The Shadow Kingdom
Authors note: since I only had one chapter left in this installment I'd decided to go ahead and update this first. Hope you guys have enjoyed the ride so far.
Chapter 14: The Chosen Path
Izumi felt as if she was floating. The pain that went rushing through her entire body was now centered on the intense burn that throbbed in her left arm. Her eyes were closed and yet she could sense the magic battling for dominance around her, light and darkness surrounding her in a tidal wave of power and leaving her at the mercy of its waves. She felt cut off from the rest of the world, unable to move or pull herself up to the surface to breathe.
Was she going to die here? After all she'd been through, and after all she had worked so hard to achieve, was she doomed to just float and die here? She couldn't believe that. She didn't want to believe it. She had so many people who believed in her had faith in her and were waiting for her to come home. She couldn't just die and let them all down
Her mom... Her friends… Shoto and Kacchan… her beautiful Hikari…
"I don't want to die, damn it."
Her eyes snapped open, watching the spinning white and black aura revolve around her. She stretched out her hands taking both powers into her. She screamed as the pain returned and she shook her head.
"I won't die! I REFUSE TO DIE! Let...me... LIVE!"
"You will not die here hero…"
She gasped as the torrent halter, black on one side, white on the other. Two figures stood stretching their arms out to grasp hers. She felt herself being lifted upright.
"You are now the protector of the balance. So do as you promised and protect your world. Do not let chaos reign over your world."
"You chose this path, human, now follow it. There will one day be when you have to pass your responsibility to another… but until then it is your duty to see this through. Shun your responsibilities and both you and the rest of your world will suffer the consequences for it."
"Now go… your destiny awaits."
The hands that grasped hers yanked her up and through the see of power. She shut her eyes again, the rush of it too much to take in… but as she breached the surface she let out one big huge gasp and took in air.
She felt pain again, but it was all over now. Her throat was scorched and dry, her muscles achy and tired, her head throbbing as she tried to take in the voices and visons of the people around her in a panic and crying with relief.
"We got you, it's okay, Izumi, we got you. Iida bring the bandages and elixirs. Let's patch her up, hurry!" Shoto demanded waving his arm dramatically as he gave orders.
"Stay with us Usagi! Damn it don't you dare pass out again. Shitty hair hurry up! Get us a cart, horses, whatever you can!"
"There's so much blood…" Uraraka sobbed. Her hands trembled as she worked trying to bandage and stop the bleeding. "Hold on Midori, just hold on."
"Where am I? What happened? Am I dead?" Izumi panted and screamed out loud as Ochaco poured fluid over her arm to clean the wounds. "Ahhh no not dead! Stop stop stop!" She shoved at Ochaco with her good arm and struggled to sit up. Shoto braced her from behind and wiped at the sweat on her brow. "Geez what are you trying to clean that with? Acid?"
"It's just water I got out of your pack. Does it really hurt that bad?" Ochaco explained holding up the flask and Izumi groaned.
"No wonder it burns... That water is meant for purification." she eyed her left arm looking at the black skin already bleeding and pussing. The areas that had been used with holy water now bubbled and boiled inky black ooze. "Just gauze and bandage me up. I've got medicinal herbs back at camp. Those won't eat my skin alive."
"I'm sorry…" Uraraka set the flash aside and hurriedly applies layers of gauze and bandages.
"Damn it you gave us a scare." Shoto kissed her temple tears threatening to spill from her eyes.
"No shit…" Bakugo wiped at his own eyes and glared at her. "Don't ever do something like that again or I'll fucking kill you myself."
"Heh…" Izumi gave him a small sarcastic smile. "No promises."
The whine of horses echoed out and Kirishima rushed over with a long wagon. They set Izumi inside, and as the wagon carted her towards the black castle Izumi drifted back into unconsciousness.
~Shadow Castle~
She slept dreamlessly for nearly a full day. When she finally woke up, the worst of the pain had subsided. The thick layers of bandages did the trick to stop the bleeding, the headache and sore throat gone. All that was left was a dull ache from her left shoulder to the tips of her fingers.
The worst was over, she thought as she looked around and realized she was in the infirmary. Several other injured soldiers slept in their cots, the nurse worked at her station with herbs and medicines she could immediately recognize. The war was over... now all that was left was the aftermath. Dealing with the casualties, doing what you could to comfort those that were grieving, and rebuilding the kingdom they had taken the massive destruction of the battle.
"Well… I can't help by just sitting in bed." Despite the ache in her arm she felt fit and fine. She had no other wounds and after the long period of sleep her energy was back up to the maximum.
After sneaking past the working nurse she decided to go find her lovers and friends. She wanted to go over the details of the battle and get a grip of what exactly had happened. After that she would go see her baby, and decide just what to do with the rest of her life.
No... that wasn't true... she decided immediately. She knew exactly what she wanted, she knew who she wanted to be, she knew what she wanted to do.
Her heart also knew what it wanted. She knew who the father of Hikari was the moment she looked into that beautiful baby's eyes. It was clear and crystal now on who she wanted to be with. Now the real questions were… would he still accept her as she was, and would he and the others accept her decision?
As she walk down the steps towards the courtroom she heard voices, grim ones, and knew they spoke of her.
"This is all your fault you do realize that. You asked her to take on this burden." Inko shouted in hysterics. "You put the fate of your people and the fate of the world into a young woman's hands and now look what has become of her."
"This was nothing like we had predicted." Tokoyami assured as he paced the grand courtroom. "We all knew her magic would be the leading force against the battle with Nomu. However, I had no idea that she had been planning on taking on Nomu's darkness as her supposed sacrifice."
"I knew." Uraraka confessed. "She swore me to secrecy. Izumi believed if anyone else found out what she had been planning they might have tried to convince her not to go through with it."
"She would have been right." Iida grit his teeth in frustration. " Taking on any kind of dark power is risky even when 100% healthy. In her situation, she was fresh from giving birth, was already weak and tired. Yet she still chose to put herself in danger and take it all on herself."
" I don't know why you are all complaining. Nomu is no more, Izumi is alive, and those who gave their lives for the battle did not die in vain." Torino spoke wisely. "This was her choice, her sacrifice to make. I believe that she did all she could to ensure victory and keep the peace."
"At what expense though?" Inko hung her head and held her heart. "She's going to live with that burden for the rest of her life."
"That's also her choice…" Bakugo finally spoke up, surprising everyone with his calm nature about the situation.
"Izumi is alive." Shoto added holding his own heart that was trembling from the shock and fear of almost losing her. "When I saw her go into the chaos, when I heard her apologize... I thought we had lost her for sure. My heart shattered and I prayed and prayed over and over for miracle to happen. Let her be alive… and she is. So it doesn't matter to me what kind of magic she's taken on. She's still alive."
"I agree with high-and-mighty over here." Bakugo pointed an accusing finger at the group. "You all can feel bad and whine and complain that she has to live with that deformity. It doesn't matter to me. She's still the same and I'm not going to be the one to tell her that she made a mistake. I've done enough of that."
Izumi wanted to cry and laugh at the same time. Those she worried most about her decision were the ones who supported her. She knew that she would love both of these men for the rest of her life. If she could she would marry them both... but that was selfish and unrealistic. She had to make the choice, had to give that little extra inch to the person her heart leaned towards most and who had given her the most beautiful baby girl.
Deciding to leave them to their discussion, Izumi climbed up the stairs again to find her daughter. She found Hikari and Prince Kai in the nursery. The maid known as Mandalay sat in the corner of the room knitting while Kai stood atop a stool looking down at the pretty girl.
"Then the knight swooshed down and cleave the monster in two." Kai said enthusiastically. He bounced on his toes looking excited as he reclaim the story of the brave knight and his battle with a ferocious monster. "The kingdom was safe, and the knight was rewarded with the hand of the beautiful princess and they lived happily ever after. The end."
Hikari laughed, and Izumi felt her heart just melt. She stepped into the room, and set her good hand atop Kai's shoulder.
"That was a great story, and she seemed to have enjoyed it."
"Lady Midoriya!" Kai hugged her, and buried his face in the soft rubs of her nightgown. "I'm so happy you're alive. I took good care of Hikari just like you asked."
"So I see," She ruffled his hair. "...and as promised we will have our first magic lesson." she look to Mandalay. "Mandalay do you mind giving us a few minutes alone?"
"Of course my lady, I shall be right outside then." Mandalay walk by gently brushing her hand over the Prince's hair and stepped out the door. Once she was gone Izumi took a knee, and looked into the young Prince's eyes.
"Now then, Kai, I have to remind you that I'm not really an expert at magic. These lessons I'm giving you are based on what little knowledge I know."
"That's okay… I want to learn everything I can from you. You're the hero that saved us, and I know I'll learn best from you." Kai assured punching his hands up excitedly.
"Hmmm very well… in that case we'll start with the oath." She sat on both her knees now and watched him blink in confusion.
"The oath?"
"Yep, it's a promise you're going to make to me, one that can never be broken. Can you do that?"
"Y-Yeah!" He nodded his head enthusiastically. "I'll keep whatever promise you want if it means you'll teach me."
"Good…" she grinned and held up her good hand. "I want you to raise your right hand and repeat after me."
"Okay." He obliged and lifted his right hand in the air.
" I Prince Kai do hereby swear that's the gifts I'm about to receive shall never be used for evil, and shall never be used to bring sadness or destruction upon the world."
The Young Prince repeated the words with a few little mumbles where his young vocabulary couldn't quite pronounce.
"Instead I will use these gifts to better the world, to do what is right and just. I will always use my gifts with responsibility and care, to never cut corners or take the easy way out."
As Izumi spoke the next passage her mind shot back to the torrent, of the figures she met there and the words they spoke.
"For magic is a blessing, one given to us by the grace of the gods. One earned through hard work, and dedication. It's power should never be abused or neglected, but instead understood, cherished and respected."
Kai repeated the last verse, his black eyes wide but intently staring into hers. In those eyes she saw potential and wonder and felt good about her decision. She placed Kai's hand over her heart and pressed her forehead to his.
"Do not forget this promise,Young Prince. There are plenty of cruel people in this world who would use these gifts for selfish and cruel reasons. You are not one of those people Kai. You have a young and vibrant soul despite the darkness in your family. Never let that Darkness take hold of you. Find something that brings light into your world, and protect it anyway you can…" Izumi pulled back and looked to her baby who wriggled in the crib. "That way when it feels like the darkness is going to overpower you, that light will shine bright within you… and show you the way home."
Kai nodded.
"Okay, I promise."
"Good, now then onto the lesson."
~Later~
Shouto and Bakugou found Izumi in her chamber with the Prince and Hikari. Kai was sitting in a meditative position, his lips in a firm pout and brow furrowed in concentration.
"I should have known you'd escape from infirmary first chance you got." Bakugo spoke, Kai grunting when his concentration broke and slowly cracked an eye in Izumi's direction. Izumi sat on the edge of her bed, Hikari cradled in her good arm sleeping against her mother's soft breast.
"Oh Hi." She smiled at them. "Sorry but I couldn't just sit still downstairs. Plus I made a promise I'd give Kai here his first magic lesson."
"Yeah, but we keep getting interrupted." Kai pouted and stuck his tongue out at the two men. "Get lost, we're busy."
"You little…" Bakugo grunted and wiggled his fingers tempted to punch the kid.
"Sorry for the interruption… but can we come in?" Shoto asked. When she nodded the two of them step inside and close the door. "How are you feeling?"
"I feel great. I still have some pain but it's subsiding. Plus it helps to keep busy." She motion towards her student. Shoto gave Kai a small bow in recognition, who turned his nose up.
"Keep at it, Kai. Meditation is key to a clear head and makes you more in tune with your body. Do what you can to ignore your surroundings, and focus on what's going on inside rather than what's around you." Izumi advised and nodded her head for him to keep going.
"Okaaaay." Kai pouted and closed his eyes again, his head bowing as he tried to do as she asked.
"May I?" Shoto stepped towards Izumi and held his hands out for the babe. "I would like to hold her."
"Sure... she's sleeping now, so try not to wake her." She let Shoto take the baby in his arms his smile spreading wide and making her heart melt. She turned her attention to Bakugo. "You can hold her too if you want, Kacchan."
"I guess…" he leaned over looking at the baby. His face scrunched up some "Tch... I should have figured. She looks exactly like you."
"All except her eyes, there I could see who the father is."
Kai cracked an eye open.
"Huh? You didn't know who the father was? Aren't you married?" he asked and a quick look from Izumi had him bowing his head again. "Sorry."
Both Shoto and Kacchan's face turn serious at the mention of this and they look to Izumi.
"Izumi… now that this is over… we're hoping you could tell us if you made your decision. Both of us understand if you need a little more time."
"I don't…" She stood up and held her bandaged arm. "I know what path I want to walk… but I don't think either of you will be happy with my decision."
"What does that mean?" Bakugo took the baby when Shoto passed her to him, his eyes still focused on trying to find the subtle differences on the baby's face.
"Kai…" She looked down at her pupil. "Go find Mandalay, and keep practicing your meditation."
"Huh? But…" Kai started to protest but the sad look on Izumi's face stopped him. He obediently got to his feet and walked out. Izumi took a long deep breath to calm her shaky heart and lifted her eyes to the men in front of her.
"I know who my heart wants… but I've decided I'm not going to marry either of you."
Both the men look up shocked.
"What?"
"At least… not yet anyway." She admitted with a small blush.
"I don't get it… if you know which one of us you want then why do you want to wait?" Bakugo grunted.
"I don't want to…" Izumi's eyes teared up. "I have to. I can't dedicate myself to married life until I've learned to control this power I've taken on." She lifted her bandaged hand. "Which is why I've decided to stay here. I'm going to ask Queen Kayama to allow me to stay in the Shadow Kingdom and study up on shadow magic."
"Can't you study magic back home?" Shoto gave her pleading eyes. "You said it yourself that Tatooin has one of the largest libraries in Yueii. I'm sure there's-"
"This is dark and dangerous magic, Shoto. The Shadow Kingdom is the best source for learning about and controlling this kind of magic. Not to mention this kingdom has a plethora of shadow magic users I can gain experience from. I have to learn... I keep the balance between my light and dark magic. If it gets out of control it could very well cause serious harm anyone close to me…" Tears fell down her face as she looked at Hikari. "I can't let that happen."
"What about Hikari?" Bakugo cradled the baby protectively now and she stirred a little nuzzling into the fur of his cloak. Bakugo felt a twinge in his heart at the thought of being separated from her.
"She…" Izumi's breath hitched and she held her stomach. "She can't stay with me. Her place is with her father…"
"This is bull shit!" Bakugo shouted, waking the baby and making her cry. Izumi looked at her baby and approached but Bakugo stepped back and gave the kid to Shoto before stepping in front of Izumi. "You spent months doing whatever you could to bring Hikari into the world, making sure you lived through it so you could be with her… and now you're just going to abandon her, abandon us!?"
"I'm not abandoning anything! I told you I need time, I need time to gain control… why can't you understand that?!"
"I do understand, but I hate it!" He admitted and shook her once hard and bowed his head. "Shit… I hate that you're purposely holding us back… I hate that you feel the need to take on this responsibility all by yourself and not let us help."
Izumi's eyes teared up and fate water droplets dripped down her cheeks.
"I told you, you wouldn't like it." She sobbed when his arms came around her and hugged her tightly. She wrapped hers back and stroked his hair. "You never listen to me."
"Shit…" Bakugo buried his face in her neck. "I really hate you sometimes, Usagi. I hate the fact you can make me feel so empowered and invincible one minute… and weak and helpless the next."
"Izumi…" Shoto did what he could to comfort the crying babe, holding her protectively, like a cherished jewel. "Are you sure this is what you want?"
"Yes…" Izumi recalled the words spoken to her while she was trapped in the torrent. "I have a responsibility, Shoto. If I shirk it then I won't be the only to suffer the consequences." She stepped to him stroking Hikari's head and the baby instantl calming. "As you guys said… I worked hard to bring Hikari into the world… so I want to protect her."
"Alright then…" Shoto brought her in and kissed her forehead. "Leave Hikari to us then… Bakugo and I will watch over her until you're ready to come back."
"I'll visit when I can… I don't think even duty will keep me separated for long." She stepped back smiling at the two men. Dangling from her neck was the string with both the Red Tooth Bakugo had given her, and the engagement ring Shoto presented to her.
"So… are you going to tell us who the father is or are we just going to guess?" Bakugo grunted still wiping at his red eyes.
"Well…" Izumi pointed at Hikari. "Look for yourself… I'm pretty sure it'll be obvious once her eyes open."
Bakugo and Shoto look to each other then adjusted so they could both look at Hikari.
… The camera zoomed in one the baby's face… and as the cries quieted the picture faded to black.
~Real World~
"HAH!?" Bakugo jumped out of his seat causing several other viewers to grunt at his outrage. "Are you fucking kidding me?"
"Awww they didn't reveal the father." Izumi pouted and leaned on her palm. "I guess we'll have to wait for the last part of trilogy to come out."
"Well that's just stupid! This whole movie franchise is stupid! We're outta here!" Bakugo grabbed Izumi's hand tugging her up and out of her seat. Shoto stoically followed behind still munching on popcorn.
"Eh? But Kacchan what if there's an ending credit scene?"
"I don't care, I'm not sticking around any longer than I have to." He grunted in frustration letting go of her hand so he could stop at a drinking fountain.
"Don't worry Izumi…" Shoto tossed his empty popcorn box in the trash and smiled warmly at her. "I'll take you again next week and we can watch the credits all the way through."
"Really?" Izumi turned towards him eyes glimmering. "You'll watch it with me again?"
"Of course… despite the cliffhanger I really enjoyed the story."
"Me too!" Izumi bounced excitedly. "Especially the part where the two love interests charge the enemy head on. Oooh it gave me chills." She held herself squealing.
"I still say it's a stupid movie, and you better invite round face or some of the others to go with you because I ain't leaving you alone with her, Icy Hot." Bakugo wiped his mouth clean of water and pointed a finger in his face. "Don't think that just because you're wiling to sit through that piece of trash movie again doesn't mean you qualify for a date."
"Oh man, not this again…" Izumi blushed bright red at the word date and she sighed heavily hanging her head.
"Okay, that's fair." Shoto agreed and had Izumi blinking in surprise. "We did agree not to fight over her, so I'll see if any of the others want to come with."
"Good, now let's go get some real food, and not this junk cinema crap." He jerked a thumb out the door and Shoto nodded.
"Sounds good." The two started for the door leaving Izumi blinking after them.
"Are they… actually becoming friends?" She murmured.
"Oi Usagi!" Bakugo shouted snapping her out of her daze. The two waited for her at the door standing parallel to each other. "Stop staring into space and get over here!"
"Katsuki's right, Izumi, you're gonna get run over by the crowd if you just stand there." Shoto added and both held their hands out to her.
"Oh sorry! I'm coming!" She ran forward eying the hands held out for hers. As she did, she wondered just who the Heroine had chosen in the end. Both of her love interests had their own pros and cons, both loved the child unconditionally and would take it on as their own.
If it were her, Izumi wondered… just who would she choose?
Her eyes lifted up to Shoto and Bakugo… She reached out her fingers, and took hold of the hand that brushed against hers.
If it were her, she decided with a bright and happy smile… then she would definitely choose him.
~The End?!~
Briry: Gomen for the second Cliff Hanger…. But since you guys stuck through it I'll throw in a bonus scene… after all every good movie has an ending credit scene.
~Ending Credits~
Izumi watched from the window with a heavy heart as the armies of Dagobah and Tatooin disappeared into the distance. With them her mother Inko, and her baby girl Hikari were protected.
She made the right decision, she was sure… but oh how it hurt to be separated from her child even for a few brief moments. She clutched her necklace and the charms that rested there.
"It'll be fine Izumi… just do what you can to control your magic." She lifted her hand, the bandaged appendage deformed and twisted almost like a claw now and had her letting out a shaky breath. "Then you can be with them again."
"Lady Midoriya! Lady Midoriya!" Tokoyami rushed to her sweating and panting. "Get to the infirmary right away!"
Izumi tensed up and turned.
"What's the trouble?" She rushed back with him her eyes narrowed and mind focused back on work. She promised to do what she could to help with the injured.
"My men went back out onto the field to finish collecting the bodies." He explained panting. "… and we found him."
"Found who?" She rushed into the doorway, and her eyes went wide as she saw Toshinori's body laying limp on the cot. "Sir Might!?" She rushed to his side her hand clasping his. "He's so cold… is he… GAH!" Izumi jumped back when Toshinori suddenly sprung up gasping and coughing.
"Whoa what a rush!" Toshinori coughed and wheezed looking around. "That was too intense."
"Sir Might!? You… you're alive!?" Izumi staggered up to her feet her eyes wide and teary.
"Well I wouldn't say alive as I've technically been dead for years but…" He rubbed the back of his head laughing. "I did tell you that what I was doing wasn't death… I just wanted to give your magic a little extra boost, but my soul somehow got trapped inside you and I couldn't get back right away."
"Sir Might…" She whined and launched herself at him hugging him tightly. "I'm so happy you're safe!"
"There, there now little Midori, it's alright." He stroked her hair smiling. "I don't know how long my spirit will be allowed to stay in this body… but so long as it does, I will always be here for you."
"Thank you…" Izumi cried and buried her face into the neck of her mentor letting him hold and comfort her. "Thank you for everything!"
~Ask Briry~
That's it for this segment! Look forward to the release of the third installment which will be posted after I make updates on my other fics.
This story will be continued in...
"The Cursed Kingdom"