Chapter 18: Battles of a Sorcerer
Aaannd, there! All packed for tomorrow. Izuku went over a list he made to check if he packed everything necessary for the move tomorrow before classes started. He had gotten up early just so he could still pack up and get ready for another day.
After seeing everything was just grab and go for the dorms, the sorcerer got ready for school. Getting dressed, grabbing a meal from his mom, and making sure he had all of his supplies, Izuku left home and made his way to U.A. It wasn't terribly far, just a few blocks and street easily taking a solid fifteen minutes at least.
It was a peaceful kind of walk too. No more being chased, no threats, just getting to where he wanted to go in peace and on time. It was nice. He crossed over to the side where the main building was and walked over to the front gate. As he was walking, he heard someone calling out behind him.
It was Iida, calling to him as he jogged to the greenette's side. "Good morning, Midoriya! I see you wish to be early for today as well. I assume you have already packed for tomorrow?" He did. "As I suspected! I made sure I was prepared days before hand. It is a hero's duty to be prepared for any situation or change in environment."
If only he knew…
Then again, that probably wasn't the kind of situation or environment change he was thinking of. If he had met the techno princess Izuku met last night, Iida would probably already be chased by Entrapta, very interested with the metal coming out of his calves and how he propelled himself with them.
That would certainly be interesting to see. Entrapta seemed to be the type of person to not give up a possible lead in tech advancement laying down and would chase it to the end. Or just the opportunity to experiment on an alien with such a strange genetic makeup. She was keen to see what made the greenette tick, that was for sure.
The two engaged in simple conversation as they went to their classes. It was still a little early and not everyone was in yet. Izuku double checked if Mr. Aizawa was sleeping behind the desk or not just to be safe. It didn't look like it and afterwards took a seat and prepped for class, opening his notebooks on the side just in case and leaving the tome in his bag.
The last of his fellow classmates came in and behind them rolled in their home room teacher and their day started. It was pretty standard for the first day but all of their teachers were pro heroes so that was very exciting for the greenette.
Present Mic was teaching them English studies, Aizawa gave assignments testing their hero knowledge already. Basic rules and advanced studies at least until another would take his place later in the year or next few months.
For lunch, the cook hero Lunch Rush was serving as the main chef of the cafeteria, serving both delicious and healthy meals. Izuku held in his entire being from nerd-ing out and making everyone look his way.
Even if he slid in a question or two without Uraraka and Iida hearing him. It was very informative and super neat that so many heroes he looked up to from the smallest to the greatest worked here on the side when they weren't busy with patrols or other duties.
It was in the afternoon where the most important class took place. Basic Hero Training. All of his fellow classmates were already seated and waiting for their lesson. Izuku quickly got to his own seat, wondering who would be teaching them.
"I! AM! HERE!" It couldn't be-
"-COMING THROUGH THE DOOR LIKE A HERO!" The imposing form of the number one leaned heavily into the classroom, hanging from the doorframe of the entrance. So, he was a teacher too. Well, Mr. Yagi did say All Might would have been free for training had he accepted the hero's power. Izuku just didn't think he meant so much free time that he was a teacher here. The whole class lit up in awe in the number one's presence alone.
Especially since he was in his silver age costume. The greenette had nearly every piece of merch with that costume except for a few limit- Actually, let's not think like that right now. The great hero began to speak. "Welcome one and all to the most or one of the most important classes in all of U.A. Hero-ing 101!" After a rousing speech on how this would help improve them in becoming great heroes, All Might, in one dramatic pose, swiftly pulled out a card with the words "BATTLE!" written on it.
"Today, we will be partaking in good ol 'fashioned combat training!" Actual combat already? Were they really for such a sudden drop into battle? Not that he wasn't prepared, he had years under his belt. But you wouldn't guess that at first glance. The number one then pointed towards the closest wall with gusto and several numbered boxes on shelves emerged from the wall. "But acting the part isn't everything. You also gotta look good!"
These were costumes! The sorcerer really hoped the support company followed his sketches and diagrams. At least for the most part. There were a few details he would like to do himself otherwise when he tried doing something magic related something might get blown off. All Might told the class to grab their respective costumes, get suited up, and meet him in training ground beta, one of the fake cities U.A had for large scale exercises.
Going down the shelves, Izuku grabbed his costume case and as everyone headed out, he cracked open the case to see if the two main pieces were there. Looking inside of the case, everything looked good. Specially made heavy gloves with a sown in plate of metal sitting on top of the hand completely blank and ready for inscribing runes into. Just need something sharp. The silver claws on two of the fingers for each glove should do the trick.
And the second item being a mask made of a strong but light alloy. A white hood and cloak were attached to the mask perfectly, ensuring completely coverage. Tapping against the mask with one of his fingers would tell you it was mostly carbon and other nonmagnetic materials, but it was colored like a perfect white marble with gold lines and groves filling out the outline and other details. They really followed through with the hawk design he drew up, nothing was too different or off model.
It looked really cool. He really hoped he looked cool in it. Izuku would have to remember to get a picture all suited up after today and show the final product to the gang. Glimmer would probably want it as his normal go to after showing them. But that wouldn't happen.
He wanted the two halves of his life to stay separate for as long as he could. Different outfits wouldn't mean much to the average person but someone living through something like he was and wanting to hide it? It made him all the more comfortable and put him at peace.
…But maybe he could fit in the mask somewhere with his regular sorcerer gear and the gloves. Both were pretty sweet to say the least. Izuku packed everything away again and headed out to the training area.
--- Few Minutes later, Training Field Beta ---
Izuku slid on the heavy gloved, flexing his hand and fingers, checking the feel and if it allowed full movement of his fingers still. Ensuring every strap, buckle and clip was clicked into place, he buttoned up an armored vest and pulled the cowl over his head and headed out of the booth to the training ground where everyone else was waiting. He adjusted the cape as he walked and found himself amongst his fellow heroes in training.
Everyone looked so cool! There wasn't a mirror in the booth, so he hoped he didn't look too out of place. His fears were dashed as his other friends came up to him to compliment his gear. "Is that you Midoriya? You look so cool! You kinda look like a wizard or something!" Uraraka said in her own costume which looked similar to an astronaut but was skin-tight instead of bulky with a pink and black colour scheme. He blushed under the hawk mask that hid his whole face, thanking her for the compliment.
And not acknowledging the wizard comment.
"Indeed! You look quite spectacular! One would think you had some sort of flight quirk with it on. Was that your intention? I feel like with the versatility of your quirk, I wouldn't be surprised if you could fly." The speedster asked looking like a chivalrous knight in full plate with large greaves to make room for his boosters. Izuku added that it wasn't, nor could he fly. He just made the costume because he thought it looked cool. "I see. Well, in any case, I very much like the bird of prey design."
"Me too! The boots looking like talons is really intimidating too!" The gravity girl added on. "I wish I was as specific like you must have been… This suit is a little much for me… Everything else is perfect though." He thanked the two for their complements and returned the favor with vigor, slightly gushing about how cool they looked. Together they made through the rest of their fellows and looked to their teacher for today.
"Looking good, ya noobies! Now you are officially heroes in training!" The hero bellowed with his trademark smile. He then pulled out a small booklet compared to him and skipped through it quickly. With a nod, he put it back into his belt and looked back to the class. "Today, we will be doing two on two in door battles with one team playing the heroes and the other playing the villains!" All Might spied a few raised hands with his statement. He started with the armored speedster.
"How will you be creating the teams?" Well, you see-
"How much can we pummel on the opponent before we have to stop?" The explosive blond asked next. If you would just-
"Isn't this a little extreme for our level? ribbit." He was just about too-
"Are we getting expelled if we lose?" Of course, not-
"Doesn't this cape really bring out my twinkles?~" How did tha-
"ALRIGHT! We will be making the teams using these!" All Might pulled out small balls with little chibi faces of the class drawn on them. "By randomizing the teams, we will be simulating the fact that in the field, you will need to work with others on the spot in most situations as you won't usually have the luck of fighting alongside someone you work well with or know."
"The villain team will be protecting a bomb they have hidden somewhere in a building we will be using for the indoor part of the exercise. The heroes will need to either to find the bomb and secure it or detain the villains before time runs out. The villains can also win early if they manage to defeat the heroes as well! Now then… Leeeeeeeeeeeetts DRAW!"
The teams were:
Team A: Asui Tsuyu & Shoji Mezo
Team B: Ashido Mina & Kaminari Denki
Team C: Bakugo Katsuki & Sato Rikido
Team D: Mineta Minoru & Todoroki Shoto
Team E: Midoriya Izuku & Jiro Kyoka
Team F: Kirishima Eijiro & Ojiro Mashirao
Team G: Iida Tenya & Hagakure Toru
Team H: Yaoyorozu Momo & Aoyama Yuga
Team I: Sero Hanata & Uraraka Ochako
Team J: Koda Koji & Tokoyami Fumikage
--- The first match: Heroes: Team F VS Villians: Team E ---
"You have five minutes to prepare for the heroes. Make sure you give it your all!"
Their teacher said in their given earpieces. Jiro hopped up on some boxes a rock's throw from the bomb they would be defending. She guessed she'd alert her teammate on where the other team would be in the building using her jacks and the building plan the two were given.
Or she would if her teammate wasn't scratching whatever into metal. Like nails on a steel chalk board, it was really annoying. Even more so with her enhanced hearing thanks to her quirk. Jiro looked over to the distracted teammate. Midoriya, right? What was he even doing? "Hey! Greeny! What're you even doing?"
"Hm?" Midoriya looked over his shoulder and the irises of his eyes were glowing. It was pretty freaky considering the mask he wore hid his eyes really well, leaving only black spaces in the eye holes. It was after he saw her unnerved expression, did he turn around completely to face her. "O-Oh! S-Sorry… Can you hear that? I thought I was far enough." His eyes went out and returned to normal. That being she couldn't see them anymore.
Ok. Not the reaction she thought was going to get considering the way he looked, but she could role with it. "Nah, it's not you, it's my quirk. Ups my hearing to the eleventh degree. Also, you mind taking the mask off for right now? We're not exactly fighting anything right now."
Midoriya was about to scratch his cheek with his finger like some nervous reflex but stopped himself remembering he had claws now. How did he forget them? He was just using them for… whatever he was doing. The mask was attached to the hood so instead of taking the mask off normally, he pulled back on the cowl so she could actually have a conversation with her classmate instead of a bird.
"Midoriya, right?" He nodded, looking a little embarrassed about being outed. "That was a pretty good swing you had yesterday. Wish I could have bats on demand." The freckled greenette eased up and smiled a little. "So, care to explain why you were scratching up your gear?"
Jiro really wanted to know what this guy's deal was. Able to move earth around and make stuff. Gets a bird costume. How did that make sense? The gear was dope, no lie about that, it was just a strange fashion choice considering their costumes were made around their quirks more so on top of their requests. Plus, from what she saw from the design on the back of his cape, he didn't have a silver and gold sword stashed anywhere on him.
Midoriya walked up to where she was sitting and showed her the top of his hands. He had small plates of metal on his gloves, and it looked like he was trying to carve circles into them. Just before she was going to ask, Midoriya started to explain. "You remember how I needed to make a circle before I could make the bat." Ok, where was this going exactly? "My quirk is… finicky, I need to create circles before I can use it to it's full potential."
"What I'm trying to do is cut out the middle part by making those circles into these plates so I can just do and not waste time making the circles." Midoriya turned away and finished his etchings. "And if I did this right…" just before he was about to test it, Jiro had another question.
"Why not just put in a request with the support department? Have it, you know, done professionally?"
He stopped abruptly and looked back to his teammate. "Well y-you see, this is something I would rather do myself. N-Not saying the costumes are bad or that the s-support department is not good, their amazing! Just… if I had let them do this and I tried using them with that fact, I'm pretty sure my hands w-would… explode…" Oh. That was more or less a valid reason. A little gruesome but understandable at least a little bit. One thing was for certain though…
"You have a really weird quirk, dude. No offense."
"None taken. I get how crazy that sounds." After that, he turned away and took a second to collect himself. He brought hands together with an echoing clap, the circles on his gloves started to glow a faint green. "So far, so good." With another shaky breath from the greenette, Jiro saw him places his hands to the ground in one forceful motion. First nothing happened, then a spot on the floor right where he touched started to shift and buckle against itself.
Midoriya stood up as from the shifting concreate floor emerged a finely made staff. He grabbed the weapon and started twirling and swinging it with ease. Whoa, that was pretty cool. After being satisfied with his creation, he tossed it aside and repeated the same motion again, this time with a little more push put into it. When he touched the ground this time, the floor shuddered.
And from it, a stone monolith shot forwards from Midoriya and stopped just before it blocked the door leading into the room. Wow. How did he did do that? Dude had a really strong quirk apparently. "Alright, that was pretty cool." Jiro got up from her seat and walked over to the greenette.
"So, what's the plan, full metal?" Midoriya tilted his head in confusion, clearly not getting her reference. He shook off the name and continued with the plan.
"We're going to try and keep the other team on one floor." He pulled the cowl back on and drew two circles of light and in their place started to shimmer into familiar silhouettes.
--- Meanwhile, On the Hero team ---
"Ok, Eijiro. You got this. You're just going into the building against the guy who probably saved you and has far more practice with their quirk then you, but it's fine. You'll just bulldoze through whatever trick he has. Your quirk is awesome! Your awesome! YOU'RE GOING TO BE A HERO!" The red head roared while his tailed teammate just stood beside him awkwardly.
"Right… Anyway. What's the plan? It would be safe to assume they have traps all over the place so I think we should another way of getting in." Ojiro explained to his hyped-up teammate. Said teammate was really trying to hold himself back from charging in. They had to think of a good strategy considering Ojiro had no idea what kind of quirk this Midoriya guy had. Better to be safe the-
"HERO TEAM! Time to head out! Good Luck!"
Or not. "Alright, I think we should enter through-"
"THE FRONT DOOR!" Kirishima activated his quirk and charged through the door, nearly throwing it off its hinges. He skidded to a halt and looked for his opponents in the space he found himself in, Ojiro shortly behind him. "COME OUT AND FIGHT ME LIKE A MAN, VILLIAN!" The red head shouted down the darkened hallway, clashing his hardened knuckles together. The only response was the echo of the red head's shout.
No traps at the front. Maybe they were set further in, and the other team was defending the objective. Just as the two were starting the to go down the hallway in front of them, the light from the open doorway was shutout as a stone wall raised from the ground, sealing their exit behind them. Only one way now. The hero duo continued down the hall until reaching two turns at the end.
This… wasn't in the building plan. The left path shouldn't exist. There was supposed to be a wall here and another path further in would've led to the other side of it. Was this one of the other team's quirks? Before Ojiro could think of what they could be planning, he was alerted by Kirishima who ran down the left. Ojiro saw a glimpse of something running around the corner as the red head gave chase.
"Wait! We need to stay together!" Ojiro was about to follow as well but a strange wall of light appeared from no where and stopped him from moving forward. He tried bashing it down with a powerful tail strike, but the light wall didn't react in the slightest.
What was this? No, not now. There had to be another way around. The only other way forward was the right path behind him. The schematic said that would lead to the upper floors and maybe where the bomb was hidden.
Reflexively, he ducked as something flew above him and shattered against the light wall. He turned on heel to face whatever threw that. That was when Ojiro faced his opponent… or two?
The tailed fighter saw not one but two of the exact same person in front of him. Both dressed like Midoriya before they started the exercise. Masks were worn so he didn't know if both members of the villain team were here or if it was one of their quirks. One clapped it's hands together while the other started firing chunks of ice at him.
He dodged as best as he could, trying to avoid the chunks, before the second slammed the ground and the floor started to shift beneath the two copies. Several columns shot out from the surrounding walls towards the tailed fighter.
He destroyed two with well placed strikes from his tail but the third and fourth hit him square in the stomach, launching him back. The one shooting ice stopped and rushed forward while the other run away into the winding halls. Ojiro got back on his feet and waited for the right time to counter the other.
Only for it to phase right through him and fade into nothing behind him. Wait, if that one was a fake then… Ojiro turned on his earpiece. "Kirishima! Where are you now?" The fighter then ran after where the second escaped. There weren't any traps. They walked into a plan to split them up and waste time!
--- Battle Hall Observation Deck ---
Watching from the cameras stationed all around the building, the rest of the class and All Might watched on with the current teams in play. Yagi now understood why the masked 'villain' removed that section of wall.
It would seem young Midoriya's plan was to split the heroes apart with his illusions while young Jiro provided reconnaissance with her quirk, plugging her jacks into the walls or floor above them to hear where the hero team was. It was ingenious for the exercise, to wait out the clock and avoid most confrontation or pick them off one by one. A perfect villain strategy to distract the heroes!
Unfortunately, some of his class didn't see it that way.
"Damn Deku, I knew he was coward!"
"How can you say that about a fellow classmate! That is completely uncalled for, Bakugo." The Ingenium family heir spoke up. The blonde snarled.
"Fuck off, four eyes. It's not my fault Deku is running away when he should be fighting!" Hmm… Does Bakugo also believe that villains should fight fairly? "Fuck no! Villains are cowards and should be crushed under my boot just like that nerd!" Never mind.
"While I don't condone your language, young Bakugo. I can answer why young Midoriya is playing this hand." The explosive blonde and the rest of the class turned to the number one. "If a villain can't overpower you, they will most likely try to either outsmart or lead you to a more favorable position for themselves. Young Midoriya is increasing his chances of success by confusing and splitting up the hero team." The class nodded along with the number one's words except for the blonde and the young man whose left side was covered in a sheet of thick ice, leaving only an empty hole to see through.
The speedster placed his hand on his chin in thought and consideration. "Yes, I see. Midoriya is playing the roll of the villain perfectly. Changing the environment to better suit his schemes while still remaining in contact with Jiro who must being staying behind giving him approximate coordinates of the other team. And since he doesn't know the hero's quirks, he's playing the long game. Truly brilliant!" Other students agreed with the speedster's thought process.
Yagi let out a sigh of relief. He was so glad he memorized that teaching handbook before his class. The number one then returned his attention to the screen before more questions or comments arose.
Young Midoriya's abilities have increased immensely since the last time they spoke face to face. Yagi was sure the greenette was shocked that All Might would be teaching. He wished he could've been there to watch and help him become stronger. Midoriya now had even greater control of his creations, causing the walls themselves to strike against his pursuer.
Although it seemed it took quite some time before he could use this ability again and with Ojiro closing in on him, it must have made it all the harder. Once again, he proved himself to be worthy in the hero's eyes in terms of strength and planning. But he made his choice, even if Yagi was disappointed with it.
Young Midoriya wanted to be his own hero and who was he to shove such responsibility down the poor kid's throat. Perhaps he could narrow his search for a successor to 1-A for now. The greenette did say he would help with finding one and being in the class would help immensely.
His attention renewed to the action; Yagi looked over to where Kirishima was at the moment. It seemed he was now completely lost, having chased a phantom opponent, and lost them. Although he did manage to find his way back on track with only a few minutes on the clock left.
Even if they rejoined and eliminated Midoriya they still had to find the objective or Jiro before their last few minutes were spent. Now reconvened, Yagi switched over to the hero frequency to hear what they were planning. Unaware with the other conversation that was happening behind him.
"Ok, no one else is saying it, but we're all thinking it. I'm pretty sure Midoriya's an alchemist." The electric blonde known as Kaminari Denki said with all seriousness in his voice.
"Don't alchemists make potions and stuff like that?" Uraraka asked. "How does potions have to do with Midoriya?" Where was your childhood? Denki thought. Sure, it was a pre-quirk show, but it was one of the good pre-quirk shows. "And can't his quirk do other stuff?"
"Not that kind of alchemist… Ok maybe that kind of one a little bit. But like, transmutation circles, philosopher stones, the forbidden alchemy." Looking around, everyone was looking at him like he was speaking a different language.
"Automail, homunculi, Elric!? Ringing any bells?" Somebody had to know what he was talking about, right? "Come on, somebody has to know what I'm talking about! I've even seen him have a pocket watch that looked really similar to a state alchemist's one. Does really nobody know what I'm talking about?"
"I do."
Hope gleamed in the electric blonde's eyes at the sound of confirmation. "Phew! For a second there, I really thought I was… the… only…one…" Hope turned to a tinge of fright as turning around to the source of the voice, did Denki come face to face with the half frozen, really scary looking, Todoroki Shoto. Arm slightly raised; expression indifferent, looking directly at Denki.
Oh.
--- Finishing up the action ---
"Jiro, any updates on where Kirishima is?" Izuku couldn't sense his copy anymore so either he caught it, or it ran out of magic to keep going. Either way, he didn't want to get cornered right now since Ojiro was still on his tail. The greenette heard the rustling of paper through his earpiece, Jiro had to be going through the building plans to guess where they were now.
"Hold on, this isn't the easiest to read. One sec, plugging in aaand- Oh shi-"
"FOUND YOU, VILLIAN!" Kirishima roared as he slid around the corner to where Izuku was running. The sorcerer skidded to a halt, Kirishima in front of him, Ojiro behind him. "No where to run now!" The red head banged his fists together and sparks flew off the jagged edges of his hardened skin.
"Kirishima, we need to work together if we want to beat him!" The tailed fighter told his partner. This wouldn't be the worst situation he got himself into. Two on one would be perfect practice. He just had to narrow down what spells he could use right now.
Ice spears. Take too long to cast and might maim if not careful. Creation runes. Can only use in one direction right now and would get jumped by Ojiro by the time his attack reached Kirishima. Bolts. Maybe. Might not work against the red head's hardening. Barrier. Could keep in one place while he focused on the other.
Then one more experimental spell came to mind. A combo from experimenting with barrier and his creation runes. Only used in real combat one time so far. Let's hope they don't ware out like at the sea gate. Or make his hands explode. Izuku crossed his forearms on top one another and raised them high, fists clenched. Both heroes stood on guard, ready for whatever long-range attack he might do.
This wouldn't be long range. The sorcerer focused magic into the runes and his forearms started to become enveloped in pale green light. Ojiro didn't wait and started running towards the sorcerer, hoping to take him down with one well placed kick to the side of the head. Izuku turned on his heel as his spell finished and blocked the sneaky blow from his opponent.
"What…!?" His forearms were now covered by large holographic buster gloves. The knuckles themselves easily capable of grabbing a head with one hand. Or a counter a blocked attack. Izuku grabbed the exposed leg of his opponent and threw him at the other hero in training. Kirishima caught the tossed hero and helped him back on his feet. Both couldn't believe the sight of the greenette's new set of fist weapons.
Said greenette took up a boxer's stance and raised his barrier knuckles in defense. Both heroes looked at one another then back to the greenette before coming back to the moment and charging him.
Ok. Blink between them then go for a concentrated jab against Ojiro. Kirishima will then turn and try to go for a counter. Block and kick the knee bend. If that works, go for a grab and push him into the wall, use creation runes to make stone binds and entrap him. Ojiro will try to go for a tail blow block with barrier spell then one vs one till the clock ends.
Izuku's plan now all made in his head, he readied for the two to rush him. Just as they were about to reach him, and he was about to go for a blow of his own-
The alarm rang. "TIME! Villain team wins by timeout!"
"What!? No! It wasn't a- I never even- Man…" Kirishima groaned. The three were really bummed out by the timeout. Mostly Kirishima and Izuku. The red head never getting a chance to fight and the greenette not getting to use his barrier knuckles fully. He shook his arms and the gloves dispelled. Jiro was behind Izuku, having ran all the way to the first floor from the third.
It was the plan to go for the timeout sure, but Izuku was still disappointed that he couldn't use the spell again. Both teams left the building after Izuku opened the entrance again and returned to the rest of the class.
---
All Might welcomed them back with open arms. "Well done teams! Let this be a lesson that a villain will try to use every form of attack. Even fleeing in order to ensnare heroes in their plan." The number one turned to the rest of the class. "Now, who do you believe should be MVP for this round?"
"Midoriya" Yayorozu said before elaborating or giving anyone else a chance. "He created the plan to separate and disorient the other team even ensuring victory even if he was detained. Removing the section wall to reveal a second path allowed the push for this plan perfectly. Being the distraction even when he was cornered."
"I second that." Ojiro spoke up. "Even when I thought I had a solid plan to enter the building I never thought that plans can get ruined with even the simplest of differences. Leading Kirishima away from me with an unknown path then cutting me off with a light wall was unpredictable and crafty. Also, I'm pretty sure he got the most hits in out of anybody."
"Well said young Ojiro. The MVP then shall be-"
"Jiro." Midoriya said, quickly apologizing for cutting the pro off. Jiro just looked at him like he was crazy. He pulled back his cowl and continued. "Without Jiro giving me directions while I was being chased and allowing me to give directions to my copy, I'm pretty sure I would've hit a dead end and gotten knocked out awhile ago."
"Dude, what are you talking about!? I'm pretty sure you were going to wipe the floor with them without me during the last minute." Jiro opposed. She then looked over to the other team and apologized. They took no offense and agreed with her mostly. Everyone else just kind of stared at him and the creation quirk user was wondering why he was downplaying himself.
"I don't have the kind of power to keep a powerhouse like Kirishima down for long." Those weird light knuckles said otherwise. Oh, and the earth manipulation but she didn't say anything. "I really believe that without Jiro, my plan would have never worked in the first place and I'm thankful that she followed through with it."
Jiro was speechless while All Might was a little surprised. He's seen Midoriya fight and win against a real villain. Why was giving away his chance to shine? Then again, this was Midoriya he was talking about. "Hmm. While I think you are underplaying yourself and your power, you should truly try to shine more often. I can see you are a bright young man, but if you truly believe that young Jiro should have it…"
"I do." All Might nodded to his response.
"Then Jiro shall be MVP for this match."
--- Etheria, Path to Mysticor ---
"You really should have taken MVP, 'zuku."
"It's been two days, Glimmer! I just want today to relax."
"So, what your saying is… You didn't want to wipe the floor in the first few minutes?" The glittering princess raised an eyebrow and smirked at her sorcerer friend. "You just cut out the part of your runes that take the longest. That's worth a whole lot of attention and a huge leap for you!"
A tinge of red started to appear on Izuku's face. "T-That's not-! They wouldn't even kn-! Adora, back me up here. I was in the right, right?" The blonde shrugged, unsure what to say.
"I mean… Back in the Horde, If I ever got MVP, which means 'Most Victorious/Vicious Private' , it was usually two more ration bars then normal and bragging rights in Catra's case. Plus, I'm sure I would've had trouble with a few of the guys in your battalion and scenario if that helps."
"…You can turn into eight-foot-tall golden amazon who can throw aside a tank like it was stick and punch a hole in almost anything. Also, CLASS, not battalion." That was super unhelpful. Izuku was also confused how Adora was so in shape and strong if all she ate was ration bars. Were they all protein and nothing else?
Off topic. Ok, last chance. "Bow, help me out."
"Well… I mean I'm not saying you shouldn't have… but…" Oh, not you too. "You probably could have taken it but letting someone else have a chance to shine even if they didn't agree with you is very you to be honest." Well, at least Bow agreed with him. Sort of.
He was so thankful they were heading to Mysticor to relax. The last two days have been hectic to say the least. When he told Glimmer about his battle trials and how he practically gave away the spotlight to someone else he barely knew, bugged her something fierce.
But she never did get too far in the conversation as they had to head out everytime she brought it up. Both times in two days having to fight Catra and a Horde battalion including her right hand(paw?) named Scorpia.
The day after the battle exercise, he finally moved into the U.A dorms and got the whole run down of how it would operate. He was a little late, which meant he wasn't early, because he was treating cuts and bruises, he got from a previous mission investigating a Horde mining crew. They put an end to it quickly, but Izuku had to try and explain why he was wearing bandages on his arms to some of his classmates the day after. He lied about it being an accident during an exercise.
But today he didn't need to worry. He and Adora were having troubles relaxing as of late, both from completely different reasons he had to guess. She was seeing things, shadows moving in the corner of her eyes. Taking this as lack of sleep from responsibility and stress, Glimmer suggested they take the day off and go to Mysticor for some well-deserved R&R. It had been a while since they went and Adora never had been. It all melded together nicely.
But maybe Adora wasn't the only one seeing or sensing things just out of sight.
--- The Black Garnet Chamber, Fright Zone ---
Finally, there you are. It took a sizable amount of power from digging into the garnet, but it would be worth it once the masked sorceress brought Adora home. Shadow Weaver was recharging some of her power from her previous unsanctioned operations into finding her perfect pupil.
Everytime however, a certain free sorcerer dispelled her spies without even realizing it and it infuriated her to no end. Now she knew to keep her distance for now, due to the light powers of both the princess and the sorcerer which her shadows feared.
She was the only one who could bring Adora back and to make sure she wasn't disturbed; the cat was brought to the chamber. Shadow Weaver removed her hands from the runestone and turned to her ward. "Ah, force captain… How kind of you to join me."
Catra was a little off put by the sudden chipperness of her 'teacher'. "You're a little creepier then usual." The unsettling glow from the fragment of the runestone placed into the forehead of her mask distracted the cat from meeting the sorceress's eyes. The sorceress moved to her scrying prism.
An ingenious and forbidden construction of dark magic that allowed the user to view faraway places and peoples that had the slightest magical presence and allowing for full control of long-distance spells despite being miles away from the caster.
It's only draw back that it required a great deal of concentration and magic based on distance and any protective wards the location or person might have. She had the power, now she just needed the quiet. "My shadows have found Adora with her 'friends' heading to Mysticor." The cat groaned.
"Great. Another Adora mission… When do I leave?"
"The only place you'll be heading is outside my door. You will make sure I am not disturbed while I use my magic to retrieve Adora myself. Clearly no one can bring her back, least of all you! Now go." The cat stayed and narrowed her eyes.
"I SAID GO!" the "Force Captain" cowered and left her chambers quickly in fear to stand guard. The door sealing shut behind her. Shadow Weaver returned to her prism to conjure a more powerful shadow capable of carrying her will.
They thought they could go to Mysticor of all places. Those fools doing nothing more then twiddling their thumbs and sitting on so much knowledge to bend the world to its knees and yet do nothing with it.
It didn't matter anymore though. That was another time, another life. Now the sorceress had power to take what she deserved and if it meant destroying two thorns in her side, all the better.
---
After a rather scary turned mesmerizing entrance involving a thousand-foot drop into the unknown, Adora, alongside her friends floating along on a platform, parted the clouds to the sorcerer realm of Mysticor. A mirror like shield surrounded the sky-trodden kingdom, a small gap opening up to let them through and arrive on the main island before sealing behind them.
Making land fall, Glimmer turned to the group with a grin and welcomed Adora to Mysticor, secret sorcerer academy, respite, and library to all things magical. Looking around as the group moved towards the main area, dozens of sorcerers of varying ages, shapes and sizes practiced their art. Some of them wielding staffs to meditating to creating the same sigils she's seen Izuku make. It was all unbelievable.
Stopping at a landing just before another set of stairs leading to the main hall, Glimmer explained how this visit would look like. Mysticor was hidden to most of the world except those closest to the royals or those who've been chosen to become sorcerers themselves. But they weren't here for a history lesson, but to relax at one of the many places and areas of the floating kingdom.
Beaches, baths, gardens, if you wanted to relax and settle down with a good book or needed to focus, this would be the place to do it. "Ok, where do you guys want to go fir-"
"Glimmer, is that you?" The group looked up to the stairs as a woman in important looking robes descended towards them. The princess facepalmed, figuring out who it was while Adora was still confused who was coming down towards them.
The woman doubled her pace down and with open arms swooped the princess into a hug. "Oh, it is you! It has been too long. Have you been eating well? Are you experiencing any forms of sickness? Do you need another sweater? I know how cold it gets during the first vigil."
"Hehe… hey, aunt Casta. I'm fine. How've you been?" Aunt? What the heck is an aunt?
The woman named Casta released Glimmer then went over to hug Izuku who was surprised at the sudden contact. "And how is my favourite apprentice? You know, I haven't gotten a single letter or visit about your progress in awhile. I will want to hear all of the details on your spell crafting." The greenette just chuckled nervously and said he would.
"Bow! Ah, now there's a face I haven't seen in awhile. How is the sweater I made for you? Or everyone's for that matter" Still positive as ever, Bow said his was fine while the others lied through their teeth and said it was fine and not extremely itchy in the slightest. After getting that confirmation did the sorceress finally notice their fourth. "Ah, my apologies. And you are?"
Glimmer took the blonde's side and introduced the woman in front of her. "Adora, this is Castaspella. Headmaster of Mysticor and my aunt." Ignoring how she made it sound like being her aunt was an after thought, Casta bowed and welcomed her. With introductions and welcomes well and done, Casta offered a tour of the kingdom to the four with Glimmer trying to make up an excuse to get to the good parts quickly.
Before she could get a word out however, Adora accepted the tour with Bow and Izuku's approval them thinking that a tour would do them good and give more options for Adora. With the vote being three against one, the tour started. One of their destinations as they passed the grand halls of Mysticor was the Hall of Sorcerers itself.
Statues of the previous headmasters or esteemed sorcerers of Mysticor were displayed. From Castaspella's predecessor to the most recent one being herself. It was when they stopped to one of the statues of man holding a crescent moon staff did their guide move into more detail. Casta's brother and once a great sorcerer, Micha. A saddened smile formed on their guide's face.
"There was a time where he disappeared for years without a word to anyone or anything. I thought he was dead for the longest time growing up. Next thing I know, I'm invited to his wedding, engaged to an angelic being! …He was a paragon and example for all sorcerers to someday reach. I miss him…" She cleared her throat. "Pardon me. Let's move on."
The group followed along until Adora was sure she saw something move towards a more dilapidated statue. It was of an elven woman wearing an important looking robe and the lower half of its face was covered by a long veil. The others were pristine and reflected the light from the windows opposite of them. This one was dark and falling into ruin. She tried to read the epitaph at the base but that too was ruined.
"Light-Spinner." Adora jumped as Casta was now right beside her. "A stain on Mysticor's history. A once well-respected sorceress until we realized all she cared for was power no matter the costs of others. She was banished after being found conducting a horrid spell of dark magic in the Lunarium."
"But some say she never left…" Their guide got closer, leaning to Adora. Now telling it like a scary story. "That she still is wandering these very halls… plotting her revenge. Awaiting her moment to strike!" Adora nerves were now in overdrive until Glimmer stepped in between them.
"OK, enough of that… We're just going to go the beach if that's alright." Glimmer finally found her exit and jumped on it. While Casta tried to say that there was still the Lunarium to show, Glimmer insisted they go and relax. With no way of convincing her niece, Casta let them go. But reminded them to come visit the Lunarium once the alignment was ready.
Now free to do what they came here to do, the group finally set up at one of the quiet beaches outside of the main keep. Instead of water, the sea of clouds that surrounded the floating island lapped gently against the coast. Glimmer and Bow set up blankets for them to lay on while Izuku conjured a barrier to sit on and opened a book.
Adora was still a little nervous about what she saw and the story Casta told her, but Glimmer just told her to try and relax. That Casta was just telling a dumb old story that she used to when Glimmer was little. The princess patted to the blanket beside her and Adora stiffly tried to lay down. "Now just breath… Let the soothing sounds around you melt your worries away…"
Adora stared bugged eyed, laying flat on her back, to the open sky above her trying to relax. She just sort of made noises with her mouth and twiddled her thumbs at the annoyance of the princess beside her.
"This isn't working, is it?"
"No…" Adora responded to the annoyed princess. Said princess stood up and looked to the boys beside her.
"Alright… We're going to have to take this up a notch. Time for… the steam grotto."
Adora tilted her head in confusion wondering what that was. Izuku told her it was just a fancy bathing room. Still confused but willing to give it a try, she followed her friends to the baths themselves.
First getting changed into some bathing wraps and suits. Izuku was a little nervous to get changed at first, but Glimmer insisted he relax with them and set a good example for Adora. With that, everyone was changed and before they jumped into a bath, the blond looked to the exposed back and the painful looking scar on it.
It looked to be a very deep burn that healed decently but was still fairly off colour and red compared to the rest of his skin. Some veins and twisted skin shown through all across the scarred area. She wasn't going to mention it until the greenette noticed her looking at it. "It doesn't hurt anymore… I just don't like to show people because it makes them worry more or ask about it."
She wasn't trying to- "It's fine. I don't mind. It was about time you found out anyway." Izuku chuckled lightly. "It's kind of the first thing you notice."
Glimmer led Adora into one of the baths and explained. "He got it during our first mission as a team a few years ago. A drone managed to get the drop on us. Tried blasting an innocent. Izuku got in the way first. The rest is history." Adora sat and started to relax into the warm waters. "So, when all of his bandages came off, I brought him here. The minerals and healing magic in the grottos really sowed every back together."
"Mostly." Izuku murmured as he took a step into the bath alongside Bow. He stiffened up as the water touched his back before sinking into the waters. "It's still sensitive some days but I get around it." Glimmer half joked that if he stopped getting into death deifying situations, he would be fine. Izuku countered back with the same point.
Yeah, they all really needed this Adora thought as she slipped into a comfortable rest.
---
A few minutes later and Adora arose from her rest, looking around to see her friends still asleep or resting in the bath. This was really relaxing actually… All of her worries melting away. She closed her eyes and returned to her rest.
Adora…
Her eyes shot open and quickly stood up, looking around for the source of the voice. Her vision narrowed to a darker patch of steam as familiar figure started to take shape. She took a step out of the bath towards them as it called her name again, brandishing her sword towards it. It couldn't be. She couldn't be here. "You're not here! Your just in my head!" She shouted out to the shade.
"Am I?" A low chuckle emendated from the darkened shade of steam that made Adora's skin crawl as the figure's shape became more apparent. "I think it's time to come home, Adora…"
No. No. NO! Adora swung wide at the shade, parting the steam showing nothing was standing there. She felt like throwing up as the air felt so much heavier and harshened her breathing. She then felt a presence behind her, and she frantically turned on her heel, sword poised to whatever it was.
It was her friends. All looking at her with extreme worry. "She's here! I saw her!" Glimmer grabbed her shoulders and asked her who she saw. The boys started looking around for anything suspicious. "Shadow Weaver. S-She's here. She must've followed me in. I-I don't know but I know what I saw." Glimmer asked her to calm down gently and to tell her who was Shadow Weaver.
"The person who raised me, taught how to walk and h-how to talk. She was always there…"
"There's no way she could be here. You're safe here." Glimmer reassured. "Anything?" Asking the boys about there findings Bow didn't find any point or anyone other then themselves having entered the grotto, Izuku was still looking around. "How about we go visit the Lunarium? It's probably the most peaceful here." After a moment to recollect herself, Adora agreed and followed along with the group.
Just as the three were leaving, Izuku was still staying behind. Looking into a darkened corner. "Come on, 'zuku. Pretty sure Casta wants you there too!"
"R-Right…" Izuku looked back for a few seconds before rejoining the team. He couldn't shake the feeling that Adora's worry was real. Considering he's had the same feeling before growing up. Someone out to get you just out of sight. No one sane acted like that unless their fears were justified.
---
After changing back to their regular, Glimmer led mostly Adora to the Lunarium. A grand chamber with shining mirrors shaped into diamonds lining the walls with an oculus apparatus in the middle looking up to a lens focusing light into the dome shaped chamber. Several other sorcerers were already joined in the room as some sort of ceremony was taking place.
Asking their resident sorcerer seeing as Casta was busy with preparations, Izuku explained that every month the three moons above Mysticor align into an eclipse.
The lenses surrounding the room and the main lens would focus the energy created from the alignment into the central oculus and convert it into magic. That magic would then be used to recharge the barrier protecting and hiding the kingdom from any outside invaders.
"I am glad someone was pay attention to their lessons." Castaspella walked over to the group overhearing the explanation. "We are almost prepared so in celebration of friends both new and old, would you like to come to a feast? I'm sure there's something you'll like."
Food sounded pretty good actually and with some time to spare before the alignment, the gang agreed to go with Casta and the other sorcerers to the dining hall for some grub.
Some ways down the hall, Adora saw that same shadow move back into the chamber behind them. Knowing exactly who it must've been, she followed after the shadow. Adora needed to know that she wasn't crazy, and her paranoia was justified. Going back into the chamber, it was dead quiet and no one else was with her.
Adora looked everywhere for anything that looked out of ordinary, but nothing was wrong. Glimmer was right. She was never here to begin with and Adora was just stressed about nothing. She looked to one of the larger lenses on the wall and looked at her reflection. No one else was here.
"They'll leave you…" A familiar voice whispered.
No…
"They only need you for your power and once it's gone, they'll abandon you…"
Stop it…
"You don't belong here. Only I can show you the right way…"
Get out.
"You know what you are. And what you will always be." The whisper grew louder as a shadowy figure started to form behind her. Adora was too scared to move as a hand reached out from the reflection and two blank eyes stared into her soul. It's head right beside her own, whispering into her ear.
"You belong with me. Come home. Only I understand you, Adora."
"NO!" Adora transformed and tried slashing at the reflection that was out to get her. Only for her blade to stop just before the large lens against a wall of light. Adora was sweating with panic when she looked over to the greenette, arm outstretched, and spell circle ignited from his hand. Adora dropped to her knees and reverted back to her normal form, sword held tight in her grasp.
Izuku ran to her side. Her face was pale and sweat coming down like rain from her brow. "Adora?" Nothing. "Adora." He shook her. Nothing. She was after her. "Adora!" Nothing. It was only a matter of time. "Adora! Talk to me!"
After another few shakes, Adora returned to her senses and finally looked to the greenette. He sighed with relief. "Adora, I need you to tell me everything that you saw, alright?" She nodded still shaken from what happened. "Can you walk?" Adora stood up and both left the chamber.
---
Adora was brought to small yet comfortable room with a window overseeing the sea of clouds on the opposite side of Mysticor to collect herself. Izuku was processing everything the blond told him, putting pieces together in his head.
Formless spies, shadows moving without an object or person connected to them, unnerving magic in the air. It was all coming together too well. "Is there anything else?" Adora shook her head. The only thing she had for comparison was childhood experiences with the same feeling and phenomena in the Fright Zone.
Someone was trying to get Adora to destroy the lenses or at least to leave Mysticor. And with the eclipse soon, they were getting sloppy or running out of time to do it. She asked if they could warn the sorcerers about what was happening.
Unfortunately, they couldn't. They didn't have enough evidence to prove it or that someone with dark magic had gotten in. "I need you to stay here. When the eclipse is finished, I'll tell Casta what's been going on and we'll do an entire search, ok?" Adora didn't like it, but she agreed.
Izuku was about to leave the room until Adora asked him something.
"You… believe me, right? You guys wouldn't leave me if I wasn't She-Ra anymore, right?" Of course, he did and told her to never think like that. Izuku thought like that for the longest time for his own reasons but seeing someone as capable and strong as Adora thinking like that… It made him want to help all the more.
"You're part of the Best Friend Squad. We always have each others backs. Always." With a thumbs up, Izuku left the room with Bow and Glimmer waiting outside. They asked if he found anything out. "Nothing for certain, but someone is definitely after Adora or Mysticor for that matter. Right now, we should keep our guard up and keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary."
The two nodded and all three went to the Lunarium to see the ceremony completed. "So, back in the grotto, when you stayed behind, you sensed something?" Bow asked. He did. Something dark was slinking through the shadows only growing more agitated as the eclipse loomed and when Adora was alone he felt it slink back somewhere. "I feel like we should apologize for not listening better to Adora when this is all over."
"How could we believe her when we never knew this "Shadow Weaver" even existed or if she even does. But your right, she deserves that much." Glimmer finished.
Arriving at the Lunarium, the lenses surrounding the room were begging to align with the central oculus. The other sorcerers around it to ensure that nothing was out of place or any of the lenses were cracked. As Castaspella was preparing the final lens into place, the room darkened greatly as the light from the open roof was shut out. "What is this?" The headmaster exclaimed.
A shadowy figure began to coalesce from the surrounding darkness as black fog enveloped the floor beneath them. Two clawed hands emerged from it as red electricity cracked across its fingertips.
Glimmer grabbed the boys beside her and teleported up into the air as the shade brought its arms to the ground. The energy cracking along the fogged floor, electrifying the other sorcerers into unconsciousness. The three returned to the floor as the fog dissipated and returned to the now fully formed shade.
The figure before them was a shadow of a woman. Masked with her eyes being two white spaces and her hair floating high and angular like spikes or lightning. It narrowed its eyes as it fired a projectile of pure shadow at the group. Izuku raised a barrier and blocked as it drilled against the wall. The barrier under the intense pressure started to crack when Izuku looked to the archer.
"Find Adora! NOW!" Bow fired a quick flash arrow into the sky, blasting back the darkness surrounding them and revealing the entrance. The princess teleported everyone out of the way as barrier shattered and the large shadow spear pierced through.
The archer ran as Glimmer and Izuku provided cover. The shadows returned as the entrance was covered again but Bow made it to the other side to get Adora. The remaining two looked to their new adversary.
It narrowed its eyes again in fury. "You have meddled long enough, boy." Before ascending on a pillar of shadow. Izuku prepared another spell and drew an old one-time rune into his glove. The shade scoffed.
"You think yourself a sorcerer? You have barely scratched the surface of what that truly means…" The shade raised its hands. "BEHOLD! The might of a master of the arcane!" Large red hands emerged from nothing beside the shade before rushing towards the two.
Glimmer blasted them away with one wave of pure light and Izuku fired ice spears towards the hands as they tried to constrict him. Dispelling the stragglers and heading towards the shade. With one wave of its hand however, a red wall of light was constructed, blocking the spears as they shattered against it.
"Pathetic…" The shadow sorceress brought out both of her hands and charged the barrier with power. The barrier started to twist and break apart into pure magicked blades almost like Izuku's ice spears. The swords followed the shades' finger before she pointed directly at the princess beside the greenette.
Glimmer teleported out of the way of all of them, the spikes embedding themselves into the ground as the princess teleported up to the shade to deliver a sparkle filled punch. The shade disassembled as she flew right through it. Glimmer looked up to see it reforming as she landed. "Come on! Scared of a few little sparkles?"
"Insolent brat…" The magicked swords dislodged from the floor and returned to the shadow's side. And with her other arm, more darkness coalesced around it, increasing to a tremendous size. Glimmer tried to dodge the increasing speed of the swords and as she had to stop to catch herself, the shadowy limb grabbed her and started to squeeze tightly. Glimmer screamed in pain.
"Glimmer!" Izuku blinked up to where the shadow was holding the princess. The sorceress raised her off hand and multiple shadow limbs erupted from the pillar it was standing on, trying to grab him. Izuku fed the rune on his glove with magic as the arms started to grab hold of him and a fireball grew in his palm.
Second times the charm… Please work… He shoved the fireball into the face of the shadow and detonated it. Blasting Izuku back, crashing to the floor as the edges of his cloak and sleeve were burned.
The shadow howled in agony as it threw away Glimmer to Izuku's side to cover the burning hole made in its form. The two were slow to get up and Izuku was cradling his slightly burnt and exposed hand.
"You… YOU… I WILL TEAR YOU APART AND SEE THIS ENTIRE PLACE BROUGHT TO ASHES!" The shadow roared as more large limbs coalesced from the pillar. A brilliant red light emanated from its forehead in its rage. More swords began to from and point directly at the duo.
"How many… teleports you got left..." He asked the princess beside him.
"Don't know…" Glimmer primed her light. "How many more… fireballs can you make?"
"Probably one…" Izuku raised his good hand with a great magicked projectile of his own. "Want me to lose another hand?" He joked before both turned their gaze to the sorceress.
The battered duo prepared for the tsunami of shadow that would try to overwhelm them.
Until…
"FOR THE HONOUR OF GRAYSKULL!"
She-Ra blasted through the blocked entryway and dashed to infront of the group with Bow beside her. Her sword transformed into an immaculate shield as a golden dome grew over them. The shield its starting point. The shadows blasted against it to no avail. They retreated as She-Ra lowered her new shield.
"Adora! Nice shield by the way." Glimmer was elated to see their friend to the rescue
"Thanks. I don't know how I did it honestly." Her friendly smile turned to a focused stare to the sorceress who was taken back at the sudden appearance. The shield transformed back into the sword as She-Ra raised it towards the shadow.
"Adora, you know this is all a trick to forsake the Horde! Forsake me! These fools have no idea how to-"
"Save it. I'm done listening to you." She took a step forward and She-Ra's light grew. The shadows coward. "All my life, I thought the Horde was saving Etheria. You made me believe that." Another step and her light grew. "You said that friends were a weakness. That I should focus and throw away attachment. I never believed that."
Step. Her light blinded the shadow as it grew smaller. "You think my friends are weak? You think you can just manipulate me again? Like I was a kid?" She-Ra raised her sword upwards.
Shadow Weaver rushed towards Adora as her light blinded the glow of the runestone. "I am the only one who can show you how powerful you truly are! We can rule Etheria together!" The shadow burned and splintered as it grew closer to the light. Barely able to stand Infront of her.
"You need me!"
"No. Not anymore."
Adora thrusted her sword into the sky and her light rivaled the sun. The shadow screamed and seared away into nothing as light returned to the chamber and all her darkness was swept away.
Adora transformed back and looked into her reflection of the blade. "I never needed you." As her friends started to fill the reflection of the blade beside her. She felt free for the first time in a while.
After a congratulatory group hug and apology, the gang went around to check if the other sorcerers were fine or injured. After rousing the others from unconsciousness, the sorcerers quickly got back on track not to miss the alignment and capture the amount needed for the barrier around the kingdom. Casta was slow to get having taken the brunt of the attack.
"Where…- The ceremony! The oculus! Is everything still working?" Glimmer told everything was fine and the shadows were gone. She sighed in relief before bringing her niece into another hug. Glimmer flinched in pain, having just gotten out of one death squeeze into another. Castaspella stood back up and turned to the other three. "We can never thank you enough. Is there anything you would like before you go?"
Adora and Bow shrugged, unsure what they want. Izuku raised his burnt hand with the other one holding it up. "Would you mind if I just gave this a dip in the grottos?" Waving the hand around with a smile before cradling it close to him again. Glimmer then just unloaded on Izuku about this exact scenario happening again. While the other two just watched on in amusement.
Then Bow had an idea. "Hey, Adora." He nudged the blonde beside him to get her attention. "Want to try the beach again? I hear it's extra soothing now."
"Not without me you're not!" Glimmer teleported into the conversation.
--- Meanwhile in The Fright Zone, ---
Guard duty… Well, it was better then trying to convince someone who doesn't want to comeback or want anything to do with you. Catra yawned as she leaned against the sealed chamber door. It was pretty quiet actually considering it was the FRIGHT Zone.
"AAARRRGGGGGGHH!!" Or not.
Catra jumped at the howl of agony, seeing her hearing was doubled then a normal person, she also heard someone collapsing. The chamber door opened as smoke bellowed from inside. It couldn't be… Could it? Cautiously, Catra crept into the chamber, the glow of the runestone faded, she looked around for Shadow Weaver.
Knowing Shadow Bitch, this is some sort of test and Catra failed it without even knowing what it was. She looked around as more of the smoke cleared. Until she found her. Unconscious on the floor, slammed against a wall it looked like.
Oh. Oh. "Look like somebody's 'magic' backfired, huh?" Catra resisted the urge to kick the sorceress while she was down. The fear being it would wake her up. Whatever, still good to see what the other end of this might look like. She then noticed the scrying… whatever was, still working. However it worked anyway.
"You've going the wrong way this whole time, you old hag…" Knocking aside the hag's arm with her foot, Catra looked into the prism as it spun, making a picture of what the old sorceress saw. "You want Adora back…" The pictured focused on Adora's 'friends' simply relaxing, unaware. She smiled; her fangs bared.
"You have to go for the throat."