(Morgan) 1 year later
It was a bright day out and the whole family were going to visit their relatives back in Ylisse. Morgan smiled tiredly as she stepped through the portal onto the road to the capitol but seemed to remember something that made her pout. I like a good laugh as much as anyone else but laughing for several hours straight has scarred me for life; laughing s'been ruined forever! She glanced at her brother Gerome who was riding astride his wyvern, Minerva, and let out a small chuckle which eventually morphed into a loud cackle as she threw her head back and pointed at them.Or not, giggling and tittering is just too much fun. In moderation.
Gerome just sighed but she could see the small blush on his cheeks. And if it was possible, Morgan just knew that Minerva would be blushing too. "Morgan if this is what I think it is then I don't see what you find so funny. We let that ne'er-do-well get away after defacing those buildings."
Hohh? Deflection is it? "Not thaaat! It's because mister grumpy gills over there was laughing like a fool and so was Minerva! I didn't even know a wyvern could laugh!" It was a pretty cute sound; a mix between a Fell Viper's hiss, crushed rocks, and a deep bass that reverberated in your chest.
The cause of their conversation was a petty villain called Mr. Smiley. He was a drifter that would come to and fro', city after city, spreading uncontrollable laughter and street art everywhere. He had recently come to the Justice Cabal's home city of Korusan to cause some mischief and the team had decided to do something about it the day before. Or at least they tried.
Her initial plan was for her and Gerome to herd him towards Inigo and Severa who were blocking off the final route with Owain and Cynthia covering some possible alternative routes. However the plan died before it could even start; when they charged him to try to get him to spook and run, he simply turned and gave them a cheery smile. Before they knew it they were splitting their sides on the ground laughing alongside Minerva's stuttered roars.
"Anyway, I think we can have another go at him if he's still in town when we get back, I got the hints of a plan in my head."
Gerome straightened himself and went to nod before he quirked his head in thought. "Morgan, I believe I saw you pull out your phone during our little fit. Would you have happened to record it?"
"As a matter of fact I did. I just couldn't resist after seeing Mwinervykins being so adowable." She cooed, going over to give Minerva a hug with the wyvern letting out a loud screech before turning to nuzzle her.
"I see. I was hoping you could possibly send it to me and even show it to mother later. I know for a fact that she'll get a kick out of seeing Minerva in such a state." He smiled warmly, leaning down to pat his mount's neck.
Morgan just reveled in this moment with her brother. Its a rare thing to see him smiling like this; he usually never lets his mask slip. It's feels like he's been withdrawn ever since we started fighting. The Outrealms gate was beginning to glow again, signaling that the rest were starting to make their way through. "Hey, when the others get through the portal do you think you could fly with Mark and Ophelia? We can probably get Cynthia to fly with young Caeldori, and Soleil will probably want to fly there on her own; The rest of us can just march there ourselves."
He righted himself a final time, his already masked features taking on the metaphorical meaning in addition to the literal. "Consider it done sister. Though once I arrive I will make sure to send an escort to meet up with you."
The portal's light flashed multiple times, once for each person that appeared.
The first to take shape was Cynthia, riding on top of her pegasus. She was a vibrant young woman, entirely excited with where their life was headed. Her brown hair was worn up in short pigtails reminiscent of their younger days, a reminder that she had never let the optimism of those days die, while her eyes carried a cheery smile that was able to raise the spirits of those in her presence.
Walking a little behind her were Inigo and Severa along with their own children. Inigo was her husband's cousin, best friend, and rival wrapped up in one package. He was a womanizer before he was married though it was really only in name as he was always rejected from the get-go, it would probably be more appropriate to call him an aggressive flirter. In all honesty, it was a surprise to Morgan that he was able to get married let alone to Severa of all people.
Speaking of, Severa was looking quite content while watching the young ones run around. While Morgan never talked to her all that much during the wars, she had gotten to know her a little better after Severa and Inigo moved to Japan with them after a short stint in Ylisse. She knew the redhead to be a bit touchy and grouchy but she was adept at seeing beneath the mask people wore due to her brother.
Her husband, Owain, was the last one to come through after their own children. The blonde was great around kids and filled with a boundless creativity. Even his own 'Quirk' stemmed from his imagination, with the ability to grant power to any item that he gave a meaningful name. He caught her looking and beamed a grin her way, she returned a smile of her own. All right, back to the plan.
Morgan turned and waved to the pegasus rider, "Hey Cynthia! Think you can take one of the little ones with you?"
(Gerome)
Gerome was watching the kids run around in a field outside the capitol while they waited for everyone else to catch up, which shouldn't be much longer with the pegasus riders sent to pick them up. Watching them play Justice Cabal is making me nostalgic for when we did the same, he mused. He could see the influence their new world had upon them as they took turns playing the hero, villain, and rescuee
"Do not fear Princess Ophelia! I, the great hero Soleil, will save you from these low ruffians!" Soleil took a heroic stance, pink hair waving in the wind with her hands on her hips likely impersonating All Might like on the television, her wings flared out to make her look bigger.
And wasn't that a surprise as well, he thought. It felt like these Quirks were something only possible for the locals of the realm. However, despite their beliefs, it manifested in his team's children in unforeseen ways. Young Soleil, for instance, had grown vibrant green wings reminiscent of a manakete. From what Morgan had told him, Severa had nearly fainted after seeing dragon wings erupt spontaneously from her daughter's back while they were out shopping.
A redhead girl stood across from the pinkette with what she must've thought was an evil sneer, but only managed to make her face cutely squished. "You cannot hope to beat me sister, for I know your every move!" With her declaration, she charged forward while brandishing a thin stick. Even as Soleil batted at her with her wings, Caeldori would duck or sidestep each strike with precision while closing into her range, victory at hand. "Ha! I have you n-now eurgh... my... head." Before she suddenly crumpled, letting out a small whimper in the process.
Guess it's too much strain to run continuously. Caeldori was an interesting case. She was the eldest and first to awaken her Quirk among the kids with the ability to see roughly ten seconds into the future, though evidently it was too much to handle for the little girl.
Soleil dropped the play acting, worry for her sister written clear in her features. "Big sis! are you okay? I'm sorry..." She said concernedly.
With a sniff the redhead shook her head, 'I'm okay, I just need to sit-"
"Then I win! And I'm one step closer to saving the princess!" Onward went the hero, leaving behind a glaring sister now that the alarm was over to face her next foe.
"Gyahahaha! You'll never get past my Fell Dragon Flame! Fwoosh!" Mark was really hamming it up playing the villain, cackling and adding his own sound effects to his 'dragon breath'.
Gerome could only smile wryly at the banter. He likely doesn't realize how close he is to the mark. It may not be quite there, but it's easy to see the influence of the Fell Dragon in his power. In fact, all of their Quirks brought to mind the draconic. All of them but Mark having awakened a vestige of Naga, The Divine Dragon. With the true death of Grima in this time, there should be no risk of his Quirk taking him over, though it wouldn't hurt to keep watch of him.
The pinkette merely crossed her arms with a smug look as the miasma billowed toward her. "Your 'flame' doesn't stand a chance. Behold my secret technique! Wind Cyclone!" With a great flap of her wings she was able to bl-
"Enjoying the game?" A voice whispered in his ear.
"Gah!" He whirled around to find the culprit, "Cynthia! how did you sneak up on me? Minerva should have alerted me." He looked to the wyvern but only saw a twinkle in her eyes. Gods dammit Minerva, Morgan is more than enough already I don't need you playing matchmaker too.
"I guess she just knows how close we are," she stated simply before nodding in the kids direction. "Now that brings back some memories, remember when that was us playing pretend?"
He looked back to the clearing, huffing seeing that Soleil had accidentally blown the miasma into Ophelia as she coughed out a glimmering light to clear the air. "The Justice Cabal is more than a dream now."
Cynthia gave a happy chuckle at his comment. "It wouldn't have happened if I hadn't taken a chance with Kaina, I don't know if we would have made it if she didn't believe in us."
They hadn't realized for a while, but the legality of their presence in the country was questionable. They were able to skirt by for a time since they knew the language, but eventually it came to a head when it was preventing them from becoming heroes and owning any property. They had confided in one of their new friends, Kaina Tsutsumi, about their dreams and she had helped them get the necessary documents to live in Japan.
Cynthia easy smile seemed to fade at the thought of their friend, concern showing in her eyes. "I'm worried for her," she admitted, "She doesn't visit as often and when she does, she seems strained and full of tension."
Gerome knew what she spoke of. Whenever Miss Tsutsumi visited the team's compound, she would always arrive on edge before relaxing part way through her visit, as though she was remembering how it felt to be with people who cared for her. I wonder if we're her only friends, I recognize the look of someone living in isolation with a heavy weight in their heart. He was the same before he time traveled, when he went on his quest to save his sister. "Her hero work is not something shared with the public, perhaps the source stems there?"
"I've tried talking about that with her but she always changes the topic." she bites her lip and steps past him, arms crossed together to look at the little ones' shenanigans. "I don't know what to do to help her or if she'd even accept it."
Gerome looked at her form wistfully, wishing he could say something to ease her mind. It pained him to see her cheery optimism marred by self-doubt, but the mask fit tight and was loathe to-
A firm nudge from behind stumbles him forward, twisting, he can see Minerva making to nudge him again. I'm going rusty if even a wyvern is sneaking up on me. With a pushy wyvern 'supporting' him, he steps forward and hesitantly places his hand on her shoulder, taking a moment to find his words. "She knows we care, you most of all. We can't fully know what she's going through, but I know the best thing for someone walking in darkness is to have a good friend walking alongside them to be their light," he managed.
Her expression cleared at his words, reaching up a hand to hold the one on her shoulder. "Thank you Gerome, you always know what to say to raise my spirits. I love that about you," she said easily.
What. "W-what! Cynthia did you-"
She caught sight of something in the horizon and let go of his hand to point excitedly at it. "Look!" She chirped, "the escorts returned with everyone, lets go gather up the little heroes yea?" She finished before running into the clearing.
"Yes, but- wait, Cynthia! Cynthi- ah dammit forget it." He sighed before raising a hand to rub his face, he just knew that his face was flushed. Oh gods thats going to keep me up later. Minerva trudged up next to him, craning her head to give him what he thought to be a judging eye. "Yes I know, I'll do it on my own next time." Chided by my own wyvern, at least Morgan isn't here to put words to the look. He mounted up and they made to follow.
All righty Skinny here time to lax it up. I can feel my style morphing, trying to learn what it wants so please excuse the style differences between the first and last half of this chapter as well as the previous.
I was wondering how to make their presence in Japan not raise red flags with the law but then realised that there was no way cuz they are outright illegal. there were two paths before me, both pretty handwaivy: either have them get forged identities or have them know someone willing to help them out. I chose the latter cuz I wanted to try a hand at seeing Lady Nagant before she snapped since she would be a similar age to what I have the adults at.
These starting chapters were very FE oriented but I should be getting into more MHA stuff soon. I'm realizing that writing Gerome is pretty fun, especially when I'm involving Minerva in the situation. Also how is everyone in MHA gonna accept that the Justice Cabal has a flying horse and lizard? uhhh, working on that. Cynthia felt like she wasn't excitable enough here, will try to adjust that. hopefully next chapter I can try to work on Ophelia and learn how to flesh out an OC.