Anton shot up to a seated position. He gasped and panted with his limbs weak as if he had run a marathon. He clutched his chest and rubbed around his torso. The cold air that towed in the exit chamber made his teeth chatter. He ran his hands over his thin arms to create heated friction, his eyes swishing around the room in panic.

He sat right next to an empty platform where the universe energy had filled him and the other three. Currently, the room was empty save for himself and the white marble that stretched around the circular room.

"He's awake," A female British voice shouted.

Heavy footsteps pounded on the floor and shook Anton's body. He stretched his neck slow, his muscles a hard gelatin substance that slowed his every movement. He could only see the shape from the corner of his eye before his mouth was forced open by a strong pair of hands.

Anton choked on the stalk of broccoli that was jammed into his mouth. He fell onto his back with Megan thrusting the thick stalk into his mouth. Anton gagged and felt his teeth pushed backwards from the force of the hard vegetable that Megan pushed further into his throat.

"Eat it," Megan shouted. "Eat it, Anton."

Anton felt the pressure from the stalk leave his mouth when Megan flew backwards. A spider web pulled her back and dragged her towards the wall of the chamber. Hunter landed next to Anton and popped out the broccoli.

"You okay, Anton?" Hunter asked.

Anton puffed out florets of broccoli and coughs up bits of green leaf. Some of the particles stuck into his teeth despite Anton wiping away the spit dripping from his mouth.

"What is wrong with you?" Anton spat out. He doubled over and struggled for air.

Megan got up and ripped away the spiderwebs around her back. One of the strands stuck in her hair and swung over her face when she approached Anton.

"Sorry," Megan said. "But broccoli is important for rejuvenating yourself. Also, I thought it would power you up seeing as your green."

"I don't need broccoli because I'm green," Anton sneered in disgust. "Why would you think that?"

"Everyone needs broccoli," Megan said.

A symphony of shoes shook the floor and rumbled towards Anton. He turned back around saw a pack of people rushing up to him. The rest of his class surrounded him like rabid wolves and mobbed him.

"Hey, Anton," Blake said. "You were so cool out there. You turned all yellow and you shot a bunch of weird things out of your body and you took down that blonde guy!"

"And you were so strong and you looked really handsome out there, too," Robyn said into his ear. "It was also cool how Pathogen helped you. He's really helpful."

Finally, someone notices!

Marten pulled a needle out from behind his back. "I must inject you with this needle. There's a tracker inside that can monitor your vitals so we can determine-."

"What?" Anton scooted back. "Don't come near me!"

"But I must for your health," Martel said. "I must examine and document you."

"No, you don't!" Anton shouted. "Hunter, speak sense to them."

Hunter shrugged. "If it's for your health, it's good for you."

"Quick," Robyn said. "Someone hold him down."

The mob dived on top of Anton, he screamed and wiggled his arms to avoid the flurry of hands on him. Robyn and Blake held down his hands with Martel leaning down on him. Anton tried to fight them off, but the group was too strong and kept him down. The needle, as long as a boa constrictor, jabbed through the air down towards his arm.

"Enough!"

The group paused and looked up at the source of the noise. Calista looked over Anton along with Aslovee and Isabel next to her. She reached her hand down towards Anton.

"Good job," Calista said. "We did it."

Anton grabbed her warm hand and rose to his feet. His knees crackled with stress, and he let out a soft groan and rubbed his head.

"I feel like a train ran me over," Anton said.

"That's normal for this kinda thing," Isabel said. "Eat bananas. They'll loosen you up."

Anton blinked. "So…that's it? We saved the universe?"

"Yup," Isabel chirped. "And we received a message that the Central Platform has already sent the energy back. So time has started for all universes."

"Our job is done," Aslovee said in a gruff tone. "Time to go."

"Aww, you don't wanna say goodbye?" Isabel asked. "I feel like we already have a bond with all of them."

Calista stepped towards Anton and put a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you, Anton. Without you, we couldn't have done this."

Anton frowned and avoided the gaze of Calista's bright blue eyes. "Okay, but why me? Why was I chosen with you?"

"Above my paygrade," Calista smiled. "But one day, you'll find out."

"But why you all?" Anton pointed at her. "What makes you so special? Or any of us for that matter?"

"We are creations of the same Creator," Aslovee said. He stared up at the ceiling with a distant look in his ink-black eyes. "A connection that flows between us and all that are products of his imagination."

"Of his love," Isabel said.

"Of his will," Calista said. "And frankly, that's as complicated as it needs to be."

Back in the white room, Calista typed in the last piece of code. The rest of the class behind her, she presses the button to run the script. A bar ran over the center of the screen as the code uploaded into the system.

Robyn glowed at the sight of Aslovee's twin swords that he unsheathed for her. She grabbed the one around her waist and pulled on the hilt.

"Wow," Robyn said. "Those are so much shinier than mine."

"It's a special metal only from a specific District," Aslovee said. "I found it after bashing some kid's skull in a space station."

"Oh," Robyn said. "My mom gave this to me on Christmas."

"What's that," Aslovee said.

"Christmas?" Robyn said. She stroked her chin and clinked her sword onto one of Aslovee's weapon. "I guess it's today, isn't it?"

"Today is just another day," Aslovee said. "At least, in my universe."

"Well, Every day can be Christmas in a way," Robyn said. "Just depends on how you look at things."

Aslovee nodded. "So…it's a good thing, though. Right?"

"Right," Robyn said.

"So today was good," Aslovee said. "Which makes it Christmas."

Robyn chuckled and took a step closer to the boy right at her height, the reflection of her pale body within his irises. "That doesn't sound so bad, does it?"

"I guess not."

Boom! A loud rumble growled in the exit chamber behind the steel door. The room shook for a second before the energy stabilized. A bright flash glowed around the doorframe of the steel, and Calista turned back and placed the LED headset on the crown of her head.

"It's time," Calista said.

Isabel, who was droning on at lightning speed with Blake, pulled out her headset and placed it on her head. She patted Blake on the head and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

"Good job finding the exit chamber," Isabel said. "We'd never have found it in time."

"Oh, it was nothing," Blake said. "No mystery is a match for Ace Detectives Drake and Blake!"

Isabel turned towards the red-head and sauntered up to him. "He's right. You're pretty good at puzzles, aren't you? Drake?"

Drake leaned back from the blonde girl's excited stare and swallowed. "Uh…yeah. Mostly, I play chess."

Isabel pulled out another headset and handed it over to Drake. "Then take this. It's a way that we can continue to communicate with each other. After we go back home."

Drake looked down at the neon green visor and collapsed the plastic hinges in his hand. His yellow eyes peered back at Isabel. "Why?"

"I'd like to show you around my universe," Isabel said. "It's quite boring, but I live in this penthouse in Detroit, and you can meet Yurio and the team, and I'm training to be a chef one day-."

"But only use it when you are about to sleep," Calista came over and yanked Isabel back with her collar. However, she took Isabel's place and planted herself just inches away from Drake's face. "Physically, you'll still be in your world. However, your consciousness will be what brings you to our universes."

"But really, you should try and sleep around Detroit time," Isabel said. "Cause that's when I'll be available."

"Though, I think you would find my universe much more enriching," Calista interjected. "In fact, we have real dragons that I'm sure you could converse with."

"Converse?" Drake asked.

"Aren't you part dragon?" Aslovee asked next to Robyn.

"No," Drake answered. "I just have powers."

"Then, you can come and I can help you study them," Calista said. "I'm sure there is something in the wizard of world that could benefit your dragon abilities."

"Or you can come by and have some sashimi," Isabel said. "I'm making it on Thursday!"

"We also have wizarding chess," Calista said. "You'd love it."

"Or I can make you lobster risotto," Isabel stepped up to Drake. "It's really flavorful and hot!"

"Though firewhisky warms you up much quicker," Calista shouldered Isabel with the two girls crowding Drake.

"I can teach you how to grill steak! Dragons love meat!"

"I can make you potions! There are plenty that will help you in the real world!"

"We can cook together," Isabel said.

"We can learn together," Calista added.

Drake scanned the gazes of admiration from the blonde and the brunette. Both pairs of blue eyes differently shades, but both shined with adoration at the confused and oblivious Alaskan dragon.

"Y'know," Anton grumbled from the corner. "I'm the one that actually got shot with all of that light with you all."

Calista broke out of her reverie and blushed. She turned back towards Anton and snapped her fingers. "Oh, right. Here you go, Anton."

She grabbed a second pair of the headset and threw them at Anton. He grabbed them and shoved them into his pocket. With a frown, he stepped towards the center of the room and nodded his head in acknowledgement.

Aslovee sighed and pushed the handle of one of his swords towards Robyn. "Here."

Robyn saw sparkles dancing in her vision and grabbed onto the handle. She felt the worn, but tough leather in her hands and screeched in excitement.

"Oh my gosh, yes!" She shouted. "You're really giving me one of your space swords?"

"You may need it more than me," Aslovee said. "Besides, the revolution in my universe is almost over. I'll probably win. Or not. But I probably will."

Aslovee stomped towards the two girls still admiring Drake. Robyn hopped in excitement and climbed on top of Hunter flashing her swords in each hand.

With a flick of his arm, Aslovee scooped Calista and Isabel in his grasp and scooted them away from Drake. They both let out sounds of protest before Aslovee placed his headset back on.

"Hey, wait a second," Calista said.

"C'mon! He's so cool!" Isabel said.

Aslovee let them go right at the door. The girls flashed glares of annoyance before placing their visors over their eyes.

"When we say," Calista said towards Drake. "Just hit the 'enter' button on the keyboard. That will send us back to the Central Platform. After we're gone, just press the key again and it will run the backup code used to exit this digital universe."

"And then what?" Hunter asked.

"Walk into the light," Isabel said with a smirk.

Aslovee pressed a button on the keypad. The steel door slid open to the entry corridor. The bright light encompassed the entire hall and tinted the walls an immaculate white that flickered in the plexiglass that showcased the exit chamber.

"But what about our other classmates," Anton said. "Leo and the others that disappeared. Will they be coming back?"

Calista sighed and shoved her hands in her pockets. "I'm not sure. We may come across them in the Central Platform, but what happens to them isn't up to us. I don't think you'll know until you wake up in reality."

"But all of this," Hunter waved his arms around him. "This meant something, right? This isn't just some fever dream we're having?"

"Of course it means something," Calista said. "You are all heroes."

Calista walked into the hallway with Isabel in tow. Aslovee paused at the precipice and turned back towards the odd set of characters.

"I've lived a pretty rough life," Aslovee said. "I'd trade a lot to be where you all are. When you wake up, don't waste time. Don't waste…it."

When he turned back, Robyn lifted up the sword from space.

"Thanks for the sword!"

Aslovee turned back with a slow tilt of his neck. Then, his lips stretched into the smallest hint of a smile.

"Thanks for letting us finish our stories."

The class waved at Aslovee when he closed the door. A few moments later, the sound of the light gave way to silence. On the computer screen, a screen flashed indicating that they were gone and back to their homes. At least, that is what Drake inferred.

"This has been a weird few days," Robyn said. "And being kidnapped by a Villain is like barely in the top five."

"Oh yeah," Megan said. "We should probably discuss that."

"Later," Drake said. "Let's get out of this hellhole first."

Drake walked over towards the computer. Right as his hand was about to click on the button to run the backup code….

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The class turned back towards the metal doorway leading out to the pawn shop. The wall shook with the steel warping just a hair with every hard hit.

Drake frowned and turned back to the computer. In one tab, he clicked on the security camera setting that showed the pawn shop outside the white room.

"Who is it?" Megan asked.

"It's Mister Bakugo," Drake said. "And he doesn't look happy."

"Let me in, you damn nerds!" The voice roared outside.

"I guess we should let him in," Robyn said.

"Wait," Drake said. "I find that odd."

"What is," Megan said.

"Was Deku able to tell Bakugo of the whereabouts of our location?" Drake asked.

"Maybe he just texted it or something," Robyn said. She flinched when another punch shook the room.

"Open up!" He shouted.

"He's being very aggressive," Drake said.

"He's always aggressive," Hunter said.

"I believe Drake has a point," Martel said. "Bakugo has been absent the last two days. Why was he not at school? Where has he been the last few days?"

"He's a teacher," Robyn said. "He can do whatever he wants."

"Wait," Drake said. "Martel, do you know if Deku told Bakugo where this place was?"

"Most likely, no," Martel said. "He tasked me specifically with alerting the others in our class, but I refrained from telling Bakugo."

"Why?"

"On the vitals chart I hacked from the Project Daedalus mainframe," Martel pulled out his tablet and flashed it to the others. It was a blue screen with the list of names. "This shows the roster of people trapped within this universe."

Blake looked at the list and narrowed his eyes. "I see all of us. Deku. Even Katsu's guardian, Shoto. But no Bakugo."

Bam! Another shake. Drake headed for the computer as the others crowded Martel. Drake bent down and scrolled through the security camera footage on the monitor. He clicked to a camera that showed the exterior of the pawn shop and scrolled through the hour they had been there.

"Why would Bakugo not be on there," Robyn said. "Unless he's just an extra in this universe."

"It's unlikely he is an A.I," Martel said. "His vitals are still monitored, although they were only recently labeled as offline."

"Martel," Drake turned back towards the class. "Your mother is trying to delete us along with this universe, correct?"

"Correct."

"She has entered this universe time and time again. Right?" Drake asked.

"Yes."

"Can you show us if her vitals were monitored as well?" Drake asked.

Bang! Bang! The steel frame on top came ever so loose.

Martel swiped over towards Edith Void's chart. "In fact, I have been able to see she entered last on Octobe-."

Martel paused and enlarged the image. "Wait. This says she entered only an hour ago."

"And where was she?" Drake asked. "I'm sure she had a phone or something you can track the location from?"

Bang!

"Guys, I think we should just let him in," Robyn said. "We can talk this out with him."

Martel tapped on his tablet. "She was at the Void Industries newest corporate headquarters in San Francisco. Specifically, she was inside the main meeting room."

"And Bakugo," Drake said. "Where was his phone located at the time?"

"Well, if I go by the tracker app and plug in his phone number and location GPS service, I can find that it was…." Martel trailed off and locked eyes with Drake.

"At Void Industries," Drake stated. He pulled back from the computer monitor and showcased a still of the security footage on the screen. He started the tape and let it play for a few seconds. The class gathered around just as the punching in the wall died down leaving them in silence.

On the screen was the pawn shop. Then, just a few minutes prior, a funnel of code swirled around in a small twister by the sidewalk. With a small flash, Bakugo appeared with a silver remote control in his hand.

Drake paused the video and zoomed into the remote. On the side of the rectangular device, black words were etched into the steel that gleamed under the setting sunlight outside.

"Property of Void Industries," Martel said.

Robyn, Hunter and Megan gasped. Blake's mouth dropped open while Drake crossed his arms.

"No way," Anton said. "Bakugo was in on it? Why…did Calista know? Why wouldn't they tell us?"

"Maybe they thought he was indisposed," Martel said. "I have his vitals going offline just an hour ago likely when he was in San Francisco."

Bang!

The door popped out of its frame. The steel bent in half and was then kicked into the room. From behind the dust of debris, a menacing and muscular outline wafted through the cloud into the room. Bakugo, now wearing his hero costume, glared at the room with piercing red eyes that struck fear in most of the students. Unlike the challenging, but honest teacher they had gotten to know, they faced the look of a hero who saw a group of villains that he needed to vanquish.

"All of you," Bakugo said. "Step away from the computer."

The class froze in place. Drake, however, puffed out his chest and took a hunger step forward.

"Why?" Drake asked. "You know what will happen to us if this console is destroyed?"

"I do."

"Then you know why I can't do that, Professor Bakugo." Drake said with mirth.

"I can't jeopardize this project," Bakugo said. "This is my chance. My reason for being. You wouldn't understand."

"But do you understand," Drake said. "Do you understand what you would do to us? What would happen if we weren't able to leave?"

Bakugo took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The rest of the room gazed upon the two as if they were gunslingers in the Wild West. Behind Bakugo, the warm sunlight of the pawn shop shrouded the man with an ominous glow accentuated by the smoke starting to hollow from his fists.

When he opened his eyes, Bakugo was filled with more resolve than ever. He peered right at Drake and nodded.

"I do," Bakugo said. "And that's the price I'm willing to pay."

"Stop them now! All of them!"

Izuku, without a quirk, knew he had to act right away. As fast as Steve had burst into the room, all of the scientists pulled out golden staffs that illuminated the room with an apricot glow that made the hairs on his arm stand up.

The mob of scientists approached the group on the platform. They marched around and surrounded them with the alarms still blaring through Izuku's ears. In the large monitor by the central console, an emergency sign blinked on the screen. The doors etched into the brick perimeter slammed shut with iron shields shutting in front of them and blocking the exits.

Before the scientists could encircle them entirely, Izuku ran towards the side of the elevated platform and jumped off the edge. He landed and sprinted for the desk at the side and grabbed a leather executive chair. Using just his brute strength, Izuku swung the chair at the nearest scientist. The older man grunted in pain and fell to the ground. The golden cane rolled over to Izuku. He grabbed the black handle and lifted up the staff towards his face. The golden lightning spat off the top of the bulbous orb which illuminated his green eyes.

With the staff in hand, Izuku turned back and pointed at his class.

"Everybody," Izuku shouted. "Fight!"

One of the scientists in the middle of the mob pointed the staff and shot white lightning right for Shoto who stood in the center. Before he could act, Leo leapt in front of the blast and held out his hands. The bolt stopped right by his fingertips and then retreated backwards towards the top of the staff. The bolt disappeared back into the weapon and caused the staff to electrocute the wielder. He fell to the floor and passed out from the current.

Shoto slammed his foot onto the floor and created an ice trail that smashed into a small quad of scientists who flew to either side of the trail. Shoto pushed himself onto the ice and skated into hevtrail towards the side of the room. He threw fire out of his hand and singed the tops of the worker's heads who dropped and rolled onto the ground.

The battle devolved into a flurry of yellow rays and explosions as pieces of furniture and desk exploded into bits of mahogany and steel. Lloyd grabbed a shard of the wood and morphed it into dust. He shaped it within his hands and stabbed one woman in the shoulder. She dropped to the floor and writhed around as if her limbs had been cut off. Lloyd shot the dust behind her and smacked another man in a helmet on the chin. He collapsed and remained still on the ground.

"Lloyd!"

The Canadian flipped around only to see the top of a staff sailing for his face. The heat singed the tips of Lloyd's red hair, and before he could act, the weapon burned just inches away from his nose.

The staff was stopped, however, by a hand that enclosed around the end of the weapon. The energy streamed from the golden rod towards the arm and traversed over fair skin through the body of a certain raven-haired boy with purple and green eyes. Once the energy was sucked into him, James let out an evil chuckle and balled his fists.

"Thanks for the juice, manatee," James said.

He roared and punched the man in the face. With his neon energy balled into his fists, it exploded on the man's head and forced him to fly backwards into the wall. The man's body was ravaged with the impact into the wall, his limbs collapsing into a limp heap at the base with the imprint from his body etched into the frame.

"Pay attention to your surroundings, Lloyd," James said.

Lloyd smiled. "Thank you, James."

"Eh? For what?"

"For calling me by my name."

James stopped at the realization. He swallowed and, his face flushed, darted away with a trail of lavender neon flowing behind him.

The boy slid on his legs towards a desk by a water cooler. As a scientist rolled past them after being punched by Austin, James grabbed the edge of the desk and swung into a small hole next to Moxie and Alistair who both hid under the mahogany that gleamed red with the flashing emergency lights and blood.

"Are you alright, otter," James said and grabbed Moxie by the arm.

Moxie saddled next to James and hugged him from the side. "I reckon I'm fine. It's just I don't know how to use Deku's quirk at all! That one time, something just came alive in me and told me how to do it."

"Then let it happen again!" James said. "This is so we can get back to Earth!"

"I need time to think," Moxie said. "Plus, Alistair here is basically useless without his magic."

"Excuse you," Alistair said.

James flashed a mirthless glare at Alistair. He reached over Moxie's lap and balled up Alistair's collar into his fist. Alistair choked with his neck stretched from the tight grip.

"You stay here and don't do a thing. And if someone comes for Moxie, you're the shield," James said before her threw Alistair back into the wall of the desk. "If we got back to the real world. I'm gonna grill you like a hot dog!"

James jumped out of the desk and blasted the nearest person. Behind him, Shoto skated past and kicked one of the younger members of the department in the face. Moxie snuck her head from under the desk and peered over the surface. Her hand vibrated with ruby sparks running over her fingers.

She spied Steve at the door who was barking out orders at the scientists scrambling about like mice running from felines. With a steel gaze, Moxie got out of her spot and ran towards him.

Along with the alarm still honking, the scene was chaotic as it was loud and discombobulating for Synaes who somersaulted off the platform and lifted her cane and slashed it forward into the face of one of the henchmen. Seeing the dots flickering in almost every corner of her mental radar, she dodged each lash of the staffs from the scientist and backflipped to avoid a bolt that sailed underneath her.

However, Abel was slow on the uptake as his music player simply refused to work. He clicked on the button to play a song, but his headphones kept shorting out. Still on the platform, he yelped when he saw the electricity cascade over the air towards him.

Abel fell onto his stomach and let the energy collide with Katsu's back. He absorbed the power and smirked with his body emanating an auburn glow. He expelled a small portion of the energy to propel himself upward towards the infinite ceiling. His head swimming in the black of space, he scanned the ground for the largest proportion of scientists that fought the students. He thrusted towards the area by a coffee machine and aimed his legs for the center of the mass of people.

SMASH!

Concrete and marble blasted from the impact upward and across the room. A flurry of Scientists flew from the blast and tumbled over the air. Electrical wires snapped out of the floor and snaked around in a writhing circle and spitting out sparks. One of scientists crashed his back into a vending machine that tumbled over and fell on top of him.

Another one collide with Austin's back who was busy brawling with a burly man. It knocked Austin forward into the edge of the man's staff. The electricity zapped Austin. His muscles tensed, and he lost control as his body shrunk from the electric impulses that overtook his mind and replaced it with hot pain bounding through his frame like an echo through a cave.

He remained in his spot paralyzed and felt his body start to collapse down to a knee. His right arm shook as he forced it upward at a minuscule pace to wrench the weapon away. The large man above him could only smile at Austin's attempt, but he was curious to see if he could actually reach the top.

Austin's fingertips got closer and closer, but the electricity pursued through his body and made his muscles protest with more pain. A screech rang in his ears with his vision blinded by the ivory flashes that sparkles in his gaze. He gave off one last silent scream before attempting a quick lunge.

Then, the pain ended. A flying kick from Abel pulled the weapon away and made the end chink onto the ground. Abel, his headphones now blaring the opening riff to "Money For Nothing," kicked the man's fist who then dropped the staff with a clatter between him and Abel. As he reached down for it, Austin shot up to his feet and swiped his forearm at the man in an upward slash. His spikes dug into the side of the man's face with one in particular jutting right into his eyeball.

Blood spurted out of the poor man's eye. He screamed with the eyeball popping out and rolling onto the floor. In his panic, he kicked the organ away towards the central console.

"Aw, man," Abel shook his head. "That was gross, Austin."

"I didn't mean to!" Austin said in defense.

The man stumbled forward. One hand covered his eye. The other felt out the air in front of him searching for a surface to rest upon. He felt the cool steel of the central console and lay his forearm on a green button right next to the emergency shutdown.

The lights turned back to their normal tiny. The alarm switched off with the screens returning to their normal status. The sound of scientists moaning on the floor and pints of fresh blood oozing down the walls. A trapeze of ice swam over the room with electrical wires popping like shotgun blasts. The remaining scientists fought with the other students. Lloyd batted awa one of them with his dust. Synaes threw James at one of them with the boy's head colliding with a girl's forehead. Katsu bounced around the room and kicked another man in the stomach.

Right behind the platform, Izuku zapped one of the men and caused him to pass out on the ground. Turning around, a hand wrapped around his neck with a golden barrel jabbed into the temple of his head.

At the same time, Moxie reached Steve. She snuck up from behind him and threw her arm around his neck in a chokehold. She held her finger in a flicking position pressed into the bed of her thumb. She held it up to the side of his skull and charged up her new quirk into her hand.

"Everyone stop!" Two voices shouted.

Izuku dropped the staff and flickered his gaze to the side. Standing right beside him with his legs digging into Izuku's side, Gran Torino held the weapon with his shaking finger at the trigger. A sparkling bronze pistol brushed into his green hair and jabbed at his head.

The room froze to a halt. Shoto dropped from the ice bridge he created and landed feet away from Izuku and Gran Torino. He other students paused and looked towards the other source of the noise.

Moxie held Steve hostage with her finger ready to rip his head clean off. She shook with a brave face plastered on to show anxious confidence.

On the central console monitor, a warning flashed that read "Transport Incoming" with a timer counting down from thirty seconds.

Moxie stared down Gran Torino. All eyes shifted between the two as both pairs tiptoed to the center of the room.

"Nobody do anything rash," Gran Torino said. "This gun will completely erase Izuku's soul from existence if I pull the trigger."

Moxie pulled Steve forward with her finger trembling by his ear. "Then, I'll blow this guy's head off!"

"No, you won't," Gran Torino said. "Little girl, do you know what the consequences would be of either these actions your planning? Killing The Creator? Transporting an unscheduled soul back to Earth? Death isn't something to cheat."

"We're not cheating it," Moxie stopped at the edge of the platform. "We need Deku on Earth. Everyone in our group is needed on Earth."

"I know you think that," Gran Torino said center in front of Moxie. "But the story of these characters has ended. There is no more future. They've done what they needed, and you should take solace in knowing their sacrifices saved so many people."

"No, I don't accept it," Moxie said. "Either we go or none of us."

Steve scoffed in Moxie's grasp. "You'd throw away life on Earth just for a bunch of people who have already served their purpose?"

"In a heartbeat," Moxie looked right into Izuku's eyes. "Because that's what being a hero is about."

"The world needs One-For-All," Gran Torino said. "This universe needs it. Without it, something even worse than All-For-One will arise and destroy everything. Maybe not within your lifetime, but one day, humanity will need that power to defeat evil. You can't take that away, Moxie."

"I'm not!" Moxie said. "You are if you don't let us all go home!"

"Moxie," Izuku said. "Please let Steve go."

"No," Moxie shouted. "I'm getting us out of here, Mister Deku. And that's it!"

"Moxie, please."

"We can get out of this," Moxie shouted. "We can find a way."

"Moxie, it's okay," Izuku cut her off. "I'll stay."

The students gasped. Grab Torino lowered his pistol and stepped away from Izuku. He swallowed and locked eyes with each of his students and Shoto.

"I'll stay," Izuku said. "My story is over. I can stay."

Moxie eased off Steve who ripped himself away from the girl. He gasped for air and massaged his neck which was imprinted with a red belt around the center from Moxie's arm. He doubled over and glared up at Izuku.

"It's not a negotiation," Steve said. "You don't get to make the big sacrifice here, Izuku. It's all or nothing."

"Steve," Izuku said. "My students still have a future. They have lives to live. Any reasonable and just god would see that. They're just kids. They deserve that chance!"

"Even if I wanted to, I don't get to make that call," Steve stood up and adjusted his tie. "That's for the big guy on the other side of the train tracks. The Capitol G, if you know what I mean. He just provides me the list, and I follow it."

Izuku frowned and looked down at his red shoes. He thought his way through the situation as the entire room seemed to surround and constrict Izuku's breathing.

"I'm sorry, Izuku. Your students have to stay. Moxie, Leo and Lloyd will be the only ones that can leave."

Izuku saw the looks of horror on his students. Moxie rushed over to James and grabbed his hand. The black-haired boy turned to Lloyd who could only gape at him. Abel was serious for once and fell back and sat by a desk with Austin gripping his hair in exasperation. Synaes frowned at the ground and rubbed Austin on the back. Katsu stepped closer to Shoto and bumped his shoulder into the older man. Leo shook his head while Alistair climbed out of his hiding spot and could only examine the room with a despondent glance.

"No," Izuku shook his head. "No, no. Heh, no. No, I don't accept that. I won't ever accept that. You're out of your mind if you think I'm going to just walk away from here. My students are going home. They're going back to that universe and then they're going into the real world. I don't think you know who I am by now, but-."

"I know all I need to," Steve said.

"No, I don't think you do," Izuku said. "Because if you did, you'd know that my students are going to live. That's not a question or a request. That's what I'm saying is going to happen. Do you think I became a hero, I saved all of those lives, I defeated all of those villains, you think I did that so I would just lay down at the end? I said I was going to save people with a smile on my face, and I intend on doing that for these last nine people in this room. And yes, I'm even including the wizard kid that tried to kill me. I'll do whatever it takes. Maybe you didn't realize that when I was pushing refrigerators on a beach or when I gave up One-For-All to Kacchan. But if whatever it takes means I have to fight you or go to God himself and fight him, I'll do it. Even if my soul is erased forever, it will live on. In the innocent citizens I save, in the memories I've made, in the people that I've been able to call me friends and my family…My soul will live on. So whatever needs to be done, whatever happens to me, doesn't even matter. Because as long as my kids get to go home, I'll accept anything."

Steve wiped his mouth and took a step to the edge of the platform. "You practiced that speech quite a bit, didn't you? It's a really nice one. Won't work, but pretty nice."

Izuku looked eyes with Shoto. Above Steve's head, the countdown for the incoming people lowered to just within twenty seconds. Steve pulled out his own golden gun and pointed it at Izuku.

"It's nothing personal," Steve said. "But your story ends here."

"Sorry, what?" Izuku cupped his hand by his ear.

Steve blinked. "I said that your story ends here."

"My what?" Izuku said. "Sorry, I think the alarms in here hurt my hearing."

"You heard me fine a minute ago," Steve shouted.

"Oh, I can actually hear you great," Izuku said. "I was just buying time for the distraction."

"The wh-."

The moment the countdown behind Steve hit zero, a white flash blinded him just inches from the platform. Steve screamed and flew away towards the side of the room with the light blowing a harsh wind through the room. Izuku dived to the ground with the rest of the students grabbing onto whatever furniture they could find.

The blast faded as soon as it came. In its wake, Calista pulled out her wand and scanned the area. Isabel whipped out her gun and stood next to Aslovee who unsheathed his swords.

Steve sat up and saw the platform with the three. He blinked with spots still bursting in his vision. Before he could act, Shoto stood up and created a wall of ice that disconnected that side of the room Witt the central console. Shoto formed an ice path and skated to the other side of the console. He arose another wall of frozen crystal that stretched as far up into the heavens as he could make stretch it. Before any of the scientists in the room could know it, the platform and console were cocooned within a castle of ice along with the visitors to the Central Platform.

"Let's move," Calista said. She and the other two rushed for the console and took positions at each station on it. Calista put in code while Aslovee and Isabel turned a few knobs to correct the energy levels needed.

"Isabel, Aslovee," Lloyd shouted. "What's happening? Where did you all come from?"

"Wait, that's the witch," Moxie pointed at Calista. "The one that knocked me out with her dark magic!"

Alistair's jaw dropped when he saw the brunette with bright blue eyes rush past him.

"Calista? Calista!" He chased after the girl.

"Listen, everyone," Izuku shouted. "Shoto has been in contact with these three who are from different universes over a cell phone. They came up with this plan, and he told me a few moments ago before talking with Katsu."

"Everybody get to the center of the platform," Shoto shouted.

A loud bang shook the ice wall next to them. A few shards fell and knocked onto Moxie's shoulders. She turned and saw a battering ram that slammed into the hard facade. Each hit created a small fissure within the dense wall.

"We only have maybe a minute," Izuku said.

Calista nodded and turned back to the console. The battering rams on both sides of them shook the console and rained down more ice. One block shattered just a foot behind her, but she remained locked in to the computer monitors and typed away.

Alistair approached Calista and held out his hand. With a feather touch, he felt Calista's shoulder.

"Calista?" Alistair said. "It's me. I…"

"Say what you need to," Calista said. "We don't have much time."

"How…how are things back at school?" Alistair said.

Calista paused and turned to Alistair. The boy felt a chill run up his spine from the breathtaking eyes that bore into his. That was until he got smacked in the cheek.

"Ow!"

"You bastard," Calista said. "We've been heartbroken! How could you just die and leave us! That Julian kid especially is so sad. And your sister has spent the whole year so far crying in the girls dormitories!"

"I'm sorry," Alistair said. "I'm so sorry for all of this. I hope you can forgive me one day. I hope you won't keep hating me.

Calista rolled her eyes. "Leonhardt, you really are the densest idiot I've ever met."

"What?"

"I never hated you, stupid," Calista said. "You're a self-centered, narcissistic Slytherin bastard, but I've never hated you."

Alistair blinked and took a step closer to Calista. "I thought you were repulsed by me."

"I was," Calista said. "But then I got to actually know you. Not the womanizing, smug dumb blonde you. The sweet and gentle you. The real you. I think about you every day."

"And yet," Alistair said. "We can't be together."

"No," Calista said. "Because you're no longer apart of my universe."

"That's okay," Alistair said. "I'll still be with all of you. You're a beautiful girl, Calista. And I would have been honored to take you to the Christmas Ball."

"Please," Calista let out a sad laugh. "I would have rejected you."

"And I would have persuaded you," Alistair stroked Calista's cheek.

"Enough," Calista said and faced Alistair. "Merlin, you're annoying."

Before Alistair could respond, Calista threw herself on him and planted a deep kiss on his lips. Alistair closed his eyes for the few moments of bliss he could finally share with his fellow schoolmate. When they finished, Calista and Alistair grinned like two idiots at one another.

"My, Calista," Alistair said. "For a Ravenclaw, you're an incredible kisser."

Calista smacked Alistair's chest and pushed him away. "I can't wait to meet you again, just so I can have time to curse you for that."

Alistair chuckled and glowed at Calista one last time. "Tell my family that I'm with them. Forever."

Calista stared at Alistair's handsome face and nodded. With one last wink, he ran back to the platform as she pulled her attention back to the computer screen before her and regained her coding momentum. The green numbers flowed from her hands onto the keyboard before a loud siren emanated from the console.

"I just did the emergency override," Isabel said. "There's just enough juice get them all back there. But it'll kill the machine for a while."

"So we won't be able to escape," Calista said under her breath.

"I'm okay with that," Aslovee said. "I'm in this as long as you are."

"Good," Calista said. "Then we face our fates together."

The three smiled at each other as Calista pressed the green button on the middle of the console. A timer with only thirty seconds blinked on the screen.

The foundation of the ice walls cracked. The pounding battering rams collided with a loud reverberation that shook everyone to their core.

"Everyone get ready," Shoto shouted at the class. "It's time to head home!"

The rest of the class gathered by the platform and huddled together. Katsu ran over to Shoto who was right behind Calista at the console and tugged on his arm.

"Shoto, we gotta go," Katsu said.

"Katsu, get back to your place!"

"Shoto, we still need you!"

"My story is over," Shoto said. "Now, I face my retribution for my sins."

"You can do that on Earth," Katsu shouted. "Just become Catholic and go to confession or something!

"No, Katsu. There's no time."

"We still need you!"

"No, you don't!"

"I still need you! Shoto, I still need you!" Katsu cried out.

Shoto stopped amidst the bombastic noise and shaking tile beneath him. He smiled and grabbed Katsu into one last tight hug.

"And I'll be there every step of the way," Shoto said. "Wherever or whenever you are, I'll be with you."

"Are you sure," Katsu said with tears welling in his eyes. He smothered his face into Shoto's chest.

"Like I said," Shoto stammered out with a tight throat. "You'll always be worth looking for."

Behind him, Izuku rushed for Katsu. He grabbed the boy and pried him off and wrapped his arms around him. Izuku took the second to lock eyes with Shoto, a bright and happy gleam seeming to appear around the man.

"Shoto," Izuku said. "Thank you for everything."

"Thank you, Izuku Midoriya," Shoto said. "Thank you for making my life a little less lonely."

Izuku stayed strong, but his eyes were blinded with just as much saline as Katsu's were. The flashes of memories with the standoffish and even rude loner, the son of Endeavor, flowed through his head like a cascading river rapids. From the awkward accusations of being All Night's child to helping the weird teenager open up to others, Izuku cried as he dragged Katsu back to the transportation platform. He remembered Shoto finally letting go of his past at the Sports Festival, the way he would show up even adults with his powerful quirk. The way he would go along with his classmates crazy schemes and ideas as long as it saved lives. Time and time again, Shoto would be the one person Izuku could rely on to save the day if he wasn't able. Even when he learned of Shoto's breakup with Momo, his one first and true love, he continued his heroics the very next day. Even when he first learned Shoto had cancer, Shoto refused to miss the arrival of one new villain that needed to be defeated. Truly, Shoto was rock everyone could count on to be there for them.

Shoto was the one that knew just how fragile others could be, because he was the most fragile of them all.

"Ten seconds!" Isabel shouted.

"Get ready," Aslovee said while pushing a button.

Right as Izuku got Katsu back to the platform, the class gazed upon the sight of the four displaced people from different universes working to get them out of the afterlife. While they didn't get to know them very well, Izuku could not help but feel he and the class would have an eternal gratitude towards them. Characters who may never be seen again performing one last act of selflessness. The duty of true heroes.

On the screen, a phrase popped up on screen.

"Emergency Transport: Initiated"

As a bright light encompassed the group, the ice walls gave way. The crystals collapsed and shattered onto the ground with shards of ice raining down all around them. Before the scientists and guards could reach them, the four at the console turned back towards the class.

Aslovee, Calista, Isabel, and Shoto all have one last wave.

"Go beyond," Shoto mouthed at Izuku.

Izuku shed a tear. His mouth opened. Despite the roar of the light enveloping him and his students to send him back to Earth, he swore that he was able to get the last words he would say to Shoto Todoroki. He knew he did, because Shoto flashed the widest smile he had ever seen on the man. It was a smile of peace and acceptance, a smile that showed he had killed all of his demons, and it was a smile that showed there were no words left unsaid.

"Plus Ultra."

Almost there, everyone! What will happen next? Who will be sacrififced? Find out soon. After you review, of course!

Thank you. See you soon!