Chapter 5

Redshift

Turning Point

Shouta lifted his tired eyes from the ground to the TV screen hidden behind the window glass at the sound of the crowd surrounding him cheered.

On the screen, the college student acting as a hero, Tamamizu, had just rescued a civilian from the student acting as a villain, Wrecker. Wrecker had just barely grazed the civilian with a piece of concrete when the citizen had vanished in an illusion created by Tamamizu.

Shouta was impressed, though his expression gave nothing away. He simply stared and watched. In the back of his mind, he couldn't help but wonder just what would happen if he were to fight either of them.

Would Wrecker become physically weak? Or did his quirk work in a different way? Would Tamamizu be able to use her illusions? Or were they unconnected to her kitsune appearance?

Not that he would ever get a chance to fight them. He'd be lucky to fight anyone at the Sports Festival coming up at UA. But if he did, he planned to win.

The moment that thought crossed Shouta's mind, however, he noticed something had changed on the TV screen.

The simulation was suddenly shut down, leaving Wrecker and Tamamizu staring in confusion. Then the sky above them began to flicker with red veins, unlike anything Shouta had ever seen before. It resembled electricity, but the sky was still a clear blue. And when he looked over his shoulder, there was no such thing happening above him.

Could it be on purpose? Shouta thought to himself. But no, that didn't make sense-

His thoughts were confirmed when Tamamizu's expression turned fearful and she ran towards the confused Wrecker before pulling him off the battlefield. And her movements seemed to cause everyone else to react too.

The screams that came through the TV screen left Shouta's ears ringing.


Kabuki rummaged through the scattered goods in the store, looking for anything useful. While Jordan and Loki were looking for medical supplies, he happened to be elevating different masks. They might not have been something he made himself but he did manage to find a few. A large butterfly mask sat on his lap, its large teal and black wings a clear indicator that it was made in the likeness of a Queen Alexander's Birdwing. A Qilin mask sat on his left, green and brown scales shimmering faintly in the dim light. The bright green likeness of a Day Gecko sat on his right. Then there was the one in the shape of a Red Angus or Minotaur.

He just pulled it out of the pile to look at it when he heard a loud crack of sound echo through the still air and the building shock in the aftermath. Kabuki quickly gathered the four masks into his arms, wishing that he had more than his utility belt clasped around his waist.

But he wasn't expecting the current circumstance. No one did.

He sure hoped he didn't have to use the masks he found but he held onto them just the same.


The blaring racket coming out of the human populace startled the birds residing on Aether Island. Flocks fled away, their small wings taking them to far distant, and peaceful lands. Lands whose sky wasn't pulsing with bright red streaks. Such freedom was not for the island's residents.

Niharika didn't recall when she was separated from her parents and brother. All she remembered was the sudden change of the sky on the last fight before the roar of the crowd drowned out the sound that followed suit. A crowd that separated her from those she held dear. The same crowd still ran in a dead panic. In panic from a group that hijacked the festival, and the stadium. Ones that were responsible for the sudden change and destruction.

The group that called themselves The Dark Ones. It could only be them. Momiji wouldn't flee otherwise, Niharika knew that.

Now she was holding hands with one of Toshinori's friends. David Shield was it? Or Leon Strongwill? She was too upset to sort the young men from each other. Too upset to notice that two hours passed by swiftly. Too upset to notice the sudden stillness and empty streets before them.

When she did notice her mind dulled with confusion, not recalling the events that took place at the packed stadium to the now sudden empty streets she found herself in.

Her brown eyes flicked toward the sky. The red continued to dilate and then shrink. Her eyes turned away from the sky as the man beside her halted and she pumped into him. Brown eyes widened as something rose from the concrete sidewalk. The shadows of evening obscured its form until it rose high enough to reach the last rays of the setting sun.

Humanoid in overall shape and in the face but that was it. With no arms or legs, it floated over the ground, its blue and white form twice as tall as any man that Niharika had come across and just as wide. Its hourglass shape gave it a feminine-like quality that unnerved the girl. She knew what it was. It was something from whence she was taught from Aether Island history for it was something created when the island first entered Mimir.

A Svalinn.

But confusion changed to fear once more as the Svalinn turned toward them, its eyeless face turning away from the sun. Its normal glossy purple eyes no longer showed out of the dark crevices but a dull pink instead, confirming to Niharika that it was no longer the aid it was created to be.

And she knew she didn't have the strength or knowledge needed to defeat such a creature. If only Azumi were here! She'll know what to do!

In any case, running would be the best option. If only they could.

Niharika desperately pulled the man beside her away from the Svalinn, her mind racing on what to do.

The Svalinn wasn't alone anymore.

More of the metallic golems surged from the labyrinthine passageways of the city. Most of them happened to be smaller than the first Svalinn. Until two larger ones descended from the sky. The blue one rose up to meet them and Niharika's legs weakened in fear as the three slowly circled around each other.

However, the man beside her took advantage of the situation by dragging her into the nearest building which she was thankful for. Few of the Svalinn paid them any attention while some attempted to follow them. While some of Svalinn may have been on the smaller side, they were still large enough to be hindered by the human-sized doors and passageways. They weren't their tiny brethren, the scouts that were able to fold their size down to fit through small spaces and cervices. Niharika happened to be thankful for that as well and for the collected mindset of the man with her. With a few twists and turns, they were outside once more, further from the large gathering of the Svalinn and in a different area altogether.

Niharika wasn't sure for how long their brief escape would last but hopefully, their sudden relocation would give them some distance. And some time to think things through.

A loud scream filled the air and Niharika didn't realize it was her own until a large hand covered her mouth and another pulled her into the nearest alleyway.

She wasn't expecting to see a large flayed-like creature or abruptly being picked up. Paint rushed from her fingertips, splattering against brick and mortar until a voice she recognized broke through her panic-filled mind.

"Hold still, young one! It's me!"

Toshinori Yagi?!

The name flashed swiftly through her mind as fast as the alley walls moved before her eyes. Nausea knotted her stomach and her brown eyes closed. It wasn't much but it did help a bit.

A few moments later, the large hands let her go and the man's large form entered her line of sight as she opened her eyes. Beside him stood Leon Strongwill. Niharika glanced around and noticed the man beside her with a sudden jolt. All this time, that man happened to be David Shield and outside of his presence, she wasn't aware enough to notice.

"Where're my parents? My brother?" the teenager asked then, her small hands twisting upon themselves. Paint smeared across them as she did so, adding to her fatigue and worry. She hated the fact that her limbs felt like rubber, the high pitch of her voice, and the painful twisting of her stomach. The sudden hardening of a painful knot under her right rib cage didn't help. She wasn't one for anxiety attacks but knew enough from Azumi that she, right now, happened to be experiencing one.

"What's going on?" David's sudden question turned her head, thankful that she wasn't the only one confused and concerned.

"Not totally sure but Leon and I met Fa...zah," Toshinori said the name slowly like he wasn't too sure how to pronounce it but Niharika perked up at the closeness of the name.

"Fa'izah Abiola?" she required with a slight smile, earning one from the giant man in return.

"Yes, we encountered her not too long after the crowd split us up," Toshinori continued, his brows narrowing over his blue eyes. "Your family happened to be very concerned over your disappearance. Leon and I offered our assistance to look for you. Fa'izah wasn't too pleased by it but her sidekick happened to be talking to the president of Aether Island. It made things easier."

"What's happening? What did the president say?" Niharika asked, her heart pounding in her chest. She could be wrong, something else could be happening, it might not be them-

"All she would tell us is that it's a Code Dark," Leon answered, his brow furrowed.

"Oh, gods…oh gods…" Niharika whispered, feeling the world crashing on her shoulders.

And literately it was...

"Damn it!"

Niharika blinked her eyes and the world slowly changed; came into view. She happened to be curled against David Shield and just like him, she was covered with minor injuries but she wasn't exactly sure how she ended up in a cave-like structure made of concrete and rubble. With it trembling around them, they hastily crawled out the nearest hole they could find and stopped, her face becoming blank.

A picture of a path came into mind, one made out of concrete and buildings crumbling into dust. With the loud dissonance still ringing in her ears, Niharika slowly stood on her feet, helping the man beside her. Her brown eyes scanned the area, looking for Toshinori and Leon.

The sudden rush of wind blowing through her hair added to the sudden drop of her stomach as it was left on the ground. She wasn't sure how she was in the air but she was and the thick metallic whip-like appendage held her arms to her sides like a rope. The large blue eyes of David quickly becoming smaller finally broke through her shocked mind and she began to scream.

One moment she was flying upwards then she was falling. Falling into a pair of large arms, which encircled her, and the next thing she knew she was held tightly against a broad chest. Seconds later, she was placed on her feet near David Shield and her brown eyes were able to see who helped her.

Leon Strongwill was her savior and she didn't have a clue how he did it.

In moments his cool and collective presence was gone, not giving her the chance to thank him or the incoming Svalinn a chance to come near.

It was small and teal-colored. A small drone but Leon managed to take it down not with his quirk but with his limbs and a few well-placed knife hits.

Did he have a quirk?

But her thoughts scattered to the breeze as someone pulled her to the nearest building, saving her from being crushed by debris.

David Shield saved her once again and she would have hated it under normal circumstances but the fight before her wasn't normal. Not by a long shot. And she had a distinct feeling that they might be losing.

A feeling made all the more true when another explosion occurred, distorting her world once more.

Again she was pulled away. Again she was saved. And again she found herself held close to another in the rubble of destruction.

Both David and her crawled out from the rubble once more, her mouth dropped in despair. The three large Svalinns from before had found them or the giant combined form that rose above them like an upside-down distorted ballerina. Transparent streamers of what happened to be light weaved behind it like long ribbons flowing in the wind. Occasionally one or two would twist around like a whip, dust, and debris hurling with the shock wave as it landed into solid matter.

And below it was a gathering of living creatures. Like the one she saw earlier, their skin glistened dimly under the Svalinns light. But it wasn't sweat or water that made them shine, it was their flayed-like appearance. The grotesque gathering made Niharika shudder in disgust and fear. If the Svalinns appearance didn't give her nightmares then these beings would.

And she didn't know what they were and how they got here.

But Leon and Toshinori stood against the large chilling assemblage. Trying desperately to drag them away from their chosen course. Trying urgently to protect Niharika and her companion David; along with any other bystander that might still be around. She knew that it was a matter of time, it was obvious that they were having difficulties.

A machine wouldn't tire but humans would.

And it wouldn't matter if the machine was left standing.

Screaming, she and David fell once more. With a flash of wings and she was airborne. Above her, holding her hand was a young man with an odd-looking face. It was insect-like but what drew her attention was the large teal and black butterfly wings fluttering behind his head. A second later, they landed and she looked desperately for David only to find him standing by the same young man she saw at the festival standing near an alleyway.

Both his lavender-colored skin and ruby-colored eyes shone softly in the distilled light as he nodded toward her. He didn't say much nor did the other boy beside him as she rushed up to them. They didn't really need to. The butterfly boy drew up in her line of vision but his face looked totally different now, human-like and if it wasn't for the butterfly mask being placed on a belt at his waist then she would have lost it.

"Your quirk?" she asked when he noticed her watching him. He didn't say anything but nodded. With a quick shake of her head, Niharika turned her gaze toward David. But before she had the chance to ask him if he was alright another explosion made them scatter into the alleyway. Dust and debris rapidly rushed in after them, dimming the dark alleyway further and slightly disguising the rancid smell of human garbage.

The group of five huddled in the darkness, taking a momentary solace. The moment wasn't much but it helped Niharika to breathe, to refocus her thoughts. Slowly she peeked around the corner of the alleyway. She held back a slight smile when the others followed suit, David cautioning them as they did so.

The group of shambling two-legged creatures was out for the count, thanks to the combined efforts of the two men fighting them. They are scattered across the battlefield. What trouble Niharika was was that some of them looked like they were turning into dust. She wasn't sure if the dust-filled air was creating an optical illusion with the Svalin's flickering light.

Flickering light?

Niharika looked up and in the dim dust-filled air managed to see the Svalin's long ribbon limbs swirl. A brightness and act that happened to be a sign of an incoming attack. Niharika rushed forward, a warning on her lips but a hand grasped her arm and she was pulled into the relative safety of the alleyway once more. She looked over her shoulder in frustration and saw David looking on over her short height.

"All Might and Underdog got this! We should not rush in unless we have to!" he remarked, blue eyes landing on her for a moment but only for a moment. His gaze turned toward the fight and she slowly followed suit.

"All Might and Underdog?"

"Toshinori and Leon's hero names."

The light changed and down rain a thousand shards of light. An explosion followed suit. Both All Might and Underdog scattered across the field. Underdog used the destroyed city street to dash away while All Might used his quirk to take to the air.

Moments later, the pair halted in front of Niharika and those beside her in the alleyway. The giant Svalinn slowly emerged from the dust, its eyes focused on them as it glided slowly toward them.

"What is that thing anyway?!" the purple-skinned boy cried as they all slowly backed away. Niharika glanced back for only a second to answer but stopped when she saw Jordan already answering behind her. Good, she wasn't the only island native here.

Good…

"It's a Svalinn, they're from Mimir, Loki," Jordan explained. His voice was unsteady and Niharika suspected he felt uneasy with the lack of electricity nearby.

"You mean the other dimension?" the other boy questioned, somehow keeping calm even as they were backed further and further into a corner.

"We should probably worry about that later!" David reminded them all. "How do we get out of here?"

"We can't…" Niharika whispered.

The Svalinn was so close that Niharika could easily see the delicate swirling detail among its surface. Details which became more pronounced when the red veins in the sky pulsed, creating a contrast with the shadows of the alley and the light of the rest of the world.

Niharika couldn't breathe, couldn't think, could barely move.

They were going to die. They-

Suddenly, bright silver light filled the alley and the Svalinn reared back with a guttural scream, crashing into the ground with a loud echoing crack. The light cleared a moment later and suddenly, there was Azumi protecting them.

"Are you all okay?" she asked, her eyes not leaving the blinded and down Svalinn.

"Well, that's impressive," remarked All Might, drawing himself beside Azumi as Underdog followed suit. "A little rough around the edges but nothing a victory wouldn't cure."

"Never better, ma'am!" the purple-skinned boy, Loki, declared a moment afterward. It sounded as if he was grinning. The sound of his voice broke Niharika from her stupor.

"Azumi-senpai…" she gasped, feeling as if the world had fallen from her shoulders. She wasn't alone, she wasn't trapped anymore. Azumi was here. Then quickly felt guilty for thinking that as she quickly looked at those around her.

"Niharika!" a familiar voice yelled and Niharika blinked as she became aware suddenly of the fact that she was no longer within the alley and Guinevere was pulling her into a hug. A moment later, a wave of warmth raced through her skin and Niharika couldn't stop the sigh of relief as the constant bruised feeling left her at last. "I've been looking everywhere, w-where were you?!" Guinevere cried as she pulled back and began to look her over, probably to make certain she was fully healed.

"Probably doing the same thing you were," Loki said before he slid closer and held a hand out to Guinevere. "Name's Loki by the way and you are oh so cute for a unicorn."

"Uh…thank you?" Guinevere replied, sounding unsure as she gave him a blank stare.

"This is not the time for flirting, Loki," the boy with the masks said as he stepped forward, facing the Svalinn still near them.

"It's always time for flirting when a beautiful woman is near, Kabuki!" Loki protested indignantly, his tail puffing up in irritation.

"As entertaining as you all are, it's probably for the best if all of you leave," Underdog called out, sounding somewhere between bored and irritated.

"He's right," Azumi remarked as her hands glowed a brilliant white. All Might and Underdog took point in front of her, matching the recovery of their enemy.

"But..." Niharika said, stepping forward with her hands up.

"All of you are students," Azumi continued, her green eyes landing on Niharika. "I have faith in all of you but this enemy is greater than all of you can handle. A fact that the Svalinn would take advantage of if it hasn't already and it would prove deadly if it does so."

It was then that David stepped up and placed a hand on Niharika's shoulder.

"I am not much help," he remarked as she gazed up at him, and further proved his point by raising his right hand. His fingers began to lengthen and bend more than normal ones should.

Catching her look he continued, "My quirk allows me to do fine and delicate work. It isn't made for fighting."

"And you're going to let him go by himself?" Azumi asked. "All alone and unprotected?"

"But the city?"

"This is the only big Svalinn around and the rest are small fry," Azumi remarked, raising her hands to create a barrier as the Svalinn began to rise. "Regardless of how much we were caught by surprise, the heroes of Aether Island have gotten things under control pretty quickly. This is, really, the last here."

"But I just can't..."

"Murdina, my 'opponent' from the festival, is off looking for two other contestants, Momiji and Ethan," Azumi interrupted, her voice betraying how frustrated she was getting. "I have no time to argue! Now go!"

Niharika bit her lip, feeling uneasy and scared, and anxious. Her quirk wasn't much, she wasn't a hero or anything like the others here. All she'd done so far today was run and be saved.

But…

"I'll go help them," she whispered, staring down at her paint-stained fingers as the Sivalinn roared.

They were out of time.

David grasped Niharika but her right arm and pulled her into the alleyway. The others quickly followed suit without much of a word.

The last thing she saw of the three left behind before the buildings blocked them from view, was them standing together. Azumi's light outlined them in brilliant white light as the giant robot rose back into the air.

The Sivalinn roared and charged.


Momiji was not that much farther from the action but she was dealing with her own problems. A Svalinn, one on a smaller scale, had her pinned or 'locked' in a garden plaza. There was some kind of barrier that prevented her from escaping, meaning that she had to defeat her opponent.

Somehow.

Ethan on the other hand was hurt and out for the count. Not knocked out per-say, but his form leaned against a tree behind her, his left arm cradled over his chest, and blood-soaked his clothes. He had only so much time which meant that Momiji needed to end this quickly.

A distinct smell of burning oak rafted through the air. Momiji knew without looking that her tail was dragging sparks of flame as she flicked it from side to side. With a sound reminisce of crackling flames, fire in blue hues came to life.

A neat trick to play since the Svalinn had its pink eyes focused on her and her blue flames. So much that it didn't foresee the sudden meteor shower of blue-flamed orbs until it was practically being hit by it.

With a slight twitch of lips, Momiji was dashing forward, zig-zagging between large balls of fire as she carried herself low to the ground. Using her attack as a cover, she slid under the floating metallic monster. With another quick flick of her black tail, the still-burning flames on the ground roared into an inferno. Arms of flames meet the still cascading fire, creating a cage of flames. One that quickly tossed the Svalinn into the air.

The sudden break of the barrier changed things, however. It burst inward, the sudden change of air adding strength to her flames.

Momiji bounced backwards, her path taking her closer to Ethan.

"Hey!" A voice roared over the sound of a crashing metallic body and roaring flames, and Momiji was suddenly swept off her feet by a wave of water.

"W-wait a minute!" she exclaimed as the flames near her quickly were quenched. Ethan was her main concern, however, and she wasn't sure that the sudden swell of water would be helpful. But her concern was misplaced however, a quick look over her shoulder and a thin eyebrow shut up in surprise. The boy was being carried carefully by a…mermaid shaped out of water.

The water quickly yet smoothly swept them away from the park, and a moment later, the Svalinn crashed into the space that Ethan and her occupied only seconds before. Water rushed over its form, and then froze. The sound of breaking ice echoed toward Momiji's fox-like ears, and her eyes widened in surprise as she looked over her shoulder. Moisture and shards of frozen water cascaded in the park, both highlighting the Svalinn being ripped apart by ice and water.

A mermaid-like woman came into view seconds later, kneeling beside the two as her doppelganger dissipated, and Momiji felt a little overwhelmed by her appearance.

But that quickly raced out of her mind and heart as something else caught her attention.

People to be more accurate. A group of roughly six came out of the maze that was the back alleyways of the city and from what she could see, looked rough around the edges. Like they went through hell but it was hard to tell from a distance. Until they started bounding toward them quickly as they noticed them in return.

A girl that resembled a unicorn sprinted away from the group, her horn glowing as she reached Ethan's side. Momiji felt her heart lift a little as she saw Ethan's wounds begin to heal, giving her a good idea of the unicorn's quirk.

"Is everyone okay?" she asked, her voice soft and barely audible over the crumbling ice still going on in the garden behind them.

"I am curious too," another girl asked, her dark brown eyes quickly going over the group of three.

"Oh, no worries there, sweetie! The once bleeding boy was playing around!" Momiji's new companion remarked, causing both girls to blush in embarrassment. Momiji understood the reasoning behind the snarky and sarcastic comment but she would have worded her own answer differently.

"That's a little unnecessary, wasn't it?" a young man asked from the crowd of boys, he wasn't much older, late teens or early twenties, but his slick back brown hair and white lab coat gave him a much older and mature appearance.

"And you are?"

"David! David Shield," he replied, taken back by the sudden question.

"Well, David, I understand the concern," the older woman remarked, pushing herself up from the ground. "But with all due respect, isn't that an odd thing to ask in a moment like this?"

The group of teens, mumbling since the beginning of the conversation, quickly quieted down. The point smacked home with just a few words.

"Now is there any other Svalinn or battle going on that I should know about?"

"Well, miss...?"

"Cliodhna! Hero name," she replied, her light purple eyes narrowing as she glanced at the group before her. Momiji knew that they were an odd group but she quickly realized that wasn't the reason why the woman's face turned sour.

"The thing is," the girl, with the brown eyes, said. "We were tasked by Azumi-senpai to look and help you."

"Now the truth comes out at least," Cliodhna stated, her lips brightening her face as she smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. They were still fuming.

A loud crack, one reminiscent of thunder, echoed across the park, causing everyone to jump and look around. Momiji caught the gasps and movement of surprise, which added to her own, and she looked over. Across the park and over the buildings, something caught her eyes and made them widen with surprise.

A large ballerina-like Svalinn, trailing smoke and looking less for wear, barely cleared the lowest buildings. A group of wiped-like tendrils, in various stages of helping it move and trailing behind, glowed faintly. What drew the most attention, however, was its odd behavior.

Fleeing.

A bright ray of white light halted its progress. Moments later, something grappled with its tendrils, and down to the ground it went, causing dust to quickly waft up into the air.

Out of the dust, as it slowly cleared, appeared three individuals. One woman, and two men. One of the men nodded at the remaining two, both of their heights contrasted sharply with each other. They, in turn, nodded back before taking off.

The woman didn't say a word as the man beside her pulled her up onto his shoulders. Her hands glowed a brilliant light and moments later rays of light rained down upon the still-struggling Svalinn as if the gods were raining down their judgment and fury.

"Detroit Smash!"

The cry echoed and reached Momiji's ears and her eyes widened even further in disbelief at what occurred next.

The man's downward punch connected and for a brief moment, everything stood still. Then the shock wave hit, lifting the Svalinn in the air. What little clouds that drifted in during the chaos were quickly swept away and the beams of light might have too but they were caught up with the man's attack, giving it power instead. The two attacks combined and the Svalinn found itself in a whirling tornado of power and energy. One that quickly tore it apart.

The pair quickly dashed back to the other man and watched the parts rain down with shards of light.

"Dauntless!"

The lone whisper reached Momiji's ears as her eyes landed on the brown-eyed girl, the girl that gave her the strongest impression that her heritage happened to be Hindu.

"Dauntless," she whispered again, drawing the attention of everyone else as well. "She dreamed that one day she would create a great team of heroes, but thought she, alone, wasn't strong or inspiring enough to do it."

Everyone looked at her for a few seconds longer before turning their attention back toward the other three, who at this time, were walking toward them. The woman was still on the man's shoulders and the light still rained down. They were bathed in something that Momiji couldn't find the right words to describe. Until she heard the word once more.

"Dauntless!"


The next week proved to be quite the challenge for Fa'izah Abiola and her sidekick Minerva Romano, who at this time, happened to be going by her hero name, The Genius Heroine: Athena.

It wasn't helping with the island repairs, checking up on the citizens, the Svalinn, or anything else equally important that drew out her annoyance. That wasn't an issue here.

The Press.

That happened to be the problem. And the press conference they demanded to have.

So here she was, standing behind and to the left of the island president, Kozue Fujimori with the young teen at her side. And she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"What were you hoping to gain by having your own Svalinn turn against you?" a tall weasel looking reporter asked. His voice, was filled with sarcasm and nihilism, which caused those around him to look at him in a mixture of surprise and agreement, something of a mixed bag. Whether or not that was his intention, Fa'izah could easily guess but she knew things would get worse instead of better.

"The Svalinn that attacked the festival were hijacked and..."

"So you're saying that it was the fault of those who came to witness your festival?" the reporter rudely interrupted, causing his own group to hiss at him. But he ignored it and Fa'izah had to grind her teeth together in order to prevent herself from exploding.

Kozue, standing on a high chair for height, folded her hands on the pedestal and patiently looked over the crowd with her large brown eyes. She didn't say a word until the rude reporter grunted in annoyance before sitting down. Fa'izah held back the smile her lip wanted to take.

"Thank you," Kozue remarked, her eyes never leaving the one reporter whose appearance gave a clear idea of who he happened to be as a person. "We're not blaming the festival or those who came to take part. The Svalin golems have unique and highly advanced programming. No normal individual living in or off Aether Island has the skills needed to bypass their firewall and reprogram them."

"Please go on," another reporter, female this time, asked gently as Kozue took a moment to pause.

"However, there are a few of our scientists in our science sector that could but they would not do so due to their moral code. They have all been taught on the importance of maintaining the Svalinn for generations, trained by the original scientists before we entered Mimir," Kozue continued. "I do not believe that it is any of our current scientists that have played a role in this tragedy."

"So you do have an idea as to who's involved?" the weasley reporter pounced, like a shark that smelled blood in the water.

Fa'izah's eyes sharpened as she glanced over at Kozue. How they would handle public relations going forward depended entirely on the words the president said next.

"Unfortunately, I cannot say at this time," Kozue stated, her voice firm and leaving no room for argument. "At this time, I have a standing order that all information on this investigation is classified and limited to the heroes and law enforcement involved. Once we are able to share more information going forward, we will. Thank you."

With those words, Fa'izah and Minerva began to lead Kozue off the stage alongside her security, despite the yells of the press and the flashing cameras. But they didn't get very far, the weasel-looking reporter jumped in front of them, blocking their path to the door. He wasn't alone, a few others were behind him as well.

Fa'izah's eyes narrowed once more as she saw the smirk that graced the lips of those before her, but the devious smirk on the ring leader made it difficult to not lash out in anger.

"And your heroes?" the male reporter asked, his black eyes dashing back and forth between them. "Can you clearly say they are innocent?"

Minerva looked bored when Fa'izah glanced at her, but Fa'izah knew not to underestimate her too clever sidekick, never mind herself with the anger swirling in her gut, a vortex that could lash out at a single moment should she so choose. All the material she could need was well within reach, but she was better than that.

Fa'izah raised her head and held it with an elegance that came with managing her public image for years. This may not be Mimir, but she would not let these vultures see her as anything less than who she was.

"The press conference is finished, the president will be offering no further comments," the closest security guard stated, firm and unwavering.

"When I was a child," Minerva started and then paused, drawing the attention of those around her. "I developed my quirk, and over time, began to feel depressed. Out of all the benefits that it gave me, it didn't give me those that I needed the most."

She paused, looking around at those in front of her. Her face was blank, devoid of the usual boredom that Fa'izah knew so well. Minerva's eyes landed on her, filled with a solemness that children her age didn't, shouldn't, have.

"I began to fear losing the light those my age still had. I was scared that the peace of my childhood would crumble with my quirk, and thus, began changing my outlook on life. But my idea of doing so was nothing but me hiding behind closed doors. Even though the future and hope were right there in front of me, inside of me. I didn't notice them…." she paused once more, her eyes lowering down toward her feet.

"And…that changes things how?" the weasel-looking reporter asked, causing the crowd surrounding them to murmur in agreement.

"But that changed," the young girl declared, her eyes flashing as she looked up at the man before her.

Fa'izah, who was frowning in puzzlement, looked hard at Minerva. She was open for once but where was she going with this?

"This island has people, people who welcome me with open arms. People who do not care in what way I express myself. They accepted me when everyone I knew in childhood found me wanting," Minerva continued. "I am a foreigner here and I haven't been here for long, but this island has shown me the doors I have closed on myself. And perhaps it can help me open them as well. I trust them when they say they will investigate this case to its true conclusion. The real question is, can all of you?"

"But their heroes…"

"But nothing," Minerva interrupted, her eyes narrowing. "I have seen enough. Enough to know that they have the light, the light of a true hero!"

With those final words, Minerva starts walking, escorting the president as she does so. Kozue, for her part, tries valiantly to keep a straight face in the midst of the returned flashing cameras. Minerva holds her head high, with all the grace of her namesake.

And as she follows along with them, Fa'izah can't deny the warm feeling of pride blooming in her chest.


The last few days were a blur for Azumi. The main reason for that was her sudden decision to leave the island, before or after her being requested and hired to be a sidekick by a Pro Hero, someone by the name of Gran Torino, she couldn't say. She wasn't sure but packing her things for the trip to her new home in Japan, the events on Aether Island, and saying goodbye made her feel like she lost her head. But most importantly, she wasn't looking forward to her parting with Toshinori Yagi.

She desperately wished things would have turned out differently. She wasn't positive that they could continue being friends. After everything that happened, she didn't blame the giant blond man for wanting to part on a gentle note.

But standing beside him as she thought against the Svalinn made her see things that she wouldn't normally see through a letter. A side of him that only being in his presence would bring and she wasn't too keen to toss that away just yet.

As she made her way to the nearest park, she looked at her phone. Except for a few minor things, she finished preparing hours ago. All she had to do was meet up with Toshinori and from the way it looked on her phone, he received and read her message about hour and a half ago. Whether he was waiting for her was a different story, one that tied her stomach into knots.

Whoever created that 'butterfly in the stomach' saying was full of crap! That wasn't what it felt like at all!

And it looked like she made it first. Damn!

"Oh crap!" she exclaimed, feeling her shoulders sag down. She can't say she felt relieved but she sure hoped he was waiting for her.

But then again, he wasn't familiar with Aether Island. He didn't get lost, did he? She looked around. Since it was six in the evening, the garden plaza was mostly empty. Only a few teens and a couple were left mulling around near the water fountains or the brightly colored flower beds but it was a matter of time before they left for home.

Then she looked at her phone, looking through her apps, and she finally found the one for her messages. But there was nothing. Nothing at all.

"Where could he be?" she whispered under her breath, her green eyes flickering between her phone and her surroundings.

"Hey, there!" a voice boomed across the stillness, causing the few bystanders to briefly look up before going back to what they were doing.

Azumi tried to suppress her smile but failed miserably as she turned toward the garden's entrance. And was taken back by what she saw.

Toshinori had exchanged his battle-worn clothes for something just as casual, something that Azumi saw every day on the island, an open light blue button-down short sleeve shirt over a white t-shirt paired with a pair of blue jeans.

But it wasn't the clothes though, even if he looked pretty nice. It was his size; his height that threw her off. She completely forgot how tall he was, how she did so was a very good question. But she couldn't help but do a few double takes as her eyes then her head rose higher and higher as he got closer.

"Sorry for making you wait," he apologized, sheepishly rubbing behind his head with his right hand.

"You don't have to apologize. I just got here myself," Azumi replied, putting her phone on vibrate and then placing it in her hand bag.

"I've got a little lost and distracted on my way here," Toshinori remarked casually, allowing Azumi to lead him through the park. His blue eyes widened in surprise then delight when she led him to a semi-secluded area with an open gazebo. One that was surrounded by a flowing creek, blooming hyacinths, and weeping willows.

"I'd be surprised if you didn't. Aether Island is an amazing place to those visiting from across the world. Even if..." she paused, her thoughts scattered as her mind crashed into reality; remembering what happened. She brooded in silence as she sat down on one of the many chairs inside the gazebo, the rolling creek and whispering trees the only sounds heard in the stillness.

"Worried are we?"

Azumi looked up in surprise, not because of the question itself but by the way it was asked. Toshinori, in turn, sat down in the nearest chair, but his face was soft and gentle, with a hint of an understanding smile, as he looked at her with his cerulean blue eyes.

"I am so sorry, I didn't mean to place you in that situation!" she exclaimed in a rush, blinking rapidly to hold back a wave of tears. Out of all things to say, why was that the first thing to pop out?

"Hold up there!" Toshinori remarked, obviously taken aback by her words. "Things happen, especially when villains are concerned."

"Yeah but...are you not wondering?" she asked, tilting her head up at him. A few stray tears did manage to escape but she ignored them as she continued, "A supposedly advanced island appears, holds a goodwill festival, and all of a sudden, a villain attack happens. How are you not suspicious about all that?"

"How can you say that everyone on the island is evil?" he asked, the sudden stern look on his face softened a little as he watched her blink in surprise and then in thought. "Not everyone on the island is going to jump ship and be villainous. That doesn't make sense."

"Yeah but..."

"Listen Azumi," Toshinori said, leaning down so their eyes met evenly. "I might not be too familiar with the science behind the whole dimensional world thing, but those on Aether Island, a good portion of them, made it very clear that this world, this side of everything is where they want to be."

"True but the attack," she sheepishly said, her hands brushing away the stray tears.

"I admit it was pretty odd," Toshinori acknowledged, causing Azumi to pause, her green eyes wide as her stomach sank. "There's a lot more going on than what appears on the surface but there's a good possibility that the villains want your island to look bad, to look malicious."

"To look malicious..." she said slowly, her gaze slowly shifting to the scenery beyond the green-painted pillars of the gazebo. A picture of a black hair, green-eyed woman slowly took root in her mind, one that she quickly put out of her psyche with a quick shake of her head.

"But that's not the true reason why you brought this up, is it?" Toshinori asked, causing Azumi to swivel her attention back to him. The serious look on his face happened to be the most prominent emotion but there were others; understanding, concern, a bit of humor, and one that she wished wasn't present, hurt.

"I..." she paused, took a deep breath, and continued, "I guess...I hoped that what happened wouldn't dampen our friendship. I was...am worried that you would hold it against me."

She wasn't expecting the booming laugh or the firm pat on the back that almost knocked her face-first onto the wooden gazebo floor. Around the time she sat back up and looked around at Toshinori in surprise, he finished laughing.

"That's not going to happen any time soon," he remarked, a large smile gracing his face and brightening his eyes. "I saw the way you fought, but most importantly, I saw your concern for the group of students Leon and I were protecting. You put them first even during the fight. Villains give a lot of red flags about their morality or lack of but you, on the other hand, showed a heart full of light. One that a true hero will have."

"Toshinori..."

He raised a forefinger then, cutting off Azumi's words before continuing, "Actions speak louder than words. Actions that spoke of a fear, a fear that was subdued by an act of courageousness. A bravery that made your light shine, an Angel of Hope."

Heat flared across Azumi's cheeks as her green eyes widened in surprise and seconds later, her head lowered and her hands raised, hiding the blush in embarrassment.

Oh my god, she thought. He remembered!

A hand landed gently on her left shoulder and she slowly raised her head, her eyes peeking over her hands.

"It's not your fault," Toshinori said, frowning down at her. "I believe there is good everywhere on Aether Island. I believe in the good that is in the hearts of the island's inhabitants."

With a smile, he lifted his hand off of her shoulder and stood, using that same hand to reach out to her. "And I believe, with all my heart, in one of its bravest heroes. I believe in you, Azumi. Now, don't you think it's time to believe in yourself?"

Azumi slowly slid her hands off of her face as warmth swelled inside her heart. And slowly, she placed her left hand, one much smaller than the one before her, in Toshinori's own.

A reminder of a reminder, this moment burned its way into their hearts and memory, even as it passed.

"Thank you."


A/N: Mimir, in Norse mythology, is the wisest of the gods of the tribe Aesir, and happens to reside by a well that stood beneath one of the roots of Yggdrasil. Svalinn, also in Norse mythology, is a shield that stands before the sun and the name Svalinn also means 'cold' or 'chill'.

I know Norse mythology normally doesn't fit in regards to Japanese anime and manga but I decided to use it in the story for plot purposes; which gets further explained as time goes on if not already.

And yes, oc submission is still open. Feel free to continue submitting your characters.

I apologize for the delay on this one. The creative juices came in bits and pieces along with other distractions and life delayed the release quite a bit. Due to that, this chapter was written up one portion at a time. Some small and some big with mostly small bits but in the end, I am unsure whether I'm satisfied with this chapter and its length though I think it turned out pretty well. And I believe Wolfie thinks so too. Please tell us if anything seems weird.

Wolfie: Wolfie here! Just popping in to say that this long wait was hopefully worth it, considering how long this chapter turned out to be and the drafts it went through! The title, 'Red Shift' as Kitsu-chan informed me, is actually a song reference, so go check it out for the chapter's inspiration! Audiomachine being the band.

Hope you enjoy it!