AN: And now, time for a more lighthearted chapter, before everything goes wrong

Interlude III: Celebration

Wu Shi Temple, A Few Days After Earthrealm's victory

Izuku Midoriya and the rest of the group watched, kneeling on the ground with the rest of the Shaolin monks, as Liu Kang bowed to his teacher, a man Liu Kang called Bo Rai Cho. Bo Rai Cho gingerly took a medal out of a small red display, before putting it on Liu Kang's neck. With that, the audience started clapping, glad to see the Champion of Earthrealm recognized for his feats.

A Few Hours Later

Johnny, Jax, Sonya, and Kung Lao laughed around the fire, enjoying the palm wine the monks had rolled out of their cellars.

"And then, this is the best part, that asshole, drunk as all hell, told everyone that the scene "Wasn't authentic enough!', and then he lit the whole studio on fire with a flamethrower!"

The group laughed again. Jax looked around. "Hey, where's Liu Kang and Izuku?"

Johnny chuckled. "You're not gonna believe this, but I actually convinced Izuku to sing for us tonight."

Sonya punched his arm. "Get outta here." she replied to that statement, her tone conveying her disbelief.

Johnny shook his head. "No, I'm dead serious. While we were all on the ship, Izuku let slip that he used to be a host in some cabaret club when he was going undercover to take down a member of the yakuza. Said he got a lot of karaoke requests from the ladies. So, when we got back, I took the liberty of making a few calls and setting up some basic equipment with the monks here so our green haired vigilante could grace us all with his singing voice."

Jax put down his drink. "You're serious." He chuckled. "Oh man, I gotta see this."

Just then, a light shone on Izuku, who had changed out of his vigilante getup into a green formal shirt, a black formal vest, and a black tie.

"Hello, everyone. My name is Izuku Midoriya, and I'm afraid that I got roped into this by Johnny Cage, so if you're out there, Johnny, screw you."

The audience laughed. Izuku sighed, before continuing.

"This song is a staple of the host and hostess bars in Kamurocho, one of the first I picked up. Ladies and gents, I give you the first song I ever learned to sing, Kamurocho Lullaby!"

(Play Yakuza Kamurocho Lullaby)

The instruments picked up, as Izuku plucked up the microphone.

"Nagare-yuku Yoru-nocho"

"Ayashiku Madowasete"

"Yokujomo A-ijomo"

"Junrenkani Ya-ah Kamurocho"

Izuku paused for a few moments, as the beat picked up.

"Yasashiku Yoru-nidakare"

"Namida Horori Horori "

"Mai-chiru Yukiwakazaru"

"Hitode Yororeta-machidesaemo!"

"Hanasakitemo Hanachirutomo"

"Mabushi-i Setsugeka"

With his last lyric sung, Izuku bowed down.

"Arigato, Gosaimashita."

The audience cheered, clapping enthusiastically.

As Izuku jumped down the stage, Johnny clapped Izuku on the back.

"Wow! I'm gonna be honest, I have no idea what you sang about, but that was pretty good!"

Izuku chuckled. "It's nothing, just a small Enka song about a city district in Tokyo called Kamurocho, and how it's beauty stuns even the most hardened of individuals. It's all bullshit, but it's pretty catchy, and easy to remember."

Sonya shook her head. "I've been to Japan on an assignment before, and I've never heard of any district in Tokyo called Kamurocho."

"Hmm. Must be another thing that's different from Earthrealm and my world, aside from the time difference."

Jax creased his eyebrows, interested in the conversation. "Hang on, time difference? You saying that wherever you came from, it's not in the same year?"

Izuku shook his head. "Try 'century'. I was born in 23XX. Here, it's only 20XX."

"And are you sure that you came from a different world and...you know...didn't just time travel?"

Izuku shook his head again. "I took the liberty of looking up some basic information while we waited for Liu Kang's friends to pick us up. The basic events I was taught in my school days around this decade don't line up with what's going on currently, so I can safely say I am no longer on my own world anymore."

Johnny came back into the fray, looking excited. "Guys, you're not gonna believe this, but the monks and I were able to organize some party games!"

Jax laughed. "Party games, Cage? Do you know how much of a nerd you sound right now?"

Johnny looked towards Jax, unamused. "And for that little remark, I'm making sure you go last on all of em!"

Liu Kang laughed, having finished his conversation with Bo Rai Cho and coming towards the group. "I heard from Kung Bo, Master Wen, and Kung Lao that you were planning on some activities for us to participate in, Johnny. I'm excited to see what you've decided to put together!"

Johnny pointed his finger towards Liu Kang. "You see! This man...this man right here? He gets it!"

Izuku grabbed Liu Kang and Johnny Cage's shoulders. "Alright, then. What are we waiting for, gents? And lady." he hastily added, noticing he'd left Sonya out. Sonya responded with the flick of her middle finger.

Game #1: Test Your Might

Izuku could only stare as the monks wheeled in object after object, each one looking far tougher than the last. He turned to Johnny.

"Please remind me on how we're supposed to enjoy the rest of the games you've brewed up if our fingers are broken, Johnny."

Johnny waved his hand, unconcerned with how icy Izuku's voice had become. "Relax. The Monks apparently have some kind of healing liquid that they can mix with water. For tonight, though, they'll mix it with a small shot of palm wine instead."

Izuku nodded. "So, you're telling me, then, that all the losers in this game will have to drink a shot of wine?"

Johnny shook his head enthusiastically. "Nope! For anyone that loses, you not only have to drink a shot, you have to drink a shot for every round you missed! Each game has this little mechanic in place!"

Izuku chuckled. "Ok. That sounds a bit more fun than what I was just expecting."

(Play Red Dead Redemption 2 OST - A Quiet Time)

The former Kombatants were each given two small pillars to stand in front of, as pine boards were stacked atop. Preparing themselves, each member of the group breathed deeply, before striking the boards.

The monks cheered, before taking the debris and bringing in a log of teakwood for each warrior.

The game only escalated from there, with the monks bringing in oak, bamboo, coal, bricks, marble, silver, gold, iron, titanium, amber, gigantic pearls, sapphire, and ending the game with a diamond. By then, only two players remained, Johnny Cage and Liu Kang, as everyone else had almost broken their hands earlier.

The two stared each other down, before taking their positions. They breathed deep, before striking the statue.

Johnny Cage's fingers cracked, and he cursed in pain. Meanwhile, Liu Kang broke the statue with ease, before bowing low.

Johnny scoffed, before taking a shot with his unbroken hand. "Show off." he muttered, neglecting to remember that he himself had done the same the past few rounds.

"Alright, on to the next one!"

Game #2: Test Your Sight

Izuku and the others stood in front of a few tables, each of which contained ten cups. A monk was assigned to each table, taking three out.

Johnny called out to the rest of his friends. "Ok, ok, here's the deal. The monks here are gonna take-" he took a big coin, in the shape of a dragon. "-these things, and they'll hide it under one cup. They'll then start whiskin em around, trying to confuse you. Once they're done, you'll have to pick the cup that has the coin in it. If you pick the wrong one, you're out! Also, to keep things interesting, the monks'll keep adding cups to the game until they hit ten!"

And with that, the monks started to move the cups around. For the first few rounds, they moved relatively slowly, with the only difference being how many cups they added in between. After round 5, however, everything started going crazy. While the monks started again with only three, they moved inhumanely fast. Jax went out first, followed by Johnny and Sonya. Izuku, Kung Lao, and Liu Kang were the only ones that were left.

Izuku was sweating. This was legitimately tough. It was only thanks to previous experiences fighting against those with speed quirks that Izuku was able to keep up. He was starting to wonder if these monks were truly regular humans. Wiping his forehead, he nodded to the monk.

The monk started moving the cups, going so fast Izuku was barely able to keep up. 30 seconds later, the monk was done, waving his hands to the cups.

Izuku's eyes twitched, he hadn't been able to pinpoint the last two cups! He took a look to his right. There were only two choices, and call it a competitive streak if you want, but Izuku really did not want to lose. Doing a quick "eenie meenie miney mo", Izuku lifted up a cup.

To nothing.

Izuku groaned as the monk smirked and took the cup right next to the cup he'd chosen, revealing the coin.

Izuku glared at the smiling monk, before taking a shot of the palm wine. He quickly took in the status of his friends. Aside from the small red blush in a few of their faces, they seemed to be fine.

Liu Kang and Kung Lao ended up with a tie, coming to their friends.

"What now?"

Johnny shook his head. "Ok, the next one's not that original, I'm afraid."

Game #3: Test Your Strike

Izuku and the others stood in front of the same two pillars they'd done their first game at. Johnny called out to his friends.

"Ok, new game! This one'll be much shorter than the first. The goal is to destroy the target in the middle. It'll be differently colored from the other objects to stand out. If you don't end up breaking it, or end up breaking more than the target, you're out!"

All of the warriors breathed in deeply once again, before striking the bricks that the monks had lined up for them. Jax and Johnny were immediately called out for breaking too many of the bricks.

Just like the first game, this one quickly escalated, with the monks bringing in marble, silver, iron, diamonds, and ending the game with gold bars. Once again, Liu Kang emerged as the victor for this event. Izuku shakily took another shot, looking to his friends and wondering how they were faring.

Jax was definitely feeling the intoxication now, judging by his stumbling steps and slurred speech. Sonya was no better, giggling as she poked Johnny in the face. Johnny, surprisingly enough, seemed to be alright, bar the large red blush on his face and the few times he stumbled instead of remaining upright.

"Al-Al-hic. Alright! Next one's the last one. Lessss go!"

Final Game: Test Your Balance

Izuku and the others stood in front of a small pit. Looking down, Izuku could see a gigantic….bouncepad?

He turned to Johnny.

"Dude….how….where did t-t-the monks get dis stuff."

Johnny laughed. "I got it for em, man. Same guy who set up the concert stuff. All the shit we've been breaking's been on my budget."

Izuku chuckled. "A-a-and you're not wurried that you'll go bank...bank...in debt?"

"Nah, dude." Johnny whispered. "Honestly, screw muneh. I-I-I'd give it all up for you guys in a heartbeat."

Izuku hand snaked around Johnny's shoulder, bringing the actor close to him. Izuku tapped Johnny in the chest a few times. "You...you're a….you're a good friend, Johnny Cage."

Johnny laughed. "Shaddup. Cheers!", taking a shot and drinking it, not caring that he hadn't exactly participated in the game to consume the beverage.

Liu Kang, noticing how badly Johnny was intoxicated, decided to take charge on this one. Asking one of the monks hanging around the room what was the purpose of the next activity, Liu Kang turned to his friends.

"Ok, this one will be the last game. Very simple. You merely need to balance yourself on this beam. If you fall, you will land on this contraption Johnny was kind enough to provide us with, launching you back into the air. My Shaolin brothers will catch anyone that ends up launching themselves too high."

And with that, Liu Kang waved Jax over. The poor man didn't even last 10 seconds, before falling into the pit and bouncing back up to the floor.

Johnny's attempt was even shorter, immediately jumping into the pit with a cry of "GERONIMO!", before bouncing back up to the floor. The monks ran up to catch the actor, as he had almost touched the roof.

Izuku went in next, lasting a minute before he fell to the pit, bouncing upwards.

Sonya, funnily enough, lasted the longest of the other Kontendants, balancing for a full two and a half minutes before she too fell and lost.

Liu Kang and Kung Lao looked to each other, deciding that now was perhaps the best time to end the game.

"And that's all for now, my friends. Now, off to bed."

The group stumbled into each other, hastily apologizing.

Kung Lao facepalmed, while Liu Kang couldn't help but chuckle.

Hours Later

Izuku fell out of bed, having been hastily shaken out of it. His head ached like there was no tomorrow.

"Oy, what's the big idea?!" he harshly whispered, not wanting to shout.

The monk that had woken him up looked to him in fear.

"We're being attacked!"

AN: Here we go!

On another note, 118 followers! 101 favorites!

This has become my most popular story on this site, and I honestly wasn't expecting it to reach this level of success! When I said this was a half baked idea in my prologue chapter, I reallydid mean it was half baked. There were only three small notes I had in this story.

Follow The4thSnake's Wasted Plotential series, as it's a good base to see how things could change.

Make a badass Vigilante Izuku

Have him fight a strong character (like Raiden)

Pair him up with Mileena

THAT WAS IT!

Now, I'm going through an avalanche of ideas, and I really am excited to see where this series goes! I owe this excitement to all of you, so thank you for your support!