Boku no Hero Academia: Custodian Izuku

Disclaimer: This is a crossover fanfiction story of 'Boku no Hero Academia' and 'Warhammer 40k' (yes, really). I own nothing of the two series other than the fanfiction stories that I make.

I am making this story for the sake of fun, fluff and awesome after writing a one-shot story of the same story concept. If I am able to somehow impress fans of Warhammer 40k or even move someone to tears, even better.

Also, if anyone wants to know how in the world I got this idea in the first place, please refer to the artist, Ryuusei (Mark II), who has made some awesome pictures of gender-bent primarchs. The link is: .us/pools/17320

Please note that while I am familiar with the Warhammer 40k setting, my actual knowledge of it is casual at best. Also, if the genderbent primarchs seem at least a bit OOC, please kindly consider the fact that their bodies (especially the traitor primarchs) have changed drastically after entering Izuku's world.

In case anyone asks how much crack I was taking in to come up with the idea, I am just going to say enough to make even a loyalist Adaptus Astartes trippy.

Chapter 22: Anti-climatic Fall of One

"So both Lorgar and Tomura are dead," said All For One.

Kyuudai nodded and added, "And Kurogiri, along with one other surviving member named Kenshinteki Karutoko, has been captured by the heroes."

"Then we may have to consider moving to a new location soon in case the heroes successfully extract information from him," said All For One.

"Is it really necessary?" asked Kyuudai who then argued, "We have already shifted all of our essential infrastructure and resources to locations that neither Kurogiri nor Tomura are familiar with. If we shift them again, whatever progress that we have made for the past few months will surely stall or worse."

"That is indeed true. However, now that the League of Chaos Undivided has fallen, the heroes and Lorgar's former brothers will surely attempt to find out who the 'previous benefactor' was, assuming that they do not know already and plan to simply hunt me down as soon as possible," said All For One who then grimly added, "and let us not forget that we both have… 'gaps' in our memories."

Kyuudai grimaced as he, like All For One, knew that someone or something had helped the heroes defeat the League of Chaos Undivided but simply could not recall any details for some unknown reason. Never mind the fact that All For One should not have forgotten any recent-yet-vital details due to various memory-boosting quirks that he had collected over the years, even the collective memory of humanity and the internet somehow lacked the "missing details" of what had happened during the fight.

"I will do as you ask," said Kyuudai who then wearily sighed and added, "However, it will take time as we can neither return to our old hideouts nor afford to be hasty while moving into new ones."

All For One would have frowned if he still had his eyebrows but his displeasure was still apparent in his voice as he spoke, "Do what you must."

Kyuudai bowed to All For One before leaving his chamber to start making arrangements. The ancient villain restrained his desire to physically destroy something as he pondered over his current situation. While it was undoubtedly a good thing that the traitorous brat and the gods-worshipping madwoman were gone, it still did not change the fact that he had lost valuable assets that could not be reclaimed.

Tomura was not just All For One's tool for tormenting All Might due to being the grandson of the hero's late mentor, Shimura Nana, but was also a physical vessel for All For One to eventually take over to steal back a certain quirk that was currently in All Might's possession. While All For One could theoretically still torment All Might with the truth of Tomura's origins, transferring his consciousness into a dead body that was likely still tainted by the powers of Dark Gods from another universe was not an option. What was more, the League of Chaos Undivided had not only killed all the mercenaries and assassins that All For One had sent out to kill them but also destroyed a number of facilities including an orphanage which was actually a place for All For One to gather potential recruits if not more. All For One was not one to be concerned about children getting killed or worse but those children were his investments as future assets and the ancient villain had always hated losing his possessions. It would be years before All For One could finally mould another child into becoming the "next him".

Suddenly, the door into his chamber opened but no one was standing at the door. All For One was perplexed for a moment before he realised that something was wrong. However, before he could do anything to guard himself, he suddenly felt weak and soon started to feel the cold claws of death grip his heart. He barely had time to even panic and wonder what was going on before his body rapidly deteriorated into a mummified husk. As his very soul withered away into nothing, his last thought was a twin brother whom he once had a long time ago, "Yoichi…!"

-Just outside All For One's chamber…-

Gwalchavad, who had been standing at the door while keeping her quirk-suppressing ability active, glanced into the room after the chocking sounds died down. She quickly noticed a shrivelled husk that used to be a "Self-proclaimed Demon Lord" on the floor but did not stop using her quirk as she tapped the micro-bead in her ear and said, "Target is down. Requesting heavy flamers at my location to burn the body while my field is still active."

"I'll be there in a few minutes," replied a voice that belonged to Vulkan who then added, "I still have a few defiled corpses left to burn down."

"Understood," replied Gwalchavad. She then turned her attention towards Curze who was carrying Kyuudai by the back of his shirt. The old man was currently missing his legs and arms which had been severed and cauterised at the same time by Curze's power blades. What was more, his body looked even more aged than before due to Gwalchavad's quirk-suppressing field which was suppressing his quirk-enhanced longevity.

Kyuudai, who had never been a brave person, was a blubbering wreck as he stuttered, "I-it can't be… All For One's… g-gone…?"

Gwalchavad had no sympathy for the man responsible for turning corpses into monsters like a deranged Heretek Genetor or Selenite Gene-Cultist as she spoke to Curze, "Any chance that he will do something to bring his leader back to life, again?"

Curze shook her head and said, "Not this time."

A voice that belonged to Guilliman spoke from the micro-bead in Curze and Gwalchavad's ears, "Please don't kill the old man just yet. We still need to interrogate him to find the remaining hideouts and hidden facilities." It should be noted that Guilliman was in the middle of hacking into the computers at the hideout to get not only information about the other hideouts and hidden facilities but also Kyuudai's research notes. While there was no denying that Kyuudai was a madman, his genius in quirk-related biology and genetics was, by mortal standards at least, equally undeniable.

While the former primarchs could, in theory, build their own labs to do biological research, most of their advanced knowledge would not be related to quirks. Also, there was the simple fact that most of the former primarchs were not inclined towards doing biological research.

Curze nodded in response and walked away from Ghawlchavad so that the latter's quirk-suppressing ability would not cause further harm to Kyuudai. The man's well-deserved punishment would have to wait for a while longer.

Within the following hour, the whole hideout would be reduced to a burnt husk.

-At U.A. High School…-

"So this is what it feels like to experience an anticlimax in real life," thought Toshinori, who was in his skeletal true form, after hearing the former primarchs' report of the attack.

Thanks to a "hint" from the Emperor and Oboro's still-present ability to create warp gates, the former primarchs were able to quickly strike down All For One and his loyal servant, Garaki Kyuudai, before they could act in response to the defeat of the League of Chaos Undivided. While Toshinori was certainly grateful for the victory, especially after surviving the attacks led by the said league, there was a part of him that was a little disappointed. After all, All For One was not only defeated by the former primarchs but in a way that was simply anti-climatic. The pro-hero easily brushed the mild feeling of disappointment aside as he turned his attention towards helping the teachers guide the Flameborn into one of the training grounds of U.A. High School, a simulation of an industrial area called Ground Gamma.

Although there was no denying the fact that both the Flameborn and the Vermin Spawn were anthropomorphic rats about the size of Mineta Minoru in height, the differences between the two could not be more obvious. While the original Vermin Spawn resembled diseased vermin, the Flameborn more closely resembled friendly domesticated rats in both appearance and temperament. Even Kenji, who had fought the Vermin Spawn previously, was willing to relax her guard around the Flameborn.

Nedzu, who had an immediate sense of kinship with the Flameborn after seeing them, was more than happy to accommodate them. One did not need to be a genius former primarch to realise the possibility of Nedzu finally feeling that he was no longer alone even though he was not a fellow Flameborn.

Izuku, who had volunteered to help the Flameborn, was smiling kindly as he use his new power to heal a seemingly young Flameborn whose foot had been injured by sharp stones. The Flameborn thanked Izuku for healing its foot in its squeaking language before setting off to Ground Gamma with the rest of its kin.

As Izuku waved at the departing Flameborn, which was actually skipping happily thanks to its healed foot, he heard a voice saying, "Shouldn't you be taking a break?"

Izuku turned his attention towards Oboro and raised an eyebrow while asking in return, "Shouldn't you?"

Oboro snorted as he understood the implication that, unlike Izuku, he had literally been brought back to life from the dead recently and said, "Fair point." He then turned his attention towards Karutoko who was happily helping to guide the Flameborn in her unique carefree way.

"Thwe cwapture pwoint ish thwis hway! Cwapture iht fwor thwe Empweror ahnd Nezwuko-chwan!" said Karutoko while doing a comical pointing stance on one leg.

"Capture point?" asked Izuku.

Oboro shrugged and said, "Don't ask me. She just started using the term all of a sudden."

Seeing that Oboro had no idea either, Izuku shrugged and went back to helping the Flameborn. Before long, the Flameborn were safely settled in their new home.

-Later that day…-

It was dinner time and Lunch Rush had volunteered to prepare food for not only the students and teachers of U.A. High School but also for the nearby survivors of the "Plague Tragedy" and even the new Flamborn arrivals. Russ, Satou and Nekona were among the students who volunteered to help Lunch Rush in his endeavour to bring some measure of comfort to the people who needed it most.

Understandably, Izuku was among the many people who needed at least a bit of comfort as he was still dealing with not only the lingering guilt of killing someone, regardless of the grim reality that it was an unavoidable necessity at the time, but also the cruel fact that his former childhood friend, Bakugou Katsuki, had not only died but had his very soul damned for all eternity. Although he would need time to get over the harsh revelations that he had experienced earlier that day, he took comfort in the fact that he was not alone as he ate his dinner with Inko, Eri, Angron, Curze and, for some reason, Karutoko.

When Izuku asked politely why she wanted to eat with him, with the unsaid implication that he was responsible for killing one of her friends, she smiled knowingly and replied simply, "Why nwot?"

While Izuku's group was having dinner together, Russ approached them with large glass mugs which were clearly not filled with plain water. Inko raised an eyebrow and asked rhetorically, "You're not giving us anything alcoholic, are you?"

Russ grinned and said, "Don't worry, they're non-alcoholic ginger ale mocktails. I figured that all of you, especially Izuku, could use a 'frakking drink' after today."

Izuku smiled bitterly and said, "Yeah, I could certainly use a good drink."

"Can I try one?" asked Eri who was both curious and aware that the drink was not alcoholic.

"Sure, just make sure to take small sips first. This stuff might be a bit too strong for you," replied Russ.

Izuku took a sip of the drink and was pleasantly surprised by both its flavour and the warm feeling at the back of his throat, "It's really good."

Eri took a sip and wore a disgusted expression as she spoke, "It's making my mouth burn."

Curze smiled as she took the mug from Eri's hands and drank it with the ease of someone who was used to consuming far more questionable food and drinks. After she had emptied her mug, she asked Russ, "How are the rest of the students handling today's… memory gaps?"

"As well as can be expected," answered Russ who then added, "They know that something big happened earlier today but do not remember the details. That said, being aware that losing their memories is for their own safety seems to be effective in discouraging them from asking too many questions."

"That's good to know. The people of this world, at least in general, are not yet ready to know the truth," said Angron.

"Let's just hope that nothing like today happens again any time soon," said Inko.

"I'd drink to that," agreed Russ. She then turned around and said, "I've got to get going. You're not the only ones who need a good ginger ale mocktail today."

"Take care of yourself too," said Izuku.

"I will," said Russ as she waved at the group while heading back to where Lunch Rush, Nekona and Satou were busy preparing food and drinks.

In less than two hours, everyone at U.A. High School who could go to bed early that night quite understandably decided to do just that.

-The following day…-

Given the scale of the attack the previous day, it was no surprise that U.A. High School would be closed for at least a few days. Thankfully, students were allowed to return to their families during those few days and, unsurprisingly, many students chose to do so. Izuku and Inko also left the school but for a different reason.

Masaru, who had bags under his eyes, smiled tiredly as he greeted Izuku and Inko, "Thank you for coming."

Inko wore a sad smile and said, "It's the least we can do after what happened yesterday."

One of the details that was revealed in the announcement was the deaths of the members of the League of Chaos Undivided. Bakugou Katsuki was one of the confirmed deaths.

Izuku was nervous as he hesitantly asked, "How is… Aunty Mitsuki doing?"

Masaru sighed as he replied, "By the time we got yesterday's announcement, we've already accepted the fact that Katsuki would either end up in prison or get himself killed. Even so, actually handling it well is… another matter entirely."

Both Inko and Izuku nodded at Masaru before they entered the house. They both almost did a double-take when they saw Mitsuki who looked clearly aged compared to her former youthful look less than a year ago. In spite of her haggard state, Mitsuki tried to smile as she greeted them, "Hey there, Inko-chan, Izuku-chan."

Tears welled up in Inko's eyes as she rushed forward to hug Mutsuki. Soon. Both women cried as one grieved over the irrecoverable loss of her own son while the other comforted her grieving friend the best she could. Seeing the two weeping mothers, Izuku clenched his fist and decided to somehow do something about it. He slowly approached the two and, to Masaru's shock, made his right hand glow with a comforting golden light. Mistuki barely had time to notice that Izuku's right hand was actually glowing when he placed it onto her shoulder. Her eyes widened as she felt a sense of calming peace wash over her very soul like a comforting balm over her grievous sorrow.

Izuku smiled sadly as he looked at her amazed expression and said, "I'm a 'late bloomer'."

Mitsuki snorted at Izuku's obvious understatement and said with a bitter smile, "I knew that the 'functionally quirkless' student was you."

"I guessing that the awakening of your quirk is related to what happened yesterday, isn't it?" asked Masaru. Like many other people, he had no recollection of what had happened during the attack at U.A. High School but understood that losing the memory of the attack was ultimately for his own protection.

Izuku nodded and said, "We can't tell you everything, at least not right now, but you both deserve to know at least this much."

"Thank you, for trusting us," said Masaru.

"It's about damn fucking time that you get a good quirk if you ask me," said Mitsuki who could feel her fiery spirit burn for the first time in months.

Inko chuckled and said, "About damn time, indeed."

Although both families were still suffering from Bakugou Katsuki's fall from grace and damnation, they could at long last begin to heal and ultimately move on from it.

-Meanwhile, at U.A. High School…-

Enji, who was among the few allowed to know the full truth about not only the League of Chaos Undivided but also the Imperium of Man and the Emperor, stood outside the Bloodline Chapel with a conflicted expression on his face. As for why he was standing outside the chapel, he wanted to at least try to communicate with the Emperor again the the hopes that he could at least find out more about his "recently deceased" son, Touya.

"You wish to pray, don't you?"

Enji sighed as he turned to face Vulkan and replied, "I do though I doubt anyone benevolent will actually bother to listen to my prayers."

Vulkan smiled sadly and said, "You'd be surprised, Todoroki-san. After all, you're neither the first nor will you be the last abusive parent to come to regret his or her past actions."

Recalling how the Emperor was hardly a good model of fatherhood himself, Enji huffed bitterly and said, "That may be so, but it does not change the fact that I still have so much to atone for." He then turned around and said, "Perhaps, one day, I will go inside and ask for Touya's forgiveness but… that day is not today."

Although Enji did not cry, Vulkan knew that the pro-hero was grieving over the "actual death" of his eldest son. As Enji turned around to leave U.A. High School, Vulkan said, "I'm surprised that you do not resent me for killing him."

"If I had been wilfully blind to my own mistakes as a father, I probably would have," Enji admitted who then wearily added, "Besides, my family and I were truly convinced that he had died long ago and, in a sense, he had."

"For all that it is worth, you at least have your remaining family, estranged as they are now. You should, at the very least, try to reconnect to them," said Vulkan.

Enji huffed bitterly and said, "My daughter and wife may give me a chance but I doubt my two sons, especially the elder one, will give me any."

"Still, you can at least try," said Vulkan before letting Enji leave U.A. High School in silence.

With any luck, Enji would at the very least have a proper closure to his strained relationship with his remaining family members.

-Later that day, at Ground Gamma…-

The Flameborn had built a surprisingly artistic shrine made of scrap metal in worship of the Emperor of Mankind with their creator, Nezuko, as his "penitent saint". In the lore of their budding faith, Nezuko was once a misguided soul who had accepted the corrupted powers of four evil gods of 'Ambition', 'Hatred', 'Pestilence' and 'Hedonism' before the Emperor saved her soul, along with the souls of her creations, from eternal damnation. They also believed that the best way to fully redeem Nezuko's soul was to be loyal servants of the Emperor and his chosen ones such as Midoriya Izuku and his former sons who had been turned into girls. The Flameborn also acknowledge the importance of Nezuko's companions, especially Shuuichi whom Nezuko had a crush even before getting corrupted by the four evil gods.

While most of the Flameborn had fallen asleep after a hard day to getting properly settled in, which included cleaning their new home, taking baths and receiving medical examinations, a small group of five Flameborn stayed awake to discuss about what they and the rest of their kind should do next. A Flameborn with brown fur, a pale-brown underbelly and a short mohawk of dark-brown fur on his head, spoke to the rest of his kin in the squeaking language of the Flameborn, 'Squeakish', "So, what should we do next-then?"

The second Flameborn, whose fur was brown with a stripe of black fur that covered his neck, back and shoulders like a cape, suggested, "Maybe we should speak-squeak to Nedzu-Principal." He was also larger and stronger-looking than most of his kind.

"Why not ask-inquire Izuku-Champion and former primarchs?" asked a female Flameborn whose fur was light-grey with a white underbelly.

"They're still students-pupils. Shouldn't hurt to ask-inquire though." said a Flameborn with light-brown fur and a dark patch of fur that covered the back of her head and back.

"We should get-give ourselves names too," suggested the Flameborn with a mohawk.

"Not a bad idea-thought," agreed a the grey-furred Flameborn. She then looked at the sleeping Flameborn around the group and sheepishly added, "That said, there are many-lots of us so it might take time-while."

"We have a long way-path ahead of us. We must work-stand together to thrive-live well-good," said the fifth Flameborn who had grey fur and an unusually bushy tip of pale fur on his muzzle to the point of resembling a moustache and a beard.

The other four Flameborn nodded in agreement with the elderly-looking Flameborn before they turned in to sleep for the night.

-On the following day, in Nedzu's office…-

"So, what can we do-try to help-assist?" asked the elderly-looking flameborn who had decided to name himself Eshin.

Nedzu hummed while rubbing his chin before he answered, "We could use your help to fully map the tunnel network that you and the rest of your kind made back when you were all still Vermin Spawn. We haven't been able to do much about it beyond blocking off the entrances and checking the areas closest to them."

As a hyper-intelligent animal, Nedzu was the only member of the staff in U.A. High School who could actually understand what the Flameborn were saying. Thankfully, the Flameborn had no problem understanding human speech though it probably had to do with their origins as Nezuko's creations.

Eshin nodded at Nedzu's response before he turned his attention towards the brown-furred Flameborn with a mohawk, who had named himself Mors, and asked, "Can you and your team help-assist the heroes, Mors?"

Mors nodded and said, "We can help-try but it will take time to finish-complete."

"Should my team and I lend-give our help-aid?" asked the strong-looking Flameborn who had named himself Ricter. "Enemies-foes may be using the tunnels-passages even as we speak-squeak."

Eshin rubbed his bushy chin and said, "It might be wise-prudent to expect trouble-conflict." He then turned his attention toward s Nedzu and asked, "Do you mind-oppose the idea-suggestion?"

Nedzu chuckled and said, "No, of course not. All I ask is that every Flameborn taking part in the expedition to map the tunnels to be careful."

"We have every intention-desire to stay safe-unharmed however possible," said Mors.

"Can my team and I help-assist in rebuilding-remaking?" asked the light-brown Flameborn who had named herself Skyrie.

"While I'm sure both Cementoss and Power Loader can take care of rebuilding and repairing everything here, I'm sure they won't mind a bit of extra help. Who knows, maybe you and your team can provide a bit of a new perspective in the matter," said Nedzu. He then asked, "You mentioned that you four are the representatives of the 'Council of Five' but I have yet to see your fifth member."

"About that, Seia has chosen-decided to stay behind. She wants to help-guide the youngest among us," answered Eshin who then added, "Not all the rats were adults when the 'corrupted change' overtook-mutated us."

Understanding the implications, Nedzu nodded and said, "I understand. If you want, I can offer a suggestion to the former Primarchs to let you and your kind use the Bloodline Sanctuary to pray."

Eshin smiled in his "mousy way" and replied, "I'm sure Seia would like-appreciate that very much." He then asked, "Speaking of the former primachs, how are they and Izuku-Champion doing-handling so far?"

"The former primarchs are fine. As for Midoriya-kun, he's managing the best he can. He is already receiving some counselling from Hound Dog about the past events, especially the loss of his former childhood friend and the act of killing Shuuichi," answered Nedzu.

Eshin nodded and asked, "Will if be presumptuous-impudent of us to go and ask him if he and the former primarchs need-require anything of us even if you're the principal-headmaster of this school?"

"No, not at all. All I ask is that you and the others let me know what you all have planned to do before starting anything," said Nedzu.

"Then I shall go and speak-squeak to them while the others do-complete their respective tasks-duties," said Eshin who then bowed to Nedzu and said, "Thank you for meeting-hearing us today, Nedzu-Principal."

"It is my pleasure," replied Nedzu.

-Meanwhile, at the Imperial Dorm…-

"So, how are the rest of you settling into your own dorm?" asked Magnus. Like the rest of the former Primarchs who have recently moved into U.A. High School, she had moved into the Imperial Dorm. More specifically, she had moved into the top fourth level of the dorm along with Gwalchavad, Fulgrim, Perturabo, Alpharius, Omegon and Mortarion.

Magnus' room was located between Gwalchavad and Fulgrim's respective rooms with Gwalchavad's room being next to the entrance of the floor. As for Perturabo, her room was opposite Gwalchavad's while Alpharius and Omegon opted to share a room together that was opposite Magnus' own room. Mortarion's room was opposite Fulgrim'm room.

Jin, who had moved into U.A. High School as a "villain on probation" along with Kenji, Danjuurou, Manami and Kaina, replied, "We're doing okay so far." Then, as usual, he contradicted himself, "The rooms are horrible!"

Danjuurou took a sip of his tea and said, "I must say, your tea-making skills are excellent, Midoriya-san."

Inko chuckled and said, "I had a bit of unexpected help in learning how to brew excellent tea."

Magnus raised an eyebrow at the memory she saw in Inko's mind and said, "Wait, that gluttonous drunkard actually taught you how to properly brew tea?"

"Well, she's been making meals for everyone in the dorm soon after she started staying here," replied Inko.

Perturabo huffed and said, "What's next? Dorn having a 'plushie addiction'?"

Inko suddenly snorted as she tried to stifle her laughter. Magnus' eye widened in shock at Inko's memory of Dorn's room and said, "No…"

While Perturabo was shocked to the point of being rendered dumb. Fulgrim grinned impishly and said, "Oh, this I have to hear!"

Inko was barely able to contain her laughter as she spoke, "She's been into making all kinds of fabrics, especially synthetic furs that are designed to be high-quality yet easy to wash."

"Oh, does that mean that I can request her to improve my suit then?" asked Danjuurou.

"And maybe make a cute plushie I can add to my room too?" asked Manami.

"You'll have to ask her but I'm sure she can make them if she's not too busy," answered Inko.

Kaina, who had been listening to the others speaking in stoic silence, spoke to Inko, "You're awfully comfortable for someone who's in the presence of people who have committed crimes, never mind the 'former criminal primarchs'."

Inko smiled knowingly at Kaina and said, "Well, I've been living with Curze and Angron for months now."

Kaina raised an eyebrow at Inko's reply before she allowed herself to smirk while replying, "Touché."

"It's a bit of a shame that all of you have to remain in probation for a few more days before everything is settled. I'm sure at least some of you would like to go out there and do something productive," said Inko.

"It can't be helped. Even those of us who have no official criminal record on this version of Terra have associated with people who have committed crimes in the past," said Omegon, who might actually be Apharius (Author's disclaimer: Magnus knows the correct answer but she does not see the need to confirm anything to anyone at the moment).

Alpharius, who might actually be Omegon, nodded and said, "Besides, Perturabo's remaining drones have already been integrated with Dorn's own drones to help with both security and reconstruction so it's not like we've done absolutely nothing to help."

Gwalchavad huffed bitterly and said, "Personally, I'd rather not be here."

"Why didn't you choose to leave then?" asked Inko.

"That's because, like it or not, I'm still needed here," replied Gwalchavad who then dourly added, "Also, though I loathe to admit it, my actions during the Great Crusade have contributed to the fall of the Imperium so I am required to atone for them before the Emperor will see fit to let me go."

Kenji, who was still wrapping her mind around the idea of the former primarchs being former demigod warriors from another universe, shook her head and said, "Even after learning the truth about your pasts, I still find it hard to believe it."

Kaina wore a deadpan expression and said, "How do you think I feel about this whole situation?"

Inko smiled as she continued to interact with the "villains on probation"…

-Later that evening…-

A religious ceremony took place as numerous Flameborn visited the Bloodline Chapel with permission from Nedzu and the former primarchs. The irony of letting the rodent-derived Flameborn worship the Emperor, albeit as an extremely powerful ancestral spirit rather than a creator-deity, was not lost to the former primarchs.

Seia, who had taken charge of handling all matters related to the Flameborn's faith, led the procession while holding a staff that bore a picture of Nezuko kneeling in repentant reverence to the Emperor.

While Seia and the other Flameborn prayed for the eventual redemption of their creator and their kind, Izuku, who was observing the ceremony with Eri, Karutoko, Oboro, Angron, Curze, Guilliman, Sanguinius, Lion and Vulkan, asked the former primarchs, "How will the Imperium react to seeing visions of this scene happening here?"

"There will certainly be disagreements, including those of the fanatically deadly variety, unfortunately, but the fact that the Flameborn ultimately revere the Emperor as the saviour of both their creator and their kind should keep things… relatively civil," said Guilliman.

Sanguinius nodded and said, "Even the most fanatical of the Ecclesiarchy will have to acknowledge the fact that the Emperor himself saw fit to bring salvation to both Nezuko's soul and her creations rather than simply smiting all of them to oblivion."

"There is also the fact that, mutations and acts of heresy aside, Nezuko is ultimately human so it can be argued that the Flameborn are, loosely speaking, 'man-made creations'," added Vulkan.

"Besides, it's not unheard of for useful non-humans to be tolerated at the very least," said Lion who thought about the "Watchers in the Dark" back in her original home world, Caliban.

Eri, who was sorely tempted to pet and hug at least one of the Flameborn, asked, "Will they be attending classes like the rest of us after school reopens?"

Guilliman raised an eyebrow at Eri's question and said, "That's… a fair question, actually." She then rubbed her chin as she spoke her thoughts aloud, "I Imagine that Nedzu is already making arrangements so that they would receive at least some level of formal education even as we speak though even I am unsure of the extent of it."

"Oh, I'm certain he is," said Oboro who could imagine that Nedzu would sooner eat his own tail than miss the chance to have non-humans attending U.A. High School.

Angron glanced at Curze and asked, "Anything you can tell us?"

Curze, who had already seen a future vision of the Flameborn, nodded and said, "Most of them will work as staff of the school but a few will become our classmates."

Eri's eyes shone as she asked, "Will they let me pet them?"

Curze smirked as she replied, "You'll find out soon enough."

Karutoko, who shared Eri's desire to hug and pet the Flameborn, grinned broadly as she spoke, "Sho, thwat's a 'hyes', thwen!"

-In the primarchs' original universe…-

When the Imperium first saw visions of Nezuko's Chaos-tainted creations, they expected the Emperor and his former sons to righteously smite them to the point of "xenocide". It was therefore rather shocking to many people in the Imperium that the Emperor had decided to instead purge the creations of their Chaos taint and then have them become essentially repentant servants not unlike "Sanctioned Xenos".

Though the Emperor's decisions were not to be questioned, many Imperial citizens could not help but wonder why he even deigned to spare the rat-derived creations, whose very existence was heretical, the destruction that they deserved. Still, the fact that the "purified creations", the Flameborn, were willing revere the Emperor as the saviour of both their kind and the spirit of their own creator mollified many Imperial loyalists. Only the most fanatically puritan among the Imperial citizens still regarded the Flameborn with open hatred.

Aside from the Flameborn, there were also the two Psykana Repentia who were former members of the League of Chaos Undivided, Oboro and Karutoko. Unlike the Flameborn, the people of the Imperium were more willing to tolerate the idea of them being spared if only because they were humans. At the very least, Oboro was never given a proper choice since he was already an enslaved corpse before he became a member of the League and Karutoko, while having more free will at the time when she first joined the league, had brain damage and was genuinely ignorant of the horrors that came with worshipping the Chaos Gods.

In spite of the general distrust towards the Flameborn, which was at least partly fuelled by generations of tragically justified xenophobia, there was one thing that many people in the Imperium could agree on: the Flameborn were more adorably endearing than most would expect from relatively large bipedal rodents. After all, it was not every day that a furry sapient non-human tried to peacefully communicate with a human through the use of drawings and pantomiming.

-End Chapter-

Author's Notes:

This is a relatively short chapter as I want to progress the story after such a long period of dormancy. This story will likely end before long but I want to at least cover a few more things before that happens.

Yes, we officially have Skaven-inspired OCs who are a lot more pleasant than their canon 'Warhammer Fantasy' counterparts. The OCs include"

lEshin - He has grey fur and an unusually bushy tip of pale fur on his muzzle to the point of resembling a moustache and a beard. He is the elder and leader-representative of the Flameborn's "Council of Five" who is also unusually proficient at stealth and combat.

lMors - He has brown fur, a pale-brown underbelly and a short mohawk of dark-brown fur on his head. He is skilled in planning and organising thus making him the head of logistics in the "Council of Five"

lRicter - He has brown fur with a stripe of black fur that covers his neck, back and shoulders like a cape. He is also larger and stronger than most Flameborn with an underlying streak of cunning thus making him the combat commander in the "Council of Five".

lSeia - She has light-grey fur with a white underbelly. She has an exceptionally strong link to Nezuko's soul thus making her the spiritual leader in the "Council of Five"

lSkyrie - She has light-brown fur and a dark patch of fur that covers the back of her head and back. She is skilled in making things from various materials thus making her the lead inventor in the "Council of Five".

Until next time, go beyond, plus ultra!