Sorry this took so long to get out, I crashed hard. Hopefully the next chapter won't take so long, but I also promised readers of Dragoon another chapter back before I started this fic, and they REALLY don't deserve being blueballed this long.

- X Mash X-

Mash stood outside of the store, glancing at the Count, who was prowling in the shadows and occasionally throwing glares at people who got too close to take a picture of them. Golden eyes locked onto something around the corner, where he vanished for a second, "Keep an eye out, Mash."

"What are you-?" Mash watched the Count ram his hand into the side of a vending machine, knocking something loose before he reached down to grab it. He walked back into the street, unwrapping a pack of cigarettes as he did so and slid one from the package, "Count!"

"It'll be fine," the Count said, pausing, "I don't have a lighter…"

And Monte Cristo Mythologie's flames didn't play well with cigarettes, they had learned that a while ago.

"Excuse me," the Count said, walking towards a pretty girl with black hair in a ponytail and offering her a charming smile, "You wouldn't happen to have a lighter on you, would you? I left mine in my other suit like a fool."

"No," the girl shook her head, "I'm sorry."

"Ah," the Count said with a sigh, shaking his head, "Thank you, nonetheless. Would you happen to be able to spare some money so I could buy one?"

"Oh, yes!" The girl fished out a bill, handing it to the Count, "Please, keep the change. It's nothing, really."

"Thank you, my dear," The Count said, bowing and stepping back to let the girl carry on. Once she was gone, the smile slid from his face and he sighed, "Izuku would reprimand me for doing that. It was manipulative. Still, this will probably allow us to avoid whatever hairbrained scheme the Alters are plotting to get Artoria's food."

The Count led the way into the building, plucking a lighter from the stand and calling out in English, "We have some money. Pick ten items and leave the rest!"

Grumbling came from the aisle, followed by the rustling of plastic and bags, before Artoira and Jeanne stepped from it and put the food on the counter.

- X ? X-

He walked through the tunnel, strange torches igniting in front of him, revealing a door etched with lettering. He had never seen the symbols before./So it was this

dream, then?

Gripping a pair of the rusted rings attached to the door, he forced the door open, walking into the chamber and scanning the room as more torches ignited.

Gold and Jewels. More of both than he had ever seen, hills towering to the massive vaulted ceiling glistened in the weak torch light.

And in the center of the chamber was a goblet hewn of pure crystal in front of a throne of gold. He stepped forward, settling into the seat and picking up the goblet with a hand as pale as the moon.

And then his muscles locked up as a queer black flame ignited in the goblet, his pale face reflecting horror for a moment./In what distant deeps or skies. Burnt the fire of thine eyes? On what wings dare he aspire? What the hand, dare seize the fire?

And then the pain started, beyond anything he had felt in Château D'If as the flames danced up his arm, along his back, and down the other arm./Only the pain Berserker of Saṃghāta Hell had inflicted came close to the pain. But it wasn't the first time he had felt this. It wasn't even the twentieth.

And it wouldn't be the last.

Edmond Dantès's fingers finally slacked from around the goblet as the last of the flames jumped up from it onto his arms. He convulsed in the throne as the flames continued to burn below his skin, his heart hammering in his chest a thousand times a minute.

And then it stopped. He stopped, falling back into the throne like a puppet with its strings cut. Dead.

And what shoulder and what art, could twist the sinews of thy heart? And when thy heart began to beat, what dread hand? And what dread feet?

Attendre, Espérer.

A ragged gasp for air spread from the body as it forced itself to sit up from its slouch. The heart began to beat again, newly golden eyes flitted open. His mind rushed as it took in a new addition to his body, across his arms and back. An instinctual burst of energy activated them, and the same flames from before burst into existence along his hand, but without the pain.

When the stars threw down their spears, And water'd heaven with their tears... Did he smile, his work to see? Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

This was the beginning of the Monte Cristo Mythologie. The myth of the King in the Cavern.

And the beginning of the end for Edmond Dantès.

- X Mash X-

Mash bit the inside of her cheek to keep from gaping as the man who looked like his skin was made of a layer of solid wood sent tendrils of it at a middle aged man with claws and fangs, pitch black eyes staring out from the scaled skin. Flames coiled from his mouth, and he charged the man.

It was only the Count's arm in front of her that kept her from lunging forward and manifesting Lord Camelot or the Sword of Strange Hangings. Golden eyes watched the fight warily, before flicking over to a rooftop. Suddenly, the shifting man was forcibly returned to a human state, a pained, confused whimper leaving his lips. Someone jumped off the rooftop, wrapping a white length of cloth around the man and smashing him into the ground with a heavy crack.

He was a scruffy man in a simple black outfit with yellow goggles over his eyes. Standing up, the man took his eyes off the unconscious man, Mash's enhanced vision catching pricks of red as he moved his head and-

"Look-!" Mash started as another man charged him, a bone spike bursting from his arm. Before she could finish, the first man span and sent out a log of wood, pushing him against the building and digging it into the wall, binding the man.

"Thanks for the warning," he said, eyes jumping as he waved at her, "but we're professionals, miss."

"Sorry," the Count said, taking on a more casual pattern of speech, "She gets a bit jumpy."

"No reason to apologize for that," he said, "makes it less likely you'll be put in a situation where a Hero needs to save you. Alright, everyone, clear the area! The police are coming in and they don't need to be-"

"Come along," the Count said under his breath, turning and heading down an alley before speaking into his communicator, "Da Vinci? Holmes?"

"Give us a second," Da Vinci said, "We're running it through some filters."

"Running what?" Jeanne Alter asked.

"The Mystic Eye effect that man had, presumably," Artoria said, unwrapping a chocolate bar.

-X Artoria X-

"You noticed?" Artoria Alter scoffed at the question, and if they weren't focused on getting as far away from the fight she would have leaned on the wall.

She'd need to ask Drake to lend her some money to buy Llamrei III, now that they were in a city for the foreseeable future. She'd just take one but… well, she didn't need Izuku giving her a look like he was a kicked dog. He was too soft hearted for his own good.

"Of course I noticed," Artoria said, spreading her senses as far as they would go. That man seemed suited for ambushes, with the black clothes, acrobatic movements and lithe frame. She wanted to be certain he hadn't decided to follow them, "It's not like any of us are unused to seeing Mystic Eyes… though those goggles he wore were probably meant to hide them. Leonardo?"

"If you're not going to call me Da Vinci-Chan, at least call me Da Vinci," Leonardo huffed, "There wasn't any magical energy we noticed, but…"

Call her "Of Vinci"? Preposterous.

"Mystic Eyes are not always a Mystery based in Magecraft," The Count finished, "Asagami is evidence enough of that."

"Exactly," Sherlock said, "There's also the chance that whatever form of Mystery Quirks are, we're not currently calibrated to scan for it. We're still running off the calibrations we made to scan for large quantities of Ether. Continue your investigation as we compile data, please."

"Roger-" Mash started, before blinking at Jeanne marched towards something on a wall and ripped it off, staring at it for a long moment, "Jeanne-?"

"Things just got complicated," Jeanne said, thrusting the piece of laminated paper into the Count's hands. He glanced at it, eyes widening and cigarette falling from his lips before he stomped on it to snuff it out.

"What?" Artoria demanded, yanking the paper from his hand and staring at it for a minute alongside Mash. Staring back at them, the same nervous smile as the one he had when she had stuffed him in a dress and forced him to dance with her in Shinjuku, was a younger Izuku.

Izuku Midoriya.

Last seen June X, 20XX.

If found, please call XXX-XXXX.

"How long ago was this?" Artoria demanded.

The Count reached into his pocket, fishing out the receipt from his lighter and her food.

"Six months ago," The Count said.

This… this had just gotten a lot more complicated.

"Send us whatever it is," Sherlock said, "For now, you need to focus on getting us connected to the Leylines. The Grails will do the rest."

-X Anastasia X-

Knowledge rushed into Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova's mind as she opened her eyes to smoke. The year was 2018, and she had been… not summoned for a Grail War? Was it the Counter Force then?

Viy formed around her, his eyes opening slightly so she could see through the smoke. Their sight immediately landed on her Master for the first time. And he was… he was a sorry sight.

That was rude of her, but she really didn't know how else to put it. His left hand shook like a leaf in the breeze, while his right was wrapped in a plaster cast in a sling. The sclera of his flickering eyes were staining red as blood poured down from his nose. Visible under the white jacket draped across his shoulders were several fresh bruises and burn marks, his neck, chest and arm covered in them, alongside vicious scratches.

And then he spoke, voice cracking from a combination of puberty and stress, "Roman… Roman… Is that you? Roman? Please?"

Roman? Who was that?

"No," Anastasia said, stepping through the smoke and letting Viy fade. He was only a few inches taller than her, "I am Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova, the-"

"Princess during the fall of Imperial Russia," he said, bending one knee to touch the ground for a moment.

"There's no need for that," Anastasia said, "Though it warms my heart that you know my identity. I have been summoned as a Caster Class Servant, and this little one is Viy. And who are you, my Master?"

"I'm-" the boy stood, staggering and Anastasia moved to catch him in spite of herself, wincing at the pained hiss he gave out as her hand pressed against one of the burns, "I'm Midoriya Izuku… or, well, you'd call me Izuku Midoriya. I'm sorry I don't have time to show you around Chaldea right now, but I'm sure there's someone who can-"

"I can find my way around myself," Anastasia huffed.

"That's what everybody thinks," Izuku said, turning away and holding out his hand, before Anastasia could take a step, he started to chant… and Anastasia's gut dropped, "The alighted wind becomes a wall…"

"Master?" Anastasia blinked, turning towards Izuku, and noticing the eclectic mix of objects placed on the altar. Toys and confections.

"...The gates in the four directions close, coming from the crown, the three-forked road that leads to the kingdom circulate…" Izuku continued, staggering as more blood dripped from his nose, "Shut and Fill! Shut and Fill! Shut and Fill! Shut and Fill! Shut and Fill!"

"Master!" Viy formed around Anastasia, trying to drag Izuku back without harming him, but he merely dug his feet into the ground and continued.

"Repeat every five times! Simply, shatter once filled! I announce-"

"Izuku," Anastasia turned her head to a green haired Servant stepping into the room with a staff, "Take a break for a minute."

"What is it, David?" Izuku said, catching a tossed water bottle from the boy, "What-?"

"From Para," David said, "It'll help you out."

Izuku nodded, popping the top out and swallowed a mouthful before Anastasia could stop him, and immediately gave a shudder and staggered, "Wha- What's-?"

"It's gonna knock you out for a couple of hours so Da Vinci-Chan and Para can patch you up," David said, rushing forward as Izuku moved his hand towards his mouth and caught it, "Just let it work."

"But… but- I've got- I've got to get Roman-"

"Solomon's gone," David said, pulling Izuku into a light hug, "I'm sorry, but it's true. He's not coming back, and killing yourself trying to bring him back isn't gonna get anything. Hey, new girl… who are you?"

"Caster," Anastasia said.

"Not your class," David said, as Izuku slumped over, "Your True Name. I'm David of Israel. We're all friends here."

"You just poisoned my Master," Anastasia hissed, Viy rising up around her.

"I just knocked out our Master for a bit," David said, "I know it sounds weird, but Chaldea doesn't act normally. There's dozens of Servants here, all under one Master. Izuku. Help me bring him to the medical ward, would you? He shouldn't be up and about, we just got done a rough day."

- X Mash X-

Mash followed behind the Count as they weaved through the streets between them and the largest group of Leylines within traveling distance. Her eyes flickered to the building they were moving away from, large, looking almost like an H of glass from the angle they were at. Despite having never seen it before, the Demi-Servant instantly recognized it. How could she not?

It was UA Academy, her Senpai's dream school. The one all the greatest heroes in this world went to. They were in Mustafu… they were within walking distance of Izuku's home.

"Everyone," Mash said, voice shaking as she bowed her head. She clenched and unclenched her fingers, before swallowing and speaking as clearly as she could, "Everyone!"

"We heard you the first time," Jeanne said, before planting a hand on Mash's shoulder, "What is it?"

"I- I think we should go find Inko," Mash said, "She… if she's looking for Senpai, he'd… He'd want us to go see her and bring her to him! I know it goes against our-"

"I agree," the Count said.

"Yeah, that sounds about right," Jeanne added. Artoria didn't say anything, merely gave a small grunt.

"You do?" Mash said.

"Izuku has always maintained the importance of family," Artoria said, "he has never tried to dissuade Jeanne Lily, Jack or Leonardo Lily referring to him as a parent, or even Jack using the maternal. He supports Lancelot. Knowing him as well as we do, I suspect he'll be disappointed in us when he wakes up and we have not contacted Inko."

"Yep, yep!" Mash jumped at the voice of Da Vinci Lily coming from their bands, followed by a familiar hum, "Izuku would definitely be disappointed in you if you didn't try and meet her!"

"You were listening to us?" Mash asked.

"Yep, and keeping this conversation off the record for now!" Da Vinci chirped, "So go ahead and find the line, tap it, and then go find mamma Inko!"

"...Thanks, Da Vinci-Chan," Mash said.

"Any time!" the young Servant said, "Good luck!"

-X Sigurd X-

Sigurd breathed within his mask as he worked the metals for his Master's new blade, smog spreading through the smithy as he did. He didn't like this, it was a blade of fire, which humanity should be wary of, not weild… but he wasn't going to enchant that part, nor was he going to bear the blade.

But the 'ingredients', as it were, were a pleasure to work with, he wouldn't deny that. It was different from Gram, the opposite in so many ways… but nonetheless enjoyable.

He lifted the sword up, slipping the rapier forged from the broken daggers of the Spiritfuge into the rune marked container of oil. Flames exploded out as the heated blade ignited the oil. Drawing the quenched blade, he swung open the door… and promptly dodged the stab of the spear coming for his chest, as he had known it was coming, dropping the sword to manifest Gram's true, greatsword form and force the nameless spear into the ground. With his other hand he quickly undid the latch of his mask, letting it fall and fade as a pair of glasses crystalized on his face.

Then he reached out, catching the chin of the gorgeous teal haired woman staring at him with unsteady eyes and pressed his lips against hers. Bryhild's eyes flickered shut for a moment, and she let the heavy spear fall from her hand so she could wrap her arms around his neck. Sigurd astralized Gram, gently wrapping his arms around his beloved wife.

"I'm sorry," Bryhild murmured, breaking from the kiss to rest her head on his shoulder as he did the same, her hand finding the scar where her spear had found his heart in life, still burning with the flames.

"Don't be," Sigurd said, "The day you stop trying to kill me will be the worst day of my existence, and the day I let you kill me is the day I betray you again."

"I-"

"Not to break up the tender moment," Circe coughed into her hand, "and I do mean that, feel free to being all lovey-dovey after, it's sweet. But do one of you mind kicking the sword over this way so we can start working on that while you two do that?"

Sigurd did exactly that, and the winged Caster crouched down and grabbed the sword, waving at them and flying towards the other Casters, "Let's go to our room."

Bryhild gave him an honest, glowing smile, one that he returned. He could trust the others to finish the sword, he hadn't been with Brynhild for days.

- X Izuku X-

Izuku used his crutch to stand up as the plane finally finished the ascent, walking towards Robin Hood as the red haired Heroic Spirit finished rolling a cigarette and lighting it for him, "Thanks, Boss."

"It's fine," Izuku smiled, turning and getting away from the smoke as quickly as possible, "Ibaraki, Ushiwakamaru, Mash, Jeanne, do you want something to eat?"

"Is that a good idea?" Mash asked, looking up from the window she was staring out of, watching Australia fly by under them with wide eyes, Fou in her lap, "We're going to be on this flight for hours, Senpai."

"They also stocked us up before we took off," Jeanne pointed out, reading a book and dogearing certain sections, "and we don't have the Black Hole with us. But I'm not hungry anyways."

"Don't call Artoria Alter that," Izuku reproached softly.

"You've seen her," Jeanne waved her hand dismissively, "if she was on board, we'd be out of food before we got done flying over Australia!"

"Do they have chocolate?" Ibaraki asked.

"I'll check," Izuku said, walking into the kitchenette and beginning to search it. Bottles of sake (that'd help if Ibaraki decided to get rowdy), oils, steaks, ice cream… there! "Dark, white or milk?"

"Don't care!" Ibaraki said, and Izuku grabbed several of the bars. Thank goodness this was on Chaldea's tab.

"Ushiwaka?" Izuku asked.

"Not at the moment, Lord Izuku," Izuku was glad he was still in the kitchen so she couldn't see the physical recoiling he did. At least she was calling him Izuku now, instead of Midoriya. But he still wished she would drop the lord bit. He wasn't… he was just a quirkless, barely baked Magus, not someone who deserved such a title from Minamoto no Yoshitsune, "Would you like to watch a movie with me? They have quite the selection, and the rest of you would of course be welcome to join too."

"Sure," Izuku said, making his way over to her, stopping to hand Ibaraki the 'small' stack of ten chocolate bars and then settled into the deep couch next to Ushiwakamaru, collapsing his crutch with one hand and gently reaching out to pet the top of her head. The samurai closed her eyes, leaning into the movement, "Pick whatever you want."

"Maybe one of those superhero movies?" Ushiwakamaru said, "They have a fair amount of interesting fights choreographed, and are within your interests."

"Sure," Izuku said, using the button to recline part of the couch and raise up his leg, "Mash?"

"I'll come over in a bit, Senpai," Mash said, continuing to look out the window, "Last time we were this high, I didn't have a chance to enjoy it."

Izuku hid the grimace that came with his stomach doing a loop at the mention of the Aresh Airlines flight in Camelot. Yeah, that had been… unenjoyable, even though it had been really, really necessary, "I can-"

"It's fine," Mash said, breaking from looking out the window to smile at him, "Spend some time with Ushiwakamaru. I'm just enjoying this. Is this your first time flying, Senpai?"

"That's a good question," Robin said, breathing out a puff of smoke where he was seated on the other side of the fuselage, staring at the large TV as Ushiwakamaru queued up one of the movies.

"No," Izuku said, "I flew to New York with my mom a couple of times to see my dad. It wasn't as nice as this, obviously, but it was still fun."

-X Jeanne Alter X-

Jeanne Alter watched Mash crouch on the ground of the abandoned subway tunnel, using a piece of chalk to sketch out a ritual circle. No, Jeanne didn't know what type it was, that was Izuku's job as the party's mage, goodbye, carry on, the end. She was an Avenger… or maybe a Berserker? Hell, she didn't even know anymore.

Whatever, point was she wasn't a Caster, her knowledge with magic, despite her title of 'Dragon Witch', began and ended with La Grondement Du Haine and Völkermord Feuerdrache. Burning the crap outta people was what she did… Actually, that made her wonder if Izuku was a closet pyromaniac.

That was something to think about later, she guessed. Instead, she watched Mash put her artistic skill to work.

The first part was a circle so large that Mash literally made it by placing the chalk on the ground and spinning like a compass. Next, she drew seven circles the size of her fist within it, and then seven circles the size of her index finger in them with a thinner piece of chalk. She connected the circles into seven pointed stars within each larger circle, before standing up and beginning the process over again in another location.

Well, this was gonna be boring.

"Count," Jeanne said into her wrist band, "Ya mind switching with me?"

"Yes," the Count said, "By the time I get back, Mash will be done. It'll be fine."

Says him, "But-"

"Besides," the Count continued, "We're almost there."

Sonova- "Fine!"

Even as Jeanne spat out the word, Mash finished the second circle and moved onto the third. Sion and the brass better be thankful for this.

- X The Count X-

The Count didn't even pay attention as he turned off the communicator before looking at Artoria Alter. She nodded sharply, and the Count reached out to ring the doorbell while taking his hat off. Golden eyes faded to red as he deactivated the Magic Crest granted to him by the Treasure. Finally, the door swung open to let them see a woman only a few inches taller than Artoria and nearly a foot shorter than him, her hair a few shade darker green than that of her son, "Midoriya Inko?"

"Yes?" She said, looking between the two of them, "Can I help you?"

"Yes," the Count said, gesturing to Artoria, "This is Artoria Pendragon and I am the Co-"

Artoria shifted her foot, subtly crushing his toes between the toe of her heeled boots and the floor, "He is Edmond Dantès."

It took everything he had not to reactivate Monte Cristo Mythologie at the mention of the man's name. He started to crush the corner of his hat like it was a pale throat.

"I… see," Inko said, pursuing her lips, "And how can I help you two?"

"We're friends of your son," the Count supplied, "and we've come- ma'am?"

Inko's neck and face had started to gain a serious blush, and her grip on the door was tight enough that they could hear it shake, finally, she hissed out, "Is that supposed to be funny?"

"Excuse me?"

"You're friends of Izuku's?" Inko snapped, "and you're what, here to pay your respects?"

"No-"

"Then why are you here?" Inko's grip on the door grew tighter, before she continued quicker than the Count could respond, "I don't need this, goodby-"

Before the door could slam shut on them, Artoria swung one arm into the gap, the door and frame giving a nasty crunch and splintered as they were stopped by the flesh of the Servant. Artoria slid her other arm into the gap and forced the door open with barely an exertion of pressure, despite the fact that Inko was still gripping the door with both hands and clearly straining to keep it closed.

"I'm sorry about that," Artoria apologized coolly, amber eyes staring into green, "but Izuku wouldn't forgive us if we let you refuse to see him so easily."

"Refuse… to…?" Inko said softly.

"See him, yes," Artoria said, "That's why we're here. We came to bring you to him, Midoriya… ah, san?"

"You…" Inko said, hand rising to her mouth, "You know where Izuku is?"

"Yes," the Count said, coughing into his hand, "It's… it's complicated, and we only arrived in Mustafu a few hours ago, but we'd like you to come and see him."

Tears began to build in Inko's eyes, before seeming to fall from them like a waterfall, "I- I- Fine, but if you're lying, I will call the police for harassment!"

"Fair enough," the Count said, stepping back, "We'll wait out here for you to get ready."

Inko turned, not even bothering to shut the door as she rushed to put her shoes on. The Count took a moment to glare at Artoria and mouth "Really?"

"Your refusal to use your name would just have made things more suspicious," Artoria responded, "don't take it personally."

Oh, he was. He most definitely was.

- X Ushiwakamaru X-

"Well," Ushiwakamaru watched Izuku sighed as the movie ended, pressing the button on his crutch to extend in and latching it back onto his arm. He pushed himself up, smiling at Ushiwakamaru as she immediately lunged under his free arm and helped him stand the second he staggered, "Thank you."

"Ever and always, Lord Izuku," Ushiwakamaru said, returning the smile and helping him stabilize himself.

"Now, I'm gonna make something to eat," Izuku said, walking towards the kitchen and lighting another cigarette from Robin as he went.

"I'll help," Ushiwakamaru said.

"You know how to cook?" Robin said, before stopping, "Sorry, guess that was kinda rude. I mean, didn't expect a noble to know how to cook."

"It's fine, Sir Robin," Ushiwakamaru most certainly did not smirk as the man choked on his cigarette. That would have been unbecoming, "I'm the first to admit that I was not the best chef in life, but there was a summoning… will be a summoning?" She stopped to heave a sigh, "I do not claim unintelligence, but the way the Throne and reality interact is enough to stump even me. The summoning was in the future, but I have clear memories of it."

"It's alright," Izuku said, "That does sound confusing. So you learned to cook during that summoning? What was it like, and what was your Master like?"

"It was… an interesting world," Ushiwakamaru said, "Unlike any other. I wonder if Circe or Blackbeard would remember it. Everyone alive had a Servant, and a Holy Grail. The Grail War had ended, and in their place there were tournaments where Servants fought each other. I partook in them, because my Master loved them, but there wasn't the same thrill we have here and now."

"What do you mean?" Izuku asked, pulling out ingredients and tools.

"There was no chance of death," Ushiwakamaru said, "Not normally. It wasn't completely unenjoyable, to step into the arena and hear people cheer my name, to know that Minamoto no Yoshitsune was still on their lips a thousand years after my heart stopped beating… that was enjoyable, I will admit."

"And your Master?"

"We were very similar," Ushiwakamaru said, "Though she summoned me after I had been given my adult name, unlike here, so I suppose it would be more right to say she summoned Minamoto Kurou Yoshitsune. She was foolhardy, and always volunteering us for extra curricular activities to avoid her school work. She was… Rurihime was so very unlike you, Lord Izuku."

"Unlike me," Izuku blinked, "How?"

"You fight for others," Ushiwakamaru said, smiling at her Master, "You insist on standing far closer to a battle than is safe because you don't feel right sending us into battle without putting yourself in danger. Rurihime… she didn't know when to hesitate, the amount of times I had to carry her home injured…"

"I don't know," Izuku said, touching his leg, "I-"

"You've ordered retreats," Ushiwakamaru said, "You're a strange person, Izuku, because I can't say if you're an optimist or a realist. You want to believe in the best in everyone, but you've seen the worst enough that betrayal doesn't hurt you."

So unlike her, when Hitachibou had left her and Benki. When Yoritomo had betrayed her.

"It hurts," Izuku protested, "but I should give people a chance."

And that was why they loved him.

- X Inko X-

Inko took her eyes off the road long enough to glance at where the pale man, "Dantès", was glowering at the back of his companion's head as she gave Inko instructions. Clearly, some silent argument had taken place while she wasn't looking, as they hadn't said a thing since she had got back to them. But-

"Pull over," Pendragon suddenly ordered.

"Wha-?" Inko yelped as Pendragon grabbed the steering wheel, yanking it to the side of the road and opening the door to get out, "Mash! Witch! Over here!"

"The fu-?" A girl who looked nearly identical to Pendragon, though with her long hair flowing as opposed to the loose ponytail Artoria had hers in, stomped over, only to stop once she could see the inside of the car and turn, "Mash!"

Finally, a girl wearing a white and grey hoodie over a black dress and tights walked over, leaning into the car… and her eyes widened, a look of glowing amazement on her face, "M-Midorya Inko?"

"Yes?" Inko said, and the girl immediately bowed at the waist, the glasses on her face nearly flying off if not for her immediately pushing them up.

"My name is Mash Kyrielight," the girl practically babbled, reaching out to take Inko's hand, "It's nice to meet you. I'm… I'm your son's Kouhai. It's a pleasure to meet you!"

What.

"Kouhai in…" before Inko could finish, Pendragon had shoved Kyrielight into the seat she had been sitting in none too gently and hooked the lavender haired girl in before shoving the other girl, her sister, she presumed, into the back and dropping into the seat next to her, slamming the door shut.

"Da Vinci-Chan," Dantès said into a wrist mounted device, "Have the Border ready for when we get there. The fewer questions she needs to ask, the better."

"Mhh," A young voice came from the device, "Then hurry up and get here. Even with Mystic and conventional camouflage up, we can only comfortably stay above the surface for so long, you know!"

"Please continue driving," Dantès said, "We'll explain everything when we get there."

Inko's grip on the steering wheel grew tight. What if this was some elaborate prank? They had seen one of the fliers and felt crushing her hopes was funny?

But if there was even a one percent chance they were telling the truth, that Izuku was with them…

"Fine," Inko said, starting to drive.

...She had to take it, she wouldn't be able to live with herself if she didn't.

- X Inko X-

Less than half an hour later, Inko was stepping out of the car and towards an empty stretch of beach. A strange shimmer appeared for a moment before a giant ship the size of a nuclear submarine opened appeared for a moment, a door opening at the base. Inko's mouth fell open before she was quickly pushed in by Edmond, the door shutting behind them and the ship shaking.

"Welcome to the Storm Border," Kyrielight said, "Mobile Headquarters of the Chaldea Security Organization."

Count, Mash, Jeanne, Artoria, A man spoke over the PA, What did you do?

"Da Vinci-Chan Lily authorized this," Dantès said.

"Security Organization?" Inko said, "What do you mean, Security-"

She did, did she? Inko couldn't tell what was being said, she wasn't fluent in English, but she could hear the glare in the man's voice.

Eh, he, he… the door in front of them opened suddenly, Oops, my finger slipped!

You don't have fingers in there, the man said, I'm going to have to report this, you realize that, right?

"I expected as much, Captain," Dantès said, taking Inko by the arm and dragging her forward, "Come along, it's at the end of the hall- Asclepius."

The white haired man wearing a strange lab coat looked up from where he was crouched in front of a child who looked similar to Pendragon and the other girl. He stood up, straightening the coat as he did so, "Count. Lady Pendragon, Jeanne Alter, Mash, I'd say it was good to see you all, but I was a bit busy. Young Jeanne wanted to see her père, but-"

"Stopping her is something Nemo Nurse could do," Dantès said, "But you weren't planning to stop her, were you."

"...A few minutes to see him wouldn't harm anyone," Asclepius said, voice brusk before he paused, looking Inko over, "Midoriya Inko?"

"Yes-"

"Hello," Asclepius said, "I am Asclepius, I have acted as your son's primary physician since I signed on with Chaldea. It's good to meet you, but if you don't mind me asking, where did you go wrong with that boy?"

Inko gaping at him, because starting to flush, "What is that supposed to-"

"He seems to be of the opinion," Asclepius sighed, pacing back and forth, "That my medical advice is an opinion rather than the ironclad order that it is. He is, far and away, the most frustrating patient I have ever had the displeasure of working with… no offense intended."

"More than a bit taken," Inko gritted out.

"Fair enough," Asclepius said, "Don't take it personally, ma'am. I speak my mind, and my job is to keep people healthy and alive. Your son, on a regular basis, seems to endeavor to make it difficult for me to keep him as both of those. But I do my best despite that, and until the day comes he no longer needs my services, which, seeing how stubborn he is, isn't likely to be any time soon, I will continue to do so. Would you like to step in with Young Jeanne here and see him?"

The girl in question was staring at Inko with wide eyes, "Are you… are you Père's Mère? Are you my Grand-mère?"

"I'm sorry, I don't speak…?"

"French," Dantès coughed.

"French."

"Are you Father's Mother?" Inko's mind ground to a halt, staring at the girl, "My Grandmother?"

"W-what?"

"It's a long story," Dantès said, "We'll explain after you see your son. Step inside."

Inko stepped in with Jeanne, eyes falling on Izuku for the first time in months. He had grown a lot since then, she could tell that, and his hair was starting to be speckled with gray.

"What happened?" She asked quietly.

"Sit down," Dantès said, sitting across from her with Kyrielight, "This is a long, long story."

- X AN X-

So, other than the end, I think the part I'm least happy with is the Flashback to Anastasia's summoning. Not because I don't feel it's in character, but because it kinda flies in the face of the description of Ars Nova from the Materials (on the other hand, I find that description absurd to begin with, so...)

"There is no longer a need to defeat him, or rely on him. No longer, will anyone ask of him, or need to shoulder his death, and no further help or accomplishments from him will be sought. This means a disappearance from even the Throne of Heroes. A release from the duties of one's existence - a completion of all the tasks for one to do in this universe.

In contrast to the savior known as the only one among humanity to achieve enlightenment, the coward reached a different sort of "finality"."

I don't know why, it's probably the most tangential of the chapter, but I enjoyed writing Ushiwakamaru talking about her Requiem summoning. While the Anastasia one showed Izuku taking Roman's death as well as a truck to the face (because yeah, that was the same day as Solomon, and yeah, him and Goetia's brawl kinda ended with Izuku's arm busted and skin burned), that was a character just talking about themselves and Izuku listening.

Thoughts, questions and opinions? Good? Bad? Meh?