked at each other with curiosity.
"It does smell like shampoo." Glimmer pointed out. "How did it get to smell like that?"
"The ones holding it were me and Kirishima." Ochaco looked at the shield. "But neither of us use that kind of thing in our hair."
"Then it must've come from the bullets," Catra surmised.
"What kind of person scents the bullets they fire?" Kaminari asked.
"Don't know, let's find out." Izuku nodded to Kirishima.
The two groups made it to the edge of the forest, looking at the hole-filled field between them and the tower. The place was essentially a no-man's land, as any who even thought about going in could expect to go out with a bullet in them.
"So, where's our shooter?" Catra asked.
"Jiro, got eyes on them?" Kirishima asked.
Jiro's earphone jacks plunged into the ground as she pressed her left hand to her ear. She closed her eyes as she heard everything around them, like a sonar inside her head. She could see the whole field in her mind, going all the way to the top of the Lone Tower. Every step the shooter took was a way for her to pinpoint their position but wasn't able to get much in terms of a better description.
"The shooter is on the second to last floor, facing towards us." Jiro listened in for any movement coming from the shooter.
"Anything else you can tell us?" Glimmer asked.
"That's the best I can do from this distance," Jiro replied. "If I could get closer I'd be able to tell you more about them."
"Just tell us where they are aiming their big gun and we'll do the rest." Catra held her sword. "So, what's the plan Izuku?"
Izuku looked up at the tower where the shooter was meant to be. He narrowed his eyes before looking down at the hole-filled field. The bullet that could give them an idea of who they were facing was there. Both he and the shooter knew it. The question that Izuku now had was how could he get it without losing a limb. He needed something to distract the shooter.
"Jiro, can your sonar ability help you predict what the shooter will do once they fire?" Izuku asked.
"Yeah, but only for a brief moment." Jiro understood what Izuku was suggesting.
"Bow, see if you can cover me while I go in for a distraction." Izuku got ready as he channeled One For All through his body.
"My arrows may not reach that high, but I'll give it a shot," Bow replied.
"Ochaco, make his arrows weightless, that'll give them more flight." Kirishima turned to Kaminari. "Kaminari, you and I will help give him cover. Get your electric fingers ready."
"Um, what about us?" Catra asked, only to be nudged by Glimmer.
"If they're distracting the shooter, who do you think will grab the bullet?" Glimmer asked.
Catra smiled at the realization. She gripped her sword before looking at the Lone Tower.
"Then let's give the shooter something to shoot at. For the Honor of Grayskull!" Catra transformed into her She-Ra form, causing the Red Riots to gasp in awe.
"They sent us She-Ra?!" Ochaco freaked out.
"Okay, she's officially out of my league," Kaminari muttered.
"She was already out of your league," Jiro added.
"Let's go!" Izuku shot out of the forest using his speed, trying to reach the tower.
A loud bang echoed in the air just as Izuku dashed away from the shot. The bullet took off some of his hair, but he still had his head on his shoulders. He pushed himself forward, using his hand to maneuver and run around the shots of the strange rifle, digging into the ground to push himself faster. He looked up to see the end of the rifle turning towards him. Izuku heard a loud bang. He jumped away as a large rock flew out from the forest, blocking the shot, which shattered the rock.
Izuku kept running as he drew the fire of the shooter. He moved around as lightning came out from the woods, blocking the shots as best they could, but only barely. Izuku ran in a zig-zag form, getting barely grazed by the shots by the skin of his teeth. His eyes quickly moved back to where he started, spotting Catra and Glimmer appearing on the ground.
"Alright, let's get that bullet." Catra held up her sword as it turned into its shield form while Glimmer looked for the bullet.
Glimmer quickly started digging through the ground. She spread and pulled the dirt with her bare hands, looking for a bullet, a piece of metal. Her fingers touch something that isn't earth, but it's not metal either.
"What the?" Glimmer asked.
"You got something?" Catra asked.
Back at the top of the tower, the shooter turned its sights to the two princesses.
"Catra, Glimmer, move!" Izuku called out as another shot echoed in the air.
Glimmer hugged Catra, teleporting them before the shot could hit them.
The shooter gritted their teeth in rage as they missed. But before they could fire again, an arrow shot past them, nicking them in the cheek. They then saw another and another and another coming towards them, forcing them back before being struck.
Izuku used this chance to run back into the forest with Bow's coverage. As bullets tore through the trees the group managed to get away from the range of the shooter.
"Is everyone okay?" Izuku asked as Catra and Glimmer appeared before the group.
They appeared back in the forest with Glimmer's face buried deep in Catra's enlarged chest.
"We're alive," Glimmer moaned.
"I still say we could've taken the shooter." Catra helped Glimmer up.
"That was so manly, dude! Nice going!" Kirishima cheered. "Hopefully we now know what we're up against."
"About that." Glimmer revealed that she had gotten a chunk of dark and light purple hair where the bullet had been fired. "This might be more difficult than we thought."
Kirishima and the rest of the Red Riots looked at the hairs in Glimmer's hand. Disbelief and confusion filled their heads as Kirishima picked up the strands of hair.
"Hair?" Kirishima asked, looking at the strands in his hand.
"We've been shot by hair?" Jiro asked. "What kind of weirdo are we facing?"
Izuku and Catra looked at the hairs, causing them to remember something from their youth. They had seen the same kind of hair turn into a deadly bullet for the use of a dangerous assassin.
"Hey, Izuku, isn't that the same as-?" Catra began.
"Yes, I think it is her." Izuku assured her. "But what is she doing out here?"
"You guys know who we're dealing with?" Ochaco asked.
Izuku and Catra looked at each other.
"Yes, I think we know who it might be. Her name was… Lady Nagato." Izuku remembered.
-Flashback-
Izuku and Catra were training with Toshinori in the Crimson Waste. They were fighting against Toshinori, trying to capture a headband from his forehead with little success. They jumped and worked as a team to get it, but their adoptive father was a little too experienced for them to catch him. Just then, they all heard a loud bang, echoing through the canyon.
"What was that?" Catra asked.
"It didn't sound like a blaster." Izuku rushed to Toshinori's side. "What was that, Master?" He asked as more shots echoed in the canyon.
"A problem. We need to investigate," Toshinori replied. "Follow me, and be as quiet as you can."
Izuku and Catra followed Toshinori as they made it to where the echoes had originated. They kept low as they observed what had happened in their canyon. Their eyes narrowed at the sight of a large raider group being decimated. The two young teenagers and their master saw the one at the center of it all.
Standing over the soon to be corpse of the leader of the raiders was a tall woman with short hair that had two different shades of purple. Her body was pale like the moon and her glowing lilac eyes only showed rage. She wore an old Horde battle suit with an armless black t-shirt, armored pants and black shoes. However, what stood out most was that her right arm resembled a long sniper rifle made out of meat and metal. She stared at the struggling raider.
"Why? Why are you doing this?" the leader asked, coughing out blood.
"Your actions have upset the balance within the Crimson Waste, and that would've spread to the war outside." Lady Nagato pulled a few strands of her hair, twirling them into a deadly bullet. "That cannot be allowed." She loaded the bullet before aiming it at the leader's skull and blowing it apart, causing the two children to gasp.
Lady Nagato turned her sights towards the group, forcing them to hide behind a rock. She pulled back her sniper rifle before leaving the area.
Once Toshinori was certain that the woman was gone, he gestured his two adoptive children to get up.
"Who was that lady?!" Catra asked.
"Her arm turned into a sniper rifle and she took out all those raiders with such deadly precision! She was wearing Horde armor and clothes, could she be here looking for us?!" Izuku asked, scared of that woman being here for them.
"Don't worry, you two. Nagato only comes out whenever she senses or believes the balance is being upset." Toshinori turned to walk away. "As long as that doesn't happen, she won't bother anyone."
"What does that mean?" Izuku asked. "Who was she?"
Toshinori let out a sigh.
"She used to be a high ranking assassin for the Horde according to… the rumors. But one day, she snapped." Toshinori elaborated. "She started killing both Horde and Alliance soldiers and forces. She believed that there could only be a future if a status quo was maintained."
"A status what?" Catra asked.
"A balance." Izuku looked at Toshinori with worry at what he meant.
"...Yeah. She believed that now both the Horde and the Alliance are at a position where one isn't stronger than the other. And as long as they remain as the two vast opposing forces that they are, there will be a future that people can expect." Toshinori jumped back down from where they stood, followed by Izuku and Catra.
"So, she wants the war to continue?" Catra asked. "That's stupid."
"Does she really think that's the best course?" Izuku asked.
Toshinori looked at Izuku and Catra before looking away.
"I'm not sure," Toshinori replied. "But it is all that she has."
-Present-
Izuku and Catra finished the story as they placed the hair down on the table. They looked at their friends as they fully got the grasp of the situation that they were in. The two heroes raised in the Crimson Waste couldn't blame them for being so freaked out at the way Lady Nagato had done some deadly kills and had basically become a loose cannon.
"Okay, so that's a scary story." Kaminari broke the silence.
"How did she even become a walking sniper and shooter?" Ochaco asked. "Is that one of the crazy experiments that the Horde is doing to their soldiers and prisoners?!"
"We don't know, but what we do know is that she's not invincible. She needs to reload and fire every single time," Glimmer explained. "We just need a plan to get up to where she is and take her out before she can take us out."
"Did your master say anything else about her?" Kirishima asked. "Like why she suddenly decided to fight for the Horde again?"
Izuku and Catra shook their heads.
"She probably thinks that all the newfound support and members of the Alliance are too much for her idea of balance and came back to balance things out," Jiro supposed.
"Then that's what we'll use." Glimmer punched her palm. "If she is obsessed with balance we'll have to knock her out of it and force her to change tactics. Without the element of surprise and height at her disposal, she can be overwhelmed."
"So, how do we do that?" Jiro asked.
"Similar to what we did before, only this time we are going to need to know all her movements." Glimmer smirked, looking at Jiro and Kaminari.
"Why is she looking at us?" Kaminari asked.
Back at the top of the tower, Lady Nagato was preparing herself for the next attempt of the Alliance to take the tower and invade Horde territory. She bit her lip at the underhanded tactics of the Alliance as of late. Bringing in the legendary She-Ra to fight for them was a big upset to the balance, one that would escalate the war in a destructive way. She had to make sure to end the threat before it spread any further. Lady Nagato heard all the stories from Shadow Weaver herself. She understood why the witch wanted She-Ra gone as well as the new player. They were upsetting the balance of the world, and she had to fix it.
"They'll come soon," Lady Nagato said, looking at the horizon.
Lady Nagato pulled her hair, twirling it into a bullet that she placed in a row next to her. She had been preparing for another shot at the ones that had gotten away from her. She hadn't missed yet and she was not going to give them a second chance to escape. Her ears perked up, hearing the trees rustling in the wind. She prepared her arm, turning it back into its rifle form. She loaded a bullet as she looked in through her spyglass for any movement.
"Come on, show me where you are," Lady Nagato muttered.
Just then two flashes of light came out, rushing out of the forest.
Izuku and Catra ran from two sides towards the Lone Tower. They kept their ears open as they heard the incoming shots. As soon as the shots came towards them, they jumped out of the way, avoiding them with great speed.
Lady Nagato's eyes widened at the sight. She aimed her shot at Catra, assuming her size would make her an easier target. She fired her shot, expecting her bullet to pierce her leg. But just as the shot was about to hit Catra's leg, she turned her sword into a shield, blocking the bullet with it.
"What?!" Lady Nagato cried out.
She turned her sights towards Izuku, as he jumped and weaved from side to side in a serpentine patern, getting closer to the tower. Lady Nagato loaded up more of her bullets in her rifle, firing them at rapid speed.
Izuku looked up at the incoming shots. He jumped back, dodging the first shot. Ducking under the second shot, he jumped forward to the right to dodge the third shot. He rolled out of the way of the fourth shot before running side by side with Catra.
As soon as they were side by side, the two friends were almost about to reach the tower, scaring Lady Nagato.
"What the hell! No one has been able to predict my shots with such ease before!" Nagato gritted her teeth.
Unbeknownst to her, all her words and actions were heard by Jiro with her earphone jacks.
"She's losing her mind over us predicting her moves. Now she's loading three more shots," Jiro explained.
"Send the word out, Kaminari," Glimmer told Kaminari.
"You got it, boss ladies." Kaminari gave them a thumbs up as he transferred the instructions.
As soon as the wind started rustling the leaves, providing cover for their friends, Glimmer had teleported Jiro and Kaminari behind the tower while Izuku and Catra distracted the shooter.
"Alright, she's shooting down twenty degrees to the right." Jiro instructed, her jacks plugged into the wall of the tower.
Kaminari sent the information to Izuku and Catra.
Izuku and Catra heard the instructions through two small earpieces. As the shot echoed like a loud bang through the air, Catra held her shield forward, blocking the shot. Before the next shot could get them they started climbing up the tower.
"Next shot is coming from the left at eighty nine degrees!" Jiro called out.
Izuku heard it. He wrapped his arm around Catra's waist, carrying her away from the shot as it tore through the side of the tower. He dug his feet on the side of the tower, jumping high with great speed towards the top. As Catra held up her shield at the ready, Izuku cut the distance towards the top of the Lone Tower.
"Her third shot is coming down! Straight down towards them!" Jiro called out.
The two friends looked up as Lady Nagato aimed her rifle directly at them.
She fired the shot directly at them.
"Izuku, divide and conquer!" Catra instructed.
Izuku nodded in understanding. He tossed Catra away from him before jumping to the side.
The shot scratched Catra's shoulder, causing her to growl in pain. However, she forced a smile as Izuku made it to the very top of the tower.
Lady Nagato was caught by surprise as Izuku snatched her rifle arm before he slammed her against the floor of the tower. She got the air knocked out of her. Izuku then followed up with a kick to the stomach, sending her to the other side of the floor.
"It's over Lady Nagato!" Izuku said as Catra jumped in to join him.
"Put down the fancy long-range slingshot and maybe you'll get a cell with a tiny window." Catra turned her shield back into a sword.
"You two think you're doing something good?" Lady Nagato asked, holding her side. "All you're doing is making the balance of the world unstable. One cannot be stronger than the other. That's how true balance is achieved, by two vast opposing forces being the other's deterrent."
Izuku and Catra didn't know if this woman was being serious or just buying time. They had seen what the Horde had been doing all these years and there was no sign of them stopping.
"You aren't getting away making us your scapegoats! You are going to pay for what you've done!" Catra snapped.
"And you'll tell us everything about the Horde. We're stopping Hordak and all his goons, because that's what heroes do!" Izuku added.
"Not this time," Nagato muttered.
She pulled out a grenade from behind her belt. She pulled out the pin before throwing it at the floor between them.
Izuku grabbed Catra, covering her with his body as the grenade went off.
There was a bright flash of light and a deafening sound.
Once the light subsided, Izuku and Catra turned around to see that Lady Nagato was gone without a trace.
"She's gone!" Catra snapped.
"Jiro, where is she?" Izuku called through the radio. "Is she still in the building?"
"No, she must've jumped out of the tower. We just saw her plummet down the pass behind us." Jiro called.
"Damn it." Izuku cursed.
"Sounds like we've got a crazed assassin after us," Catra said. "Other than that, we got ourselves a tower."
With the defeat of the Horde assassin, the soldiers of the Alliance captured and secured the Lone Tower.
Meanwhile, the team from Brightmoon and the Red Riots were saying their goodbyes.
"Thanks a lot for the help, you guys. It was really manly how you charged up and took down the assassin!" Kirishima thanked the group.
"Well, I'm a female so manly doesn't apply to me," Catra muttered, getting a nudge from Glimmer.
"We are happy that we could help," Glimmer said.
"If you ever need help from us, don't hesitate to ask." Jiro fist bumped Catra and Glimmer.
"It would be our honor!" Bow bowed with tears in his eyes.
"Is he okay?" Ochaco asked quietly.
"He's just really emotional," Izuku replied, shaking hands with Kirishima. "I hope we can work together next time."
"Same here, dude. Just don't go soft, Man of Men," Kirishima replied.
"'Man of Men'?" Izuku asked.
"Yeah, cause you can keep up with She-Ra like you're her equal." Kirishima grinned.
"I think he's more of a 'He-Man', personally. It's like a male version of She-Ra." Ochaco clarified.
"Looks like you've got yourself a nickname, Izuku." Catra wrapped her arm around Izuku, laughing at his embarrassed face.
"Please don't," Izuku begged with a pleading face. "It's very embarrassing."
"Nope, He-Man it is." Glimmer smiled mischievously.
"Oh, we could use that for our new team name! He-Man and the Masters of the Universe!" Bow declared, striking a heroic pose as lightning crackled in the sky above.
Izuku, Catra, Glimmer and the Red Riots looked at Bow like he'd grown a second head.
"... Maybe we should keep workshopping the name?" Glimmer awkwardly giggled.