It was… cold. And dark. So... dark.

It’s… cold. Midoriya’s eyes fluttered open. Something was pressing against him as he grabbed his head with his free hand. A wave of pain ran through it as he struggled to sit up. A hand reached out and pushed him back down and smoke covered him. “You should sit.”

Through the dark, a pair of red eyes stared at him. They looked so familiar. Like he’d seen them somewhere before. “You’re the one from the news. The one with those shadow creatures.”

Kage slowly got off his body and stood up, her short black hair giving off a red hue. “And here I thought you would at least remember my name. Izuku Midoriya.”

“!!!” Midoriya suddenly jumped up and ran his hands over his body. No burns? He remembered it. The crash. The flames. The voices calling out to make it stop. The last thing he ate climbed up his throat. He fought back puking as Kage patted his back. Even though it was comforting, he was still wary. “Where are we?”

When he looked up, he realized that there were hundreds of shadows surrounding him. Their glowing red eyes with hazy smoke rising off their foggy bodies made it even more creepy. His stomach dropped and he scrambled back to where Kage was. “Let’s just say this is a place where I keep my shadows.”

She could see the look of confusion on his face before sighing. Pulling him close, her endless shadow engulfed them. He tried to scream, but it was snuffled out. Before he could even register what was happening the view of Musutafu skyline appeared in front of them.

Kage quickly pulled away and gave a soft wave. “I’m sorry Izuku, but I’ll tell you all about this when we meet again. I need to find Hato.”

She began to sink back into her shadow but was quickly stopped once Midoriya reached out and grabbed her hand. “Teka and Kacchan! Where are they?”

Kage turned away with a look of guilt. “…I don’t know. But if it makes you feel better, they're alive."

Her shadow pulled her down before he could get another word out. Leaving him to sit and think about what just happened.

*

A few days after Flaming Christmas…

“Akako! Where are you?” A girl, no older than five, shouted across a massive forest. The tress rustled a bit from her voice and a bit of annoyance flashed across her face. Fine then! Blue embers leaked off her white hair as she spread out thin lines of flames. They reached out the farthest parts of the forest until she felt her flames being snuffed out. She grinned and materialized above Kage, her older sister and only friend besides Kori. “Look at what I brought back this time!”

Guns, weapons, toys, and much more decorated the grass. Akako didn’t really care though. Ever since her core had developed, she’d started to ignore Teka and focus on controlling it. It frustrated Akako to no end that Teka did nothing but play with their grandma while Akako still struggled. “Teka, don’t you think you should stop? You know that Mother forbid us from going and you keep on doing it!”

Teka pouted a bit and twirled her fingers. “But they’re so different from the stories. They’re… nice.” She pulled out a piece of chocolate and showed it to her. “See? They even gave me this!”

“Now you taking food from them?” Smoke began leaking off of her. “If Mother finds out, it'll be bad. You already know she doesn't like you."

Teka simply brushed it off and put it in her mouth. “I’m an expert at sneaking! All you have to do is hide your Ether from the guards!” She formed blue flames around her and lowered the temperature until it matched its surroundings. “See? It’s not so hard.”

Akako stared at her with a dumbstruck expression. “You’ve… already learned how to control your flames?”

“Yea! Grandma said it was amazing, but Mother said it must've been a blessing. She had that evil look when she said it though.”

Akako swallowed her pride and said, “Could… could you help me with my smoke?”

“Of course!”

“First you have to….”

“Like this?”

“Yea and…”

“!!!”

The day passed fast as Teka helped Akako with her smoke. In fact, it went by that it seemed like a dream.

"Teka… Teka!”

Yea. It was just a dream.

Her sapphire eyes opened to two people standing in front of her. Where… am I? She was in a container full of a clear blue liquid. The clothes that she’d been wearing on Christmas had been replaced with a medical gown. Her cracks were covered with bandages. Wires ran inside her body and there was a breathing tube running down her throat.

Teka’s vision cleared. She tried to move her arms, but they were bound. For a second, panic set on her face when she saw the white hair. But she quickly calmed down when she realized it was a familiar face.

“Teka? Can you hear us?” Kori’s voice shook her body. Teka nodded slightly. Even though it strained her neck. “Good. I’m going to retract the wires now alright? I’m not sure if it’ll hurt, but please bear it for a little if it does.”

Since Teka couldn’t speak, she nodded again. With that, the wires began to slowly pull themselves out of her body. And it hurt. A lot. She shut her eyes and screamed on the inside. Her skin felt like it was burning but it didn’t stop.

Mei looked away as the liquid drained from the container with Teka in the center, heaving and gasping for air. Kori rushed in and covered her in towels to stop her shivering. This is a new type of pain. Teka chuckled a bit as she leaned against the glass and closed her eyes; still recoiling from the wires. “…How long was I out?”

“About three days.”

The last haziness of her vision faded and a changed Mei stood in front of her. White hair and pink eyes grabbed at her attention. Pink icicles that seemed to be decorated with a circuit like a pattern circled her. Kori followed her gaze and smiled a bit. “Yea I did exactly what you’re thinking."

The atmosphere was awkward as they carried them over to an empty room. Teka sighed and asked the question that had been on her mind ever since she woke up. “…So what now? I can’t repair my core unless I go back to the Aether. But if I go back, Mother will shatter me before I can even touch down.”

Kori and Mei smiled a little as Luna deployed holograms around her. From a few months after they came down from the Aether to just a few moments ago. “As soon as we came down from the Aether, I sought out someone that could help me. Mei here taught me almost everything I knew after I begged her for months..."

He scratched his chin a bit as Mei’s face turned a bit red. “And it’s because of her that I owe both of you my life.”

“Mei,” Teka’s glossy eyes met her pink ones. “How do you feel about this?”

“If you’re referring to being bonded to Kori, then I’m fine with it,” Ice formed in her right hand and an icy pink Luna in the other. “It’s because of him that I’m alive and that I can keep on building my machines, so I don’t really mind it.”

Teka rubbed at her eyes, ignoring the pain that was shooting down her arm. She closed her eyes and let out another sigh. So Izuku is Kage’s bond. “Have you contacted Mitsuki and Inko yet?”

Kori shook his head. “No. I thought that you should be the one to do it.”

“That won’t happen for a while,” Teka shifted towards the tv and hit a button. “After all, I made a promise that I would make sure Bakugo gets home safety.”

*

Under the cracked core and blue roses that silently hovered above the streets, the Prime Minister of Japan gave a speech. It wasn’t to address the people of Japan, but the entire world that had been watching. Including the video that had been broadcasted by Curious and Hato.

“Hello, citizens of Japan,” The Commissioner General’s voice boomed over the speakers. “I know many of you are waiting for what the Prime Minister has to say about the incident that happened just a few days ago. But I must say this. His eyes became more serious than before as he stared into the cameras.

“Teka Kai, also known as the Phoenix, and her associates are not human. As of now, Izuku Midoriya, of her associates, has already been questioned. If you see them or anyone remotely similar to them, you should report them to the nearest hero office or police station immediately. That is all I have to say at this very moment.”

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

The reporters were rightfully pissed that he had so little to say. But, they quickly became quiet as a middle-aged man approached the stage. Yuko Rin, the current leading Prime Minster stood at the podium.

“Good Afternoon everyone. I would like to start by thanking the heroes and others who defended Tokyo and Minato City from these villain attacks. It’s a miracle that we managed to have a few civilians with minor injuries.”

The faces of the reports showed little interest. They’d known about this already which is why they wanted Rin to throw them a proper bone… which is exactly what he did. Rin eyed the flaming core and roses before continuing.

“Now for the video that was broadcasted on Christmas eve. Curious, known as Chitose Kizuki used her position as a high ranked at Tokyo broadcasting to gain access and play this clip across Tokyo, Minato, and a few other cities. She’s currently in our custody and is being questioned. We also believe that Teka Kai, Hato Sora, and Akako Kage are all related to one another and are considered royalty.” A hologram of Axel, Riza, and Rei kneeling as Teka passed. “All Might and Endeavor reported that the rest of the other creatures around the city began to break down and disappear soon after the dragon was dealt with." Rin stopped suddenly once he made eye contact with Ami, who was glaring at him to shut up.

He bowed to the cameras and declared that he would never let an incident like this happen again. What he didn’t know was that one day, this would bite him in the ass.

“Sir! Will you answer some questions?”

“Yes, just a few please!”

“Please Prime Minister, the public would like to know!

The Commissioner-General and Ami were signaling for him to say no, but how could the Prime Minister turn his back on reporters? He nodded and pointed to one of the many.

“Sir, do you know exactly what Teka Kai and these other people like her are?”

“We have a faint idea as of now."

“Do you think Ryuku, the dragon hero, is a part of them?”

“We still don’t know for sure at this point in time.”

“What about the three children that were killed on that day? One of them suddenly appeared in Musutafu a few hours after we witnessed their bodies being pulled out of the drone! Do you have anything to say to the families that are grieving?”

“We’re working hard to bring back the rest of the missing back home to their families. As of now, we have heroes and private agencies searching across Japan to find them.”

“Do you think Teka's power could be used to revive and heal people? All Might and Endeavor along with a long list of civilians reported that injuries they’d received disappeared once her blue flames touched them.”

“I do think it could be used, but ultimately, it’s up to her to choose what to do with that kind of power.”

The reporters went back and forth for a little over an hour before Ami promptly stopped the interview before he said any classified data.

“If you think this is the rise of another race besides humans, then what are your intentions?”

“For now, our intentions are to find out as much as we can and to attempt to be peaceful with them. That's all I can say for now."

“Sir, you almost leaked classified info again.” Ami shut the car door and fell against the seats. She’d barely gotten the chance to sleep these past few days after the incidents of Flaming Christmas.

“Ah sorry, Ami.” He patted her head and turned to the city of Minato. The drones that’d been there just hours ago had scattered across Japan, leaving the floating blue flowers that filled the skies. “It’s just that when I get the chance to talk about something like this, I tend to go a bit wild.”

*

Usually, the Bakugo household would be lively. Whether it be shouting matches between Katsuki and his mother or just him training his quirk in the backyard. It was rarely quiet. Which is why the dark atmosphere around the house was odd but not surprising.

What wasn’t odd were the reporters camping outside the house. It was to be expected though. After the whole mess, Flaming Christmas caused, Inko, Mitsuki, and Masaru had all three become targets of the media.

It’s despicable. Ryuku silently cursed the reporters as the heroes who’d been assigned to protect their house pushed them back.

“Ryuku! Just a quick word!”

“Please, a quote from the number 10 hero!”

She ignored them and moved past the barrier of police along with Hawks, Tsukauchi, and Aiko. “You two didn’t have to come along,” Ryuku said.

Tsukauchi shook his head and knocked on the door. “It’s not like I have a choice. If what Mr. Rin said is true then I need to know everything I can about beasts.”

Footsteps could be heard approaching. The door creaked opened to none other than Izuku Midoriya. Ryuku and Aiko flinched a little but hid it as best they could.

“You guys are here to see Aunti Mitsuki right?” He said, his voice a little quiet. Little trails of green smoke rose off his hair.

Ryuku nodded. “Is it alright if we come in?”

Midoriya responded by pulling the door open and nodding. “Just don’t be too loud. Aunt Mitsuki and Uncle Masaru are in the living room."

Naturally, they expected the Bakugos' to be sad. They literally saw their son fighting a dragon. An Ace at that.

Sniffling could be heard as they rounded the corner. They weren't from tears though. They were from Mitsuki's laughter from a photo book. "Oh! and this one when Izuku and Katsuki were in the bath together!" She shoved the photo over to Inko with a wild smile. "I still remember the huge mess they made too!"

Ryuku and the rest of them were stunned. She... isn't upset? Mitsuki turned around but with a lesser grin. "...I was wondering when you would show up."

“Ms. Bakugo… I would like to start out by saying that I take full responsibility for what happened to your son.” She lowered her head and ran her hand over her stomach. The icy mark that had been there evaporated a few hours after the end of Flaming Christmas so they could talk about Teka now with the risk of being shattered.

"Hm? Oh yea, don't worry about it." She waved a hand as to brush it off and flipped to the next page.

"Wait. You're... not upset?" Ryuku and Aiko were shocked at the lack of care. "Bakugo... though."

Her hand froze mid-page turn. "Teka. She promised that he would come home safe and sound. No matter what." She closed the book and faced the beasts as Inko sat beside her. "But there is a list of things I want to know."

Aiko stepped in this time. "I'll answer anything you want to know."

“So it’s true?” Inko interjected Small objects suddenly began to flow towards her. “Kori and Teka. They aren’t human?”

“Yes. It is.” Her eyes responded by glowing a harsh orange. “The same goes for Ryuku, me, and Midoriya.”

Inko’s face twisted into confusion but Izuku simply looked away, like he knew all along. “You must be mistaken right?”

“Not in the slightest.”

Aiko stared at Izuku for a moment before doing something that shocked almost everyone in the room. An assortment of metals began to form around her. They morphed into daggers and pointed themselves at him. “Sorry about this.”

Orange trails decorated the living room. They flashed across the room and raced towards Midoriya with blinding speed. Black hands suddenly rose from his shadow and grabbed the daggers that were inches from his face. They crumbled into dust and scattered. The tiny hands sunk back into his shadow.

The metals dispersed and the glow settled down. He didn’t meet her eyes though. “Izuku, let me ask you something. Besides Flaming Christmas, when was the last time you died? Or had a near-death experience?"

The smoke rising off of him increased. He looked up with wide eyes. Like he’d just remembered something. “…It was when Kacchan and I got lost in the forest when we were kids.”

Snow came down from the sky, littering the green forest. Two kids, one with small explosions crackling off his hand and another with nothing special, marched along. It was getting dark though and Midoriya was becoming more and more worried with each passing second.

Midoriya shivered while following Bakugo. “K-Kacchan, let's go back. I’m cold and it’s getting dark. The dragons might not even be here…”

“Tch, you nerd!” He stopped and pushed Deku into the snow, his hands lighting up in the process. “You can go back! I’m going to find one and make it mine!”

With a wild grin and bright red eyes, he ran into the forest. Fear ran up his body once he realized he was alone. “This… This isn’t funny Kacchan!” Midoriya stood up and ran after him. The snow came down even harder. His tears began to freeze as soon as they left his eyes and it was getting hard to even see.

After running for so long, he collapsed in the snow. His breath was ragged, and his little legs were tired. His vision faded in and out. Curling up into a ball, he settled next to a tree and tried to sleep. Just for a bit. I’ll sleep just for a bit. His green eyes dulled as he closed his eyes, still convinced that this was all just a little game.

“…” A creature with crimson eyes peered through the snow. Its wings forcing the trees to whiter into pieces and the snow to melt. It approached slowly until its nose was just inches away from Midoriya’s frozen face.

It purred a little before exploding into smoke and reforming as the Second Princess. Akako Kage.

“I guess that means we can’t play here anymore.” A voice said. Teka appeared while carrying a blonde-haired child covered in blue. Blood ran down from the corner of his head. An injury after running headfirst into a tree and falling into a ditch.

“Should we leave them here?” Kage questioned.

Teka shook her head and pointed to Midoriya. “He’s almost dead. I read in a book here that humans get a thing called ‘frostbite’ if they’re cold for too long. I… don’t think I can heal him though. I used up a lot of energy today.”

Kage scrunched up her forehead a little bit of guilt ran through her. If her flames can heal… then can my smoke? “I’ll do it this time!”

“Huh? You sure?”

“Of course I am!”

To a child, it made sense that her smoke and flames could do the same thing. Ignoring Teka’s wary look, she kneeled down in front of him, placed her palm on his chest, and tapped into her core.

“...It was her.” Tears hit the floor as that memory returned. Inko and everyone else watched as the green smoke circled Midoriya. "Akako Kage, right?"

Aiko sighed, took Tsukauchi’s tablet, and pulled up an old news report. She slid it to Mitsuki and Inko.

“We bring you this footage that the two kids who were reported missing were found in the forest surrounded by mysterious blue and black flowers. It seems that they are unharmed but people are wondering who saved them?

“Princess Teka and Kage saved both of their lives.” Aiko took a seat on the other side of Mitsuki. Her eyes began glowing again as she formed a small metallic statue of a dragon. “She made a promise to you, right? When she was a child, she made sure to never break a promise. This time is no different.”

Ryuku and Aiko both bowed down to the parents. “Her core right now is on the verge of shattering. If she attempts to heal Bakugo now, she’ll be shattered as a result. So please, just wait a bit longer for your son to come home.”

After this, they gave them their personal numbers and promised to keep in touch. Once they were in the car, Hawks asked a question that had been on his mind for so long. “Aiko. Ryuku. Let me ask you both a question.”

“Fire away Bird Brain.”

“The Queen and King. Where are they?”

They looked at one another for a few seconds. Ryuku decided to answer. “The King is shattered. The Queen is still alive. Though, it best not to get involved with her.”

“How did King shatter?”

Aiko’s eyes died down a little. “You’ll have to ask one of the Royals about it. It’s not our place to talk about it. All I can say is that it’s tied to the reason why the cracked core is hovering above Minato right now.”

“There is one thing I’d like to know though.” Hawks said. He raised his hand and raised up two fingers. “Two questions actually. One, that Bakugo kid. What’s going to happen to him? And two. What would happen if the core above Minato shattered?”

Aiko’s eyes narrowed and her eyes glowed a bit. “Are you planning on shattering her? I hope you know that just because I’m living on Earth doesn’t mean I’ll sit back and watch as Teka is shattered.”

“Right… It was just a hypothetical question.”

It was silent for a few seconds as the duo looked at one another. “Bakugo will become a beast. As for the core… if it does shatter, then Minato City will cease to exist.”