We'll Carry On: An Ochako Omnitrix Story - Volume 1

by Transwiththeplans

Ochako Uraraka finds herself unexpectedly taking on the mantle of the Omnitrix wielder from Ben Tennyson. As Ochako begins to explore the capabilities of the Omnitrix, she must also navigate the complex relationships and alliances, all while facing off against increasingly powerful enemies. Cover by @ZebraKnight1 on Instagram

123. The Future Is

I've decided to release this as a big ol' chapter because of some feedback and the fact I want this arc to be over already. I'll be real- this arc isn't the smash hit I thought it'd be. Maybe because I wanted to go so many directions and give so many characters cool moments, but I was so focused on the 1V1s that I didn't really dive into some group fights.

This arc is a mixed bag, since at the time of release, it seemed a lot more contained. Beyond Eri, a lot of elements didn't return until much later on, which is totally fine, but still a little confusing. The anime rectified some mistakes since it was a little more sizable and palettable with run time.

I'll give myself this; I avoided a pitfall I hate in MHA fan culture. Rescuing Eri ahead of the curve is borderline insane. I get it, skipping over the Overhaul arc is paramount, but you're losing a lot by doing so.

Next Week: It's Halloween, which means it's time for some 'spooky' stuff…and that means Toga takes spotlight.

Anyways, please enjoy this chapter. Here's the Discord: /cgFmXz3qJ5

---

Overhaul raised his hand, and a wave of destruction came towards Izuku, but he was too fast. Izuku moved quickly and gracefully to avoid the attack.

Ochako felt the heat build up within her, bubbling and boiling until it felt like her skin might ignite. With a fierce determination, she unleashed a barrage of compressed flame bursts from her fingers, palms, and the soles of her feet. The flames roared to life, igniting the air around her as she propelled herself towards Overhaul.

Overhaul raised his hand once more, but Ochako was ready. She twisted and turned in the air, evading his attacks with the same fluid grace as Izuku. The flames roared around her, enveloping her in a searing inferno that seemed to fuel her very soul. She could feel the heat radiating off her skin, and the force of the flames threatened to consume her entirely, but she refused to be beaten.

"None of you...NONE OF YOU can see the value in this!" Overhaul roared as he commanded his back limbs to fire off all they could at Ochako. He kept the flames burning hot for Izuku and focused all of his voltage on Ochako. Bolt after bolt of blue electricity raced towards her, but none found their mark. To any civilian that looked on, they might think it was some kind of accident with fireworks, but to those closer, who saw the buildings crumbling and the rampaging beast in the streets, they knew what was really happening. People were panicking, trying to evacuate their homes and call the police.

"All my research into her Quirk, it's produced MARVELS! With her extracted essence, I can finally realize my dream, a dream that goes far beyond your SELF-RIGHTEOUS PRATTLE! I'm not talking about rewinding on an individual level, I'm focused on a species-wide RESET! The so-called 'evolution' of Quirks? They're nothing but a plague! She has the power to restore humanity to its purest form, before Quirks EMERGED in our species! SHE REPRESENTS THE VERY POWER TO DESTROY THIS SOCIETY FOUNDED ON QUIRKS!" Overhaul preached as his assault continued.

Ochako gritted her teeth as she dodged and weaved through the barrage of attacks. The flames flickered and danced around her, but she refused to let them falter. She could feel the power surging through her, the heat and the fury of the flames fuelling her determination to stop Overhaul at all costs.

"You're crazy!" Izuku shouted as he darted in and out of Overhaul's attacks, his Blackwhip quirk flinging him across the battlefield with incredible speed and agility. "You can't destroy society like this! You can't just wipe out Quirks like they never existed!"

Overhaul laughed, a high-pitched, manic sound that sent chills down Ochako's spine. "You don't understand," he said, his voice laced with spite and hatred. "This isn't about destroying society. It's about saving it. Think about it! Look at what Quirks have done to us. Look at the chaos and destruction they've caused! It's time to start over. To reset! BACK TO ZERO!"

Ochako gritted her teeth as she dodged another wave of Overhaul's attacks. She knew they couldn't keep this up forever, but she couldn't let him win. As she closed in, she concentrated her power into her hands, forming a long, glowing sword. Overhaul's eyes widened as Ochako swung the sword at him, and raised his hand to block the attack, but Ochako's sword sliced through his limb like a hot knife through butter. He let out a cry of pain as his hand fell to the ground.

But the victory was short-lived. In a matter of seconds, the severed limb had grown back, good as new.

"What I don't get..." Ochako yelled. "Is the fact that you call quirks a sickness, yet use them yourself!"

Overhaul's expression twisted with rage. "This is different!" he spat. "My quirk is a tool, a means to an end. I'm using it to achieve a greater goal. But most people with quirks just use them for their own selfish desires. They cause chaos and destruction, and for what? To satisfy their own egos?"

Ochako shook her head, her grip tightening on her sword. "That's not true," she said, her voice firm. "Quirks can be used for good too. Look at all the heroes out there, risking their lives to protect others!"

"GLORY CHASERS!" Overhaul yelled. "THE LOT OF THEM! Hero society is a cesspool of corruption and greed! The heroes, the villains, they're all the same! They're just looking for fame and fortune, and they don't care who they hurt in the process! AT LEAST THE HASSAIKAI IS HONEST!"

"Honest?!" Izuku yelled, "What good is honesty when you're literally torturing and abusing a child to make bullets?!"

"You just don't understand," Overhaul said, shaking his head. "Your sicknesses have overridden all logic! The obsession with being a hero, all while failing to see the mortality rate of the job! We train children to die in battle, or maybe even before then! AND YOU SEE NO WRONG!? The only way to fix this broken world is to start over! To reset and rebuild without the plague of Quirks!"

Ochako felt the anger and frustration building up inside her as Overhaul continued to spew his twisted ideology. But as he fired another wave of energy at her, something inside her...

Snapped.

The sparks of rage inside her had finally exploded and seemed to drive Ben's successor forward. She could get determined, many of her previous fights had been proof enough of that, especially her bout with Bakugou during the Sports Fest, the fight that started it all. There were only a few times Ochako had gotten truly angry at her opponent, mainly if her opponent had been from the League or was otherwise truly apprehensible. Like Overhaul. In the blink of an eye, she was right in front of Overhaul, almost as if she had teleported. The yakuza boss blinked upon Ochako's sudden appearance, and before he could even react, the flames surrounding the Omnitrix's new wielder grew hotter and hotter before she fired them out at point blank range. While it wasn't enough to kill Overhaul, the yakuza boss was still sent flying like he'd been hit with a round of buckshot from a shotgun.

"U-uraraka?" Izuku asked, confused. She didn't answer, her focus purely on taking down this so-called savior of humanity.

"You think some desperpate second wind will make a difference?! You're just proving my POINT!" Overhaul yelled. His electric arms focused their voltage together, forming up a massive, sparking orb. He reared back his arms and then threw the orb right at Ochako.

As soon as Ochako smacked the Omnitrix, her fiery rage transformed into a shower of sparks. Her body suddenly became coated with electricity as Shock Rock replaced Heatblast. To keep herself afloat, 'repulsors' appeared on the soles of her rocky feet to keep her midair. The orb collided with Ochako, but instead of wiping her out, she absorbed the energy with ease.

"Was that supposed to do something?" Ochako asked, as she returned fire. She held her hands out, and began firing massive, oversized knives. FULMINI FORGE!

Overhaul just growled and brought up his two larger arms, letting the rocky patches of armor tank the hits from the knife constructs. His lower two arms then arched under his still defending ones and began heating up, ready to fire out a stream of pure heat. Before they could though, two black tendrils wrapped around both arms and yanked them down, forcing the mutated yakuza to fire his attack into the concrete below. The criminal's gaze shifted over to see Izuku, back on his feet.

The crime lord growled before ripping his flaming limbs free of Blackwhip. With them, he focused a barrage of fireballs on Ochako while lightning leapt from Overhaul's back before it tried to strike down All Might's successor. The two heroes easily managed to evade damage from the two separate attacks, with Izuku using Blackwhip and his own reflexes to pull himself out of the way, while Ochako summoned up a sword of energy and cleaved through the fireballs sent her way.

"So what was that about a second wind not making a difference?" Ochako taunted.

Overhaul wasn't having any of this right now. He was going to kill these brats, take Eri, and get away. Sure, his dream would be put on hold for a bit, but he was patient. If he waited this long, he could wait a little longer. A year or two, maybe five at the most extreme. Just let the people think of him as a famous unsolved urban legend.

As bolts of lightning dropped from the sky, Izuku raced through them and quickly closed the distance to Overhaul. Chisaki looked down to see All Might's pupil buidling up power, green trails of energy leaping off his body. Izuku suddenly leapt into the air, leaving behind a crater where he once stood, and landed a powerful uppercut to the yakuza's chin. The punch came with a powerful burst of air, the force and burst combined carried enough power to send the mutated criminal skyward.

As Overhaul soared through the air, Ochako and Izuku launched themselves skyward in pursuit, their attacks coming in a blur of fire and electricity. The yakuza boss tried to counter their assault, but he was outnumbered and outmatched.

Izuku's Blackwhip whipped at Overhaul at all angles, restraining him and preventing him from attacking. Meanwhile, Ochako's electric attacks crackled around him, striking him from all sides and forcing him to dodge and weave to avoid being hit. Despite his best efforts, Overhaul was taking serious damage from the duo's coordinated attacks. His clothes were singed and torn, his skin blistered and burned. But he refused to give up, refused to let these young heroes defeat him.

The massive form that surrounded Overhaul's main body exploded into pieces of fleshy matter, freeing himself from the bindings of Blackwhip. His main form was what remained, his arms and legs having been deconstructed in the process. He took the flesh and reformed it into a pair of burly arms and legs, complete with To'kustar fins and Gimlinopithecus fur. Overhaul's eyes glowed with pure electricity, the power accumulating to the point of destroying his own limbs.

"A pair of pathetic little would-be heroes, driven by emotions, reaching out for whatever petty sense of justice they can stumble onto," Overhaul growled, "HAVE NO HOPE OF STOPPING ME!"

The two heroes suddenly raced past Overhaul, the sheer force of their passing enough to shatter his newly formed arms like pottery.

Overhaul roared in frustration and pain as he was left momentarily helpless in the air. But he was not one to be underestimated. With a furious snarl, he focused his power and unleashed a massive burst of electricity, aiming it directly at the two heroes.

Ochako flew straight into the oncoming burst of electricity, her body taking the full brunt of the attack. At first, it seemed like she was going to be overwhelmed by the sheer force of it, but then something strange began to happen. The electricity started to flow into her body, and as it did, she felt a surge of power unlike anything she had ever experienced before.

The energy flooded into the Omnitrix, feeding her, making her stronger with each passing second. The more power Overhaul unleashed, the more she absorbed, until she was practically crackling with energy.

Ochako was about to fly further even more...but then she unexpectedly transformed.

Into Four Arms.

Ochako blinked, before she started to plummet to the ground.

"KYAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The yakuza could smile to himself as he saw the girl fall. His arms quickly reformed, bolts of black lightning jolting across them. At this point, Overhaul's rage had surpassed its breaking point. Insult after insult came from these two, these two no-name would-be pros, one of which he literally killed not a few minutes ago. And then she just came back, nullifying the very purpose of his power! When it comes to people like Overhaul, who thrive on control and domination, an even bigger threat than someone challenging your control is someone providing proof that your control is meaningless.

"Why won't you DIE?!" Overhaul roared before grabbing hold of Ochako in one of his giant clawed hands. The black bolts sparked across his forearms before a powerful current surged into the new Omnitrix's user. A sick grin spread across the yakuza's face. The mask merged with his face made said grin even creepier as stitches strained against the grin.

"GAHHHHHH!" Ochako screamed out. Her electrocution didn't last long though.

"Hold on, Eri!" Izuku warned the girl before he fired out two heavy stands of Blackwhip to form a makeshift slingshot. He pulled back on them and launched himself at Overhaul, fist reared back and ready to connect. Instead of the mobster's actual face or even the husk's head, the following Smash was aimed at the To'kustar headfin the monstrous form sported. That fin was quite the sensitive part of the cosmic giant's biology so getting a full-powered Smash to that thing would cause immense pain. Said pain jolted Overhaul's system, forcing him to release Ochako and worry about reforming the fin.

Wobbling unsteadily, Ochako tried to gather her thoughts as she regained her breath.

What the hell happened when I absorbed all that energy? Ochako thought, as the Omnitrix flashed again. Suddenly, she was Gravattack. "I transformed again...did all that energy break the limiter or something?"

Izuku, meanwhile, was dealing as much damage to Overhaul as he could. He used Blackwhip to propel himself around, avoiding each and every one of Overhaul's lumbering physical attacks. Full-powered punches landed and shattered parts of the hulking form the gangster had formed around himself.

"You asked why we won't die?" Izuku asked, before delivering a devestating punch to the constructed torso that Overhaul had. He gasped in pain before trying to smack away Izuku like the fly the mobster saw him as, only for gravity itself to turn against him. His lumbering arm was suddenly burdened with several thousand more pounds of pressure, courtesy of Ochako's walking planetoid of an alien form. With just a litle bit more applied, something in the flesh construct snapped and that borrowed arm fell away from Overhaul's kaiju-sized form.

"Because how could we die," Ochako began before swapping out to Spidermonkey and firing a webline to Overhaul's shoulder, quickly reeling herself over and changing mid-flight into Diamondhead, morphing her hands into two giant crystal hammers, "Without even saving one little girl that's right in front of us?!"

CLANG! CLANG! Both hammers connected, making Overhaul stagger a bit, growling in pain. Before he could fully recover, both heroes were in front of him, fists reared back.

"How can we be heroes who save everyone if we can't even save one?!" both of them shouted. Their fists connected at the same time, resulting in a powerful double uppercut that, by some miracle, didn't absolutely evaporate the crime-lord's entire lower jawbone. The sheer force of the impact did, however, loosen the straps and sent that beaked mask, that symbol of Overhaul's villainous persona, flying off his face.

Izuku locked eye contact with Overhaul, seeing his eyes filled with rage and pain, but something else was there too, something new: fear. For the first time since his encounter with the two heroes, Kai Chisaki felt a sense of true dread.

As he fell back to the ground, his body wracked with pain and his mind filled with fear, Overhaul knew that his reign was over. The monstrous form of Overhaul landed with a thunderous crash.

Ochako (who morphed into Big Chill) flew down to where Overhaul lay on the ground, still writhing in pain from Izuku's attack. She stood over him, disgusted with what this..thing was.

"You're the worst thing humanity has to offer." Ochako frowned. "Evil that doesn't know it's evil is worse than any 'disease'."

"Tell yourself that...when your little friend there..." Overhaul coughed, a defiant grin coming to his face, but he couldn't finish. It looked like the wear from the battle finally took its toll on him, unconsciousness seemingly taking him.

Izuku landed on the ground shortly after, his breathing heavy.

"Eri...are you...ok?" Izuku asked between breaths. The little girl gave a quick nod, which put a sense of relief into All Might's successor. But that relief was quickly overtaken by pain. Izuku's eyes began to glow, not with the power of his Quirk, but Eri's. Yellow energy burst out around him, almost like a mane of lightning surrounding his head. Eri's eyes went wide with fear as she realized what was happening and, while the words caught in her throat, she was mentally screaming.

No no no no no no no! Eri thought to herself. Ochako looked over in shock, eyes going wide as she pieced together what the crime lord was about to say. But she wasn't going to let him be right. Suddenly though, the yakuza stirred back to life with a roar and stretched out his hand. With what power he had left, black lightning formed into an orb of energy in the middle of his palm before he fired it out towards the two, hoping to fry both Eri and the annoying little gnat that had broken his empire.

Ochako suddenly stepped in front of the attack, and morphed again...

Into Upchuck.

One quick unhinging of her jaw wiped that pretty smile off of Overhaul's face.

"Chew on this." Ochako quipped, before she spit it back out. The massive 'energy loogie' slammed into Overhaul, immediately ripping his body into pieces. The chunks of flesh thudded to the floor before Chisaki himself hit the pavement.

Small trails of smoke rose off of Chisaki's blasted form as Ochako put all of her attention on Izuku.

Izuku's body convulsed as the energy surged through him, causing him to cry out in pain. The yellow lightning continued to crackle around him, and Ochako could see the fear in Eri's eyes growing with each passing moment.

"W-where the heck is Eraserhead!?" Ochako yelled.

---

Rewinding a bit, to when the fight with Overhaul was still fresh. Ochako hadn't yet gotten involved when both Chrono and Eraserhead had vanished from the battlefield. The white-hooded aide tossed the still slowed Aizawa onto the floor of another hidden room in the Hassaikai base. Chrono had taken the combat knife that Aizawa had on him in case of dire situations.

"Where...am I?" Aizawa muttered.

"VIP room," Chrono said, "Erasure Hero, Eraser Head. We know quite a bit about you. Who better to use as reference for our plan than the original 'Quirk nullifier?'"

Aizawa tried to move, but his body was still acting in slow-motion.

"Yeah, that's not happening," Chrono scoffed, "You still got about a little under an hour left, old man. But there is a reason I took you alive. Quirks that target Quirks...those hold value to Overhaul. I understand that you're worried about the others, your comrades out there fighting my master, my friend. They won't succeed. When he's got his mind set on something, impossible to talk him out of it, that's just the kind of man he is," Chrono explained.

Chrono listened to the pandemonium above, a sigh escaping his lips. It had persisted for far too long now. It's dragging on, Kai should have wiped them out by now... I've seen how fiercely he guards the integrity of our syndicate, his unwavering devotion...

He glanced at Aizawa.

"...if Kai somehow loses, his sacrifice won't be in vain. We still possess the finished project and serum." Chrono muttered. "But...I can't waste any more time observing you." He brandished his blade, a malicious grin spreading across his face.

"This is for our organization! And for Kai-!" Chrono screamed, thrusting the knife downwards.

Before the blade could get anywhere near Aizawa, a thinner one struck and pierced Chrono's arm. His eyes widened in pain and he was forced to drop the knife, letting it clattering harmlessly on the floor. He looked up, following the length of the blade back to its wielder and...wait. This wasn't a normal sword. This was a...marlin? A...a swordfish? Despite the confusion, Chrono was forced into a corner when he remembered, oh yeah, there's still a person holding that swordfish. Amijiki stood triumphantly in the doorway to the room, his left hand having morphed into the upper body of a swordfish. Mirio was leaning on his friend's shoulder for support and several police officers were behind the hybridizing hero with their guns trained on Overhaul's aide.

"Hari Kurono, villain name Chronostasis," Amijik listed off, "I wouldn't bother with resisting."

"And what's...to stop me from using my other-" Chrono began, but froze in fear when he realized that he lost all feeling in most of his body.

"Octopus poison. Just enough to keep you from moving," Amijiki answered.

Chrono grit his teeth, as Amajiki stared at him with cold, unfeeling eyes. However, those eyes quickly regained life as someone approached the police group.

"Amajiki!" Nejire yelled.

Nejire rushed up to the group, her hair frizzed out and wild from the chaos of the fight. "Amajiki, are you okay? And Mirio?" she asked, worry etched on her face.

"We're alright," Amajiki replied, his voice calm and collected despite the adrenaline still pumping through his veins.

Nejire breathed a sigh of relief, but then remembered why she had come. "Eraserhead! We need your help with Eri! There's no time to explain!"

"Can't...move," Aizawa said, "Chrono's...Quirk..."

"Oh! Slow-mo!" Nejire said, "Nejire Express then!"

The spiral hero raced in and picked Aizawa off the ground, letting the U.A teacher lean on her and together, they raced back up topside.

"What...the...hell...is...going...on-?" Aizawa asked.

"Okay! So, like! Ochako and Izuku went crazy on Overhaul, and Ochako's Heatblast form started shooting electricity-" Nejire recapped.

"I...meant...with...Eri..." He frowned.

"Oh, right! So, Eri's Quirk was activated, she used it on Izuku and it's gone out of control! It's like, causing him to overload or something, and she's in danger too!" Nejire explained, her words tumbling out in a rapid stream.

Aizawa's eyes widened in alarm.

"Fast...er."

"Going as fast as I can!" Nejire said, racing back to the surface with Aizawa in tow. When the Erasure Hero got up there, he saw the sheer amount of energy being given off by Eri's Quirk, the yellow energy storm centered on herself and Izuku. He closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them again, the signature red gleam of his Quirk dominating the color.

Above ground, confusion reigned supreme. The heroes stood aghast as Izuku writhed in agony, his screams piercing through the air. Ochako had returned to her human form, her body trembling and weak.

C-crap...that new power has...one hell of a drawback! Ochako grunted. I...I need to help Izuku!

"She...she overused her power..." Nighteye muttered, a sense of dread gripping his heart. "No..."

"What!? What's going on!?" Monoma shouted, his voice full of panic.

"This...this is the timeline where..." Nighteye's words were cut off by a violent coughing fit. "They both perish."

"What?!"

They both...they both die? Sir's futures have...he's always said that they're predetermined. But for once...just -this- once, I hope its not true. Don't let -this- be where your performances end, Midoriya, Uraraka, Monoma thought to himself.

Ochako stumbled forward, the exhaustion from her previous transformation evident on her face. She gritted her teeth and forced herself to keep moving towards Izuku. She reached out to grab him.

"Izuku! Hang on! I'm going to try to help...somehow..." She said, her voice trembling.

She had no idea what she was doing- maybe she hoped the pain would transfer to her, or that maybe the Omnitrix could help. But as soon as she made contact with him, a shock of electricity surged through her body, causing her to cry out in pain and fall to the ground next to him.

The good news was that she was right, the pain jolted and jumped to her from Izuku. The bad news was that Izuku continued to writhe around in pain.

No...please NO! DON'T LET THEM DIE! PLEASE! Eri mentally screamed.

Ochako could feel her own body painfully react to the power of Rewind, muscles contracting and spasming in sympathy with his pain. It was like a burning, searing fire had been lit inside her, spreading through every limb and organ until it consumed her completely. Tears streamed down her face, mixing with sweat as she struggled to stay upright. She wanted to do something, anything to help, but she was frozen in place, trapped in her own body as it echoed the agony of her friend's.

And just when it seemed like the pain was about to reach its breaking point, where Ochako and Izuku would scream bloody murder to the heavens, the pain...stopped. The energy storm from Eri vanished in an instant, as if snapped out of reality. The little girl's horn, the indicator of her power, had shrunk down to nothing more than a bump on her forehead, barely visible. Whatever amount of immense power she just exerted, it took a physical toll as well, she was out like a light.

"It...it stopped?" Izuku asked, almost expecting the pain to start up again like some cruel joke.

Ochako felt relief wash over her, the intense pain in her body finally subsiding. But it was replaced with a feeling of deep exhaustion, as if all the energy had been drained out of her. Her limbs felt heavy, her breathing labored as she struggled to stay upright. It was as if she had been through a marathon of pain and now the finish line was in sight.

Ochako felt her legs give out beneath her, her body suddenly too weak to support itself. She collapsed, her head spinning and her stomach churning with nausea. She felt a strong arm wrap around her, holding her steady, and looked up to see Izuku's concerned face looking down at her.

"Ryukyu! We need medical up here, stat!" Nejire called back down into the hole, "They're alive, but they are messed up!"

"And Overhaul?" the dragon hero asked back, starting to climb out of the pit.

"Unconscious!"

"...they're...alive?" Nighteye repeated, the shock VERY evident in his voice. As grim as it was to say...that shouldn't be possible. He saw the outcomes, all of them ended in death for the heroes and escape for the villain. But...but the opposite had happened. The heroes had...won and Overhaul was defeated. But...why? Why didn't he see it? If this was a possibility, if it was a card in the deck of fate, then why didn't he see it?

Did...did these two somehow break the chains of fate? Impossible. There...was no way...something like that was...

"We...we did it?" Ochako asked.

"We did. We...we saved her," Izuku huffed with a smile.

Ochako gave a few deep breaths, and closed her eyes.

"Awesome." She said, with a small smile...and then she felt something squeeze her body.

Izuku hugged Ochako tightly, tears streaming down his face. He was so relieved, so happy that she was alive and breathing. He could feel her body tremble with the force of his embrace, but he couldn't bring himself to let go. He didn't want to let go.

"You're alive," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "You're here. You're not...you're not dead."

"So...so are you," Ochako smirked, the words coming out a bit awkward, but she didn't care. As if her body moved on its own, her arms wrapped around Izuku and returned the embrace.

...the two were just sort of awkwardly hugging in the middle of the battlefield. Overhaul's knocked out body laid defeated before them.

This was one hell of a power move.

Suddenly, another person joined in on the hug, wrapping his arms around both Izuku and Ochako in a tight bearhug. It was Tetsutetsu.

"What the- Tetsutetsu, what are you doing?!" Izuku exclaimed, surprised by the sudden intrusion.

"I couldn't help it, man! This is such a touching moment, I had to get in on it!" Tetsutetsu admitted. "YOU GUYS SURVIVED!"

"Y-yeah, we did," Ochako chuckled nervously, "B-but um...lighten your grip? Not...at my most durable, right now. Might break something, ehehe..."

Tetsutetsu released the two and took a step back, still grinning. "Sorry about that. Got a little carried away, hahaha." Ochako leaned on Izuku for some support.

Izuku rubbed the back of his head, a bit flustered. "It's alright. Glad to see you're okay too."

"You guys...were...insane." Tetsutetsu said. "From down here, it looked like a Dragon Ball fight!"

"Heh...there's a power scale question for you. Who'd win, Goku or All Might?" Ochako quipped.

"I know...I know you're messing with me," Izuku smirked, "and I am...too tired to answer. Ask me again after I sleep."

Nighteye closed his eyes. They fought hard- I almost forgot they're still just children... He could hear sirens in the distance.

"Oh."

"Sir?"

"...nothing."

"U-uravity!" Monoma called up, "After...that final act, I'd hate to impose, but Sir might need your help! Moving him might be a bit...difficult as it is!"

"Yeah, sure. I can do that," Ochako said, limping over. Ochako approached Nighteye, her eyes widening as she took in the severity of his injuries. Ochako was so focused on attacking Overhaul, that she overlooked Nighteye's injuries. She had never seen someone so badly hurt before. The hole through his chest was...

"O-oh, my god." Ochako muttered.

Nighteye weakly opened his eyes and looked up at Ochako. "It's...alright. Don't worry about me," He said with a strained smile. "I've...had paperwork that's worse."

As Ochako helped Nighteye, Albedo came out of the pit. He approached them with a sorrowful expression. "I'm... sorry. I couldn't contribute much in that fight. My heart... it got the best of me," He said, bowing his head in shame.

Nighteye gave a small smile. "It's alright... You did your best. Besides, your concern for Ochako here... you did see her die... I can't fault you for that..."

Ambulances were quick to arrive once the all clear was given. It made sense, honestly, as Izuku and Ochako had both seen some of them at the police headquarters before they made their first move. Stretchers were brought out for heroes and villains alike. Overhaul was placed on a medical stretcher and restrained before he was loaded onto a police medical transport, basically an ambulance with the protections of an armored car. The heroes knew where that car would take him, Tartarus.

As for Sir, he was put under anesthetic and carefully loaded aboard an ambulance. Ochako and Izuku, despite how adamant they were, were refused permission by the doctors to come with him. Albedo and Ryukyu, on the other hand, did give them permission to follow and wait for news in the hospital waiting room. Once their own injuries were taken care of, of course.

Now, out of everyone present in the raid, Monoma's injuries were the least intensive. Sure he took a few hits from Rappa and Twice, but in comparison to what the Class 1-A students had just gone through, he was fine. Physically, anyway. While Ochako and Izuku found themselves in the care of medical pros, getting some of the tension off of Ryukyu's and Albedo's shoulders, the two heroes couldn't help but notice how...quiet Monoma was.

"Monoma, right?" Ryukyu asked as she approached the 1-B student.

Monoma seemed lost in his thoughts, staring off into the distance with a distant look in his eyes. He didn't seem to register Ryukyu's presence at first, as if he was lost in his own world.

Ryukyu gently touched his shoulder, trying to get his attention. "Monoma? Are you okay?"

Monoma blinked, as if snapping out of a trance, and turned to Ryukyu with a slightly bewildered expression. "...I...I want to go to the hospital." Monoma muttered, voice small.

"Huh?" Ryukyu asked.

"...I need to go with Nighteye." Monoma said. "I...I need to say goodbye."

Ryukyu slowly realized what he meant.

"...you didn't..." Albedo realized.

"I did. I...I copied his power...when we were down there..." Monoma said, "And I...I..."

Albedo could see the tears welling up.

To put things into Monoma's own stage lingo, he got a sneak peak at the final act and it was perhaps the most tragic scene he'd ever seen.

…for now.

---

Several incognito police cars were driving down the road as fast as they could without giving away that they were onto something. Taking up the front vehicle were three Pros who had all volunteered to aid a special police task force. With all the recent events, especially the Summer Camp attack and the following disaster that was the Kamino Incident, the powers that be decided to take a more active role in hunting the League of Villains down. Naomasa Tsukauchi was put in charge of an entire specialized task force with the single purpose of hunting down the League. With a few favors called in here and there, he managed to assemble the three Heroes with him. Taken from the OmniWorks agency were the two Plumbers Helpers, Pierce and Cooper. Cooper had been at the agency for a bit longer than Pierce, but the younger helper was already set up for quite the prosperous future. The older Pro, who'd taken the passenger seat, was none other than Gran Torino.

The older hero looked down at the photo in his hand, looking it over with a discerning eye. That wispy shadow-like body with glowing yellow eyes was unsettling to see, even in just a photo. Kurogiri, like the rest of the League, had done a fine job at keeping a low profile. But then, a few days ago, he was rumored to be have been spotted in the Haibori woods.

"Eyewitness reports, eh?" Torino asked.

"Four reports in two days," Tsukauchi nodded as he drove.

"So deep into the mountains and with barely another soul around..."

"Which makes the reports all the more reliable."

"But why? If what the reports and what All Might told me are true, Kurogiri should be hiding in whatever hole Shigaraki's hunkered down in. Look at how far out from civilization we are. Speaking of which, you sure it was a wise idea to bring a tech-based Quirk out here?"

"Just because we're not *surrounded by it, doesn't mean I can't use my powers to the fullest," Cooper spoke up, "Besides, found a work around for that limit ages ago."

"Sorry, kid. Just...something's still not sitting right with me."

"It's his Quirk, isn't it?" Pierce asked.

"Caught on quick," Torino complimented, "His Quirk should be perfect for secrecy. Warp Gate's the name if I recall. With that, he should be in and out without even a hint that he was there."

"And you said he was seen *four times, Officer Tsukauchi?"

"Just Tsukauchi. No need for the formalities. But...yeah, four times. Each time, all on his own too," the detective added, "We might not understand their motives and, frankly, we don't have the time to figure them out. When a pattern like this presents itself for such an elusive target, you don't let it pass you by. This might be our one shot of catching Kurogiri. We *have* to make this work. That's why we're counting on you three."

"Gonna be tricky, but that doesn't mean impossible," Cooper smirked confidently.

"Detective, have you no shame? Working an old man like me to the bone?" Gran Torino chuckled.

Not even twenty minutes had passed after the main group arrived that a report came in from one of the scouting parties that had been sent ahead in advance.

"This is Green Squad calling in. Suspect spotted heading due west from our location on foot. Repeat, heading due west on foot. Suggest sending in the Pros now before he's able to activate his Quirk, over," the officer radioed in, his tone hushed so as not to attract the attention of their target.

There it is again. He has a Quirk perfect for traversal and yet he's trudging through the woods like he's on a camping trip, Torino mentally mused. Curiouser and curiouser.

"Right. So, newbloods, think you can keep up?" Gran Torino asked.

"Might go just a little slower so Pierce can keep up," Cooper joked as he lowered a pair of goggles over his eyes. He turned a few dials on his belt, boots, and gloves, activating the tech within.

"How considerate of you. Letting me get to have a piece of the action," Pierce rolled his eyes and shot two large spines out from his arms and into the ground. He then yanked the two projectiles out of the soil and spun them in his hands like makeshift swords.

"Then let's get this over with," Gran Torino nodded. Without even the smallest form of build-up, the senior Pro leapt into the air like a freshly fired bullet and began bouncing from tree to tree with his Quirk. Pierce dashed ahead while the anti-grav projectors in Cooper's boots whirred to life, sending him flying through the air as well. Despite what would seem to be quite the large gap in speed between the three of them, they were all able to keep up with their teammates. Gran Torino looked over his shoulder to see Cooper in the air behind him and Pierce on the ground below.

Tennyson training sure is something, isn't it? the elder Pro chuckled.

With the speed they were all going at, it wasn't long before they saw the sharply dressed shadow-man walk through the forest at a leisurely pace. He stopped for a moment and then turned on a dime, just as Gran Torino launched himself off of a nearby tree. The bartender of the League's eyes widened and he quickly began focusing on creating a getaway gate.

"Like we'd let you!" Cooper shouted from behind Torino. He held out his right hand and unleashed a powerful flash of light, similar in strength to a military flashbang. Kurogiri shut his eyes, his concentration obliterated. With his target blinded, Gran Torino launched himself right at the malicious mixologist and slammed into him with a powerful clothesline move. Kurogiri let out a small scream of pain before he thudded to the dirt below.

He must not know!* Kurogiri mentally realized. The shady barman believed that Gran Torino thought it was only his head that could create his warp gates, when in reality his hands were able to generate them as well.

At least, he believed that for a few seconds before Pierce ran in and jabbed the twin spines into Kurogiri's hands. The bartender's heart sank for a moment as he realized he'd been pinned.

"Judging by the look on your face, I'd say I got scarily close to hitting your real body. Hard to tell where you are with all that smoke," Pierce said. Kurogiri just looked at him with narrowed eyes, as if to silently say "Like I believe that's sincere."

"So, finally get to meet, Kurogiri of the League of Villains," Torino spoke up.

"Gran Torino...a little old for field missions, aren't you?" Kurogiri hissed.

"On a regular basis, sure. But I'm stil a Pro, so when I'm called on, I won't say no. Like today and finally putting away the most troublesome member of the League. Without you, taking out Shigaraki and his cohorts won't take long at all."

Tsukauchi and several other officers raced to the scene with their weapons draw.

"Be careful, he can-!" the detective began.

"Relax. Already got him pinned," Pierce reassured.

"And if he tries something anyway, I'll just grab hold and accelerate. If you've got somewhere to be, I can tag along. Been wanting to travel more, but it is a bit much for my old bones," Gran Torino taunted the downed villain. Tsukauchi and three other officers then closed in on Kurogiri to try and clamp in irons.

But then the League's bartender spoke up.

"Am I not allowed some final words before you wisk me away to Tartarus?" Kurogiri asked.

"Like anything you say'll matter now," Pierce scoffed.

"So be it. The wild man."

"Come again?" Torino asked.

"There are stories of a wild man living in these woods. More and more of such tales have made their way out of the treeline recently...a few too many. It brings such unwanted attention. It's not his fault, of course. It simply can't be helped. But I have business with the Wild Man of Habiori."

"You can tell us all about it from inside your cell," Cooper said.

"I'm afraid you misunderstand. Despite being called a 'wild man,' he actually has an impeccable sense of timing. I've been rather punctual over the past four days...and when I'm late by even a few seconds, he'll come looking for me."

THOOM!

The earth suddenly shook.

THOOM!

"The hell is that?" Tsukauchi muttered.

THOOM!

"You seem to have forgotten something, Gran Torino. Even after all these years, he has never stopped looking to the future," Kurogiri said, his eyes changing shape ever so slightly as if to indicate a smirk.

"He? You mean..." Gran Torino trailed off as he began to realize.

In Kurogiri's head, he could hear the words of his master so clearly. The advice had been in the front of his mind for days now.

"Should the unfortunate happen and I ever find myself, shall we say, indisposed, then you will be Tomura's only protection. During that time, if doubt and unease plague you, there is one you may rely on. My oldest disciple..." The words of All for One rang in Kurogiri's mind.

THOOM! THe thunder vibrations were getting closer and closer to the scene, but along with the cracking of wood and trampling of earth, there was another sound. There was a voice, seemingly that of a reporter. It didn't belong to whatever was approaching, but rather, its origin was the radio strung around its neck.

"Officers and Heroes, you seem to be under the impression that Tomura was the only 'child' that my master raised. There was another."

THOOM!

The officers and Pro heroes alike all looked up in shock as a truly gargantuan figure with tan brown skin lumbered into view. They were as tall as the many trees that made up this forest, their hand resting on a tree and making it look like the handle of a broom by comparison. Their brown hair was spiked up and their eyes were completely white, but they weren't blind. Parts of their body almost seemed rock-like, giving them the impression of a walking mountain, and their lower canine teeth protruded out of his mouth on either side. Aside from the portable radio turned necklace, the only other clothing he wore was a pair of black pants.

"This is one of his most loyal, one of his most faithful. This...is Gigantomachia," Kurogiri introduced.

"All...I do..." Gigantomachia slowly bellowed, "Is...for...my MASTER!"

The giant raised his fist into the air.

"Everyone, get clear!" Torino warned, before the massive mountain of a strike made impact. When the giant's fist slammed into the ground, the resulting shockwave and thundering tremor was enough to uproot multiple trees. With quick thinking on the parts of the heroes, the other officers were pushed out of the way in time. Torino had grabbed Tsukauchi and another officer, pulling them away from the epicenter of the attack. Cooper had used another function of his gloves to protect the others. Pierce, however, was thrown back by the massive impact and his spines keeping Kurogiri in check had been removed. The shadowy League member leapt to his feet and held out his hand, creating a warp gate behind Pierce. While this tactic failed on All Might, he had no doubts that Pierce would fall victim to this little portal bisection.

Unfortunately for Shigaraki's guardian, Pierce wouldn't be so easy to get rid of. The Plumber's Helper stabbed two more of his spines into the ground, stopping himself at the very edge of the portal. Kurogiri sighed and simply thrust his fist through a newly created warp gate, punching his opponent in the back.

"Are dirty tricks all you know?" Pierce growled.

"You say 'dirty,' I merely say 'efficient and tactical,'" Kurogiri countered.

---

The hospital was bustling with activity, doctors and nurses rushing to and fro as the injured heroes were brought in. Izuku, still in his hero costume, was quickly whisked away for a thorough physical examination. Albedo took charge of Ochako's case. He carefully examined her body with a strange-looking scanner, his eyes widening in amazement.

"Incredible," Albedo murmured, his voice tinged with awe. "Not one nucleotide out of place. Not one difference- you seem to be unharmed."

Ochako, still reeling from the events of the battle, looked at him with curiosity mixed with confusion. "What happened to me, exactly?"

Albedo continued his explanation in his typically clinical manner. "Well, from what I can gather," he said, folding his arms and looking at the scanner results. "When Monoma 'resuscitated' you, the Omnitrix rebooted itself and activated the user preservation interface. It then turned you into a Petrosapien due to the nature of your Crystalsapien form."

"Okay, I get that...but why didn't I turn back into Chromastone?" Ochako asked.

Albedo paused.

"...well?" Ochako was getting nervous.

Albedo took a deep breath. "I'm...afraid that form was destroyed."

Ochako's heart skipped a beat. "Destroyed? How...how is that possible?"

Albedo looked down, avoiding Ochako's gaze. "When you were struck by Overhaul's attack, the attack also affected the transformation itself. Chromastone's DNA sample was obliterated."

"I...I see," Ochako said.

"It was a heavy cost- the Crystalsapien DNA sample gave up its life for yours, I suppose. It checks out with the lore." Albedo hummed.

"Lore?" Ochako repeated.

"You see, the Crystalsapiens are an ancient species from the planet Petropia. There's only one Crystalsapien in existence. Their name was Sugilite." Albedo explained. "Sugilite is the guardian of Petropia, and it possesses the power to breathe 'life' into things, essentially bringing them to life or repairing them. It's a power that's unique to Sugilite, and it's not fully understood by others, including myself. The lore surrounding the Crystalsapiens and their abilities is hazy at best, and it's difficult to determine the exact extent of their powers."

Ochako listened intently, trying to wrap her head around the concept. "So...when Monoma revived me with the Omnitrix, Chromastone's DNA sample sacrificed itself to restore my body?"

"It's a...unique occurrence, to say the least." Albedo said.

"...wow." Ochako frowned.

"I know this is a lot to take in, but, believe me...this is a miracle." Albedo said. "But right now...I have something else to focus on." Albedo motioned for Ochako to follow him out of the room.

Ochako and Albedo followed the corridor until they ran into Izuku, Blake, and Aizawa were walking down.

"Well?" Ochako asked, unable to contain her curiosity.

"I'm fine," Izuku said with a small smile. "Just some bruises, nothing serious."

"Good to hear," Ochako said, visibly relieved. "Eri's rewind didn't have any effects on you, right?"

"Nope. If anything, I'm probably just a few hours younger." Izuku explained.

"I'm alright as well," Blake said, giving a nod. "No injuries, thankfully. Thank Aura."

"What about you, Mr. Aizawa?" Ochako asked.

Aizawa grunted. "10 stitches. Not a big deal."

Albedo cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "While it's good, we...have another matter at hand."

Aizawa nodded. "Right...let's go see them."

"Sorry I couldn't be there when it counted the most," Aizawa frowned. "Monoma gave me the full story..."

"Y-yeah. I'm fine," Ochako said, her words punctuated by a nervous stutter. Her heart raced, and her mind was a whirlwind of emotions. She wanted to see her friends...

"What happened to every one else?" She asked.

"Well, the ones who weren't too harmed - Tsuyu, Nejire, Momo, Neo, Tetsutetsu, and Alan - stayed back to help with 'clean up' and take in other Hassaikai members," Aizawa continued, his eyes shadowed with concern. "As for everyone else..." He trailed off.

Ochako's heart sank, and she listened intently as Aizawa listed off the injuries. Kirishima's extensive lacerations, Amajiki's face split open, Fatgum with multiple fractures, Rock Lock being treated for stab wounds, and Setsuna regenerating her body.

She got off easy.

"Don't worry. They'll all pull through." Aizawa ended.

"That's good to hear," Ochako managed a weak smile.

"What about Eri?" Izuku's voice was laced with concern.

Albedo's expression turned grave, and he spoke solemnly. "We made the decision to isolate her. She's still sleeping, and her fever hasn't gone down."

Izuku's shoulders slumped, and he clenched his fists in frustration. "Seriously? So…we can't see her?"

Aizawa nodded, his stern gaze fixed on Izuku. "We made that decision based on the intel you provided. If some stimulus set off her quirk again, I'm probably the only one who could stop it."

"It checks out...if you hadn't erased it when you did, I'm sure the intensity would've continued growing exponentially." Izuku shuddered.

"All these unknowns aside, we have to also factor in her mental state." Blake spoke as the group got on an elevator. "Eri has been through an immense amount of trauma. Her power is volatile, and we can't risk any further incidents. Keeping her isolated and under close observation is the safest option for now."

"I hate it, but...you're right," Izuku said, his expression pained. "I don't want to see her suffer anymore."

"And she won't." Blake said. "Considering that her power works on living things and not objects, allowing her to train while regulating her power isn't gonna be easy. We...can't rely on her quirk."

"So...we have to accept it?" Ochako asked, her voice carrying a defeated tone.

Blake didn't answer, and that silence was all the true confirmation the two students needed. The elevator ride up was awkward and silent, but when it stopped, the doors opening after the tell-tale ding, Izuku's eyes went wide in a mix of surprise and sadness. Waiting outside of the room where Sir Nighteye was resting, was All Might. The former top Pro was pacing outside the room and, if the floors weren't tile, there might have been a groove set in the floor from how much he'd been going back and forth.

"A-all Might?" Izuku asked, "W-why are you-?"

"Bubble Girl...called me in," All Might answered.

"Where is she?"

"She and Centipeder are...having their last talk with him. I...I didn't want to..." All Might struggled to say the last words, but the group knew what he meant. He didn't want to affect their goodbyes.

"Wait, what?" Izuku stammered.

Bubble Girl and Centipeder walked out of Nighteye's hospital room, their faces etched with grief and sorrow. Their eyes were red and puffy from tears shed in private, and the weight of their loss was palpable in the air. Ari, wearing full hospital scrubs, walked out of the room, her shoulders slumped. "There...was nothing I could do. Honestly, it was a miracle he can even breathe."

"M-Mrs. North," Ochako stammered, her eyes filled with desperation. "There...really isn't anything you can do?"

Ari sighed, closing her eyes in resignation. "It's not like the surgery I did on All Might..." Her voice trailed off, and her tone carried a heavy weight. "Nighteye...isn't gonna see tomorrow."

The words landed on Izuku and Ochako like an atom bomb, the reality of Nighteye's imminent demise hitting them with the force of a gut-wrenching blow. The hallway seemed to close in, and a somber silence enveloped the group as they processed the news.

As the group walked into Nighteye's hospital room, the air was heavy with grief and despair. Monoma stood by the bed, his usually confident demeanor replaced by a solemn expression. He looked up at the approaching group, his eyes red and puffy from crying.

"I...I saw it." Monoma muttered.

When the other hero students heard that, they froze. One bomb after another, it seems. They knew Monoma's Quirk, his ability to copy...and he saw this? This very moment? To some, not knowing was the most anxiety inducing part about a surgery. What happens when you already know the outcome?

"T-there's still a chance he can break the future, right!? Like you guys did!" Monoma insisted. "He's a main character too! He can- there's HOPE for him! RIGHT!?"

...no one had a good way to say 'no.'

"I understand your optimism, young Monoma." All Might said softly. "B-but, in this case..."

Monoma's hope-filled expression slowly faded as he realized the truth. The weight of the situation sank in, and the room fell into a heavy silence. Nighteye lay motionless on the bed, hooked up to machines that monitored his vitals. His breathing was shallow, his body weak and...his eyes locked onto All Might.

"...hello, old friend."

"Nighteye..." All Might said, his own voice uncharacteristically small.

"You didn't feel...like coming to see me...until I was dying?" Nighteye asked.

"I...I never knew what to say... I know I wronged you...I know you disagreed with me...but...I..." All Might began to falter with his words there.

Nighteye chuckled. "No need...to be so up tight. I never...held anything against you. I just...always wished for your happiness...that's all. So...If you've decided to fight against fate...that's fine...in my book."

"You need to fight too!" Izuku yelled. "You gotta live!"

"Give me a chance to atone for what I've done, Mirai!" All Might insisted.

"Atone?" Nighteye asked, "I'm the one who's caused...trouble for so many. All this time, I wanted to keep you out of death's reach. I search for a way...to change things. Nothing...nothing ever came of it. Nothing I could do...would change your fate. Until...you two," Nighteye weakly raised his hand and pointed out Ochako and Izuku.

"You two...showed me something, today," Nighteye continued, "I saw...three versions...of events today. One...where Izuku would die. One where...Ochako...would die. And one...where you both died. But...that didn't happen. None of them...happened. I could never get rid of those...those negative thoughts. 'Nothing will change. Can't change it.' I believe...that thoughts carry a certain...energy within them, energy that allows one to strive for...a certain future. Today...today, you two were the focus of so much...of that energy, energy that was set on seeing Eri free...of Chisaki. And you succeeded where I failed. You took the future set in stone...and you smashed it. You've changed my thinking...the future is uncertain, after all. And that's enough for me. But...there is one regret...I still have..."

Nighteye's voice trailed off, and everyone in the room held their breath, waiting for him to continue. His gaze remained fixed on All Might, before focusing on Izuku and Ochako.

"I regret...not being able to see the future that you three will create," Nighteye said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I won't be there to witness the impact you'll have on the world, the changes you'll bring, the lives you'll save...I just know...I can rest easy..."

Three? Izuku wondered.

And then he burst into the room.

"Mr. Togata, wait!" a nurse called out from behind him, trying to pull him back, "You mustn't be up right now!"

"SIR!" Mirio called out.

"Mirio..." Nighteye muttered.

Mirio rushed to Nighteye's side, ignoring the nurse's protests. He gripped Nighteye's hand tightly, tears streaming down his face.

"I'm here, sir!" Mirio said, his voice choked with emotion. "Please! Please continue to live! Don't you die on me!"

"I've...put you through so much..." Nighteye said. "I...I only wish I'd been there."

"I only got stronger because of what you taught me! You gotta keep teaching me! PLEASE!" Mirio said. "I...only got here because...of you..."

Nighteye's eyes softened as he looked at Mirio, his former sidekick and protégé. He weakly squeezed Mirio's hand in return, a small smile appearing on his face.

"Mirio...my proud student," Nighteye said hoarsely. "I'll leave you with one message..."

...his eyes lit up.

"Keep moving forward."

The beeping on the heart rate monitor started to slow, ever so steadily.

"Mirio," Nighteye said, putting his hand to the side of Mirio's face, "You will...be fine. You'll make...a fine hero, one day." Only All Might really noticed it, but, in those final moments, Sir Nighteye had used his Quirk one last time. Everyone else was too emotional to notice.

Nighteye saw the future.

Mirio, Number One Pro. Through blood, sweat and tears, he'd reached it.

"Just remember...a world without smiles and humor...has no...bright...bright..."

There was one last, prolonged beep from the heart rate monitor.

Tears streamed down everyone's faces as they realized that Nighteye was gone. Mirio's grip on his mentor's hand loosened as he looked at Nighteye's lifeless body in shock and grief. Ochako clung to Izuku, burying her face in his shoulder as he held her, both of them sobbing uncontrollably. All Might also shed tears for his former friend and comrade.

Monoma was frozen in shock, unable to comprehend the gravity of the situation. He stood there, staring at Nighteye's lifeless form, tears streaming down his face.

This...

Was the start of the slow realization of what sort of field of work these kids were in.

---

Overhaul, real name Kai Chisaki. He didn't deserve either of those names now. He abandoned the name "Kai Chisaki" when he destroyed the boss' mind, putting him into a coma. He believed that Overhaul was a better name for him after such a crime. Overhaul was the identity where he was able to bring his dream close to fruition. All those diseased people, sick with Quirks, so sick they didn't even realize they needed a cure.

And now his dream was impossible.

The Hassaikai had been destroyed, with the Eight Bullets and even Mimic and Chrono arrested. His alliance with Psyphon had fallen apart. With his defeat, Psyphon and him had separated properly and the alien crime lord was taken into custody. He didn't know how many of the alien gangsters got away.

The only ones that got away without a massive loss was the League.

Now, he was at his lowest, for now metaphorically, but soon also literally. With his actions, he would be thrown into the deepest cell in Tartarus for sure. He was so lost in his own thoughts that he didn't hear the commotion outside. Echoing roars, screeching tires, the sounds of metal and stone impacting, none of them registered to the once powerful yakuza.

And then his own car came to a halt. The doors of the armored ambulance opened up and two people dragged him out. His medical restraint bed was tossed onto the pavement. Wait...this wasn't Tartarus. This was the highway. He looked up, expecting to see the face of the Sand Hero Snatch or that of a police officer. Instead, he saw the frightening, hand-covered visage of Tomura Shigaraki.

"Who's the next leader now?" Shigaraki smirked, kicking the bed Overhaul was strapped to.

"...have you come to kill me? If so...just do it. Don't waste your breath on me," Kai said in a monotone voice.

"Kill you? Now, whatever gave you that impression? Was it because you finally realized how much you messed up when you killed Nyancy? When you mutilated Mercury and Compress? No...what I've thought up is much worse. Compress?"

Kai could hear the boot falls of someone walking up next to him, immediately recognizing the showman's outfit of Mr. Compress. The sleight of hand villain removed his mask, holding it in a now very expensive-looking mechanical arm.

"You're lucky this thing was so easy to get used to," Compress said.

"Now...you wanna know what I really hate about you...Chisaki?" Shigaraki asked, "It's how high...and mighty, you think you are." Without even feeling it, Mr. Compress used his Quirk and severed Overhaul's arm in the middle.

"W-what..." Overhaul muttered, before Shigaraki reached into the coat pocket of the yakuza and pulled out two cases.

"Well now. Not a lot. Two little boxes, but only one's the final product."

"G-give it back...give it back!" Kai begged.

"You know...from what Toga tells me...our mutual enemies had a point with you. A guy who sees Quirks as a disease shouldn't have one himself," with that, Shigaraki grabbed Chisaki's other arm and activated his Quirk. The arm turned gray and began to flake away like dried mud.

"Oh, I'm sorry! If we don't deal with that, you'll fall to pieces!" Shigaraki taunted before he drew a knife, "Let me get that for you. Consider this Toga's promise of stabbing you...fulfilled!"

SLASH!

"Hahahaha! Come one, come all, and see the useless, helpless, armless, Quirkless wonder!" Shigaraki cackled, "All your hard work is MINE NOW! Your life's gonna be VERY interesting from now on. A Quirkless Yakuza! You might as well enter a preservation effort! You're part of two near-extinct species now! Just sit back and watch, 'Overhaul!'"

"BOSS!" Spinner yelled from their getaway truck, "Cops'll be here soon! We gotta GO!"

Shigaraki smirked one last time before turning, enjoying the sight of Kai's panicked face. His message was sent, loud and clear.

"Cass…didn't you have something to add?" Mr. Compress asked.

Cass walked up to the now armless yakuza and smirked, before slamming her hand onto his face.

"Remember what you said to me? 'I'll rearrange the functions of your face?'" Cass grinned. Overhaul's eyes shrank in terror as they peered out from between Cass' fingers.

"Enjoy the show, Kai, because this…," Shigaraki began, cut off by the yell of pure despair and pain from Overhaul, almost inhuman sounding.

"Is our time," the League's leader finished.

---

Ochako needed some rest after her cry. Thankfully, there were some accommodations at the hospital for the uninjured- a hotel-esqe area. Albedo checked her in to rest. Even though it was only 1 PM, Ochako felt like she'd been awake for a few days. Ochako removed most of her costume's bulk, and flopped down on her bed.

...seeing Nighteye die was...a lot.

As Ochako lay in bed, she couldn't help but replay the events of the raid in her mind. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to clear her mind. She knew that she needed to rest and recover. But the images kept flashing through her mind: the destruction caused by the villains, the fear in Eri's eyes, and the final moments of Sir Nighteye's life. It was overwhelming…

She took another deep breath, trying to calm herself down.

She needed…a good distraction.

And then her phone started buzzing. Ochako reached into her suit pocket, and pulled out her phone. Her eyes widened when she saw the caller ID.

She immediately picked up, and was greeted with Ben's panicked voice. "Oh, thank god, you picked up- I heard about the raid on the news-!"

"Ben…" Ochako said. "Isn't it like midnight where you are?"

"Yeah, I know, shouldn't be up this late since Senna…" Ben replied. "But I had to make sure you were okay."

Ochako paused at that.

"...I…heard about Nighteye. From Albedo." Ben said. "I'm…I'm sorry."

Ochako's heart ached at the mention of Nighteye, but she appreciated Ben's concern. "Thanks, Ben. But...I'm okay. Well, physically at least. But..."

"But?"

"...I...I lost Chromastone."

Ben paused.

"What?"

"Overhaul, he...he blew me up when I was Chromastone, and then Monoma revived me, and then I was Diamondhead, and..." Ochako's voice petered out. "I...could've died."

Ben listened as Ochako spoke, his heart aching for her. "...Jesus christ."
"Did…anything like that ever happen to you? Dying and coming back as another alien, thanks to the Omnitrix?" Ochako asked.

Ben shook his head. "No. Never…I've never had anything like that ever happen to me."

That didn't reassure Ochako. "...it hurts."

"Yeah."

"No, I mean...I could've done more." Ochako said. "Albedo said he trusted me to take the lead against Psyphon, and I thought I could do it for Overhaul, but...then he blew me up, and..."

Ben listened, feeling a sense of helplessness. "Ochako, you did everything you could. The feeling of loss is something no one gets used to, because of how sudden it can seem."

"I trust you know the feeling." Ochako said.

"...yeah." Ben said, voice cracking. "I've...lost someone in a mission like that before."

"Huh?"

Ben took a deep breath before continuing. "My grandpa Max...he was like my mentor. Taught me the ropes, pretty much helped me get on the path to becoming a hero. I owe everything to him. He...died on a mission to take care of some 'unusual activity' at the Los Soledad military base. I...was around your age when it happened."

Ochako listened intently, her heart heavy with empathy. "I'm so sorry, Ben."

"I didn't know how to cope," Ben said. "I felt like...I wasn't strong enough to save him. It was hard for me to keep going, but...I had to. For him. And for the people who needed me."

Ochako nodded, understanding the weight of those words. "That's...what I'm trying to do. To...keep going."

"...you can cry, you know."

"Huh?"

"I wish someone told me that back then. I wish someone had told a lot of my friends back then." Ben explained. "There's...a lot of things I wish I could say to my past self. But, I'm not. Instead, I'm just gonna tell you. Right now. I know I say 'Keep Moving Forward', but...you can't move forward if you don't allow yourself to grieve properly. It's okay to cry, to feel sad, to feel angry. It's all part of the healing process. It's important to take the time to process your emotions, and not bottle them up. And when you're ready, you can start moving forward again."

Ochako's eyes welled up with tears. "Nighteye...said that when he died..."

Ben paused.

"...he did?" He asked.

"Yeah."

"He...always loved those words..." Ben said, voice cracking.

Ben and Ochako both took a moment to let their emotions out. They cried together, each one understanding the pain that the other was going through. It was a moment of shared grief, but also of shared comfort.

Eventually, the tears stopped, and Ochako took a deep breath. "Thank you, Ben. For talking to me."

"Of course," Ben said, wiping his eyes. "And...I want to tell you something. Something important."

"What is it?"

"...no one's really gone forever, thanks to their legacies." Ben said. "We're all sort of jigsaw puzzles of everyone we've known and loved. Sometimes, we get those pieces from other people, even if we don't know them. I'm 100% sure Nighteye made an impression on everyone- even those who didn't personally know him. His legacy lives on in the people he's helped, the things he's taught, and the example he set. Nighteye...still lives on in."

"Is that something you wish someone told you back then?"

"...kind of."

Ochako nodded, wiping away her tears. "Next time...I want to save more people."

"I know we can't change the past, but we can use it to guide us towards a better future." Ben said. "Next time...will be much, much different."

"Yeah."

"I should...probably let you rest now. I know your brain's probably overloaded with emotions..." Ben said. "So, please. Get some sleep."

Ochako nodded, offering a small smile. "Thank you, Ben. For listening and being here."

"Of course. Anytime." Ben replied. "Good night, Ochako."

"Good night..." Ochako said, as she hung up her phone. Her eyelids felt heavy, and she knew it wouldn't take long before she drifted off into a much-needed sleep. As she lay in bed, she thought about the conversation she had just had with Ben. It was emotional and raw, but also reassuring. She felt grateful to have someone to talk to who could understand what she was going through...

As she drifted off to sleep, Ochako's phone started buzzing. She was far too knocked out to look at it, but her phone was blowing up with messages from...everyone.

She had messages from her classmates in Class 1-A, some of her friends from Shiketsu, who all sent their condolences and words of encouragement. The other Outcasts had also sent messages, reaching out since they knew her pain just as well as Ben did.

But the most touching messages came from her family. Her parents had sent her a long message, telling her how much they loved her. They saw the news about the raid on the news…and while they were worried, they knew Ochako would be someone's hero that day.

And they were right.

---

The news of the attack on the convoy transporting Overhaul hit the hospital lobby like a bombshell, and Ochako couldn't believe her ears. The League of Villains were behind it all, and they had managed to steal a key piece of evidence in the process. She, along with Ari, Blake, and Aizawa, were already watching the news on the TV when Izuku walked over.

"So...was Chisaki...killed by Tomura?" Izuku asked, his eyes glued to the screen.

"Nope." Blake said, a grim expression on her face. "He's alive. But his face isn't pretty anymore. In addition to losing both limbs, his face...sort of imploded on itself. He was taken in for reconstructive facial surgery..."

"A doctor friend of mine said it looked like someone set off a firework in his mouth." Ari added, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's a miracle he survived...or maybe there's still some of his luck to spare."

Ochako couldn't help but shiver at the thought. She didn't think Chisaki deserved everything that had happened to him, but...karma had a funny way of working.

Izuku's frown did not go unnoticed by Aizawa. "You have no business feeling responsible, Midoriya. Don't let it get to you."

Izuku nodded. "Right..."

Blake spoke up, breaking the tense silence. "So, as for you kids...you'll be going back to the school with the other students. The others have been treated, and should be fully recovered enough soon."

"I'll be staying behind with Mrs. North to help the other patients with their recovery." Aizawa explained. "They also need to monitor Togata's condition for a bit longer."

"What about Eri? Any update on her?" Izuku asked hopefully.

Aizawa shook his head. "We just have to trust the doctors."

Izuku then turned to Blake. "At least let me see how Mirio's doing."

He quickly palmed off his bag to Blake, who seemed taken aback. "Sorry, could you watch my bag?"

"H-hey, wait a minute! Deku!" Ochako protested, also handing her bag off to Blake. She didn't want to be left out of the loop, but she also knew that Izuku needed to see Mirio more than anyone else.

The two walked towards Mirio's room, still quiet.

"Did you...sleep well?" Izuku asked.

"Yeah. Better than I probably deserved to." Ochako said. "Ben called me before I spent the next...what time is it?"

"10 AM."

"The past 20 hours sleeping." Ochako completed. Izuku's eyes widened, but it made sense. Ochako fought a bunch of crazy opponents, died, came back and unlocked a new power up. She deserved that mini coma.

"What did Ben have to say?" Izuku asked.

"He was just checking in on me, making sure I was okay." Ochako replied. "Did you also get a bunch of texts from everyone?

Izuku nodded, "Yeah, I did. Crazy how many people you realize you know after something like this happens. Did you get Medaka's mile long text?"

"Yeah. She wants to see us on soon, so..." Ochako sighed. "That's gonna be a lot to unload."

Izuku nodded. "We need to unload."

Ochako nodded politely. Her mind flashed back to Izuku at the raid. That hug he gave her...was...different from most hugs.

It wasn't just the physical act of holding her tightly that made the hug different. It was the warmth that emanated from him, a sense of safety and comfort that she had never experienced before. It was as if all of his love and concern were wrapped up in that one hug, and for that brief moment, she felt like everything was going to be okay.

No wonder Eri was latched onto his back.

They arrived at Mirio's room, and Izuku took a deep breath. Ochako knew it would be hard for him to see Mirio at his lowest.

So imagine both their confusion when they heard laughter inside.

Izuku slowly pushed open the door, not wanting to interrupt the laughter. He couldn't believe what he saw. There was Mirio, sitting up in bed and laughing, and beside him was Monoma, telling some embarrassing stories.

"What's going on here?" Izuku asked, confused.

Mirio grinned at him. "Hey, Izuku! It's good to see you!"

"Mirio? You're supposed to be recovering." Ochako said, her voice laced with concern.

"I am recovering!" Mirio said cheerfully. "And Monoma came by to visit and cheer me up."

Monoma smirked. "Mirio here was just telling me about the time he accidentally walked into the girls' locker room in middle school with his quirk."

Ochako and Izuku shared a look. Yesterday, Mirio and Monoma were two of the most gloomiest people they'd ever seen. And here today, they were both...smiling.

"...is everything seriously okay?" Ochako asked.

"I know, I know." Mirio said. "I lost my quirk. Sir passed away. None of us should be smiling."

A frown nearly formed on his lips, but it quickly turned to a small smile. "I know he was kinda stern, but he sure smiled when things were good. We can't all be weepy right now! Not when I'm s'posed to be a fine hero."

Monoma chuckled. "Can't let this tragedy bring us down. And as for me, I still plan to outshine all the so-called 'main characters' out there."

Izuku and Ochako exchanged a look, used to Monoma's competitive attitude.

"I don't think that's really the point right now, Monoma." Ochako said.

Monoma's expression softened. "I didn't mean to sound callous. It's just my way of coping." Monoma took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair, looking contemplative. "I view life as a grand stage, you see. There are different acts, and each one presents its own challenges and opportunities. Tragedy, unfortunately, is a part of every story, and it can be the thing that ends a play prematurely. But for me, right now, I'm still in 'Act 1'. This tragedy, as terrible as it is, is just another obstacle to overcome in my journey."

Monoma looked down at his hand. "But that doesn't mean I'm not affected by what happened…I'll use this tragedy to strengthen my resolve and push myself even further. And I know you two will do the same...you future breakers."

"So...does this mean you'll tolerate us and the rest of Class 1-A from now?" Izuku asked.

Monoma let out a hearty laugh. "Well, I can certainly try, can't I? Who knows, maybe this tragedy has taught me the value of friendship and camaraderie. Or maybe I'll just go back to being my usual competitive self. Only time will tell."

Izuku and Ochako appreciated Monoma's attempt.

"So, yeah. Let's all smile. Not just for Sir, but for Eri. If we get all gloomy, that'll break her heart too!"

Izuku paused at that, and pondered Mirio's ordeal. Losing his quirk and mentor, but still smiling and making light of it...

"Even after you lost her quirk, you kept protecting her, all on your own." Izuku said. "Then there's me...I...I was supposed to protect Eri, but then she had to help me. Eraserhead saved me too, and..." Izuku trailed off.

Ochako's eyes widened. He wasn't seriously about to-

"If...I could pass my quirk onto you...would you take it?" Izuku asked.

"Nope!" Mirio answered without hesitation.

Ochako let out a small sigh of relief.

"But why not?" Izuku asked, looking crestfallen.

"I've already lost my quirk, Izuku. I don't want to take someone else's just to get mine back. Then you'd be the one suffering!" Monoma said.

"Honestly, I'm not sure what's got you in a fuss. You had a spotlight on you..." Monoma said.

"Besides. Eraser told me about what's going on with Eri." Mirio said. "If Eri figures out how to control her quirk, there's a chance I can be rewound back to the time when I had my quirk."

Ochako's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? That's amazing!"

"If that doesn't work, I'll try whatever it takes to get back to normal. So don't worry about me! I've got Foresight on my side." Mirio grinned. "So come on, loosen up!"

Izuku gave...a small, small smile. "O-okay. I'll be waiting for you..." He said.

"Come on, man! Smile better than that!" Mirio laughed.

Izuku's smile widened slightly, and he let out a small chuckle. "Okay, okay. I'll try."

"Soooo, embarrassing stories? I got one..." Ochako grinned, wanting to keep the good mood going. "So, when I was in middle school, I wanted to reenact this scene from Sumo Slammers: Dino Morphers..."

As the group exchanged stories, All Might stood outside, listening quietly. Even in death, Nighteye's legacy lived on.

A future full of smiles.

All Might took a deep breath and walked away.

He felt a little better.

---

After leaving the hospital, the trio of Izuku, Ochako, and Monoma arrived at the police station. They were directed to a waiting area for questioning. As they sat down, they noticed several of their classmates already present. Momo, Setsuna, Alan, Tetsutetsu, and Kirishima were there, all looking just as tired.

"Hey guys," Ochako asked, taking a seat beside Momo.

Momo let out a sigh. "Oh, thank goodness you're here!" Momo wrapped Ochako in a hug. "Tetsutetsu told us everything."

"May have taken some creative liberties, but I got the story across." Tetsutetsu said.

Izuku noticed Kirishima's bandaged arm and bruised face. "You like you still need bed rest."

Kirishima rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Ah, it's nothing. Just got a little banged up during the fight. But thanks to Fat Gum, I'm still standing."

"Sounds like I wasn't the only one to go crazy to take out one of the big guys," Setsuna quipped.

"Was he actually kaiju sized or was that a Tetsutetsu embellishment?" Alan asked.

"No, that part was true, actually." Ochako said.

"And he shot lighting and lasers and...just a lot of other things." Izuku shuddered. Setsuna's eyes fell upon Monoma.

"Hey. How are you doing?" Setsuna asked. "I'm sorry to hear about Nighteye..."

Monoma shrugged. "I'm coping. It's...difficult, but I'll get through it."

"Well…if you need someone to talk to, I'm here," Setsuna offered.

"Thank you…" Monoma nodded, grateful for the offer.

Meanwhile, Tetsutetsu and Kirishima were engaged in their own conversation. Kirishima was telling him about his fight with Rappa and Tengai.

"-so this other dude comes at me with a sai, and I'm dodging and weaving- he's calling me weak, but then I totally knocked his shit down." Kirishima said.

"Damn, man, you're unstoppable!" Tetsutetsu grinned. "I gotta up my game to keep up with you! This just proves Class 1-A and Class 1-B shouldn't be in some stupid rivalry thing. Especially after everything that's happened."

Momo nodded in agreement. "We could even form a new team, like Mt. Lady did with Kamui and Edgeshot."

"It's settled then!" Tetsutetsu declared. "We'll organize some joint training sessions later or something."

"Great! Cause, uh...remember that Rappa guy I fought? Who put me in the hospital for a bit?" Kirishima asked.

"Yeah? Mr. 'Caged Deathmatch?' What about him?"

"Well...it turns out that he wasn't actually arrested. When the police did a sweep of the compound to get all the other unconscious yakuza, they found the monk guy, but they didn't find his partner."

"He escaped?" Momo asked.

"Not on his own. Guy could hardly stand last I saw him," Kirishima said.

"And the League was there...something I kinda figured out is that three of the League are really close to each other as a team," Izuku said, "If there's Toga or Twice, then that Compress guy is probably around too."

"The heck would they want with a knucklehead like him?" Monoma scoffed.

"I don't know, but it's still concerning," Ochako said.

"They took some of the evidence too...was their partnership all just for that?" Alan asked.

"So in other words...yakuza were just a bunch of disposables to the League," Setsunna said, "Make them think it's a real team-up and then ditch them at the eleventh hour."

"Seems like it," Izuku said, nodding in agreement. "They don't have any loyalty to anyone but themselves."

"The police are already investigating," Tetsutetsu said. "I heard another group of them tried to arrest some of their other members...heard they snagged the portal guy."

"Kurogiri?" Ochako asked.

"Yeah, that's the one. Caught him up in the mountains near Haibori Woods." Alan said.

"So that's why some of the sidekicks and Gran Torino weren't there." Ochako guessed.

"Correct you are," A voice said. Ochako looked behind her to see Albedo and Neo, walking over.

"Albedo! Neo!" Ochako said, surprised to see them there.

"We're here to help alleviate some of the workload. If we start now, we'll have you out before dinner." Albedo explained.

"That's great, thank you," Momo said, relieved.

"Before we start...Ochako, can I speak to you?" Albedo asked.

"Oh, uh, sure," Ochako nodded.

Albedo led her to a conference room, and took a deep breath. "I wanted to apologize for underestimating you."

"Huh? I…didn't know you did."

"I had my doubts," the Galvan human nodded confidently, "You have barely begun to tap your potential. But that is how we all start, how Ben started. He barely knew what he was doing with his forms, not even knowing the species name of any of his forms. His early days were sloppy, reckless, uncoordinated-"

"Now it just sounds like you're bashing him," Ochako interjected.

"...damn it, not again. Getting back on track, Ben was also a novice, but he did learn and he learned by doing. Training is good, but the saying 'No plan survives first contact with the enemy' holds true. Especially against groups like the Hassaikai. And, when the time comes, you may not be able to rely on someone more experienced, someone more tactically minded. You will have to step up and fill that position."

"I still don't really get it, y'know? I'm...admittedly still feeling really undeserving of something so powerful." Ochako sighed. "I'm not even trying to get into the top 10, but I'm fighting like I want a spot there! I...I'm just confused."

"That doesn't seem that confusing to me," Albedo admitted, "You're putting your all into these fights. You don't care for fame and, though your goal is money, it's not a motivation of greed. You want to ensure a better future for your family. You fight for them, for people like them. You fight to give people those better futures. And today, you succeeded. You gave Eri that better future."

Ochako smiled a bit at that. "...I'm still a bit confused, but...thanks for that."

"It could've been a lot worse if you weren't there." Albedo admitted, before reaching into his pocket. "By the way...I was able to salvage this."

Albedo pulled out a pink crystal. Ochako's eyes widened as she realized what it was.

"I-is that-?" Ochako asked.

"A piece of Chromastone." Albedo said.

Ochako gently took the crystal in her hands, for all she knew, one wrong move could destroy this last remnant of her Crystalsapien form. A reminder of the day she saved a young girl from a monster.

"And Ochako? Could...you send Miss Yaoyorozu next? I have news for her..." Albedo added on.

Ochako clutched the crystal carefully, and took a deep breath. "Y-yeah. Sure." Ochako stood back up, putting the crystal in her bag.

She'd have to set something up for it later.

Albedo took a steadying breath, he wasn't sure how Momo would react to this. Once again, he'd have to be the bearer of bad news. The only thing he was positive on here was that he wouldn't be punched. At least...he hoped. The last time he dropped a life-changing revelation like was ended with him being called a liar and getting socked in the jaw by a certain old crow.

Momo walked in, and closed the door behind her. She stared at Albedo for a second.

"...I know what this is about." Momo said. "I got messages from everyone, once they heard I was involved in the raid. I got messages from everyone...except for them."

Albedo closed his eyes.

"They arrested my parents, didn't they?"

"They have," Albedo sighed, "More evidence has come to light. It wasn't just medical supplies the Hassaikai were receiving . Your family...provided weapons and other support items to the Eight Bullets. Rappa's gauntlets, Tengai's sai, even some back-ups of Mimic's doll body."

Momo closed her eyes. "I knew what they were doing was...horrible, but...I didn't think they'd be going this deep..."

Albedo nodded sympathetically. "I understand, Momo. It's a difficult thing to come to terms with, especially when it's your own family involved. But justice must be served."

"...are you keeping this under wraps?" Momo asked.

"As best we can." Albedo said.

"I...I understand," Momo said, trying to stifle her own tears. The worst question that could enter her mind did and it nearly broke the emotional dam. Did they know? Did they know about Eri? Did they know...and were able to sleep at night, knowing a child was being dissected for a madman's definition of a "cure?"

"Please know that we're doing everything we can to ensure your parents receive a fair trial and that your family's name isn't tarnished any more than it already has been." Albedo explained.

Momo nodded slowly, still trying to process everything.

"In the meantime, we'll keep you updated on your parents' situation as much as we can." Albedo said.

"What about finances?" Momo asked.

"I'll handle that for the time being. It's pocket change for me." Albedo said.

"Thank...thank you," Momo said, her voice shaky. She was trying her damnedest not to just break down here and now.

"...Momo," Albedo started, "I...I cannot imagine how much this hurts. All the emotions...the betrayal, the shock...I've seen it before. This is not the first time I have given such news, but by any god that's listening, I do hope it is the last. But do not shut yourself away. Do not let this consume you, you are better than that. You strive to be a hero, but do not allow this to be the roadblock on that path."

"…I won't." Momo said, a hint of determination in her eyes.

---

As the sun began to set, the weary students trudged back to the dorms, their spirits low and their brains practically mush. Setsuna, rubbing her eyes in exhaustion, voiced what they were all thinking.

"God, I feel like it's been forever since we've seen the others." Alan said.

Tsu nodded in agreement. "They've probably heard the news and everything. I bet they're all worried sick..." The group made their way to Heights Alliance- all they wanted to collapse on their beds and decompress. Ochako took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

"G-guys! They're back!" Tooru yelled.

The common room was bustling with the students of both Class 1-A and Class 1-B, all waiting for their return. The moment Ochako and the others stepped inside, they were swarmed with questions and concern.

"We saw EVERYTHING on the news!" Ojiro exclaimed.

"We were all super worried," Sero added, his eyes wide with fear.

"Are you guys okay?" Mina asked, practically shaking one of them.

"Did anyone get seriously hurt?" Kendo questioned.

The barrage of questions left Ochako feeling overwhelmed, but she couldn't help but smile at the genuine concern of her classmates. "We're all safe," She reassured them, though maybe it was to break up the swarm.

Momo, Ochako, Setsuna, and Tsu were soon engulfed in a tight hug by the other girls, the warmth and comfort of their embrace providing a much-needed respite from the stress of the past few days.

"How come it's always YOU guys always getting into trouble or getting into some serious stuff!?" Kaminari yelled, his voice breaking with emotion. "I swear, that Omnitrix is a trouble magnet! You're scaring us!"

"I'm just glad they're okay," Shishida said, his eyes lingering on Monoma.

"Same..." Reiko muttered, casting a sidelong glance at her classmate. Monoma, for his part, walked over to his classmates, his expression calm and collected.

"Are you okay? You...went through a lot these past few days," Niregeki asked.

"I'm sorry we didn't realize you were going through something so serious!" Awase frowned. "But how come you didn't tell us?"

"NDA," Monoma explained, his voice even and measured. Before he could elaborate, however, someone whistled, the sound cutting through the din of conversation like a knife.

"Hey, hey!" Iida yelled, his voice firm and commanding. "Calm down, people! They know we were worried about them! We all saw the broadcast. I'm happy we all came together to give them a heroes welcome, but...I think their hearts may need some rest. They've been worn down by everything that happened..."

Izuku cleared his throat. "Actually, uh..." he said, his eyes flickering over his classmates. "I think we could use some stress relief."

"Yeah, I'm with Izuku on this," Ochako agreed. "...shower us in affection."

"Right, then." Iida adjusted his glasses. He then wasted no time in wrapping both of his best friends into a tight embrace, tears streaming down his face. "I WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT YOU GUYS!" he exclaimed, his voice choked with emotion.

"Oh, you're worse than any of us!" Kendo scoffed. Her attention turned back to Monoma. "But...seriously. Are you okay?"

Monoma paused for a moment. "The show must go on," Monoma replied with a grin. "Not like this is the first time I've been in a tight spot, right?"

Kendo raised an eyebrow. "...well, if you say so. I'm just shocked you're not being your...usual self."

"I've had a bit of a change of heart, Kendo." Monoma said. "...but, between you and me, Class 1-B is still superior."

Kendo chuckled. "There we go." The other students laughed as well, relieved to see that Monoma was back to his old self.

After Iida released his signature 'Reciprio Hug' on him, Shinsou and Todoroki approached Izuku. "Hey, how are you holding up?" Todoroki asked, a concerned look on his face.

"I'm doing better than I really should be." Izuku replied with a small smile.

Shinsou hummed. "What about Eraser? How's he doing?"

Izuku's smile faltered for a moment. "He's...he's doing as well as he can be, I think. He's still in the hospital, making sure everyone else is doing okay. Plus, he's monitoring the kid we rescued."

Shinsou frowned. "Well, that's all I wanted to know." He turned. "See ya."

Izuku raised an eyebrow. "...is that seriously all you wanted to check on?"

Shinsou paused. He looked over his shoulder, and huffed.

"...okay, I'm glad to see you're okay too. Happy?" Shinsou said.

"There we go." Izuku said, as Shinsou walked off.

Todoroki's expression turned serious. "I heard a rumor that Ochako 'died' while fighting Overhaul, but got brought back by the Omnitrix...is this true?"

"W-who told you that?" Izuku muttered. He didn't want to freak anybody out.

"Nejire dropped by earlier. She took Iida and I aside, and explained some stuff." Todoroki explained.

"She's missing some details, but...yeah. She wasn't with us for a few moments. But she's okay now, and..." His eyes drifted over to Ochako. She was having a nice reunion with Ship, who was crawling all over her body. Ochako was giggling with delight.

"...She's great."

Todoroki blinked. "Hmmmm."

"What?"

"Nothing."

Even someone dense like Todoroki understood what 'she's great' really meant.

"I'm so glad to see you're okay," Jirou said.

Momo hugged her back, smiling warmly. "Thank you, Jirou. I'm happy to see you too."

Jirou pulled back, holding Momo at arm's length. "So, um...What's next for you guys?"

"No idea." Momo admitted. "...but, my parents have been…"

Jirou's face fell. "...Oh."

"I…I don't think I'll stick around, to be frank." Momo said, looking back at everyone. "I'll be fine tomorrow, but for right now…"

Momo pulled out her spellbook. "I need to make a call."

---

The first step was to find a place free of objects. Momo moved her belongings in the center of her room to the side, ensuring she had a clean and uncluttered area to work with. Next, she laid out a circle of candles (courtesy of her quirk) around the perimeter of the circle, lighting them with a lighter (also courtesy of her quirk).

Next, she needed a few choice items- the spell book, a vial of lavender oil, and a quartz crystal.

Again, all easily made by her quirk. She was really made for this sort of task.

She magically transcribed the pattern into her floor, and placed the crystal in the center. Now came the interesting part- contacting the specific person. She created a piece of parchment, and wrote down her name.

"Gwendolyn...Tennyson." Momo transcribed, before placing it on the crystal. The second she did, the paper lit up; it was soon 'absorbed' into the crystal, and vanished into thin air.

That meant it was working. She anointed the circle with the drops of lavender, causing it to light up. Now, she just needed to do was close her eyes and say the spell:

Animus eludi vult, sic allegatur.

Vis, vis, vis.

Liberum esse animum, sic liberum esse.

Vis, vis, vis.

The lavender-scented mist seemed to swirl around the circle, and candlelight grew brighter. The quartz crystal in the center of the circle began to hum faintly, tuning out all other noise. The room grew quieter...

Momo felt herself drift away from her body. She opened her eyes...

And found herself in what looked like an old RV.

Not what she was expecting.

"See that you figured out how to astral project." A voice behind her said. "Was wonder when I'd meet you proper."

Momo spun around to see someone sitting in the back- she hoped it'd be President Gwen Tennyson, but no. Instead it was a younger, fresh faced looking Gwen, from her youth. She had short red hair held by a blue hairclip and wore sapphire earrings, an elbow-length blue raglan shirt with a cat logo, white capri pants, and white sneakers with dark blue stripes without socks.

Momo blinked. "...President Gwendolyn?" She asked, confirming her identity.

Gwen rolled her eyes. "Please. Drop the formalities here. My astral self appears like this so people don't treat me weird." Gwen said. "Momo Yaoyorozu, I presume."

"Y-yes! Thank you again for giving me your spell book." Momo said, bowing her head in reverence.

"No need for all the reverence. I'm not Ben, you know." Gwen gestured to the seat across from her. "Why don't you take a seat? We have a lot to discuss."

Momo nodded gratefully and settled into the offered seat. "Interesting location."

"My happy place- my grandpa's old RV." Gwen sighed. "Sure, it had its issues, but I spent the best years of my life in this dinky thing."

"This...is the Rustbucket?" Momo asked. She heard Izuku mention that name in passing, as Ben's first 'ride'. She honestly pictured something cooler.

"Indeed." Gwen said. "I hope you weren't expecting something fancier."

Momo chuckled. "Maybe something more posh."

"I heard about what happened on the news, with the Hassaikai- is this tied to that?" Gwen said.

"Well..." Momo looked down. "I...ran into someone who could also do magic. Her name was... Sunny."

Gwen's face fell upon hearing her name. "...Ben told me about her running around with the wrong crowd, but I'm still wrapping my head around it."

"She told me a bit about herself. About how she went behind her parent's backs with learning magic, how you taught her, and how you got made with her and-"

Gwen frowned. "Diagon."

"Yeah. Him." Momo said.

"...Sunny's always been a rebel." Gwen began. "She's a magic virtuoso, far exceeding my power when I was ten. But rules and authority have always been an issue for her. Anything you tell her not to do, she'll do. She was an eager kid, but...she always wanted to push the envelope."

Gwen leaned forward. "Dark magic…is dangerous. I told her that. I feel I don't have to tell YOU that." Gwen continued. "Diagon is one of the most dangerous old Gods in the realm of magic. He lies. He corrupts. He breaks. I hoped Sunny wouldn't be rebellious enough to try and make a deal with him, but dark magic is seductive in its promises of power and freedom. It comes with a price. If I let her make that deal with Diagon, then she'd have to...sacrifice her humanity."

Momo looked disturbed by that. "And she's mad at you for that?"

"...I don't even know if it's her." Gwen said. "I think when her and Diagon made that deal, he pulled her in right after the handshake. Diagon can erase the essence of who someone once was…"

"So, even if Sunny were to come back to her senses, she might not be the same person she was before…" Momo frowned.

Gwen sighed. "I remember that bright little cousin I used to have- she had her attitude, but maybe she just wanted to stand out alongside me and Ben. I wanted to support her in that, but… things didn't turn out as I hoped."

Momo looked down at the table. "If that's the case, then…I'll reach out to her."

"What?"

"Right now, I'm the only person on level with her. Magic is my game as much as it is hers." Momo said. "The only person for the job is me. And I'll master every spell in this book if I have to. If there's even the slightest chance that she can be saved, then I have to try!"

"Are you sure? It's a dangerous path to tread…and I don't want to be responsible for another magical incident." Gwen said. "I don't want you to burn out too…"

Momo responded with a steeled stare. "You chose me for a reason, remember? And I'm choosing to save her for my own reason."

My family life I know is gone.

I don't know if it'll ever be the same.

…And I don't want to think about that now.

"Sunny…she's like me in a way. Great potential and a family legacy to uphold. We just ended up on different paths." Momo said. "If she's still in there, even if she's not the same…I want to reach out and break her free from Diagon's clutches. I want…"

Her mind flashed to seeing Nighteye being wheeled into the ambulance.

"...I want to save someone."

The RV went quiet. Gwen studied her 'apprentice's' face, and sighed.
"Alright," Gwen said quietly. "If you're set on this path, I won't stop you. But remember…" Gwen pointed at Momo's heart. "The strength you carry in there…is just as important as magic."

"R-right." Momo nodded.

The world around them started to fade. "Oh- seems my time is up. I hoped we'd have more than a few microseconds to talk, but…" Gwen said.

"Huh?" Momo said.

"Time passes faster in the dream world than it does out there." Gwen explained. "I have to get back to my work."

Gwen slowly turned back into her older self. "Please- Be safe out there." She said, grabbing Momo by the shoulders. "And if you ever need assistance or just someone to talk to, know that I'm here. I always have a microsecond to spare…"

"Let me master astral projection, and I'll start having more frequent chats." Momo joked.

Gwen chuckled, her eyes softening. "I look forward to that. Oh, and while you're mastering spells… remember to take care of yourself too."

"And reach out."

"...and find the magic beyond yourself."

Momo blinked. The candles had burnt out, and the circle was fading away. She stared off into space for a moment, processing everything.

…what was 'the magic beyond yourself'?

---

Ochako softly shut her door, and sighed. The past 48 hours had been a blur. Ship nuzzled her cheek, and she sighed.

"Let's get some rest," She said, before heading over to her bed. She didn't want to shower right now. Too tired.

Ochako lay down on her bed, her body sinking into the soft mattress. She closed her eyes, hoping that sleep would come easily. Ship, her little companion, curled up beside her, offering a comforting warmth. But as she shifted slightly to find a more comfortable position, she felt something hard pressing against her hip.

Her eyes fluttered open, and she reached into her pocket, fingers brushing against the cool, sharp edge of the small crystal.

The only remains of Chromastone.

Ochako pulled it out of her pocket, and held it up. The moonlight pouring in through her window seemed almost magnetically drawn to it. The light refracted through the crystal's facets, casting faint, shimmering colors across the ceiling. Ship perked up, his little eye taking in all the sights it could.

For a moment, Ochako was mesmerized, watching the rainbow hues shift and dance in the silence.

It was soothing.

She stared back down at the crystal.

…and Ochako smiled.

"Thank you," She muttered, placing the crystal on the shelf of her bed frame. The colors just seemed to absorb all her stress, and make her fears feel insignificant.

I'm sorry about what happened.

Really.

I'm sorry I couldn't save both you or Nighteye.

…but if this is your sign that brighter days are to come…

I'll take it.

I'll carry on for your sake.

…

…

…

---

Shigaraki's eye twitched. Nyancy's cats were bad enough, but at least they had the element of cuteness. This, however…

"I'm pumped for the new management!" Rappa said, rotating his arms eagerly. "Anyone who takes down the boss is good in my book!"
"...Toga. Twice." Shigaraki growled. "Why?"

"Heyyy, the guy seemed cool! He's a real freakin' loser!" Twice snapped.

"Come onnnn! We need a good bruiser!" Toga pouted. "He could go toe to toe with a bunch of heroes."

"I did have Fatgum on the ropes!" Rappa declared.

Mercury frowned. "...That is a bit of an impressive feat." He agreed.

"Plus…imagine the combos he could do with my power." Cass pointed out.

"You're for this?" Shigaraki hissed.
"...we do need some more personality."

"Ugh…"