If Mina didn't know any better, se could have swore she had heard shouting and explosions. She had a feeling she knew who it was. That only raised more questions. Where had he gone before. Why was he here now? However, there were more pressing matters. Mina could feel her skin burn and her bones creak. Electricity sparked off her body as blood, sweat and acid mixed and dripped, hitting the floor with a small sizzle. She was winded. However, she couldn't help but smirk.

"I never could quit with you, could I? I always wanted another round, always wanted more…even when my legs were shaky, and my breath was haggard…. guess you really are back..." She emitted a low, pained laugh as she took a fighting stance once more, furrowing her brow as sweat dripped off it.

"M…iii….nn…AAAAAAAAAUGH" the beast bellowed, sending shivers down her spine. Nevertheless, she resisted. It was still jarring. Hearing a noumu speak. Hearing it call her name. Hearing it call her name in a distorted version of her dead lover's voice as electricity sparked off its body. It was like watching a defective animatronic lunge forward, but far more terrifying and lethal. The movements were more fluid, yet still janky and corpselike. They lacked the elegance of his movement. He had ten years to refine his technique and this is what it was reduced to. That was only one of the things that angered Mina about all this. Her boyfriend had been taken from her. He was laid to rest, only to be taken from her. She wasn't sure how this happened. Was he replaced in the morgue? Were there crooked cops working with the league? Was he dug up and then replaced? What had happened? What had they done to her Izuku. The sparks intensified, and her acid burned at its highest intensity, her leg filled with kinetic energy. She wound up and was off like a shot. She feinted with a quick before finding her opening and taking it. This may have been a "thinking" noumu. It may have had to jump on her before. She may have had no more than dumb luck on her side. Or maybe she had him. Like she had for so long. Whether he was trapped in this beast or part of her or looking down from heaven or none of the above, she felt it her heart that he was on her side, at least in some way shape or form. She was grateful for that, but not satisfied.

Her acid splashed across Minus' torso as she delivered a 100% elbow smash to its jaw, flipping into a head spin and utilizing her breakdancing what's more. It might have seemed ridiculous to describe, but it was part of who she was. She was a dancer and a hero. They were so intertwined with one another and so integral to her identity that what was normally just a fun hobby now turned her into a vengeful and determined top, filled with pain and adrenaline. Hers was a rhythm of righteousness and retribution, of heartbreak and hope. The conflict brewing internally fueled her and pushed her past her limits. She would dig him out of his grave and pull him back towards her, so she would never be able to let go of him again. She didn't know if she really believed in an afterlife, but she knew there was a heaven, and she would reclaim it.

Her arm was shaking with pain as it fell limp. However, shattered elbow or not, she wasn't done with it yet. She would send herself through hell and back to get her angel back. After several 8% kicks, increasing consecutively to 20%, she kicked off minus' torso and delivered an uppercut with her broken arm, summing as much acid as she could with it, at its highest intensity. She gritted her teeth and hissed with pain, trying not to scream. Not just yet. "Not til the climax" she joked morosely. She needed to tease him. She needed to remind herself of normalcy, or as normal as their lives could ever have been. She clung to hope until her nails bled and she would hold on for dear life, even if it killed her.

"I know you can regenerate. Let's see if we can find your limitation, big boy. I have four major limbs and I can probably use them three times each. I just hope RG doesn't hate my guts for this. And, that twelve is enough to stop your regeneration capabilities. I saw that in a show once. Besides, I'm no All Might, and sure as hell no Deku. But I AM THE ALIEN QUEEN! AND YOU WILL BOW!"

She rocketed into the air and delivered a Ridley Shot to the head again, deeming that the center of it all. She wasn't sure if it was anime or sci fi or past villain battles that guided this decision, or some past lesson she had forgot about that was coming back at the most convenient moment. Perhaps a mix of several or all options. Either way, shot three or four was greeted by a jarring yet somehow welcome crack of the neck. She knew that wouldn't do it, but she was getting there. She would punch that wall of diamond and go beyond. Once she was there, she would get him back. She was Mina Ashido. She was a symbol of hope and peace and the will to grab onto both. She would beat this villain, and then she would beat death itself.

Her arm flapped limply against her side as Mina leapt at Minus and dodged its violent attacks to the best of her abilities, launching at it and preparing to jump on its face with a stomp. She had gotten cocky, however. This wasn't just a regular Noumu. It saw through her strategy and bodied her, sending her rag dolling across the yard as she tumbled to a stop near a streetlight. It leapt towards her, looking to do to her what she had tried to do to it.

Groaning and grunting in pain, Mina rolled out of the way and prepared to strike at her foe. Once again, she was parried. She sidestepped again and slid around using her quirk, the one with which she was born. The power she could confidently claim was hers. She up behind minus and snapped her fingers with 100% power, generating a shockwave. She had hoped it would be enough to knock Minus off its game. Instead, it grabbed her by her bad arm and squeezed. She cried out in agony, screaming as the blood trickled down her damaged arm. In that moment, through the pain, Mina had seriously considered using her acid to discard the useless appendage, but she doubted Hatsume would be that eager to craft her an artificial one. Besides, the possibility of her being eager to do so was far more terrifying. She decided against it the moment she was tossed into the sky and spiked like a volleyball before she could decide.

Her body felt like it was burning alive. She spat out a wad of blood and…. yep. She lost a tooth. That was incredibly worrisome. So much for "facing villains with a smile" she joked to herself through the ringing in her head. It lunged again. She could have dodged but she decided on a different, more risky strategy. Closing her eyes, she listened to the frantic beating of her own heart and flicked a finger at the creature to knock it off its guard midair. She pumped her fist when it worked and launched herself into the air with full cowl so that she could deliver a strong jump kick to her foe, sending it rocketing like a giant, muscular soccer ball. She gave chase as much as she could with one good leg. She had been on the ropes and the fight was far from over, but she was learning. She knew at this point she couldn't fight like Izuku, nor could she rely entirely on her old style. Both had to be married and refined. She was a new symbol and she would stamp herself firmly on her opponent. She thought for a second. She could pursue the enemy. Get him far away from Uraraka's car. However, she had no doubt she would need an ambulance too after this. Furthermore, she preferred not to damage any more of the area in her fight, so even if she lost an opening, she would let her enemy come to her.

She expected a violent stampede. The sounds of shattering class and crashing cars. Instead, there was silence. There were several temptations she was facing. She was tempted to declare victory. She was similarly tempted to investigate. However, she remained where she was and listened, keeping her senses open for any sign of Minus. A low, distant rumbling sound could be heard, but she couldn't place it until it was too late. Minus busted through the asphalt, shooting out of the sewer and grabbing Mina, pulling her into a suplex and throwing her to the ground. Mina gasped and panted as the pain shot through her body. She tried rolling out of the way, but her broken leg was caught in Minuses attack. She screamed out in pain until her blood curdled and her voice went hoarse. In reaction, she hit her enemy with a 100% elbow shot, freeing her leg. She could barely stand, but she hissed through the pain as she staggered to her feet, giving a savage hook, followed up by a claw strike, straight to the face, secreting her strongest acid again. Mina was shaking with pain and rage and heartache. However, she remained determined, even if that was running thin now. She had hoped it would speak to her again. Say her name. That he would speak out and offer a way to free her. However, she had no doubt that would have hurt just as much. What was truly painful was the truth that she would probably have to put him down for god. He would haunt her like a ghost if he wasn't exorcised. And who knew what damage he could do. What was to keep him from hurting other heroes again, or civilians. It wasn't what Izuku would have stood for and she couldn't stand for it either. She quaked as the tears flowed, another series of droplets staining the pavement like wicked rain. The silence hurt. The injuries hurt. The loss hurt. The realization of what she had to do, it all just stung. "I fought too hard to lay down…please…give me a sign … Talk to me…"

The beast was silent. It wasn't a mindless silence, though Minus wasn't anywhere near as smart as Izuku in his prime. Nevertheless, this silence goaded Mina. It mocked her. It was almost as if it was challenging her. Mina knew she had to remain calm. However, she also knew she had to finish this before she became utterly useless and joined her fiancée in the darkness. It would be no reunion, only darkness. She refused to accept it.

"GIVE HIM BACK, DAMN YOU!"

"The beast roared then ran at Mina. She braced herself for impact but was shocked when it went for Ochako's car.

"GET AWAY FROM HER!" she screamed once more leaping into the air, trying to steady herself. She was desperate for her boyfriend back, but she would not let any harm befall her friends or the people she had sworn to protect. Not anymore. For Izuku, for the citizens, and for her friends, she would stop this beast once and for all. It was no longer Izuku. It was just a monster wearing his flesh. That was a knife straight to her heart, but if he could break through the pain and his own limitations, she sure as hell could. She had no idea how she was doing this, but it didn't matter. What mattered to her was finishing this. She delivered a devastating kick to its torso as she coated her leg in acid, eating away her costume. "1000% RIDLEY SHOT!"

The hero known as Alien Queen, formerly the sidekick Pinky, had fought valiantly. A final screech of agony as she put her entire body into one last strike against the zombified predator that was once the cadaver of her beloved boyfriend. She could feel bones crack and flesh ripple on both ends., acid bubbled and sizzled as she let out a pained warrior's cry, shooting Minus into a wall, toppling a condemned building on top of it. She knew it wasn't the end, but she was determined to close the book and finish this chapter once and for all. If she couldn't bring Izuku back, she could at least bring him rest. He fought so hard for peace, it was the least he deserved in return.

Mina fell to the ground broken and battered. She was panting heavily. She wasn't sure who did more damage to her: Minus or herself. She wasn't even sure she had succeeded. She thought she had, but she wasn't exactly experienced at killing. It wasn't very heroic after all. Did killing your dead boyfriend count? It sure felt like it did. She could already feel the tears coming. So many emotions were overwhelming her as the agony claimed her body. She wasn't sure if this was the end or not. It didn't quite feel that way, but she wasn't sure. She was broken physically and emotionally. She had to end things. She was forced to kill Minus. It was a life or death struggle, but she was a hero. There was always a better way. She felt what she did was against the law and her code. Even with her back against the wall, she felt there should have been a better way. One that didn't involve her losing him all over again.

"M-maybe I can bum a ride with Ochako to the hospital" she let a hoarse, pained laugh out

"AAAAH! FUCK! W-what happened?" Mina's eyes widened almost as soon as they closed. That voice was unmistakable.

She pushed through the pain, sparks shooting off her broken body as the adrenaline kicked in, she turned her head towards Minus' corpse. There, in the middle, naked and covered in fluid like a newborn, was the man she had loved, the man she had lost, and the man she had found again. She could hardly believe it and it hurt to laugh, but the tears poured as the laugher came. She was so happy. It took a while to register, but she was off like a rocket despite herself. He was really here. No trickery or experimentation. He was well and truly back. Izuku had returned to her once more.

The former symbol of peace was aching as he crawled out of the rubble. He felt like he had been hit by several trucks, pinballing off each into the next. He had been through worse though. Or perhaps he hadn't. He clearly remembered dying in his girlfriend's arms after kissing her. Everything was fuzzy after that. Just darkness with slight pulses of light for what seemed like an eternity. After that, he saw a bright light and he was back, reborn, good as new. He had no idea how or why, but he could figure out the answers to those questions later, he supposed. He shook his head as he looked tried to rid himself of his migraine. His whole body was burning and aching. He counted himself lucky that the pain wasn't worse.

He had spoken too soon as he turned his head and was speared, by a broken, bloodied, blur of pink, sending him to the ground coughing and aching. Before he had a chance to catch his breath, it was stolen from him as Mina kissed him deeply, tears in her eyes.

"Ow! M-Mina…I"

"Shut up…please…just…sorry…I just…"

"I…It's fine…" He was in more pain than he was before, having been tackled at full speed, but it was a pain he could deal with. She looked like she had a far worse time right now. He argued in his head that he technically had it worse, having actually died. However, he could tell right now, in this moment that she had been through a lot in just a few short months. He held her close and wiped her tears. He uttered words that had inspired him and given him hope so many times over the years. In this moment, they seemed the most appropriate words he could say.

"Everything will be alright, Mina…. Everything will be fine…I am here."

X

Police and Paramedics showed up at the scene to find an unconscious Uravity in backseat of her car, Alien Queen broken and bloodied in the arms of a naked man, and two key members of the league of villains apprehended with power dampeners and cuffs, as well as a folder filled with lab files and a note that said, "Tell Queen she's fucking welcome!" The ambulance had taken Uraraka and Mina to the hospital, Izuku choosing to ride back with them. It took emergency officials several double-takes to realize who it was, but they remained silent for the time being.

When he got there, he was asked to stay a few days and be tested. They didn't want to separate him from the love of his life, but it wasn't often a man came back from the dead and they had to be certain. The implications were staggering, as was the concern that this might lead to a cult situation. Deku had grown into the number one hero in the world and his death had sent shockwaves. Coming back from the dead would elevate him to god status, which was worrisome to the police, his fellow heroes, and most of all, Izuku himself. He may have grown accustomed to the limelight, whilst never losing his humility. This, however, would not sit well by him, especially if it got in the way of his duties as a hero and as Mina's future husband.

Speaking of his hero duties, things weighed heavily on his mind as he sat on the porch of their new apartment. They had moved in a week and a half after the incident. Izuku had obtained everything of theirs that wasn't damaged and tried in vain to get a piece of the minus creature to keep as a souvenir. It's not often that once comes back from dying and he thought it would be good to keep. Alas, it was buried under rubble and belonged to the police as evidence. T

Two weeks later, the reunited couple was married in a small but intimate ceremony, cheered on by their closest friends and family, those who could make it anyway. Hatsume caught the bouquet, but ultimately gave it to Ochako, claiming that she was already married to her work. She instead passed the flowers over to Uraraka, who smiled and blushed, hoping her fairytale would come too. Mina had always dreamed of a big reception, with lots of food, dancing, and retro music and décor. However, despite the big event and the extraordinary circumstances surrounding it, things were lower key. She didn't need the flashiness and the flair. She had all she needed in that moment. As she held her new husband close, she smiled. Hope had persevered after all and she was happy for the first time in what felt like an eternity, despite only being a few months.

After a fun-filled honeymoon cruise, where they made the most out of life and made love several times in celebration of it, they returned home, with a photo album, sunburn, and enough memories to fill a lifetime. They bought a studio apartment in Kamino, moving all their stuff there, or what was left of it. Mina stared out the window, having come to a decision about where she wished to go from here after reflecting on her life so far.

"Are you sure you don't want to keep One for All? From what I hear, you are getting a good handle on it." Izuku smiled.

"No thank you. This is your power. Not mine. And don't go saying how you felt that way at first too. You earned it."

"I wouldn't have just given it to you if I didn't think you were worthy." He smiled.

"You were dying. Who else would you have given it too?" Mina didn't want to sound ungrateful. She had to admit there was a par that would miss one-for-all. But it wasn't hers. The role of a pillar was not hers. She just wanted to be herself.

"I mean…yeah...That too…It almost felt like a really deep nap. I…I got flashes now and then, like distant dreams. You and me in a darkened room. Destruction from my point of view. I could only glean parts of it. It was all so fleeting and"

Suddenly, Mina kissed Izuku deeply. She gave no warning and nothing he really said triggered it. Just the nature of his very existence was all she needed now. She had dreamed of doing so once more for so long. And now, here he was in her arms once more. She would never let him get away again. If death ever came for him again, it would have to take her too. It was for that reason she kissed him. However, another reason came into play as well.

"I don't need it anymore. You can have it back." She grinned.

"T-that's not fair." The returned symbol of peace blushed and frowned heavily, feeling his heart race and his skin tingle. He felt like sparks were flowing through his body and he couldn't tell if that was the kiss or his quirk returning to him.

"Mina…I loved this quirk. Until you, it was the greatest thing to ever happen to me…in fact, if it weren't' for All Might and inheriting his quirk, I doubt I would have met you…it enabled me to meet new friends…the love of my life…and help people…It was all I ever wanted…I had a good run…but….I need some time to think on things." He looked at her thoughtfully while stroking her cheek as lilac crept across it.

"Not sure, what you need to think about, dude, but ok.

After a week or two, Izuku had decided.

"Giving it up again already?"

"I…. I had time to think. It almost feels like cheating…. being the 9th and 11th holder of One-for-All…. I feel like somebody else should get the chance…. we just need someone else. We will have to train them."

"Wait…we?"

"You held it too. Even if only for a few months. You are as legitimate a holder of One-for-All as I am. I was watching some footage of your time as my replacement…your form was off a bit….and you seemed to be trying too hard to be me at first, but you had some cool and unique moves in there that seemed like a blend of our techniques, plus some original stuff in there too. You really left your mark."

"Izu…no…I can't…Being a hero is your dream…your life…" Mina gazed at him, upset and confused, but doing her best to be understanding.

"You are both those things to me now, Mina. You always will be." The green-haired man smiled warmly and held his wife's hand. "Besides, I can still be a hero in a way…" Izuku handed Mina some forms.

Mina looked through the forms with a quiet astonishment. It wasn't the first thing she had thought of, but she supposed it made sense. "You're applying to the police academy?"

Izuku nodded. "I worry I'll be a bit older then some of the recruits, as I am in my mid-twenties, but All Might once described policework as being truly heroic and that they do just as much good as those of us with flashy costumes. I think I can do some good out there, with or without a quirk. As a former hero with years of notes, I…I might not be great at first, but I think I can manage."

Mina hugged him, gripping him tightly. She was sad that he would give his quirk up again, but at least it would be on his terms. She trusted his judgement and would support him no matter what.

"Hey Izu?" she asked softly.

"Yes?"

"Is there an afterlife? You probably got asked that all the time when people were grilling you about coming back and what not."

Izuku looked solemnly at her. "Not really. I guess the closest would be my flashes of memory where I talk to you through One for All, but it was mostly just darkness with slight blips of light. Tiny fleeting moments where I could see things but not have time to comprehend. If that makes sense."

Mina sighed and rested her head on his shoulder. "No heaven then?" she cocked her head to the side.

The green-haired hero held up his ring finger and grinned. "I wouldn't say that."

X

With Izuku as the symbol of peace once more, Mina decided to let her experiences inform her hero career as well. They had decided to go to a nearby recreational area to get some fresh air and just enjoy life without villain battles for a moment.

"Hero of Hope, Alien Queen!" she gestured dramatically as her husband chuckled.

"We…can workshop that." He teased. She pouted in response and playfully shoved him.

As they walked through the park, they noticed some ruckus. It was a scene familiar to both heroes, as far back as their childhoods. A young girl with rainbow streaked hair was in the fetal position as another, taller girl spread her arms and legs out and took a stance to protect her.

"Back off, you goons! Leave Masara alone! She did nothing wrong, ok? Just because her quirk isn't flashy, doesn't mean you can pick on her."

"Ooooo. What is paper Tiger gonna do? You're a quirkless piece of trash. Quit trying to play hero. That's all it will ever be."

"Yeah, you're too old to be playing pret- "

Before the second bully could finish her sentence, the quirkless girl retaliated.

"Don't you assholes have anything better to do? If you're looking to get into a hero school, it'll be a pretty sorry one to accept a bully like you."

The girl went down easily, a strong gut punch causing her to double over in pain. She coughed as she fell to her knees, glaring up at the antagonizing classmates as she guarded her frightened friend.

"Like a quirkless loser like you would know." The leader of the group, a tough looking girl of muscular build with vampire fangs and her blonde hair styled into pigtails resembling bat wings. She was flanked by her two friends. One was a taller girl with long, curly black hair draped around her neck like a scarf. It seemed to be moving on its own, slithering like a series of dark tendrils. The third was a short girl with long fingernails that hooked like claws, a shock of short silver hair, and a bemused smile on her face

"I can too become a hero! Alien Queen said I could!" Tora gritted her teeth defiantly, receiving condescending laughter in response.

"Well, well. Paper Tiger is a delusional fangirl. Go figure. Do you have any proof of this? I really don't want to believe the current number one hero is braindead idiot. Maybe she just took pity on you., like a kitten stuck in a tree. You probably should have jumped anyway so she could see if you land on your feet." The lead girl sneered.

"Or maybe she would have eight lives left. One of those has to have a quirk, right Anzu?" the clawed girl smirked. She glared at her dark-haired friend, who she thought had called her a brown-noser. The ravenette, merely flicked her tresses coyly.

"Don't be fucking stupid, Tanuki. She would just be a stain. In fact, I think I see one on the ground now…"

Anzu suddenly grabbed Tora's hair and slammed her face into the pavement, giving her a bloody nose, causing the powerless girl to grunt in pain as her friend looked up in fear and concern. Crying out for the other girs to cease and desist.

Mina and Izuku watched this unfold from the distance and walked briskly to stop it. They ran, hand in hand to shoo off the teenage hoodlums and separate them from their victims.

"That's enough, you three. Do you expect to get into a hero school acting like that?" Izuku sternly warned. Mina stared daggers at the trio of miscreants, further punctuating Izuku's point. Recognizing the two adults as off duty pros, the three girls cursed and ran off.

"You're lucky now, paper tiger. Next time, we'll rip your useless ass to shreds!" Anzu shouted back, vitriol dripping off of her voice.

"I bet your parents will be so proud!" Mina shouted back, before turning her attention to the bleeding girl, offering her a handkerchief.

Mina's eyes widened as she realized who it was: The girl she had talked out of suicide the day before her climactic battle against minus, when Izuku had returned to her as if everything had been but a bad dream that they had both woken up from. The bullies fled, leaving Tora to spit at the ground and wipe blood from her mouth and nose.

"Tora?" the pro hero asked as she walked over to the injured girl, who had been protecting her friend. Said friend was now talking to Izuku, who had inquired about her quirk as soon as he was certain she was alright. She had the ability to change the colors of objects, which wasn't the flashiest or most useful of quirks, but it was still fascinating to the newly reborn symbol of peace and justice.

"Yeah, who's…" the teenage girl tried being polite, but had a bit of an attitude from having been punched in the gut and forced to eat the pavement.

"Oh…It's you! " The girl had leapt towards Mina in a heartbeat, eager to hug her hero. "I never got to thank you…for saving my life. I mean, I wrote some letters, watched footage of you, but I never knew where to reach you. I heard you went freelance, which is weird, but also cool." The teenager gushed to her hero for what seemed like hours. Her enthusiasm really grabbed Mina and it was a far cry from the broken and forlorn girl she had encountered on that lonely rooftop. There were hints of herself in there. The enthusiasm and vigor and the way she moved her hands. However, she could also see hints of a wide-eyed boy with wild green hair who never gave in, even when things seemed hopeless and he felt like doing so. Izuku may have had his quirk back. The final say on who the 11th holder would be was his. However, Mina now had a candidate in mind. And she was certain Izuku would like her pick.

X

Izuku looked over at his wife, who was getting into a speedskating stance as TOrak braced herself on roller skates. They were an old pair of Mina's that she had held on to for some reason. Both she and Izuku were kind of glad she had now.

"Alright, kid. You ready to go?" Mina grinned at the teenager, decked out in goggles and roller derby gear.

"Yes maam." She cheered. She was tempted to tease, but she was way too nervous too. This was her idol, and now she was training her. What's more, the number one hero in the world, the man who met death and returned to tell the tale, was giving her his quirk. It was overwhelming. She didn't even realize quirks worked that way. Her mind was expanding to the point of bursting. However, these two pros believed in her. They were taking time out of their schedules to help her on her path. They even put in a word for her with UA. Tora was half expecting to die and come ack herself.

"Focus, young Tora. This is hero training, not Space Camp. We need you in top shape to handle this power.

"Right. S-sorry, Deku-sensei." She bowed.

"Ahem. Tora, you can talk to my husband later. For now, I hope you're hungry, because you're about to eat my dust!" the acid hero and torchbearer of One for All grinned mischievously.

"Like hell, Pinky." The quirkless girl fired back, almost fainting after realizing who she was talking to. Mina just continued smiling.

"See, Izuku? I told you she would be the best choice! Aaaaaand GO!"

With that, Mina took off, gliding swiftly and gracefully as her protegee tried to keep up on old skates. Izuku shook his head and smiled. He took out a fresh notebook and smiled. In the months to come he would have to contain his wife's laughter and their pupil's terror as he offered her a strand of his hair to eat.

And thus, as one chapter closes, another one opens, but that is a tale for another time.