As Katsuki reached the castle, he was unsurprised to find Shouto waiting for him. The prince's usual clothes had been traded out for something a little more formal in anticipation of whatever was happening today.
Katsuki still didn't know what was happening, only that he had received word from the king that he needed to be present at the castle after his morning rotation was complete. It was an unusual order, but Katsuki wasn't there to ask questions.
At least, not openly.
His eyes fell to the familiar decorative cape in Shouto's hands and he stopped, groaning. "Seriously? What the fuck is going on that your dad wants me to dress up?"
Shouto pursed his lips and nodded his head towards one of the side halls. Katsuki narrowed his eyes but took the hint, following the other man to somewhere less open. It was there that Shouto helped him fit his cape to his pauldrons, being just a touch too close to be professional, but still oceans away from how Katsuki wanted him.
"Queen Ryuko from Dragoir is to arrive soon, and according to Grand Advisor Keigo, she has specifically requested you and I to be present when she speaks to my father," Shouto said quietly as he finished pinning the cape in place.
Katsuki's response was to go silent, red eyes staring at nothing as he pondered the implications of that. "I don't know why she wants me there. We've never even met. Hell, I've not even been to Dragoir–"
"I think you should visit my homeland, Captain Bakugou."
He sucked in a breath through his teeth, eyes locking with Shouto's. "Fuck, what if it's Kyouka's doing?"
Shouto pursed his lips, considering that idea. "Her family are Dragoirian ambassadors, so… I guess it's possible. Do you think she told the Queen about… well, anything?"
"If she did, we're probably fucked," Katsuki replied, unable to completely mask the nervous undertone in his voice. "This could fast become a power play that throws us into the middle because of what we know."
Shouto frowned, looking down the hall behind them. "If so, we will have to do our best to manipulate the situation to our benefit."
"Not sure there's much we can do until we know what her gambit is," Katsuki said tersely.
"True, but… it may not hurt to have our evidence nearby in case the opportunity arises," Shouto replied softly.
Katsuki sucked in a sharp breath. "The book?"
"Yeah. Just in case," Shouto said at Katsuki's expression. "If Kyouka has told her something, and she is inclined to believe, then that's something we can use to our advantage to sway my father. Of course, that's assuming the queen herself seems trustworthy. Do you trust me to make that call if I see it?"
The Dragon of Yuuei pursed his lips, weighing the situation. "I… yeah. I trust you. Use your best judgment, and I'll do my best to keep us safe through it all."
Shouto smiled, stealing a quick kiss from the Captain, much to the latter's muted surprise. "Shall we, then?"
XX
Kyouka was grateful for the cloak she wore today, because it did much to hide the nervous set in her shoulders as she passed through the castle doors. Never mind that the Queen's Rabbit's mere presence made her skin crawl, but knowing the weight of this conversation could have serious impact on so many people pulled at her nerves.
There was so much going on, and she still only knew bits and pieces of it. She had just graduated from Yuuei's academy when the queen recruited her for her skills. Her request was simple:
"Keep your ears open for information on any mage who can manipulate multiple magics without the use of tools. Additionally, report back to me any information on the monster that haunts Yuuei's woods."
And so that is what Kyouka did. These last few years, she had learned little about what the queen was searching for, but after Katsuki's story, the pieces began falling into place, and imagine Kyouka's surprise when Ryuko confirmed what Katsuki said was true. Magical cores, Relic cores, even Origin cores. It was all things Queen Ryuko knew. Somehow, she had not been affected by this veil Katsuki spoke of, and Kyouka had no idea why.
She snapped out of her thoughts when she realized they had approached King Enji's meeting room and someone had announced their arrival.
The King himself was standing in his full decorated attire, looking as proud and prideful as ever. Flames rolled off of the wall behind him in a way that didn't seem to catch anything on fire. A display of power, and nothing more, and honestly, Kyouka hated his extravagance.
Her eyes cut over to the others in the room. Queen Rei, who rarely made a public appearance, stood off to the side, her adornments making her appear more delicate than frail. She had never been the same since her first child's death, health slowly declining over the years. Beside her, Princess Fuyumi stood, looking calm, although the stiffness in her posture betrayed her.
High Advisor Keigo stood beside his king, the red markings on his arms almost looking like they were on fire thanks to the way the flames behind him reflected light on his skin. And then… on the other side stood the two people Kyouka was most nervous about.
Katsuki's face was set as close to neutral as possible, which still meant he was glowering. He had on his cape and decorative pauldrons, his helmet tucked under his arm as he stood at attention. Beside him, Shouto was decorated in a similar fashion, but with less armor and more royal drapery. Both men locked eyes on her immediately, and she knew they had figured it out by just that single action.
However, she knew very well they assumed this was more a betrayal than a benefit, and she needed a way to convey to them she was on their side. Because she was. So was her Queen. Her entire nation was on their side.
They were on Requiem, no–Izuku of House Midoriya's side.
Kyouka considered her options. The Queen and her Rabbit would see any use of her magic no matter how clever, but she trusted them to know what she was doing. As formal introductions were announced, she hid her hand behind her back under her cloak and formed a small gathering of her magic. She may not have been able to see or talk to her core, but she knew her magic well, and it was well within her capabilities to pass along vibrations to a specific location, allowing someone to hear a message only they could hear.
And so, she executed her spell with a faint flick of her fingers, letting her magic hit its targets. Both men jumped slightly, signaling her message reached them.
"We are on Requiem's side."
Scarlet eyes leveled on her with an intense gaze, but beside the captain, the prince gave the faintest of smiles, saying everything she needed to know.
"Good."
XX
Ochako watched as Izuku broke into a light jog to close the distance between them, weaving around the small crowd of shoppers as he went. The warnings were still going off in the back of her mind, and Ochako was growing increasingly concerned that even Izuku's presence was not calming down the ecosystem. Something was about to happen.
Still, even as he approached smiling, she knew that it took little to make him panic, so she needed to gauge how he was fairing under the stress of the visit, then let him know something was wrong. If his magic spilled out here in town, that would be bad for both of them.
However, as he came to a stop with a wide grin, she frowned, looking around behind him. "Izuku… where is your mother?"
"Oh!" Izuku replied, looking back in the direction he'd come from. "She's waiting out by the gates for us. I told her we would catch up."
That was odd. She would have expected both of them to maximize their time together, and there was no reason for Inko to not follow Izuku unless her old injuries were bothering her. "Is she in pain?" Ochako asked.
Izuku shrugged, which was an unusual gesture from him. "Don't think so. But she did tell us to hurry!"
Ochako's brows lifted. Perhaps whatever the system was warning her about was something Inko had picked up on through others. Maybe she had urged Izuku to collect her so they could leave the city. Nodding to herself on the hypothesis, she stepped closer to him, lowering her voice. "How are you handling everything? Is it stressful?"
He shook his head, beaming at her. "It's been a great day! But, I can tell you more once we catch up with mom. Follow me!"
Something didn't feel right, but Ochako was having a little bit of trouble picking up on what exactly it was. It wasn't just the fact Inko wasn't there so much as… Izuku seemed a little… too expressive. His mannerisms and actions were normally soft. Muted. And right now, he was more like a hyperactive child in comparison. It was strange, and she had to wonder just what happened to invigorate him like this.
Still, she did agree it was probably good to get out of the crowd, and at least then she would be able to finally hear what the ecosystem was trying to warn her about. "Yeah, we should hurry. Something weird is going on. Has Requiem warned you of anything?"
He shook his head, hair bouncing with the effort. "Nope. It's been quiet for a while now. What's weird? The Queen's Rabbit that just walked through town? It definitely spooked the crowd."
"Possibly," Ochako replied, falling into step beside him. "I–"
She stopped when she felt his fingers slide through hers, locking them together. She glanced down at their hands before looking up at him. He was smiling widely at her, and that was when it hit her.
This wasn't Izuku.
He looked like Izuku. He sounded like Izuku. He knew her name, and seemed to know what Requiem was, but… he wasn't acting normal, and the real, most important thing was that the moment their fingers touched, there was an absence of something she had never realized was always there until it no longer existed.
The feeling of his magic. It was gone. Now without it there, she could identify it by the hole it left behind. The gentle thrum of energy that always danced beneath his skin. The warmth that wrapped around him like a pocket of air. The invisible aura that swore to protect everything it held dear.
This wasn't Izuku, and now she understood the pounding in the back of her head.
Quelling her nerves, she had to hope that Izuku and Inko were safe, but she couldn't verify that until she took care of whomever was beside her. There were too many people nearby to want to risk a fight in the city, and the closest gate was still a few minutes' walk away. She also didn't want to wait until they left the gates, because the likelihood of this person working alone was… slim, especially given how eager they were to get her out of the city. Her eyes roved over their surroundings, until they fell on a colorful kiosk– one of the many florists.
"Hey, Izuku," She called softly, grateful she was able to keep a steady voice despite the nervousness mounting inside of her. "What flowers should I get for the kitchen table?"
Even though she knew this wasn't her Izuku, she still wanted to confirm it. How much did this imposter know?
Izuku hummed, stepping in close to look past her at the flowers. "I like the red ones. All the red ones. They would look so pretty in your hair with your cloak. Let's get one of each!"
He smiled at her, way too close to her face to be the person she cared for, and more importantly, that was entirely the wrong answer, for so many reasons.
"Ah, is that so?" Ochako replied lightly, unable to hide the quiver in her voice from the building adrenaline. "So you like red flowers? That's very interesting. But that's not what the real Izuku would say, I'm afraid."
The man beside her froze, something hardening in his gaze, and then he jerked back, trying to pull his hand away. Ochako doubled down on her grip in response, funneling magic into her arm to turn a seemingly affectionate gesture into a crippling vice. The fake Izuku's eyes snapped open in pain and fury as he tried to pull his hand away, and as his expression melted farther and farther from something the real Izuku would ever make, Ochako's panic solidified into resolve.
"Who are you?" She asked coldly, pulling up a veil around them so no one could see their struggle. The fake Izuku snarled, his other hand coming to clamp down on her wrist, trying to pry her fingers off.
"Let go of me, you bitch!"
It was so strange hearing such caustic words with his voice, but all it did was anger her. She tightened her grip, causing the person before her to make a pained noise. "I'll ask again. Who are you?"
The imposter didn't answer, eyes squeezed shut in pain as they tried and failed to get their hand free. And as Ochako continued, feeling bones creak under the effort, the magic the other person used flickered, before it spilled off like runny paint on a canvas. Green hair melted away into dirty blonde, and tanned freckled skin faded to pale porcelain. What had once been a perfect replica of Izuku was now a petite blonde woman grimacing in agony.
Golden eyes snapped open to glare up at her, and Ochako glared back, her own glowing pink. "I can and will break your fingers if you do not answer me."
"I'm already broken," The woman replied through her teeth, and Ochako narrowed her eyes as such a response. "Kidnapping you would free me, Echo."
"I doubt that," The witch replied. "You work for the Blackened Core, don't you?"
At those words, the woman before her froze, suddenly unbothered by the vice-like grip on her hand. Instead of pain or anger, her face melted into one of unfiltered fear. It was such a startling transition that Ochako almost let go of the woman, staring at her as she slumped in on herself like a broken image of a human being. The woman looked up at her in utter despair, tears rolling down her face.
"Please… before I lose control again. Please kill me."
The plea made Ochako recoil like she had been burned, and she let go of the woman who had transitioned from malice to anguish in the span of a few moments. The blonde cradled her injured hand to her chest, rocking in place. With a broken sob, she whispered, "Nothing I do is by choice, Echo. Death is the only freedom I can see."
And then her eyes turned empty again, and hatred followed a moment after. Ochako recovered, lifting her hand as arcane energy gathered in her palm, but the other woman responded by grabbing something at her waist and throwing it down on the ground. Ochako jumped back only to recognize the smoke bomb for what it was as the other woman used the diversion to take off running down the street. Scowling, the witch waved her hand, using a gust of wind to take the smoke up above the city and into the clouds. She dispeled the veil around her, staring down the street in the direction the other woman disappeared to.
"Ochako!"
At the familiar voice sounding her name, she turned to see Izuku coming towards her, his mother in tow. The sight of them both sent relief flooding through her.
…Right up until the warning sounded in the back of her head once again.
Danger.
XX
The moment the formal introductions were made, Enji spoke. "And to what do I owe the honor of this visit, Queen Ryuko?"
The Dragoirian queen bowed her head, no smile on her face. "I do not wish to play the game of pleasantries on this day, King Enji. So I shall skip the preamble. 187 people were murdered in the Dragoirian city of Jaku two days ago. The city was burnt to ash, and only 19 bodies were uncovered, all severely burned."
Enji gave a shallow nod, turquoise eyes trained on the Queen before him. "That is terrible news, but I do not understand why you would come to me with this."
Ryuko turned her head slightly to the side and nodded. High Lady Momo stepped forward, bowing in formal introduction. "Your Majesty, the magic used on that village was confirmed to be Todoroki fire. I confirmed it myself–"
"Are you accusing my family of mass murder," Enji interrupted, words hotter than the fire roaring behind him. Momo pursed her lips, eyes flickering to her queen who nodded for her to continue.
"I have made no accusations," Momo replied evenly. "Please allow me to continue with my investigation report, and you can then draw your own conclusions, Your Majesty."
Enji stared at her, nodding slightly. "Very well. Continue, girl."
If the word bothered Momo, she did an exceptional job of not showing it. "The Queen's Rabbit traced the magic to the ruined kingdom. Unless it used the kingdom as a junction, the magic did not come from Yuuei. We believe someone has found a way to mimic your magic and did so from the cursed lands that both of our countries border."
There was a heavy pause as Momo stopped speaking and stepped back beside her queen. Enji stared at the entourage before him, expression unreadable outside of mild alarm. "How certain are you of those assumptions?"
"I would bet my title on it," Momo said without hesitation.
Enji frowned, fingers stroking his beard. "Only two members of my family are capable of Todoroki fire. Myself and my son, Shouto. I can assure you that neither of us have left the kingdom, and we would both be dead if we tried to traverse the fallen kingdom. As would anyone else. Walking those lands is not possible, as we all know."
"That's not true–" Kyoka stopped when everyone looked at her, and she snapped her mouth shut. However, Ryuko nodded slowly at her, waving for her to step forward.
"If you would lend your ear, King Enji, Kyouka has news I think you and your captain need to hear."
Kyouka swallowed, taking a step forward and bowing. "Your majesty. It has been brought to my attention that people are successfully traversing the cursed land. They are able to do so if they have been cursed, as that nullifies the effects of the land on their bodies. I saw it myself, as the curse mage Fumikage cursed himself and could cross into the lands unharmed. He also applied a curse onto one of our own mages who had been kidnapped into the cursed land, sparing her from a painful death. This… She was the mage stationed at Jaku, further confirming the attacker came from the ruined kingdom. She has been unconscious since, so we have been unable to question her."
Shouto and Katsuki exchanged wide-eyed looks at Kyouka's story, knowing very well how it fit into the greater picture. Kyoka bowed her head and took a step back as Enji considered this news.
"What I'm hearing from your story is that someone is hiding in the cursed ruins and has somehow used my family's magic to start conflict between our countries, is that correct, Queen Ryuko?"
The queen offered a faint smile in return. "That is correct."
"Do you have identities? A motive?"
Ryuko gave a single, slow nod. "The one responsible is an ancient magic that has taken hold of a vessel hiding in those ruins. This magic is the cause of the monsters you call Nomu, that terrorize your people. This magic is so strong that forty years ago, it rewrote reality to hide its existence from everyone. Entire books turned empty. Minds left blank with the knowledge they once held. This magic is rivaled only by one other in the entire world. Two magical cores, locked in a fated battle. One that wants to protect the world and return what has been stolen, our Requiem. And one that wants to rewrite everything into its own vision. Its own name has long been lost, and we now simply refer to it as the Blackened Core."
She paused, before adding, "And to recreate the world in its own image, it hunts the magic of one who can bend the world to her command, and then it shall come for its rival. A war between our kingdoms would be a perfect backdrop to allow it to seek these two unhindered."
Enji stared at the queen, before he exhaled a huff. "This is a story most extravagant, Queen Ryuko. I do not know how you expect me to believe such a tale. Have you proof?"
"You've seen proof yourself," Ryuko replied lightly. "The monster that defends your people is the vessel of the one called Requiem. And the woman who bends the world to her command was to wed your son, once upon a time."
Shouto and Katsuki stiffened, neither having been prepared for Ryuko to give Ochako's identity away like that.
The torches around them flashed at the mention of the witch who cursed his son, and Enji glared hotly at the queen before him. "These are fascinating parallels, my dear Queen, but hardly solid proof. What else can you present?"
Ryuko bowed her head, although it appeared her eyes cut over to the two young men standing off to the side. "I am unsure what else I could present that would satisfy you, King Enji."
"I have something."
Everyone turned to Shouto, who stared at his father with an intense gaze that would, in any other situation, make Enji proud. "I have solid, irrefutable proof that everything Queen Ryuko says is true."
And without preamble, he reached behind his back to the Empty Book hidden cleverly behind his cape and held it out for Keigo to take. "This is one of the Empty Books. Verify it, High Advisor, then show us what's inside."
Keigo tilted his head, slender fingers taking the leather-bound tome from the prince's hands. With three circles of his palm over the surface of the book, he stopped, brows high on his head.
"It is indeed one of the Empty Books," Keigo said as he carefully opened the text in his hands. His eyes fell to the words in bold ink, and then he lifted his gaze to Shouto. "It's… not blank."
"It's not," Shouto affirmed, eyes skimming across the room. "High Advisor, would you kindly read the title for chapter seven?"
Keigo's finger slid down the page until it found the title in the table of contents. "The Origin Cores, Requiem and the Blackened Core."
Shouto nodded. "Queen Ryuko, do you know the name of the core that my ex-fiancée holds?"
Ryuko smiled, showing her teeth. "The Echo, Prince Shouto."
The Prince carried his gaze back to his father, who stared at him in shock. "High Advisor, please turn to page 183 and read the first paragraph."
Keigo flipped through the pages, coming to a stop after several seconds. "Of the three Relic Cores, the rarest is the Echo Core, which allows its host to communicate with the magical plane. Unlike most cores, where the magic within is used as a tool, the Echo core is a door for its holder to access the magic of the world with seemingly endless possibilities. However, due to the rarity of such a core, very little is documented about the extent of its capabilities or its limitations."
He stopped at the end of the paragraph, looking up at the rest of the room with wide eyes before looking back at the Prince. Shouto did not meet his gaze, still staring intently at his father, who stared back, expression unreadable.
XX
"Are you okay?" The words tumbled out of Izuku's mouth before he'd even come to a complete stop, and Ochako realized he had practically carried his mother to keep up with him in his mad sprint to reach her. The display had caused some people to turn their heads and look at them, but that was apparently the least of his concerns. "That woman– did she hurt you?"
"Was that the same woman who spoke with you earlier?" Inko asked, her question directed at her son.
Izuku nodded, not removing his eyes from Ochako, his expression concerned. "Did she–"
"I'm fine," Ochako replied, giving him a tight-lipped smile. "She did a really poor imitation of you."
"Imitation?" Izuku asked, confused.
"She used magic to take on your appearance and tried to get me to leave the city with her. Unfortunately for her, she's not very good at acting like you," Ochako explained quickly, eyes moving across the crowd around them. "I can tell you more later, but I think we need to leave the city."
Inko frowned, stepping up closer to the two of them. "What's wrong, Ochako?"
"The ecosystem has been warning me that something's wrong, but with all the energy in the city, the message is unclear. I just know something bad is nearby, and every time I think I identify it, I'm wrong."
Izuku sucked in a breath through his teeth. "Requiem was warning me, too. Said I needed to get to you. But… I thought it was because of that woman."
"We should–" Ochako stopped as the feeling sounded again, louder and more urgent. At the same time Izuku froze, his eyes flashing.
Their gazes met, and without words Ochako knew that he was getting the same kind of warning she just did. Something was very wrong.
"Go. We should go," Ochako said, an edge to her voice. "Let's get back into the forest. My enchantments can–"
She stopped as a dark shadow rolled across the city, covering the buildings and darkening the streets. Everyone looked up at the pitch black clouds that rolled in like a massive stormfront, the sheer energy crackling within them promising this was not a naturally occurring storm.
Izuku's head snapped in the direction of the east gate, eyes shining brightly as he stared, and Ochako watched the color drain from his face. "Nomu?"
His mouth moved, but no sound came out as he tried to articulate what he was seeing. Feeling panic building inside of her, Ochako reached out, grabbing his wrist. "Izu–"
She stopped when the world suddenly shifted, and she found herself staring in a version of the world she had never seen. Inside every person was a shimmering bundle of magic, each unique, with brilliant colors and oscillating shapes that made everything else seem dull and monochromatic in comparison. As her eyes swept over the kaleidoscope of magic bubbling inside everyone around her, Ochako realized she was looking at cores.
She was accessing Izuku's magic.
Her eyes fell to the man before her, and she stared at the beautiful golden core shining within him, with a million tiny facets and tendrils of energy weaving out like beams of sunlight.
…She almost felt like it was looking at her.
And then, her eyes lifted up to look past the east gate, and she stared at the approaching mass of cores, all somehow wrong. All twisted, like they were trapped in things they didn't belong.
Nomu. So many she couldn't count them, and they were rushing towards the city. She could see other, normal cores behind them, and then in the sky above, a core so powerful, so twisted, that she knew without a doubt it was a Nomu like the one that landed in Ultra's market plaza.
And as she watched them approach, she could feel deep inside–
–they were coming for her.
She let go of Izuku's wrist, taking a stumbling step back as she worked the bags off her shoulders, dropping her basket. "Izuku–" She couldn't hide the urgency in her voice. The growing panic. Inko was looking between them in fear, unsure of what was going on.
The sound of his name snapped him to attention, and he turned to her. "They're coming for–"
"-Me, I know. They'll destroy the city if we don't get out of here. We can cut them off down past the farmlands if we leave now. I'll signal Katsuki and Shouto."
She could tell he wanted her to run. She could see it in his eyes. He said nothing, but he was begging her. She shook her head. "If you go out there alone, you'll die, and then they'll find me. If we go out there together, we stand a fighting chance."
"I know," He replied weakly. "But that doesn't make me less scared."
"Me neither," She admitted, pulling a small crystal out of her pocket. "But we don't have the luxury of choice."
"What is going on?" Inko interrupted, grabbing Izuku's arm. "What are you both talking abo–"
She stopped when Izuku stepped forward, pulling his mother into a crushing hug. The young man buried his face into her hair, holding her tightly. "The city's about to be under attack. I need you to go somewhere safe. T-to the shelters by the castle."
His mother pulled back, staring up at him, distraught and with confusion. "What–what are you talking about–"
"P-please, Mom. Things are about to get very bad. I need you to trust me and take shelter," Izuku pleaded, eyes wide.
"O-okay, of course, but what about you?" Inko asked, looking between them.
Izuku offered her a weak smile. "I can't go with you. I have to protect Ochako, and I have to protect everyone else. I love you."
He stepped back as black and green engulfed his form, wrapping around him in thick ribbons and violent flames that covered his entire body. Tendrils snapped out in all directions, crackling with energy from his augmentation magic, before several grabbed Ochako and pulled her to him, cradling her protectively.
Without another word, Izuku took off into the air with a mighty leap, causing shouts and screams from the people on the ground.
XX
Inko stared after her son, watching him bound over the tops of buildings before taking to the sky like a swift bird of prey. It took several moments for the shouts of the citizens around her to reach her ears over the pounding of her own heart, and when she realized what they were saying, she felt her world turn upside down for the second time in two days.
"It's the Monster of Yuuei!"
"The Monster's in the city! It must have caused the black skies!"
"It kidnapped a woman! Hurry, tell the guard!"
As the screams continued, Inko pressed a hand to her heart, staring at Izuku's disappearing image in the sky.
Her son was the Monster of Yuuei.
XX
Enji opened his mouth to speak when a dark shadow passed over the city, snuffing out the sunlight above. He paused, furrowing his brow, especially when both Ryuko and her pet spirit snapped their heads towards the east. The Queen's Rabbit tensed, acting as if she might bolt through the window itself.
"A foul magic approaches," Ryuko said with concern, taking a step towards the windows. "It smells of decay, and it is sprawling. Massive."
Enji stiffened in alarm. "What?"
He started towards the windows, only to stop when a sharp, echoing chime rang out in the room. Everyone looked around, before they all focused on Katsuki and Shouto, who each pulled out a crystal from their clothes. The stones were pulsing, alternating between red and purple light in color.
"A warning stone," Ryuko said, eyes moving between the two. "...That you both have. Tell me, Little Dragon of Yuuei. Is the Echo in danger?"
"Yeah," Katsuki replied hollowly, staring at the crystal in his palm. "Red means a big Nomu attack…"
"… And purple means they're both in danger."
