Author's Notes:
Hey All, it's been a long time. Can't say life has been any good since the last upload but it is what it is. Had some free time to write and so I did. I hope to continue writing on a somewhat regular basis again, but we will see how that goes. And for any new readers, please enjoy the story and let me know what you think. It's been over a year since I last wrote anything.
7 Hours After Shift
It was a beautiful sight as always. Shimmering in the distance, its tall structures glistened over the Pacific Ocean. Reflecting on the water and showing itself to the world was the city of progress and innovation. I-Island. The moving technological paradise for the research and development of knowledge. The Artificial Island, home to thousands, was always a sight to behold. It always was. Even in the strange situation, he found himself in.
My Home.
"Scanning indicates there are several inconsistencies Master." A robotic voice spoke into the comm.
With a tired sigh, the Man could only reply, "Understood. So, as dad would say, 'we ain't in Kansas anymore?'"
"I believe you are correct in that thought, Master." The synthesized female voice answered again. "Other than the use of ain't, which should be are not."
Rolling his eyes, the Pro Hero Izuku Midoriya squeezed the mechanical grip embedded in his gauntlet. Even though the process was automated, he still had to remind himself.
Brake and decelerate.
"That's a funny joke, Navi. Scan I-Island again, we have to be sure." Izuku said.
Feeling the G-force dissipate on his suit as his speed decreased, the Hero to a stop. Unfortunately, he rotated his head back and forth to stretch his neck. The helmet did not provide a very good range of motion. After such a long flight it was something he always had to do to work out the kinks. Izuku knew that this mechanical suit would cause him a lot of muscle problems later on in his life, but the power it gave him was worth the building strain on his body.
Hovering at Angels ten, 10,000 feet in the air, the Pro Hero waited. Taking in the sight his mind refused to process what he saw through the enhanced vision of his helmet's display. Everything looked similar to how it should be, all the buildings were there. But similar still did not mean the same.
Speaking into the microphone of his suit, he asked "Have they picked us up? I-Island has the most advanced security systems in the world other than maybe the Chinese or American military. They should have been able to pick us up from this distance."
"No, we are secure." Was his companion's short reply, followed quickly by, "Did you want me to let them know? I am sure if I wasn't masking our presence they would be alerted of our position."
Closing his eyes to clear his mind, the Pro exhaled through his nose to calm his breathing. "Is the scan done?"
Seconds passed, practically an eternity for the construct housed within the suit. His heart would not calm from the suspense in waiting for an answer. He knew the A.I. would pick up on his pulse, but his body reacted even if he wanted to keep his composure. A fear of this situation was gripping him. A dull ache weaving its way through his heart.
Repeating the question, Izuku asked once more, "Is the secondary scan done?"
With a pause, his partner spoke. "It will not change the realities of our situation, Master. We are 18 years in the past. Most likely not even in the same timeline. Everything I've cross-referenced in our primary scan points to this. We cannot…"
Cutting the A.I. off, he insisted. "Could you just!... Could you please just run it again Navi? Just once more… for my peace of mind."
"Of course Master." Was her automatic reply.
Letting the serenity of his surroundings take over his troubled thoughts. Izuku Midoriya relaxed his muscles. Navi, the one thing he could place his full faith in now, took over control of the combat suit. Despite the fact Izuku could not hear or smell it, he knew even from this high up hovering over the ocean, the sight of it would calm him. Ever since he had graduated high school, the openness of the largest body of water always had a calming effect on his mind. The Ocean reminded him of home.
If I am back to this point, are they?… is she?…. I have to get back to them no matter what.
"Master?"
"Yes, Navi?"
"The results are the same."
Closing his eyes, a smile crossed his lips. "Very well. Let's proceed with the plan. If we are 18 years in the past, that means David is alive. Same for All Might, the League, and Re-Destro. So many problems that we've overcome are now back from the dead. We need to make contact with David. I know he can help us figure this out. Oh, and Navi?"
"Yes, Master?"
"Thanks for double-checking partner."
Taking back sensory control, Izuku scanned his eyes over the massive artificial Island. If he was going to make an entrance, there was only one way to do it. Beginning his flight path, Izuku felt the power channel through the suit as it lurched forward towards the island. With enhanced vision, he locked onto his landing zone, the central plaza's heliport. Its crisp details were fine, despite the man being many kilometers away.
"Hail I-Island flight control Navi. Let them know we are coming and mean no harm."
"Already done. You are approved for an emergency landing, Sir. Expect a large and unhappy armed contingent to meet you at the landing zone."
"Copy that. Well then, no other way but forward. No time like the present right?"
"I believe it would be more accurate to say, 'no time like the past'. I assume we are going to make a direct landing?"
Would that be a problem? Izuku's mind raced through potential outcomes before concluding that no, it probably would not be a problem. A direct meeting with the I-Island security team would be the safest bet. If he appeared to be an intruder and was caught sneaking around, Well considering the robotic suit he was wearing, they probably would shoot first and ask questions later.
Hesitating for only a moment, Izuku replied. "Take us in, and make sure you hail flight control for confirmation on the emergency landing. I don't want to get shot down again."
Responding with an amused hum, the A.I. replied. "Master, as if their fossil tech could shoot us down. From a glance, they are at least five standard generations behind current military technology. And seeing as this current tech is the same as the standards of our own future I-Island, that makes this I-Island's tech obsolete to me."
"Yeah," he rolled his eyes. "But I'd rather not kick that hornet's nest if I don't have to."
"As you say, Master."
Without another word, Izuku shot off from his stationary position over the ocean. Covering many kilometers in the span of a few minutes, the Hero entered I-Island airspace unopposed. He proceeded to the helicopter landing pad area of the island's innermost center. Unsurprisingly and true to Navi's words, a large contingent of armed security was waiting for his arrival.
Uniformed security officers, supplemented by robots and even a few costumed Pros, milled about the landing zone.
"Ready?" He asked as he decelerated.
"Anti-cyber warfare suite online, weapons are armed, escape routes calculated. I am ready Master."
"Good," he spoke on his internal comms before switching over to his external loudspeaker. "Hello! I have arrived as arranged."
Upon speaking, the armed personnel raised their weapons. As he landed, boots impacting the metal floor, a swarm of robotic security raced to surround him.
"No need to point those guns at me, I mean no harm." To further this along, Izuku even raised his arms in mock surrender before speaking through his comms. "Navi, they are extremely unnerved. What did you do?"
In a millisecond, a chart displayed on his visor as the security team closed in.
"I am sorry Master, but to arrange a non-violent conclusion to this task you gave me, I've used old authorization codes that are dated from this time period."
"YOU DID WHAT!?"
Approaching him was an American, uniformed like the rest of the personnel. Giving Izuku no time to question his companion for more details. With a motion to the rest from the man in front of him, they lowered their firearms.
"I don't know how you got those codes, but they were authentic. I don't recognize you and you aren't in any database. I assure you we are checking them all. Who are you and what do you want on I-Island?`` The man spoke in English. "We would just apprehend you normally, but those codes you sent make this entire situation a gray area. Plus, no Government Spy, Corporate Thief, or Criminal Villain would just walk through the front gate like that."
Well here is the moment of Truth, Izuku thought, just have to be honest and to the point.
"I am the Pro Hero Iron Shield and I'm not within the registry, so you won't find a file. I know this is a lot to ask, but please, I need to get into contact with David Shield, I know this is unorthodox but…."
Cutting him off, the lead guard got to the point. "And what should I tell Professor Shield? I think that will decide if we go ahead with the request or not."
Pausing, Izuku took a moment before saying, "Tell David that… That Izuku Shield needs to meet with him as soon as he is available. It is about All Might's condition, I need to speak with him about it."
16 Hours After Initial Drift.
Stalking through the cold damp building, the vestige of her target was finally in sight. She hadn't realized it at first, but it only took an hour before she figured it out. After spending the latter half of the day searching, she had finally found her again. Someone she longed to meet if only for a second more. Nestled away in the run-down semi-abandoned district of her home city. Just like what all those old newspapers said about the young girl.
Finally,
Standing within the abandoned building were two people. On the ground, suffering in a pool of crimson was a mid-aged man. Nothing but trash, a sight that was irrelevant, so much so that the Woman's mind did not even note details of the man's face as she approached. All Yukari could focus on was her true goal. A young teenage girl standing above the man with a blood-stained knife and a blush heating her cheeks. A soft toothy smile graced the girl's lips, displaying her prominent fanged canines. Dressed in an old school uniform, It was a haunting image of her dear friend, just the same as all those years ago.
"Toga," The whisper of her soft voice echoed through the empty halls. "I've found you, finally."
A flash of old memory hit her brain. Red hot blood, agony, and tears. One of three moments of her life she could call truly devastating. The former assassin could feel the subconscious shiver of her body. The sensations of that day she had suppressed for years, yet with her dearest friend now before her again, a flood gate opened as she almost lost control.
Golden eyes hovered over Yukari's body, studying her like a predator would its prey. The feeling of blood lust shocked her out of the stupor. With the hunt interrupted, the schoolgirl turned to face her, the intruder, in full.
"Who are you?" The masked venom in Toga's voice almost made her flinch, but she stilled her nerves.
Like always, the girl spoke with a pure sweetness to her voice, yet it hurt that Toga spoke to her as a stranger.
"You don't remember me, do you? That's fine." If only her closest friend could remember her.
Even if it was a sick hope, If only this one was the same Toga as the one she left behind.
Walking closely, the young woman raised her arms to show no harm and spoke. "Hello Toga, I'm a friend."
Golden eyes watched her as the girl tilted her head. "Friend? Have we met?"
"I suppose this wouldn't make sense to you but I…. I'm your Sampai. No, Your elder? No, that's wrong too." Taking a moment to think over it, a certain familiar term came to her mind. "I'm your experienced comrade. Someone who understands you. Please call me Yukari Midoriya. And could you step away from that man? Unless you want him to suffer by bleeding out." She added, taking her first step towards the girl. "Which is fine. It's not the worst way to go after all. For him it would be dying by the hands of a cute school girl, I'm sure some degenerates would appreciate an end like that. Though it's your choice, I just..."
Toga's eyes narrowed, the knife she held to her side came up and pointed at the woman. Stepping past the fallen victim, Yukari came to a stop in front of Toga's bloody knife. Despite it, the older of the two didn't feel threatened. True, the serial killer could end her at this moment, but that was a better alternative than this being just some twisted dream.
"So that means what?" Toga asked. "You're a Sampai? That doesn't say anything to me. Are you going to turn me in to the heroes?"
Taking a moment to think, the veteran villainess replied. "Why would I do that? Trust me the heroes dislike me much more than they would you. And Sampai is too formal, couldn't you?… Can you please call me Elder sister?"
That threw the younger girl off, "Sister?"
"Yes."
"Elder sister?" Taking a moment, Toga bobbed her head. Accepting the sudden request without a second thought. "Sure, Sis."
The way it sounded to her ears was amazing. The woman could feel her face heat up after the girl spoke. It was a strange feeling, but a good sense of strange. A smile graced her lips.
Just as laid back as always aren't you?
For Toga, Yukari would sacrifice everything, just like Toga had done for her years ago. She was the only family she had left in this world. Even if this Toga was different and had no memories. If she didn't even understand Yukari's connection to herself, it didn't matter. Just because Toga was here again, and not six feet under the ground. Yukari, a villain, would finally live out that forgotten childhood dream. She would save someone with all her heart, and that meant killing anything that threatened the only genuine friend she had ever made.
But that's not true, Is it? The thought flashed across her mind. As sinister as always, her mind continued to make things more complicated. All the ones lost would be back this time around.
Where Yukari ended up, it was long before the war against the heroes. Before the losses and deaths. Each comrade would be different from how she remembered them, sure, but still, they would be alive. Just like the Toga Himiko standing before her eyes. Did it matter if they were a little younger? That she met them differently?
They were not Ghosts, all she had to do was reach out and claim them again.
"Come now my dear Toga, we need to get back to the place we belong. Are you finished with your food?" With no trace of fear, no semblance of disgust, the Woman held out her hand to the deranged killer. "Or you kill me and take my blood as a snack. Either way, I will accept it with all my heart."
There was no malice, only unconditional acceptance radiated from Yukari's emerald eyes.
With hesitance, the blonde took the hand before her. On an instinctual level, they could feel that connection with one another. It was something that time and space would not stop.
Toga's fingers intertwined with the Yukari's, A sinister smile fell upon her lips. "You're weird, aren't you Sis? You know I'm the killer, right? What's going to stop me from taking your blood?"
"Nothing, I suppose. Just don't take too much and we'll be fine."
"You must be like me." Toga replied. "A girl in love? Someone who wants to understand others?"
"I just want the world to be an easier place to live in. I just want to kill and have fun. To understand those around me just like the one I looked up to." Yukari watched as her new 'charge's eyes lit up. "freedom awaits for those willing to take it, that's a lesson I got taught a long time ago."
22 Hours After Shift
Where...?
That was the first conscious thought to pass through his head as his eyes blinked open.
It's too bright.
The overpowering white was sickening to his senses. There was a throbbing pain in his head. His vision was unfocused as the stagnate, stale scent of medicine permeated the air. As his perception cleared and his mind focused, Izuku could not help but notice the cold breeze rolling across his skin.
Where am I?
Blinking, the youth took a moment to try and recall his last memory. A thin layer of white fabric lay across his body and he found himself in the bed of a hospital room. lifting his upper body into a sitting position using sore muscles the high school boy raised his hand to shield his eyes from the bright fluorescent light above. Turning to look to his left, Izuku's eyes were greeted with an open window.
Sighing, the fresh air filled his lungs, "What happened?"
The last thing he remembered was finishing his training with All Might before the UA exam. Then he… could not remember anything else.
A flash of color shot through his vision. Then excruciating pain poured through his veins. At the speed of light, image after image flashed through his mind. Far too quickly to comprehend. Sensation flowed through him. Loneliness, anger, joy, envy, happiness, jealousy, satisfaction, pleasure, rage. His mind was overclocking as he lost the feeling of his own sense of self. So many emotions ran into the teen and he didn't understand. To Izuku's young mind, they were like memories. Each Image, each flash of emotion, all of them were his and yet weren't.
Going unnoticed by the boy, a door was forced open and the clatter of footsteps entered the room. Yet young Izuku could not take note of it, all thought was focused entirely on the overwhelming information being forced through him. Like a straining ladle, the sensations stayed for only a moment before leaking from his mind to be replaced by another.
"Young Midoriya? Hey, what's wrong? What's happening?" A faint voice spoke, but it was a whisper under the sheer pressure to Izuku's mind. "Doctor!"
Emotions not his own filtered through him. A joy for entertaining, the fury of a cold flame, the passion of unlimited innovation, and so many others.
"Young Midoriya you must stop! You need to calm down!" The voice shouted out again. "You need to stop before your quirk activates again!"
"What happened?" A new voice spoke.
"I don't know he just…"
All Might? At the thought of that name, everything stopped.
All the memories focused into seven. Happiness, Rage, Jealousy, Pride, sadness, envy, and bloodlust. Each one felt like a different flavor invading his taste. More solid, fuller feelings began to coursed through him as the boy thought of All Might. Despair of a dead-end, prideful torment, true loyalty, isolation from all, love of attention, the feeling of success, and a black all-consuming abyss…
None of them made sense to the teen's mind, as it continued to be barraged. But deep inside he knew these people, sensations, and memories.
They were not him!
Endnotes: And so the story continues! (years later)...
So life sucked and covid didn't help. Hope everyone else has been fine, it's been a hard two years. So to answer some questions for people who have been following me, what are my plans?
I'd like to keep writing and if I do so it will probably be in this story. I've reread my more popular story, "my hero assassination", and I got to say it brings back good memories. But I don't know how to continue it. I knew where I was going but after taking a look at it after so long, I noticed how bloated it became. I liked that story and had so much fun with it but I just don't know how I could continue it after so long.
Other than that, as I said up top, I hope to keep on writing. But we will see how that goes! Until