Returning to town just after noon, already there were two significant changes. One, the gatehouse was wide open and the vines had all withered away like they were never here. And two, many more people were moving around now, there was noise and joy in the air again, the ghostly village had come back to life. And when they returned, everyone instantly came around to thank them for not only defending them from the earth elemental, but clearing the corruption that threatened to ruin their homeland.
"Thank you all so much!" "If you hadn't had come, our home would've been lost!" "You saved my family, thank you!" "Kiara, Kyoka, your friends and yourselves are heroes!"
"I-it was nothing, w-we're glad e-everyone's okay," Izuku was shy slightly, laughing a bit as Kiara grinned at the praise, blushing bashfully with Kyoka.
"Anytime!" Kirishima grinned, shoulder to shoulder with Kaminari who too was grateful for the gratitude.
"Happy to be here to help!" The girl blushed shyly herself with her usual smile, it's clear to her that her friends are already becoming heroic adventurers… this world shows they are always fated to come together and that Izuku will definitely become a pro hero… very happy to to see this around her.
"By the way, if you want to wash up, head for the inn, only place with a large bath for multiple people," Kiara suggested as she walked backwards to look at everyone. "Gender separate, sorry boys,"
"I really feel that last part was unnecessary," Izuku deadpanned.
"No kiddin'," Kirishima winced a bit.
"Dammit..." Kaminari muttered to himself, only to be punched in the back of the head by Katsuki.
Seeing that Ciana couldn't help but burst a few giggles out of her mouth, Ciana didn't think Bakugo be the type to defend their dignity. But felt kinda bad for the sudden punch Kaminari he got. "As much as I don't usually approve of violence… thanks for defending our dignity Katsuki."
Ciana thanks the guy, but couldn't help but show some concern over Kaminari. "You okay Denki?" The girl asked, knowing Bakugo's punches really hurt.
"Y-yep, brain's still working, ow... like steel clubs," He rubbed the back of his head, then turned sharply to the bemused blonde. "You didn't need to hit me that hard!"
"Shut up already, you're not dead," Katsuki pointed out.
"That doesn't make it better!"
The rest laughed at the bickering, and before long, arrived at the inn to finally wash up and unwind. But as they approached the doorway, Ciana pulled out her gatestone. She stared at it, soon, she would part ways with them all. She felt confident in her control over her quirk, now more than ever, sure, it still bothered her what she looked like, and doubt she'd ever fully get over that feeling, but this power was hers to control, not Meru Zena's, All For One's, or anyone else's.
Ciana though didn't expect to take public baths even with the girls… the idea of bathing with others made her feel very shy at the idea… so, she ends up appearing in the bathing room with a towel wrapped around her. Averting her gaze from the girls who are already in the big baths, though… this certainly is the kind of bath she didn't expect, there was a big wooden wall blocking out the guys side, and there was a few little chairs lined up to a mirror to primp up next to the wide bath. Sure unlike any kind of bathing sight she's ever seen.
"Um… why is this a public thing for people…?" Ciana couldn't help but ask shyly as she goes to sit down at one of the stools one of the girls were sitting at next to her.
"Better for groups like ours, otherwise, we'd all be clogging up the inn rooms," Kyoka replied as she smiled back at her running soap through her dark hair. "Besides, don't think my Mom would appreciate a line while she's getting my old man back on his feet,"
"Lighten up, totally safe in here, people book slots, and given we just saved this village," Kiara sighed as she sank deeper into the steamy water. "Ah, I think it's well deserved..."
"Agreed..." Uraraka muttered too. "All that dirt and bits of gravel are finally gone,"
"T-this is just not very natural for me where I'm from…" Ciana sheepishly smiled and sweat-dropped, in America they don't have public baths as everyone usually prefers to have privacy even from the same genders. Ciana didn't think other cultures would be different, in Japan they had the same genders change in the same room but wasn't sure if that also applied to baths.
Ciana still has her towel on as she begun applying soap on her arms and legs. "I-in a way this is a interesting way to socialize… thank goodness Mineta isn't here though… otherwise he try sneaking in here to get a peek at all of us." Ciana commented with a scoff and a amused smile, he probably wouldn't stay still in the mens side of the bath knowing him.
"Well, it's just us four, so hopefully you'll still relax a bit," Kiara spoke up, turning to rest her arms on the edge of the bath, placing her chin on them. "I mean it, you really stepped up when you went full drake, especially given how you hate how it makes you look; you gave us that little push to finally put an end to this infestation, so really, thanks,"
"Same here," Kyoka tapped her jack to Ciana's bare shoulder, smiling herself as she dunked a bucket of water over her head.
"I-I think I still prefer to keep the towel on…" she replied with a bashful smile, averting her gaze a little from the others exposed parts. "I-it's no problem though, I-i mean I prefer to be myself more but using my other side when absolutely necessary I think I can deal with now." Ciana smiled toward her friends before mimicking the same way Kyoka did to rinse herself.
Finding these methods to get clean kinda interesting funny enough. "I thought I was done for then after being submerged in those weeds… I'm just grateful I managed to make it out alive."
"Dragons are know to be pretty powerful, both in strength, magic, and spirit," Uraraka replied. "People that have had peaceful interactions with dragons say they can see into a person's soul; their emotions laid bear, others say they can feel the presence of spirits watching over people; did that ever happen to you, Kiara?"
"With ol' Frosty?" She coked her head side to side. "Um... I think so? Read me like a book, then again, having a pissed off brat rant to you like an open book probably gave it away,"
"Hey now that you mention it… I thought I heard my moms voice when I was almost died." Ciana perked up from what she mentioned, now going to submerge herself into the hot bath, her arms crossed to keep the towel around her in place. "Though… I thought I was thinking of her when I was suffocating or about to join her in the afterlife…"
The girls looked surprised by that, Kyoka joining them as she placed her towel at the edge before submerging herself with a shiver. "Really? Guess you can sense spirit energy too," She added.
"So, being in drake form allowed you to possibly, if only briefly, sense her spirit," Kiara grinned, her fangs poking out. "That's pretty cool, looks like the whole 'loved ones watching over you' is actually the real deal,"
"Did you hear her say anything?" Uraraka leaned forward a bit in curiosity.
Ciana sat at the edge of the water, looking down a little to recall her moms words as it made her smile a little. "I did… she said… 'Don't worry about a thing, we'll reach out to you…'" Ciana shared, lifting her gaze up, smiling more knowing her words.
"It's one of her phrases my mom sang to me in her song to comfort me… meaning I'm not alone no matter what dangerous situation I'm in." That has always been her top favorite song Ciana liked to sing often as it's very comforting and makes her feel warm inside.
"She'd make a good bard," Kiara chuckled a little. "Guess, whatever you plan to do next, she'll be there for you in her own way,"
"That makes me happy knowing that she is still here for me…" Ciana felt more warmer just knowing this, though her smile turns a bit sad now. "Though… after this I'm gonna have to be on my way now, now that I come to better terms with my dragon side… I think I'm ready to go back to my other friends."
Parting is always heartbreaking for her… but she knows she might have some work to catch up on when she gets back which she dreads…
"Wait, really?" Uraraka blinked at this, then looked to the demon present, even Kyoka shared this bewildered stare. "You knew?"
"She has a Gatestone; means she's either from very far away, or from another realm entirely," Kiara decided it was better to just lay out the facts, no reason to hold back now. Her burning eyes stared at the murky water, lifting her tail out. "She set out to control her power, now that she has that, her own journey's over, at least in this realm, right?"
"Well… maybe not entirely." She offered a hopeful smile. "I mean… I haven't completely accept my other side so doesn't mean I won't come back from time to time, besides… if I ever need to make another get away from those sorcerers that are after me I'll definitely be back here…" Ciana knew she was still in danger, so she might come back one day if she ever gets another Gatestone to escape.
"You better," Kyoka jabbed her again from afar, crossing her arms over her chest. "I like having more than two girls around,"
"And here I thought I was loved," Kiara feigned sadness, earning a kick beneath the water. "But seriously, feel free to drop by anytime, so long as we're not in the middle of some life or death situation; bit of a messy reunion that would be,"
"Yeah, so come back whenever!" Uraraka exclaimed.
"Of course! I grew so fond of everyone here so there's no way I want to say goodbye forever!" Maybe by the time she ever comes back they will meet up with the other UA classmates, though Ciana eyed the wall of the boys side a bit worryingly. "Though… I'm not sure if Izuku will want me to come back, I mean I caused him some trouble when we first started traveling together…"
Ciana was afraid this Izuku was uncomfortable with her around, especially that she ended up kissing him in front of Kiara to boost his sword power.
"You made quite the impact in such a short space of time," Kiara mused, closing her eyes as she leaned back. "Izuku's never been this outspoken before, he had several people to rely on, not just me and Kyo, hell, even the Prince of the country too! Hah... he'll miss you, truly," Meeting Ciana's eyes, the bard smiled softly. "I dunno what happened between you two before we met, frankly, I don't care, he's happy despite the dangers we've faced, that's all I care about, honestly,"
"Well I at least know he's happy to have other friends to adventure with…" Ciana knew how lonely Izuku was before and became more perky having real friends, now rubbing her arm nervously. "I mean Izuku has definitely become more happier since seeing you again Kiara, I don't know if you noticed but he fell head over heels more when he heard you sing when we got here…" Ciana giggled, then eyed the girl a bit curiously.
"By the way… you said you were adopted and from another country, what kind of life did you exactly have before meeting Kyoka, Kiara?" Ciana ends up asking with a curious tilt of her head.
"Ahahaha, i-is that so, I-" Despite the embarrassed look she wore, Kiara's face tensed up as she lowered her hand to the water to slosh it around slowly. "...nothing special, didn't like it so I ran, then with a dragon's help, I made it to Stoneveil to start anew, and I was adopted by Kyoka's parents," Her words were relaxed but she was forcing a smile, one Kyoka looked at with worry.
"You alright?" She asked quite tenderly as Kiara chuckled.
"Always," But Kyoka had told Ciana the truth, most of what Kiara displayed was forced, she had never once shown a genuine smile, like she truly had forgotten say a rare few times.
"I'm sorry if that was too sensitive to bring up!" She apologies with her hands up, knowing she prys without meaning to. "I had a pretty rough past myself… I mean I lost my mom when she stood up to some criminals when they robbed a place we were in… and where I live was kinda poor so it's easily targeted by thugs who mug my people…"
She ends up sharing while rubbing the back of her neck anxiously. "Then I got kidnapped, got cursed with this power and then I was saved by someone I became very close to… so I had some up and downs… but things are still looking up for me now." She smiles.
"Exactly why I don't think about my past, better off that way," Kiara shrugged. "Besides, like you, I got people that trust and love me, so who cares about the deadbeats that I abandoned? I feel great,"
She then took that time to call it a day for her bathing, standing up to stretch, a few joints popping with a sigh of relief. Kiara was completely shameless about her body as Kyoka shook her head, pinching the bridge of her nose. Uraraka sighed a smile at the girl's obliviousness. "Well, if you're leaving, then I've got one last errand to run,"
"Exactly why I don't think about my past, better off that way," Kiara shrugged. "Besides, like you, I got people that trust and love me, so who cares about the deadbeats that I abandoned? I feel great,"
She then took that time to call it a day for her bathing, standing up to stretch, a few joints popping with a sigh of relief. Kiara was completely shameless about her body as Kyoka shook her head, pinching the bridge of her nose. Uraraka sighed a smile at the girl's obliviousness. "Well, if you're leaving, then I've got one last errand to run,"
Ciana averted her gaze and blushed pretty pink from the way she was stepping out without any dignity, even if she is a girl it still too much to deal with seeing. "A-alright then… I probably should start getting ready myself, I mean I got to wear my old clothing again before stepping back to where my friends are. You guys might find it odd what my people wear…"
Ciana giggles, having sneakers, sweater and shorts in her bag as she knew she need them once she goes back to UA. Now stepping out of the water herself as she knew she needed to leave soon…
As she did, Kiara eyed Ciana a moment as the raven-brunette wrapped a towel around herself quickly. A devilish grin split her cheeks as she stalked around Ciana with those demonic eyes. "Hehehe, you're all embarrassed with just us around, yet you have quite the body; boys must find you enrapturing," She spun on a heel, putting her hands behind her back. "Just thought I'd say, since it'll probably be a long time 'till we meet again,"
"Ever the tone-deaf idiot," Kyoka remarked.
"Yeah... I can see that now," Uraraka giggled.
Ciana certainly didn't expect that comment as it caused her to flinch and her face to turn incredibly red. Surprisingly to hear that from them since Mineta didn't find her all that appealing. "N-not like I ever show off to them!" The girl replied flusteredly before taking off to her room in a dash.
Feeling so embarrassed right now… this is usually why they have more privacy in America… but as she got to her room, Ciana got herself dried up as she put on her shirts, socks and sneakers and her gray sweater. Even having her backpack ready as she swings it over her shoulder, Ciana had to say goodbye first as she goes to step out in the mess to see the group…
[Transition]
Ciana kept to herself, giving the town of Stoneveil one last look. To think, she spent over a week in a land of magic and fantasy, first heroes, now this? She certainly had an unexpected twist to her life. Now standing not far from the Jiro household, Ciana raised her right arm to the sky, and with minimal focus, caused golden scales to emerge. She had gotten faster, and while the sight still made her uncomfortable, it wasn't as jarring.
Closing her fist, she banished the drake arm, wiggling her normal fingers again as she heard footsteps approach behind her. The first she noticed was actually Horace, kitted out in that large suit of armour again, standing with him were all her counterpart friends, say for Kiara, the bard dressed like a rogue as she put one hand on her hip.
"Brought them all as asked," She winked.
"What's up, Ciana?" Kirishima asked, them bar the girls all left in the dark until now. But Izuku had a tense look on his face, he knew what this was about.
"Yeah, and what's with the strange get-up?" Kaminari added. "N-not that it looks bad or anything!"
"Real smooth, huh?" Kyoka snickered.
Ciana expected that comment as she just chuckled, then gave a sad smile to everyone. "Well… now that I'm finally coming to better terms with my dragon side, now I can go back to my other friends, so… before I go I wanted to say goodbye."
Ciana starts out, feeling sad but knew they will all be okay. "Since meeting all of you I felt more at peace from the support you all given me, I apologize for some of the trouble I caused when it came to me dealing with my problems… but I'm so grateful to have met all of you as you helped me become stronger…" Ciana bowed her head as thanks, saying goodbye is never easy for her.
"I see, so your path diverts from ours now," Iida, while disheartened, understood that the curse Ciana had been fighting was now hers to command.
"Man, I was really starting to like having another dragon shifter around!" Kirishima teared up a bit, clenching his fist. "We made an amazing team!"
"..." Katsuki said nothing, but, gave a very subtle nod, his glare unwavering.
"We sure did…" she eyed everyone with a sad but thankful smile, but knew they always will be with her no matter where she went. "But I promise this isn't goodbye forever, one day I'll come back. By the time I do I know all of you will be stronger and become legends." Ciana then looked to Izuku, now stepping up to him.
"Izuku… I want to thank you for everything you did for me, despite some of the problems I caused you, you still put up with me and without you I would of still kept freaking out about my appearance." Her gaze looks down, feeling pretty guilty for all she did to him. "I'm sorry again for everything I caused you… and I didn't do much to repay you for all you done, but for what it's worth… you saved me from myself." Her gaze lifts up as she gave him a warm smile.
He stared at her momentarily, looking over to Kiara, then to the others, and finally to the girl who fell from the sky. True, when they met, they had several... intimate instances, all a cause of her uncontrollable instincts and a heart drowning in sorrow and guilt. Izuku was surprised he made it through it all, but the part that settled that for him was simple. In the end, Ciana was smiling again, more confidently too.
She blinked, seeing him put his hand out to her with an honest smile of his own. "Ciana, thank you... for saving my life before... and for teaching me that no matter how dire or complex a person may be, that I can reach them, little by little; I'm still so far from my goal, and... I have so many more I want to achieve, it won't be easy, and I'm bound to stumble a lot; but this journey with you I wouldn't change, and I know, when you return to your world, you'll fight with everything you've got just as we had here,"
Looking up to him hearing everything he said, Ciana took a moment stare before she begun to smile more and tear up. Ciana went to hug him instead of taking his hand, knowing she's going to miss this Izuku even if he wasn't in love with her as she saw him as a good friend just like the other she knew. "I know your going to be a knight everyone's going praise and know your name… and knowing everyone here who is with you now, I'm happy to know you'll be happy and alright…"
The girls tells him this as she still teared up and smiled, seeing Izuku smile is enough to know he will be okay.
Izuku returned the hug for a moment, the two parting with a quick bang of their knuckles together as a send-off. Then he paused. "Oh, before I forget, Kiara reminded me to give you this," Fishing around in his backpack, he procured a tightly rolled up bunch of parchment. When Ciana undid the thread, she unfurled the paper to find that they were all sketches of the people among their group. "I've been making them as we went along our journey, then thanks to Kiara, she took me to someone in the village that could make copies with magic imprints, it's not much, but hope you like them,"]
Staring down at the picture with wide stunned eyes, seeing this warmed her heart… bringing more to her smile and tears, now looking up to eye everyone. "Thank you… all of you, this is something I'm always going to treasure…." It really is, tucking it safely in her back as she eyed some of her friends again.
"Kiara, take good care of Izuku. You have no idea how lucky you are to have someone as amazing as him by your side." Ciana smiled at Kiara and then went to Kirishima.
"Thank you again for all your help Eijiro! If I ever need more lessons I'll definitely seek you out again." Ciana smiled bright and thankfully, now eyeing Bakugo with her smile still intact.
"Katsuki, don't go too rough on Izuku when you challenge him… your really strong and amazing no matter how powerful a weapon looks compared to you." Ciana ends up saying and teasing a little towards him.
Kiara smiled sheepishly, rubbing her nape with her tail, Kirishima nodded rapidly, wiping the 'manly' tears from his eyes, and Katsuki scoffed but didn't rebuke what she said, but he wasn't angry but what his aura gave off. All of them held some semblance of sorrow, but also happiness for her, something she'd miss dearly but knew it wasn't forever. With this, she flicked the Gatestone into her hand, catching it as she held it between her index finger and thumb.
Ciana wiped her tears away, looking back as she waves and smiles big. "I promise I'll be back! So until then, never stop thriving to be hero's!" Ciana shouted out to them in a distance as she kept smiling and waving, she's going to miss them but is certain they will meet again one day.
With a heavy breath, Ciana crushed the coin as blue dust formed. "The Nightmare, Chaser," She spoke softly, casting the dust forward.
The sky crackled and soon split a fissure before her eyes just like at the hospital. Through this rift, Chaser would take her home, wherever he is. Steeling herself, she gave them all one last look, seeing them wave back to her, this Izuku nodding back as he rubbed his eyes quickly. Giving them a sad smile, she turned and stepped through the veil, her whole world going white as her body was pulled forward once more, the realm of Crescent Shores now far behind her.
[Transition]
Looking back to see the world she left behind, Ciana smiled goodbye to the world but had a feeling she would be back again someday. "Now I see why Chaser recommended this world to me in the first place…" Ciana giggles, soon enough… finally she reached the other side, going through the next vortex Ciana stumbled when she stepped foot back in the superhuman world…
When Ciana looked around, however, she was... definitely not in a familiar setting. The place looked like a chapel, or a grand entrance to a castle of some kind. A grand staircase was ahead of her made of white marble that contrasted the darker shade on the bottom floor nicely. A thick, soft, purple carpet and a large stained glass windows filtered in moonlight, murals of several dark creatures. The biggest was the round stained window above the tall black doors, it was a green curved circle with a pointy top and bottom, a hole in the middle. Fanned out to the right of it were several crescents, almost like a wing without a membrane.
Before she could ask anything, she heard two voices coming from the staircase, rather, a familiar looking man in a navy cloak. "-all I'm sayin', is that perhaps it would best if... uh..." They turned, and Chaser stared at Ciana who waved sheepishly to him, only now his 'Host' was gone, replaced with the inky black skin and a white mask over his face, leaving only two ice-blue eyes to blink back at her. Then he smacked himself on the head. "Oh, right, I completely forgot I asked you to come to me for a ticket back home, whoops! Hahaha, how ya been, kid?"
"Uh… fine I guess." This sure wasn't kind of getaway she expected, rubbing them back of her neck a bit anxiously. "Nice place you got here… is this really where you live?" The girl already was intrigued with the place as her eyes scanned around with stunned eyes.
"Hah, nah, I'm a nomad at heart, just giving my latest report to, erm... say, kid, you religious?" Chaser pointed pensively to her, his head darting back at the hand on his shoulder.
"Oh? I didn't know you took a liking to another little light, Chaser?" The voice was soft and relaxed as Ciana met the third person present.
The woman had shoulder-length, unkempt raven hair with the odd streak of purple shades. When she opened her eyes a little, they were revealed to be a orangy-yellow, like a flame with pupils shaped like jagged crosses. There's also a thin black tail with a jagged point and two black horns jutting from her temples toward her cheeks. She wore a black and grey crop-top under an equally short white jacket with short sleeves. The woman wore a white skirt with black shorts underneath. Lastly, a pair of white shoes with purple stars decorating the tops, a few charms around her right wrist, and a choker necklace. Most noticeable were two forest green markings around her eyes, mirroring the stained window above.
"Hello~" She waved in a lax trance, like she had only just woken up.
Ciana blinked at the new face, she didn't think he was living with anyone. He seemed kind of a loner. "Oh, um… hello." The girls waved back, then eyes Chaser again with a amused smile and a raised brow. "Huh, I didn't know you were married Chaser…"
"WHAT!? Why would say that!?" He squeaked, his voice breaking as a nervous sweat rolled down his face, shakily turning to the woman next to him. "Ah... hahaha..."
"Hehehe, no-no, Chaser is my personal informant for a request I have him fufill for me that I can't do myself; I haven't had someone like that in... hm, quite a long time," The woman smiled back, patting the anxious Nightmare's shoulder. "By what you two were just speaking of, I'm assuming Chaser is to take you back to your realm from his current location?"
"Oh." Okay so they weren't married but maybe a possible love interest for him? Ether way this reaction caused her to chuckle, Chaser sure is still a mystery. "Yes that's correct!" She answered with a nod. "I got to make amends with my friends and finish my education, at least I hope I'm still welcome back after leaving before…" Ciana was still nervous how everyone might react.
"Your soul's golden, so many shades of yellow, reflecting your conflicts, strengths, and connections between three realms," The woman chimed in, even with her eyes closed like a lazy cat, Ciana tried but couldn't sense the odd woman's soul, it was there, but as if it were an invisible force. "From how taut the threads of those connections are, I'm certain you will find the conclusion you wish for,"
"Spoken like a true medium," Chaser grumbled to himself, scratching his head with his tail as he held out a gatestone. "If you weren't my Goddess..."
"Always happy to help my Nightmares - oh, I'm Eve, by the way," The woman, Eve, smiled like the sun against Chaser's deadpanned expression.
"Alright, let's get you home," Crushing the stone, he banished the dust to his left. "MHA-72," The rift split wide as he rolled his shoulders. "They really need better names than this - oh well,"
"Very nice to meet you!" Ciana replies with a smile. "I'm Ciana Finley by the way!" The girl quickly introduces herself before stepping toward the vortex, looking to Chaser again with a thankful smile. "Thanks for recommending that other world for me Chaser! Hopefully everything payed off after the new things I learned there."
While she couldn't see his facial expression aside from his eyes, his soul was honest, "Nothing like a little getaway from strife to put the mind back on track," Then he added. "You've changed, not physically, but your soul lacks the cracks it once had; you found your way, good luck, Radiant Hero."
"Happy travels~" Eve waved warmly.
Ciana smiled at them both before waving farewell for now. "Thanks! Until next time!" The girl replied before jumping right through the vortex… falling through a swirly tunnel before making it to the other side, stumbling a bit again as she landed.
Looking up, Ciana finds herself outside the dorm building. The sun was set so it was about sunset like back in the fantasy world. Ciana took a moment to stare at the building, nervous how everyone will react when they see her again. "I never thought how nice it feels to be back in this world, though… will everyone be angry with me? I know Izuku will…" Since getting back, Ciana hears her phone buzz, startling her a bit as she takes it out to see it was flooded with messages. Feeling more guilty seeing that he did worry.
Remembering what the other Izuku said how he would react if his girlfriend left so suddenly… Ciana continued to stare at the building while fiddling with her hands, very afraid by everyone's possible reactions… will they be glad to see her back? Or… feel totally betrayed and shun her away? "Oh god… I probably got a lot of work to catch up on, well I guess that's my punishment for running off without a word…"
The girl sighs and face palms herself, wondering if one of her friends even has a hold of her hairpin she left behind as a goodbye? Taking a deep breath… Ciana straighten up and her expression turned serious before stepping to the door, gripping the handle… Ciana opens the front door to enter back where she belonged…