DAZZLING

"Are you sure about this?" Aizawa asked.

"Oui. It shall be a most magnifique demonstration."

"Alright, your funeral."

Aoyama stepped into the ring across from Izuku, wearing a giant white helmet and glittering body armor. "So, at last, we fight for the first time, for the last time."

"I am your father's brother's nephew's cousin's roommate."

"Wait, Todoroki is my father's brother's nephew? What does that make us?"

"Classmates." Izuku ignited his lightsaber and held it at the ready. "Shall we begin?"

Aoyama did a twirl and shouted, "Glittering Navel Sword of Ultimate Dazzling Sparkles!"

A thick, long beam crept out of Aoyama's navel. When it reached its full length, the beam went limp, flopping between Aoyama's legs.

"Mon dieu! This never happens, I swear." He jostled it around, murmuring under his breath, until the beam straightened back up. "There we go. Ready for a most sparkling duel?"

"I have been ready for the past twelve minutes and thirty-two seconds."

"Good. I see your Sparkles are as big as mine. Let's see how magnifique you can handle it."

Aoyama waddled forward, swinging his laser out like a pool noodle. Izuku batted it aside and darted forward, but Aoyama flailed wildly and parried his thrust. His beam twisted around Izuku's lightsaber, leaving the two hopelessly tangled.

"Merde. I have it when it gets all twisted. Hang on, if I get my leg up on yours, I think I can get it untangled."

Aoyama awkwardly clambered over Izuku while he remained still as a statue. After some wriggling, Aoyama's navel lightsaber pulled free.

"There we go. En garde!"

Izuku backed away while Aoyama whipped his beam around. Izuku's lightsaber stood stock still, until he darted forward and slashed through Aoyama's belt. The navel laser petered out, and Aoyama scrambled to keep his pants up.

"Could you hand that back to me, please?"

Izuku handed him the severed belt. Aoyama tied it around his waist, tapped the focusing lens in the center, and said, "I'm surprised that you handed it back to me."

"I like to fight fair. I do not fight fair only when I must."

"Most honorable. Prepare yourself, I shall not be beaten again!"

Aoyama focused, but nothing happened. Aizawa stepped into the ring. "I've seen enough. Aoyama, a Hero Move needs to be bigger. Flashier. I thought you of all students would have no trouble with this one."

"Well, I had another idea, but I thought it might be a tiny bit too dangerous."

"Endeavor's Hero Moves burn down city blocks. Yours will be fine."

"If you say so." Aoyama dug an eyepatch out of his pocket. "This is to keep the power trapped within me from destroying the entire known universe."

"Sure it does," Aizawa said dryly. "Demonstration, please."

"Yes sensei. Explosion!"

The world disappeared in a glittering flash. When the sparkles settled, Aoyama stood amidst a flat plain dusted with sparkles like a snow globe.

Izuku dusted himself off and ate some of the glitter. "Tastes sparkly."

500

The Surgeon General recommends against the consumption of glitter. It does not, in fact, taste sparkly.