Chapter Text
Being a hero is more than defeating your foe, as far as All Might is concerned a hero must ‘save’ and ‘protect’ more than anything. Deep underground, in what would normally be a bunker, Class-B will , more-or-less, be given free reign of the underground maze for this exercise. The Labyrinth that spanned over the area, was pitch black and as spacious as a train tunnel. So deathly quiet that the slightest sound would reverberate and echo in all directions leading you nowhere. An environment unfamiliar and confusing, filled with surprises, adaptation and planning would be key in navigating it. The guide birds, mechanical marvels, were the only light in the dark and the only compass to be had. All Might told them to think of the birds as brave birds that snuck away with enough information to lead the heroes to their friends. These adorable machines would act as hostages, lighting the way and leading those that hold them towards each other.
Four students who enter at a time, divided into teams of two, heroes and villains.
The villains are categorized as the enforcer and the Mastermind. Upon the defeat of the ‘Mastermind’ all the hostages are considered ‘rescued’ and the enforcer is also defeated. Meanwhile if the 'Enforcer' is ‘captured’ the location of the hostages and the mastermind are revealed and the lights are turned on. And on the other hand, if all the hostages fell into the villains hands or if ten minutes passed and the heroes had yet to save all the hostages that would be their victory.
The villains entered the maze first free to scatter their hostages as they saw fit, mindful of the fact they only had 5 minutes to do so and hide themselves before the heroes entered. The heroes, the ‘Heavenly Edge” comprised of Kamakari Togaru and Shiozaki Ibara, after five minutes of waiting bravely entered the lair of the Villainous Golden Threads. Hearts brimming with determination that stood at the first crossroads, three tunnels that their bird ally shined its light on. It chirped, its beak pointed towards the right most tunnel; though not directly down it, it simply guided the way towards the nearest hostage. Togaru turned to Ibara only to find his partner had begun walking towards the tunnel on the far left instead of the right.
“I understand...” Ibara muttering to herself, her hair grasped between her fingers heedless of the prickly thorns that sprouted from her vine-like hair and the drops of blood she drew from her fingers. Togaru rolled his eyes. She was like this in class two, ever since their first day, she’d have moments like this. Whether teacher or student she’d pause as if something caught her eye, mumble into her hair and politely excuse herself to go do something else. As if at any point in the day she was only half awake.
It didn't really cause any problems, but it was like she was lost in her own world but naturally a gap between her and her peers had begun to form. After all, it was hard to see what she was thinking about and one one practically enjoyed feeling as if they were being seen through.
As far as Togaru was concerned the two of them couldn’t be more opposites from their clothing, her pristine white robes and his cool shred black cloak, to their attitude. Some would even say their Quirks were opposites too, greenery was made to be cut down after all and blades were meant to cut down all sorts of things. But he wasn’t the type to give any thought to prejudiced Quirk theories.
‘Dumbasses love the smell of their own shit, wish’in they were smarter than rocks.’ He always thought. What mattered most to him right now was that the clock was already ticking and she was off in space.
“Shiozaki!? Focus up!” He scraped his blades together to get her attention. “We’re going this way, get over here!!!!” Her eyes flickered to his for a moment, though he felt they saw through him and down darkness in the tunnel behind him.
Great and grander things were being whispered to Ibara; she nearly forgot that these words were for the select few to hear freely. She was glad her companion was patient enough to wait for her to finish her communion, she was truly blessed. Without a doubt this was the best combination for her. It would only be better if either of one of the other two were paired up with her. But the Lord’s trials are not for them to decide and whose trial or lesson this was, was yet to be seen.
“I’ve received a premonition." Ibara put a finger to her lip and pointed down to the tunnel to his left. “ This path will lead to a battle unlike any other that is where your struggle will begin. The berserkers lost in the dark his blade meeting only shadow without the power of life to guide his paths.” She said with a soft smile, her message delivered perfectly.
‘What the fuck is she talking about?’ He hadn’t a clue what she was talking about, so naturally he assumed it was some sort of roundabout insult. “...Is...is that your way of talking shit? Screw it! Put your hair up!” That was all the warning he gave her as he dashed at her his right arm sprouted a broad blade easily as wide and tall as his body. Ibara, didn't even flinch as her locs grew and lunged at him.
From the observation room the Class-B watched as the Heavenly Edge had begun to turn on itself. Countless layers of vines sliced to pieces as Togaru’s rampage continued, the hostage helplessly chirped as it watched the heroes clash against each other.
“Kamakiri-kun, I ask not for your faith in me but in my words, that is enough.” She said with Togaru firmly ensnared in her vines. They had lost a minute and half in this exchange, but Ibara was not worried and Togaru did not plan to keep track. “Now with that said let us work together. My battle is that way.” Ibara pointed to the left most path. “Yours is that way.” She pointed down the middle path.
“What are you gonna win that one?”
“...Yes. The future is not for me to know and my Lord would not give me a battle I cannot win. There is only one outcome.”
“Lord?” He snorted.
“If you feel like you’re having trouble simply look up and call for aid and I will light the way for you.” She offered with a friendly smile.
“Like I would, when I get back I’ll give you a hair cut.” He scoffed at her attitude.
“How sinful. My hair is my strength, it's endless. I don't think you can cut it all any easier than these walls.” So she said, and so they went their separate ways, the idea of true cooperation a foreign concept.
Class-1b watched the uneasy alliance, though the audio was poor the video quality was excellent. The cameras automatically focused on each participant, even the villains as they moved through the tunnels.
“They're just ignoring the poor bird...” Pony sighed. “They spent like two minutes fighting eachother...Are they gonna be okay?”
“They're tough, Kamakiri’s fast and Shiozaki-chan has every angle covered. The only real fighter on the villain side is Jolyne too...I think they’d be fine if one of them can win a 1v1." Juzo nodded to himself. “Well it might come down to Kinoko.”
“Nah! Jolyne’s the type of tough guy that could eat blood she can handle a 2v1!!” Tetsutetsu argued.
“Well you see...” It was time for a teacher to impart his wisdom and now that Vlad King left him to it, All Might would provide. “ In battle-!!!!!!” The Class turned to the Symbol of Peace with stars in their eyes as he hid a terrible cough behind a quick clearing of his throat. “Excuse me. Don’t lose sight of the goal.” He turned to the screen his back to the students as he wiped the blood from his lip. “ Defeating your enemy is not the only thing you set out to do, nor should it be. And you're not the only ones setting out to do it. There are times where heroes have to cooperate; whether with fellow heroes, the police, or even civilians. There are simply times when you must hold hands and work together. For instance,I can't save everyone and put out all the fires all at once. That is why we have many heroes of all sorts. In a place like this all you can depend on is each other and find the role most suited to you."
Back in the darkness, Jolyne barely had a moment to register the stomping footsteps that echoed down the tunnel before she saw the glint of light that danced from the floor to the ceiling and the blade that Stone Free caught between her hands. Togaru’s mad smile, illuminated by the bird that jostled against his hip as he slashed at her. The whiz of the blade cutting through the air whistled in her ears as she flipped back.
“What the hell? How’d you find me? I don't even have one of the birds?!” He was already on top of her again, another blade ready to slice her to pieces.
“Shut up and fight.” Was all he had to say, Ibara’s words whirled around in his skull as his blade shattered between her stand’s fists.
The walls sang as sparks burst forth as his blades kissed their surface. Already, he was well within striking distance. As he lunged through the air he thought back to the entrance exam. He didn’t really think too much about her but at the end she faced off against that giant robot.
’ Was she just stupid? Was she just brave? Or...was it possible...She just wanted a real fight?’ Those thoughts he had back then he’d find the answer here and now. The exercise might as well have been cut to pieces in his mind, forgotten, he decided that he would leave it all to Ibara.
For her part she was already aware of that, as she marched in the dark with purpose, the next few minutes clearly laid out before her.
‘A battle unlike any other’ Ibara’s words echoed in his mind even now as Jolyne’s quirk brought his blades to a screeching halt. The shawl that was wrapped around Jolyne’s shoulders had become a simple scarf fluttering on the breezeless air. She gestured for him to try again and he couldn't help but smile. He kicked up at her, a massive blade sprouted up from his foot as she side stepped him, his body twisted by the invisible force around his blades, snapped them and twirled him into the wall. He flipped and planted his feet on the wall, he swung his arm only for the tip of his long blade to clang and scrape against the opposite wall as Jolyne ducked under the clunky slash. The scarf around her neck shrank once more as Togaru gasped for breath, a dent formed as his stomach was pushed in.
“Wow she barely has to move...I mean I guess he can't see what's happening.” Kosei, a brown haired boy commented. “I’ve had people confused like that too.”
“Now, now, Don’t write this off as an innate disadvantage.” All Might advised. “He’s being a tad hasty.” He rubbed his chin, as Togaru made another large blade. “ It’s not just a difference in power, or a poor match up, Togaru picked a poor spot to start this fight. But it's never too late!”
In the end it all came down to experience. If he was more experienced he wouldn't have chosen to confront her in a tunnel but instead in one chamber where the tunnels connect. To make matters worse he found the tunnel too hard to cut. His wide strikes were cut short by the walls and it dampened his power and speed. On top of that he had yet to adapt to what he was facing. Togaru had failed to properly adapt to a ‘power he cannot see.’ That was the major difference between Togaru’s attempt to over power Jolyne and Bakugo’s.
“ORAORAORAORAORAORA!”He was caught in Stone Free’s flow lost in a sea of punches and kicks. No matter how he attacked he’d find only Stone Free’s fist or foot his blades would never reach Jolyne.
A battle he could never imagine, an outcome predestined. Launched into the wall he slid to the ground as Jolyne rolled her shoulders and approached. He could do nothing but look up at the ceiling, the long green vines barely visible under the light of the machine bird that Jolyne would take any second.
“Guess she was right.” He would have chuckled if he thought it was funny. He threw his head back and glared at the darkness that clung to the ceiling. “Fucking hell.”
“To overcome this trail you must swing with all your might,” a familiar voice echoed all around Jolyne tried to approach but was bared by a wall of thorns. “Do you have the courage to swing your blades at yourself? Can you?” From the light of the mechanical bird she could see it; from the greenery emerged a tiny creature. A fairy with wings made of petals, a body made of twirled together stems and a dress of thorns. A single halo hung over the creature's head as it landed on Togaru’s.
“You can talk through your...hair, what the heck are you say’in? I can win if I do that?” Togaru hugged himself.
“As the lord proclaims.” The vines responded.
“...”
“What the hell are you...?”
He swiped his arms, blood gushed out of his chest and sprayed all over he painted the walls and ceiling and even Jolyne crimson the smell of iron clogged the tunnel.
“Is...this okay? Sensei?” All Might barely heard the question as he watched Togaru cut himself open.
“...” A part of him thought to end it here. Once again things were escalating and once more he saw something shining in the eyes of a young student. “He....” All Might stared at the monitor, hands rested on his hips as he watched Togaru flick the blood off his blades. “He’s taken away her advantage.” Confused murmurs flooded the room as All Might sighed. ‘There's no shortage of reckless courage in this batch either.’
“It’s like thin wires tied and woven together...like a fist.” The blood flowing from his lips did nothing to hinder his brilliant smile as he leveled his blade at Jolyne and her scarf vanished as the blade scraped against her helmet and Stone Free’s fist narrowly missed his cheek. His barrage began anew. Thin blades, short blades, nothing that would catch on the walls or the ceiling. “Imma cut you down!”
All Might’s smile tinged at the choice in words but said nothing.
“He’s dodging now...Oh.” Lightly, Setsuna hammered her fist into her palm. “It’s the blood. He splattered it around so can see how her Quirk works.” All Might nodded and gave her a thumbs up.
“What's there to see? I thought Jolyne’s Quirk just moved things with her mind?” Pony asked with a tilt of her head.
“Well apparently it uses some part of her body to make something and that's what touches stuff. So to make it easier to see; he went for his blood.” They watched those blood stained blades dance. He ducked and weaved around Jolyne with a smile on his face; his mandibles chittered excitedly. While Jolyne and Togaru danced with fists, thread, and blades Kinoko ran as fast as her legs could carry her.
“Oh please, gods, someone help me!!”
“Oh? Please wait a moment for me. If you stop running I could pray with you.” Kinoko did not want to turn around, if she did she would see a sea of vines and the white clad girl skipping ahead of it as she chased her down a tunnel.
‘How’d she get here so fast and how was she tracking her down so easily without a bird? This is totally different from what the plan was supposed to be, Jolyne!’ She cried as she ran down another path, she had no idea where she was going but the string around her finger would guide her back to Jolyne.
“Alright, that should do it.” Jolnye let her hand go, Kinoko felt something loop around her pinky finger and her ear. “That way I’ll know if something happens to you.”
“Huh? W-why would you need to know if something happens to me?” She stammered as Jolyne wrapped a purple band on herself and a gold one on Kinoko’s wrist.
“You are the mastermind.” Jolyne told her after they found a hiding spot deep in the maze, it’d take at least a few minutes for them to find. They could have gone deeper but they needed to settle on a plan for their defense with the time they had left. “I think you’ll be a better fit.”
“Me!? Nonono! I should be the enforcer! You can fight right?...Oh, well If I have to do it they’ll take me down in no time at all! But still! T-there's no waaay!” She waved her hands as if she could bat away Jolyne’s idea like it were a fly. Between the two the Mastermind was clearly the most important role, if the timer was the hero's losing condition than the Mastermind was the villain's it was so obvious that she felt it didn't even need to be said out loud.
And yet Jolyne had wanted her to be the Mastermind. To her it was simply ridiculous.
“The enforcer fights but if they lose the lights come on. I can use my power to feel around but you can't right? So it makes sense for you to be the mastermind.”
“Right...that makes sense.” She let out a sigh of relief, “if I was the enforcer I’d be useless and then the lights would turn on...at least this way you have the element of surprise...”
“Nah screw that, I’m not planning to lose either way. If I can beat them great but... If I lose, we're not losing cause I’m leaving everything up to you.”
“Me?”
“ When the lights come on you’ll be able to see but most importantly I’ll be out of the way, your power isn't really friendly right? I'll be out of your way Kinoko and then you let ‘em have it!”
“Well, w-what if...no way. Mushrooms won’t cut it , right?”
“You know you're Quirk really well, and me well I’m still figuring out all the things I can do, well so I’m sure you’ll figure something out in a pinch.”
“But...I...”
“Hey, it's only if I lose.” She laughed.
But here Kinoko was on the run and Ibara was anything but lost.
‘Did something happen to Jolyne!? Are we on plan B already!? I’m not ready!’
Kinoko knew that everyone in their class was at least decently athletic, but Ibara managed to get her in three minutes. And even as she ran Ibara’s pace never changed but if she went left she’d go left, right and right. In this maze even when she hadn't seen her turn Ibara was always behind her without fail. That didn’t make sense thing wrapped around to her, Kinoko had Jolyne’s quirk to guide her, this string-like thing wrapped around her finger it would lead her one of two ways: to the location of the hostages or to Jolyne in case they somehow found her or where the birds were.
Yet without a single bird or shred of light Ibara had found her, time and time again. Like she could see just fine even in the dark.
“I truly am blessed.” Ibara said, hands clapped together in prayer, the sound boomed through the tunnels. “To meet another angel and to face another plant-based Quirk.” Kinko skidded to a halt and turned around.
“Mushrooms are not plants! They are Fun-Fungis! They’re their own category of organisms, neither mammal, plant, nor insect! Truth be told...they...”
“I see.” Ibara smiled and behind her a sea of vines was poised to strike. “Please face me, I would hate to strike from behind.”
“Jolyneeeee! Heeeeelp!” Kinoko could see the light of a bird as she followed the ‘string’ and Jolnye had long since been aware that her teammate was headed her way.
“Duck!” Jolyne roared as Stone free’s threads wrapped around Togaru’s arm and yanked him toward her. He sliced her side as she threw him over her shoulder as he turned into a whirling top that neatly sailed over Kinoko’s head and into a wall of thorns.
“Heavenly flowerbed.” Ibara smiled as Togaru sank into the embrace of her thorns. “Its something I've been working on. How is it?”
“I hate you, Shiozaki. For real.” Togaru said tangled in vines that scraped his skin and tore his cloak.
“Hate...how sinful but I’ll pray for you my friend. This is not the season for flames.”
“Jolyne! She found me!” Kinoko cried.
“Damn I didn’t think we’d go this way.” Jolyne chuckled. Even without the light of Togaru’s hostage she could always feel the threads of her Stand. Wrapped around Kinoko’s finger and the birds that they hid. And that same long strand was clutched in Ibara’s grasp. “Sorry this is my fault.”
“But..I...”
“We’re going with plan B. I’m counting on you, I’ll stall ‘em here.”
“B?! Waitwaitwait I’m not ready! I can't fight them! Togaru is scary! And Ibara...is also kind of scary right now.” The vine headed girl gasped. “And-”
“It’lll work out, I trust you and your mushrooms.” Jolyne cracked her knuckles, her scarf completely undone as Stone Free hovered over her shoulder. “Besdies I got business with Ibara here. I can’t let her get away with using my power as a red thread.” Kinoko didn't have much room to think, followed her advice and ran away.
“I agree, I too have been awaiting this day.” Ibara breathed out a sigh of relief. “Guardian Angels, walking the same path of righteousness, at the same time.” She claps her hands together, locs moving apart as something pokes through the veil of vines. From her hair a blurb of white noise rose up, chirps and a storm of words that she could barely understand. Directions, declarations, information that hardly made any sense. Finally the tiny Stand emerged from the vines, its tiny wings beat in time with the noise. “ But all of us meeting at a single point? It can only be a modern miracle.” It lazily flew around her head orbiting like a satellite. “Shall we introduce them to each other? My angel is called: I-Three. It blessed my heart with whispers of the future and guides your steps on the correct path. You made use of it yourself not too long ago at the exam.”
“...Why share all that?” Jolyne wanted to keep them talking, the longer it took them to attack the better position Kinoko would be in and it helped that while Ibara talked Stone Free was freely able to handle Togaru.
“I’ve already learned about your ability from the exam.” Ibara answered with a soft smile.“ So you see, it was only fair to share. With the word of our lord and the edge of the hunter... Cujoh-chan, your angel will lose here. I-Three’s future is undeniable.”
“You can just call me Jolyne, my stand is Stone Free.”
“Lovely.” Jolyne’s helmet cracked and crumbled, her cocky grin revealed Jolyne took a bold step forward into a forest of thorns as Togaru’s blade scraped across the walls, warning of his eager approach as he rushed at her once more. The only thing that blocked the tunnel Kinoko ran down was Jolyne herself.
“I got the mushroom. You can just hang back and pray for ‘em.” Instead of taking a step forward and taking a bloody fist to the face, he slid between her legs Stone Free’s fists all together. Togaru laughed but he turned his back on her. Stone Free yanked his cloak and tossed him back over to Ibara. He didn't catch himself this time and kidd across the ground and huffed as he stood once more.
“What I thought you wanted a 1v1?” She laughed. “Getting tired?”
“Win’s a win.” To get at the Mastermind Togaru knew just what he had to do and Ibara would follow the fate that proclaimed. “Move or get cut up.”
[The Butterfly will be cut down in a garden of thorns lost in the dark to bring about the light.] I Three proclaimed.
“If you’re trying to get me to give up you're insane.” Jolyne took a breath. “You were both waiting for this? Same and I’d hate to disappoint the two of you, so bring it on. Things aren’t gonna go the way you think. Even if I lose I’m gonna win.”
“You’re Angel will fight me as you handle Togaru’s blades.” Ibara stated the obvious as Stone Free flew right at her after all even if Togaru couldn’t see it properly Jolyne had no chance at beating her vines with her bare hands.
[You must approach.] I Three instructed from above Ibara as it slowly floated over to Jolnye. [Leave her nowhere to run, approach with courage in your heart.]
“What's that about?”
“That is simply I Three's benevolence." Ibara nodded proudly as her Stand silently floated around Jolyne’s head. “It can’t help but guide others down the best path. Though it will not help you escape the fated outcome.” Suddenly Stone Free veered off course and rushed Togaru as he leapt at Jolyne as she lunged straight at the pious girl. A wall of vines blocked her path.
“I think that was for you. Cause I was already coming straight for you! Ibara!” Her vines were cut, blood splattered across her face and robes. Her eyes stung but through a haze of red she saw a river of blood run down Jolyne’s hand. A broken chunk of one of Togaru’s blades clutched in each of her hands as her Stone Free grappled Togaru’s blades. “Would you look at that? I cut you. Did it tell you that? Want me to tell you how this ends? Armageddon!"
“Sinful!” Ibara took a step back as Jolyne twirled the blades in hand, a fierce glare pierced the two heroes as the enforcer blocked the way to the mastermind.
“Approach with care you bastards! I’m not gonna lose!”
The lights turned on. Two minutes were left on the clock, two whole minutes!? The mouth of the tunnel that she stood in front of glowed, an arrow path directed whoever was looking right here. So that's what he meant, they’d just have an arrow pointed to her?!
Plan B... This was a mistake!
Her ‘thread’ was still wrapped around her finger, she was signaling her that they were on the way, she was still helping her? Even now Jolyne really thought she could turn it around?
She could almost hear Jolyne in her head.
“Guys who brag about how strong they are all the time all fall apart when the time comes. They think they can't ever lose and when they get pressed they panic. You think you're weak, that's fine, but you still haven't refused to try right? That means you really wanna try it out right?” That's what she said when she protested Plan B.
“W-well it just goes without saying!” Her head cradled in her hands as she hissed under her breath, she could hear them running, they must have been just a tunnel or two off right now! “But there's no way I could-”
“ See you’re fine.” The Jolyne in her head was just so hardheaded! “You don't have to win in a cool or flashy way. No matter how you win as long as you do what's important, fuck what other people think. But I guess you wanna be an idol-hero right? Then sell it to us. Be flashy your way and teach ‘em how cool you are!” Her voice faded but the ‘thread’ tightened around her hand, telling her to go one, urging her to fight.
Figure something out, figure something out! Jolyne left it up to her, not because she had to but because she wanted to, she believed this was the way to win and that she, somehow could pull this off! The scraping of Togaru-kun's blade and the echo of their footsteps had her stomach in knots. The sound of the sweat that rolled down her cheeks splattered against the small puddle at her feet, rang loud in ears. Sweat? Her hands were covered in sweat, standing here her breath felt ragged; chest rose and fell to the rapid beating of her heart. The air in the tunnels had grown humid over these last few minutes and no wonder the four of them ran marathons and wherever the vents were she never felt any sort of AC.
“Before I can show you how cute they are...I’ll show everyone...how strong mushrooms are!” Kinoko’s eyes burned. And so she ran from them, she followed the thread Jolyne gave her all the way back to the back where they hid their hostages, and the tunnels showed them the way to her so she ran even more. When they cornered her their cloak and robes covered in blood, they huffed and puffed, they were put through the wringer and still going, she couldn't be the only one to give up! She had one shot to take them down.
“It's nice and dark here because you covered up the lights with those vines... and...and Jolyne fighting has made it nice and humid. You guys are dripping with sweat too. After all that running around we did...now... It's perfect. This is our Plan B-” Her guns hoisted up, god her heart was about to burst out of her chest if her lungs didn't explode first. She tossed her guns Togaru-kun’s way and naturally he sliced them apart. Poof, two massive clouds of spores were born and gently flew like snow. The clap of her hands echoed and barely managed to wheeze out:
“Golden Threads.” A hunk of Ibara-chan’s vines suddenly wrapped around spread out and rushed to the ceiling pulling them high into the air as they anchored into the walls. Togaru-kun thrashed about tangled in her vines , blades spilling out of his body but no matter how much he cut there was another layer of vines pushed up trying to reach the ceiling.
“Shiozaki!! What the hell are you and your hair goddamned doing!? Let me go!”
“My hair is a blessing! N-no wait...It’s caught on...” Kinoko slumped against the wall and cradled the two hostages as she watched the golden threads weave throughout Ibara’s hair, the normally thin noodle-like mushrooms were like snakes wrapped under her locs.
“Golden threads...Mushrooms grow and thrive in the dark but they like the lime light too. In fact they grow towards it.”
“I didn’t hear about this...” Ibara-chan clasped in her hands in prayer as her hair sprang into action like a wave, snapping through the golden threads with renewed vigor and power. Perfect, the main course was ready to be served. Ibara-chan froze, a bead of sweat rolled down her face as her hair went stiff. “No wait, what have you done to my blessings?”
“Your hair is like a plant right? You take good care of it...it's full of life. That's a good place for fungi to grow and...strong vines like yours...it's no different from the roots of a tree.” Before a single loc could reach her whole new family of mushrooms had bloomed, much larger than she had ever seen as if they feasted on the life running through Ibara-chan’s hair. Tons and tons of mushrooms pulled her down to earth as gravity demanded but Ibara-chan was far stronger than that even this early she was clearly an ace of the class all these mushrooms did was slow her tow an inch. But still Mushrooms were tough too and mushrooms born from her vines even moreso. The vines, one by one fell to the ground withering from the root as golden noodles fell out of Ibara’s head and something new grew. They took root in her head like her hair and spread to her locs and choked them off at their roots. The more she fought they more they grew and the more they infested her locs.
“These mushrooms are...Honey Mushrooms they love strong roots! This is our Mushygeddon!! Armillaria! OSTOYAE!!!” These creamy brown mushrooms sprouted from the rot of the golden threads and her own locs and grew and grew and grew. Ibara-chan was crushed and Togaru-kun roared and crashed into the ceiling by the massive caps that smothered the light. This was new, nothing like she’d ever seen before Ibara-chan’s quirk was better food than any tree, even her fallen locs were turned to a mushroom bed and spread through the tunnels.
In a forest of mushrooms that had grown so strong they dominated even the air itself, the light of the reunited hostages hugged over the forest of shrooms like triplets of suns. Kinoko’s shadow stretched across the room over Ibara-chan's still praying form. Togaru-kun’s broken and battered body hung above, they could be mistaken for mushrooms themselves after being buried alive. The idol of mushrooms took the lights into her hands as she walked forward gingerly over stepping every shroom both human or otherwise and followed the thread on her hand back to her partner in crime. She stood over Jolyne’s battlefield adorned with shattered blades and thorns. A gloved hand shakily rose and Kinoko slapped her palm and pulled Jolyne to her feet! With the ‘x’s’ of her iris visible Kinoko turned to the camera recording this session, and gave it a peace sign with a bright smile.
“ The heroes have been captured and the hostages as well! With 20 seconds left on the clock...The Golden Threads have gotten away with it! It's their hard earned victory!!”
No matter what your power, your circumstances, your environment and your goal can alter the way a fight unfolds. Their options limited, they needed to think about what winning truly meant, did it mean saving the civilians or defeating the villains. Was one possible without the other? With only ten minutes figuring out your approach was crucial. For both teams no matter the advantage, luck and pluck, clever planning, determination and focus was key. Class 1-B had honed their problem solving skills and worked around the environment itself to achieve their goals.
The tight confides made powerful and reckless actions difficult, and Togaru demonstrated that perfectly. His speed and power rendered useless by picking a poor location even with an ambush. On a side note he’d have to talk about Togaru’s recklessness, and he was sure Vlad King-sensei and Recovery Girl would as well. He shivered, the latter would probably have some choice words for him too, but how was he supposed to stop such passion!? Being a teacher was harder than he thought, his own mentor must have been at her wits end more than once with his own recklessness. The thought of her tired smile made his wounds ache just a bit less as he went over the footage.
There was only one exercise that confused him.
Team Pink Dark Brilliant, the heroes that were hunting down Double Feature. Without using their bird to guide them and without ever interacting with the Villains at all, Phantom Strike's Back won by saving the hostages in only one minute.
Even with invisibility, their keen sense of smell should have made up for it and they fully planned to protect their hostages until the ten minutes were up. But right under their noses, it was over before it began. He raked his hand through his hair, what could he say about this that he hadn't said to them already.
“Theres no feedback to give like this...” He coughed, he quickly hunched over and stuffed his face into his elbow,a fire rushed from his chest and up his throat the blood splattered against his clothes and lips. A ragged breath escaped his lung like a deflated balloon. Yeah, that's what overdoing it gets him. Today was a close one; he barely made it through the exercises. He had gotten lucky that he kept it together through the whole thing with only a few breaks but he welcomed the git horse with open arms and a smile! But what was he to do?! That first battle was the longest but it had demonstrated everything he wanted to impart on the students. A battle of the mind not of pure power.
The greatest mystery was Jolyne, her confrontation with Ibara seemed quite charged. Not only that...did she have to handle it that way? If she had stalled with Kinoko they could have won in the same way...Did she put Kinoko in that position on purpose? To push her forward? Amazing! But what could he expect from the young joestar? He was positive that she must be Joseph’s grandchild, which meant she was most likely Jotaro-kun’s daughter.
The creak of the door was like a gunshot, his chair clattered to the floor. No, no, no! His heart nearly exploded and his body tried to rebel against him. A deep breath, just one more time, just one more time. Deep breath. His loose clothing began to fill out with muscle. Just one more! Please, before that door opens just once more!!!
“It’s just me, relax before you explode.” Chiyo shuffled into the room and he flopped back into the comfortable chair as carefully locked the door behind her and all the steam flew out of him along with a helping of blood. “Doing work after coughing up what's left of your lung? Plus Ultra in everything you do, shouldn't be too surprised, just don’t let that boy copy your bad habits, Toshinori.”
“...Sorry. I will do my best.” There was nothing else to say, anything else would just be a blatant lie. Young Midoriya had tried to exceed his expectations at every turn so far, he had to do his best too. No, he had to go beyond even that to be a real teacher. “There's a lot for me to learn and live up to...”
“Don’t look so glum I’ve chewed you out enough today...In fact earlier today I had a little chat with Jolyne-chan and well I have to ask if she is related to that little Jotaro-chan? She’s got their little trademark on her neck and everything, same last name to boot.”
“I believe so.”
“His daughter comes here and not even a little heads up. Think there's a reason?” This was similar to a conversation he had with Vlad not too long ago, though it was about Jolyne’s name and how to approach the topic or even if it needed to be approached. She distanced herself from both her family and given name, and it was clear that her father wasn’t quiet in the picture. It was possible that Jotaro-kun didn’t even know she was enrolled.
“I...Don’t know. Well everyone has secrets...and he has many enemies. To distance himself to protect his daughter, my mentor did the same thing.” An unbreakable smile that could defeat anything. It was all flooding back and there was no way to stop it. Her powerful back, her dark hair and cape caught in the breeze as she floated in midair, so clear it was as if she was right before him. Shimura Nana, all the sacrifices she made to chip away at that demon.
Everything. She gambled everything, everything she had on him. On Quirkless Toshinori to carry the torch and put an end to it all. She didn’t win the fight but just like today’s exercise it wasn't the goal. He had to shape up or else he’d let down his own protégé and without a Symbol of Peace history may repeat itself and more sacrifices would have to be made. “...We just have to respect his wishes.”
“...I suppose, you’re right.” She sighed, “look at you so mature.” She gave him a tiny grin “I’ll go make us some tea.” In a blink he returned with two piping hot glasses. The two sat reminiscing on the past as she gave him a quick and easy grilling about his current physical condition. At some point she suddenly said something that left her looking grim. “I nearly forgot why I brought up Jojo-chan’s grandkid. Did you know Jolyne-chan went and met my own grandkid awhile back?”
To be Continued.