Distant trees, vibrant sunlight, houses of wood and pretty tapestry, flowers in every corner, birds chirping in delight... people with the most joyful smiles...
It was a place that she knew from the heart. The place of her childhood... her town.
She walked upon the roads of dirt made by local carriages of merchandise delivered constantly back and forth, but this time there wasn't one in sight. The people around her nodded at her in salute, with a slight bow as if she were royalty. It seemed like a regular day in a life she had forgotten far too quickly...
She stared down at the clothes on her body, they were rather familiar: A pink dress, dark stockings and cape. It was the same attire from those times...
It was all the same... Except for one thing.
Uraraka kept her walk steady, a dense fog covering her side view and making way to a center point in her path. There, a distant figure stood, plastered in a white, bloodied gown and a white bundle of linen in her arms.
"My child, my baby!" The woman screamed, limping her way towards the young girl.
Uraraka approached the woman with certain fear, feeling as if she was slower than usual. "A-are you ok miss? I can help you!"
"This thing... This monster... It deserves to face death..." The woman's gaze shined red in the fog while a knife formed on her grasp. "And it will be by me."
In the glimmer of the sharp metal, Uraraka saw a glimpse of blonde hair from the bundle in the woman's arms and the resemblance of a face that was now in her life.
"Wait! No!"
And before the woman could stab her own child, she diluted into thin air only to come back with a tight gown and her blonde head held high. "Were you worried of the beast, little witch?"
Uraraka stumbled back on her feet, shocked to see the change in appearance the woman made... and how much she looked like Bakugou...
"Who are you...?"
The woman only smirked with her devilish teeth, the knife in her hand turning into a dark cloak. "Make your last wish, little witch..."
"What-?"
"Uraraka!"
The young woman stood still when she heard the distant voice, trying to turn around but noticing she wasn't able to. "Mother?!"
"Listen to me! Remember that woman's face for she is your enemy!" The female voice seemed to choke up in sentiment. "She... She has your father and I locked up in the mansion!"
"Where does she keep both of you?!"
"It seems to be far underground, but I only know of these brick walls and metal shackles... Please remember everything for it might be the only time I could communicate with my strong daughter..."
Uraraka sobbed, grabbing at her chest and letting the tears trail down dry cheeks. "Mother... I promise you I will find you both and we will leave this hell... We will survive..."
"I know you will fulfill your promise so just remember..."
Remember every word...
Remember...
With a gasp of air, the small maid awoke from her dream... or nightmare... and grasped at her chest.
She had seen a woman so familiar and heard her mother's voice warning her about it...
"Mother... Father... They are here..."
Every other day, a few servants and staff would walk around with trays of food or a simple letter... But this time, the halls were buzzing of them. Frantic faces and hurried steps filled the mansion like a beehive.
The events to be held on that day were not of the upmost necessity but by the word of the viscount, it had turned to such. Usually an event like a promotion wouldn't be a big deal... Yet the pride of the master of the house and the step closer to his desires had to be celebrated. Not everyday was he to bare such a delightful sentimental win, specially against the demon on his shoulder.
But the feud was only behind closed doors, for the people that walked outside were blind and deaf... One of them being the heir.
Todoroki roamed the halls, book in his hand and trying to ignore the rest of the world around him. Like everyone else, he wasn't used to such lavish preparations or how full the mansion felt. He liked his alone time pacing the halls with his good book and the thoughts of a better life, but it wouldn't be possible that time around.
The words in his book felt as if they were floating around him, the heir could see the stories playing out and enchanting him beyond it's barriers. It was his own little world and he felt free in it.
But no words could distract him from the broad-back, blonde haired beast that roamed the hall of portraits, staring at each piece with the curiosity of a child. Todoroki watched as the man's gaze stopped at one particular painting of a woman with the whitest hair and maintained it at a small detail.
The heir couldn't waste his opportunity on startling the proud beast. "That at which you seek is a painting of my mother on her first day as... Countess Shoto…"
As awaited, Bakugou jumped back slightly, startled by the presence of the cold boy. "Boy-prince, I didn't think of you roaming the halls with a... What is that?"
"It is a book..." Todoroki comprehended the reason of his confusion, sighing with "...And that is the reason I had to write that letter for you."
"Well it seems that he was delighted with it, according to all these decorations for some idiotic rank ceremony."
Todoroki approached the beast, placing the book on his side and whispering. "It may seem idiotic to you but it is the step closer to finding out the reality of my father's purpose..."
"I see... and what about all the things I asked you for?"
The heir leaned against the nearest wall and sighed. "Despite my years in this mansion, I cannot seem to find that of which you seek. There is no door or sign that can lead to such a disgraceful place... Are you certain it is real?"
In a sudden rage, Bakugou grasped at Todoroki's collar tightly and gritted his teeth, his hand turning red. "I am sure it's real... There can't be any other place for prisoners to go..."
"Calm down, Sir Bakugou. Killing me won't get the answers that you need and it will not grant the revenge we both seek. So if you could just let my collar go."
And the beast did as said, grunting but backing away from the heir. In a surprising manner, the beast went back to staring at the same portrait and... at the same detail.
"What do you find so interesting about this painting, Sir Bakugou?"
The beast pointed towards a small item on Countess Shoto's left hand. "What is that?"
Todoroki followed his direction. "A wedding ring. It signifies the ties of love that unite two people forever. It is a very remarkable thing-"
Bakugou looked over at the heir with a slight smirk. "And why isn't that on the General's finger?"
The heir was taken back, a subtle blush on his cheeks. "Excuse me?"
"Well, from the way you both look at yourselves and how much each search for an approval from one another, it may seem like something more brewed from within..."
Todoroki looked away. "No matter, the situation of the heart can't be involved in profesional matters... Specially in this family..."
"So you admit your feelings for that cold-"
"Don't try to put that weak sentiment on me. I won't let it involve in my life or my decisions... Just like you did."
Bakugou tightened his fist. "You know it is more than simple feelings... It is moral matters as well..."
"Since when are you so informed about moral matters? Didn't you grow up in a cave, unknowing of morality and love?"
The heir watched as the beast let his tension go as a sign of slight defeat, Todoroki was rather impressed with the motion.
"I... didn't spend my whole life in a cave... I actually lived in an orphanage during my childhood..."
"And what happened for you to arrive at a cave?"
Bakugou closed his eyes, trying to erase the screams and bloody images. "The... the orphanage turned out to be an awful place. So, I escaped."
"And why-?"
"Keep your curiosity to yourself, Shoto. My life isn't of your importance." Bakugou glared at the heir, stepping away slightly and hearing as the other did the same. But, before he could go a few feet forward he stopped once again and turned around, an idea hitting his head. "Wait!"
Todoroki looked back at the beast, raising his brow in curiosity. "Yes, Sir Bakugou?"
The beast's eyes went over the painting once more. "I need you to get something for me..."
It took various attempts to succeed on getting away from Lady Midnight's commands. The woman turned out to be frantic on the last minute arrangements for a ceremony, apparently not held in the mansion constantly.
Uraraka had escaped the duties, like every other time, by pretending to be fulfilling a command when she really wasn't. Instead, she wondered the same floors and grounds over and over, searching for any clues still. Yet, her mind was filled with other matters that she couldn't entrust to no one.
She knew that the nightmare was barely just that, that the voice was her mother's, that her parents were in the mansion and that a blonde woman with her red gaze was her enemy... with such a similar appearance to Bakugou. It was startling to say the least.
But she found that the topic would have to be put aside, as she watched the general approach her in a hurried manner, and Uraraka didn't plan on telling everything that she dreamt about just yet.
In the distance, Momo dismissed the pink woman that always resided besides her and rushed to Uraraka's side after her partner left. "Maid!"
Uraraka approached her as formally as posible, trying to keep her composure as if she were receiving a command. "Please don't tell me you are going to make me do some ridiculous chore or arrangement for this spontaneous ceremony."
Momo suddenly grabbed the maid's arm and pulled her to a dark corner. "That's exactly the reason that I am looking for you."
"For a chore-?" Uraraka stared at the general with confusion.
"No, for the spontaneous ceremony. How in the underworld did your little boyfriend get such a high rank in such a short amount of time? Was it something part of a little plan unknown to me?"
"I don't know, general.. The last time I saw him was on the day you confronted me and he was just a guest. Since then I have not heard a word from him!" Uraraka looked away, slightly startled by the whole situation. "I am as surprised as you are..."
Momo let go of the maid, seeing as her gaze seemed distant from where she stood. "Are you ok?"
Uraraka shook back to reality. "I- Yeah! I am ok. It's just this mess that has been happening around me has been stressful..."
"Are you sure?" Momo let her usually cold demeanor fall in front of the girl, trying to see between the lines. "Take a break. I can even hide you away while everything settles down-"
"No!" Uraraka gazed up at the general with shock, but changed immediately when she saw the look of confusion on the other's face. "I mean... No, if I drop out of such duties that prudent lady Midnight will get me with her whip."
The general sighed. "Well, if you say so..."
But the charades of chores and rushing servants was over before their last words. They watched from the darkness as the crowd of workers followed towards the Ballroom, the cue for both women to leave.
"I shall be heading towards my duties as general. Master Shoto and Todoroki must be waiting for me to present the rank." Without a second thought the cold woman rushed towards the Ballroom, leaving the maid alone with her torturous thoughts.
Uraraka let her head rest on the pillar that hid her from view. Between the nightmare and the sudden news of Bakugou's rising status, the maid found herself extremely tired.
But she couldn't rest just yet.
The ceremony went on as prepared. Every member of the high archy entered until it stopped on Endeavor. Then, the master of the house explained the purpose of the ceremony and called upon the general to present the rank. Lastly came the special guest, his head held high and his new uniform glistening in the light.
Just like the time before, the maids and servants were placed in their own spot, which meant Uraraka stood opposite of the tall balcony. So when Bakugou walked out, their sights crossed paths, keeping still in every moment possible. It was love's silent key across a room of doors.
But no distance could ever contain the pounding of their hearts.
Momo gazed at both from time to time, smiling internally at how cute the scene could be... and how much she wished it was her...
Todoroki watched the same scene as well, smirking slightly but stopping when his sigh clashed with Momo's. The long moment was filled with something that they both couldn't describe, but it was cut short rather quickly by embarrassment.
As for Endeavor, he couldn't stop the pride that filled his being with every might. This grand ceremony symbolized many things, not only of an ascersion from nobody to right-hand man for Bakugou, but also the defeat of all the pride in the mansion.
The beast would be not only a very helpful partner but also... a great pawn in his own war. Endeavor grasped at Bakugou's shoulders tightly, whispering. "You'll be of great use to us... Bakugou…"
The beast felt a shiver go down his spine, but he held his head high. "Thank you Endeavor... I will be of great service to you."
Todoroki stood still, heat going through his body as an unexpected jealousy of the image of his father celebrating a rank of the beast as if he were his own son. But he had agreed to proceed with a plan and any details in it...
Meanwhile, Uraraka watched the same scene unfold, her heart beating loudly in a nervous wave. It seemed as if no one else in the room saw the same, for they were stuck in whispers and gossip. Yet she was completely wrong.
A cold feeling and stomach wrenching nerves overcame Uraraka. She wasn't sure of how or why but she just knew that there was a pair of eyes watching her. It wasn't Bakugou because he was focused on his shiny new medal, it also wasn't the general or the heir because they were engulfed in something difficult for the maid to decipher. But there was one place where she hadn't checked and it called to her desperately.
Like in slow motion, Uraraka traced the stairs with her sight landing on a pair of red curtains and the small hole between it. Something peeked from the darkness, staring directly at the maid.
She kept her gaze steady, tunnel vision hitting her harshly and feeling faint when she saw two red orbs beyond the curtains clearly.
Those eyes... Red gaze... Bloody robes... a child... "I-It's her..."