Disclaimer:
I do not own the Young Justice animated series, the tie in comics, the original comics that shared its name, nor the current comic series that also shares its name. They are the property of DC Comics, Warner Brothers Studios, and Time Warner Media. I also do not own the My Hero Academia manga. It is the property of Kohei Horikoshi, Shonen Jump, and Studio Bones. If I owned either of these series, I can tell you I wouldn't be writing fanfiction. I am simply a humble fan, making this for the enjoyment of other fans. Please support the official release.
Mount Justice
August 9th, 10:16 EDT
Katsuki had just finished getting dressed when somebody knocked on his door. After last night, he hoped it was one of his teammates.
Before the night before, Katsuki had never heard of the League of Shadows. He wasn't familiar with every big villain in Japan, but those guys hadn't even been on his radar. The masked assassin, Cheshire, almost killed him. He had started to see just how big the world really was last night.
Maybe, he had missed out on his chance to attend Yuuei because of that masked bastard Overhaul. Being here with the Team seemed to have its own benefits. Working directly with pro-heroes even if they were outside the Japanese hero system, and going on a real, sanctioned missions. Where else was he going to get that kind of experience? Not at Yuuei, if the teachers had anything to say about it.
Then again, he did read about the attack on Yuuei, which the media seemed to love reporting on. Maybe they were getting more real-world experience than he thought.
When the door opened, Katsuki was surprised to see Black Canary standing there. He knew she was the Team's official combat instructor. He had already been in two of her training sessions, the result of which had him on the ground more than a few times.
"Katsuki Bakugo," she said, offering him a smile. He returned it with a nod. It was something he was getting used to. In the United States, given names were said before family names, which was the opposite of Japan. "Since you came here without a mentor, and the League have been discussing who yours would be. Everyone else on the Team has a mentor that they can train and work with. So we've decided you can work as my protege if that's something you want to do?
Did he want to do it? Work side by side with a pro hero? Personally, learning from them? "Yes. I'm game."
"Are you game to start right now?" She smirked, leaning forward into a stance. Katsuki raised his eyebrow.
Star City
August 9th, 19:16 PDT
Patrolling a city is part of a hero's job. In Japan, when a pro started their own agency, they made patrols through the arena that was chosen. How the area their agencies were chosen, and where they patrolled was decided, he didn't know. He knew it was some government agency figured it out, but their inner workings were beyond him. It helped suppress crime, and gave the locals a sense of safety, seeing their heroes out walking among them.
They moved through the back alleys, jumping from rooftop to rooftop, and stopping the odd crime here or there. It wasn't like fighting those assassins from the League of Shadows, but stopping a robbery in progress was just as important for a hero.
Plus it felt really good to destroy petty criminals. No leaving it up to the police force here.
Black Canary, it turned out, was more than a pretty face. Katsuki couldn't deny that she was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen, but she had the skills and instincts of a pro hero to back her up. She knew more about fighting than he would have given her credit for.
The day after their patrol, he agreed to a sparing match. Less than a minute in, and he was on his back.
She had praised him; incorporating his quirk, he had created a fighting style all his own. It wasn't anywhere near complete, but she promised to work with him one-on-one and help him develop it more. It was a rude awakening. The moves he had worked on for years didn't save him from being taken down by Canary, who didn't even use her power. But that was why he was here, to improve.
As he stepped into the Zeta-Tube, Canary smiled at him. "Remember, get some sleep."
"I know. No need to nag me," Katsuki said, crossing his arms.
She had made sure that he was aware they'd be patrolling Star City tomorrow. It wasn't something he was likely to forget. The chance to use his quirk on the bad guys? He was all for that.
The last thing he saw before his world exploded into golden light was Canary's smile. He couldn't help but return it. "Recognized: Hypocenter. B-Zero-Six," the computer announced as his senses returned. The world slowly became less gold, and Katsuki found himself back in Mount Justice. Judging by the smell of food, he had come back in time for dinner.
Musutafu, Japan
August 10th, 20:31 JST
"Are you sure this is wise, master?" Daruma asked. It was the first time he voiced his concern, but All For One knew he had been harboring his doubts for a while. It was to be expected; he might be the doctor for the greatest crime lord of Japan's underworld, but he was above all a man of science. He had scoffed at the very notion of sorcery.
All For One could hardly begrudge him of this. Before the Light made contact with him, he made much the same view. But they had opened his eyes to the truth that had been hidden from him for so long. They had shown him the galaxy, alien worlds, and races. They had shown introduced him to Darkseid, a so called new god. God or not, he was a truly frightening warlord, bent on the conquest of the universe. While All For One might not have called them literal gods, their technology and armies were above anything he could imagine.
Magic also existed at the same time. Vandal Savage had shown him sorcerers, demons, Lords of Chaos and Order.
His place in the universe and his perception of reality was radically changed. And he couldn't wait to meet it his place in the universe. Perhaps a lesser man would quake in fear, but the existence of gods and demons only reinforced his convictions. If he could find a way to make his potential infinite again, he would meet these challenges head-on.
If Darkseid invaded right now, not even All For One would be able to stop him. But if he had access to the right resources, which the Light would be able to provide him with, All For One would find a way to create an empire that could withstand even the gods. The Light was the exact group he would need. They shared his view, his desires. Becoming a member was a given, no matter what his good doctor thought. He did not yet know if he could fully trust them, but if they proved their worth to him, All For One could see a very long relationship with them.
If he could restore the potential All Might stole from him, he might be able to live forever. Vandal Savage was the only other immortal man All For One had ever met, and he could work with the man. The end goal of the Light, universal domination, was something he could agree with.
All For One had tried explaining this to his good doctor, but the man had not seen what he saw. Had not seen just how fragile the place of humanity in the universe.
"I'm sure," All For One, amusement tingeing his voice. Daruma nodded, though he wasn't happy. It was fine. In time he would see what All For One sees. If at all possible, he would make sure Daruma lived with him. In time he would give his favored servant longevity.
If the Light could not bring back his potential, then he would leave his duty to Tomura. The boy was his apprentice, his successor if things didn't go as planned. All For One was sure he would be able to rise to the challenge.
When the red portal burst open in the room, All For One smiled. When the boy walked out, holding a cat, the smile only grew wider.
"Welcome, Klarion," he greeted. Like him, Klarion was a member of the Light. A powerful being called a Chaos Lord. And here he was, standing before a creature that was almost made of it.
Klarion's eyes looked him up and down. "Hmm. Vandal said you would look weird. That's a life support mask, isn't it?"
"Indeed," he answered silkily. He looked so young. There was something about him that reminded All For One of Tomura. Though this boy before him was anything but a boy.
"Well, Vandal me to help you; so that's why I'm here," he grinned. A moment later, the look of boredom was replaced with a more sinister one. His glowed red, his hair curled, and his complexion became, if at all possible, even paler. In short, the boy reminded All For One of a demon. If he needed any more proof the boy was not just a boy, this would serve. "I can help, but it's going to be painful."
All For One was not unfamiliar with pain. His last battle with All Might nearly destroyed him. Even now, years later, the pain he from that battle lingered. He was not a man afraid of pain.
"Go ahead," he was All For One's answer.
"Oh goody!" The demon boy clapped his hands together. "I have a new toy, Teekl! Time to play!"
Klarion's expression became cruel. "Just remember; you asked for this."
Red light filled the room.
Santa Prisca
August 11th, 16: 52 ECT
"We're in range," Miss Martian said. Katsuki nodded back to her. The seat belt released him, and Katsuki stood up. Being in a living space ship was still a little uncomfortable. Nothing felt like how he expected it to, and Katsuki swore the seat belt wiggled around as they flew.
"M'gann, what did Batman mean when he said to stay on mission this time?" Artemis asked, throwing her quiver over her shoulder. In Japan, every single hero had a quirk, so being partnered with Artemis felt a bit strange. The girl had no power to speak off and probably wouldn't have been allowed to become a hero in his homeland. Then again, Batman was one of the most famous heroes in the whole world and he lacked any powers. Katsuki couldn't see him being denied a hero license.
"The Team was deployed here before either of you joined. Last month, actually. Things didn't go as planned, and we ended up in a fight," the Martian admitted. "Batman probably wants us to make sure that doesn't happen."
"Speaking of the rest of the team, where is everyone?"
"Uncle J'onn said something about a prior commitment," M'gann mumbled. It sounded a little fishy to him. Why wouldn't that have been brought up? Nothing Katsuki could do about it right now. Though if they were out working on a real case, while he was stuck on a stealth mission, he'd have to have words with the big bad bat.
"Psychic link established," M'gann spoke through the link. It was the second time Katsuki had been linked up, so to speak, and it was still just as weird as the first time. "Bio-ship is in position. Go."
A hole opened on the floor and Artemis hooked her belt in. Katsuki hooked himself in as she jumped, and he followed her out a second later. Unhooking himself once he was on the ground, he nodded at Artemis and the two sprinted forward.
"The factory should be a few minutes jog from where you both are. Last time I was here, there were moving patrols, so stay alert," M'gann said over the link. "Moving to secondary location."
Katsuki let Artemis take the front, falling in line behind her.
"So, you're familiar with this Overhaul? He is a villain from your home," Artemis asked.
"He was the one who made sure I ended up in Cadmus," Katsuki relayed to her. The thought of that battle still made him angry. "Before that, I never heard of the guy. He isn't in the big-time villain circles."
"He's Yakuza, right? Aren't they big in Japan?"
"Not since All Might hit the scene. Organized crime in Japan has almost been eradicated thanks to All Might."
But that same fact didn't seem to hold true for the rest of the world. Japan was an island; self-contained. It must have been easier to do what All Might did in such an area. But the world was a lot bigger than just one island, and All Might couldn't be everywhere at once.
"Hold still," Artemis said through the link. Katsuki froze behind her. He tensed his body, ready to move. A little past Artemis, through the brush they were hiding behind, four men walked past them."They look to be a little too well dressed for trudging around the jungle."
She was right. Those suits looked like they'd fit in around Star City or Musutafu. You wouldn't want to wear them around here, unless you had a reason.
As soon as the four past, Katsuki followed Artemis further into the jungle. According to the map, if they continued this way, they should reach one of the warehouses. It was right, but they weren't expecting was such a high, reinforced fence around it. Nor the group of people behind it, being herded by five men in suits, guns trained on the other group.
"They look like prisoner's," Katsuki said over the link. "If anything else, this probably confirms that the island changed hands."
More than that, the words above the door on the warehouse said it all: Shie Hassaikai. They had control of the island all right.
"Wait. What are they doing?" Katsuki asked. The prisoners were being herded against the wall of the building. Three of the gunmen raised their rifles, aiming at the prisoner.
"They're going to execute them." His partner answered grimly.
"Looks like it," Katsuki agreed.
"This is wrong. We can't let them do it," Artemis thought at him.
Batman said the mission was a recon mission. They were supposed to snoop around, find evidence that the island was or wasn't under Overhaul's control, and get out as soon as possible. Batman made sure to drive the point home about not engaging in combat. He made that very clear.
At the same time, Katsuki wasn't the kind of person just to sit by and watch something like this happen.
"No, we can't. Miss Martian?"
"I'm here, Hypocenter," she confirmed. "Getting the bio-ship into range for the extraction."
"Change of plans. We have proof that the island has been taken over, but the Hassaikai is to kill a group of prisoners. Probably the guys who ran the island before they did. Artemis and I are going to put a stop to it. Can you be on standby to extract us?"
It took a moment before Miss Martian responded. "Understood, Hypocenter. Rerouting to your position."
"Let's destroy these guys," Katsuki thought at Artemis.
From the corner of his eye, Katsuki could see Artemis draw her bow, but he didn't have time to watch further. Thrusting his hand out behind him, Katsuki released an explosion, propelling him forward, over the fence.
The guards turned around at the sound, but by that point, he was already on top of them. Katsuki pointed his hand down at the group and released another explosion, right in the center of Hassaikai men. Some jumped to avoid the blast, but not everyone was so fast. More than half of them were blown away, flung to the side by his explosion.
Artemis's arrow flew past him and blew a hole open in the side of the warehouse. A second later a hole was blown into the fence, large enough for someone to fit through. The prisoners were speaking quickly, in a language he didn't understand. If he had to take a guess, it was probably Spanish, but he wasn't familiar with it enough to make that call.
Three guns were trained on him, but Katsuki fired off an explosion on the ground in front of him, throwing up a cloud of dust. He threw a right hook, catching one of the mobsters right in the face. As he went down, Artemis landed next to him, her bow connecting to the other mobster's stomach.
"To my right!" She called over the link, ducking down. Katsuki saw the third mobster raise a gun, but he threw his arm over Artemis' back, firing another explosion towards the last one. The mobster was thrown back against the warehouse.
Katsuki didn't miss the sound of footsteps behind him, and he turned around in time to catch another of the guards thrusting a knife at him. He moved to the side, and Artemis shot an arrow at him. It made contact, changing into a boxing glove as it hit his face. Like something straight out of an anime, the guy collapsed to the ground.
"Really? A boxing glove?" Katsuki thought to her. Was he in some kind of cartoon?
Artemis grinned at him.
"You should see some of my mentors trick arrows," she thought back snarky back. The last man standing of the five mobsters looked at both of them, before turning around.
"Oh no you don't," Katsuki said aloud, leaning forward. Getting ready to launch himself, he was only stopped when Artemis let another arrow fly. It soared through the air, exploding into some kind of foam as it made contact, trapping the mobster in his place.
"He won't be going anywhere," she said cockily.
Katsuki snorted. "I'm the one who did all the work. Try being a little bit faster next time."
"Excuse me?" Artemis sneered, turning around to glare at him. A hand on her hip, she looked annoyed. Well, if the truth pissed her off so much, maybe she should make an effort. (Good dialogue. You're making good use of your characters)
"Well, well, well," a voice interjected. A voice Katsuki had never heard. He turned around, coming face to face with another well-dressed man in a suit. Only unlike the others, he had a mask similar to the one Overhaul and his top lieutenants wore. "I was wondering what the noise was all about. Now tell me; where did you brats come from?"
Author's Note:
Hello! I hope you have enjoyed the third chapter of The Fifth Dimension!
I got a question from my beta, about my reference to Bakugo being in the episode infiltrator, and not writing about it. He was there, but his presence didn't effect the outcome much, and as such I didn't write about it. It'd just be me writing the episode, without changing much.
Finally, a great thanks to my beta NoMeImporta32 for all their hard work!
