08/11/2022
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The Emperor's Dragon
Emergence 23 - Cavalry Battle
"I'm going to kill you," Hitoshi growled.
"No, you won't," Izuku said cheerfully as he dusted himself off.
"You threw me!" His friend snapped.
Izuku smiled at Hitoshi. "I did. Couldn't have done it without Mei though," he said. He needed to make it sound like it was something anyone reasonably fit could do. "Did you thank the nice students from 1A for breaking your fall?" Izuku asked.
He ignored the looks he got from those students. "You bastard!" the blond practically screamed. "It's your fault." The other student just sighed and moved away from the finishing line. He was much more contained.
Izuku looked at the blond. "For what?" he challenged.
The boy growled and his hands popped. Little explosions appeared on them. "Is that your quirk?" Izuku asked. He grabbed the blond's hand and pulled it up. "That's so fantastic!" He knew he was sort of behaving like Mei did over a new idea but he'd also seen how that confused people. It seemed like a good ploy.
The hand was snatched back and the teen spat. "Freak!" before he stalked away.
Izuku watched him go for a moment before he turned back to Hitoshi. "I take it you didn't thank them?" he asked.
"You're impossible!" Hitoshi growled as Mei laughed.
"First place has never gone to a General Studies student," Izuku said. "Just winning this bit will make an impression."
"And what about fifth place to a Management Student?" Hitoshi retorted.
He shrugged. "It's just fifth place."
"You could have been first."
"I don't want to be first," Izuku said.
Hitoshi sighed as they moved away from the finish line. "You'll show them up next year?" He quipped.
"Yeah, maybe," Izuku agreed with a laugh. He couldn't say anything more. Maybe next year he would but that was for the future.
-ted-
"Where is Mitei?" Korei asked as he sat down in the stand. He hadn't been able to get a ticket to see the Third Years so he'd come back to the First Year Stadium. As a First Year Management Student he had automatic entry for that.
Te groaned at the question which gained him a confused look.
"He's making sure he wins the bet," Zellia said primly, tapping her rolled copy of the program book against one hand.
"What do you mean?" Korei asked.
"You remember the bet?" Te returned.
"Of course," Korei replied. "I have the wagers here," he said, pulling out his notebook before flicking through the pages to where he'd noted down what they had bet on.
"What were the terms of Mitei's bet?" Zellia asked.
"His friend gets into the Battle Tournament phase, at least one Support and one General Studies student gets in there as well. And that a Management student of any level enters the Festival," Korei read from his notes. "He's already lost," he added. "No management student ever enters."
Zellia gave him a look and then deliberately unrolled her program. The programs displayed the names of all the entrants and what course they were in. She flicked through the pages to the First Year entrants and then held it up for Korei. "Notice anything?" She asked acidically.
He looked over at the lists. The classes were listed in order of their letter, so the Heroics classes were first in their entirety. They had to enter. Then there were the General Studies classes. Most of them had entered too. There were even one or two support students there and-
"What?" Korei exclaimed. "No way!"
"Yes way," Te replied. "He was joking right, with his bet, wasn't he?"
Korei kept looking at the program but the name didn't change. Under class 1I there was one name. Mitei Chui. He looked through the rest of the entrants in second and third year. There were no other Management students. "Well, he hasn't won yet," he pointed out.
"Have a look at the results," Zellia said, pointing towards the large screen which was showing the results of the first event.
First: Hitoshi Shinso, General Studies Course, Class 1C.
Second: Katsuki Bakugou. Heroics Course, Class 1A.
Third: Shoto Todoroki, Heroics Course, Class 1A.
Fourth: Mei Hatsume, Support Course, Class 1H.
Fifth: Mitei Chui, Management Course, Class 1I.
"Hang on a second, aren't Hitoshi and Mei, Mitei's friends?" Korei asked. His Heroics Course friend was further down but had still qualified for the next round comfortably.
"Yes," Te confirmed. "He practically carried them through."
"That's taking things a bit seriously," Korei agreed. "But we didn't put in any rules against it."
"Because we had no idea he'd enter himself!" Zellia objected.
Korei sat down in the seat they'd saved for him. "Maybe that's why he insisted that the forfeit wasn't that bad?" he suggested.
"Because he knew he'd win?" Te asked.
Korei nodded. "Didn't your parents ever tell you not to take a bet you didn't know the result for in advance?" He asked.
Both Te and Zellia sighed, which was answer enough. "Well, at least we know who to barrack for," Korei said as he settled back. "And you know, we could still win," he pointed out.
"True," Zellia agreed.
"Well, only one of us is winning," Te said, reminding Korei that they had taken opposite bets.
"So one of you is buying all of us lunch?" Zellia joked.
Te and Korei looked at each other. "Yeah, probably," Te agreed and they laughed before the next event was called.
-ted-
"10,000,000 points," Hitoshi said, sounding sick.
"It's enough points to pass the next event," Mei said happily. "So, are we a team?" she asked, looking at Izuku, Ochaco and Hitoshi.
There were 42 people who'd gotten through the obstacle event and now they had to fight each other in teams. Those who knew their history knew that the second round of most of UA's Sports Festivals was a teams event. They had to form teams of 4 to 5. Three or four of them would carry the final team member, who would be wearing the points headband, and then they had to fight it out for more headbands and points.
The teams with the most points would then qualify for the final event.
"Definitely," Izuku said for them all. "But we need a plan," he added.
With the 10,000,000 points they wouldn't need to fight for more points, they would need to fight to keep their points.
"Go on," Ochaco said for them all.
"The way I see it, we have to hide," Izuku said.
He got three looks of disbelief. "Hide?" Mei asked, gesturing to the arena. The area they had was literally an open part. There was nowhere to hide.
"Hide," Izuku confirmed. If Gigantomachia was here, he'd suggest burrowing but they didn't have Gigantomachia here and he doubted any of Mei's babies would be up to it. Which left upwards.
"Little Dragon-?" Ochaco said his nickname slowly, as if she wasn't sure what to say.
He grinned and pointed one finger up. He was careful to make sure his body was angled so that the other teams couldn't see. "Hide," he repeated.
"Oh!" Mei understood. Hitoshi still looked a bit shell shocked and as they spoke he went to collect the headband.
"You charged your baby booties?" he asked.
"New battery pack," Mei indicated happily, tapping the control port on her belt.
"How much weight can you hold, Ochaco?" Izuku looked at his old friend with a knowing smile.
The question was enough to make her catch on. "Enough," she grinned. It wasn't the weight that bothered her, as much as the fact that living things always fought against her, and moving the weight was an issue.
"I don't think any other team can fly," Izuku said softly. "Jump or propel themselves upwards, yes, but I don't think they can actually fly. So, Ochaco, with your quirk taking the weight, and Mei's babies doing the movement, we can fly. And so we can hide," he finished. "Unless you'd prefer to fight?"
"That's for the last round," Ochaco said with a smile as Hitoshi came back.
Mei nodded. "I'll show off my babies then!" she agreed.
"Okay, do you want to hear the plan Hitoshi?"
"I'd better," he said. He sounded resigned.
"Don't worry, we're gonna win," Izuku reassured him. "Anyway, we are going to hide," he said. "Ochaco's quirk and Mei's baby will get us into the air and we can then just wait it out," he explained.
"What's our formation?" Hitoshi asked.
They'd had to form horses and riders. The one wearing the headband had to be the rider and that had to be Hitoshi. He gave the fabric a disgusted look before he tied it around his forehead. Izuku shared a look with Mei and Ochaco.
"Front, middle, back?" Ochaco asked, pointing to Izuku, Mei and then herself in turn.
Mei thought about it for a moment. "That will work," she agreed. "I can then direct us from the central location, while Ochaco lifts. And First can fend off any attacks."
Izuku nodded. He could do that far more than he would be allowed to but he could always just hit anyone who came after them or… he could nab their headbands. They didn't need the points if they kept Hitoshi's headband but more points would always be good.
"One minute!" Midnight called out a time warning.
"We're good with this?" Izuku asked.
He got nods from all round. "Win or lose, we'll get through together," Ochaco said.
He smiled. "Then I'm glad it's with all of you," Izuku told his friends.
They moved into position, with Mei putting her hands on his shoulders while Izuku stretched his hands back to meet Ochaco's after she tapped Hitoshi, which allowed him to get into position easily.
"Ochaco, grab Mei's arm's," Izuku instructed quickly and felt her move. It would leave his arms free and that could only be good.
"Begin!" Midnight yelled and there was a general explosion of motion.
-ted-
The moment Midnight said begin, everyone charged towards them. It wasn't unexpected, given that they had the 10,000,000 point headband but it was rather intimidating.
"Jump!" Izuku yelled, and then timed his jump with Mei. With Ochaco's quirk reducing their weight they shot into the air and it was kind of funny to see the other teams realise they weren't there.
A couple looked up and Izuku couldn't help the smile he gave them. "Now we wait," he announced.
"They aren't going to be happy about this," Hitoshi warned.
Ochaco laughed. "You did beat out two of the top students from 1A," she said.
"What?"
"Bakugou and Todoroki," she explained. "Bakugou won the entrance exam and Todoroki is Endeavor's son."
"Oh," Hitoshi said,"That explains it," he muttered.
"Explains what?"
"Bakugou wasn't happy with the results. He pretty much promised me we were going down when I collected the headband," Hitoshi said.
"Oh," Ochaco said. "Well even if that happens, we'll just have to steal it back," she decided. "And I know there will be some in 1B who will love you forever anyway," she added.
"For what?" Mei asked. She'd been concentrating on holding them steady with her baby booties. They were performing well and Izuku knew she'd be pleased by this opportunity to showcase them and how they combined with another quirk. He was impressed with them but he was also impressed with Ochaco. Usually she got sick when she lifted things, especially living things, but it didn't sound like she was feeling sick at all! Vlad King's training appeared to be paying off.
"Because Hitoshi beat 1A. They're a bit obsessed," she added.
Izuku was watching the teams below. After their disappearing act, and some glaring, they had devolved into a general fight but from the glances cast their way, they had been noticed. "So who do you think will be the first to try to get us?"
"Bakugou," Ochaco stated with supreme confidence.
It was as if her prediction preempted reality. From below them came a roar and the sound of explosions.
The blond launched himself at them, propelling himself by using a series of explosions.
"Is that allowed?" Izuku muttered. He didn't think the riders could leave their horses. If they could, he would have suggested sending Hitoshi up with Mei's baby booties while they fought it out on the ground.
"Mei?" Hitoshi asked.
"I see him," she replied. Given her posture, she probably saw him better than them all. She was bent over with her hands on Izuku's shoulders providing the back of the horse.
"Left or right?" Izuku asked intently.
"Left," Mei said.
"Hold on!" Izuku got out just as Mei shifted her weight, pointing her Baby Booties so that they shot left.
The blond whipped past them with an audible growl and Izuku craned his neck to watch him. He was more maneuverable than he'd thought. Because the explosions came from his hands, he could change his direction quickly but… it wasn't true flight and technically what they were doing here wasn't true flight but he thought they'd be more maneuverable and… Ah… Unless the blond was actually forcing himself through the air on a trajectory with his explosions, he couldn't actually hover. He had to be moving or he'd fall. That was an advantage.
"Mei, more left in two seconds," he said loud enough for her to hear. The squeeze of her hands on his shoulders told him she'd heard.
Bakugou yelled and turned himself, lining up on them but again he missed as Mei dodged. This time apparently he was ready and Izuku saw him lash out in a violent kick. He wasn't in a position to block it and heard the crack on to something solid.
"My Baby!" Mei cried.
"Is it okay?" Hitoshi asked.
The blond grinned viciously as he allowed himself to fall, controlling his descent with well timed blasts to slow himself until he was reeled back to his horse. That was an interesting quirk. While the substance looked like sticky tape it moved much more freely and didn't twist and stick to itself. Izuku shook his head. He could examine quirks later, though he wondered if he could get the same flexibility from his chain?
"Shit," was the not comforting reply. "Left boot is gone," Mei reported.
It was hard to hear over the noise of the crowd but Izuku thought he could hear it stuttering. "Ochaco can you keep us up?" Hitoshi asked.
"Yes but I can't move us around," she replied, still sounding fine.
"That's okay," Izuku reassured them. "Mei, how much can one boot move us?"
"Not as far or as fast," she told them.
"We'll make do," Izuku said. "Though Ochaco, give my compliments to Vlad!" he added.
She gave him a laugh knowing what he was referring to. She'd been building up her stamina but holding living things was not as easy as rock and she was holding them up.
"Ice!" Hitoshi yelled.
There was an explosion of ice from below. Mei responded to the call by pushing them back. It was probably the wrong choice because of the angle of the ice but there was no time to comment on that. The 'horse' ridden by Endeavor's son was being born aloft by the instantly forming glacier. They shot from it, directly towards them.
The red and white haired boy's expression didn't change but his team mates looked happy. Izuku saw him draw back his arm and readied himself. This was why he'd had Ochaco grab Mei's arms, not his. The horse could fight and in battle horses had fought. He was the head of this war horse.
When the teen reached forward, intent on grabbing Hitoshi's headband, Izuku's arm shot up, blocking the blow. It was only then that he noticed the arm was covered in flames. Apparently the other teen was shocked as well, but the opening gave Izuku a chance to kick at one of his team mates. He wasn't sure who he hit but there was a cry of pain and the formation broke which was enough to throw the rider. It gave Mei enough time to reangle her Baby Bootie so that they shot away.
As they did though, the movement shook Endeavor's son into recovery and he shot his other hand out. A blast of ice caught Mei again. Everyone was going for her! Though Izuku knew why. They probably knew they were in the air because of one of their quirks but movement was from Mei's Baby Booties. Izuku twisted, looking down. He'd hit the other Bootie.
"How long Mei?" Izuku asked.
"How long until what?" Hitoshi demanded. He'd done the sensible thing in that interaction and leaned back as far as he could to make the headband harder to get.
"About now," Mei said and there was an audible bang as the bootie died.
"We're sitting ducks?" Hitoshi yelled.
They weren't, technically. Izuku could move them but… not legitimately. He didn't use his quirks much outside of combat with Gigantomachia… actually he did, he just didn't notice it. He used them whenever he wanted. He hadn't turned a light on in years at night and carrying things was so much easier with Pocket! He used them when he knew they'd be perfect for the task, suddenly not being able to use them was rather frustrating.
"One minute!" the call came over the speaker system from Midnight.
That seemed to relax the others. Izuku knew it was going to be bad.
"Mei, is there any way you can give us one good push?"
"I'll try," came the response and he felt her take one hand off his shoulder to fiddle with the controls.
"Just one more minute," he said to the others, looking down at the others who were all looking up at them.
This should be easy. Hah!
-ted-
Things are going about as well as can be expected but at the moment they still have the 10,000,000 point headband. Next chapter obviously things get interesting as everyone wants it!
Izuku's management friends have learned a valuable lesson, don't bet against him, because he will make sure he wins :D At least it's just a cheap lunch on the line.
My discord is on this code: ZX2R5h2cEm FFN will remove links but you should be able to figure that out. There's a heap of other authors there, so come along and chat to us all!
-ted-
Loved it? Hated it? Found a spelling mistake? Let me know please!