Thanks to the combined efforts of the Water Hose Duo and most of the students, the fire in the forest was doused without incident. After making sure everyone else was okay, Izuku and his crew were questioned along with the rest of the Hero Course students by the police on what had happened.
While the students of 1-A and 1-B returned safely to their terrified families to reassure them they were okay, Izuku's Crew were sitting around at the beach house, down one member and helpless on what to do as Dorothy and Maetel tended to them as best they could.
"Well...this is depressing..." Nia grumbled.
"I should have been there with him..." Izuku sighed sadly. "Had I known he would do something so….boneheaded!"
He then gagged himself and looked down in shame; he'd have done the same had he in been in Ben's shoes. Lique then exited the house and let out a sigh, getting his attention.
"Any change?"
The normally bubbly girl shook her head; Penny had been unresponsive, having cried herself silent as Bakara, Mipha, and Himiko did all they could to console her. Hilda and Rosa weren't much better, considering Ben was their childhood friend.
"The Heroes have already gathered to try and work an investigation," Melissa said, trying to be optimistic. "I'm sure they'll find and catch the League of Villains!"
"Doesn't change the fact we fucking failed." Katsuki scowled. "Those bastards were toying with us the whole time. If they had wanted to get serious, we'd have all been slaughtered."
"Glad to see you're a bundle of positivity..." Makoto snarked as he sheathed his sword, which he'd been sharpening to vent his frustration. "But Katsuki does have a point, the League was more coordinated than their attack on the USJ all those months ago."
As his friends all discussed what had happened and what to do, Izuku was lost in thought. He checked his phone to see he had gotten a message from Ochako recently, telling him that she and the rest of the students at Class 1-A were at Momo's house while the students of Class 1-B were at the house Vivi had rented for her stay in Japan.
Before more could be said, their TV suddenly sparked to life with a public news announcement from the HPSC...
DEVIL
The students of Class 1-A had all gathered at Momo's house after she had gotten permission from her parents to invite everyone over considering the events of last night.
They were all sitting in the expansive dining hall, N tapping his finger nervously while checking his phone for any texts from Hilda. Ochako was squeezing Tsuyu's head for reassurance while Momo was periodically stuffing her face with cake. Mina was silently munching on potato chips and Kyouka was drinking a large soda while Rikidou offered to help the cooks in the kitchen.
Koby had his leg crossed over the other in his seat, fidgeting occasionally. Yamato looked two seconds away from breaking out and hunting down the League himself while Ellie was tinkering with a tiny device while Carrot watched with passing interest.
Finally, Eijirou spoke up. "Alright if no one's going to say it I will. We lost, we completely and utterly lost. I can't think of a single good thing that came out of this."
"We're alive, aren't we?" Uta pointed out. "And we managed to capture Muscular and...well, that creepy teeth guy got axed by Himiko."
"We also got that Warp Guy thanks to Shinso," Denki added. "That's...kind of a good thing, right?"
"Indeed. We all fought valiantly and suffered minimal losses." Fumikage said. "Sadly...we lost a great comrade and three of the Pussycats were stolen from under our noses."
"True, there's all that..." Eijirou admitted. "Who knows if the Heroes will be able to find the League of Villains. Who knows if they'll be able to rescue Ben, Mandalay, Pixie-Bob, and Ragdoll? We still don't know where those bastards are hiding out!"
"Do we...really have to rescue Pixie-Bob?" Minoru awkwardly asked. "I mean, Toriokoyoshi, Ragdoll, and Mandalay, I'm perfectly cool with but..."
"Yeah, she was flirting with us a lot and she's, what, 30?" Sero added. "That's pretty stranger danger to me."
Throughout everything, Koby then noticed that Yuuga seemed to be sulking by himself, a look of haunted guilt on his face. Deciding to be the one to take initiative, the pink-haired young man walked over and put a hand on the Franco-Japanese boy's shoulder.
"Aoyama, you've been the quietest of all of us this whole time...something on your mind?"
"He took them..." The French boy whispered, as if in a trauma induced trance "J-just like he promised...I knew I wasn't safe..."
"Aoyama...?" Tooru asked as she came over. "What's gotten into you?"
"I thought...after Toriokoyoshi helped fix my Quirk, make it my own, I no longer had to worry!" He continued, tears breaking his eyes and a desperate smile turning into despair. "...but no, you never forget your debt to the Demon Lord..."
"Demon Lord? What the heck are you rambling about?" Yamato gruffly asked.
"THEY CAME BECAUSE OF ME!" Yuuga screamed out, tears burning his eyes. "EVEN THOUGH I STOPPED GIVING THEM INFORMATION, THE LEAGUE CAME BECAUSE OF ME!"
"Wait, the League came for you?" N asked. "What do you mean?"
"The League...they had me as their mole...I didn't want to do it but they threatened my parents...!" Yuuga choked out. "I helped give them the information for the USJ! But then Toriokoyoshi repaired and upgraded my Quirk! I thought that meant I could escape...but the Demon Lord never forgets!"
"Wait...you gave the League the information on the USJ at the start of the school year?!" Uta snapped, a darkness surrounding her….
"Uta, please!" Momo begged. "Aoyama, you need to be honest with us...who is this Demon Lord and what does he have to do with you?"
Yuuga could see the looks of his classmates, most of them were worried, and a few were angry and feeling betrayed. He couldn't lie to any of them anymore as he covered his hands.
"My Quirk...was not my own...I was born Quirkless." He began. "Mumma and Papa, they knew how horrible my life would be….and they went to the Demon Lord for help. He has the power to give and take any Quirk he desires...and he gave me one, but told my parents that he would come to collect what they owed...and what they owed him was information at UA when I became a student."
"And this Demon Lord...he works with the League of Villains." Shoto guessed.
"No...he IS the League of Villains!" Yuuga corrected. "Everything they've done is by his design!"
"Your parents accepted a deal with the devil and you got roped into it..." Shouji realized. "Aoyama...why didn't you tell any of us?"
"You don't know what kind of man the Demon Lord is. He already has my parents on a leash, I couldn't risk any of you getting involved as well!"
Mina slammed her chubby hands on the table. "We got involved the second he sent the League of Villains to attack the USJ, Aoyama! Like it or not, we're involved in this!"
"Guys, maybe we should ease up on Aoyama..." Denki said weakly. "I mean, he looks like he's gonna have a panic attack at this rate."
"Kaminari's right," Koby said as he stood up. "Whoever this Demon Lord is, he's been hurting us since the beginning of our school year...and now he's got one of our friends in his clutches. We need to do something!"
"But we can't just set out on our own. Vigilantism is illegal, after all." Tsuyu worriedly pointed out.
"Indeed, if we were really going to go through with this, we'd need a Hero's permission or something," Tenya added.
"Madam Momo?" A butler said as he wheeled in a portable TV. "I believe you and your classmates will wish to see this."
The TV was turned on and the students of 1-A saw it was a public announcement from the HPSC...
DEVIL
At Vivi's remote house, which was quite expansive and wealthy in its own right, the students of Class 1-B were also discussing what had happened, though they weren't as severely affected as Izuku's crew and their Class 1-A peers. Luckily, Hitoshi had some good news for everyone.
"The marbles from my Quirk trial at the Summer Training Camp contained GPS trackers...and they were still active when the League attacked." The brainwasher said. "While we were fighting off those creeps, I managed to tag one of them while they were retreating. I shared the information with Aizawa-Sensei and he's already talking with the police and the other heroes."
"That's wonderful, Shinso!" Vivi smiled in relief. "We'll be able to save Ben and the Pussycats!"
"I just hope they can track them down fast. Those League guys were smarter than we gave 'em credit for." Nimona said.
"In the meantime, we need to be ready!" Inasa said as he stood up. "As heroes, we need to be more hot-blooded than this! We need to show that we are not afraid of those League bastards!"
"Indeed! We'll show them the true might of justice soon enough!" Seryu cheered in agreement.
"Vivi..." Igaram, one of Vivi's butlers, said as he came over. "We have a situation."
The students all looked toward the nearby TV as it turned on to reveal a public announcement from the HPSC...
DEVIL
"Thank you all for coming." Detective Tsukauchi said as he addressed the room with the police board and multiple heroes, including All-Might, Endeavor, Best Jeanist, Gang Orca, Aizawa, Present Mic, Midnight, Miruko, Mount Lady, Mother Snow, Ambrosia, Regenizard, Swift Sculpt, Gran Torino, Tiger, Kamui Woods, and Edgeshot.
"Now we've called you all here because we believe we have two possible hideouts on the League of Villains. The first is a small bar that's located in an abandoned warehouse. We believe that's where the kidnapped victims are." Tsukauchi said. "Because of the strength of the villains we decided to have all of you attack the first hideout in order to ensure victory."
"IT'S TIME..."All-Might muttered grimly as he looked at Melony and Tsunade."I KNOW HE'LL BE THERE WAITING...I CAN FEEL IT IN MY GUTS."
"The League has my partners...I'm getting them back." Tiger growled firmly.
"And my SON!" Midnight scowled. "I'm going to crush every one of them and-"
"Easy, you old hag!" Mount Lady said, but her insult didn't sound as vicious. "You're gonna give yourself indigestion!"
"There is one problem..." Spoke up Depestilous, another hero of the SCP Foundation and the one who helped Tsunade heal All-Might from his injury six years ago. "I doubt all of us will be able to be evenly split among two hideouts, considering the League has some pretty powerful players in their lineup."
"FORTUNATELY, YOUNG SHINSO SENT ONE OF HIS GPS TRACKER MARBLES FROM HIS TRAINING WITH THE LEAGUE UNDER THEIR NOSES. AND CHILD EMPEROR OF THE S-RANKER HAS ALREADY CROSS-WIRED THE LOCATION TO TRACK BOTH POINTS OF INTEREST." All-Might said. "AS FOR HITTING TWO HIDEOUTS AT ONCE...WE HAVE A FEW FRIENDS."
"That would be us!"
In strode the entirety of the S-Rankers, with Blast finally back from his overseas mission leading the strideInstantly, viewers and reporters went wild, happy to see the 'TRUE' #2 back home….until Tatsumkai floated behind and glared at the cameras.
"The LOV attacked my cousin and his friends TWICE." The diminuitive epser growled. " There will NOT be a third."
Bang then stepped up.
"I am aware me former displace has thrown his lot in with these villains. I am also proud enough to say that the students we mentored during Internships will one day defeat him."
All Might truly smiled, elated to see the S-Rankers again, especially Blast.
"Cathy sends her regards." Blast managed as they shook hands.
"HAVE YOU AND STRIPES DECIDED ON A WEDDING DATE?" All Might teased.
"Dunno; when are YOU and Mother Snow going to make the shuppers happy?" Blast teased back, the two men laughing hartly.
Throughout the whole thing, Aizawa and Present Mic had all been somberly quiet, which confused Miruko as she munched on a large slice of carrot cake.
"Hey, what's eating you guys? You look like somebody killed your parents or something."
"We got word from the precinct currently holding Kurogiri..." Present Mic said quietly. "He's actually a Nomu."
"And he was made from the corpse...of Oboro Shirakumo," Aizawa added.
Everyone who heard this gasped in shock and horror. Oboro Shirakumo had attended UA alongside Aizawa, Hizashi, and Nemuri but never made it to graduation, having been killed during a villain's attack.
"This just got more personal..." Bang said. "Not only is my former pupil Garou a member of the League and they have kidnapped one of your students as well as three of our comrades...but they have also been desecrating the dead this entire time."
"It's about to get worse!" Sansa Tamagawa, Naomasa's assistant, cried as he came in. "Tune in to the news! The HPSC has an announcement!"
DEVIL
Ben slowly opened his eyes to find himself in chains, Quirk Suppresant cuffs bounding his arms together. Struggling, he looked around only to notice his surroundings. He was in some kind of sterilized labroom and already, bad memories were filling his head.
"No…." He whimpered, trying to look for a way out, or some kind of detail that would prove this was a dream. "No! No, no, no, no, no...! Not here! Not again!"
"Yes..." A cold, familiar, malevolent voice spoke up. "Welcome home, my boy..."
Ben paused and gulped, turning to see a faceless man in a suit attached to a breathing machine and fat, elderly man.
"My greatest creation." Ujiko beamed.
"…Old men." Ben growled.
"Now, now boy? Is that any way to talk to you father?"
"Dunno; you never had one and Uncle Yoiuchi spoke like that just fine." Ben smirked, delighted at their shocked looks. "Oh yeah. I…no, WE know all about him and the others. Benefits of being friends with not only the current host a mind-walker."
He purposefully didn't hint at two users.
"You need re-calibrating."
"Well going to be pretty hard now that I know what ACTUAL love and affection is." Ben smirked.
"…fair points." All for One mused as the door slid open, revealing a four armed Nomu carrying Ragdoll, Mandalay and Pixie Bob, all bound and gagged.
"All. The lovely Wild, Wild Pussycats."
Ben tensed and prepared tp attack, but somehow, someway? One twicth from All for One froze him in his place.
"Now, boy? you get to see what happens to those who defy me..."
All For One then grabbed Ragdoll by the face, making her scream in agony as he tore her Quirk right out of her. Ben began thrashing in his chains as he let go of Ragdoll, who collapsed in a catatonic heap.
"TOMOKO!" Mandalay screamed.
"You bastard!" Pixie-Bob snapped as she tried to attack, only for All For One to grab her by the face and rip her Quirk out as well, making her howl in agony as he dropped her unceremoniously on the floor.
"Ujiko, old friend, throw her to Rapunzel and Magne. I believe those two want her the most."
The evil old doctor smirked as he snapped his fingers and a lanky four-armed Nomu came in, picking up Pixie-Bob in one pair of arms while carrying Ragdoll in the other pair.
"I wish to take Ragdoll here as a potential...subject. Do with Miss Mandalay how you wish, old friend."
All For One chuckled as he loomed over the terrified Mandalay before grabbing her forcefully by the hair with one hand and grabbing her face with the other hand, yanking her Quirk out as well as the woman screamed before being dropped like trash.
"Ah...[Search],[Earth Flow], and[Telepathy]." The Symbol of Evil chuckled. "It's been so long since I could enjoy hauling in some quality Quirks."
"You bastard..." Ben growled out. "I'm going to kill you..."
"Is that any way to speak to your FATHER, boy?"
"You're NOT my father! You grew me out of a test tube and raised me to be a killer!" Ben roared. "A real father would never put his child through that!"
All For One sighed. "You were meant to be my backup in case Tomura ended up falling short. But it seems Shiki has taken my student under his wing now despite my best efforts to bring him back to my side."
Suddenly, the nearby TV All For One used to keep updated on the news of the world sparked to life with a message from the HPSC, making the Symbol of Evil smirk.
"Ooh, it seems the news is on. Shall we watch it together, my boy?"
DEVIL
The Five Elders rarely appeared to the public, staying behind the scenes as per the amnesty agreement they signed when the original Meta Liberation Army was defeated.
.Whenever they did appear? Things were serious; the last time they had appeared was five years ago, to give a cover story of several factory failures that had injured All Might. In reality, it was his battle with All for One.
"Trough the investigations conducted by Underground heroes who wish to be anonymous, we have come to realize that the kidnapped student is in fact a Nomu: An artificial human. The public would better recognise them the monsters who have attacked in the past few months." Saturn began.
"The HPSC cannot and will not allow for any more lives to be destroyed just for one boy." Mars added. "Especially not when UA has already fumbled by letting the boy in."
"Not only that, UA has done nothing to protect the public from the league, only investigating but never seeking permission to capture." Ethanbaron noted.=
"And so, you must ask yourselves..." Saturn said coldly. "Can UA really be trusted anymore?"
:"Effective immediately? Anyone who tries to follow through on this plan will have their hero license terminated and be declared a criminal of the worst offense." Warcry continued.
"The needs of the many outweigh a single life." Ju Peter finished.
DEVIL
All for One clapped his hands.
"Oh, how I do enjoy when those old fools entertain!" He smirked. "Well, son. Look like you're staying."
"No...my family will come...Izuku, Mom..." Ben tried to stay strong, but hearing and seeing the Five elders of all people tell everyone you were not worth saving?
"Family? You don't have one. I MADE YOU." All For One said coldly. "You were built to DESTROY. You can NEVER belong."
The room was silent as the tears continued to fall down Ben's face, the only noises being his choked sobs as hope began fading from him.
DEVIL
Suddenly, another broadcast took over screens across Japan.
"Good evening ladies, gentlemen and all non-binaries!" A familiar scientist smiled. "I am Dr. Vegapunk, joined today by Prinicpal Nezu."
The Principal of UA waved with a smile.
"To answer your question, Saturn? So long as our students are safe? We don't care what people think."
"And, on top of clearing up the confusion in the HPSC's errorous filled reports, we are here to tell you that, regardless of how the kidnapped student came to be? No child should, nor will they pay for the crimes of their parent, so long as proper heroes are around."
"To clarify Nomu are ALWAYS inhuman looking and come from corpses; Ben was grown. No different than egg and womb donating." The Stoat smirked as he sipped his tea. "A common misconception, but for the Elders to make such a blunder? Someone in I.T needs firing."
"Sadly, I am not surprised by this." Dr. Vegapunk said as the image of a tall Brazilian man, dressed like a pirate with a brilliant smile, appeared on the screen. "After all? The HPSC is still reeling from the failures of Destro, never mind what Roger, a Quirkless man, could do before All Might came along."
DEVIL
"….Q-Quirkless?" All for One asked as memories came to him; a rousing laughter, sword swings that sent him flying, dodging attacks from even Newgate's Quake fruit?
"Q-Q-Quirkless?"
Seeing his master tremble made Garaki sweat, which made Ben's despair lift ever so slightly.
DEVIL
"Stop him. STOP HIM NOW!" Imu roared to the Elders from their room, only to spy something that shook them:
Dr. Vegapunk was at UA, helping Support class students pull an all-nighter in real time. But then…
"…Clever Vegapunk." The true head of the HPSC mused. "…Clever."
DEVIL
The second the Elders had started speaking against Ben, the students had already been in motion.
"Mom? Dad? Komeko?" Izuku called them, only getting a message. "….I have to. Please, please. Don't think less of me. Know that I love you and want nothing less than to be with you guys. I know I've earned it. We all have! But…Ben is my friend. And if I can't save him? I could never call myself a hero. In case things go bad? I left some treasure and a house boat. Use it. Leave Japan. Go to Seabody and look for Shakky's bar. She'll help. I love you."
Hilda left her mother and Eri a similar message, as did Vivi and Melissa with their fathers. In fact, all of the kids did; asking their parents to forgive them for what they were about to do, that they loved them…and that they did NOT regret what they were about to do.
The S-Rankers and All Might, along with Tiger, decided to feign ignorance of the broadcast.
Costumes were slipped into.
Ammo was maxed out.
Weapons sharpened.
"Hang on, Ben...!" Izuku, Koby, Hitoshi, and Midnight all thought at the same time from their locations. "We're coming for you!"
Knightmare Lord A/N:
Hope you liked the Lilo & Stitch reference I threw in, Mrotrax! Next is the storm of the century as the League are about to realize they screwed with the wrong heroes!
And of course, just like in the One Piece universe, Dr. Vegapunk has shown what a Magnificent Bastard he really is! With a little help from the Rat God himself, Nedzu!
Mrotrax A/N:
Added a wee bit of humilatoon fro All for One and the HPSC here! Mild spoiler; we plan on doing SOMETHING akin to the Ace Witch hunt…but not Ace himself.
Sorry for the long wait, recovering from a busted knee.
Stay warm and safe!