Saving Eri

Estelle watched with downtrodden eyes as Mirio battled it out with the villains. The teenager was covered in blood as he continued labouring with all he had. He had been fighting too long, more than he should have been, and Estelle was struggling with the decision to jump into the fight or not. Unfortunately, she couldn't. If they failed, Estelle would be the last resort in saving Eri. Mirio had already done so much for her; Estelle could not ruin it by helping now. Orders were orders.

"Chisaki!" Mirio yelled as he pulled himself off the spikes to spring towards the villain. Estelle knew that if he kept on going, he would die. A life in exchange for another was not a deal she would accept. Thankfully, when she began to move. Izuku pounded through the wall.

'Thank the gods, ' Estelle murmured in her brain. The relief surrounded every vessel of her body.

Mr Aizawa and Sir Nighteye followed behind Izuku. Their eyes skipped Estelle completely as they stared in astonishment from the state of Mirio.

"Quick, get Eri out of here", Mirio wobbled out, on the verge of passing out from surpassing his limits.

Overhaul had lost it at this point. Estelle watched as he gradually fell into a state of crazed insanity. His eyes widened when his quirk was blocked by Mr Aizawa. The villain was crouched on the ground with his hand on the floor. His head turned towards the girl with alarm in his eyes. Estelle knew what he was going to do before he even spoke.

"Estelle! My queen!" Overhaul roared out. Estelle glowered at the fact he had called her like a dog. Fit to follow his orders whenever he wanted. The contempt for the male had only grown with his unspoken demand. Estelle knew she had to follow for the time being, but it made her feel sick to the core. She detested how these people reflected her guardian wherever she went. Estelle wondered if she was unconsciously looking for the resemblance or if it was so clear cut that she could find the rotten apples anywhere.

Nevertheless, following through with his words, Estelle reminded herself it was all for the child in Mirio's arms. That was the only reason she had now surged in front of Izuku and Mr Aizawa as they attempted to overwhelm an attack on the male. Her teacher was not shocked by the interruption, but the look on Izuku's face made Estelle's heart fall slightly. Her classmate was flabbergasted, his features portraying the hurt he hadn't accepted yet.

"What are you doing, Estelle? Move!" Izuku shouted as he attempted to move around her.

"I can't do that, Midoriya." Estelle pointedly stated, stabbing the boy's spirit with her denial. Estelle hindered another attack to Overhaul. Midoriya grunted in bewilderment.

"What do you mean you can't do it! We're here to save Eri! Why are you with him!?" He tried to comprehend.

"It means. That I have betrayed you all." Estelle declared as she threw out a stream of fire that they dodged. Estelle allowed Mr Aizawa to stay in the peripheral view of Overhaul to keep his quick inactive as she engaged the two. None of them landed since Estelle controlled her abilities to dodge or look like they hit the pair somehow.

Overhaul chuckled behind them as Estelle protected his front. She resented every moment she fought for this maniac, but Estelle knew all about playing things for the best result. She had to do this – just in case. The confusion on Izuku's face was prominent when he noticed her attacks weren't landing, but he didn't put the pieces together due to his feelings of treachery.

Eventually, the goon who had walked with her and Overhaul earlier woke up from his unconscious state. The goon's name was Chronos, and he had managed to disembark a blow on Mr Aizawa, effectively knocking her teacher out. Estelle cursed in her mind as Overhaul stood up with satisfaction.

"It took you long enough to wake up", Overhaul commented simply, his gaze boring down on the children around the room. He was ready to join the fight once again. Izuku ignored Estelle in favour of arranging another charge on the villain, now free to use his quirk. The attempt failed as Overhaul quickly blocked by using his ability; Estelle hid her scowl. His state had worsened within the timeframe; his eyes were now red and wide as he placed his hand on the floor to raise spikes around the whole vicinity. Estelle and everyone else around him had to jump out of the way to avoid them.

Overhaul took a step forward to Chronos and spoke. "You've always been eager to help my loyal subject. So, you'll be happy to give up your life to my cause, won't you?" Overhaul questioned in delusion as he sucked the life out of his comrade to bulk himself up.

Estelle felt sick at the sight. From the little time she had known him, she was well aware of the devoutness the lackey had for his leader. It was astonishing how much he admired the emotionally inept villain. She could not fathom how he could so easily take his life in the name of temporary power. A disregard for anybody else but their own selves and goals. Estelle's contempt only continued to grow for the male.

"Where's Selko?"

"The previous trainer had no more use for our cause. I disposed of him; he will come back after you are long gone. Meet Kill; he will work with you for now."

Estelle's memory was cut off by Overhaul's speech. "I respect that you're stronger than me, Le'million. But in the end, I will still be the victor. So, now, I'll let you hand Eri over to me!" He growled out as he developed another pair of arms out of his back, all shaped like claws. He was now stuck in such a frenzy; Estelle's disgust was overflowing while she remained behind him.

"I lied to you before, my queen. This time, I'll show you my true power!" He yelled out as he moved.

"You do that", Estelle deadpanned back, hiding her genuine worry underneath her calm facade.

Her body was vibrating with adrenaline; she was watching the people who were kind to her fall like dominos. Her mind jumped back and forth on what her next step should be; it was maddening to her. She hated the conflict between orders and desires. It was why she shut out her emotions on the job. She just found it too challenging in this mission; it had gotten too personal for her. Staying at the sidelines wasn't what she did, and when she had more uses than anyone else, she found it ridiculous, frankly.

"I have an obsession with cleanliness. It had never been this bad before. You just had to get involved with Eri, with me. Now, you've lost your quirk forever."

Estelle's eyes broadened at that. She had assumed it was for a brief period. Guilt racked up her soul at that; she should have interfered. Estelle was always too late. It happened more times than she could count. The moments played in her head like a loop, like she was cursed to never forget. It was why she pushed herself so hard to ensure it never happened again; it was why she forced people away. It was infuriating to know that both of those things did not work in this instance.

Overhaul attacked Izuku, which he managed to block by a hair. The force Overhaul used to squish him like a bug was prevented as Izuku used all his strength to hold off the strike. Estelle unconsciously stepped forward to help when he slumped under pressure. The scene was interrupted when Nighteye rushed into the fight. "Stay back, Deku. I'll handle him."

Estelle suddenly felt a heaviness in her gut, and she knew it was right. Estelle always had a bad feeling when things would go south; she had developed an intuition for these things after experiencing them so many times. Estelle was fully prepared to blow her cover; she refused to stay at the side when she could feel it in her soul.

Her movements were stopped by Nigheye's harsh gaze.

'Stay back. You can't break your cover now,' The hero's eyes said. Estelle felt the conflict ravage her insides. Her brain, wired to follow orders, fought with her heart, which wanted to desperately prevent what her gut was telling her. Estelle couldn't place a foot in front of the other. For her, it was like an invisible wall that held her back. Her conditioned mind playing tricks on her. She had to follow orders. She had to.

Her inner conflict raged on as Nighteye fought with all his strength against a beefed-up Overhaul. Her fists were clenched as she tried to move her body. Glancing up, Estelle's eyes widened at the spike growing from the ground, aiming right at Nighteye's stomach. Before she could even think, Estelle moved.

Estelle had managed to move the spike to avoid a killing blow. She breathed out in comfort that he was at least alive for now but scolded herself. She should have acted sooner. Estelle looked down desolately as her mind threw words at her. She could never be a hero; Estelle would only be a monster.

"No!" Mirio screamed out. The grief and sorrow penetrating the room struck everyone; Estelle knew she had to do something. Gazing at Overhaul, she noticed that he wasn't aware of what she had done. At this point, Estelle didn't care. Orders have caused enough chaos in her life, this was the second time she had ever managed to overpower it, and she wouldn't back down now.

It was almost exhilarating for Estelle; it was like a realisation bestowed on her. She had been following orders because it was ingrained in her; it was what her guardian instilled in her. She had broken from his crutches years ago. Why was she still following her automatic responses? She thought she had snapped away entirely, but it was clear to her now. His clutches still remained in her after all this time; it would never completely fade.

But Estelle was damn sure to do everything she could to make sure it never interfered with the choices she made again. Like the one she made today that caused Nighteyes injury and Mirio's quirk loss. Walking forward to Nighteye's bloody body. Estelle saw Izuku and Mirio tense at the scene behind Overhaul. She had betrayed them; would she really be so cruel as to make sure he was dead in front of their very eyes?

Izuku's assumption led to hidden relief as Estelle's hand turned green.

'She was healing him.'

Mirio's mouth moved to argue with her; he wanted her nowhere near his mentor's body. It was only when Estelle's hand made a shush sign as she eyed Overhaul that he was stunned. He struggled to understand the display he was witnessing. Unfortunately, he couldn't think about it for long as Overhaul addressed them. "You are all going to die."

Izuku set his quirk alight as he responded with extreme determination. The healing Estelle had provided so far allowed Nighteye to open his eyes to witness the commotion.

"You're wrong. Even if it's already been decided. Even if it's set in stone. I'll smash that future!" Izuku roared as he advanced. Estelle noticed Eri and Le'million leave through the doors but stayed in place to support the hero on the ground.

"Someone else is going to die because of you! Is that really what you want!? Eri!" Overhaul yelled out with the dead follower's quirk. Estelle glowered as she listened to his words; she despised the man at this point. He was vile and cruel.

"Wait", Eri's voice rung out, holding the battle. "It's not! I don't want this!"

"Go back!" Izuku barked at the child moving towards them.

"Eri, look at him. All injured and alone. You don't think he can defeat me, do you?" Overhaul continued in his manipulation.

Eri looked down, mental conflict showing on her face as she muttered, "No, I don't."

"Smart girl, so what do you suppose you should do?" Overhaul asked condescendingly.

"I'll come back. But if I do, I want you to make them all better again!" Eri requested naively. Estelle's heart clenched at the innocence.

Ah yes, it's so easy to be hurt yourself than to watch others be broken for you, isn't it? You think you're helping her, but you're really just being cruel. She doesn't want you." The villain proceeded.

"Maybe it is true. Maybe you think you don't want my help, but I won't let you down, Eri! I'm going to save you!" Izuku concluded as he pulled out a spike from his leg. Just before he jumped back into the fray, Estelle watched as the Calvery arrived with a slump. The anticipation was killing her; she just wished she could enter the battle and have this over with. Estelle regretted the whole double agent thing. If she had just joined the heroes in the fight; It would have ended ages ago.

Estelle watched the scene of Izuku and Overhaul battling it out. Eventually, Eri ended up in the air on top of a flat piece of rock whilst the fight continued. She watched as the resolution landed in her eyes, and she made the leap to jump into Izuku's arms. Estelle smiled.

Estelle was in dispute with herself yet again. She could not stay on the sideline any longer. If Estelle stayed, she would still be operating under her guardian's words. Estelle needed to break out of the toxic mindset bestowed on her. But the man in her arms was heavily injured; she couldn't leave him either.

As Izuku and Eri fell from the air, her eyes caught that boulders were speeding towards them quickly.

"Go. I'll be fine." Nighteye muttered out when he understood her expression. Estelle took the confirmation and flew off into the air like lightning. She reached the pair in a blink and covered them within her windshield, sheltering them from the boulders that landed seconds later.

Two pairs of eyes gazed at her in comfort and joy. It was only milliseconds later that Izuku screamed to let out the full brunt of his quirk. The whole area blew up in the aftermath, rocks flew everywhere from the explosion, and the ground shook under pressure. Estelle grimaced as she expected broken bones from his movement. She kept her shield up around them to ensure that nothing hit them from the force the surroundings were in.

Overhaul persisted at the bottom of the hole, fixing his broken arm. He growled as he stared down at the two females "Eri, Estelle. Naughty girls. You both belong to me."

Estelle scoffed at his words and impassively responded, the echo reaching him in perfect synchronisation. "Didn't you figure it out, Overhaul? I was never yours, to begin with."

The trio jetted out of the wreck and onto the mud and dirt outside. Estelle raised a brow at the fact that Izuku was unharmed; the realisation also set in for the male.

"Are you a healer?" He asked Eri with awe. Before anything could be said, her classmate bowled over in pain, Eri still on his back.

"She has no control over it. She may have activated her quirk just in time. But she doesn't know how to turn it off. Isn't that right, Eri?" Overhaul briefly explained when he reached the trio's vicinity.

Estelle scowled at the male as he turned to face her. "I'm so disappointed in you. You could have flourished under my wing. You ruined it just for a little girl! Eri has the power to rewind people. Use her right, and you might even be able to turn someone back to a monkey. If you keep carrying her, you'll be annihilated. Everyone who touches her turns to nothingness. Didn't I tell you that she was cursed?"

Estelle felt déjà vu at his words, but she forced the thought to the back of her mind. The similarities were always uncanny; she wondered if the world was trying to tell her something.

"You belong to me! Your soul, body and mind! That's all you'll ever be – a tool for the taking. I've told you before that you were never born to save but crush all those opposing us! How dare you ruin it all for this pathetic child! You could have taken this world by storm, ruled it and tore it all down. All my hard work; useless! The prophecy was foretold; you were supposed to burn everything to ash!"

"The hell are you talking about? A prophecy? Tell me more, now."

Estelle shook her head as she composed herself for battle. The instinct to protect the little girl with her life had taken over; she couldn't allow for there to be another of her. It would be too much to witness.

Izuku gazed up in realisation as he shifted towards Eri. "You rewind time to when my limbs weren't broken. It seems to me that your quirk is a blessing," Izuku declared resolutely.

Estelle smiled at the male next to him, their eyes meeting briefly. Izuku would have blushed and melted into the ground if he wasn't occupied. Eri peeked towards Estelle for reassurance that what she heard was real.

Estelle gave her a sad but encouraging smile. "It is a blessing. The words he has told you all your life is wrong. You'll see that once your safe."

Eri smiled a broad and broken smile. Estelle's soul tensed from the sight. The two girls eyed each other in mutual understanding. Estelle knew her emotions all too well, but there was some comfort in knowing that she would be safe. Away from the harsh reality that she was previously living in. Estelle would make sure of it.

"Go, Izuku. I'll provide backup."

Izuku zoomed off into the air, Eri at his back. Estelle followed behind them from a distance. She ignored Overhaul's rambling since it was so unhinged that she had no care for it. Instead, Estelle landed as many offensive strikes possible on any weak points she could find on Overhaul's new monstrous form he had taken. Her katana followed suit when Estelle lit it on fire to cut through the debris flying in the air, like a suit of armour.

Izuky struck a thundering kick that pelted Overhaul into the air. Estelle took the opportunity to wrap her fist in condensed air to place her own punch to his front. Overhaul smashed back towards the ground from the intensity of her blow. The villain had managed to stop mid-air on his way down since he activated his quirk once again. The suit of debris had altered, so they swirled around him in a circle like a spherical shield.

It was useless as Estelle moved back to allow Izuku to land one last mind-shattering punch to Overhaul. The rubble shielding him turned to dust and shifted into the air, effectively clouding Overhaul from sight. When it finally cleared, Estelle sighed in alleviation from the picture of Overhaul passed out on the green grass.

It was finally done.

Zipping down to meet Eri and Izuku, Estelle relaxed even more when she found that Eri's quirk was negated by Mr Aizawa just in time. The events were quick after that; the paramedics and police had arrived to deal with the situation.

Estelle remained at the scene, downtrodden by the events that had taken place. It was only when she saw Nighteye pushed into the ambulance by a gurney that she managed to shake herself out of her daze. Walking up to the paramedics quickly, the nurses forced Estelle back. Izuku and Mirio stepped forward to stop her as well.

"I have a healing quirk. Allow me to come and provide aid."

They all stopped at that. The nurses allowed Estelle to join them, happy to use her services. Estelle knew healing quirks were rare, and she could provide it with her own stamina. Estelle needed to do all she could for the man; she was at fault.

This was her fault.