Dragon of the Academia-9
"Hold up Athena, what do you mean by a creature of Grimm?" Kirishima questioned. "An' why does it look similar to that form you took during the Quirk Assessment Test?"
"Grimm are soulless creatures, who's only purpose, are to destroy human life. But what is one doing here?" Athena questioned.
"We'll discuss this later, for now, stay back." Aizawa said putting his goggles on.
"Wait, Aizawa Sensei, you can't fight all those villains on your own, it'd be suicide." Midoriya said.
"Listen Midoriya." Aizawa said. "You can't be a hero, if you're a one trick pony."
With that Aizawa went racing down the stairs, taking down every thug he came across with his power, and his scarf.
"Everybody, back to the entrance, we're evacuating." Thirteen called out.
Athena stubbornly left with the class, not wanting to cause trouble for Thirteen, but they were stopped when the villain known as Kurogiri came and intercepted them.
"Greetings. We are the League of Villains. I know it's rude to show up unannounced, but we thought this be the appropriate place for the Symbol of Peace, to draw his last breath." Kurogiri said.
'So they're still after All-for-One's ultimate goal huh?' Athena thought.
"Now then, it's my job to dispose of you all. An' by that I mean, sending you scattered across the facility." Kurogiri said. "But there is one individual among you, who I am ordered to capture as my highest priority."
Midoriya and Mina turned to Athena, as she looked at them, all three knowing he was talking about her.
"Ah, there you are." Kurogiri said, his mist crawling up Athena's legs and enveloping her body, causing her disappear through the floor, reappearing between Shigaraki and the Grimm, Kurogiri somehow binding her in chains and leather straps, forcing her arms to remain behind her back.
"Athena." Midoriya called turning to the lobby of the facility.
"So you came back for you accomplice eh?" Bakugo questioned with a smirk. "I always knew the slut was a villain."
"Would you… SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH KATSUKI?" Mina shouted slapping him in the face, her palm covered in acid, causing him to scream in pain as he fell to the ground.
"What is he talking about Ashido?" Iida questioned.
"Six years ago, Athena was kidnapped by a group of villains. Given how these guys are targeting Athena, I'd say these are members of that group, and they're following through on what their master started before he was killed in the rescue operation." Midoriya explained. "Athena had been brainwashed, and forced to fight against All Might and both Golden and Shadow Huntress, and received that scar over her eye when she fought against the villain. Ever since then, Bakugo has been calling Athena a villain, just because of the scar."
"She fought against All Might, stupid Deku. She's a villain." Bakugo growled, trying hard to ignore the pain of the acid burning his cheek, as blood dripped to the ground.
"Says the actual villain, who illegally uses his Quirk on a daily basis." Midoriya countered.
"I think I've heard enough of your bickering." Kurogiri said, spreading his mist around the group, sending them around to different areas of the facility.
Down in the lobby, Athena was fighting against her bonds, trying to break free, to help her friends and aid them against the other villains, but for some reason, she was unable to break her bonds.
"Ah-ah-ah… I would try to escape if I were you." Shigaraki warned, placing his hand, and four of his five fingers on Athena's right arm. "If you do attempt an escape, then things will… get a little messy." He said, placing his left hand on her left thigh, with all five fingers touching.
Athena grit her teeth before it became unbearable and she cried out in pain, feeling her nerves decaying, causing pain to shoot up through her nervous system, as Shigaraki had a tight firm grip, ensuring his Quirk worked faster than if it were a light gentle grip. Aizawa heard the scream of pain and anguish and turned his head to the villain's and his eyes widened with horror when he saw the coloration leaving Athena's leg as it decayed to ash.
"Oh dear, that looks bad. We should remove it before it gets any worse and you die. Master wouldn't be too pleased if we were to bring you back as a pile of ashes." Shigaraki said. "Nomu." He called to the Grimm as it unclenched one of its clawed talons.
"Master?" Athena questioned, before she cried out in pain again, the Nomu-Grimm's talon slicing through both her legs, above the decaying portion on her left leg, causing her to fall to the ground.
"Nomu, you idiot, you were only supposed to cut off the left leg, not both of them." Shigaraki exclaimed as Athena's left leg's decay quickened within seconds, before Shigaraki used his Quirk on the right leg to get rid of it. "Useless, mindless beast."
"That's what happens… when you have a Grimm, for a minion." Athena said. "They give in to their base instinct of tearing living creatures apart."
"I suppose, you'd know all about them, begin from Remnant, the world of their creation." Shigaraki said. Athena was surprised he knew about where she came from, but she didn't let it show, as she still struggled to get out of her binds, trying her best to fight through the pain that was coursing through her, Athena managed to get her right arm free. "Even if you broke free, it wouldn't help you. Your legs are gone. There's no escape." He exclaimed, seeing Athena uselessly try to get free as her bonds tightened around her.
Growling in anger and pain, Athena knew she was up shits creak if she didn't do something soon, but that's when she remembered, she had all she needed, pooling round her.
Dipping her fingers into her pooling blood, Athena drew a circle on the ground in her blood, and wrote in Kanji, Dragon, while flames were spewing from her tear ducts and slammed her hand down on it.
Almost immediately the ground around Athena began to glow, as a black puddle of ooze formed underneath her, and took shape, lifting her up off the ground, as she was absorbed within its depths.
After years of experimenting with her abilities, she found she was able to temporarily create her own Grimm, by drawing a circle, and writing the Grimm's species inside the circle with her own blood, when mer maiden powers were active and she slammed her hand down on the circle. An' she could control where the Grimm sprouted within the vicinity so long as it was within her sights. An' this was also an effective means for escape, as she could allow herself to be absorbed into the Grimm's body if need be, now being one such case.
"Nomu, stop that dragon from flying off." Shigaraki shouted, ordering the Nomu to attack as the dragon spit up Athena's restraints.
The Dragon Grimm roared and smacked Nomu away with its tail, before it took to the air. Keeping its distance from Shigaraki and the Nomu were its orders, as Athena was recuperating within its body, trying to regain her lost strength, and somewhat heal her injuries.
"Damn it." Shigaraki grumbled, before there was a loud rumble that resounded from the flood zone. "What the hell was that?"
"If I had to hazard a guess, the students who sent to the flood zone." Aizawa said, wrapping Shigaraki in his scarf and pulling him forward, landing an effective kick to the chest that sent him back, before Aizawa pulled Shigaraki towards him, like he was one big yoyo.
From the dragon, Athena connected herself to its nerves and saw through its eyes, the flood zone was indeed a bit of a wreck as the yacht that had been there, was sinking, and she saw both Midoriya and Tsu flying through the air, to the shore on a different side of the flood zone, but still a little too close to the lobby for her comfort.
'Damn it. First it's my eye sight when I'm eight, and now I don't have my legs anymore. They really made it that much easier for me to be taken, I only got my sight back, thanks to Saffron. An' if Shigaraki said, Master, then I… no there's no way he survived half his head exploding like a watermelon. But what if…' Athena thought.
As the battle continued to rage on down below, Kurogiri returned to Shigaraki's side, with some bad new, and with Athena's senses still connected to the dragon's, she could hear what they were talking about.
"Did you dispose of the rest of the brats Kurogiri?" Shigaraki asked, as Aizawa was now getting a beat down from the Nomu.
"I managed to scatter most of them throughout the facility, and Thirteen was gravely injured and taken out of commission, but one of them managed to get free and escape." Kurogiri said, causing Shigaraki to scratch at the underside of his neck.
"Kurogiri. If you weren't our getaway, I'd kill you right here and now." Shigaraki said, before he suddenly stopped scratching his neck. "I suppose there's no point in us staying then. Oh well, we should get going before the heroes come."
'They're leaving but… no I didn't notice them sneaking closer to the battle.' Athena thought as the dragon's eyes landed on Midoriya and Tsu, who had snuck their way over to where the fight was going down.
"Oh, but before we go, let's crush All Might's spirit by killing a few brats." Shigaraki said, turning to Tsu and Midoriya.
"NO." Athena shouted, her voice resonating through the Dragon Grimm.
Shigaraki was a lot faster than he looked, and was on Midoriya and Tsu in almost an instant. Without thinking, Athena forced the Dragon's body to expel her, like one of those baby aliens from Mina's favorite alien movie, and sent herself flying down towards Shigaraki, using one of the chains from her gear to wrap around his arms, and pull him away from Tsu and Midoriya, towards her.
"I see you've come to your senses and have given yourself up willingly." Shigaraki said.
"No. I'm not going with you." Athena said, spinning around, and pulling Shigaraki in for a jaw breaking punch, which using a pair of dragon wings on her back to keep her in the air. "I'm just not gonna sit around and watch you kill my friends."
"What is it you think you can do against me? Your legs are gone." Shigaraki exclaimed.
"Whether I have legs or not doesn't matter." Athena said, slamming her fist into him, and pulling him back, similarly to how Aizawa was using him like a punching bag yoyo. "As long as I can still move, I will fight to protect the ones I care about." Athena said, slamming her fist into his stomach.
Athena gasped when she saw that Shigaraki had caught her punch. She was still weak from her blood loss, so her attacks weren't as powerful, that was true, but it still should have dealt him some damage still. To her horror, she felt her hand going through mind numbing pain as Shigaraki held it in all five fingers.
"That makes three limbs you've lost so far." Shigaraki said, as the decay traveled up her arm. "I wonder, will I have to make you lose your other arm in order to get you to cooperate?"
Athena grit her teeth and used her other hand to punch Shigaraki in the face, before she flew down to the top of the stairs, barely able to control her landing, making it a crash landing.
"Athena." Mina called out as she and Sato came to her aid.
"Mina… I need you to do something for me." Athena said, tearing her gear off her right arm as Sato helped to sit her up.
"Anything Athena." Mina said.
"Use your acid, to melt through my arm, before the decaying gets any worse." Athena stated.
"What? No I can't, please don't make me." Mina said.
"It's the only way. We don't have time to argue this Mina, now do it." Athena said, using the chain to cut off the circulation right above the area Athena wanted Mina to melt off. "Right below the chain. If you don't, my whole body will turn to ash, and I'll die."
"Athena please, I can't." Mina said.
"I… can help…"
Athena looked over to see Thirteen crawling over to her, Uraraka and Sero trying desperately to get her to stop, before she was right in front of Athena, holding up one of her fingers.
"Are you ready?" Thirteen questioned.
Athena put a folded up piece of cloth in her mouth, and nodded her head shakily.
"Alright… Sato, Ashido, hold her down." Thirteen said, before the end of her gloved finger opened up, and began sucking debri in. Athena bit down on the cloth, and began screaming in pain as Thirteen's Blackhole devoured her arm. Once there was nothing left of the decaying flesh, Thirteen closed the lid on the finger of her suit and laid back down. "There, that should do it."
"We need to close the wound." Sato said.
"I can… manage that…" Athena exclaimed, as a sheet of metal began forming over the nub of what used to be her elbow, and stopped the bleeding.
"Looks like that's how you stopped the bleeding on your legs to." Mina said, noticing the same metal coverings on the nubs.
Before Athena could comment, there was a loud bang, and a cloud of dust building up.
"I found it odd, when neither, Aizawa or Thirteen were picking up my calls. An' it was even stranger still when I saw young Iida running towards us." All Might's voice echoed through the cloud of dust.
"He explained everything to us, and went on ahead back to the main campus to get help. We're sorry that we weren't here to protect you when needed." Yang said, as the dust cleared, showing both heroes were there, neither of them smiling as Yang's skin started to burn off, like ash, leaving behind a flaming skeleton.
"But have no fear students, you're safe now, because I am here." All Might said, tearing off his tie.
"Mom…" Athena managed a weak smile, holding up her hand.
As All Might went ahead to face the villains, Athena's hand was grabbed by the flaming skeleton hands of Yang's second level Dragon Force. The skeleton's eyeless sockets looked over Athena, examining the extent of the damage done to her. Seeing how Athena was weakened and pale from the loss of blood, and how one of her limbs was removed there at the foyer of the steps, Athena could feel her mother's grip tighten around her hand, before she passed out from the exhaustion and pain she'd experienced so far.
Yang set Athena's hand down on the ground, and turned towards the villains in the plaza. Though her face was gone, the intense heat rising from her was enough to tell anyone that Yang, was pissed, and her target was down below, beside Shigaraki. All Might had already rescued the students from being killed or attacked by Shigaraki and the Nomu.
Gently walking down the steps, the air seemed to chill, as an ominous aura began to seep from Yang, as the flames enveloping her turned black.
"Lightning/Flame Goddess…" Skeleton Yang chanted out, as her negativity was drawing the Nomu's attention towards her. When Yang's foot hit ground floor, she was gone in an instant, breaking the sound barrier, before she slammed her skeleton fist into the Nomu Grimm's stomach, sending the beast flying back. "Hammer." She said deathly calm, her right arm enveloped in black fire and lightning.
As she straightened herself up, Yang's eyeless sockets landed on Shigaraki and Kurogiri, her hatred rolling off her in waves.
"Yang, I have Aizawa and the students. Think you can handle things from here?" All Might questioned.
Yang only gave him a nod, before the sound of a roar echoed through the air, and Yang turned her head to see the Nomu Grimm charging at her again. All Might took that as his cue to leave these things up to her, and left with Aizawa in his arms, and with Midoriya and Tsu following him.
(Cue Music… Warrior: Disturbed)
Bending backwards, to go under her enemy's attack, Yang struck the Nomu Grimm in the stomach with a hardened knee, sending him straight up into the air, before she twisted around, propping herself up with her hands, before kicking up, the souls of her feet striking the underside of Nomu's jaw, before Yang swung her legs in a spinning motion, hitting the giant monster with enough force to send him flying, and crashing into the fountain. The daze the Nomu Grimm was in, didn't last very long though, as it got up and charged at her again.
Yang swerved to the side, evading the attack, striking the Nomu in the chest while clotheslining him, Grimm monster down for a third time.
"How the hell is this possible? Is she forcing her way through Nomu's shock absorption through brute strength alone? How is this possible when she's a literal walking skeleton?" Shigaraki questioned, scratching the underside of his neck.
"No Shigaraki, it's not that. Her flames have changed color, she's accessed a form of power that she's able to temporarily control, thus allowing her to overpower Nomu through power that isn't truly hers." Kurogiri said. "It's the same power she used nearly six years ago, to help All Might take down your master, during that fight that took place over possession of Athena."
"So what you're saying is, she's using cheat codes, by borrowing power that isn't her own, and that power is strong enough to push through Nomu's shock absorption." Shigaraki exclaimed, sounding more than a little pissed off as Nomu landed in front of them.
Yang let out another roar, before she lunged forward, towards the three villains, kicking up a title wave of rocks and debri, as she broke the sound barrier.
Meanwhile, back up at the top of the plaza, All Might along with Midoriya and Tsu, were helping keep the injured stable, though Midoriya and Tsu had a hard time keeping their lunches down, when they saw the state Athena was in.
"All Might, what happened to Golden Huntress? Why did her flames change color?" Sato asked.
"It's a forbidden level of her power that draws on her life force." All Might said. "It transcends anything dragon, and reaches divinity."
"You mean she's…"
"Yes, Young Uraraka. She's now a Godslayer. But it won't be permanent. It'll last for as long as she needs it to." All Might exclaimed. "It's her trump card, meant for the direst of circumstances."
Jumping a few feet into the air, Yang spun around, and hit the Nomu Grimm with a roundhouse kick to the head, as it came charging at her again, causing a loud cracking sound to emit from its neck. Yang let loose a low level, breath attack, before she and the Nomu went charging at each other, their fists colliding, before the Nomu landed a hit on the skeleton's face, knocking her back, before it managed to grab her in a bear hug, intending to squeeze the life out of Yang.
Putting her hands on the Nomu's arms, Yang forcefully pushed the arms apart, and jumped up through the opening in the monsters arms, doing a handstand on them, before she swung her body down, and kicked her booted foot into the back of Nomu's neck, jumping off, and sliding back, landing in a crouched position, with her right hand forward, knuckles pressed into the ground, and her left arm in the air behind her, with her legs spread out and bent at the knees, looking like a feral predator, ready to pounce on its attacker.
Letting out another roar, Yang ran for the Nomu Grimm just as it turned around, but was unable to stop its attacker, as the monstrous creature was forced back through multiple punches to its abdomen. Digging its feet into the ground, the Nomu tried to swing its arms, and close them around Yang, but the Huntress, jumped back evading the death hug, before she jumped forward, hitting her head against Nomu's abdomen.
"Is she breaking through Nomu's Shock Absorption through raw physical strength alone?" Kurogiri questioned.
"No. No-no-no-no, this can't be happening. She's making Nomu look like a low ranking F-Class villain, the weakest kind. She's cheating. She's using cheat codes, to make herself able to do this." Shigaraki exclaimed scratching at his neck to the point it was bleeding. "First she's able to send Nomu flying like he's a frisbee, then she shows an adaptability to be able to use power that isn't her own, and now she's making Nomu, the Anti-Symbol of Peace, look like a child on a playground, fighting against a Veteran Pro-Hero." Shigaraki screamed in anger and annoyance. "To make things worse, we couldn't get our hands on that brat Master wanted."
Yang slams her boney fist into Nomu's stomach one last time, sending the Grimm flying towards Shigaraki and Kurogiri, before the duo jumped out of the way. Yang's blank eyeless sockets followed them, and spotted a speck of blood on Shigaraki's shirt, indicating he's the one who caused Athena to suffer.
Yang's stance widened, and she inhaled deeply as she began to build up an immense amount of power in her lungs.
"Lightning/Flame Goddess:…" Yang chanted, her voice deeper and more gravely. If anyone heard her speak, they would think the devil was using Yang to talk.
"What the hell is he doing now?" Shigaraki questioned.
"She's building up a breath attack. If that hits us, we're dead." Kurogiri exclaimed.
"Nomu get your ass over here and shield us NOW." Shigaraki shouted.
The Nomu Grimm began to run from where he had landed from the final hit he took, and was running as fast as he could with his Hyper Regeneration Quirk multi-tasking on the his multiple injuries, slowing him down quite a bit.
"Nomu NOW." Shigaraki shouted.
"This is gonna be close." Kurogiri proclaimed as he began to use his Quirk.
"ROAR…"
Yang let out her attack, sending a large, spiraling wave of energy straight for the villains, but before it could hit them, Nomu leapt in and took the brunt of the attack, leaving Shigaraki, and Kurogiri, to get only minor burns from what went around Nomu, but they saw the creature's body was failing, as it began to turn to ash.
"We're leaving." Kurogiri stated, warping himself, and Shigaraki away from the area.
Not a second after Kurogiri warped away, Nomu's body was completely destroyed, and the residual energy of the breath attack, broke through the wall of the USJ Dome, and curved into the air, before exploding like a giant firework.
(End Song…)
With no sign of the ones who had hurt Athena, Yang's aura died down, her hair returning to normal as muscle and skin covered her bones again. She opened her eyes, once more, showing they were back to lavender purple, and ran for the top of the stairs, just as the other heroes showed up, and began coming down to collect the rest of the villains that Kurogiri and Shigaraki had left behind.
"How's Athena's condition?" Yang asked.
"She's stable for now. But she really needs to see Recovery Girl, as soon as possible." All Might said as Yang took Athena's head into her lap, allowing her to use it as a pillow.
"Hang in there baby girl, just hold on." Yang said.
~Recovery Girl's Office Sometime Later~
Athena's eyes opened slowly as she saw the ceiling fan circling over her, regaining consciousness.
"Oh man, what the hell happened?" Athena questioned, motioning to hold her head with her hand, but she couldn't feel her right hand, or any part of her arm, under the elbow.
Looking down, Athena saw that the nub of her right arm was wrapped up in bandages. Removing the blanket over her legs, Athena saw that both her legs were gone as well, evenly cut six inches below her waist, by the monster that the villains had attacked with.
"The metal caps fell off as soon as I had finished sealing the wounds." Athena looked up and to the side to see Recovery Girl, coming back in with a cup of coffee. "Here, I had a feeling you wound wake up around this time."
"So it wasn't a dream, I actually did lose…" Athena gripped her right arm, as her body began to shake. "How long was I out?"
"The rest of the school day. You'd have been taken to a hospital if you had been stable enough, but you had lost too much blood, and wouldn't have made it. So they brought you here, where I could treat you." Recovery Girl said. "Your other mother was here not too long ago to pick up your siblings from Hound Dog in the Teacher's lounge. The three of them stopped by here before leaving."
"An' my mom?"
"I'm still here baby girl."
Athena looked from Recovery Girl, to the door, to see Yang there, with a duffle bag over her shoulder, and tear stained cheeks. Dropping the duffle bag, Yang pulled Athena into an embrace, one in which Athena didn't let go of.
"Oh, I'm so happy you're alive baby girl." Yang said, as Athena cried into her shoulder.
"Why… why did I have to act so stupidly?" Athena questioned hugging Yang tightly with her arm. "I acted so stupidly without thinking. I just rushed after Shigaraki when he went after Izuku and Tsu, and I just…"
"Hey, listen to me." Yang said, grabbing Athena's shoulders and pushing her back to look in her eyes. "You didn't act stupidly. You acted like a hero, you turned the tides of the battle by saving them. You were more than a hero today, you were a Huntress, and I am proud of you for that, your Aunt would be proud of you for that, your grandmother, would be proud of you for that. So don't just go saying you acted stupid. True you just rushed in there, but you know as well as I that when your body acts on its own, without even thinking, is a sign of a true hero. Just like when Midoriya went to save Bakugo against that sludge villain. You acted with your heart, not your mind. But it will be alright. We will get through this." Yang exclaimed. "Your future as a hero, isn't over. Far from it."
"But I'm missing both my arm and my legs. I can't be a hero, when I'm only half a person." Athena said.
"Did you forget your power? You're an Etherion Godslayer, the chosen champion of the Goddesses of Creation and Destruction from our home world, Remnant. Losing a limb or two wouldn't stop you from fighting. You're like me, you get stronger, when you hit rock bottom, and pull yourself together, and become a better fighter." Yang said. "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. An' stronger is what you'll become."
"But… how am I supposed to continue on?" Athena asked.
"By using your power, to make yourself stronger, and not let the villains break you. Let's show them your steel." Yang smiled.
"What are you planning Yang?" Recovery Girl asked.
"Athena's metal is strong, it's not something that can easily be broken." Yang said.
Athena looked down at the nubs of her limbs, and removed the bandages, cringing at the sight of the red fleshy nubs. Taking a deep breath, Athena closed her eyes and focused her magic. She wanted to be strong, to be able to use her power to the fullest, which meant is had to be stronger than steel. Reaching for her Dark Maiden magic, Athena's eyes lit with black flames, causing her power to surge through her, before she painfully felt something begin to sprout from her nubs.
Yang looked in amazement as Athena began to grow new limbs from the nubs of her previous ones. But her brows forwarded when she saw they weren't a metallic silver color, they were gold. To her shock, the gold was forming the bones, and following closely behind, was a black clear gem. Well, clear when it came to covering the bone, but the flesh it covered was not visible in the slightest, as it started halfway up Athena's bicep for her arm, and at her pelvic muscles for her legs. So none of the scar tissue from her injuries were visible, only the gold bone glowing through the gemstones.
The gold and gems continued to grow out, forming the bones and flesh of her arm and legs, tipping off like claws on her fingers and toes, but instead of the normal black gemstone, it was a ruby red gem that the gold didn't shine through.
"Athena, those look incredible, but why didn't you make them out of metal?" Yang asked.
"I thought about it, but I just didn't think making them out of my Iron Dragonslayer metal, would have been enough. So, I made them out of gold, black diamond, and ruby, with the same tensile strength, to density ratio, as titanium." Athena exclaimed. "So, now it will be pretty hard for them to break, but they'll draw unwanted attention."
"I already have that covered." Yang smiled. "In more ways than one. Mina and Jiro told me about your little, sideshow as a secret popstar idol, and already had made silicone coverings for your new limbs, assuming they're the right size, they should do." Yang said, handing Athena three folded up silicone sleeves.
"Of course they told you." Athena said, sitting on the edge of the bed, legs over the edge.
"Wasn't hard to get them to, when I could recognize those dance moves. Those were the same moves you displayed at the Beacon Dance seven years ago." Yang exclaimed.
"I should have known I couldn't hide that from you." Athena sighed.
"Now before you go trying those on, let's make sure you've got basic motor functions within those new limbs of yours." Recovery Girl said coming over to do an examination.
"Right." Athena said, drinking the coffee Recovery Girl gave her.
After making sure everything was alright and she could do basic moto functions with her new limbs. Athena changed out of her hero costume and into some street clothes Yang brought her, the young hero in training made her way through the school, with a bit of difficulty at first, having trouble walking on her new legs, but otherwise there weren't any hitches.
When they finally made it home, Athena saw that the courtyard was dark and quiet. She hadn't wanted to say anything, but she knew Yang and Blake had been planning a surprise birthday party for her, and she had planned on acting surprised when she got home, but it looked like that wasn't actually gonna happen.
"SURPRISE."
Athena had to jump back when she heard that and saw the lights turn on. She'd never expected the party would still go as scheduled.
"What, you didn't seriously think that we'd cancel your birthday, just because of an incident like this one?" Yang asked, walking into the courtyard, where Toshinori, Gunhead, Death Arms, the Midoriya's, Mina, Jiro, Mitsuki and Masaru Bakugo, Tsukauchi, Gran Torino, and Midnight, were standing around, with big smiles on their faces. All the heroes were wearing their civilian attires, as they were off duty.
"We knew you'd either be too stubborn to lay about, or Yang would be determined enough to get you up off your ass and bring you here, one way or another." Torino said, earning a light smack on the back of the head.
"There are infants here old man, watch your language." Mitsuki said.
"My apologies ma'am." Torino smiled.
"All Might wanted to come but was unable to, I hope I'm enough." Toshinori smiled, the heroes knowing his actual identity smiling at the juicy little secret they held.
"You're more than enough. But, where's Nighteye?" Athena asked.
"Not coming. He's still being stubborn about that fall out he had with All Might during his recovery from that incident several years ago." Blake said, coming into the room with one of Athena's favorite dishes.
Athena looked at the spread and saw that it was jam packed with her favorites.
"Athena, I'm totally digging the new arm." Mina said, taking Athena's new arm into her hands, as the others mingled amongst themselves. "It looks so shiny and smooth."
"Thanks, but did you have to tell my mom, our little secret?" Athena asked.
"We didn't really have a choice. When your mom asks questions, she expects an honest answer." Jiro said.
"Guess it can't be helped." Athena sighed before noticing something. "Jiro what happened?" She asked, looking at the bandages around the girl's head.
"It's nothing just a minor concussion and head wound." Jiro said. "It happened when we were all transported around the USJ. Heard you kicked some major butt though."
"No, I didn't do much besides get my limbs chopped off." Athena sighed.
"Hey, at least I didn't have to melt your arm off like you had asked. Do you know how traumatizing that would have been?" Mina inquired.
"I'm sorry, but I had to do something or I could have died from the decay reaching the rest of my body." Athena sighed.
"Athena." Toshinori said, coming to them. "I know you've been through a lot, but All Might would like to talk with you tomorrow, debrief you on what happened and get your story with Tsukauchi there."
"Right, of course." Athena exclaimed.
"Hey, relax for the night. It's your birthday. You're fifteen now. You can start taking drivers Ed." Toshinori said.
"Oh yeah, and when you get a car, no more having to take the train, you can just come pick us up and take us to U.A." Mina smiled.
"Alright, but I'm charging gas money." Athena said, before the three of them began to laugh.
"Teen spirit. I remember those days." Toshinori chuckled.
"Really, back when dinosaurs roamed?" Jiro asked, getting a good reaction from Athena and Mina.
"Alright, I'm going somewhere else before you give me another third degree." Toshinori smiled.
"So Athena, can you still use all your Quirks with your new limbs?" Jiro asked.
"Yeah, Recovery Girl had me test out my power before she sent me home. I can still turn into animals, but now they'll just have three gemstone limbs." Athena said.
"So, can you still like, feel and stuff with them?" Mina inquired, poking the palm of Athena's new right hand.
"Actually yes. I somehow managed to grow them, connected to my nerves, so I can feel like as if I never lost the originals." Athena said. "How's Aizawa Sensei doing?"
"He's in the hospital. He wasn't in as rough a shape as you, but it was still pretty close, but he was able to be brought to the hospital for his treatments. Your mom's gonna be taking over for him until he gets back, so he can properly rest and recuperate." Jiro explained.
"Sounds like something she would do." Athena smiled.
"So you're sure you're gonna be okay?" Mina asked.
"Would you stop worrying? Let's just enjoy ourselves, have some fun." Athena smiled.
As the party continued, Athena couldn't help but laugh along with her friends and family, enjoying the time she was having with them, before she sat down on the hall floor that reached out into the patio, and smiled, seeing all the joyful faces of her friends, family, and teachers. It was times like these that made her happy, to be who she was. Thinking back on Mina's question earlier, Athena gave off a light chuckle, before looking up at the moon, as it was just reaching its plateau.
"Yeah, I think I'm gonna be just fine." Athena smiled.
~League of Villains Dive Bar~
"Damn it, it's bad enough that Athena wasn't cooperating and acting all heroic, but now that pesky Golden Huntress comes and uses a crap ton of cheat codes to win the game. It's not fair, it's not fair, it's not fair, it's not fair." Tomura Shigaraki complained, sounding like a child throwing a tantrum. He'd be throwing his arms around like a child to, if it weren't for the fact he was sore from being burned by the black holy flames.
"Calm yourself Tomura. We'll get back at them, all in due time." Kurogiri said, before his com-link rang. "Master. Yes of course, coordinates? I'll be but a moment."
After setting his communications device back in his pocket, Kurogiri warped open creating a portal somewhere out in the city, while also one in the middle of the dive bar.
"What am I supposed to be seeing here?" Shigaraki asked.
"My dear boy, have you not learned the meaning of patience since I took you in all those years ago?" All-for-One said, with Cinder's voice, as she walked through Kurogiri's warp gate, with a white fur scarf over her shoulders, and a long thin pipe in her hand, and a streak of white in her bangs. "Patience is key to being a master villain."
"Welcome back master, where have you been?" Shigaraki asked.
"Oh, out catching up with an old friend." All-for-One said, stepping aside, allowing for another person to come through. "He's as old as I am, and he's quite the mastermind when it comes to villainy. I've called in a favor he owes me, and he will become your second mentor from here on out, while I take my leave back to Kamino."
"Oh don't look so glum chump." A cheery happy voice said, with a smile as the finely suit dressed man, stepped through Kurogiri's warp gate with what sounded like a little insane laughter. "Let's see you, put on a little smile."
"Who is this clown?" Shigaraki asked. "I'm serious, he looks like he came from the circus."
"Tomura Shigaraki that is enough. His name is Arthur Fleck, and you'll do well to pay him the respect he's due." All-for-One said.
"Now-now Shigi. No need to berate the poor boy, he just suffered a major loss as his debut as a big shot villain. It's only natural that he'd be a little snarky." Arthur said, his smile never leaving, as he slicked back his green hair with a butterfly comb, sticking it back in his suit jacket and straightening it out, before turning back to look at Tomura. "Now, let's see that smile, and please, call me, Joker."