Eri laid in her bed. Moonlight peaked in around the edges of the curtain, casting soft shadows on the walls. It was quiet. A little too quiet. It was odd. Back in the underground bunker there was always noise. Someone was always moving around outside her room. Pipes would bang and ping. Someone would cough or clear their throat.
She hated the silence. It gave her a clear mind to think. And when that happened she thought about what happened before she was brought to UA. It brought back the words Overhaul often said to her.
"Someone died and it's your fault, Eri."
"You don't want someone else to die, do you, Eri?"
"You're a burden, Eri."
With a whimper, Eri pulled her pillow over her ears like her head was a hot dog. She hated reliving that time, those words. She wondered if she would ever get over it. Would what happened ever go away? Deku said she wasn't a burden. It wasn't her fault that people died. Her quirk is amazing and a blessing.
The thoughts of the green haired boy made her smile. He and Lemillion were safe territory. A safe thought she could visit. And thinking of her two heroes helped.
Unfortunately, this time the thought of her heroes didn't help much. She was still alone in a room that was far too quiet.
With a sigh she sat up in bed. If only she had something to do that would help her get to sleep. As if her thought was answered, a knock came on her door before it opened.
Aizawa stepped in. "I thought you might still be awake. That's why I arranged a visitor to help you sleep."
Eri glanced over the man's shoulder when he glanced back. The door opened farther.
"Hello there, Little Eri." Togata's grin lit up the dark room.
"L-Lemillion?" Eri blinked.
"I've given Togata here permission to stay a while." Aizawa headed for the door. "Don't be too late, Togata. It is a school night."
"Sure thing, Mr. Aizawa." Togata saluted the teacher.
The door clicked closed. Leaving the two alone.
"So we're having some trouble getting to sleep, huh?" Togata walked closer to the bed.
Eri nodded.
"I figured as much. We were all a bit concerned how you were going to do your first night here. Mind if I try something? I have an idea that might help you sleep."
"Um, okay." Eri barely noticed as Togata stepped right beside the bed and swooped her in his arms then started rocking her back and forth.
"Once upon a time, there was an elemental who didn't know she was one."
"What's an elemental?" Eri asked, looking up at him.
"An elemental is a fairy like creature who can use the elements of water, fire, earth, and air."
"Like a quirk?"
"Yeah." He nodded. "It's like a quirk, but stronger."
"How did she not know what she was?"
"That was because her home was attacked when she was just a newborn baby. Many people tried to save her. Ultimately, it came down to her brother taking her and running from the elementals who wanted to hurt her. As he was fleeing with his sister they were attacked and he ended up losing her. He searched and searched for her, but never found her. The baby managed to survive with the help of nature. It cared for her, raised her. But humans were not kind to her. They hated her, feared her. So she closed off from them until some nice humans found her.
"Oddly enough, those humans were pirates. The captain, not knowing why, couldn't leave her behind. So he took her in to his crew. At first he didn't know what she was. He only knew she was different. Then she revealed her control over the elements. The pirate captain decided she needed to be taught to control her elements. She had all four of them. As time went by the pirate captain and the girl, who bonded and learned her name through her memories, learned her name was Neo. Together they got control over her elements and she learned to be open to others. Eventually they learned she was an elemental when they were attacked by those dark elementals from years past."
Eri yawned. "Then what happened?"
"The dark elementals took her and knocked the pirates out. They woke up to find her gone and her brother had appeared and was taking them to their home. Her brother explained everything to them. Neo was a royal. Not only did she have the four elements she also had a fifth element, a solar one with healing capabilities."
Eri's eyes began to droop.
"A fight ensued as the pirates arrived on the elementals' home island. And thanks to the bond the captain and Neo had they managed to win and were reunited." Togata stopped rocked when he noticed Eri had relaxed in his arms. He laid her back in bed, tucking the covers around her, and e placed a kiss on her forehead. "And they lived happily ever after. One day you will too, Eri."
With that Togata left the room and Eri to her sweet dreams.
...
I know it's not much. But felt like writing this one shot and post it. If anyone's interested in the story Togata was telling Eri it's actually my One Piece fanfic called A Frozen Soul & A Doctor's Orders (rewrite). I didn't explain everything about that story though. It would take too long. I just needed a bedtime story for Togata to tell Eri and didn't want to use a real one.
