"I hope she's alright...", Ryuusuke thought of Pixie-Bob as he ran through the Beast's Forest. He arrived at the training camp and handed her to Mr. Aizawa before abruptly leaving to go help the rest of his classmates still trapped in the forest, despite his homeroom teacher's demand to stay put with his justified reasoning being that the boy was in no condition to keep on fighting. He was forced to shift back to normal due to his extreme exhaustion.

"So the villains are after Bakugo and Takane. According to what Mandalay and Deku said so that means we have to find those two guys. I'll regroup with Deku for the time being he seems be-"

In the middle of his thoughts, he noticed Midoriya who was being carried by Shoji with Obihiro and Takane in tow.

"Midoriya!", Tatsuma shouted at the fleeing group, "Where are you guys running off to?"

"No time to explain!", Shoji said in a panicked manner. "Just run!"

"What are we running away-"

"OUT OF MY WAY!", a booming voice roared as a shadowy mass inched closer to the group.

"WHAT THE HECK IS THAT THING?!", Tatsuma screamed as he made a beeline away from the large shadow creature.

"It's Dark Shadow!", Midoriya said. "Tokoyami lost control of it and now it's on a rampage! Just keep running! We gotta get to Kacchan and Todoroki!"

"You don't have to tell me twice!"

And so the five teens scrambled away from the rampaging Dark Shadow through the forest, its claws tearing through nearby foliage in order to get to them. However Tatsuma's injuries were starting to catch up to him as his adrenaline began to die down.

"This is bad", Tatsuma thought angrily, feeling his body start to grow heavier by the second.

"Wait I see Ice!", Midoriya pointed at a large icy pillar, "Kacchan and Todoroki must be fighting!"

The group turned to the wall of ice, ultimately reuniting with Bakugo and Todoroki, who was carrying an unconscious student on his back.

"Todoroki! Bakugo!", Shoji screamed in terror as they approached the duo, "One of you, give us light!"

However...

"More flesh!", a raspy voice said as a sharp blade sliced across the ground. Takane however managed to touch one of the blades, in an attempt to jinx the villain, but her arm was severely slashed.

"AHH!"

Dark Shadow however was still in their sights and slammed its massive claw into the ice, shattering it in one blow and pinning down the villain that attacked the group.

"I'LL CRUSH YOU!", Dark Shadow roared.

"Kacchan!", Midoriya called out to Bakugo.

"Is that thing...Tokoyami?", Todoroki's eyes widened in astonishment.

"We need light now!", Obihiro shouted at the two boys.

"Hurry please!", Takane begged, clutching her arm.

Dark Shadow continued its relentless assault as Todoroki's left arm began to ignite.

"Wait...", Bakugo said.

The sharp toothed villain stood up after recovering from its attack.

"Flesh. Slabs of meat", he uttered, "No good. Can't allow it. I'm the one who gets to slice them open."

"DON'T STEAL FROM ME!", he screamed as he fired his teeth like blades at Dark Shadow, who barely flinched from the attack.

"YOU INSIGNIFICANT BUG!", Dark Shadow taunted, grabbing the villain in the middle of his attack. "YOU ARE NOTHING!" It then violently slammed the villain into a nearby tree, knocking him clean out.

"I can't believe it...", Tatsuma strained as he stood up, "He actually beat that guy *cough*"

He sputtered blood from his mouth before collapsing on one knee.

"IT'S NOT ENOUGH! I NEED MORE! NEED TO CRUSH MORE! MORE TO RIP! MORE TO TEAR!"

Dark Shadow soon turned to Takane, remembering the source of its rage.

"AND I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN ABOUT YOU..." he growled, "I'LL RIP YOU APART, TRAITOROUS FLY!"

"DARK SHADOW DON'T DO IT!", Tokoyami strained, "KASUMI, PLEASE RUN!

"Damn it!", Bakugo gritted his teeth, "They're too far away!"

"We can't get close enough!", Todoroki said.

"Takane get out of there now!", Midoriya cried out.

But the moth girl stood her ground.

"I refuse to run..." she thought, "That's what made it so angry in the first place. I let fear overtake me and I chose the easy way out. I should've confronted Dark Shadow beforehand. That's why..."

"I'm coming Tokoyami!", she flew out of the way of Dark Shadow's attack and lunged towards Fumikage, arms stretched out. And much to the group's shock...

She held him in a tight embrace.

"What are you doing?!", he demanded, "Get out of here before Dark Shadow-"

"I hurt you didn't I?", She shushed him. "When we got attacked, I chose to sacrifice myself to save you. And you felt betrayed."

Tears began to well down Fumikage's eyes, fearing for his friend's safety.

"I'm sorry...I know saying it won't help but please...I didn't mean to hurt you! I didn't mean to betray your trust!", Kasumi's voice started to break.

"Takane...", Tokoyami whispered sadly in her ear, "I-"

"LIAR! I WON'T FORGIVE YOU! YOU HURT FUMIKAGE! YOU GET TO WALK AWAY FROM WHAT YOU'VE DONE!", Dark Shadow bellowed, dragging the moth girl out of his master's arms.

"DARK SHADOW NO!"

"YOU HURT FUMIKAGE! BETRAYED HIS TRUST! YOU DON'T DESERVE HIS FORGIVENESS!"

The shadowy creature tightened its grip on Kasumi, sickening cracks could be heard as the moth girl's frail body slowly began to break.

"I'LL KILL YOOOOOOOUUUUUUU!"

FWOOSH!*

Flames and explosions struck Dark Shadow causing it to squeak as it shrunk back inside Fumikage, releasing it's hold over him and dropping Kasumi.

"And once again I'm a terrible matchup for you, bird boy", Katsuki said.

"Thanks. You saved me.", he said pitifully.

Shoto turned to the battered body of the long toothed villain who was out cold.

"We struggled to fight against this guy, yet you beat him instantly".

"That Quirk of yours is really something.", Ryuusuke coughed.

"My friend", Mezo walked up to the mortified avian. "Are you okay? You did what we needed you to"

"And yet...", Fumikage began, "I nearly killed all of you."

He looked at his hands as they shook.

"I apologize everyone. I'm still too immature. I let my anger consume me and I let my Quirk take over. The influence of the darkness, combined with my fury, spurred Dark Shadow into a frenzy. Until it got so strong I couldn't contain it. And I ended up hurting you allq."

"We'd deal with that later.", Mezo reassured him. "That's what you would say, if our roles were reversed"

"I should apologize as well", Kasumi limped over to the two boys. "When I saw that you three were willing to die in order to prevent me from getting taken by my mother, I felt powerless. I wanted to save you all, but I didn't realize that...I would end up betraying Tokoyami's trust and causing all of this..."

"Takane I..."

"You don't have to forgive me if you don't want to.", she interrupted Fumikage. "Dark Shadow is a manifestation of your suppressed thoughts. Isn't it? That means deep down you can't forgive me for what I've done."

The raven headed student looked down in shame, realizing that she was right about what she said. He couldn't bring himself to forgive her. And yet he couldn't bring himself to blame her for her betrayal either. If he was in her shoes, he would've sacrificed himself to save the others after all.

"Okay.", Izuku began, "I don't know if you heard Mandalay, but I found out the villains are after Kacchan and Kasumi."

"Bakugo? Are they trying to kill him?", Fumikage asked.

"I'm not sure. But I think we should get to camp. It's the safest place now, so long as Vlad King and Mr. Aizawa have regrouped there."

"I understand. So our mission is to get Bakugo back to safety by protecting him."

"Oh so like a knight protecting their lord", Ryuusuke wheezed. "But the Pussycats are most likely still fighting in the clearing. So if we go there, that would draw the villains' attention to us."

"Plus it's longer", Izuku added. "We need to cut straight across."

"You're kidding me.", Obihiro said. "We don't know how many villains there are in the forest. My Transmute can only ward off so many."

"We might come across some by chance," Shoto explained. "But it's our best bet."

"I could use my search ability and Todoroki could use his ice to freeze any enemies we might come across.", Mezo added.

"And I'll watch our backs in case any villains that could ambush us from behind", Kasumi recommended.

"That would be unwise Takane", Shigen shook his head, "the villains are after you too as well. It would be better if you stayed in between me and Tokoyami."

"I can guard the front with my Quirk if it'll help", Ryuusuke said. "But I can't use it for too long because of my injuries."

"And, if Tokoyami's okay with it, we can always use Dark Shadow now that we can actually control him.", Izuku concluded.

"You know with a group like this...", the leviathan boy coughed.

"We could probably go up against All Might", the green head realized.

"I'd be fine by myself!", Katsuki shouted.

"We'll surround you as we walk", Shoto explained.

"I DON'T NEED ANY OF YOUR PROTECTION DAMMIT!"

"For the rest of the night...", Ryuusuke groaned as he scrunched his fingers to the bridge of his nose. "Is that too hard to ask, FOR YOU TO SWALLOW YOUR GODFORSAKEN PRIDE FOR THE REST OF THIS NIGHT!"

"Let's go", Mezo said as he started walking.

"Right", Ryuusuke nodded before turning to Shoto, "Todoroki, give me some ice. I need some water. I'll transform and carry whoever's too injured to walk."

"But what about your own injuries?", the red and white haired teen asked, creating some ice.

"I'll get by...", Ryuusuke responded, crunching down on the ice before shifting into leviathan form. "Ahhh, that's much better."

"HEY DON'T IGNORE ME"

"Just make sure you keep up", Todorki added, placing the unconscious students and Midoriya on Tatsuma's back before walking in the same direction as Shoji.

"Don't tell me what to do", Bakugo snarled, following the two boys.

"You're just the grandstanding champion of stubbornness aren't you?", Obihiro groaned.

As the group escorted Bakugo back to camp, Takane held onto Tokoyami tight.

"Fumikage, there's something I wanted to tell you..."

"Hm?", he raised a 'brow'. "What is it you wanted to tell me?"

"Well...", she looked down, "I just wanted to apologize first of all, about what happened earlier. I made you feel betrayed when I offered myself up in order to save your life."

"I see.", he simply answered. "I know you didn't want to leave but you had no choice. It's just when I saw you about to join the League to save our lives,", he looked down as his hands shook, "I felt powerless, betrayed even that you would give yourself up despite deep down I..."

"You what?"

"Perhaps some things are better left unsaid until the time is right.", he looked away.

"Hey Adam and Eve!", Obihiro snapped at the two, "walk up, we're gonna get left behind."

In the midst of his talking, darkness enveloped the trio's sight as a chuckle reverberated from the tree tops.

5 Minutes Later...

The Bakugo and Takane escort squad continued walking through the woods before coming upon Uraraka and Asui who were in the midst of fighting Himiko Toga, a deranged young girl in a sailor uniform with a black mask and syringes. Asui was pinned to a tree by her hair with a knife while Uraraka held down Toga. But the girl jabbed a syringe into Uraraka's thigh, draining blood and weakened her grip on Toga from the lack of blood.

"Uraraka!", Shoji called out in surprise.

"Quicky guys help her!", Asui begged.

Due to Uraraka being significantly weakened, Toga managed to break free from her grip before fleeing from the scene.

"There's too many people here and I don't feel like dying tonight. Toodles." She ran further into the forest until she could no longer be seen.

"Who was that girl just now?", Todoroki asked.

"One of the villains. She's crazy"

"Uraraka your hurt!"

"It's not bad. I can still walk okay. You're the one who looks terrible."

"We can't stand here and talk, let's move."

"I'm just glad you didn't get injured too bad. Now come on. Join our group. We're protecting Kacchan and making our way back to camp. We could use your help."

"If you're protecting Bakugo and Takane", Asui said, "Then shouldn't they be with you guys?"

"Huh what are you talking about?", Midoriya asked.

Tatsuma turned around and...

"Guys..."

"Nice trick eh?", a voice spoke from above the trees.

Everyone looked up to see a dapper dressed man wearing a mask and holding a cane.

"I took the lad you're talking about with my magic.", he held up a small blue marble. "A talent like his would be squandered were he cast as a hero. We'll provide him a grander stage where he can truly shine."

"Give Kacchan back!", Midoriya demanded.

"'Give him back?' What an odd thing to say. Bakugo belongs to no one. He's his own person. Don't be so arrogant."

"We'll stop you right now!", Todoroki declared, shooting ice at the masked gentleman's location who gracefully dodged out of the way.

"Why the aggression? We merely wish to show him there are options besides the fanatical world of heroism he's drowning in. It's important to choose a path that aligns with your core values, after all. Because you children have your values forced on you these days."

"It's not just Bakugo. Tokoyami's gone", Shoji turned.

"So are Obihiro and Takane!", Tatsuma added.

Todoroki's eyes widened in alarm realizing that without a sound, four students were snatched up by this villain.

"If you're monologuing because you think you've beaten us, you're mistaken"

"A bad habit of mine", the gentleman shrugged off Todoroki's aggression. "I was once an entertainer, you know. Taking the other three was a bit of improv on my part. Moonfish our dear 'blade tooth'. He may not look like it, but he's a dastardly death row devil who's last appeal was denied. When I saw the avian take him down so easily and violently, I decided he should join our troupe.", the villain pulled out a marble which revealed an unconscious Tokoyami. "The boy on the other hand, despite how insufferably snide he may be, that Quirk of his is something special. Who knows, maybe with a Quirk like his, he could be a valuable asset to the troupe. And then there's Takane. The little moth might not be powerful but her mother thinks otherwise. You might know of her as' Lady Scorpio."

The group's eyes widened in horror with the exception of Shoji's

"Takane's mother is a villain?", Tatsuma thought.

"You're lying!" Midoriya shouted in denial. "There's no way Takane would be associated with one of you! Give our friends back now!"

"Ah but it is the truth", the gentleman wiped dust off his coat. "Miss Takane is the daughter of a member within our ranks, and she wants her back alive by any means necessary. That's where I come in."

Todoroki on the other hand attempted to attack the dapper villain again, this time with an even larger wall of ice that again, the villain dodged with little effort.

"Apologies", he said. "But sleight-of-hand and escapology are my specialties, not combat. I'm not foolish enough to fight hero candidates from U.A." He held his hands up to his mask. "Vanguard action squad. I've acquired our targets. It's time for the curtain call. Meet me at the retrieval point in the next five minutes for the final bow."

"They're going to take our friends!"

"They can't!"

"You're right we'll stop them"

And the six students gave chase after the villain.

"Damn it this guy's quick", Todoroki growled.

"If only Iida were here", Uraraka lamented.

"These ruffians aren't as big of a deal as I expected.", the villain sneered as he kept increasing the distance between himself and the teens.

"We can't give up. Not now.", Midoriya declared. "We have to catch him...and get our friends back!"

"And we will Deku! I promise that!", Tatsuma growled. "But this guy is too fast for me to get a precise shot in."

"And he's pulling farther ahead every second", Shoji added.

"Uraraka", Midoriya began. "You have to make us float."

"Huh?"

"And then, Asui. You launch us as far as you can with your tongue!"

"Ribbit?"

"Shoji, hold me and Todoroki and use your Quirk to correct our trajectory through the air."

"Yeah."

"Right."

"Tatsuma, your Leviathan form is heavy, so that means you might be able to knock the guy out"

"Got it"

"Measure the distance with your eyes, Uraraka. And then when the timing looks right, release us!"

"I see.", Shoji realized. "Human bullets."

"Wait Deku?", Uraraka asked. "You're still going to fight with those injuries?"

"He's in bad shape", Todoroki added. "I wouldn't be surprised if he lost consciousness any moment now. Midoriya you stay here, with that much pain you'll-"

"Trust me", he countered. "I don't feel any pain right now. I can do this. Hurry!"

Uraraka pulled off her jacket and ripped it in half before wrapping it around his arms in a sort of makeshift cast. Once that was done, Tatsuma placed Shoji, Todoroki and Midoriya on his back as Asui wrapped her tongue around them. Uraraka then touched the four boys and backed up.

"Okay go ahead Tsu"

"Make sure you've got a good grip on them"

Using all of her strength, Asui tossed the five into the air directly at the dapper dressed villain.

"Huh?", he turned around.

Rendezvous Area, Outside Beast's Forest

"Huh? Lame. I'm the only one here?", Toga sighed.

"Hey, crazy.", Dabi and a masked man approached her, "Did you get the blood? How many different kinds?"

"Just one person"

"Just one?!", the masked man shouted, "Hey what gives? Weren't you supposed to get at least three?"

"That's just the way it went down", she justified her screw up. "I thought those brats were gonna kill me."

"Whatever", the man sighed, before his personality shifted. "You're looking a little too happy right now. Strange shouldn't you be full of shame?"

"Yeah but I made some new friends.", Toga giggled. "And I found a cute boy I'm interested in."

"Is it me? No thanks babe. I love you, too!"

"Will you shut up Twice?", a feminine voice scoffed as a figure leapt down from the tree, it was Lady Scorpio.

"Oh it's you...", Dabi rolled his eyes in annoyance before looking up in the sky.

"Well aren't you just a bag of sunshine? Anyways what the hell are you staring at?"

Suddenly the dapper villain screamed as he was dragged to the ground by Midoriya, Shoji, Todoroki and Tatsuma with a loud *CRASH*.

"Whoa, whoa, what's this?", Twice asked. "Wait a minute, I know these kids. Who are they?"

"Did you just get done in by a bunch of brats, Compress?", Lady Scorpio said. "God, you guys really are pathetic."

"Give our friends back to us!", Midoriya yelled.

"Out of the way Compress.", Dabi said coldly, igniting bluish flames on his arm.

"Got it", Mr. Compress wheezed as he emitted a blue glow before suddenly vanishing as the flames erupted in the general direction of the boys. Todoroki managed to avoid the flames but Tatsuma, Midoriya and Shoji weren't so lucky. Midoriya had half of his face burned, Shoji with his arms and Tatsuma with his chest."

"The beat up little boy and you", Twice lunged at Todoroki, pulling out a blade from his wrists. "You're on Shigaraki's Kill list! No, they weren't!"

Todoroki however stepped back and shot a pillar of ice at the villain, forcing him back.

Toga fired a syringe at Midoriya, grazing the side of his cheek before running at him wildly.

"Hi, Izuku! My name's Toga!", she tackled him, "I've been thinking since I saw you...that you'd be so much cuter if you just bled a little more!"

Shoji knocked her away before she could stab the boy.

"So that's how it is...", she growled, "You want to come between us? To be honest, you're not really my type. But I'll cut you anyway"

Todoroki continued firing ice at Twice who dodged with ease before pulling out his wrist blade (which was actually a ruler) and sliced through the ice.

Mr. Compress meanwhile returned back from his compressed state.

"Ugh, I can't believe you wrecked my exit", he grumbled, "Unrehearsed amateurs"

"We're not finished yet...", Tatsuma snarled, "Did you forget about me?"

"Oh right.", he said, "Ryuusuke Tatsuma, younger brother of the pro hero Ryukyu"

"Someone's did their homework" he chuckled, "But I'm no understudy"

"A magician always has another trick up their sleeve", Compress taunted, tossing something from Tatsuma's blind spot.

SLASH*

Unbeknownst to Tatsuma, Mr. Compress had Lady Scorpio hidden in one of his little marbles, preparing for an attack and once he tossed her out, he uncompressed the villain who slashed at Tatsuma's underbelly with her barbed tail.

"GWAAAARRRGGGGHHHH!", he roared, collapsing on the ground, clutching at his bleeding torso.

"Hmph, you're late Compress", the villainess grumbled.

"Did you get the two brats?", Dabi approached the duo.

"Of course", Compress said, digging into his pockets, only to realize that they weren't there.

"Midoriya, Todoroki, Tatsuma! We're done.", Shoji said. "He gave away his party trick. I'm unsure what his Quirk is, but it has to do with those little marbles, right? The ones you stashed in your pockets.", he held out four marbles. "I'm guessing these must be our friends"

"You rescued them!"

"Ha, ha, ha! Well, color me impressed.", Mr. Compress complimented, "Just as I'd expect from one with so many hands."

The four boys proceeded to flee before a large creature approached them.

"A nomu?!", Midoriya gasped.

"Quick this way" Todoroki led the other three boys before a dark mist appeared in front of them. Kurogiri

"Not this guy."

"He was at the U.S.J"

"The warp villain."

"It's been five minutes since the signal", Kurogiri announced as he created portals in front of the villains, "Let's go, Dabi."

"Sorry Izuku. But I'll see you later, 'kay?", Toga smiled at the green haired boy as she entered her portal.

Twice simply hopped inside his portal.

Mr. Compress was about to enter his portal until Dabi and Lady Scorpio stopped him.

"We're not leaving without the brats.", Dabi said.

"Don't worry", he reassured him. "They were so proud of themselves for rooting through my pockets that I thought I'd let them gloat"

"What?"

"Ah yes. Allow me to explain a basic tenant of magic. If I flaunt something shiny,"

He removed his mask.

"It's because there's something else I don't want you to see.", he opened his mouth revealing four marbles, inside them were Bakugo, Tokoyami, Takane and Obihiro.

"He's got them?!", Tatsuma shrieked in shock.

With a snap of his fingers, the marbles in Shoji's hands transformed into shards of ice.

"My ice?", Todoroki's eyes widened.

"During the freezing attack, I prepared dummies and slipped them into my pocket."

"Damn it!"

Midoriya, Shoji, Todoroki and Tatsuma charged at the three villains.

"A little bit of misdirection. Forgive me but I do love a twist ending."

"You can't do this!"

"We already have.", Lady Scorpio taunted as she waved goodbye.

"One last bow, and then the curtain fall-"

A sudden ray of light shattered Mr. Compress' mask, causing him to spit out the four marbles. The source of said light was none other than Aoyama who was quivering in one of the bushes.

"Aoyama was hiding in there the whole time?", Todoroki thought, "Why didn't he help us sooner."

The four boys rushed to grab them, but Midoriya suddenly tripped. Shoji managed to grab one marble and Tatsuma with another. But as he and Todoroki reached for the third and fourth marbles, blue flames seared across the right side of the leviathan's face, causing him to miss while Dabi snatched both of them."

"Well isn't this a tragedy. How does it feel to fail for the first time in your life?", Dabi sneered, holding the two marbles just barely out of Todoroki's reach. "Poor little SHOTO TODOROKI.", he emphasized the boy's full name. "Confirm it now, release them."

"That laser ruined my finale.", Mr. Compress grumbled as he snapped his fingers, releasing Tokoyami and Obihiro in Shoji and Tatsuma's arms and Takane and Bakugo who were grabbed by Lady Scorpio and Dabi respectively as they were dragged inside Kurogiri's portal.

"Checkmate, heh."

"Kacchan no!", Midoriya cried out as he ran towards the portal, preparing to jump in.

"Say goodbye to the 'friends' you so crave.", Lady Scorpio waved goodbye with a sadistic smirk.

"KACCHAN!"

"Stay back Deku!", Bakugo warned, surprisingly a tinge of fear surfacing in his voice.

"I'm sorry...everyone...", Kasumi said with tears in her eyes.

And the portal closed up.

"No...", Tatsuma hissed. "We were so close *Sputter*", blood spilled out of his mouth as his lungs filled with fluid. "D...ek...u. I'm s..orr...y", he suddenly shifted back to normal before passing out, blood oozing from his open wounds.

"Takane...", Tokoyami lamented, "No..."

"B...but good...always triumphs in the end though", Obihiro's eyes began to water.

Todoroki and Shoji just stood there utterly speechless at their defeat.

Midoriya however let out a primal scream into the night as anguish consumed his mind.

That night, the world was given a grim reminder, the League of Villains had triumphed over U.A.