Chapter 15: Princess of Power
Another day, another mission.
It had been nearly two weeks since the entrance exams and, in that time, his letter if he made it into U.A or not had yet to show up and Izuku was very nervous about it. Right now, however, he and Glimmer were walking up the steps to the main hall of Brightmoon having returned from a few days' expedition to some of the further villages.
The first few went without any trouble. The last one was where trouble happened. A detachment of Horde soldiers was about to ransack the village just as they were about to leave. Their orders from Her Majesty were to retreat and escort as many people as possible out if there was an attack.
That didn't happen as Glimmer insisted they stay and fight. With no room for negotiations unfortunately. The advisor side of his role to Brightmoon told him to try and convince Glimmer to get them and the people out. The bodyguard side of him however had to watch her back no matter what situation she got herself into.
He would already do that, no questions asked. But now it was his job to do that.
The hero part of Izuku outshined the advisor part as he leapt into the fray along side the princess. There were, thankfully, no casualties and very few injured thanks to the sorcerer's experimental creation runes. Creating domes of earth to protect any of the fleeing towns folk from stray fire or elusive drones.
Now they just had to convince Her Majesty why they disobeyed orders, despite them saving those people. That was going to be the hard part of today. "It'll be fine." Glimmer said nonchalantly before taking a deep breath. Both now stood at the grand opal gates of the throne room.
"Are you sure? This was supposed to be a relief mission for us." Izuku brought attention while Glimmer checked for any debris on the two.
"It'll be fine." She stated, casually flicking a pebble off of the sorcerer's shoulder. "Just…let me do the talking." Now Izuku was anxious about this. Not that Glimmer was bad at negotiations. It was just… It was also her mother they would be speaking too. A very protective mother as Izuku learned over the years.
Glimmer went over herself one last time and with one more deep breath, pushed open the large doors. Both walked side by side as they approached the sitting queen. As they reached the steps to the throne, they went down on one knee. "Commander Glimmer, present per the queen's summons." Izuku was swiftly after her.
"Sorcerer Izuku Midoriya, present per the queen's summons." He thought adding his last name would sound more professional.
The queen stood from her throne and looked down to the two. Her expression neutral and professional. "Welcome back. You may rise." Both returned to a standing position as the queen continued.
"Now. Which one of you would like to tell me why you engaged Horde forces instead of following orders?" Izuku glanced over to Glimmer beside him, her composure far calmer then when they first walked in.
She had the stage. "Because I can't be expected to stand to the side and let innocent people die or worse. When I have the power and will to make a difference!" Glimmer knew full well why she was given the title of commander and it wasn't because of her leadership skills.
"You disobeyed direct orders explicitly telling you not to engage. What do you think would happen if you were killed or captured? I can't make exceptions."
"Then why send me out in the first place!?" Glimmer shouted. Sweat began to go down the sorcerer's face as this debrief was quickly becoming an argument. Again. "I am not defenceless! You know that!"
"That is not the point commander." Angella's tone was shifting as well.
"Then what is it!? Just be a dumb smiling face!? Screw that! People were in trouble, and I was there to help them. If you didn't want me to fight, then why did you send Izuku with me?!"
"He was there to make sure you didn't get into trouble! Or make sure you followed orders!"
"Like he would stand by and just-"
"ENOUGH!" Angella's shouted out, wings flaring, causing the two to jump slightly. Angella took in a deep breath and regained her composure. "Izuku, you are dismissed. I expect a report at the war table tomorrow morning. In the meantime, I would like a few words with the commander." Uh oh.
"Your Majesty if would allow me t-"
"Now."
"…Yes, Your Majesty." Izuku bowed to the queen before taking his leave. He didn't hear anything as he left the hall. It was silent all the way down the other halls too. Bow was out with a group of scouts as far as he knew so he couldn't talk to him.
With nothing better to do he retreated to his room to pick up some papers before heading to the doors of the princess's room. He could at least fill in most of the report before Glimmer came back and before he had to head home.
Izuku leaned back against the walls next to the princess's door, using a barrier as a desk to write the report as he waited. He could only imagine what was going on in the throne room. All he did know was that it wouldn't be much longer if he had to guess. With that thought, Glimmer appeared right in front of her room doors, with a very displeased look on her face.
He got used to her suddenly appearing out of the blue. Izuku finished his report and slid it into a strapped binder he had. "How did it go?" Glimmer looked at Izuku with the same displeased look.
"What do you think?"
"…Not good?" Glimmer grabbed hold of Izuku and teleported them both into her room.
"She grounded me! GROUNDED! Who grounds their commander!?" Glimmer paced back and forth detailing her argument with her mother. It went about as well as you would think.
Izuku had taken a seat on one of the elevated cushions strewn throughout the room. "She didn't. She grounded her daughter."
"Oh, because that's so much better!" She groaned, teleporting to the large window, and opening it before teleporting to her loft hanging from the ceiling.
Izuku sighed and stood up. "Sorry."
"Do you regret what we did?"
"Of course not." Izuku finished without a second thought. Even if they did disobey direct orders. He didn't regret a single part of it when it came to saving people.
Glimmer teleported back down. "I thought so. I don't either, but mom still thinks I'm still the scared little girl I'm not anymore."
"You don't know that. We both know she just doesn't want anything bad to happen to you."
"There's bad happening all across Etheria, Izuku! And no matter what we do the Horde is always one step ahead!" The greenette knew that.
The Horde was only getting more aggressive as of late and Brightmoon lacked the manpower to help those all across the world. "I just wished we had that edge to give us the upper hand for once."
"We will find it. I just know it." They just needed that opportunity and seize it. An opportunity arose as an arrow flew through the open window and lodged itself into one of the support beams with a hearty thunk.
It kind of looked like one of Bow's arrows. Both examined the bulky looking arrow as a message unfurled from its shaft.
Hey Glimmer!
I think I've got something really cool!
Look out the window.
Heart, Bow.
A little chibi version of Bow was cutely drawn into the lower corner of the note. Glimmer walked over to the window as Izuku pulled out the arrow and examined it in more detail.
"Bow! What are you doing?" The princess whisper yelled.
"Hey, Glimmer! I've got something really cool!" The archer actually yelled back, brandishing his tracker pad. Clearly not getting it.
"SHUSH! I can't, I'm grounded!"
"…What!" Glimmer leaned out of her window.
"I said I'm grounded!"
"…What!" The archer yelled out again.
Clearly fed up, Glimmer teleported down to where Bow was and brought him into the room. "I'm grounded!" Bow got that part and sheathed his bow onto his back.
"Ooooh. Sorry about that. Oh! Hey Izuku! Didn't know you were in here too." Izuku waved back, arms crossed, an easy-going smile from seeing his friend again.
"Why are you here Bow?" The princess murmured, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Right, anyway during my scout op, I found a pretty strange signal coming from the whispering woods. I think it might be some really powerful First One's tech." Bow showed the signal to the others.
The First One's were some sort of precursor race that colonized Etheria thousands of years ago. Disappearing without a trace. Only leaving behind runes of their civilization and powerful ancient artifacts and incredible technology that ranged from mundane to unbelievable compared to Earth's.
If you could figure out how to turn them on, that is. And get into those temples that have been sealed shut for millennia. Glimmer's eyes widened in glee at the tracker pad. "Do you guys know what this means?"
"We've got our edge! If we can get to it before anyone else does and figure out what it is, we can finally show the Horde what we're made of!"
Glimmer gasped with delight at another idea. "We can show mom this and she'll have to see that I've got what it takes!" Glimmer turned to Izuku; the sorcerer already knew what she was going to say.
"Glimmer, you know I can't." Glimmer stared at the greenette. It was taking all of his willpower to resist. Izuku turned away.
"I'm not looking." Glimmer smirked because she knew it was working. "Nope. Not going with it." He could feel her pale violet eyes burn into the side of his face.
"We don't even know what it is exactly!" She raised an eyebrow in amusement. Bow was just watching what was unfolding before him with a quizzical look to him.
After what felt like eternity, Izuku finally relented "…Alright! Alright. *Sigh* How is this going to work?" Glimmer grinned and began to explain her plan. It would involve the three sneaking into the whispering woods, getting the tech, getting back, and showing it off to Angella. Who would in theory forgive the earlier argument and trust them more often.
That was if they could get to it first and with all hands-on deck, it was simple enough. While Bow would lead them to the general direction of the signals source, Izuku's role would be to lead them back out since he had firsthand knowledge on how to navigate the more confusing parts of the woods. If Bow's pad couldn't function with the innate jamming field that surrounded it.
It wasn't the worst plan he's heard before. Using his barriers as makeshift steps down a cliff, now that was a bad idea he wouldn't forget. If they did retrieve the artifact, it could bolster morale even if it didn't work at first. After a lengthy thought process, Izuku agreed to the plan. Just as Glimmer was about to teleport the three out, a rapid beeping noise emanated from Izuku's wrist.
He had brought a watch set to earth time so he wouldn't forget when it was time to head back as the only indicator it was becoming night was that a second, slightly dimmer and smaller moon hung over Etheria's skies alongside a slightly darkened sky and other astral bodies minus stars.
Izuku had to head back before his mom barged in on him half not there. Glimmer was disappointed at the sudden change of plans. Izuku looked out the window then back to the princess and the archer. "I-I have to go. And I know I can't stop you so-" He was cut off from both pulling him into a group hug.
"I understand. I hate it, but I understand." Glimmer comforted the sorcerer that they would be fine.
"Yeah, we'll be alright. Besides, I'm sure your mom is just as worried about you coming here as we are you leaving." Bow brought up.
"Yeah… you could say that again." Izuku decided to let slide the fact he hadn't told his mom about anything outside of Earth. "Take care of each other, alright?" The squad left their group hug with the other two getting ready to leave. "Make sure you don't go to deep into the woods a-and don't stray to far from clear paths or rivers. And most importantly don'-"
"'zuku we'll be fine. It's just a quick back and forth. Nothing we haven't done a million times now." Glimmer gave him that smile that always said 'we got this'. "I mean, how long have we known each other?" Izuku stammered and stuttered trying to give a clear answer.
Glimmer playfully punched him in the arm then walked back to the open window. "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on her." Bow affirmed the sorcerer as he walked to Glimmer's side, hoping to give him some peace.
"Back in a flash!" Glimmer took Bow's arm, and both vanished from sight in a flash of sparkles. Leaving Izuku alone to his thoughts.
Please be safe.
--- Midoriya Household ---
He shouldn't have left. He should've gone with them. Who knows what would happen to them in those woods. But there was that slim chance of his mom finding out and he couldn't let her find out like that. It should be on his terms. Not something he can't control.
Now here Izuku was sitting in the living room, going through everything he had to keep his mind occupied and not lingering on ifs. Ifs of coming back and finding out they got lost in the deeper parts of the woods, or a Horde scouting regiment caught them off guard. Following the same signal they were. Or some of the angered creatures chased them into an open First One's rune or-
"I-I-I-Izuku!"
Caught off guard by the sudden call of his name, Izuku looked over his shoulder to his mother unable to stop moving in place. He got up and quickly went to see what was wrong, making sure she wasn't hurt or in distress.
She then swiftly brandished a letter in front of the sorcerer. "Y-Your letter from U.A! It's here!" His letter? Right. U.A. The other half of his crazy life. Izuku carefully took the letter from his mother's nervous hands into his own shaken ones.
Flipping it over, it was in fact from U.A. If the plastic stamp with 'U.A' pressed into it keeping the envelope sealed didn't give off that idea. He kind of forgot about it in hindsight with all of the trips he's had to make all across Brightmoon territory.
"Izuku? Are you alright?" Inko asked her son after seeing his indifferent expression.
He looked up from the letter in his hand to his mom. "Y-Yeah, just a lot on my mind right now."
"I guess so, huh?" Inko silently wrung her hands and offered a shaky smile to her son. "Well, whatever happens when you open it, know that I'm proud of you and that I love you no matter what." She brought her son into a loving embrace, squeezing him tight as if that'll be the last one she'll ever get.
Izuku was much taller then Inko now. It didn't help that she also shrank too. Hence why he could feel his shirt getting damp around his chest.
He held her close to try and comfort her. They finished and Inko wiped away the tears in her eyes. "I know you got this!" Izuku smiled back and Inko took a seat in the living room while Izuku went to his room to open the letter.
As he left, he didn't hear her mutter something about a scar.
Izuku sat at his desk and placed the letter on it. Moment of truth. He was in or out. Just had to open it and read what was inside. Simple enough. He had choked down harder to read messages before. This would be far more lax than those.
Izuku opened the letter from its side and a small black disk slid out of the envelope including a note. It was folded and said, "Please play message on projector before opening" on the front. Cryptic.
The black thing was a projector? Seemed a little over kill for a message. He put the folded letter down and examined the small projector. After some fiddling, he found which way to put it up and how to play it.
He put it back down on his desk and pushed a small button on its side. The center lens lit up and a holographic screen arose from the small disk.
Now on display was a long dark haired, dishevelled looking man. Who looked like he's never even heard of sleep before. Izuku could've sworn he looked familiar. Maybe one of his earlier journals could jog his memory.
Before that however, the man on the projected video began to speak. "Hello. My name is Aizawa Shouta, a member of the faculty here at U.A and I am here to tell you about your results during the U.A entrance exams." The man was clearly tired, why was he here? Whatever lets hear those results.
"Your score for the written section of the exams was fairly decent, easily solidifying your place in the general courses but I doubt that's what you want to hear?" The tired member continued, seemingly having gone through this a dozen times already and just wanting to go home. Or collapse.
"Anyway, your score for the practical was decent as well, a solid 80 points. Putting you into the top 10 of your section taking the practical.
"But we don't just look for how quickly you can take down a villain, as useful as it may be. We are also looking for those who worked well with their other candidates or have more heroic qualities. Which is why we set a secret score of rescue points for those who meet those qualities." Really? Then how many rescue points did he get? All he did was give advice.
"These extra points were hidden from public knowledge as we could differentiate the actual potential candidates and to allow those who don't have offensive quirks to score in the exams."
"Which is why when we see someone help those out of difficult situations and give advice on how to better approach said situation, we reward that kind of thinking. So, adding the rescue points on top of your villain points, your total shoots up to 140. Throwing you into second place of your section in the regular practical." 140… then that would mean…!
"That's right, congratulations..." He didn't sound all that congratulatory. "Welcome to U.A's hero course. Disclosed with this message is a form with the information of when class time will begin and end, a section of which home room and classes you will be assigned and general information that will need to be filled and sent back."
Izuku opened the form and spied it up down, trying to memorize it to the letter. "A secondary form will be issued later this week with information about possible moving to on campus dormitories."
Dorms? His own space without the possibility of getting walked in on while he was asleep? That sounded perfect.
"However, Midoriya Izuku, there is one more thing I wish to speak about." The man's vison narrowed towards the camera. Staring directly at him as if he was right there in front of him.
"During the exams I saw you create projectiles of pure ice from what I'm assuming was the moisture in the air. But your quirk describes you only able to create light-based projectiles." Footage of him began to play doing both of his 'quirk's' abilities in separate intervals.
"So, are you capable of both? Far more? Less? We'll see but everything your capable of should be written in exact detail in your bio. I don't take misinformation lightly. It can get people killed. But I'm going with the hunch that you failed to add this as it is not related with the majority of your quirk." Yep, just forgot. Hehe… Totally not because he didn't think he would get called out for it.
"In any case, I once again welcome you to U.A and section 1A." His head turned off to the side and squinted towards what Izuku assumed was a teleprompter. "…I hope for you to go… I am notsaying that… What…? That rat- Tch. Fine… Go beyond, Plus Ultra… Let's see if you got what it takes here." The projected screen blinked off.
He did it… He made it… U.A in the palm of his hand. Izuku finally let go of a breath he didn't even know he was holding. He.. He had to tell the others!
Actually, Izuku wondered what they were up to now? They were probably back at the castle by now with whatever artifact they went to get. Izuku wondered what it was. Maybe he would get to see it tomorrow. Yeah, they were back safe and sound.
They were just fine.
--- Meanwhile ---
"Remind me to clobber 'zuku when we get back!"
"Oh, sure, just after we stop getting chased by the HOUSE SIZED MONSTER!"
*SCCRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!*
"Just give me the sword!" A tied-up pony-tailed blonde shouted out as they ran from the over sized beetle through the twisting trees of the whispering woods, who most definitely remembered a certain princess from years ago ruining its meal.
"Not happening! Keep running!" The blonde groaned in frustration as the three tumbled down a cliff to a First One's rune.
"Come on!" Glimmer helped Bow up as their prisoner helped herself and untied her bonds and ran with them to the large doors of a forlorn First One's temple. Bow and Glimmer quickly got to work to try and get the door open. It refused to budge even in the slightest. As if it was just another wall with a groove down the middle.
The third however took a step back to look at the strange markings that were engraved into the doors frame. Why did it look so familiar? How could she understand a bunch of weird lines and shapes like it was basic writing?
"Ah! It won't budge! What do we do?" Bow looked back to the princess, hoping for a better idea.
"That's it! I'm teleporting us in!" Just before Glimmer could grab hold of the archer, the third said something.
"Eternia!"
And the ancient doors dragged open. Dust and debris pushed aside as the crystal doors opened completely.
"How did you do that?" Glimmer demand from the blonde. The same blonde was just as confused.
"I don't know! I just read what was on the door!"
Bow paused for second. "Wait, you can read it?"
"You can't?"
*SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEE!*
"Never mind that! Go!" Glimmer shoved the other two down the dark entryway as the monster started barrelling down the path to the entrance. The blonde turned back and shouted the word that opened the door. With her words, the door slammed shut with the massive insect crashing into the sealed temple.
"Well… Better in here then out there, right guys?" Bow tried to lighten the mood.
Glimmer was having none of it, as she ignited an orb of sparkles that illuminated the darkened space they found themselves in. "Lets just find another way out."
With no better plan, the three traveled into the depths of the forgotten temple. "Hey, thanks for helping out and not running away. Not sure you heard because of the giant monster beetle chasing us but, I'm Bow and that's Glimmer."
"…I don't usually talk with my former captors but, I'm Adora… and you do know that is a princess, right?"
"Yes, yes I think I do. She's super cool when you get to know her. You should see her when Iz-"
"Shush!" Glimmer shut him up.
"I'll tell you later."
"No, you won't! And you! Why didn't you just run off when you had the chance? Why help?" Glimmer really needed some answers, and she didn't want a Horde solider learning their only sorcerer's name.
Adora tried to think of a reasonable answer with no luck. "I'm just… lost. Where else can I go? I'm apparently a princess now! I can't go back… I just want answers."
"Well, maybe Queen Angella can help. She knows almost everything went it comes to princess stuff like this. Although, she might be busy, and this could be more magic related. We could try asking Iz-"
"Zip it! Don't even mention him till we get back. The sooner we get back, the sooner we can get this AND her back to Brightmoon." Bringing up the strange sword in her possession and supposed prisoner.
And so, they continued on. Finding themselves in the heart of the ruin. Where they would later escape and help defend a bustling village named Theymore from an oncoming Horde regiment. One of it's number hoping to take Adora back in the process. Unfortunately for them…
A legendary warrior had returned through her.
Wonder what our green haired sorcerer would think of this.
--- The Next Morning ---
Izuku got ready for another day, first drop by Glimmer's room to see if she's back then drop off yesterday's report in the war room. Then with whatever free time he had, practice some of the more dangerous spells the tome mentioned.
Oh! Maybe examine the First One's artifact they brought back. If they did. Whatever it might be, it could be really interesting to go over a few times.
And tell them the good news about getting into U.A. If Bow was there too. Izuku wanted both to be present when he told them. It seemed to be a pretty quiet day today, actually, really quiet.
If she was here, she would have came to him earlier. Izuku arrived at the princess's room doors. Just before he brought his hand to knock, he heard of a series of tearing noises and someone dropping to the floor.
Izuku barged into the room, worried for his friend might've fallen out of her bed. It's happened before. "Glimmer! Are you alri-" Izuku looked to the floor to find a blonde Horde soldier, holding a very ornate sword. In his friend's room. The princess's room. Both finally made eye contact with an awkward silence taking most of the time.
"Uhhhhhh… This isn't what it looks like." Izuku readied his spells and the blonde quickly got up waving her hands in a panic. Realizing she was also waving the sword around which she quickly put behind her back.
"Just here me out for a second! Bow and Glimmer said I could be here."
They said what? "Why should I trust you? If they said you could be here, then they would've let me, or the castle know." Izuku tried his best attempt at being intimidating.
"Ok, ok, fair enough. But I promise you, that's what they said." Two more questions, actually three. That sword looked a little too First One for his liking.
"How did you get in? The guards would've informed the castle if a Horde soldier had walked in with the princess."
"We… didn't exactly walk in. Bow snuck me in using the back… way… and then they jus told me to hide in here." The only people who knew that path was the three of them.
Izuku walked into the room proper and closed the door behind him, spells still primed for any sudden moves. "Ok, if you know them, then what's my name? Surely they would've mentioned me."
Izuku expected her to make something up right off the spot. What he wasn't expecting was that she told him that Bow assumingly tried too, but Glimmer kept cutting him off before he said anything. The only thing she had to guess it was Iz- something. That did sound like something Glimmer would do. "Last question." Izuku lowered his arms and the spells faded. "Who are you and what is that sword?"
The blonde let out a sigh of relief and lifted the sword to the sorcerer freely, offering it to him. "My name is Adora, and this is a… sword, a very magical sword. I think." Izuku raised an eyebrow in question before carefully taking the sword and examining it.
It was beautiful. A brilliant golden guard and handle attached to a perfect sliver blade. A blue stone sat firmly in the hilt with an otherworldly feeling to it. The sorcerer could just feel the power the sword radiated. "Ok, why do you have this?"
Adora took in a deep breath and gave her answer. "Ok so apparently I'm a princess called She-Ra and I use that sword to transform into… said She-Ra." She finished, smiling awkwardly.
Izuku blinked. "…She-Ra…"
"Yes?" Even she was unconvinced with her own words.
"Then why didn't you just "transform" like you said? I would've believed you a lot quicker." Izuku handed back the sword against his better judgment.
"Funny thing that, I… don't know how to exactly." Ok, now he was really confused. She said she can transform but doesn't know how? He really needed a better picture.
"Alright, how about we get somewhere the guards won't hear you ruin someone's room."
"About that… I kinda need to say a certain phrase in order to transform. And sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't." Adora grabbed a torn sheet of drapes and put it on, covering the crimson wings of the Horde on her uniform's back.
This was starting to sound like a quirk to him, minus the key phrase. Which apparently, she needed to say? Never mind, he needed answers and it would need to be somewhere remote if she needed to say a phrase out loud.
Adora looked out the window and pointed to a plateau not to far down the sudden drop to the mote below. Oh yeah, that would work. The two scaled down the cliff down to the open plateau and walked over to an open space.
A horse was casually grazing a stone's throw away. "This should be good, you transform, and I'll try and go over anything She-Ra related." Izuku opened up the carry-on he brought and pulled out one of his Etheria research volumes.
Adora in the meantime looked directly into the reflective sliver blade of the sword. Focusing into the blade before lofting it up high and shouting. "For The Honor of Grayskull!" Izuku looked up from his research to see the sword flicker slightly before dimming out again.
He then saw Adora mummer in frustration then just started swinging the sword around and saying the phrase.
Interesting. With what notes he had taken from the archive, this She-Ra was an extremely powerful warrior capable of impossible feats thousands of years ago when the princesses first emerged. All of which waved a sword that matched the description of the sword in front of him.
It never said anything about someone turning into She-Ra however or a special phrase. Maybe it was more of a title then a name or the real name was lost to time. The only thing he did have was mostly from fairy tales and myths passed by spoken word. So, there might've been more legends telling She-Ra's story long ago.
Izuku looked back up from his notes to see Adora laying flat on her back glaring at the sword. A horse wandered into frame next to her. She stood back up and petted the animal as if she knew it before, even hugging it. The horse moved away again and Adora lofted the sword up again and shouted the phrase.
"For The Honor of Grayskull!" The sword reacted again to her words and began to glow more brightly.
Izuku put away his notes and watched on. The sword then started to shake in her hand and lasers of pure light began to shoot out of the blade at random. Izuku ducked as a stray laser whizzed just above him impacting the tree behind him, leaving a darkened blast mark. "Sorry!"
Another bolt launched out and the sword finally settled, returning to a stable form. The sorcerer ran to the sword-bearers side about to ask what happened. Before she could say anything however, A bright light in the corner of their eyes took them by surprise with a startled whinny shortly before.
Both looked over to a shining silhouette of a horse as its form began to shift. Growing wings and a horn. The light died down and the regular horse that stood before them was now a majestic alicorn.
It's fur now a snow white and it's wings a rainbow sheen with a pristine horn. It's eyes slowly opened to reveal they had changed to resemble a star's shape, almost shining like them. "You made an alicorn!?" Izuku couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Adora was freaking out having just turned an animal into something she's never seen before with a magical sword. "What the heck is an alicorn!?" Holding the sword as if she's expecting it to attack them. Izuku slumped and his face took an expression which would be best described as 'Are you serious'.
He pointed to the magical beast Infront of them. "THAT! That is an alicorn!" Still looking to Adora with disbelief on his face. And she was Etherian? Then again, alicorn have supposedly been extinct for centuries so not seeing one made sense. Said alicorn finally realized what had happened to it and gave the appropriate response.
It started freaking out.
Both immeaditly started trying to calm the animal down as it bucked and struggled against its new appendages. It shortly took flight then crashed back into the ground multiple times as it tried to run from itself.
Izuku tried conjuring some sort of trap using his creation runes but didn't get the chance as the animal crashed into him, pushing him into a tree and knocking the breath out of him.
It then took off again towards the encampments in a blind panic. Adora ran over to the sorcerer clutching his chest against the tree. "Are you ok!?"
"I-I'm fine. Make sure it doesn't hurt anyone in the camps. I'll try to be right behind you." Adora nodded and ran after the fleeing alicorn. Izuku tried taking quick, sharp breaths as a pain started filling his chest. He might have a broken rib after that. He hoped Adora had it handled, this was going to take a minute.
Adora chased after the fleeing beast as it crash landed right into the middle of the camps. She tried shouting out to it, even waving the sword towards it to see if she had any control over it.
She got her answer as it took to the skies again before starting fly right into her. Adora readied herself for incoming impact but the alicorn stopped itself using its wings and the resulting wind blasted away her drapes, revealing her uniform to the camp.
It took to the skies again and soared away from Brightmoon. Adora watched on as it flew away as the camp residents found a Horde spy among them and began surrounding her. Adora tried to explain to them that she was a defector, but they didn't listen. Bow was right, they really didn't like the Horde here.
The angered residents chased after the blonde as she started to run away, using the sword to cut through some of tents to get away and make some distance.
She rolled down a cliff, dodging and deflecting arrows with the sword as she got to the edge and jumped into a river mote. Finally retreating into the safety of the forest. Izuku finally caught himself and ran down to the camps, looking around to torn tents and agitated towns folk.
That alicorn really tore the place up. Where was Adora? His attention was drawn away as a large bull horned woman ran towards him. "Sorcerer! There's been a breach!"
"What kind of breach?" Please don't be Adora. Please don't be Adora.
"There was this weird flying horse causing all sorts of panic as it ran into some of the tents, then it flew off!" Oh. Ok that was understandable.
"Then to top that, we found a Horde spy with a sword trying to communicate with it." Oh no.
"What did the spy look like." Izuku quickly questioned the militia fighter. She then perfectly described Adora, including the sword she was carrying. "Dammit, which way did she go?"
The fighter told him that she fled into the whispering woods as she was being chased. He then asked if anyone had gone after her. She shook her head. "Good. I'll give pursuit. Notify the guard and calm everyone down."
The fighter saluted and ran back to a forming crowd. Izuku readied his blink spell around his wrist and followed the footprints and cut tents towards the woods.
---
"Mom, trust me. You're going to love this!" Glimmer was excited to show Adora to her mother. Plus, a great and powerful warrior to the rebellion in the form of She-Ra? There's no way she could stay mad!
She never gave the queen names only that they found something. They were just about to round the corner before Glimmer stopped them. "Bow, would you be so kind as to grab our guest?"
Bow smirked, bowed to Glimmer, and saluted to Angella then jogged around the corner to her room, where Adora would come around as She-Ra. It would be perfect. Both watched on before Angella brought up a question.
"Have you seen Izuku by any chance? I have yet to receive his report. He is usually quite early with them." Glimmer was about to answer before understanding that she didn't know either.
Bow jogged back around with an expression that would be best described as "Oh no". Glimmer was a little confused and asked what was wrong and where was their surprise. Angella now wanted direct answers on what was going on. She would get them as a royal guard caught up with them.
"Your Majesty! A Horde soldier has been spotted on Brightmoon grounds! They evaded capture due to chaos caused by a winged beast. Sorcerer Izuku has given chase." Oh, so that's where he was. Angella pivoted to face her daughter.
Looking less then thrilled. "What. Did. You. DO!?"
---
Thorns, vines, and branches kept appearing and rapidly fading behind her as Adora kept running further into the twisting woods, hoping no one could follow her easily or at all. Bow really wasn't kidding about the pitchforks and torches.
She vaulted over a fallen tree and hid behind it, peeking up to see if she had been followed. She finally gave herself a minute to breath seeing that no one was after her.
Or around, or anything for that matter. The only thing around Adora at that moment were twisting trees and strange echoes barely audible to her.
Either far to sound like someone was deeper in or quiet enough as if someone was just behind a tree beside her. How far did she go in? She would find a way out if she just kept going in a direction.
But where would she go? She couldn't go back to the Fright Zone. Not after Thymore. Not after… Catra… Adora shook her head and tried to get back to the task at hand.
She couldn't go back to Brightmoon, not until she could figure out how to make this stupid sword work. Glimmer put all of this trust on her. And she let her down…
Maybe Green… magic… guy…
She forgot to ask for his name. Adora facepalmed and the resulting slap echoed through the quiet wood.
Fine. She could work with this. She was a Horde soldier, trained since she was able to first walk. She could get out of the forest no Horde patrol got out of. Ever. No problem.
"Just keep telling yourself that, Adora…" She took a step forward and in the corner of her eye something or someone scurried through the tree line.
But first, maybe she should find someone to help her with this. With the only thing that caught her attention being whatever she barely saw, it was probably the best bet to follow it to find at least something out here.
Wherever here is. Adora chased after the something, shouting out to see if it would stop. No luck as kept jumping behind tree to tree.
After she thought she lost it, Adora finally came up to a clearing with an overgrown hut sitting comfortably at its edge. Large roots rolled over the walls of the hut as its single denizen pulled back a sheet acting as a door.
Finally! Someone to help her! Adora thought at least as the person didn't turn around from the door. It looked more like a light purple bush more then anything with small white butterflies hovering around them.
Adora tried to get their attention without scaring them. The person turned around completely revealing a short old purple lady with large thick glasses sitting on her face making her eyes look much bigger than they should be. Well, better then nobody Adora thought.
She then explained she needed some help with getting out. But the old woman seemed disinterested. Seemingly more intrigued with the person speaking and the sword they were holding then what they had to say.
She then adjusted her glasses and smiled widely. "Mara! It's been too long! Come, come. There's much to do!" What? Adora watched the old woman walk back into the hut and she followed her in, waiting at the doorway.
"I'm sorry but I think you have me mistaken for someone else. My name is Adora."
"Oh, you can't fool these old eyes deary! Otherwise, why would you have brought your sword hmm?" Did-Did she know about the sword?
"Wait, you've seen this sword before? Where? Can you help me?" The lady grabbed a basket and turned back towards the blonde, smile still ever-present.
"Why of course. At least I knew the person who last had it. Which is you!" How did that make any sense!? Adora was getting kind of impatient.
"Can you help me or not. I need to figure this out and I need too now!" The lady tilted her head slightly before walking past her with the basket.
"Maybe you can help Madame Razz first, Mara deary. Come! Or else we'll miss the best berry spot!" And with that, Adora watched the woman named Razz leave the hut, broom in one hand and basket in the other. What was her life now?
Adora followed Razz through the woods trying to get any more information from her supposed guide. Only to get cryptic answers and things like "Oh you know." They even wandered into a First One's rune. While Adora was mesmerized by the sight around them, Razz began to scale the central tower built into the ravine they found themselves in.
Trying to reach the final ledge while Adora watched in horror that some old lady might fall to her death, The forest dweller had somehow activated the ruin as it began to glow incandescently. Adora didn't notice Razz gently fall back down beside her as the ruin began to project a hologram of the ruin before it was destroyed.
And in the sky above them, holographic stars started dotting it. Adora could only stare in awe and… familiarity. She's seen this sky before… Where? Where has she seen this view before? Flashes of a figure then a view of the true night sky filled her mind before they finally stopped.
Where did the stars go? "Do you remember, Mara? We used to come here all the time to watch the stars. Where did they go?" Razz must have known something. This couldn't be a coincidence.
Before she could ask again, Razz started moving on again and Adora followed again with less frustration and more weariness than before. Who was that the visons showed her? What happened to the sky? Who was Mara? Adora kept getting more questions then answers on this trip. There was one thing for sure she knew though.
The world needed She-Ra for… something, she just didn't know. Adora was about to ask where they were going this time until they came to a premature stop. Adora looked up to the sight before and looked out in shock.
The forest just… ended. Instead of lush vines and trees there was just grey soot that made the ground and decaying life as one went further from the edge. Ruined and cut down trees marked whatever was left before it was covered by ash.
Who would- why would anyone do this? Adora wandered further into the wasteland and found her answer on the side of a treaded vehicle with a powerful claw that must've been cutting the trees with crushing force. She wiped away some of the dust and found the sigil of the Horde on the machine.
And there was a dozen more, some in better shape then others. First Theymore, now this. She finally saw the horrid crimes the Horde, her former home, were committing. She couldn't believe it. Razz started to speak again, after watching the loss in the blonde's pale blue eyes.
"It's the same old story. Wicked people destroy what they don't understand or cannot control."
"They can't just do this!" Adora exclaimed before turning back to the wastes.
"Once before, the princesses would have protected us. But now, they-they stay in their castles and look to protect their own lands. While the Horde creeps ever closer to those who can't." Razz walked right beside the blonde and looked up to her. "Your very much like my Mara, you know? Brave, loyal but afraid."
"I'm not afraid." Adora's brow furrowed towards the ashen wastes in front of them. Razz chuckled a little at her statement.
"Deary, you asked the first old lady you found in a magical forest on what you should do. No one is going to make this easy for you. Stop waiting for someone to tell what the right thing to do is. You're a clever girl, what do you think you should do?"
She looked back to the woods behind her then to the wastes in front of her. What would she think she should do? "I-I think… I think this is wrong!" A frightened whinny rang out from further into the wastes. "Horsey!"
Adora ran to the source of the sound. She found herself at the edge looking down to a sprawling Horde camp dug in deep in a massive crater and in the middle, the alicorn currently being tied down and captured by Horde soldiers.
Adora looked to the Horde flag flowing in the breeze then to the sword in her hand. She wanted to do the right thing and protect those who couldn't themselves. She gripped the handle with both of her hands, the blade pointing upwards and raised it skyward with one thrust.
"For The Honor of Grayskull!"
---
"How hard is it to find one girl in a magical forest that messes with your sense of direc- Oh. Right." Izuku muttered to himself as he tried to navigate the whispering woods on his own. You would think having lived in these woods for a solid week when he was young would've given him an edge or at least a pointer or two on how to navigate it perfectly.
Not so, as he would still get lost at the worst of times and end up where he started at the best of times. He must've made some distance by now. Considering he no longer saw that same jagged rock he passed a few times already.
It can only be a matter of time now. Izuku closed his eyes and focused for a second, trying to see if he could sense or her, or at least the sword. He barely got anything however as magic freely flowed through this place, he couldn't get a clear direction.
With a sigh, he continued on, hoping to find something to tell him he was going in the right direction. He kept walking until he felt the ground become softer than before.
As if he was stepping in "Ash…" Izuku looked straight ahead to the edge of the forest as broken trees and greyed skies began to take shape the closer he got to the end. Then the machines came into view.
The Horde was… The rebellion needed to be notified of this if they weren't already. but one problem at a time. The woods brought him here for a reason, but for what and why.
"For The Honor of Grayskull!"
That would be the reason. Izuku ran towards the source of the voice as sounds of fighting began to destroy the silence around him. At the edge to a large crater was a Horde camp and what really drew his attention was the bright glow down in the middle.
He pulled out some binoculars from his satchel and crouched down to get a better view of what was happening. Someone was absolutely devastating the Horde forces down there. One swing of their very familiar sword caused the earth around it to upheave and blast the grunts back. What power…
"That's my girl!"
Izuku looked beside him in surprise as Razz was cheering. "Razz!? Why are yo-"
"No time broccoli! She-Ra needs our help!" Razz slid down the craters edge, knocking down a grunt as she landed. Throwing back the sword She-Ra threw at a tank. Izuku looked back to the figure and their long mane of golden hair, white/golden clothes and armor and that same sword again. That's She-Ra…
No time for that. Izuku slid down the craters edge and started throwing bolts at any nearby grunts, casting a barrier to act as personal shield attached to his arm. The golden warrior shouted out to the grunts to stand down and leave. A wolf like beast-kin, most likely the commander of this detachment, retreated to a depot as grunts began to pour into the main area.
The alicorn from before was soaring through the skies and charging at some of the battalions, knocking them down. Izuku engaged his own small group of grunts as he rushed to who he assumed was Adora and started reading a creation rune into the dirt. The golden warrior's eyes widened to the sorcerer beside her. "Thanks for being behind me."
"Yeah, sorry about that, I think I broke a rib before." Izuku clapped his hands together and touched the rune. Magic began to fill the earth and a spear of stone began to emerge from the ground. He grabbed the spear and readied himself as he twirled it. "I've got eyes on another detachment heading our way."
"The commander is making a break for a cannon. Cover me!" Izuku watched on as She-Ra charged through and knocked aside an entire group of soldiers and flipped a tank for good measure.
Izuku shook his head from the spectacle of power and began sowing chaos in the detachment in front of him. Thinking how She-Ra might be as strong as All-Might with the way he is now. The beast-kin commander started firing a volley of energy blasts from a high-powered energy cannon.
She-Ra deflected the rounds aimed towards her with the sword as she rushed the commander and sliced the cannon's barrel in half with a single swing. "Surrender. Now." She aimed the sword right at the commander's face.
The wolf man grimaced and fired the shortened barrel of the cannon right into She-Ra's chest, ruining the cannon but blasting her off and onto the ground. She was down for the count and more and more grunts began to fill the center as they ignited energy shields and electrified maces.
Izuku, Razz and the alicorn all ran to Adora's unconscious body as they were surrounded. There were too many for him or any of them to take on and this whole them blocking most of his spells wasn't helping. Razz cradled Adora and dug into one of her pouches with a handful of hard nuts.
"RAZZLE DAZZLE!" Razz threw them to the ground, and they exploded into extremely bright flash.
---
Adora arose from unconsciousness to the sight of Razz and Horsey filling her view. She slow got up as she was lying down against a rock covered in moss not to far from Razz's hut it would seem. Wait, the camp, the soldiers. The sword! Where was the- oh right beside her. She cradled her head with one hand as she stood herself up. "What happened?"
"Swiftwind here gave all of us a lift out while you were out." Razz motioned to the alicorn beside her. Swift… wind? "That is the name he chose for himself, yes."
The forest dweller leaned in close to Adora's ear. "Also, he really hated it when you called him "Horsey". Very rude." Adora glanced over to Swiftwind who huffed and looked away. Ok…
"Of course, she can understand horse too…" The green sorcerer from before walked towards the gathered group. "You feeling alright, Adora?" He asked.
"Yeah, I'm ok and thanks for the help… you… magic… guy?"
"…I forgot to tell you my name, didn't I?"
"I just thought you would when you wanted too." The sorcerer apologized again with a slight stutter and bowed before introducing himself.
"My name is Izuku Midoriya, Izuku is fine. Brightmoon's resident sorcerer and advisor/bodyguard to Princess Glimmer."
Bodyguard? "Wait, if your Glimmer's bodyguard, then where were you when she was getting the sword? Or running from the massive beetle or Theymore?"
Izuku was stunned on much he missed in only one night. "U-Uh, w-well you see it's very c-complicated. Which I'm sure we'll explain better when we get back to Brightmoon."
Yeah, they had some explaining to do, but first… "Madame Razz I have to go, and I can't thank you enough. Will I ever see you again?"
"Oh, deary, whenever you need me, you will find me." Razz patted the sword bearer's shoulder and smiled before returning to her hut. Muttering under breath as the blind closed behind her. "Who was that weirdo?"
Adora took in a deep breath and let it out. She finally felt complete somewhat, that missing piece that plagued ever since she first turned into She-Ra. When she first touched the sword.
She wanted to stop the Horde and its atrocities all across Etheria. To stop any other innocent people from being hurt or killed. She couldn't do it alone, however. Izuku told her that if they left now, they could make it back by sundown.
Adora had another idea on how to get back. "Soooo, Swiftwind. Would you mind giving us a lift? Please?" Swiftwind shook his mane and fluttered his wings as if thinking about it. Izuku glanced between the two and what was about to happen.
…
"T-This isn't what I had in mind!" Izuku held on tight onto Adora as she rode the mythical animal with a smile on her face, amazed that she was flying, as both of them soared to Brightmoon.
--- Meanwhile, back in Brightmoon ---
"This is unacceptable!"
"Mom, you're not listening!" Glimmer pleaded to her mother who was downright furious.
"Oh, please, please explain to me how you could willingly lead a Horde soldier to Brightmoon! Can you be anymore selfish! Do you know how many lives you could have put at risk?!"
"Mom, please! if you just met her, you wouldn't-"
"I will meet if her indeed. When Izuku gets back with her in tow if he even gets back. You may have sent him to his death because of your mistake!"
The throne room was silent as both guards and other peoples stayed quiet, due to the queen's fury. Glimmer stared down at the floor doing her best not to make the situation worse by saying anything. Her face said everything for her though.
Bow tried to explain his peace while comforting his friend beside him. "Your Majesty, we don't know that yet. I'm sure if we just-"
"Bow, I thank you for your input, but I believe you should go for now. I have long matter to discuss with my daughter." Bow gulped and Glimmer's brow furrowed, fists tightening, unable to stop herself from seeing her friend dead in a ruined ditch somewhere chasing her chance to make things better for everyone.
"Your Majesty, please wait!" Glimmer looked back and the rest of the throne looked to the entrance to find Izuku catching his breath having seemingly ran up the stairs with great haste. The sorcerer dusted himself and composed himself. "Queen Angella, people of Brightmoon, I would like for you to meet a long-lost warrior." Izuku stood to the side as a blinding golden light took up the entrance.
"The legendary princess of power, She-Ra!"
The 8-foot-tall form of a golden warrior walked into throne hall. Gleaming gold accents accentuated a pure white uniform. A beautiful red cape flowed with power alongside the large back length long golden hair which moved with ethereal beauty. A golden tiara with a red gem and golden bracers sat on her brow and arms respectively. The other people in the hall simply goggled and stared in awe at the golden princess before them.
Two piercing blue eyes met the queen's as she stopped before the steps of the throne. "Queen Angella." She spoke. "I have come to pledge myself to the rebellion. But before that, there is something you should know."
She-Ra closed her eyes and her glowing form diminished. Now what stood in front of Angella was a Horde soldier. Glimmer took a step beside her. "Mom, this is Adora, and she is the best chance we have of fighting back."
Adora offered her sword to the taken back queen of Brightmoon. "I know you shouldn't trust me, but I have seen the atrocities committed by the Horde and I want to fight and stop them before anyone else gets hurt!"
Angella took the sword from Adora gently and held it close. "It is said that She-Ra would come in our darkest hour and restore balance to Etheria…"
"Adora." She stood straight up as the queen said her name. "Do you vow to serve the rebellion with all you have for Etheria and are willing to leave those you once called allies?" Adora knelt down to emphasize her point.
"I do." Adora answered. Angela then looked to Glimmer.
"And do you vouch for her and take responsibility for actions from here on?" Glimmer said yes gladly. Angella closed her eyes and readied the blade in her hands. She took it and tapped Adora's shoulders with the blade. "Then rise Adora, princess of power." She returned the sword to Adora.
Glimmer and Bow congratulated her. "Welcome to Brightmoon!" Before pulling her into a group hug.
"A quick 'back and forth', huh?" Izuku stood there cross armed. Looking to the three with a raised eyebrow and smirk.
Glimmer playfully rolled her eyes. "Oh, just get in here already!" Izuku walked up to the group and joined in, he squirmed in pain as they squeezed.
"Y-Yep, definitely broke a rib…"
"How did you break a rib!?"
"I'll tell you as soon as you tell me what happened last night." Glimmer stared at the sorcerer before berating him on not checking everywhere else before her room and not taking care of himself.
Bow asked if he felt any sort of chest pains at all and he was equipped with medical necessities if necessary. Izuku said he was fine as his face said otherwise.
Adora watched as the three talked about Izuku's injury like it was normal thing to do. It felt like home. It was kind of like her platoon. Like how Catra and her would talk about stuff like that all the time…
"Hey, Adora?" Adora shook her head and returned to the moment. "Do you want to come with us? I'm sure we can give a decent tour on the way to medical." Glimmer offered.
She looked to the group of friends on how they really wanted to be her friend despite being enemies only a night ago. "Sure, and thanks, Glimmer." Glimmer beamed and the Best Friend Squad left with a new member, ready to show her around the castle.
Adora felt like she belonged again. That she was part of a family again. She just wished she could've convinced Catra to come with her.
--- The Fright Zone, Hordak's Sanctum ---
First Adora leaves her, now Shadow Bit-Weaver was on her case. As if today couldn't get any worse.
It could as the universe really hated Catra today as she was practically dragged to Lord Hordak's sanctum by Shadow Weaver. The magical witch bitch having the idea that Hordak will punish the cat on how she "lost" force captain Adora or something like that.
Still, it was terrifying being led to his sanctum in person. Especially if that punishment actually happened. She really hoped that wouldn't happen. It wouldn't if she stayed instead of leaving you.
As Shadow Weaver pushed her basically prisoner to behind the throne where Hordak stood in the shadows. Facing away from them.
"Kneel!" The masked sorceress pushed Catra down to a kneeling position her face looking down. Mechanical arms of various shapes, sizes and uses picked, placed, and welded plates of shaped metal to the lord's hidden form.
"What." He spoke, unphased by his peace being broken.
"Lord Hordak, I regret to inform you that this cur has failed to return Force Captain Adora and brought failure to the Horde in a miserable defeat." The arm retreated as they finished, they work.
"You came here to tell me that you are still down a force captain?" Pure red eyes pierced the shadows as Hordak sounded slightly annoyed that this was being brought to his attention.
"Worry not, we shall do everything in our power to finding Adora and bringing her back."
"No, you will elect a new force captain and resume normal operations." Catra glanced over to Shadow Weaver actually shocked. It was a good look for her. Watching her squirm not getting her way.
"Bu-But my lord! There is no one else worthy enough to take her place!"
"Is Catra not also your ward?"
"Catra!? She is insubordinate and an utter waste of the position! She is nothing but a disappointment!" Really laying on it thick there, aren't ya?
"If you have failed to condition her properly, then you have no one to blame but yourself." Hordak glared at her with his statement. Catra was really trying not to laugh at Shadow Bitch's dismay.
"But my lord!-"
"Enough. I have made my decision." Heavy, metallic footsteps and hydraulic movements echoed louder towards Catra. She kept her head down just in case. "Rise, force captain Catra." She raised her head and looked to her lord. He brought his hand out to reveal a force captain's badge sitting in his claws.
She stood and took the badge from him. Catra could feel the animosity behind her as she held the badge in her own hand.
She grinned; this was going to be good.