Warning: This chapter includes some pretty vivid descriptions of gore and death. So don't read if you can't handle it. However that all starts with the flashback which is in italics. So don't read the italics if you can't handle it. I don't want to trigger anyone.

-Kaera's POV-

"Because my dear," Toshinori said confidently, his stormy blue eyes staring into mine as he briefly turned into All Might, "That's what heroes do!" He quickly reverted back to being Toshinori, and I returned his bright smile with a small one of my own before taking a deep breath as I grabbed his large hand to keep me grounded. He looked at me, puzzled.

"Sorry, but I need to do something to try and keep me grounded to hopefully avoid a panic attack," I admitted shyly before going to pull my hand back from embarrassment; however, Toshinori tightened his grip on my hand and smiled interlacing our fingers.

"It's fine. I'm here to help however I can, Kaera," he responded kindly.

"Rose," I corrected, earning another confused look from him so I elaborated, "My real name is Rose Aileen Winters. My last name changed to Chandrudu after I got married about 6.5 years ago. I'm originally from a small town in Jefferson, Texas. I was forced to change my name when I came here to avoid anyone finding me after the incident occurred."

"Rose," Toshinori called gently, and I squeezed his hand, knowing full well what his next question would be, "What incident?" I sighed sadly as I took another deep breath.

"Four years ago, almost five now. November 5th in Dallas, Texas was the day everything I valued most in this world was taken from me in an instant," I started as I squeezed Toshinori's hand.

-Flashback November 5th (4 years earlier)-

"Mommy! Mommyyyyyy!" I woke up to the sound of my daughter, Isha, crying my name. I groaned and looked at the time. 630AM… on a Saturday… My husband Santosh, groaned quietly as I rolled out of bed as he tried to grab my waist to keep me in bed. This caused me to chuckle as I wiggled out of his grip.

"Sorry, honey," I said softly as I kissed his forehead, "Isha's awake. I'll make us some tea and start breakfast." He hummed in response as I got up and walked next door to Isha's room.

Our daughter was currently standing up in her crib, crying because she was alone. When she saw me, she calmed down slightly, eagerly reaching for me to pick her up. I quickly did and took her into the kitchen and put her in her highchair and gave her some dry cereal on her tray.

"Juice!" Isha cried, and I smiled to myself to avoid getting annoyed with her impatience and put some apple juice in her pink sippy cup, quickly giving it to the impatient toddler.

After Isha was situated, I filled our electric kettle with water before switching it on. While that was going, I quickly made a simple breakfast with fried eggs, toast, and bacon, finishing it off with some tea. Right as I finished setting the table, Santosh came into the kitchen/dining room, already dressed for the day in some dark wash jeans and a red v-neck shirt.

"Good morning, my babies!" he greeted enthusiastically as he kissed Isha on the head before coming over, giving me a chaste kiss on the lips, "The food looks great, babe."

"Thanks, honey," I replied, a soft smile on my lips, "Don't forget. We're takin' Isha to the park today." Isha beamed at this and clapped her hands happily.

"Swing! Swing!" she exclaimed happily. Santosh and I just laughed. Her excitement was contagious as we sat down to eat.

-TIME SKIP TO THAT AFTERNOON-

The park was a popular place to be that day what with the weather being oddly warm for November in Texas. Isha and Santosh still wore light jackets, but I've always been hot natured so I stuck to a simple sleeveless dark gray kurti (Indian dress) with hot pink leggings and some dark gray converse sneakers.

Kids were playing on the jungle gyms, merry-go-rounds, slides, and swings, and the teens and adults occupied the fields and sidewalks just walking or playing games together.

It was dusk, the sun just starting to set, turning the Dallas suburb sky a beautiful mosaic of pinks, purples, reds, and oranges, easily my favorite time of day. Or at least it was.

Santosh was pushing Isha on the swings, as I sat on the wooden planks that kept the shredded tire that was used as a cushion, contained. Isha squealed with joy as Santosh pushed her higher than he ever had before. The overprotective mom in me was so panicked at the thought of Isha falling from that height that as I got up and ran towards them, I didn't notice the dark figure coming up behind Santosh until it was too late.

Blood… There was so much blood… The sight in front of me was gruesome to say the least. Black tendrils shot through Santosh's abdomen and upwards through Isha's head, stopping her in midair before they were quickly retracted, leaving a gaping hole in Santosh's abdomen, his face frozen to an expression of shock and pain. His eyes were now devoid of life as he fell to his knees and then face first on the ground. Isha fell from her place in the air, landing on her back with a sickening thump.

In a hopeful panic, I ran over to Isha praying that she, by some miracle, survived. When I reached her, I gingerly took her head in my hands and almost threw up. Both of her eyes had been pierced through, leaving two holes in her head that were bleeding profusely, soaking my clothes.

"ISHA! ISHA NO! MY BABY! SOMEBODY HELP!" I screamed in pure anguish as I broke into sobs. An evil laugh resonated throughout the park, drowning out my sobs.

"So weak! I can't believe you're the one that supposedly inherited Icarys. It looks like you've never even activated the quirk. What a waste!" the dark figure taunted snidely. What the hell was a quirk? Icarys? Isn't that a character from Greek mythology? The hell is wrong with this psycho?

"I'll fucking kill you!" I yelled angrily. As I went to charge the bastard in front of me, an arm wearing a yellow glove shot in front of me, stopping me. I looked up ready to cuss out whoever thought it was a good idea to stop me, but what I saw both shocked and confused me.

Standing in front of me was a muscular, yet curvy woman with fair skin and raven black straight hair. What really threw me for a loop was her outfit. She looked like a legit cosplayer or LARPer.

The raven-haired woman had on a sleeveless dark navy bodysuit with a white hooded cape and boots. She also had a weird red cape-like thing around her waist. She turned to me, and I noticed the red thing was secured by a yellow buckle. She also had a beauty mark under the right side of her lip, but again, it was her expression that surprised me.

The woman had a smile on her face, her gray eyes confident. I swore I saw a spark in them as we made eye contact.

"Don't worry, my dear! I'm a hero, and I'm going to make sure you get out of here safely!" she said, her smile not leaving her face. I glared at her in response.

"Me living won't bring my daughter and husband back!" I yelled, and I saw her eyes soften as she put both of her hands on my shoulders.

"I know. My husband was also killed by a villain, but you have to live life to the fullest for them," she said with a small smile, but the pain in her eyes is what convinced me that she truly did understand my pain, at least to some extent, "And I'm going to make sure that you have that opportunity." And with that, she shoved me, and I flew back ten feet though somehow, I wasn't injured.

"All For One! You have taken this girl's family, but I swear to you, you won't touch a hair on her head. This ends now!" the woman yelled, and suddenly, power seemed to erupt from her as she charged at the dark figure that had murdered Santosh and Isha.

The dark figure and the heroine had a short, but intense battle, and as much as I knew I should have, I couldn't get myself to run away. The smile never left the woman's face, so I never realized she was losing until it was too late.

As I stood there in horrified awe, the dark figure I now knew to be All For One suddenly shot his black tendrils at ME. There was no time for me to react, so I just closed my eyes and braced myself. That is until I heard a crunch followed by the sickening feeling of a warm liquid spraying my abdomen and the bottom of my face.

My eyes opened in shock at the sight before me. The heroine stood in front of me. Black tendrils pierced through her abdomen similar to what had been done to Santosh. But the woman in front of me had the most peaceful smile on her face as the tendrils were retracted and she fell to her knees and into my arms, facing me.

"Do not fret, dear. Keep a smile on your face, or until you can find a reason to smile again, at least don't quit living. You owe that to your husband and your daughter. Understand?" she asked, her voice shaking, but her smile unwavering. Tears filling my eyes, I nodded.

"Good girl. Now, please escape here. Go to Japan. It will be safe there, and you can learn to harness your quirk," she said, her breathing becoming laboured as she gasped with her final breath, "Fly, Icarys!"

And with that, she closed her eyes, and her breathing ceased. Tears flowed freely from my eyes as I gently laid the heroine down before standing to face the dark figure responsible for this whole tragedy.

"Oh, Nana, how the mighty have fallen! Giving up your life for some girl with no reason to live!" the dark bastard was fucking laughing. My vision flashed as white hot fury filled me to the point where I thought I would split at the seams.

Then, with a scream filled with every ounce of grief, anger, and confusion I had trapped inside me, pain erupted from my back, and the smell of burning flesh filled my nostrils. A white staff appeared in front of me, and by pure instinct, I reached out and grabbed it, ignoring the searing pain in my hand. Then everything flashed white for what seemed like an instant before fading to black.

-END flashback-