Hey everyone!

I did this chapter as a tribute to the Australian Bushfires!

All the information about the fires in this chapter came from real news reports!

Enjoy!

"Ah, hell. Look at this. I'm glad we don't live there. Hell would be a vacation compared to that place."

I frowned and looked up from my coffee. "What are you talking about, Tommy?"

Tomura pointed to the TV screen. "Kurogiri, turn it up, will you."

Kurogiri pressed a button on the remote and the news readers voice got louder: "...Fires all over Australia. The massive bushfires sweeping across the country have shocked Australians in their size and ferociousness. Since the start of the 2019 fire season, a staggering 10 million hectares has been burned, with all states and territories impacted except the ACT. To put this into perspective, in NSW alone, almost 5 million hectares have been burned, which covers an area larger than the Netherlands. In total, the area burned is almost the size of England, which is 13 million hectares. The blazes, which have been burning across Australia for months, have razed homes and wiped out entire towns. Across Australia, nearly 18 million acres of land have been burned - much of it bushland, forests and national parks, home to the country's beloved and unique wildlife. Nearly half a billion animals have been impacted by the fires in NSW alone, with millions potentially dead, according to ecologists at the University of Sydney. That figure includes birds, reptiles, and mammals, except bats. It also excludes insects and frogs - meaning the true number is likely much higher. The total number of animals affected nationwide could be as high as a billion, according to Christopher Dickman, the University of Sydney ecologist who led the report. In the worst-hit state, New South Wales (NSW), fire has affected almost five million hectares, destroying more than 1,300 houses and forcing thousands to seek shelter elsewhere. Hot, dry weather combined with prolonged drought and strong winds have created perfect conditions for fire to spread rapidly. About 130 fires were burning across the state on Monday, in the bush, mountain forests and national parks.

In Victoria, more than 800,000 hectares have been burned. Fires, raging since late November, have caused devastation in recent days, leaving two people dead and destroying around 43 homes in East Gippsland.

In the state of South Australia, the Cudlee Creek fire is reported to have destroyed more than 80 homes in the Adelaide Hills region. The fires are also thought to have destroyed up to a third of the vines that provide grapes for the Adelaide Hills wine industry.

In the Australian capital Canberra - an administrative region surrounded by NSW - bushfire smoke meant air quality there was rated the third worst of all major global cities on Friday, according to Swiss-based group AirVisual.

In the small town of Mallacoota, residents fled to the beach on 31 December, with only a change in the wind direction keeping the fire from reaching them on the shore. Around 1,000 tourists and residents were eventually evacuated by the Australian navy and taken further down the coast. The military has sent troops, ships and aircraft to the region to help relocation and firefighting efforts.

These fires are ongoing and have been raging since October 2019, with several horror days including New Year's Eve and giant blazes in the lead-up to Christmas. Very hot and dry conditions, with strong winds and thunderstorms are expected - posing further fire risk.

We pray for Australia!"

Kurogiri clicked the TV off. I stared at the black screen, shocked.

"How can one country have that much going on? What is their Prime Minister doing? I didn't hear anything about him."

Kurogiri turned to look at me. "There's been other news reports on him. It seems he wanted a holiday, so he took his family over to Hawaii."

Tomura scoffed. "If only Stain saw him, that ScoMo would be purged for sure."

"'ScoMo?"

"That's what the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison's, nickname is now. There was a national outcry when he left Australia burning to go on holiday."

I nodded. "Ah. That makes sense." I tapped my chin. "I wonder if they need any help..."

"Huh?"

I turned to Tomura and Kurogiri. "Oh, nothing. Kurogiri, gate please. I need to get to get to school."

Kurogiri created a gate and went to walk through.

"Sis?"

"Hmm?"

"Be careful."

I grinned. "Always."

That morning.

I had gotten to school early and went straight up to Principal Nezu's office and knocked. I hoped he was here.

"Enter."

"Hey, it's just me."

Nezu looked up and smiled. "Just you? You're here early. What's on your mind?"

I sat down on the chair as Nezu jumped up onto the desk. I pulled out my phone and Googled the Australian fires.

"This. I saw it on the news this morning."

Nezu looked at it and nodded. "Ah, yes. It's terrible what's happening over there."

I shifted in the chair. "I was wondering, I mean, if it's possible..."

Nezu smiled. "You want to see if we can go over there and help out?"

I nodded. "I know it's a lot to ask, but people from all over the world are helping in other ways. The original Wiggles, Greg, Anthony, Murray and Jeff, are all getting back together for a bushfire relief concert. Elton John donated about $1 Million to the bushfire victims. It just seems a little...wrong to sit here knowing what's going on and not doing anything."

Nezu rubbed his chin. "I see...I will think about it. Now, go to class. I don't think Mr Aizawa will appreciate your being late."

I sighed. "No sir."

I got up and left the office.

"Hey, Kitia!"

I looked up from my desk to see Ashido and the other girls come in.

"You're early! What's wrong?"

"Yea. You look like you seen the most horrible thing."

I took my phone out and Googled the fires again, and showed the girls. "I saw this, this morning. There's literally been a billion wildlife deaths, twenty five human deaths and thousands of hectres of land destroyed. I think I have a right to look like this today. I hate not being able to do anything."

The girls stared at the images on my phone. They all looked like they were going to cry.

We heard voices and the boys all walked in. We showed them the images as well. They were just as shocked as we were.

"Sit down, everyone." Everyone sat down as Aizawa walked in. "I heard that you brought up the Australian fires to Principal Nezu, Kitia."

I nodded. "Yea. Can't just sit around and do nothing. The more people who know about it, the better the chance of more people being able to help."

Aizawa nodded. "I see. This is true. Alright, we'll take a moment for them and then get to class."

All day I could barely concentrate on my classes. I kept thinking about all the people who lost their homes and in some cases, their lives. A lot of people had even lost their livelihoods. It was horrible.

I thought about this all day until before I knew it, I was back in homeroom.

"Kitia, you've been quiet all day."

"You're still thinking about Australia, huh?"

I nodded. "I'm so frustrated I can't do anything!"

"Yes well. I don't think you'll need to worry about that."

We all looked up to see Principal Nezu and some of the other teachers.

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

Nezu jumped up onto the desk and clapped his hands. "I've decided that classes 1-A and 1-B will taking a trip Down Under!"

I grinned and jumped up. "Are you serious?!"

"Yes. Very. They do need as much help as they can get and we are all heroes, aren't we?"

I pumped my fists in the air.

"Why does fucking 1-B have to come?"

I looked at Bakugo, then at Nezu as he waved 1-B into the classroom. They looked a mixture of excited and annoyed. 1-A started murmuring amongst themselves.

I spotted Pony and walked over to her. "Not many are keen on working together, huh?"

She shook her head. "They're not like us. They don't think about the big picture."

I tapped my chin. "Hm...Mr Aizawa?"

"Yes?"

"Can I use the board for a second?"

"What for?"

"I have some images this lot need to see."

Aizawa considered, then allowed me to use the board as arguments broke out between 1-A and 1-B. Bakugo and Monoma were the loudest.

When I was finished setting up what I wanted to set up, Pony helped me up onto the desk.

"Oi!" The students kept going. I think they even got louder. I sighed, pressing a hand to my forehead. "Present Mic, could you please?"

He grinned. "OI!"

Everyone clapped their hands over their ears and fell silent.

"Thank-you...Jeez...Now I'm not very good at this public speaking crap, so you lot better listen the first time, because I ain't saying it again. You can sit here and bicker and bitch about your petty rival crap, but in the real world, you're going to meet people you don't like. You're going to have to work with people you hate and despise. You're also going to have to suck it up. You sit here and argue while shit like this is happening."

I pointed to the board with an image of a team of firefighters in front of a fire. "You think they give a damn about their personal grudges and petty complaints? Fucking, no! They do their fucking job! If we're going to do this, you lot are going to have to leave your shit at the door! Because if I have to once, just once, pull you up on it, you better beat your ass I'm gonna kick it!"

I clenched my fists. I had gotten angry without really meaning too. Oops. I looked down when I felt a tuck. Nezu was tucking on my pants. "You can get down now, Kitia."

I blinked and unclenched my fists. "Right. Sorry." I eyed everyone, then stepped down.

Nezu stood where I had been and clapped his paws. "Right. Now that's settled, we're heading out tomorrow. I've already called parents and guardians for permission and luckily everyone has agreed. Now, does everyone have a passport?"

I saw everyone nod. I lifted my hand. "I don't. I can ask my brother if there's one stashed somewhere, but I'm pretty sure I don't."

"Hm. Well, we'll organize that. Everyone else, go home and get ready to leave first thing. We'll meet here and take a bus to the airport."

I looked at my phone and sighed. I pressed call.

"Yes?"

"Do I have a passport?"

"What the hell would you need a passport for?"

"We're going to Australia tomorrow morning."

Silence.

"Oh. I see. I don't think so. What will you do, sis?"

I sighed again. "I don't know. Principal Nezu thinks he might able to organize one for me. I gotta go. I just thought I'd ask."

I hung up without waiting for a reply. My brother had annoyed me when he walked into the mall that day. I still hadn't really forgiven him for that.

My school phone buzzed and I saw a text from Toshi.

Toshi: Nezu got you a passport. You can go tomorrow!

Me: Oh good. Relieved. Turns out I didn't have one. Are you going?

Toshi: I'm still thinking about it.

Me: You should go. It'll give everyone over there hope. And they need it.

Toshi: ...You have a point...

I grinned.

Me: Come on, Mr Number One hero! Join the class!

Toshi: You are hard to argue with, you know that?

Me: You're welcome!

The next morning.

Both classes had arrived on time at the school. I wasn't entirely sure which teachers were going. I assume Aizawa and Vlad King, 1-B's homeroom teacher, would be coming. I think I managed to talk All Might into coming. I looked around and spotted Aizawa and King. Ok, so I was right about that, now who else is coming?

I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around. I widened my eyes.

"You're coming too?!"

Gang Orca chuckled. "Of course. Can't let you have all the fun." I hugged him and he laughed again. "Missed me or something?"

I grinned. "Sure it's not the other way around?"

"Hell no."

We both turned to see Rock Lock walking up to us. He shifted his feet when he stood in front of us. He looked a tad uncomfortable. Especially when I hugged him too.

"Yes...Well..."

I grinned. "I'm glad you two are coming. I wonder who else is too?"

"I'm not sure. Nezu called and asked us."

I looked back at my classmates. They were all staring at me. I waved my hand. "Stop staring, you freaks. Maybe I should ask Aizawa. He would know, right?"

Gang Orca nodded. "You do that while we introduce ourselves to the students."

I laughed. "Good luck with that lot." I walked over to Aizawa and King. "Hey, do you know who else is coming?"

"Nezu is staying behind, Recovery Girl and Thirteen will be coming. Power Loader still hasn't decided whether he would be useful or not."

I tapped my chin. "Of course he would. Burying the fire instead of using so much water. The water could be put to better use, like watering the injured animals and dehydrated people. Did anyone mention that to him?"

"No, they didn't, but lucky I decided to come, huh." I turned and grinned at Power Loader.

"Good. The more help, the better I think."

"Agreed. I wonder if Nezu asked Backdraft, and Manual. They would be helpful with this."

"He did." Both Backdraft and Manual waved when they got to us.

"Is that everyone, though?"

"It should be." Principal Nezu popped out of Aizawa's scarf. I shook my head, but grinned. "You gotta stop doing that. What if we had've been talking about you?"

"You wouldn't say anything nasty about me, would you?"

I laughed. "Not about you, sir."

"Good. Well, is everyone here? The bus should be here in about five minutes. Vlad, you go sign off all your students, Aizawa, you do the same." Nezu climbed down from Aizawa's shoulder. "I will make sure all the heroes that I called are here. You go with Mr Aizawa, Kitia."

I nodded and went over to 1-A, waiting for the bus.

The flight to Australia took nine hours. Nine whole fucking hours. The time zone difference is two hours, too!

We landed in Sydney. Nezu had said that the worst fires were in New South Wales, so most of the services were trying to put out the worst ones. We were to help out in rural NSW, where services were spread the thinnest.

We got our stuff from the luggage bay and looked around as we walked out of the airport. It was interesting to hear the different languages and accents! The teachers had made us walk together in a group, with them around us, so we didn't get lost. We were also made to partner with someone. I had been partnered with Shinso, so I felt personally attacked by the whole thing.

We finally got to where we were staying. A hotel in Sydney. We were to unpack and rest as we started early the next day. The girls had one dorm and the boys had another. One teacher was to stay with each of the dorms, then the other teachers had their own dorm as well. We were all pretty exhausted, so most of us went to bed straight away.

I stayed up and a little longer. The place had a balcony overlooking the Sydney Opera House. There was smoke everywhere, though, so it wasn't as great to look at.

"You're not going to sleep?"

I shook my head. "I'm not tired for once. Too much excitement. Nervous about tomorrow. We don't know exactly what we are doing, but we are going to be separated, I know that much. What made you decide to come anyway? There's so many legit reasons why you couldn't said no, and nobody, except me, would have questioned it."

Tokoyami leaned on the railing. "You would have questioned them?"

I grinned. "Probably not, but I would've pushed you to come anyway. Besides, you really think that'd I'd let you lose control? Tsk. No. And the light thing...I'm working on it. This weird new power I got...There's a lot I can do, but I don't know what to do with it."

He was silent for a minute, then gestured to the Sydney Opera House. "It would be a nice view if there wasn't all this smoke."

I leaned on the railing next to him and looked around. I waved my hand and the smoke shifted and moved out of the way. "Better?"

"You shouldn't do that."

I shrugged. "When's the next time we get to do something like this?" I stood up straight and stretched my arms above my head. "We get to help people and go on a holiday. What's wrong with just enjoying a view, huh?"

"You're difficult to argue with, you know that?"

I laughed. "You're not the only person who thinks that."

"We should probably go to bed."

I slipped myself under his arm and grinned. "Nahh. Let's just hang out a little more. It's been a while."

He settled back down. "Alright. Just for a little while."

The next morning.

We were put on buses and driven to the closest out of control fire. We had been allowed to wear our costumes.

When we got there, we were separated to different places. Some of us were to fight the actual fires, some of us were to help people who were lucky enough to escape the fire, some of us were to help the wildlife, and the rest of us were to scout out the remains of the fires devastation.

Bakugo wasn't happy that he was stuck with me, Aoyama and Tokoyami, searching the abandoned homes. We were searching to make sure that there was no one left behind, and to make sure there wasn't going to be any looters.

"This is fucking boring! I should be out with the fires!"

I shook my head. "Not with your explosive temper. This might help with your patience."

He kicked a log and sent it flying.

"...Or not. Look, we were sent here to make sure nobody stole from the these properties. I heard they've already caught a handful of looters in this area."

He grunted and stormed off to search a house. I rolled my eyes and went off to look around myself.

We were there for three days, switching our duties around. We were all praised by everyone. Some like Bakugo and Aoyama basically rolled in the praise, making their heads bigger than they already were.

They rest of us just tried to explain we wanted to help. The fires were so big and so many, we didn't manage to put them all out, but we managed to help put them under control. The firefighters and SES all had a well deserved rest. A group of us made up a temporary base for them to rest, and collected food and water for them.

We had helped save animal and human lives, as well as properties and bushland. We got to see a lot of different quirks and meet new people and became friends with the community, despite the barriers.

When it was time for us to leave, we thanked them for allowing us to help even though we were only students. Most of the girls cried and even some of the boys looked like they would. Needless to say Midoriya needed more comfort than any of the girls.

All Might had come along to help and as I figured would happen, hope and moral was boosted by a lot.

We were all sad to leave.

We looked out of the windows of the plane and watched the fires below. They hadn't all been put out, but they had definitely decreased.

"You think they'll be alright, Gang Orca?"

He shifted beside me. "I think so, yes. They have a lot of strong people who are determined to end this for the sake of everyone affected. They have the ability to forget their grudges and petty problems to come together for the sake of the bigger picture. Everyone will band together and the fires will be put out."

I looked up at him then back out the window.

"If not, we can always come back."

He put his hand on my shoulder and lay me down on his shoulder. "If that's what you want to do, yes. We can always come back."