Chapter 31:
(Okay! Here we go! I hope I'll do a good job trying to write a decent fight scene. I just hope It's not too overwhelming or underwhelming. Btw, try to think of some epic battle music that tries to go with this scene, mostly Find Your Flame for Shoto. Anyways, enjoy the chapter!)
Izuku made his way back to the rest of the class. "Ah, there you are, Deku!" Ochaco said, impressed by how well he did in the first round. "Come on down, we saved a seat for you." Tenya then said, pointing to the chair right next to him. He looked over at Mashirao, who gave him a raised fist for how he beat Shinso. Izuku smiled, confident that he was able to do his friend justice.
"Now, welcome to the ring, our next players!" Present Mic said, as the torches for the stadium lit up. Lucas and Shoto stood in their places.
"He's showed off some incredible physical prowess, but he's been a huge mystery. From the Hero Course, it's Raito!" Hizashi said, Lucas looking slightly nervous at the introduction.
"Versus, an early frontrunner in the competition who's way too strong for his own good. Someone who rightfully got into the hero course based on recommendations! It's Shoto Todoroki!
Shoto's current emotional state was unidentifiable at the moment.
"Raito? Why did he…" Shoto looked at the fact that Lucas wore his hood up and wore sunglasses to covered his eyes. "Oh yeah…he must be concealing his identity." Shoto said, "But how's he even able to do that?" Lucas then took a deep breath.
"He has a high chance of beating me if I'm not careful. He's mentally preparing himself." Shoto remembered a lot about how Lucas fights. "So long as I keep some distance between me and him, I should be able to defeat Lucas." Shoto thought to himself.
"You're angry." Lucas said, understanding what Shoto was feeling. "What?" Shoto asked, "I-I can see it." Lucas said, Shoto took a deep breath of his own. "Right. Apologies." Shoto tried to calm down a bit.
Lucas took another deep breath. "Okay, I gotta keep myself on guard. Shoto's attacks of ice will be tricky to outmaneuver." Lucas thought to himself, "I need to get close enough to land a few blows." Lucas thought.
"Begin!" Nemuri said, Shoto froze the floor beneath him, Lucas jumped up. "I gotta use his reactions against him!" Shoto thought to himself, "Okay, here goes!" Lucas eyes lit up blue under his sunglasses, and he used his powers. "Looks like Raito managed to escape being frozen, but he'll slip as soon as he lands back on the ground!" Lucas manifested something in his hands to hold. "What the?!" Shoto was shocked.
Lucas had manifested a bo staff out with the same energy he used for psychokinesis.
He used the staff to boost him further into the air! "Surprised, Shoto?" He asked, putting it above his head as he was going in for a strike.
Shoto was shocked, how well Lucas adapted and quickly put up a barrier of ice!
(So, context, right?)
The students that knew Lucas were shocked, as to how he's managed to make the staff. "H-How'd he do that? Does Sakai have another power?" Tsuyu asked, "No, he doesn't." Izuku explained. "Wait, another one?" Ochaco asked, "Lucas and I have been training. I theorized some ideas on how he could use his abilities." He explained, "And he's mastered an exploitation of his psychokinesis." Katsuki looked on as he was shocked. "So, Deku managed to help him use his Quirk another way?!" Katsuki looked on, "That's not all. Lucas managed to figure out how to use the new one." Izuku explained.
(Back with the two slight Fire-Benders)
Lucas's staff was frozen among the shield, just slightly before it could strike Shoto. He lifted himself up and purple-sparkling energy came off him. "Rrrargh!" He punched the ice and shattered it! Shoto managed to escape before he was hit! "W-What was that? …His training. He must've found a new way to use his powers." Shoto realized that was the possibility.
"And we are off to an impressive start, ladies and gentlemen!" Hizashi said, as the crowd was amazed. "Not bad, makes me remember you ARE strong." Shoto said, still questioning how this is the same timid classmate. "You're still holding back!" Lucas ran and slid, "I'll use the ice to MY advantage!" Lucas thought to himself the purple light returned to his feet, as he slid to kick Shoto off balance!
"RGGH!" He grunted in pain, Lucas regained his footing. Shoto tried to place his hand on his shoulder to freeze him before he landed back on the ground. Lucas started grunting and stuttering, as Shoto managed to succeed! Shoto then, used his heat to defrost him, but he used that time to grab Lucas and lift him up, to send him back down, "GYARGH!" He shouted! "And Raito goes down! What will he do next?!" Present Mic said.
(Let's check on their folks)
Endeavor looked down, seeing that Shoto only used his left side to make sure he didn't destroy this Raito's bones. "When is he ever going to use it?" He thought to himself, while analyzing Raito. "That student, it seems he has more than one Quirk, that fire from before included." Endeavor noticed. He noticed his fire is similar to Shoto's, although a lot more precise in use. "He's adaptive, that's for sure."
"He's keeping Todoroki-kun on guard and each attack is a farce to mess with his reaction." Nezu affirmed. "Although, Todoroki-kun is aware of his tactics and is trying to catch him off guard." Nezu understood both of their strategies, Lucas played offense to keep Todoroki playing defense and Todoroki trying to find the openings to attack through Lucas's adaptability.
"Both are trying to get the upper hand on each other and when they collide, neither ends up the victor." They both affirmed. Lucas and Shoto are locked in combat, neither strategy succeeding.
Enji looked on as his son fought the cloaked boy, less than amused at this struggle. "It's only a matter of time before he sweeps you, Shoto." He said.
Nezu looked at his son, slightly worried about his safety. He clutched the edge of the wall, "Lucas, you need to stay strong. Go on the defensive." Nezu then looked up at and saw a bit of fire, and his fur bristled. "Endeavor…" he was worried if Lucas had used his powers of fire and ice, what would that mean to him.
(So, Horikoshi DIDN'T base Shoto's story on Zuko's?)
Shoto sent a barrage of ice Lucas's way and the boy dodged it. He used his healing abilities to alleviate some of the pain. "Shoot…He got me good." Lucas thought to himself, "I'm not done yet, I've gotta go all out!" Lucas pulled out his staff once his injuries were recovered slightly and threw it at Shoto, "What?!" Shoto tried to create another ice blockade, but he was too late. The staff hit him in his shoulder and knocked him off balance.
"Shoto, that better not be all you have!" Lucas then ran in, jumped up, his hand shone purple again and he punched Shoto down as he fell. Shoto took that, "AAARGH!" He shouted in pain.
(So, I should explain something)
Izuku was absolutely shocked, needless to say. "Lucas's power…" Ochaco and Tenya looked on, "Midoriya, what on earth is going on?!" Tenya asked, confused.
"That new power. Lucas had trouble channeling it before, what's making it so strong now?" Izuku asked.
Katsuki looked on, weirded out by the kid. "What's this idiot's Quirk?" He asked, "'New power', what the heck's Deku talking about?" Katsuki questioned. He then thought of Deku explaining to him before about how he got his Quirk. "Hold on…"
(So I didn't really explain a whole lot, did I?)
Lucas waited for Shoto to recover slightly, as his opponent stood back up. Lucas pulled out his staff and threw it again, Shoto quickly evaded and saw that Lucas tried to punch him, Shoto quickly ducked and returned with a kick. "He didn't use that power on that punch." Lucas pulled his staff back to block the kick.
Shoto realized they were starting to get closer to the out of bounds.
"If this keeps up, I run the risk of losing." Shoto then said to himself, Lucas then moved away, realizing that they were near out of bounds. He panted, "I'm getting exhausted." He thought to himself, "He could've pushed me into out of bounds if I didn't move."
"A simple push should decide Lucas the victor." He heard someone say, "What—"
He didn't have time to think, Shoto quickly tried to send another barrage of ice his way. Lucas tried to move and got hit by an icicle.
"What happened? He should've reacted been able to dodge that. No matter." Shoto decided to use that to his advantage, he ran in to catch Lucas off guard!
"Whoa!" Lucas had barely managed to dodge. "Oh, I get what he's doing! He's using MY strategy now! I've been relying on the element of surprise." He didn't expect Shoto to use physical attacks, so Lucas didn't have time to heal his injury.
Shoto kicked him against the ice, Lucas felt the impact!
"Sorry, Lucas. But I'm not letting you win!" Shoto said, pushing him further towards the out of bounds. Lucas realized he was really close to losing.
"H-Heh…Yeah, you're right." Lucas said, understanding he was already beat. Shoto looked at him, confused.
"Good luck, Shoto." Lucas stopped fighting and was pushed out of bounds. "Raito is out of bounds! Todoroki advances to the next round!" Nemuri said, as the crowd cheered for them!
"That was INCREDIBLE, ladies and gents!" Present Mic shouted to the audience. "Let's hear it for our two students!"
The audience cheered for the fight.
Lucas looked on, taking a deep breath. Shoto looked over at his old man, Endeavor walked on. "I told you. I'm not giving you that pleasure of me using your Quirk." Shoto said, though he couldn't hear.
Shoto approached his opponent, "You were formidable." Lucas smiled, "Yeah, likewise, Shoto." He said, realizing something, "Huh, have I been saying your first name this entire time?" He asked. "Huh. Oh, yeah, I guess." Shoto then said.
(Later)
Lucas walked toward the waiting room, Chiyo-san and he healed up his injuries, as he waited for Shoto. "There you are, my precious pup!" Nezu said, happily. Lucas looked happy, "Papa!" Lucas hugged his father, "What are you doing here? I thought you were working." Lucas picked him up, "I finished my meeting about the USJ incident, so I decided to come see how the Sports Festival was going." Nezu said, patting his boy's hair. Lucas looked down, "So…Y-You saw my match?" He asked, "Of course! You were incredible, son!" Nezu said, "S-Sorry I didn't win, though, Papa." Lucas apologized, "My dear boy, what did I tell you about being hard on yourself?" Nezu said, hugging his son tightly. "I'm proud that you gave it your all!" Lucas realized that his father was hugging him super tightly. That wasn't
"O-Oh no, I awoke Papa Bear Nezu!" Lucas said to himself, "I-I worried you, didn't I?" He asked, Nezu shot up defensively, "Oh no, of course not, pup! It was Endeavor I was more concerned about." Nezu explained.
"Wait…you knew?" Lucas asked. Nezu looked ashamed, "I found out about what Endeavor was doing to his children too late." Lucas was shocked, "C-Children?" He asked, now more afraid. "Unfortunately, yes. Endeavor has four children." Nezu explained, "I assume Mr. Todoroki must've told you about his father's Quirk Marriage?" Lucas nodded his head, "H-How could he?" Lucas asked, it was hard to believe what happened to Shoto. He took a deep breath, and started tearing up. "How could someone do that to their own children?" Lucas then asked, sadly. "You need to remember not everyone is like that, son." Nezu then said, kindly. Lucas hugged his dad super tight, "Thanks for just being there, Papa." Nezu wanted to cry, "There's no need for thanks, Lucas, you're my son." Nezu then said. They both let go. "You go on, now, okay? You tell Mr. Todoroki congratulations, as well!" He then encouraged his son.
Lucas then nodded his head and walked out of the waiting room. He dried his eyes.
(One-Shot!)
Lucas sat down at the seats with the rest of his friends and classmates. "Shoto! First! I wanted to say congratulations!" Lucas said, Shoto looked at him, smiling softly. "Thanks, but my battle's not over yet." Shoto then said to him. Izuku looked on as he was pitted against Shoto in his next round. Their war was going to begin. "You did well, too, Lucas." Shoto then said, "You were pretty precise on using your powers." Lucas nodded in understanding, as he sat down and watched the next match, he was lost in thought about something.
"Um, what's wrong, Lucas?" Izuku asked. "Well…I don't know why…but these tournament matches in the Sports Festival reminded me of a dream I had last night." Lucas explained.
The students around him were all, "Wut?" They squinted their eyes at this.
"What was the dream about?" Izuku asked, "Well, it started with…Mario I think. He was fighting Kirby in an arena and then…Mario got launched into space by a cannon ball." Lucas explained, Shoto simply nodded, "Where were you?" Lucas looked back, "I was near some old ruins, fighting Wario in a biker outfit…and I was fighting with a Squirtle. By the way, does anyone here play Pokémon?" Lucas asked.
(Okay, I think I've done a good job of showing off a decent fight. Sorry this chapter took a bit of time to make. I'm sure you thought I wanted Lucas to win, but I didn't. As if I would ruin the start of Shoto's later newfound bond with Izuku. Honestly, I've been kinda worrying about my writing lately over some pretty dumb things, I guess. Anyways, stay strong and awesome! Remember not to worry or be afraid even in these times, because God is always with you)
