Chapter 11: First Mission, First Scars
Izuku, Glimmer and Bow find themselves in a group huddle before another one of Juliet's training exercises. This one promising to push them to the limit of what they're capable of. The exercise in question involved a group of fake hostages being held behind a fortified position on constant watch.
The objective was to eliminate a set number of targets, minimize collateral, rescue the group of hostages, and enter the safe zone on the other side of the outdoor training yard. With the guards being scavenged and re-outfitted horde drones with their blasters set to extremely low. You would still feel a sting if you were hit, but nothing life threatening and they could only turn on the spot, not move.
The three were discussing possible ways of going forward and getting out with the objective without being ousted. And before Juliet simply started the exercise before they were ready. Which she did a few times over the four years' worth of training.
"Are you sure that'll work? I mean, I kind of liked Izuku's plan." Bow spoke his mind.
"Oh sure, let's just let the guy who can create cover on the go, make a box and get the three of us stuck in one spot. While also draining his reserves for quick cover later." Glimmer retorted. Izuku chuckled nervously, not thinking of that drawback. "Not to mention that Izuku's barriers have a set durability, so we have to be sparing. Sorry dude." Glimmer apologized to the green sorcerer.
Izuku shrugged in the huddle "It makes sense if you put it that way. Draining myself on one giant barrier, might be dangerous since we don't know how many guards there are." Izuku tried to think of other ways of using his spells.
"Which is why we need to be on the move. The more spread out we are, the less likely we'll be hit and get some form of advantage and get out quicker." Bow quickly added on. The princess's plan now in both of the teen's heads.
"Besides, one of us can take a lot more fire than anyone, making the bots look away while the other two get the dumm- hostages." Glimmer and Bow glanced over to their third member. Whose head dropped at the prospect of being shot at more.
"Are you three done yet? Or do I need to "give a little push" now?" Juliet shouted to the three, who jumped at the voice. All three remembered the last time she gave them "a little push". All three shuddered.
"One more second, thank you!" Bow shouted back, bobbing his head out for a second. Then returned to the huddle. "Ok, so we're going with Glimmer's plan then?" Bow double checked with the other two members of his team. Izuku sighed but nodded. Glimmer elbowed him in the gut and nodded with Bow. "Alright, let's get started."
The three left their huddle and got into position at the opposite side of the yard. Seeing the upscaled terrain and other obstacles they would need to get by in order to reach their objective. Bow could already see a few hidden bots beyond the small hills.
"Are the three of you ready?" With that statement from the general, Bow readied his arrows, Izuku prepared his two main spells for offense, and Glimmer primed her light for a fight. All three standing at the starting line. Juliet raised her arm…
And quickly brought it down. "AND BEGIN!" The team dashed to their objective, ready for anything.
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Angella had just concluded another mission debrief from the scouts. Having returned with Horde movements and currently entrenched areas. Still incredibly far from Brightmoon, but close to other unprotected villages and neighbouring kingdoms. She wishes she could send out more, do more, but the rebellion was—is losing many of its major routes with its allies
Taking its most massive blow when… *sigh* She took a seat at the war table.
Angella had to focus on protecting what she could, as horrible as it was. The scouts had mentioned that they couldn't cover as much ground as they usually could be due to an increase of Horde patrols on their routine missions. One or two villages were left out because of it.
One of them was a small farming hamlet called "Willow's Rest". Residing on the other side of the Whispering Woods. Without the main roads from Brightmoon to it, it was very remote. The easiest path being walking around the entirety of the wood, easily taking the better half of a day on foot. Perhaps she could send…
No. She can't, they aren't ready. Not yet.
Then… when would they be ready? Angella wasn't blind to the progress that Glimmer and her team were making. Single-handedly beating some of Juliet's most difficult scenarios that gave some rebellion veterans trouble. If the general's reports were to believed. They were possibly one of the more active trainee groups at Brightmoon despite not going on any mission outside the castle.
Angella brought her hand to her forehead and rested it there, staring into nothing as she was deep in thought on what she should do with the group. A prodigy archer, a sorcerer from another realm and her own daughter. She let her fingers go through her strawberry blond hair, trying to figure out why she wouldn't let them prove themselves. She glanced over to the familiar seat beside her.
It was much taller than the others, only shadowed by her own. It was getting dusty from not being moved or used. With a Half-moon design placed onto the back rest of the chair just above where one's head would be if they sat in it. Her husband's seat.
Glimmer's father's seat.
"What should I do Micah?" Sorrow plaguing Angela's voice.
"Our daughter wants to do what she can to help our people, but I'm afraid. Afraid I'll lose her… like how I lost you." She let out another heavy sigh, it echoed in the empty war room. She couldn't keep Glimmer confined to the castle forever, especially since Izuku and Bow came into her life.
Micah would be telling all three to chase their dreams and help wherever they can. If he met the strange boy, he would probably be first in line to help him in magic. That's when she realized that…
"…I can't protect her forever, can I? Any of them for that matter…" Angella sadly smiled. "She reminds me too much of you sometimes, you know that? I'm not sure if I should strangle you for that…" She stood from her seat, looked to the empty seat beside her and placed a gentle hand on it. "…Or love you more for the greatest gift you gave me."
"*sigh* Don't make me regret this…" With the last word, Angella trailed her hand across the unused chair and left the war room. Wiping some of the tears out of her eyes, Angella navigated her way to the training yard Glimmer's team would be at this time.
Everything has been changing so much so quickly. It all starting that one night eight years ago. Has it really been eight years? When Glimmer's powers had awakened, when that green haired boy stumbled upon her and brought her home, when the two sneaked out the following day. It was... a lot to take in in such a short amount of time.
Or at least, it felt short to her. Being an angelic being, ageing was much slower for Angella.
Speaking of time, Angella was surprised on the amount of progress that Izuku had made in his spell work, despite Castaspella being unable to continue teaching him due to her presence being needed at Mysticor at all times now. Perhaps the reason for that was he could return to his world and train there on his own time when night came. Getting two days worth of training in one would steady things along quite nicely.
But were they truly ready for the battles to come? Would they keep each other safe against all odds? It was only a scouting mission, nothing too dangerous. But the possibility of it turning badly for the group kept Angella cautious to whole prospect of it.
This would be the point to prove themselves, she thought. They have been training since Angella gave them the go ahead for it. At first only to stop her daughter from accidently teleporting from the castle again. Now? Now it was for them to keep the people safe and give them hope for a better tomorrow.
As she almost made it to the doors to the yard, Angella could already hear the clashing of metal, the distinct sound of her star-light teleporting all over and energy hitting something dense. Angella took a moment to compose herself and steadfast in her decision, she opened the doors to yard.
As she entered, Bow and Glimmer had two dummies hunched over their shoulders while Izuku was holding a barrier up behind them, drawing most of the fire from the drones. As soon as Bow dropped his objective at the designated point, he turned on his heel and fired two arrows into sky, over the barrier, falling back down and hitting their marks directly.
Glimmer was quick to get back into the exercise as she teleported right to the sorcerer's side, providing supporting fire against the training drones.
Angella made her way over to the general side who was overseeing the exercise, not taking her eyes off of the group. Juliet acknowledged the queen's presence with a curt bow. "My queen, what brings you here?" Juliet asked her monarch. "I wished to see what progress they were recently making myself. Now, how are they doing?"
"As of now, they have almost completed their main objective of rescuing the fake hostages, with limited injuries to them and their objective. The hidden drones provided some difficulty to it, but the group was quickly able to adapt and make a move forward despite it. So far, with only a few hiccups, I would say they are doing fairly well." Juliet finished her report. Angella watched on as the training was winding down as the last of the dummy hostages were brought to the safe point.
With it, the drones disengaged from the constant fire and shutdown. Izuku dropped his barrier with an exhausted breath, arms slumping to his sides.
Juliet congratulated them on their victory and as such, the three cheered and quickly jumped to the sorcerer's side, Glimmer crashing into him to talk about how "Awesome they were" during the exercise.
"Ahem."
All three looked up from their celebration and finally noticed the tall of form of the queen of Brightmoon standing beside their instructor. All of their eyes going as wide as saucers. The three stumbled over each other before standing straight in line towards the queen.
"At ease, I simply came to observe and… offer a more active exercise." Angella finished. Everyone including the general looked at her with an estranged eyebrow. Seeing as she had all of their attention, now would be a good to tell them about their… mission. Angella closed her eyes and briefly took in a breath. "How would you three feel about a mission?" The group's eyes lit up at the queen's words.
"My queen… are you sure they're-"
"How else should they prove themselves? They can't stay in the castle forever." As much as Angella would hope otherwise. But she was in too deep to back down now. "As you wish." Juliet raised no other questions after the queen's statement. Glimmer was the first to step forward.
"Do you really mean…" Glimmer was still cautious on where Angella was leading them, but it was clear she was trying to contain her excitement. "Yes, Glimmer. You, Bow and Izuku will be heading out on your first mission outside of Brightmoon." Glimmer turned around and was just about too high five her teammates. "Yeeee-"
"Tomorrow."
Glimmer stopped just before her hands hit her two friends' palms. Izuku's being down low and Bow's being up high. "I'm sorry?" Glimmer looked back to her mother. "You will be going on your first mission tomorrow. You will have a briefing in the war room of what you'll be doing early in the morning." Glimmer slumped, knowing she had to wait another day. But still excited at the prospect of their first mission.
As to not look like an energy filled gremlin to her mother, again, she cleared her throat and returned in line with her team. "Thank you, your majesty. We won't let you down." Glimmer bowed, with the boys following shortly after. Angella softly smiled at her daughter' enthusiasm. "While I am glad to hear your thoughts on the matter Glimmer. I would also like to see what the other members of your team think of this."
Angella first looked to the adept archer Bow. "How do you feel about this opportunity presented to you?"
"Can I be honest, your majesty?" The queen nodded to him to continue. "Nervous. I'm sure I'm not alone in that thought, But it's a good kind of nervousness. The kind of feeling in your gut wanting to see what you can do, despite it." Bow brought his hand to his chest and tapped it gently against his training breastplate. "As long as we stay together, we can do anything." A smile formed on his lips with the last few words.
"Well said." Angella then turned to the sorcerer Izuku. "And you? Our resident sorcerer?" Selfsame sorcerer took in a deep breath and spoke his mind.
"If we are being honest then… I'm in same boat as Bow for the most part. What I'm feeling is both nervousness and pride. For the first time in what's felt like a long time, I've never felt surer about my future since I came here. I feel ready for whatever Etheria or Earth will throw my way. More so with my friends by my side."
"Even if I'm not from Etheria, I will protect it with all I have as if it were my own home." Izuku bowed again, his former nervousness having all left his form. Angella placed her hand on the sorcerer's shoulder. He looked back up. "This will always be your home, should you need it. Never forget that." Izuku was taken back at the kind gesture but quickly returned to a more content expression and nodded. Angella stepped back and looked to Bow.
"That goes for you as well, Bow." Bow thanked the queen for her kindness. "Well, I've kept you distracted long enough. I will have your briefing ready in the morning and maybe some more… appropriate attire later today. I will alert you when it's done." Angella motioned Juliet to follow her and both adults left the yard leaving the three teens alone.
As the door closed behind them towards the hallway. Juliet had one question on her mind during that whole conversation. "You may speak Juliet, there's nothing stopping you."
"Are you sure they're ready? While I'm not one to say ill to their potential and current prowess, I am just wondering what brought this sudden change of heart."
Angella stopped in the middle of the hall, a brief silence took hold as no one else was in the hall besides them. "…Because if I don't give them their chance to learn now, they might go out on their own anyway. Unaware of the dangers and at least I would know were they would be going." Angella looked over shoulder to the general. "I'm I sure? No. not in the slightest. But it is not up to me now, is it?"
"It's up to them."
---Meanwhile---
All three looked to the closing door in shock of what just happened. Did the queen really give them the go ahead for their first mission? Each of the group's faces more twisted in confusion with Bow and Izuku being tied. Glimmer shook her head rapidly and leaned to the other two.
"Did…Did that actually happen?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I think it did." Bow was the one to respond first, still staring at the door. Izuku was still processing what kind of mission the team would be tackling. He was starting to mumble a thousand words a second. "Hey! Hey Izuku! Stay with me here!" Glimmer slapped both of her hands on each of the greenette's cheeks, taking him out his thoughts. "Sorry! Sorry."
"You know, I've never heard you speak Japanese before. It sounds interesting though."
"Well, I have, and we need you in the here and now 'zuku." Glimmer told both of the boys. She had finally chosen a different nickname for Izuku other then "Greeny". Even though it was just his name minus a letter. "U-Um, Y-You can let go now…" Izuku mumbled as the princess's hands were still on his face. "You gonna stay with us?" Izuku nodded. She released him and stepped back.
"Ok, back on track… CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! OUR FIRST MISSION!" Glimmer squeed. It was hard to believe. Tomorrow would be their first real trek outside of the castle. The only real question would be what kind of mission they would go on. Patrol? Escort? Or maybe even combat? It was hard to guess at this point. The only way to find out would be to wait for tomorrow.
"What kind of mission do you think we'll be doing? Can't be anything too dangerous right?" Bow spoke up. "I would literally take anything. Anything would be better then sitting here all day!" Glimmer groaned.
She was definitely the most excited about it. She continued on about how with the amount training they had, they could take on anything and help everybody. Izuku thought she sounded very much like the heroes back in Japan, just that she could still save people without a license. Another thing he, on purpose, didn't mention.
But first, maybe they should get out of their sweaty training armour and clothes.
*Gurgle*
And maybe lunch too…
Luckily, Izuku was already ahead in the second part. At first it was just because he wanted to try and see if he could actually make it here, since all the ingredients would be named differently then back home. Another reason is because he wanted it to be a surprise for his friends who've never tried it before.
And today after their most successful training exercise and their mission tomorrow, now was the perfect time. Izuku smiled.
"How do you guys feel about lunch?"
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Glimmer and Bow now found themselves waiting in their green haired friend's room at an already set table for the three. Izuku had brought attention that he was making something special for them from Japan.
He didn't specify what exactly he was making, but the thought of food overruled the thought of reason for the princess. She was tapping her fingers against the table while Bow was tweaking an old Horde tablet the scouts brought back, trying to get it to power up again with all the modifications he's made.
Just before Glimmer got up to find her lunch and friend (in that order) Izuku back peddled into the room with a few small bowls of soup and three larger bowls being held up by one of his barriers, acting like a small catering plate, following him in.
"Sorry it took so long! I was trying to figure out what I could substitute the miso soup with, but I think I got it." Izuku walked over and began placing the food in front of the two with the small soup just beside the main bowl. The main dish was bowl mix of rice and other vegetables, a cooked egg with some breaded meat carefully placed on top of it all, still steaming and warm.
"Here you have it. Katsudon: Etheria edition! It took a little bit trying to figure what was considered a vegetable or edible even, but I think you'll like it." Bow put the pad he was working on to the side and rubbed his hands together, ready to dig in. Glimmer couldn't help but drool, if it tasted half as good as it smelled…
"So… What do you guys think?" Izuku pulled into his seat with his own bowl in front of him, a little nervous that he might have gotten it wrong somewhere.
Just as he looked up, his friends were already scarfing it down. Well, that answers that question. Glimmer was the first to finish with Bow a close second and Izuku just watching the two genuinely like it. A lot more then he thought actually. He couldn't help but smile as a satisfied breath left the two.
"That was… Delicious! Did you make more? Can you make more? Never mind, compliments to the chef!" Glimmer announced. Bow raised his bowl with a large grin. "I wish my mouth was bigger it was so good! But, um, quick question." He put down the large bowl and grabbed the smaller bowl of soup. "How do you try this exactly. I don't see any soup spoons."
Izuku went to explain how he would usually have it. The soup was meant to help wash down any left-over flavour and clear your pallet for another savoury bite. But since they just ate it all in one go, it was more of an afterthought. Still, he instructed them how one would take it. With one hand holding the bottom and the other on the side, then take a sip.
Hours went by as the three went on talking about anything. Their training, the mission, where they would be going, and more. There were a few questions about the katsudon they just ate, the major one being did it mean anything to him. Back home, the word 'Katsu' would roughly be translated to "to win" or "To be victorious". It fit the occasion too, he never thought it would fit this right though.
He still couldn't believe they liked it so much… What did he do to deserve this…
A steady knock came to Izuku's door and all three turned towards it. "Come in!" The door swung open and the light blunette Netossa walked in, A big smirk on her face.
"Yo! Greeny! Everybody else. Your duds are ready, come and get'em." Wow that was fast. "It was. But I think you'll still like them" Damn mumbling.
"It's one of your best qualities! Come on!" Glimmer ran past Izuku with Bow close behind, dashing past the older princess. Izuku was still sitting at the table. Netossa leaned against the wall. "Better catch up, don't want to miss this, Greeny."
"When are you going to stop calling me that." Izuku sighed, getting up from his seat towards the door. For whatever reason, she had taken the spot as one of the group's guardians with the princess being the most into it. Netossa shrugged and chuckled at the comment before waving him out.
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After a couple of minutes of getting his new clothes on, Izuku exited one of the changing rooms just outside the armory where Glimmer and Bow were waiting for him as they changed before him. Instead of the plain tunic and slops he was given for casual use. What he was wearing now seemed more finely crafted for him. And a lot more sorcerer like.
Although not one of the robes he's seen Castaspella wear, it was definitely made more for outdoor, quick on your feet activities. Sporting a dark green long sleeved leather jerkin with a comfortable undershirt, plates of light metal covered his joints, ashen grey gloves with buckles helping secure the fit, leather slacks with the protective metal covering his knees and some heavy ashen grey boots.
The look was completed with a heavy forest green cloak that rested on his shoulders; intricate designs sowed into the fine cloth primarily on the back when it was worn. The most prominent one being the symbol of Brightmoon etched onto were the cloak rested on the left shoulder. It was long and wide enough that he could cover his entire torso with a little leeway below the belt. Not slowing him down like that of a full to the floor cloak or robe.
He took a few steps in his new gear, trying to get comfortable before Bow noticed him exit the room. Waving him over. "Looking great, Izuku!" Bow complimented the sorcerer. The archer's attire was far more lightweight and closer to armor then Izuku's.
Wearing a white/gold metal chest piece with a red heart just below the neckline. One of his shoulders was also covered by a solid looking gold pauldron. Small brown wristlets, and blue pants with simple looking golden greaves. The look was completed with a golden quiver for his arrows and a collapsible bow on his back.
Of course, The one thing that made it more 'Bow' was that the chest piece still allowed full view of his mid riff. Whatever he wore, it had to show his stomach. He said that it was more comfortable for him. Izuku never understood it, but he was beginning to appreciate his… taste in fashion as he got older. Besides, he's seen stranger hero costumes back home.
The X-Rated hero Midnight basically wore a full… actually, he decided not to think too deep on that.
" 'zuku have you seen this! We look amazing!" Glimmer's outfit consisted of faint sliver finger-less gloves reaching all the way to the elbow with sliver plates on top of each hand. A purple bodysuit covered everything up to her shoulders and knees, a lilac tunic hung loosely over her with diamond shaped jewel sitting just above her chest. And a pair of special boots that matched the light violets and blues that her outfit consisted of with small half moons facing forwards on them.
To wrap it all together, a sky-blue cape attached to a gleaming sliver pauldron. The cape also twinkled slightly to any light that touched it. She twirled in place to show off the elegance, yet ferocity of her outfit. All their gear fit perfectly well and nothing bad ever came to their minds as they complimented each other or rather, Glimmer gushed about everyone's outfit.
While she was externally gushing, Izuku was internally. It felt like every time he came here, he was one step closer to being the hero of his dreams. Always learning a new spell or how to use it in a specific scenario, learning how to fight, how to save people before even stepping into U.A, it was always a big leap towards his ultimate goal. But that begged the question.
Would he be more of an actual hero here in Etheria or back in Japan? There weren't many people willing to stand up for what was right, on top of that, powers were not as widespread as back home. So, there weren't as many heroes like on Earth. Where almost 80% of the population had some sort of power.
There were heroes without them like Bow, he was a great example. But just the thought of him being a legal hero back in Japan or Earth for that matter would be difficult. He would be considered quirkless or have his keen senses mistaken for one.
But here? All he had to do was train, no matter who you were, train and help wherever you could. No legality, no vigilantism, no being reprimanded or punished for trying to save people with your quirk. It was confusing for Izuku. Juggling two very different lines of heroes would be tricky.
"Hey, Earth to Etheria, come in Earth." Glimmer teased, shaking him out of his unnecessary thoughts. He didn't need think about that. That was for future Izuku. "Sorry, just got caught up how nice we look. What did I miss?"
"Well, Bow got the camera feature on his tracker pad working! So, we're taking a group picture, or we would be if you stopped dozing off. I get we look good but come on." Glimmer took the greenette's arm and lead him to the side of the archer, ready to take a snap.
They had to lean in real close to each other to actually fit in the shot but after a little bit of fuddling around they found a good pose to go with. Izuku was on the right with a bright smile, Glimmer in the middle, arms wrapped around the boy's necks. And Bow on the left holding the pad with his off hand. Everyone looked to the camera and smiled, all of them waving piece signs, ready for the signal.
"Ok everyone. Three. Two. One. Best Friend Squad!"
"Best Friend Squad!" *click*
--- Day After, Edge of the Whispering Woods ---
As soon as their morning briefing was done, the squad set out for the village of "Willow's Rest". Even though it was a simple recon mission, it was still their first and any experience would be good. Maybe after this, they would receive more vital missions in the future. But first they actually have to get to their destination. On foot.
"How long have we been walking?" Glimmer groaned. "Are we there yet?" Bow was nose deep in his tracker pad having downloaded a map from the war table to their destination and so they wouldn't get lost. "It's only been a few… hours. But we're almost there… I think…"
Glimmer tensed up "You… think?!"
"I'm getting some sort of interference from the woods, just by standing beside it too. I can only imagine how quickly we'd get lost if we went in." Bow then started to tweak with the affixed antenna on the pad, trying to fix it. "As long as we follow this path, I think we'll be fine. And at this pace, back before dusk if we're lucky" He remarked.
"I hope your right about that… getting the recons leftovers…" Glimmer then looked back to their green sorcerer friend, who was still keeping up a decent pace but occasionally glancing towards the forest, recollection in his eyes. She slowed down and started walking beside the greenette. "How're you this fine day, oh green boy of the woods." Izuku rolled his eyes, a small smile forming on his lips.
"You know, when I found out you actually called me that when we first met, I felt like some lost pet you found in the woods that you wanted to keep."
"Good thing I did too. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here, huffing it like the rest of us." She giggled before bringing her hands to the back of her head in relaxation. Izuku chuckled too, she always liked his laugh, soft, but genuine.
Since she didn't get to hear it often enough, she cherished every time he actually made him genuinely laugh. "Anyway, what was it like living in there? Can't have been all that bad if you looked pretty healthy when you literally rolled into my life." Glimmer snickered, trying to make small talk to pass the time.
Bow slowed down too, now walking on the opposite side of Izuku. "I kinda want to hear this too. I've lived by these woods my whole life but never went into the deeper parts my dads told me about. Was there anyone else when you lived there?"
Izuku scratched his cheek, a small blush forming on them from all the questions and attention he was getting. "W-Well… there was one other person… she was…"
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"M-M-Miss Razz! P-Please be careful! You might fall!"
"Bah! I say! Bah! No one got any pies made without risks!"
She then proceeded to scale an almost ninety-degree angle incline to reach the berries on the top. Using her broom as a steeping branch. With each leap forcing the broom into the hard stone and standing on it before leaping, grabbing the broom, and repeating the process until she was at the top.
Izuku could only stare dumbfoundedly at the spectacle. "What are you doing down there! The berries are up here!" The somehow nimble old woman shouted from atop the cliff. "U-U-Uhm."
"Ooooh I see. You wish to catch them when I throw them down! One moment." Wait what.
"Get the basket! I've always wanted to try thrown berries in my recipes." She then nonchalantly threw a basket of berries over her shoulder, off of the cliff, falling towards Izuku.
WAITWAITWAITWAITWAI- *BAM*
The basket landed on Izuku's head with a hardy smack, knocking him to the ground. Razz nimbly scaled down the cliff back to the main ground, retrieving the basket, which was still ok. Izuku on the other hand…
"Well done deary! We should do this more often. Mara will love these!" The forest witch hummed along, not looking back to the boy who was flat on the ground.
"Ooooowwwww…."
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"…Interesting."
He couldn't help but wonder what happened to Razz. When he left with Glimmer, it was the last day he ever saw his guide to the forest. He did start leaving letters at the edge of the forest a few years ago about how he was doing. He would drop them off one day and the next day he checked, they were gone. A raspy cackle echoed every time he dropped them off. So, she might still be out there.
Perhaps she only appears to people who are truly lost and help them… in her own way. She did live in a magical forest after all. He felt sorry to whomever would tag along with her berry trips.
"Hey guys, over there!" Everyone's attention was immediately grabbed by the princess's outburst. All looking forward, finding their destination, Willow's Rest. From the outskirts they could tell the reason it was called that. A large oak tree stood in the center of the hamlet with stone-made huts, market stalls and decorations surrounding it. Become more farmland as further one got from the landmark.
The group wandered into the town, instead of the common site of towns folk, it was quiet and barren. They first investigated the houses furthest from the landmark, just to see if they were really alone. Izuku went to the right side while Bow and Glimmer went left of the dirt path that made the roads to and from the village square.
Hut after hut, it all looked the same, no people in any of them. Izuku went to go reconvene with his team, just before he exited another hut, he noticed something in the dirt. They looked like boot prints, heavy boot prints leading into the house then coming out, dragging something struggling behind them.
What happened here? Izuku looked up to see his team coming back. "Any luck?" he asked. Bow shook his head. "All the huts we looked at were trashed on the inside. Some of them had signs of struggling on the outside." Izuku investigation led to the same conclusion with the last hut. The picture was becoming clearer, something or, someone dragged all of the towns people from their homes. Where? They didn't know. The only way to find out would be to get closer to the main square.
"Um, guys? you might want to see this." Izuku and Bow quickly joined the princess's side to the main road that led to the square. The path was covered with boot prints and similar drag marks, but that wasn't the main draw. It was the tread marks from something heavy moving into the square with rectangular prints in between the tracks. Whatever took these people, it was there.
All three nodded and readied themselves, moving carefully into the square. Then they heard a scream of pain and moved faster towards the square. Hiding behind the large oak, Glimmer shuffled around it with the two boys close behind her and peeked around to find all of the towns people. In chains, rounded up and being led into a heavily armoured transport vehicle bearing the insignia of the Horde on the side.
Solders covered head to toe in grey armour, also bearing the crimson wings of the Horde, surrounded the immediate perimeter. One of them was kicking a man on the ground in the stomach. A child shackled to another cried out and tried to run over only to be stopped by the ignition of another solder's weapon and was swatted away.
She was stopping this. RIGHT. NOW. "Glimmer, what are we dealing with?" Bow whispered to the princess. She shook her head to get in focus. "It's the Horde. They're taking everyone."
"What?! What should we do?"
"We should stop them and save those people, that's what." Not looking away from the transport or the prisoners. Bow scooted closer and peeked around the corner with Glimmer finally seeing what she was talking about. "Ok, Ok. I see… seven solders as of now. They have the place locked tight, no way we can start this without being noticed." Glimmer agreed. They would have to be loud and quick if they wanted to save those people.
There was only one question, what made those rectangular prints?
*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* *BWEE* All three turned to what was making that sound. A light green sphere-shaped robot with four spindly limbs attached to same colour plates for legs had spotted them. The singular red lens that made its eye started to glow brightly. Bow quickly fired an arrow into its eye, causing it to short circuit and crash. That was close. They were sure they had-
*BWEEEE* *BWEEE* *BWEEE* or maybe they should shut their traps as an alarm began to blare on the top of the transport. Ok, doing this now. Let's do this.
All three rushed around the tree towards the group of solders. "Izuku! Barrier! Bow! Covering fire!" Glimmer teleported in and started throwing her blasts at solders hitting them plenty. Before one could sneak up on her, a transparent shield appeared right before her would be attacker, deflecting the blow. The princess turned on her heel and blasted the grunt in the face, knocking him over.
"Bow! Free the prisoners! I got Glimmer!" Bow nodded to Izuku and made a mad dash for the prisoners. A few solders had arrived with double the number of drones they had then grunts. Bow flipped over a few solders and fired concussive arrows to the back of their heads, rendering them unconscious. Bow had finally reached the transport and went quick to work to free a few prisoners before getting back to the fight.
Izuku created three copies of himself to confuse the detachment of grunts he was fighting. Each feigning a punch before the real Izuku went in for magically charged one. Cracking the armour with a few of them. He was lucky he had gloves, or this would hurt his hands a lot more.
He ducked under the beams of heat fired from three incoming drones coming from the nearby houses. He quickly casted a larger barrier to use as shield. The drones didn't care or even acknowledge his illusions, they must sense his heat, concentrating fire on the sorcerer. Well, if they were focused with him, then they wouldn't mind a quick magic trick.
Izuku sent his illusions towards the line of bots firing on him, one being caught in the crossfire and destroyed, and ran into the vacant huts. Keeping his shield up, Izuku moved around to avoid it from breaking quicker than it actually was. He kept them distracted long enough that he sensed the runes were in place, one on each side of the line.
Izuku dispelled his illusions and raised his hand. "Release!" Slamming his hand back into the ground, the runes ignited, and two pillars emerged from the walls of the houses the bots were sitting between. Crushing them together as the pillars met with freshly crushed bot in between. Izuku sighed with relief that he wasn't being shot at anymore.
"RRGHHH-" *BAM* Izuku quickly turned with a bolt ready in his hand, to a grunt on the ground, a blast mark scratched into his back. He looked up to see Glimmer with her hand forward and sparkling. "You should really watch your back more." Izuku quickly ran to the princess's side as the last line of drones arrived.
"I'll keep that in mind. How's Bow doing?" As if on que, Bow leapt into the fray rejoining the group, firing a few arrows as he flew. "Doing just fine, thanks for asking. Most of the prisoners are free and are helping the rest escape."
"And the transport?" Glimmer mentioned. Bow smiled, knocking another arrow towards a drone. "Not going anywhere." All three were back-to-back as the whatever Horde forces were left surrounded them. "Wouldn't happen to have anymore tricks aye guys?" Bow let loose his arrow into a drone, it directly impacted its eye, casing it shudder and shake as sparks began to fly.
An arc of electricity jumped from one bot to another causing them to smoke and explode on his side. "Note to self: make more Electric arrows…"
Izuku took in a deep breath and raising two fingers from his hand, creating an arc with his hand in front of himself, large shards of ice began to form to his sides. Izuku thrusted his arm forwards and a spike launched towards the drone, growing in size, and impaling it straight through.
"Ok… My turn…" Glimmer charged both of her hands with light, focusing it into a singular ball of light. She slammed the ball with great force into the ground and as it connected with it, a shockwave of sparkles cascaded towards her line of drones toppling them into a ruined hut.
A majority of the drones were destroyed with Glimmer's attack, With Izuku and Bow on clean up. After a few more minutes of fighting, whatever Horde grunts that were still conscious quickly retreated, leaving the wreaked drones and transport behind.
They had won.
All three sighed at the same time and fell into a sitting position, leaning on one another. Not bad for a recon mission. "We… We did it… Wow…" Izuku was completely exhausted when he murmured that. He still couldn't believe it. And his new spell worked, that was definitely a highlight of today.
But there was no way he could match Glimmer's power, not for awhile anyway. He took down targets one at a time with traps and his bolts, the tome didn't have anything on taking out large groups of enemies like Glimmer just did. "So… everyone had been hiding secrets moves, huh?"
"Says the guy who can shoot ice spears now. Still, we won." Glimmer boasted. "…But I think I took out the most drones with that last blast." She grinned. "And we're chopped liver huh?" Bow lightly smacked Glimmer's arm, then laughed.
Glimmer got up first and stretched out. "We should probably go tell the villagers the fighting's done."
"No need. Thank you for saving us." All three looked to see a hunched goat man in a faint crimson robe, fiddling with a long grey curl on his chin. The rest of the village behind him. "We had all thought we'd been abandoned, thank you princess."
The elder bowed to the three. Glimmer stepped forward as the other two stood up and stand beside her. She bowed back. "It was no trouble; we only wished to help the people and give them hope that the rebellion will never give up." The elder smiled at the princess's words.
As they were conversing, a wrecked Horde drone, its chassis cracked beyond repair, emerged from the rubble of a destroyed house. It twitched and shuddered unnaturally before letting loose a deeper red laser from its shattered eye, directly at the elder.
Izuku's eye's widened and everything slowed down.
"Get down!" Izuku pushed the elder out of the way of the bolt and before he could cast a barrier, the bolt impacted directly with his back, burning right through his cloak and armor, leaving a large deep burn and smoky, charred flesh. Then he collapsed on the ground, barely conscious.
"IZUKU!" Glimmer turned around and roared. Firing an overcharged blast of light at the barely functional drone, causing the drone to explode upon impact. As the drone was destroyed, she could've sworn she saw something dark wisp away from the scrap.
No time for that!
"Izuku! Say something! Bow help me!" Glimmer frantically hoisted one of Izuku's arms with Bow quickly taking the other side of their greatly injured friend. He groaned in pain. "We need to get back to Brightmoon and fast!" The elder quickly got up and rounded the villagers "Find some horses as quick as you can! Go! Go!" Many of the villagers rushed off to find some transportation.
"G-Gl…Glim-m..er…?" His face was pale, and eyes faded.
"Stay with me 'zuku, we're going home." Two horses were brought out for them, and they quickly mounted up. Bow on a separate one, while Glimmer rode with Izuku tied tightly to her waist. "Thank you, I promise I will speak to Queen Angella to send more troops here."
"There will be no need, from now on, we are part of the rebellion and will fight for our home. Now go!"
Glimmer thanked the elder again and the two rode off. Not knowing they were being watched by the shadows themselves…
--- Deep in the darkest chamber of the Fright Zone… ---
So, the rebellion had themselves a sorcerer now, a foolishly heroic, but somewhat competent sorcerer... If Mysticor had finally decided to join the war, the rebellion would gain much more ground and get their troops out faster.
She knew better however, those arrogant fools would never ruin their "Years of keeping to their code of neutrality for the sake of knowledge and the protection of it" cowards, all of them. But if that was the case, then the boy would be a free sorcerer, not locked or chained by the rules of the Ministry of Mysticor.
He could keep getting stronger.
For the time being, he would be out of the picture for a while. Until then, she would need to keep on eye out for the boy's presence should he ever return to the field. A sorcerer of any kind allied to the rebellion would become a problem.
The Shadow Weaver waved her hand over her scrying spell and the image of the three rebels faded. Before she could place a hand on the ridged surface of the Black Garnet, A screen blared to life on the wall. Of course… now…
She prematurely kneeled to the screen as it flickered to her "Glorious" Lord. Who would no doubt be asking abou-
"Shadow Weaver… Why have I just received a report that an entire battalion of drones was destroyed, and an armored transport vehicle lost by no more then three rebels?" Her lord spoke, a deep monotone hiding his anger.
"Lord Hordak… There is a perfectly reasonable explanation for this… pause." Hordak's pure red orbs for eyes scowled at the corrupted sorceress, a metallic claw tapping against his throne. "Speak."
To the point, one of few admirable qualities to her lord. "From what I had observed, these rebels were well trained and among them, the princess of Brightmoon and a well-versed sorcerer. Through their power, they were able to wreak havoc amongst our forces."
A deep silence from her lord, but she could feel the animosity from her chambers to the sanctum. "…Do you know the name of this "sorcerer"? Was he dealt with?"
"Although he survived, he will not interfere for quite some time." Shadow Weaver glanced as although her lord's face remained neutral, his claws were digging into his steel throne, bending the edge of the arm rest.
"…Return to your duties…" The screen blinked off. Means to an end… Means to an end… She pushed down her murderous thoughts and grabbed hold of the deep crimson Runestone. Arcs of red energy seeped into the sorceress and with it, became refreshed.
Much better. Now then, time to check on her star pupil… and that idiotic pet of hers…