A damp, metallic tang filled Ochaco's nose as her vision swam back into focus. Rough stone walls surrounded her, their chill biting into her skin. She tried moving her hands, but felt it restricted.
As her vision returned to normal, she could see that her hands were restrained by what felt to be a thick band of metal behind her back. "What is going on?"
Her memories flooded back. She remembered being surrounded by her knights as she visited one of her nobles, Lord Yarkow, because of an apparent dispute with another of her courtiers.
She was, of course, cautious as the man was a thorn to her side since assuming the crown. But the man was courteous the entire time and she drank a soup offered during dinner. And then...
Ochaco's mind was drawing blank. There were many questions, but first, she needed to get out of here. First, she needed to assess the room.
It was dusty, the air in it was dry like a desert. And it was empty, except for the dead rat stinking for a while now. 'Not a very helpful detail for escaping,' she noted.
She heard footsteps echoing and soon, the thick metal door was opened as three burly men entered the room, wearing tactical outfits and carrying some heavy guns she never saw before. Granted, she was more of a sword type of girl than guns, but she still trained with the Gurkhas since she was eight and was at least familiar with many of them.
'These must be the mercenaries Matthew warned me about,' she thought, trying to stand up. But her body felt heavy, as if her strength had been sapped away. She tried to subtly look for ways out of this place. Ochaco looked at them. The man at the center had a knife in his pocket. 'Reading the others' body language, he seemed to outrank them,' she noted.
The men were across the room, speaking in a language she didn't know. It sounded German mixed with some dialects. 'Perhaps some sort of coded language,' she deduced. 'It would at least take a while for me to decode that.'
They looked at her disgustingly. But she was ready to take advantage of the situation. "Could you brave gentlemen help a lady out of these restraints?" she said, the dry air making her voice scratchy. She smiled innocently at the mercenaries, showing her charm and innocence.
They laughed at her like a hyena, which infuriated her, but she kept her facade. Ochaco tried to reach for her powers. Nothing. Her panic only grew as her magic wasn't available.
"Oh, come on, gentlemen," she teased. "Help a little lady out, won't you?"
The leader of the trio, the man who had the knife, stepped forward as the others spread around the room, much like a pack of wolves trying to corner their prey. Then a surge of Power. Ochaco felt something similar to Izuku's Spark lending her strength. Then she realized it was the unborn Arcus'. Her baby lent her strength.
"Thank you," she whispered, grateful to her son.
She felt her body become stronger. It was obviously a far cry to what she could normally do, but it was enough. Her strength shattered the metal restraints. She grabbed the man's knife. Before he could react, she bisected him with a perfectly symmetrical cut. The wet thud of parting flesh echoed off the stone walls as the two pieces dropped to the ground, splattering blood.
It took most of the power she got to do just that, and she was, again, running empty. But she had to remain strong to get out. To meet Izuku and Eri.
The two of them aimed their guns at her, the deafening crack of gunfire reverberated through the chamber. But it wasn't enough. For people like Ochaco, the supersonic bullets may as well be standing still. But she couldn't waste too much of what little she had left.
In a burst of motion, she gutted another one of them, spraying blood everywhere. The remaining mercenary panicked as he ran towards the door. She chased after him. But before she could stab him, he managed to slam the door shut. Even then, she tried to destroy the door but found it was also enchanted.
This all but confirmed that Yarkow was behind it. She clicked her tongue, angry at herself for falling for such an obvious trap. The man was uncharacteristically polite throughout, it almost creeped her out. But she shrugged it off as angering a Power like her would end badly for even well-trained Mages.
But then, her mind started to go to the worst-case scenarios. Perhaps it was because of pregnancy hormones, but she started imagining the Cult using her body to create a Lich.
All too likely, at least some of her safeguards must've triggered by now. The fact that she was still here worried her. Then she looked at the knife in her hands. She started carving the wall with a magical circle made for gathering power. If the Cult intended to use her body to create a monstrosity, then she will simply blow everything up.
Meanwhile, as Ochaco was dealing with her kidnapping situation, her husband was just hearing about the news.
"They're dead. ALL OF THEM!" Izuku roared, his eyes glowing green as his fury surged through the link.
The two Chosen upstairs trembled. Fear and anxiety ran through their heads as they prepared. They didn't know what happened, but they knew it was terrible.
"Danna-sama! Please..." Momo tried to calm him down, but it was futile.
"Chosen, call my Companions. Gather the Knights of the Lake. We ride. For Camelot...and War."
"Yes, Danna-sama." Momo's eyes glowed red as the people Izuku considered His received a prophetic Vision.
The two Chosen upstairs. ALL MIGHT doing paperwork.
Nemuri and Matthew were sitting at a table across the room.
Keith and Booker, who were discussing the Sarah situation.
Nana who was punching bags at the gym.
Yui, Kinoko, Kyouka, Ibara, Toru, each of them ate breakfast with Eri. The girl herself beside them received a Vision.
The dhampir scrolling on her phone screen.
Another woman, who jumped out of her bed to run towards Izuku.
Even the grumbling Kitsune who was patrolling the area.
"I'm sorry, Ochaco. We tried your way, Love. Now it's time for the way of the Evoker," he said as they went towards the Portal downstairs, waiting for the others to appear.
The first were, of course, the two Chosen. "I...heard. Saw? Doesn't matter. We're here, Daddy. We'll get Ochaco back for you," Mina declared.
Itsuka looked at him in silence with a curious stillness to her body. Her gaze was a thousand miles away. Within the link, he felt hot rage boiling almost out of control.
"Are you okay, Itsuka?"
"I will be, Master. Once we've got whoever did this to the Princess hanging upside down in a dungeon somewhere."
"By the time I'm done with him, the only remnant will be a land burnt beyond habitation where he used to stand.
"Too quick, Master. Much too painless," she growled.
"Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster...for when you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss gazes back at you," he told her, as much to convince himself as his Chosen.
"Look into my eyes, Izuku. I am a monster. And these are your feelings, feeding back into my nature. Now, let's go, I need to kill someone. Badly."
"Izu-kun, who are we killing?" Himiko leapt as she brandished her knife.
"Bastards who more than deserved it, Himi," he growled.
Nana and the girls soon appeared, crossing the Portal. "Normal people use a fecking phone to call their friends over a scrap, Izuku, not a prophetic vision," Nana quipped, though there was no hiding the seriousness of her tone.
"Bite me."
"Maybe later. We're here. Let's get moving."
"Indeed."
"Were you planning to leave without me?" Midnight called out.
"Nemuri, you're coming too?"
"Oh, yes. I wouldn't miss this for anything. After waiting longer than I have any intention of admitting to, it's finally beginning."
"What are you talking about?"
Then it was Matthew who appeared. "I'm sorry, Your Highness. I should have been with her. I thought we had more time."
"You will be, next time. Let's get moving. To Camelot."
"She won't be at Camelot; the usurpers would fear her raising a popular rebellion. They'll have her isolated somewhere where she can't act as a rallying banner," Booker countered beside Keith.
"Where the hell did you two come from?"
"If you didn't intend me to be here, you probably want to be a little more circumspect about how you yank at the strings tying people to you. I'm pretty sure you called to anyone you consider yours, and gods alone know who that might include."
"It's true. You even called out to Eri," Kyouka added.
"We managed to calm her down, shroom," Kinoko comforted.
"Thanks. I'm pretty sure I didn't intend to do that."
"Then think harder next time, son. Yer a goddamned god, ye cannae lash out in anger. Control, lad. Always control. Which ain't your strong suit, sadly," Booker advised.
"I will," he replied and turned to Keith. "Thanks for coming, Keith."
"I was discussing the Cult situation with Doctor Booker when you...rang? I figured someone should come along to represent the army."
"So. If they're not holding her at Camelot, where? Momo?"
"Someone is Veiling her, Danna-sama. May I draw power from you?"
"Always, Chosen. No need to ask."
Her eyes glowed purple as she used her Sight to locate Ochaco. She groaned, "It's...it's resisting me, Danna-sama."
"This is barely a THREE OF A KIND. Draw deeper."
"I've never seen such a Veil. What if I draw too much? Could I end up hurting you?" she asked, worried.
"You're only at a STAIGHT; we're barely getting started. If I must, I'll pull from the Mantle. Peirce that Veil, Chosen."
"Yes, Danna-sama," she obeyed, drawing more and more Power from Izuku. From FLUSH, then FULL HOUSE. Momo swayed unsteadily, with a little look of pain on her face. Suddenly, he felt the drain stop and she fell to her knees.
"I...I think I killed him, Danna-sama. He was actively powering that Veil; when I pierced it, the feedback burned his brain to embers. I don't think he had time to jump."
This surprised Izuku and the girls present. "Who? Shit. I didn't realize it was that dangerous. Could the same have happened to you?"
Momo smiled, blood dripping from her nose. "My life for you, Danna-sama. Always," she whispered the last part, as she fell. Kitsune caught her in mid-motion, a surprising gentle motion for her speed.
Then she glared at Izuku, as if wanting to slice him up. "See what you have done, Mongrel?!" she lightly tapped on Momo's cheeks, panic stricken across her face. "I swore to keep you safe; gods damn it. Granma is going to kill me!"
"Yui! Medic!" Izuku ordered as Yui rushed in.
But Momo raised her hand, stopping Yui. "I...I'll be fine, Danna-sama. I just...never tried anything like that. I don't think anyone has...for ages or more."
"Like hell you're okay, Momo. You're bleeding."
Momo used her Sight as her eyes glowed again. "She's...she's in our world. Not Elsewhere. Peveril Castle, in the Peak District. There was a Cult Seer Veiling her...he's dead. For good, I think...the backlash killed him before he could jump to his backup."
"In our world? What the actual fuck?"
This time, it was Matthew who explained. "It makes sense, Your Highness...the usurpers fear loyalists within the Court or an intervention from Tír na nÓg. Putting her in your world makes it harder for those two factions to act."
"But not for us. Yui, how is she?"
"She's unharmed, Danna-sama," Momo answered. "Angry, but unharmed. They have her locked in a jail."
"I was talking about you, Momo. Is she okay, Yui?"
Yui nodded beside her. "She'll be fine. Just channeled a lot more energy than she's used to. Normal humans aren't built for the kind of power you Evokers throw around like nothing. Give her a couple of days' rest and she'll be good as new."
"Sounds like a plan. Kitsune. Get her home and keep her safe," he ordered.
But Momo protested. "I...I can come, Danna-sama. Kitsune, help me up."
"No, Chosen. You've done what you needed to do. That and more. Without you, we'd be tearing up Camelot without Ochaco anywhere in sight. Now rest and go to Recovery Girl, get well."
Kitsune picked her up in a princess carry. "I'll guard her. For my honor, Mongrel...not yours."
His eyes narrowed at the demon fox's words. "Whatever floats your boat, Foxy. Just keep her safe, or I'll line my robes with fox fur."
She clicked her tongue as they disappeared.
"Let's get moving, Izuku," Nana skittishly tapped her feet.
"So how do we do this? Back out in the real world and book a flight?"
"Master, I can get us there. Or close enough, anyway. Take a shortcut down the Leylines, we could be there in half an hour."
A Portal wasn't needed for traveling between Elsewhere and back, though it was easier one way over the other. It wasn't easy, but the increased Power of either him or Nana should be enough.
"Then punch a hole out of Elsewhere, huh? Sounds good. Yui, you coming?"
"I'll come with you. All Momo needed was rest and..."
"If Ochaco needed a Healer, Yui, continents will burn before this is over," Izuku said, his voice a low, dangerous tone. But I'd rather have you there, and not need you, than the other way around. Let's go."
The rest of them nodded their head, following Itsuka's guidance through the place. The place was now the familiar, eerily dark forest like most places in Deep Elsewhere. No creatures bothered to approach them, fearing his murderous aura. Not even All for One gave off half of the aura he had.
Eventually, they neared their destination. "Almost there, Master," Itsuka announced.
"Excellent. Let's punch a hole through. We've got a Queen to save and an evil rebellion to crush."
"Daddy. Someone's up ahead. She doesn't feel...hostile, exactly. But dangerous."
"That's fine. I'm feeling both hostile and dangerous right now."
Then someone dropped from above, landing without making a sound. A woman with snow white hair, pointed ears of a Fae, golden iris, and skin darker than a moonless cloudy night.
"Matthew. I knew I'd find you here. The Yarkows were fools to believe stealth alone would keep their prize hidden," Her voice was coarse like sandpaper as she pulled out two silver blades. "Now, let us see, once and for all, who is the better swordsman in the Brotherhood. Afterwards, I can deal with your ragtag followers."
Izuku glared at the woman. It was taking all his will not to chop off her head this instant. "Who the hell is this, Matthew?"
"Zenia. She's one of the...leaders, I guess you could say. Of the leaderless Brotherhood of the Paths."
"She's between me and Ochaco; they're about to become even more leaderless Brotherhood."
The rest were getting nervous of Izuku's words, but the woman didn't pay him any attention.
"Please, Izuku, I know her. Let me try to deal with this."
Izuku's gaze alternated between Matthew and Zenia. "You've got 60 seconds. If she's still there afterwards, I will deal with her myself."
Matthew nodded nervously. A minute wasn't much, but he was grateful the king gave him a chance to save her. "Zenia, this isn't you. Joining forces with petty nobles is one thing, but siding with the Cult? What happened to honour and integrity?"
"Petty infighting in a decadent human Court; what do I care about that? And I have never sided with the cult. This is just a job, Matthew...hired muscle for some human squabble. Don't try to mislead me."
This confirmed one thing for Matthew. It wasn't as bad as he expected, at least.
"Fifty seconds. Time is ticking, Matthew," Izuku called out.
"The Cult is involved, Zenia. We took out a Cult Seer getting here; they're most certainly allied with your employer. Step away; this is not your fight."
"A Cult Seer? Really, Matthew? You are getting gullible in your old age. You expect me to believe that some of these half-trained children took out one of the Lords of the Cult?"
"Little do you know. Forty seconds," the Evoker warned.
This time, it was Booker who called out. "You have no idea what these 'children' are, Zenia."
"W. Booker. What in the nine hells are you doing here? You have no love for the Courts than I do."
"Thirty seconds."
"You've been lied to, Zenia. Manipulated. If they even knew you were here, it's because they wanted you dead, the Brotherhood leaderless. I witnessed a Yaoyorozu Seer punch through a Veil stronger than any I've seen; heard her state that she slew a Cult Seer while doing so. I've never known the Yaoyorozu to lie about what they See."
Zenia simply shook her head. "I have no fight with you, Booker. Nor with Matthew. But I'm not spilling any tears if this mess leads to the entire Pendragon line going extinct."
"If Ochaco's been hurt...trust me, there is nowhere in this world or the next you'd be safe from me. Twenty seconds," Izuku continued counting down, not bothering to listen to Zenia's words. As far as he was concerned, the woman is nothing more than an obstacle.
Matthew, with visible panic on his face, pleaded. "Zenia, by all we've meant to each other, go. Walk away. You stand between an angry God and his kidnapped wife; run, or there will not be enough ashes left for a memory urn. Please, I'm begging you."
"Ten seconds. Time's running out, lady. You're not getting your star-crossed lovers' duel you're dreaming of; I'll just nuke you myself," Izuku's patience was running thin as his eyes glowed like searchlights.
Zenia, for the first time, looked alarmed. She felt her body paralyzed in fear in a way that she hadn't felt since standing before the Queen of Air and Darkness. "This isn't making sense, Matthew. The Queen is single, at least until Yarkow can organize a wedding. And there are no gods or necromancers involved in this mess; this is just internal Camelot conflict."
She had thought Matthew was only saying those things, at best, to deter her. Everyone knew he adored Ochaco like a daughter, despite wanting to look aloof.
Izuku spoke, his voice deeper than before and each word vibrating though her Soul. "I am the Winter King, Zenia. I carry the Mantle of the Once and Future King. The Outsiders are coming, the Cult is rising, and my wife has been abducted. Out of respect for what Matthew means to Ochaco I'm offering you this last chance. Walk. Away. There will not be another offer." She felt like a mountain, nay, the heavens pressing against her. She took five steps back.
"And so, these days have come. Matthew, I expect the full story once this is over. Nobody paid me enough to fight a god." She then turned to Izuku. "For what it's worth, your 'wife' was safe last time I saw. They drugged her food, then transported her here in secret."
"Why?"
"They feared a counter-coup; either from the nobles still loyal or from Tír na nÓg itself. Anyway, she's a half-trained girl on top of being weakened; even human scumbag should be able to guard her without problem."
"And you?"
"I knew Matthew would come for her. He might have abandoned Camelot, but he never stopped caring for the Princess. Queen. So, I tailed them here and settled down to wait."
"What opposition should we expect?"
"The guards are from your world. Human mercenaries. They're heavily armed but...strangely naive about magic."
"Well, they're in for a surprise. Step aside; I'm done with you. For now," he added, walking past her before turning to Booker behind him. "I just need to punch a hole here, right?"
Nana immediately put a hand on Izuku's shoulders, stopping him from attempting. "You don't. Let me do it. That way we don't end up with a smoking crater on the other side."
"I find your lack of faith disturbing. Go ahead, then."
Nana raised her hand in front of her, then a loud booming sound echoed throughout the area. A hole between Elsewhere and the mundane world opened. On the other side, was a picturesque green hills and grasses you'd typically associate with rural Europe.
"What's the plan, Daddy?"
"Time for Evokers to do our thing. Nana?"
"Ready. Let's have Itsuka here as our support. Make sure nothing gets a jump on ye."
"I fear for the one who'd try. But you're right. Booker, keep the portal open so we've got a way outta here. The rest should join in. Keith, you are our reserve."
"Good luck," Booker called out, and they walked into the portal, ending up a hundred meters away from the castle, which stood at the peak of a hill.
As they approached it, Nana whispered. "That feels enchanted."
"Yeah?"
"Aye. Distinct feeling from my grandma's but similar enough it was done by an Enchanter somewhere. Her noble?"
Izuku frowned upon hearing that. He delivered a TWO PAIR's worth of fireball to the castle, arriving at Planck time. The impact rang like a bell heard across the continent, reality itself shuddering as the air burned around it, everything in it was cooked. Except for the castle.
Izuku clicked his tongue, his Rage was not yet at that level. Far from its peak.
"Fine. Have it your way," he growled at the enchanted castle.
He walked to it as he reached for the Mantle. Then reality itself seemed to protest. Like a mirror struck by a stone, spider cracks formed not on any physical surface, but in the very space where the walls stood. The air crystallized and shattered like glass, sending fragments of broken reality cascading outward before they dissolved into nothingness, revealing what lay beyond.
"Fuck," Nana said, shocked.
On the other side, there was a soldier. Izuku didn't care enough to look at his features as he slowly walked to the mortal.
The man pulled out a grenade launcher, his hands trembling, as he aimed it towards Izuku. Then he pulled the trigger. Izuku continued walking, unfazed as the high explosive round met his Barrier.
The mercenary tried his best not to panic. Reload. Aim. Shoot. Boom. But Izuku came out of the smoke not even looking bothered.
"W-w-who the fuck are you people?" he screamed, falling on his behind to the cold stone floor.
He started shaking. "Where is she?" Izuku, eyes glowing, grabbed the man by the throat and lifted him up. The mercenary's throat glowed orange hot. "Tell me, mortal. Where is Ochaco Pendragon?"
The man felt himself boiling from the inside the more he looked at Izuku.
Itsuka then spoke, putting a hand on Izuku's arm. "I don't know what you're doing to him, Master. But I don't think it helps him speak. Let me have him."
Izuku looked at his Chosen for a moment before letting the man go. The man groaned in pain as his back hit the floor. "Sure."
The mercenary coughed, trying to breathe. "T-thank you. Who the fuck is he? He's fucking crazy." He looked at the Chosen, pulling out a machete, the blade at least a foot long.
"Oh, don't thank me, lad. Tell me, are ye right or left-handed? I'll leave you that hand for last." Itsuka's expression was stoic, her voice flat.
He started crawling backwards but felt someone behind him.
A manic smile spread across Himiko's face, a sharp sound from Harpe cutting through the air as stabbed it to the ground, barely missing the mercenary's crotch, but ripping a small fabric of his pants. "Or we could end his bloodline right here. That is, if he doesn't bleed out first."
"Or you could tell us what we want to know," Izuku added behind them.
"You're all as crazy as the fucking bitch in the basement."
"What 'bitch'?" Izuku felt his blood grow cold in wrath.
"I don't know? Some little wisp of a girl; they brought her last night...she'd been knocked out by drugs or gas or something."
Izuku grabbed the man by the throat and lifted him at impossible speed, almost snapping it. It was so fast the air didn't even have the time to react to his movement. "What did you do to her?"
"Nothing! Nothing, I swear. We went to...you know...check on her. And she was standing by the wall, smiling prettily. Poor fucking Wilkinson never even saw her move...before I knew, he was cut in two. Two decades of military experience, only to be taken down by some barefoot girl not even half his size."
"Then what?"
"She gutted Sergeant Zane, came at us like a fucking hurricane. We managed to lock the door; thankfully, the damned thing was steel. We were hoping whoever came to relieve us would know what to do. But you guys showed up instead, like...what the fuck are you?"
"We're the Knights of the Lake. Who else is here?"
The man was having trouble breathing. "The rest of the squad's fortified over the Barracks."
"Nana, set it on fire for me, would you?"
"Wait, no! We surrender! We signed up to guard an old castle. That's it! Not to fight some superheroes!"
"Well, too bad."
"So ye brainiacs left an angry Enchanter Power alone in a stone room...with a sharp object? Ye suicidal or something? Izuku, we may have a problem."
He looked at her, then it clicked in his mind. 'This might actually be bad.' He turned to his Chosen. "Itsuka, sort out our friend's surrender, would you? Rip his arms off if he gave you any shit," he then called out to the man. "Hey, you! Where is she?"
"Down the stairs, on the left. Please, we surrender!"
"Go with Itsuka and sort out your fellow idiots. And don't make her angry; you won't like her when she's angry. Nana, go with her."
"Ye sure?"
"Yeah. I'll go take care of Ochaco."
Izuku went to the basement based on the man's instructions and found the steel door. 'Boss, do you know what you're getting into?' X called out.
'It's Ochaco, X. She's not going to hurt me. Probably. And I've survived being flamed by a dragon; without her gear, I don't see she can be worse than that.'
'Well, she's quite young. And she has no real tools, nor gems. Unlike you Evokers, others needed to carry those arounds.'
'Right.'
'On the other hand, she is a Power. And pregnant. And expecting a Cult Necromancer to be the next to walk through that door. I'd say she's quite motivated.'
'Damn,' Izuku thought before calling out for Ochaco. "Ochaco, you there?"
"Ah, yes...do come in," she called out in a sweet voice, immediately stopping Izuku in his tracks.
'What are you doing? Open the door,' X hurried.
'Last time I heard that tone in her voice was when I told her I'd...er...made Mina a Chosen.'
'And?'
'That's not her happy voice,' he explained to the sword. "Ochaco, Love...It's me, Izuku. I'm going to open the door; don't shoot. Or stab."
He slowly opened the door and entered the room. What immediately greeted him was the glowing of a magical circle with enough energy in it to open the earth and swallow the castle whole. Then the sound of a blade cut through the air behind him, as Ochaco shouted, her eyes glowing, "Die, Cult scum!"
"Oh crap," Izuku froze up as Ochaco leapt to him but stop midair.
"Izuku? Is it truly you? Not some mirage?"
"Will you let me set Lord Jerkoff on fire now?" he joked.
Ochaco giggled, stabbing the knife on the stone floor. "It's Yarkow, you foolish man. It really is you. Oh, gods. I missed you."
"I missed you too. Are you okay? They didn't hurt you, right?"
"I was certain it was a trick; that you were a Lord of the Cult, or soldiers to drag me to a wedding ceremony."
"Never. I'm here. The KoTL have control of the castle; Itsuka and Nana were rounding up the stragglers."
Ochaco smiled, wordlessly leapt to his arms. "How did you find me...us?"
Izuku held her with a princess carry. "One of the Gurkhas showed up at The Crowley. Told us what's happening. Then Momo tracked you down...though she had to break a necro Veil to do so."
"I knew the Council was involved," she seethed. "This was too violent, too coordinated, for the Council. How did Momo manage to defeat such an en...Oh, but of course; you made her your Chosen."
"I'm sorry?"
"Why? It is what was meant to be. And thankfully, it let her find me. Let us go. I want rid of this filthy place. The company was getting old," she gestured to the two dead bodies on the corner.
"And that...glowy thing?"
"The Construct? Without my will to maintain it, it will unwind on its own. Let it."
The two of them left the cell as the glowing Construct flickered on the wall.
"Hello, Ochaco," Nana greeted. "Izuku, good to see ye found Her Majesty safe and sound."
"And angry, Nana. Very very angry."
"Itsuka's got the rest of the soldiers rounded up in the Courtyard; I slagged their weapons. What do ye want us to do with 'em?"
"Do we interrogate them? Or just slag them as well?" Izuku asked.
"Ignore them; they know nothing and are irrelevant in what is to come. Once we are gone, they can stay...or leave...as they wish. I care not. Though if they have the wits of a butterfly they will stay far away from their ex-employers; I doubt the Council has much tolerance for failure."
"Are you sure?"
"Quite, My Heart. Their value was their ignorance, and the only reason they were judged sufficient is because the conspirators completely underestimate me. What has happened to my advisors?"
"Lord Anton and Colonel..." he looked at her, unsure of the man's name.
"Rai. He heads up the Gurkha battalion."
"Well, they're both in jail, accused of being behind the attempted coup."
"Foolishness," Ochaco shook her head. "Neither of them have the backing, nor the ambition, to pull off something like this. Walk with me, dearest; I have no desire to linger in this prison. What of the rest of the Battalion?"
"Dismissed. Though it doesn't look like they're taking those orders seriously; Sergeant Kulbir mentioned they were camped near the Prime Portal, wherever that is."
"Medway, in Kent. It is the closest Portal to Camelot. Did you know: old Kulbir was the one that taught me how to fight with a knife. Hopefully, he will be happy to see it put to good use. And what of my Lord General?"
"Morris? He didn't make it. A Púca assassin got him."
Ochaco let out a sad sigh. "An ugly fate for a good man. But then I suspect his assassination was both business and pleasure for Lord Yarkow. One I will repay with interest."
"Let's just go home."
As they were walking together, Izuku heard something like whirring sound of a machine behind. He looked surprised as a hole appeared where the castle was and swallowed it whole.
"Ah. Right on time,"Ochaco, her eyes half-open, watched the spectacle.
"What the hell was that?"
"The Construct? As I said, without me it has unwound naturally. It seems fitting end to that wretched place."
"As you say. Let's head through the portal and back to Elsewhere. What do we do now?"
Izuku saw Ochaco pause for a moment, her expression sharp as she looked at the distance. "There's an old pledge the Pendragons use when a Noble is raised. It has remained unchanged since Arthur's time, but it would seem my Council has forgotten it."
"Which is?"
Her eyes glowed in cold anger. "I pledge to reward Loyalty with Trust. Service with Honour...Treason with Death. We have had peace for too long; they have forgotten who the Pendragons truly are. We are done with diplomacy, My Love. Now we go to war. If they will not love us, they will learn to fear us."
Izuku smirked at hearing this. "Finally."
"I love you," Ochaco declared as they reunited with the rest.
"And I love you."
The two of them crossed the Portal after Itsuka, followed by the rest behind him. The next few minutes of traveling had the two inseparable, flirting with each other like the young couple they were.
Ochaco giggled at something Izuku whispered to her. "Come, My Heart. We still have far to go to reach the Glade, and much to do once we get there."
"What's the rush? I just got you back."
"Our enemies will not stay idle, My Love. I fear I may have been...excessive...with my Construct. It would perhaps have been better to drain it and bring the mercenaries back as captives."
"Perhaps."
"But I was just so...so..."
"Angry?"
"Furious. Beyond measure. At the betrayal, and at the thought I might never see you again."
"I'll always find you, Ochaco. Always," he declared with certainty.
"How could you be certain? If Sergeant Kulbir had not reached you..."
"Then Mina or Nemuri or Momo would have caught it. Trust that you're as necessary to the Grand Plan, whatever it was, as I am. You are my Anchor, and The Voices would rather see me dead than adrift."
"For as much use I am. A Queen without a Throne."
"We made a mistake," he pointed out.
But Ochaco shook her head. "I made a mistake. I thought to rule through compromise, and the gentle touch on the reins. I was mistaken. This time we shall do it your way, Husband. The gears of state have jammed, and the sledgehammer of Evoker might will set them moving again."
"So, what's the plan? Hit Camelot before they notice you're gone? Four Evokers and a pair of Sorcerers should be enough for whatever they've got hiding."
"It would be...excessive. But there will not be four Evokers; Captain Keith might be willing to rescue an abducted Queen from the Cult. Invading an allied nation would be betraying his own country. Similarly, Booker is a Paladin. He will not interfere with politics."
"I'm sure the fact that this was related to the Cult would mean it's not just politics anymore," he said, seeing the Gate coming to view.
"That is true," she agreed. "But unless they had Liches running around the castle, it would be seen as an interference by a Paladin."
"So, it's just us? We will be enough."
"We will, My Heart."
"Open up, Gate."
"Yes, Promised One."
The gate opened as the ground rumbled. "And here we are. Home sweet home." He entered Glade and stopped by the Lake.
"So, what's the plan, Izuku?" Nana crossed her arms.
"Not sure. I wanted to just go for the frontal assault, but Ochaco's not a fan of destroying Camelot," he joked.
"Aye, Royals are weird like that," she laughed. "All fuss and bother about a wee thing like setting their capital on fire."
"With that off the table, what other options do we have?"
Booker stepped forward. "You need information, lad. Who, what, and where."
"Indeed. Who are we killing, what are they doing, and where I can find them."
"Aye. Someone needs to get to Camelot."
"Who?"
"I'll go, Izuku," Midnight volunteered. "Sorceresses, like cats, go where they will."
"You sure?"
"Oh, yes. I'm taking Ashido with me. I did promise you I'd try to teach her a thing or two. Take care of my Pub while I'm gone, would you?"
Izuku turned to his Chosen. "Mina, you sure about this?"
"Like, of course, Daddy. We were just discussing it on the way here, while you were busy with Ochaco. I mean, spying is just, like, collecting gossip and I've always been really good at that."
"Will the two of you be safe on the Paths?"
"Who do you think you are talking to, Izuku?" Midnight replied. "I may not have your Power, but I am still a Hero.
"And I'll go with them," Booker added. "Nobody will think it strange when they see a Paladin, especially during unrest."
"You sure it's okay? Ochaco mentioned that this might be considered interfering."
"Nah, lad. There were signs of the Cult being involved. I won't assist you in your civil war, but this is too big not to investigate.
"Okay. So, Mina, Nemuri, and Booker will go to scout Camelot. What else do we do?"
"Get my sword and armour back," Ochaco said.
"In Camelot?"
"No, it was cleaned and moved to Japan, supposedly to prepare for the State meetings this weekend. In retrospect, I believe it was mostly to ensure I did not have it at hand during their rebellion."
"How convenient for us, then. Okay, let's grab that first thing tomorrow. I'll personally be a lot happier once you're wrapped in plate and carrying Secace again."
"As will I. We also need to coordinate with the leaders of the Gurkha Battalion, before they do anything foolish. People who dismiss them as mere mercenaries fail to understand how their loyalty works."
"Hopefully, Kulbir hasn't gone anywhere. Okay, so that's our plan. Find who's in charge of this rebellion, remove them in extreme prejudice, don't wreck the surrounding real estate in the process."
"Indeed, My Heart. Shall we go?"
"Not quite yet. I need to say a few words to the rest."
Izuku turned to them, his voice carrying his message to their bones. "These scum kidnapped Ochaco. They intended to kill her. Sacrifice her to the Cult. For that they will burn."
The rest, including the Chosen, shuddered. Some from excitement.
"We have only just begun. By the time we are done with these traitors, they will cower in fear at the mere mention of the Knights of the Lake. We will find the ring-leaders of this affair and will exterminate them like the vermin they are. Strike their names from the record, their honors from their families, and bury their still smoking ashes in a shallow grave of salted soil. They will know, in their bones, why I am the Winter King."
Izuku paused, and then his aura shifted from a righteous fury to something darker, more sinister, as his voice turned into a snarl. "Make no mistake; the Outsiders are coming. We have no time for traitors within the walls while we deal with them. Let's make this quick, and brutal, and ensure the Council of Nobles never again considers treason against their rightful ruler. Only then can we focus on the true threat, knowing our rear is secure."
Itsuka's fingers curled into fists, a predatory smile crossing her face. Beside her, Nana's eyes gleamed with anticipation, while Yui remained stoic but nodded firmly, understanding the necessity of what was to come. Himiko couldn't stop herself from giggling at this.
"Aye!" Nana called out; the others echoed her.
"What started today will be remembered in history. I am proud beyond words that you are standing with us. All of you. True heroes, every one of you."
Izuku felt the speech stirred something deep inside him, as if he were made for this.
"We're sure not gonna let ye have all the fun, Izuku. We'll be here," Nana grinned.
"Thanks, Nana. I want you to come with me tomorrow to repo Ochaco's armor."
"I will go, My Heart. I know the security system," Ochaco stated.
"Sure, but make sure not to engage in a fight. Not unless you're actually armored."
"Of course, My Love. I have more than just myself to worry about, do I not?"
"Indeed. Everyone else; prepare. Once we go, we'll be moving fast."
"Will do, Master. We'll see the two of you tomorrow. I'm sure you and the Princess have a lot of things to...talk...about."
"Thanks, Itsuka. Good luck, Nemuri. Mina."
"Sorceresses don't need luck, Izuku. We make our own. But thanks for the sentiment."
"Keep them safe, Booker."
Booker chuckled. "They're Sorceresses, lad. You ought to be wishing me luck, I'm the one that's gonna need it."
"Then good luck, Booker. And happy hunting."
"Yes. Now, off ye go. It ain't every day a man rescues his abducted wife from evil Necromancers."
"Yeah. Ready to go, Ochaco?"
"Of course, My Heat. Farewell, everyone. And thank you ever so much for coming to my aid. I owe you a debt of gratitude, and the Crown always pays its debts."
"See you guys."
As they watched the others going back, Izuku and Ochaco took a moment to appreciate each other's presence.
"And now we are alone, My Love. At last."
He grinned, his arms wrapping around her waist. "What do you intend to do about it?"
"I shall restrain myself, with some difficulty, until we have returned to your bedroom."
"And then?"
"And then, I believe it is traditional that the brave young knight receives a boon for his bravery. I shall have to think of something..."
"Cucumbers?"
"Cucumbers sound wonderful...as a starter. Beyond that, we will simply have to...experiment. Who knows what will happen?"
They started going back, Izuku couldn't erase the grin from his face. "You're making this armor quite...tight."
"Oh, my poor Love. Then I shall help you out of it. We are almost home."
"After you, milady."
They crossed the Portal, arriving at the basement of The Crowley.
Ochaco cupped his face, her touch lingering as she looked at him. "Come, My Love. Let us close the door, and pretend the rest of the world does not exist for a few hours. We have deserved that small pleasure, at least."
"Oh, it'll be more than a few hours...I certainly don't intend to let you sleep tonight," he briefly lifted her and kissed her lips, gently putting her down the bar table as they made out.
Ochaco's cheeks reddened as she giggled. "Then I sh-" Ochaco felt it. Ten people rushing to the area. She was alarmed at first but quickly realized who they were. The feeling of disappointment filled her as-
"YOUNG MAN! ARE YOU OKAY!?" ALL MIGHT's voice reverberated in the room as he burst through the door, fist raised heroically. Behind him, the entire UA faculty stood battle-ready. "I SAW VISIONS OF BATTLE AND-oh."
The Symbol of Peace paused, taking in the intimate position of his students. Even his eternal smile seemed to falter slightly in embarrassment.
"ALL MIGHT?" Izuku didn't know whether to be mortified or frustrated.
"I RECEIVED YOUR VISIONS. ARE YOU AND YOUNG PENDRAGON UNHARMED?"
"Yeah, I'm...fine. We just finished rescuing Ochaco."
"MY MOST SINCERE APOLOGIES, YOU TWO! GATHERING EVERYONE TOOK SOME TIME AND...ANYWAY, WHAT HAPPENED?"
Izuku explained to everyone what transpired over the past hour since his Vision. And that Midnight wouldn't be available to teach classes for a time.
By the time it ended, the rest of the faculty sighed in relief and sworn to secrecy about the details. Some were disappointed, especially ALL MIGHT, that they couldn't help, but they eventually returned to UA.
"Now, where were we?" Izuku asked, grinning.
"I was saying that-"
The doors burst open again. "Who is it this t-MOM?!"
"IZUKU!?" Inko rushed in, panic evident on her face.
Thanks for reading this chapter!
The turning point of Camelot governing was here. Overall, there were quite a few characters always telling Izuku to hold himself back and let Ochaco take the reins for governing the kingdom. Generally, they would be correct. But the two were, and always will be, a set. Just as diplomacy is important, absolute might will play an important role in correcting Camelot's decay. Ruling through compromise could only get you so far, and doesn't apply when the other party's allied with a faction that wants to consume all Life as their dinner.
As always, don't hesitate to ask questions or provide feedback if you have any.