BitterSpoon

MARVEL:

Series:

Tinkerbelle Series (fem!OC x Pietro)

Oneshotes:

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KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES:

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STURNIOLO TRIPLETS:

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SIX OF CROWS:

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MARAUDER ERA:

Series:

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Oneshots:

Dead Girl's Wish (Remus)

GOLDEN TRIO ERA:

Series:

I thought it was me (Y/n x Fred Weasley)

Edith Dursley (Fem!OC x Fred Weasley--slowburn)

Oneshotes:

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STRANGER THINGS:

Series:

Sweetest Thing In Hell (Fem!Oc x Steve Harrington)

ATLA:

Oneshots:

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Series:

The Crystal Spirit Series (fem!OC x Zuko)

MHA:

Oneshots:

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Series:

Competitive By Nature (fem!OC x Bakugo)

DCU:

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MISCELLANEOUS:

Yuna checked the bottom of her shoes. “Nah, I like it. It’s practical. Plus, I’m cool enough without a fancy costume.” 

It was definitely more practical than iconic. A fitted green athletic shirt, camouflage cargo shorts, and sturdy leather combat boots made it look more like hiking gear than a superhero costume. Black utility holsters were strapped to her thighs. Fingerless gloves, elbow pads, and knee pads finished the outfit.

“Plus, I look like Lara Croft! But like if she was a botanist” Yuna said, bouncing around happily to check the sturdiness on her shoes. 

Denki looked at her oddly. “Isn’t that that video game character from like 200 years ago?”

“Yeah!” Yuna said, pumping her fists. “My parents had this super old remastered version– she like jumps off cliffs and climbs mountains and stuff. She’s epic!” 

“What in the pockets!” Mina asked, poking them. 

“Oh right!” Yuna, unzipped the pockets on her legs, showing off…..

A pack of tissues. 

Plant fertilizer. 

Nasal spray. 

Eye drops. 

Midoriya glanced over at Yuna, who was showing off her utilities. “Is that fertilizer?"

“Uhuh!” 

Denki gave her a weird look.  “Why….do you carry allergy medication?” 

“I have mild pollen allergies.” Yuna said, stuffing her things back in her pockets, zipping them up. 

Midoriya blinked at her. Then again. “You’re… allergic to pollen?” 

“Ironic huh! Had hay fever before my quirk even manifested.” Yuna said casually. “Your costume looks cute, Midoriya! You look like a bunny!” Yuna said, before turning back to chat with Mina, as Midoriya’s face glowed like a Christmas bulb, stammering awkward thank you’s. 

“Alright everyone! We’ll be split into teams of two! Hero teams and villain teams, in 2v2 indoor battles!” All Might announced. “Listen up! The story is that the Villains are hiding a weapon somewhere inside the building! The heroes must try to foil their plans, to do that, the Heroes have to catch the villains, or recover the weapon in time! Likewise, the villains win if they protect their weapon or capture the heroes!” 

“Unfortunately, this year we have an odd number of students, in which someone will have to fight again against two other classmates–” 

“Can I do it?” Yuna asked, popping her up from the crowd. 

All Might froze, skimming his script again. “I was going to draw names from a box, but since we have a volunteer– Fujisaki will be fighting alone!” 

“Sweet!” Yuna said, tying her hair up. 

“Uh Yuna, why would you want to fight alone? It puts you at a crazy disadvantage!” Midoriya asked. 

Grinning, Yuna just tilted her head. “Cause it sounds awesome!” 

Yuna was playing the Villain team, put against Kirishima and Sero as the Heros. 

Unfortunately, the match didn’t really last long, almost beating Todorki and Shoji’s team in time. 

Waiting, Yuna sat on top of the giant weapon, a prop that looked like a rocket bomb, as she waited for Sero and Kirishima to find her, practicing her villain laugh. 

“HAHAHAaaa, no, that’s dumb…..MWUAHEHE– okay no, those suck.” Yuna said, kicking her feet.

Yuna was just about to try another villain laugh when heavy footsteps thundered down the hallway.

The door burst open.

"There you are!" Kirishima called, skidding into the room with Sero close behind him. He flashed her an apologetic grin as he raised his fists. "No hard feelings, Yuna, but we're gonna have to—"

A thick vine shot out of the floor, wrapping around his ankle.

"OI, WHAT THE—"

The vine yanked him clean off his feet, and hurled him through the open window as he tried to harden. 

“You’re not – throwing me out a window that easily!” Sero exclaimed, shooting his tape at Yuna. 

Yuna jumped up, but the tape whirled around her ankle. “Huh” She tilted her head, before quickly flicking her wrist. 

A giant sunflower burst from the floor between them.

Sero reacted on instinct, firing another strip of tape around the thick stem, dragging the flower closer.

The flower bud twitched. 

"....wait–"

The sunflower burst open, expelling a cloud of pollen around the room. 

“Aw–cra–” Sero is cut off by a sneeze attack, before he feels his eyelids grow heavier and heavier and heavier, tape unraveling from Yuna’s ankle. 

“Seriously?” Sero mumbled before collapsing to the floor, snoring. 

“TEAM FUJISAKI– VILLAINS WIN!” All Might’s voice rang out. 

“MWUAHAHAHAHA– achoo!!”  Yuna sniffled, taking out some tissues, voice now a bit nasally as she fanned away the pollen. “Aw c’mon! I finally got it that time.” 

—---

“Hey Yuna– where are you headed?” Mina called from a lunch table. “Come sit with us at lunch!” 

Stuffing her face with a melon bread, and then tucking 2 more rolls in my bag, Yuna ran past her. “”mm-Sorry–mm-can’t–” she said, hurrying towards the exit, grabbing her school bag and her bike. 

She steered her bicycle towards the exit, starting to ride, when suddenly Yuna screamed, yanking the handlebars to avoid crashing into ... .a hoard of people outside the school gates. 

She toppled over on her bike, crashing onto the pavement, groaning as she got up. 

“Are you a UA Student?” 

“Are you in All Might’s class?” 

“What do you have to say about All Might’s teaching skills!” 

Reporters. They had been swarming UA for the past 2 days to get a snippet on All Might becoming a teacher. 

“Yeah, no, he’s cool. Good teacher” Yuna said simply, picking up her bike.

But the second any words left her mouth, the press swarmed, her now asking a billion questions. 

“Oh sorry! Sorry! I gotta go! Sorry!” Yuna used her bike to clear a path. “Gotta go gotta go!” 

“Are UA students permitted to leave campus during lunch?” One reporter shoved a microphone. 

“Mind your business! I got family stuff!” Yuna said, getting back on her bike and zooming off. “Man, they made me drop all my melon buns.” She mumbled, as she raced to her sister’s elementary school, skidding to a stop at a nearby convenience store. 

Quickly buying a melon soda and a pastry, she hopped back on her bicycle, racing towards the school. 

She caught her breath just outside the gates, when a small five year old sister was suddenly air born, hurling herself at Yuna. “OHNEE-CHAN!” 

Yuna shrieked, catching her little sister on instinct. “Hi babes! How was school?” 

“It was so so cool, and we went on a walk and saw so many things! We had to draw flowers– and I told everyone how you can grow really really cool flowers– but the flowers we saw outside were also super cool!” 

Yuna put a helmet on her little sister, putting her in the booster seat of her bicycle– an add-on carrier she bought online. “That sounds super cool! I got you some dorayaki for lunch, hold on okay?” 

Yuna peddled her little sister back home, putting the impromptu-convenience store lunch on the table. “Do your homework okay? I also bought fresh fruit this morning, I cut it before school. It's in the fridge if you want it. I gotta head back to UA, see you at dinner babes” 

“Bye nee-chan!” Yumi said, happily sipping on melon soda as she waved to her sister, who was running  out the door again. 

“Woah, what the hell happened?” Yuna asked Mina, rushing into the campus to see one of the UA gates demolished, police cars and angry reporters being dragged away. 

“Some reporters broke onto campus! Dude you missed so much– Iida was so epic and calmed down the panic!” Mina explained, rushing Yuna inside, back to class. “Where were you?” 

“I had to pick up my little sister from school– how did reporters even get onto campus? Doesn’t UA have top tier security?” Yuna asked, as Mina and Yuna sat back down for class. 

“Yeah! Nobody really knows how they got in!” 

Everyone sat down in their classrooms after the panic of the break in, chatting. 

“Everyone sit down and shut up.” Mr Aizawa gruffed before explaining today’s Hero Basic’s class, as everyone stopped talking. “Today’s training exercise will be a little different. You’ll have three instructors, me, All Might and another faculty member will be keeping tabs on you.” 

Whispers and gasps rang out.

‘Three pros? Is this some special class?’ 

‘‘Do you think it’s because of the break in?’

Sero finally spoke up, raising his hand and calling out “Sir? What kinda training is this?” 

Mr Aizawa flung out a card with a flashy bright word written on it. 

RESCUE. “Rescue, you’ll be dealing with natural disasters, ship wrecks, things like that.” 

Chatter immediately began. 

“Diasters? Sounds like we’ll be in for a big workout!” 

“Totally!” 

“This is real hero stuff! I’m shaking with excitement!” 

“Finally I’ll be able to show off how good I am in water! Ribbit!” 

Mr Aizawa just stared at the class. “Guys. I’m not finished yet.” And everyone quickly silenced. “What you wear in this exercise is up to you, I know you’re excited about costumes. But keep in mind you haven’t gotten used to wearing them, and they might limit your ability.” 

“This special training is at an off campus facility so we’ll be taking a bus. That’s all. Start getting ready.” He said, before leaving the classroom. 

Everyone rushed to get their costumes and started chatting, waiting by the bus area. 

“Yuna! Aren’t you excited? This is real hero stuff!” Mina jumped around, shaking Yuna’s shoulders. 

“I mean I guess– I just wish it was combat training again– that simulation yesterday was so fun!” Yuna said, adjusting her elbow pads. “I’m still gonna rock it, just…kinda boring.” 

A loud whistle sounded. “LISTEN UP 1-A! Using your student numbers will help us form two neat lines so we can board the bus efficiently!” Iida– our new class rep yelled. 

“Wow, he’s really serious about his new position huh?” Yuna gossiped with Mina. 

“Oh totally! You should’ve seen him during the break in– he looked like the guy on emergency exit signs!” Mina said, as we got into lines. 

“The buses' open layout completely ruined my boarding strategy!” Iida sighed, as we all sat down on the bus. 

“Iida, you really need to chill.” Mina commented. 

Everyone chatted and talked about their quirks, getting to know each other and joking on the ride over. 

“No way, Kirishima! I think your quirk is really cool!” 

“Thanks, but I think it’d be easier to be a pro-hero if I had a flashy quirk” He said, leaning back. 

“My navel laser is the perfect combination of panache and strength,” Aoyoma sighed happily. 

Mina chimed in with a look. “Yeah but it’s totally lame if it gives you a stomach ache, sweetie” She said, putting a hand on Aoyama’s shoulder. “I think Yuna has a super flashy quirk! Her flowers are so pretty!” 

Yuna rolled her eyes, cracking her knuckles. “I don’t really care for the aesthetics– I mean yeah I guess they’re pretty but I just wanna kick some villain ass!” 

“Well if any of our classmates have Pro-Quirks, it’s definitely Todoroki and Bakugo!” Kirishima said as everyone turned to look at them. 

“Ribbit! Sure but Bakugo’s always angry, so he’ll never be that popular” Tsuyu said bluntly. 

Yelling, and leaning over the seat. “WHAT DID YOU SAY?! I’LL KICK YOUR ASS” Bakugo fumed.

Tsuyu just gestured to him dryly. “You see?” 

Even Denki joined in on the teasing, leaning back. “Ya know we basically just met you, and it’s kinda telling that we all know your personality is flaming crap mixed with garbage.” 

“YOU’RE GONNA REGRET THE DAY YOU APPLIED TO THIS SCHOOL, YOU LOSER, HUH?” Bakugo turned over to Denki. 

“I mean he’s not wrong. If you weren’t so strong, you'd be a total nut job.” Yuna laughed. 

“THE HELL YOU SAY, FLOWER GIRL?” He whipped around to her. 

“I mean come on, you’d probably yell at civilians if you tried to rescue them” She continued snickering, pulling her black and white hair into a ponytail. 

“LIKE HELL I WILL, YOU WANNA GO RACCOON-ASS?” 

“OH HELL YEAH, I’m gonna beat you to a pulp! Maybe that’ll knock you down a few pegs!” Yuna shot back at him, laughing. 

“Damn, she’s got some nerve standing up to him  like that” Kirishima chatted to Denki. 

“No kidding!” 

But before Yuna and Bakugo escalated to actually fighting on the bus, Aizawa’s voice silenced them all. “We’re almost there, stop messing around.” 

“Yes sir!” 

Everyone unloaded off the bus, stretching a bit as they headed into the facility, marvelling a bit. 

“Hello everyone! I’ve been waiting for you!” A female voice rang out, a giant cosmonaut suit waddled in front of them. 

Ochaca Uraraka started quietly squealing and jumping up and down. “That’s 13! The space hero! She’s one of my most favorite heroes!” 

No.13 stood in front of them. “Shipwrecks, fire , landslides, windstorms, forests, rocky terrain, urban settings– etc! This place was built to help you guys deal with different types of disasters!” She announced, gesturing around at the insane domed building. “I call it– the Unforeseen Simulation Joint! But you can call it– USJ!”

Mr Aizawa and No.13 stepped to the side to discuss why All Might wasn’t here yet as the rest of the students chatted and whispered about the place. 

“Dude, this place is so cool!” 

“It’s like an amusement park!” 

“Im so excited!” 

No.13 stepped to the front again. “Before we begin, I’d like to say one thing! Or maybe two, possibly three….or five–” 

“We get it!” The class chorused. 

“Listen carefully! I’m sure you’re aware of my powerful quirk. It’s called Black Hole, I can use it to suck up anything and turn it into dust.” She started explaining. “My quirk can be used to save people…but it can also be used to kill.” 

Even Ochaca Uraraka stopped bouncing for a bit, wide eyes. 

“Some of you also have powers that can be dangerous.” No.13 kept speaking. “In our superhuman society, all quirks are certified and extremely regulated, so it's easy to overlook how unsafe they can actually be. Please don’t forget that if you get distracted or make one wrong move, your powers can be deadly. Thanks to Aizawa’s fitness test, you have a solid idea of your quirks potential and because of All Might’s combat training, you’ve likely experienced how dangerous your powers are when used against other people. Carry those lessons over to this class!”

The class listened and started celebrating, eagerly talking to each other about working on rescue. 

Just as Aizawa was about to speak to 1-A, suddenly, the lights around the USJ started flickering erratically before going out completely. 

Some people gasped, as everyone inside looked around. 

“Woah, is it a power outage?” 

“What’s happening!” 

“Is this part of the training?”

That’s when a low, clanging boom started emitting from the center of the USJ. 

A dark, ambient portal expanded, swirling around in front of the fountain in the center of the USJ. 

“Stay together and don’t move!” Mr Aizawa commanded quickly. “Number 13, protect the students!” 

The class gasped, looking around, some people huddling closer.

“Woah! What is that thing?” Kirishima suddenly blurted, looking down into the center. “Wait has the training started already? I thought we were rescuing people?” 

A crowd of people started emerging from the dark swirling portal, as the class leaned over and squinted to see what was going on. Some students started moving closer. 

“Stay back!” Aizawa barked as he put on his yellow support goggles, as more people started emerging into the USJ. “This is real, and those are villains.” 

Everyone watched, almost shell shocked as hoards of villains piled out of the portal, marching down to the center of the USJ. 

Aizawa’s scarves started floating around as the students chatted. 

“What? Real villains?” Kirishima looked down at the hoard. “How could so many of them break into a UA facility this secure?”

Yaoyorozu stepped forwards. “Yeah, 13– why aren’t the alarms going off?” She asked the Pro-Hero. 

“Good question…” No.13 looked around. “I’m not sure.” 

Todoroki was analyzing the situation carefully as the class watched the villains enter. “Is the whole campus under attack? Or is this their only target? Either way, if the alarm systems aren’t triggered, one of these villains has a quirk that’s masking their presence here. They carefully chose this isolated entry point at a time where a class was being taught. They’re fools for trespassing here, but they thought this out. Whatever they planned they must have a concrete objective in mind.” 

“13, get the students out of here. And contact the main campus.” Aizawa commanded, stepping up. “Actually…if they’ve got the ability to block our sensors, then they might be jamming our regular communication lines. Kaminari– try using your quirk to contact the school.” 

“Yes sir!” 

Midoriya took an urgent step forwards. “What are you gonna do? You can’t fight them on your own! There’s too many of them, even if you can erase their quirks, your fighting style isn’t suited for this! Your power works best in one on one fights! It’s not gonna help with a group this big!” 

Aizawa just fixed his scarves and goggles. “You can’t be a pro with only one trick. I’ll leave it with you 13.” He said, before immediately diving head first into the center of the USJ. 

“Come on, everyone! Out!” Yuna started leading a group, following 13 as they raced for the exit of the USJ. 

But before they could reach the doors, the swirling black misty portal appeared, stopping them in their tracks. 

“There is no escape.” The voice in the black mist said. “It’s a pleasure to meet you….we are the League of Villains…I know it’s impolite, but we decided to invite ourselves into this haven of justice to say hello.” His voice echoed. “And besides, isn’t this a fitting place to have All Might, the symbol of peace, to take his last breath?” 

“They’re after All Might? He’s not even here–” Yuna looked at Mina. 

No. 13 unclipped one of her finger gloves, ready to turn the villain into ash– when Bakugo and Kirishima ran at the misty villain, attacking. 

“Did you think we were just gonna stand around and let you tear this place to shreds?” Kirishima asked, cracking his knuckles and resuming his stance as dust settled around. 

The echoey deep voice returned, misty wisps thrashing around. “You live up to your school’s reputation…But you should be more careful children, otherwise someone might get hurt.” 

“You two! Get out of the way right now!” No.13 yelled. 

“I’ll scatter you across this facility! To meet my comrades, and your deaths!” The voice boomed before windy dark mist swirling around them, thrashing. 

Yuna threw up her hands quickly, shielding some of her classmates with a dome of vines, covering Mina and helping others stay in place.

Everyone held onto each other in the gusting winds of the dark, yelling and shrieking. 

Some classmates disappeared, it was hard to see in the thrashing winds, but soon Yuna felt her stomach drop, holding onto Mina with her vines as they fell from the ceiling. 

Throwing out her hands quickly, Yuna and Mina landed on a bed of flowers to break their fall. 

“What just happened!” Mina shrieked, getting up and looking around. 

“I think he sent us to the forest zone…” Yuna said, looking around at the dense trees, squinting to see the rest of the USJ in the distance between branches. 

Suddenly Mina shrieked as villain thugs started firing at her. She splashed them with acid as ran to Yuna. “We’ve got a problem!” 

Yuna grinned, stretching her arms. “Now this is what I’m talking about!” She laughed, before running straight at them, vines wrapping around her arms and swinging. 

Joyous, almost innocent laughter rang around the forest zone of the USJ as Yuna fought against the villains. 

“Man! This is almost too easy!” Yuna laughed, as she used her vines to lift Mina on top of a tree so she could use her acid, splashing down at villains from the tree tops, and watching Yuna’s back. “You would think a group of villains who want to take down All Might would pack a bigger punch!” 

“Behind you!” Mina warned, splashing a villain with acid, hitting him in the face. 

“Nice!” Yuna laughed, grabbing the villain with a vine by the ankles. The villain barely had time to scream before the vine wrapped around his ankle. Yuna swung him like a wrecking ball, his body slamming into the trunk hard enough to shake leaves loose from the branches above.

 “Ha! Man those villains sure fucked up by putting me in a forrest! The world is my oyster!” Yuna jumped around as villains started swarming her again. 

She used vines to crack off big branches, swinging them like clubs as she charged at the thugs with a wicked grin. 

Raccoon hair whipped around in the wind of her attacks, jumping on big flowers and trees, beating up villains until she backed them into a circle, where she used vines to restrain them.

“Man, I’m thirsty.” Yuna sighed, fixing her ponytail. 

“Watch out!” Mina yelled, quickly dousing a villain who had snuck up behind Yuna with acid. 

“Oi! Thanks!” Yuna bounced on her feet., using plants to restrain the straggler. 

But the acid melted through the vines, Yuna quickly bashed a sunflower filled with sleep pollen in the villain's face, eyes tracking the withering plants. 

“I’m so sorry!” Mina gasped, jumping down from the tree to inspect the burning plants. 

“No it’s cool, I don’t really care, they’re just plants.” Yuna said, as the villain fell to the ground, asleep. “Woah…” Yuna crouched down at the withering plants, raising her hand gently and using her quirk to create a different plant, watching as it reacted to Mina’s acid. “We’re so playing with our quirks later.”

Standing up, Yuna looked around, using more plants to put all the restrained villain thugs to sleep. “Where are our other classmates?” 

Mina squinted, looking around. “Maybe they were put in other parts of the USJ? Look! I just saw Kaminari’s electricity blast by the mountain zone!” 

Yuna quickly hurried over, looking around. “We should go find them, if all the villains are as boring as our guys, we can take them down!” 

“Let’s go!” Mina grabbed her hand and they quickly started making their way out of the forest zone. 

Running around, Mina and Yuna looked around for their classmates. “Up there!” Mina pointed, a bigger group of their class was still closer to the exit to the USJ. “Let’s go help!” 

But when Mina turned around to look back at Yuna, Yuna was gone, faint laughter echoing. 

Meanwhile, Tsui, Mineta and Midoriya were crouched behind a curb, watching Aizawa take on a group of villains at the center plaza. 

“Remember Midoriya, we’re just here to see how things are going, right?” Mineta hissed. 

“Ribbit!” 

“I know….” Midoriya said, peeking over the curb to watch Mr Aizawa fight. “We’ll get out of here the second it gets dangerous.” 

Mr. Aizawa moved through the crowd of villains like a blur. His capture scarf snapped through the air, wrapping around attackers before they could react. He slammed villains into the floor without blinking.

Until the villain who had stepped out of the portal first, came running at him. Longer light gray hair, and too many hands to count sat around his face as the villain charged. 

The villain grabbed onto Aizawa’s capture scarf, and in a flash Aizawa elbowed him in the stomach. 

The villain started chatting to Aizawa, wide red eyes peeking through attached hands and he gripped onto Aizawa’s elbow, which started to crack and sizzle, exposing straight flesh. 

Aizawa pushed off of him quickly, as three more thugs swarmed him, he started fighting everyone as the skin flaked off his elbows. 

The gray haired villain kept chatting from a distance. “That annoying quirk of yours isn’t suited for drawn out fights against big groups is it? Don’t you think you’re a little out of your element?” 

Aizawa kept fighting the thug level villains, but the main villain did not stop talking. 

“Look at you! You’re still standing…You really are so cool.” He said, watching Aizawa fight, but it seemed he was buying time.

“Oh by the way hero…” The villain drawled, peeking through hands. “I am not the final boss.” 

And that’s when Aizawa turned around to see it. 

A massive, humanoid creature. With an off-gray dark purple body, wild eyes, giant muscles. An unnatural freak of nature, with an exposed skull. It looked like something out of a horror comic. 

SMACK! 

With a bloodied splash, Aizawa’s goggles flew off his face, landing a few feet away. 

“He’s the bioengineered anti-symbol of peace.” The villain's pupils dilated through his hands. “But you can call him Nomu.” 

“Mr Aizawa!” Yuna’s voice rang out in the center plaza, swinging in on a vine as she fought off other villains in the plaza, looking at the Nomu, and Mr Aizawa pinned to the floor, blood splattered around. “What the flying fuck is that thing!” Yuna shrieked, as she swung in, vines from the ceiling holding her weight. 

She swung into people, kicking them in the face, and using her quirk to grow giant branches to use as clubs like she did before.

She watched as Aizawa was getting tortured by Nomu, the freak was breaking his arms when he tried to move. 

Her eyes tracked it, as she used a vine to hurl one of the thugs across the USJ. 

Problem. 

Big Problem. 

So, she threw herself at it. 

She swung over, kicking the Nomu in the head, but it did no damage to the Nomu at all. She wrapped vines around it, and it briefly let go of Aizawa to roar, swinging its giant arms at Yuna. 

“Fujisaki! Get out of here!” Aizawa roared as Yuna swung around. 

“No way, teach!” Yuna called, as the Nomu narrowly missed her head with a fist. 

Aizawa gritted his teeth, looking up at the swinging girl. “You’re no match for this villain! Find your classmates!” He commanded, trying to struggle against the Nomu but getting his head smashed into the ground. 

“Like hell!” Yuna replied, dodging and swinging. “I have to do something!”

Yuna started to create structures with her vines, making a natural jungle gym with vines as she jumped and ran around. 

She jumped from platform to platform, trying to stick thorns into the Nomu while dodging it. She created new steps for herself under her feet as she ran. 

Her eyes flicked around, no longer laughing. 

The world seemed to slow for a second. 

She couldn’t restrain the Nomu. She couldn’t defeat the villains. 

There was a problem. And she couldn’t fix it. 

Yuna has never met a problem she couldn’t fix.

What could she do? What could she do?? What could she do???

—----------- FLASHBACK 

A twelve year old Yuna, stuck in a foster house. The foster parents she and Yumi had been placed with were busy. 

“Yuna! I’m gonna go to the store really quick– Sora’s caught up at work– You can watch Yumi for a bit right?” Their foster mom said, quickly grabbing some shopping bags and keys. 

Yuna looked up from her homework, nodding. “Yeah sure.” 

But the quick grocery run wasn’t as quick as Yuna would’ve liked. 

Homework was abandoned on the table, sun starting to set outside the house. 

A two year old Yumi was bawling, screaming and sobbing on the floor. 

“What’s wrong? Babes, what’s wrong? Are you hungry?” Yuna was crouched by her little sister who was violently screaming and crying. 

“My flower! I broke it!” Yumi screamed, clutching a paper-flower she had made earlier that day which was now ripped. 

“It’s okay, it’s okay– I can get some tape, we can fix it!” Yuna said, quickly grabbing tape but Yumi threw it across the room. 

“Nooo!” The two year old screamed, sobbing harder. 

“Okay okay, no tape, no tape.” Yuna said, running her fingers through her hair, pulling on the ends. “I’ll get water, do you want water? How about some crackers?” Yuna asked, running to a cabinet to grab some snacks and water. 

“No! No! No!” Yumi protested, hiccuping, snot leaking from her nose. 

“Hey, hey hey, it’s okay. It’s okay.” Yuna’s eyes darted around, trying to figure out what to do. 

Toddler Yumi was so much more difficult than Baby Yumi, baby Yumi needed few specific things. Now, Toddler Yumi needed everything, and needed routine, but got bored easily, but needed more, or less, or a lot less. 

Yuna sat down, pulling Yumi in her lap, breathing a bit heavily as she tried calming down her little sister, using her hoodie sleeves to wipe her nose. 

Yuna’s eyes looked at the ripped flower on the floor. Yuna quickly held out her hand in front of Yumi, and grew a flower in the floor boards, one that looked like the drawing. “See? Look at the pretty flower!” Yuna said, petting her little sister’s hair, and wiping her cheeks. 

Yumi sniffled, leaning into her sister’s touch as she looked at the flower, gently picking it from the floor and twirling it in her fingers. 

The sisters sat on the floor together. Yumi’s small hands touched the petals as she calmed down and stopped crying. Yuna just rubbed her shoulder and whispered sweet nothings to her. 

There’s a big possibility that Yumi just needed comfort from her sister, feeling sad and guilty over breaking her beloved paper flower. 

But in Yuna’s mind? She learned very quickly that flowers solved all her problems.

_____________ END OF FLASHBACK

Her eyes flicked to the Nomu’s exposed skull, as she quickly gained height with her vines, she didn’t hesitate. 

She made a rose stem, jumping onto the Nomu’s head and slamming one of the thorns into the exposed skull. 

The Nomu let out a huge roar, trying to swing at her.

“Is she crazy?!” Mineta gasped from the side. 

The grey haired villain scratched at his neck erratically. “This kid’s got a death wish.” He stammered, scratching. “But she’s no match for my Nomu….” 

“Fujisaki– what are you doing?!” Aizawa’s voice rang out from the ground. 

Yuna, holding on for dear life, clutching onto the giant rose now embedded into the Nomu’s head as the Nomu thrashed around erratically. “Helping??” She called back. 

“Kurogiri….” The villain scratched at his neck when the warp villain told him that someone escaped to go get help. “If you weren’t the warp gate… I’d tear apart every last atom in your body…” His gravelly voice scratched at his vocal chords, as he scratched his neck. 

Then suddenly, the villain reached out to grab Tsui by the head. 

But when he touched her….nothing happened. 

No withering, no cracking, no reveal of flesh like with Aizawa’s elbow. 

“You really are so cool….aren’t you, Eraserhead?” The villain turned back to look at Aizawa. 

Aizawa was forcing his head up, able to erase the villain's quirk now that the Nomu was partially distracted by Yuna’s attack. 

Yuna was flung off of the Nomu’s head when Midoriya sent a punch flying into the Nomu, who had appeared in front of– the assumed leader of the League of Villains– letting go of Aizawa.

“OW!” Yuna grunted as she landed on the plaza floor, rolling around before quickly getting up, both Midoriyia’s punch and the Nomu’s sudden surge forwards caused her to fly off. 

The Nomu was now trying to attack Midoriya, whose punch seemed to have no effect. 

The Nomu swung at Midoryia. 

The main villain reached to grab Tsui and Mineta to disintegrate them. 

Tsui went to grab Midoriyia with her tongue.

Yuna flung herself full force at the Nomu again. 

And that’s when the door to the USJ slammed open, right off its hinges. 

“Have no fear students!” A familiar voice boomed. “I am here.” 

The battle field seemed to stop, as All Might, clad in his teaching suit, stepped into the USJ center plaza. 

In a blur of movement, All Might had taken Yuna, Tsui, Midoriya, Mineta and Aizawa safely to the side, away from the villains. 

“Everybody back to the entrance! Take Aizawa with you! He doesn’t have much time.” All Might told them. 

Everyone got to work lifting Aizawa as Midoriyia pressed his concern about the villain’s strength. 

But All Might just sent them on their way. 

Carrying Aizawa, the group of students walked their way back to the entrance to the USJ. 

Mineta held Aizawa’s feet, while Midoriya held up his body on his back. 

Tsui led the group, and Yuna used her vines to toss any straggler villains out of their way. 

But as they were moving closer to the exit, they watched as…All Might struggled….

Restrained and about to be popped in half by Kurogiri’s portals. 

And then Midoriya moved, handing Aizawa to Tsui. “Can you carry him for me?” He asked quickly, as Tsui took their teacher from him. 

The group watched as Midoriyia staggered, before bolting back to the USJ. 

“ARE YOU CRAZY?!” Mineta screamed. 

Yuna didn’t think twice before she was running back too. 

Midoriya leaped forwards and tried to grab the warp villain Kurogiri. 

With an explosive entrance, everyone heard a yell. “GET THE HELL OUTTA MY WAY, DEKU!”

Bakugo barreled in, grabbing the wide metal pipe in the middle of the dark mist and beginning to create explosions. 

When the dust settled, the floor turned to ice as the Nomu began to get covered by a thick sheet of ice.

 “One of your poorly trained thugs told me you’re here because you think you can kill All Might.” Todoroki’s voice rang out. 

Kirishima let out a battle cry as he barreled in, trying to take a shot at the leader-villain. “Damn! That was gonna be cool!” He gritted as the leader villain ducked out of the way. 

“Guess I found your body that time, you smoky bastard!” Bakugo grinned manically at the warp-villain, holding down the metal armour. 

“Party’s back on people!” Yuna laughed happily as she used her vines to restrain the other half of the Nomu. 

“The Symbol of Peace won’t be killed by delinquents like you.” Todoroki said dryly. 

The main villain peeked around through his hands. “Kurogiri….how could you let this brat get the better of you?” He asked the warp-villain. “You’ve gotten us into a real jam here…”

“You got careless, you dumb villain!” Bakugo replied, grinning. “Wasn’t hard to figure you out. Don’t move!” Bakugo sent some sparks and tiny blasts against the metal armour. “You try anything funny and I’ll blow your ass up right now, goddamit. They’ll be cleaning you up for weeks.” 

“That doesn't sound very heroic,” Kirishima quipped, giving him a look. 

The main villain just stood by the water, hands covering him, as he chatted to himself. 

“They escaped uninjured, and captured my two strongest men ... .Kids these days really are amazing,” He muttered. “They make the League of Villains look like amateurs. Can’t have that… Nomu” 

Upon being called, the Nomu fished himself out of the warp-portal, breaking off one of his arms, eyes darting around wildly before locking onto the main villain. 

His arm regenerated, layers of flesh expanding and building until the Nomu had both his arms again, dark purple skin pouring over the flesh. 

The Nomu suddenly bolted for the warp-villain and Bakugo. 

All Might practically hurled Bakugo out of the way, and he landed by the rest of the students. 

“You went after a child and didn’t hold back?” All Might panted, anger lacing his voice. 

“He went after my companion" The villain scratched at his neck. “Besides these kids aren’t angels ... .The plain looking one tried killing me with a maxxed out punch…and that flower girl stabbed my Nomu!” 

He began to monologue, now he had Kurgiri and the Nomu by his side. “What kind of hero does something like that? You think you can do something as violent as you want if you say it’s for the sake of others…. Well you know what All Might? That pisses me off. Why do people get to decide that some violent acts are heroic, while others are villainous…casting judgement on what's good and what’s evil…You think you’re the symbol of peace? You’re just another government instrument of violence. Violence always breeds more violence! I’ll make sure the world understands that when you’re dead.”

“You’re nothing but a lunatic.” All Might replied, putting up his fists. “Criminals like you always try to make your actions sound noble. Admit it, you’re only doing this because you like it!” He accused. 

“We outnumber them.” Todoroki said from the student group, rolling up his sleeves. 

“And Kacchan found the mist-guy’s weakness,” Midoriya added, getting into a fighting stance. 

“These guys seem tough, but we can take them down with All Might’s help.” Kirishima cracked his knuckles. 

“Let’s beat some villain ass!” Yuna bounced on her feet like a boxer. 

“Don’t Attack!” All Might commanded. “Get out of here!” 

Todoroki crossed his arms, scowling a bit. “You would’ve been in trouble earlier if it weren’t for me, remember? You need our help.” 

All Might replied, standing between the students and the villains. “I thank you for your assistance, but this is different. It’s gonna be alright. Just sit back and watch a Pro at work!” 

All Might went head to head with the Nomu, battling it out. 

The winds caused the students and the other villains to be pushed away from the conflict. 

Yuna laid some vines on the ground like a curb, using them to hold on, Midoriya, Bakugo, Todoroki and Kirishima also used it for balance. 

Everyone watched in awe, watching All Might beat the hell out of the Nomu. 

“A real hero will always find a way for justice to be served!” He bellowed through punches. 

The Nomu was sent crashing into the ground, fighting back until All Might smashed him against the floor, the ground broke beneath the Nomu. 

“Go Beyond! Plus Ultra!” All Might screamed, punching the Nomu so hard, the Nomu flew out of the USJ, breaking the ceiling and through clouds. 

“You’ve been bested, villains! Surrender, we all want to get this over with quickly.” All Might announced to Kurogiri and the leader. 

The gray haired villain's eyes widened behind the hands, scratching erratically at his neck, mumbling to himself. “No…..He….cheated….He’s not any weaker at all…Look what he did to my Nomu…..he cheated….come on…. Dammit….”

He started twitching erratically, scratching, pacing as Kurogiri comforted and cooed to him. 

The students all went back to back against the low-level villains who were recovering and getting back up off the floor. 

But the villains didn’t surrender, instead the leader charged All Might. 

Midoriya broke away from the group, jumping over the try and punch Kurogiri, legs breaking, looking like jelly in his pants as he aimed. 

But the leader, the one who could disintegrate human flesh– reached his hand through the warp-villain-Kurogiri, about to grab Midoryia’s face when…

BANG! BANG! BANG! 

The other teachers arrived at the USJ, shooting the leader of the League of Villains in the hand. 

The teachers and principle lined up at the USJ, easily taking the lower-level villain down with their quirks in quick succession. 

The leader backed up into the warp-villain, getting shot by some of the teachers, bleeding out. 

The warp-villain covered the leader with the mist, trying to teleport as No.13 was trying to suck up the mist with her quick…

But they succeeded in getting away, disappearing into mist without a hitch. 

Most of Class 1-A was standing outside of the USJ, being questioned by police and teachers, taking statements, and also talking to each other about the incident. 

“Everyone seems to be unharmed apart from that boy with the broken legs…but everyone else is okay.” The detective said, counting heads with a notepad and pen.  

Chatter broke out amongst the students, as people talked about the villains, the attack, fighting. 

“Fujisaki! You were so strong against that Nomu! Real manly stuff!” Kirishima said, bumping her shoulder with his fist. 

“Thank you! It was so much fun! Todoroki! You were epic!” Yuna replied, happily as the group who were in the center plaza talked to each other. 

The detective approached all of them again, and Tsui hopped over quickly. “Detective, how is Mr Aizawa?”

“His bones in his arms are fractured, fortunately there doesn’t seem to be any brain damage. But his orbital floor seems to be almost crushed. We have no idea if his eyesight will be impaired when he wakes up.” 

“Ribbit…” 

“Oh my god…” 

“His eyes!” 

Mina stepped forwards too. “Um sir, what about No.13?” 

The detective turned to her. “There’s no need to worry, despite some pretty bad lacerations to her back, we think she’s gonna pull through, good as new. And All Might is also without any serious injuries. He’s in the nurses office right now.” 

The class let out sighs of relief, looking at each other, rubbing their faces or brushing their hair. 

Iida and Uraraka also stepped up.

“What about Deku?” 

“How is Midoriya?" 

“Midor….Oh! Recovery Girl is taking care of him too. He’s fine.” The detective assured. “Now, let’s get you all back to class.” 

“Yes sir!” 

The detective checked his notebook. “Oh right, Fujisaki, Yuna?” 

Yuna perked up her head, taking her hair tie out. “Yes?” 

“Please come over here, Mr Aizawa wanted to talk to you.” The detective said, pulling out his phone. 

Yuna hurried over, waving to her friends. “Yeah of course! What’s up?” 

The detective called someone, before passing the phone to her. 

“Mr. Aizawa?” Yuna put the phone to her ear. 

There was some rustling on the other end, a doctor saying he had five minutes to talk, that he should be resting. “Fujisaki.” Aizawa’s hoarse voice came through the line. 

“Mr Aizawa! Are you okay? They said you’re in the hospital!” 

There came a cough before the hoarse voice replied. “I’m fine. Do you have any idea how close you came to dying today?” 

Yuna tilted her head, pushing the phone closer. “I– what?” 

“You attacked the Nomu head on with no backup, and no real plan. It was incredibly reckless. You are not invincible. You are extremely lucky that you came out with no injuries.” 

“I mean… yeah.” Yuna shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

Aizawa sighed. “What would you have done if you had gotten hurt? You’re not unstoppable.”

Yuna pushed the phone closer to her ear. “Yeah, I know… but I didn’t get hurt.”

“But you could have. What would you have done then?”

“I mean… yeah, I could’ve. But I didn’t. And if I was hurt, I would’ve figured it out.”

There was a pause.

Aizawa sounded even more tired when he spoke again. “Why did you ignore my order?”

“I…” Yuna hesitated. “You were losing. I had to do something.”

There was more shuffling on the other end. The doctor spoke again, reminding Aizawa that he needed to put the phone away and rest.

“We’re talking about this more in class,” Aizawa said. “Get some rest.”

“Yes, Mr. Aizawa. Get better soon!”

Yuna handed the phone back to the detective, who ended the call.

“Thank you,” Yuna said with a small bow.

Then she hurried back over to catch up with her friends.

“I’ll open the letter once you eat six pieces of bok-choy!” 

“One pieces!”

“Six pieces!” 

“Two pieces!” 

“Six pieces!” 

“Three pieces!” 

“Six pieces, and you can have some animal crackers after” 

“Two pieces with chilli oil!” The five year old, Yumi, negotiated. 

The older girl groaned, rubbing her face. “You don’t even like spicy food!” 

“Yes I do! I eat it all the time!” 

“No you don’t, you want it because I eat it.” 

Yumi started pouting, defensive. “No! I like it!” 

Sighing, Yuna grabbed her chopsticks, moving four of her own chili-garlic bok choy onto her little sister’s plate, and putting the normal ones on her own. “You’re eating the five pieces if you like spicy food so much.” 

Yuna just stared down at the small girl, who looked a lot like herself. They both had big brown eyes, and black and white hair like a raccoon. 

The five year old took her child’s chopsticks, picking up the vegetable and chewing it slowly, eyes starting to water. “It’s good” the five year old said, swallowing, blinking back tears. 

Yuna just sighed, grabbing a carton of milk for her and setting it down, watching her eat the 5 pieces and grabbing a tissue for her runny nose. 

“I did it” the little girl said, sniffling a bit, eyes stinging. “I told you I like spicy food.” 

“Sure you do, babe.” Yuna said, holding the little girl’s nose as she blew into the tissue and handed her the milk. “Good job, now let’s open that letter.” 

Yumi immediately brightened up, bouncing off of her seat, milk carton in hand as she grabbed the letter and sat down on the rug. Yuna sat down beside her, as the five year old bit her lip and tried opening the letter as gently as she could. 

A small circular device fell out of the letter, and immediately a projection flew up. Yumi let out a 

shriek, crawling into her older sister's lap. 

In normal circumstances, Yuna would’ve probably comforted her sister a bit more thoroughly, but her heart was pounding.

She had applied for UA, the country's most prestigious hero course school. The acceptance rate was 1 in 300 a year out of all applicants, it was a long shot. Of course Yuna applied for other hero schools, but…she wanted to shoot for the best. She had been accepted into Ketsubutsu High, and waitlisted for Shiketsu, but….come on, it was UA. 

Yuna rubbed her sister's arm comfortingly as All Might appeared on the screen. Yumi’s eyes widened. “That’s All Might!!” The little girl shrieked, trying to get closer to the screen. But Yuna was focused on what the #1 Pro Hero was saying. 

“Fujisaki Yuna! Congratulations! You have accepted into UA Academy! With 55 Villain Points and 15 Rescue points, you did outstanding in the practical exam! You demonstrated an incredible amount of Quirk Control for your age, and your combat skills wowed away the judges!” All Might’s booming voice said, flexing into the camera.

 “We also received a recommendation letter from your Middle School PE teacher along with your application! However, you barely managed to scrape by on the written portion of the entrance exam. You need to keep working hard if you want to keep up with the curriculum! Being good at combat isn’t the only part of being a hero– I would know!” All Might was… really performing. “That being said, Welcome to UA Academy!” 

With that, the recorded projection shut off, back into the circular device. 

Yumi squealed, jumping up and down and shaking her older sister. “Ohnee-chan! You did it! I knew you could do it! You’re gonna be the best hero in the whole world!” 

Yuna was frozen for a second in shock, like a metal plate had just been lifted off of her chest before she got up, and picked up her little sister, swinging her around. “I did it! Yumi, I got into UA!” 

Yumi giggled happily, as Yuna tossed her around happily. 

“We gotta get to bed and get some sleep okay? We’re both starting school together!” The older sister said, leading Yumi to the bathroom to get ready for bed. 

~~~~~

“Alright Yumi, are you excited?” Yuna looked down at her little sister as she walked her to her first day of elementary school. 

“Mhmm” The five year old was biting her fingers, nodding. 

“Hey, it’s gonna be okay. I bet your teachers are gonna be super nice, and you’re gonna learn lots!” Yuna said, crouching down to her. “You’re gonna make a bunch of friends, and try really hard right?” 

“Yes” Yumi nodded as we approached the front gates, a teacher to the side. 

“Hi, Miss Suzuki!” Yuna  waved to the teacher, who had small dear ears and a white freckles. “This is my little sister Yumi, she’s scheduled for the morning classes?” 

The teacher, Miss Suzuki checked her list before nodded and smiling* “Yes! Yumi Fujisaki, nice to meet you both!” 

“Hi!” Yumi blurted, waving. 

The teacher smiled and chuckled a bit. “Hi Yumi-chan.” She greeted before looking back at the older girl. “You can head through these gates and drop her off, meet some of the parents. Pick up time for morning students is at 12:30” 

“Thank you!” Yuna ushered her little sister inside, gently bowing at some other parents around. 

“Wow! A UA uniform?” One of the moms inquired, looking at Yuna’s own uniform, talking to another parent. 

Yuna just crouched down by her little sister. “I have your bag here, you’re gonna do great okay? I’ll pick you up at lunch.”  “Yes Ohnee-chan!” Yumi said, putting on her bravest face and taking the small backpack (one she specifically chose because it looked like Yuna’s.) 

“Go on, babes. Have a great day. I gotta get to school too.” Yuna patted her little sister on the back, before the little girl scurried in quickly. 

With that, Yuna checked the time, quickly cursing and running to the UA campus. 

“Oh thank goodness” Yuna caught her breath by the door, seeing a green haired boy and a brunette girl chatting by the door. The teacher wasn't here yet. Yuna scooted past them, finding a seat and sitting down.

 “Wow, you’re super pretty!” Yuna smiled, looking at the girl sitting next to her. 

“OHMYGOSH! Thank you so much!!! You’re so so pretty too!” The pink-skinned. “I love your hair! My name is Mina Ashido from Mustafa Middle school!!” 

Yuna grinned, liking the girl's energy. “I’m Yuna Fujisaki, i went to Shirosato– hey our schools were pretty close to each other, your’s was the big fancy private school right?” 

Just then, an ominous yellow sleeping bag appeared at the door, a gruff deadpan voice echoing through the classroom. “If you’re just here to make friends, you can pack up your stuff now.” 

The class was instantly silenced, looking at the intimidating sleeping bag with shock as the man inside continued. “Welcome to UA’s Hero Course.”

The yellow sleeping bag stood up, walking into the classroom. “It took eight seconds for you all to shut up. That’s not gonna work.” He stepped out of the sleeping bag. He was….a scruffy guy, with long black hair, messy facial hair and a weird looking scarf. “Time is precious. Rational students would understand that.” 

Yuna squinted at him in curiosity. Who was this guy? He was too old to be a student, but she couldn’t recognise him as any Pro-Hero she knew from TV. 

“Hello, I’m Shouta Aizawa, your homeroom teacher” He said gruffly. 

‘Oh wow, this was their homeroom teacher for the year?’

He rummaged through the sleeping bag, pulling out a blue and white jumpsuit. “Right, let’s get to it. Put these on and head outside.” 

“What? A quirk assessment test?” Some of the students chorused. 

Yuna grinned, cracking her knuckles. ‘Sweet! I love practicals!’ 

“What about orientation?” A brunette girl asked. “We’re gonna miss it!”

“If you really wanna make the big leagues, you can’t waste time on pointless ceremonies.” Mr Aizawa, our teacher, said bluntly. “Here at UA, we’re not tethered to traditions. That means I get to run my class however I see fit.” 

‘He’s gonna be a fun one, huh?’  Yuna thought to herself sarcastically. 

“You’ve been taking standardized tests for most of your lives,” Mr Aizawa continued. “But you’ve never gotten to use your quirks in physical exams before. The country’s still trying to pretend all people are created equal by not letting those with the most power excel. It’s not rational. One day the ministry of education will learn.” He said sternly. 

“Today you’ll compete in eight physical tests to gauge your potential. Whoever comes in last has none, and will be expelled.”  

Whispers and gasps of protests started among class 1-A. 

“Is that even allowed?” Mina whispered to Yuna. 

“Not sure, but it sure as hell won’t be me.” Yuna replied, grinning. 

YUNA FUJISAKI:

Quirk: Floral Poison! She can manipulate plants and create special poisonous pollens with the flink of her wrists! But she grows weaker when it’s nighttime, or is dehydrated. She is not affected by the poison in her pollen but ironically she has mild hay fever. 

They started the physical exams, first with a 50 meter dash. 

Yuna did some stretches, but she couldn’t really find a way to integrate her quirk yet, so she stuck with just normal running. Yuna ran a lot (she was typically running late) but she didn’t really have any extra powers helping her, just practice. Yuna scored at 6.89 seconds. 

For the grip strength test, Yuna held the Dynamometer, using vines to wrap around the grip too, scoring a solid 160kg with the vines. 

For the standing long jump test, Yuna had her vines throw her across the pitch, landing safely on a bed of flowers. 

 At the ball throw, Yuna wrapped her vines around the ball, and had the vines hurl the ball as far as they could. 

Everyone stood to the side, watching a green haired boy named Izuku Midoryia for his ball throw. He had been getting….really bad scores for all of the other tests, and it was looking like he would be the one expelled. 

But when he threw it….it went….46 meters. 

“Hey, what gives, i was trying to use it” The boy said, confused and disappointed, mumbling as he looked at his arm. 

“That’s because I erased your quirk.” Mr Aizawa said, the scarf he was wearing started floating and moving around him. “The judges for the entrance exam were not rational at all. Someone like you should have never gotten accepted.” 

“Geez, that’s harsh.” Yuna mumbled, as she watched. 

The rest of the class started whispering and gossiping.

“He can erase quirks?”  “Eraserhead? Never heard of him.”  “Thats a crazy quirk”  “I think I know him?” 

“He’s like an underground hero maybe?”

Suddenly our heads snapped back to watching them, as Mr Aizawa’s scarf wrapped around Midoryiya and yanked him closer, tone cold and scolding.  “You are nothing more than a liability in battle. You have zero control over your power, do you? Even if you have drive, you’re worthless if you can only throw one punch before breaking down. Sorry Midoriya, with your power, there’s no way you can become a hero.” 

 Everyone gasped at his blunt and disapproving words, whispering to each other. 

“I returned your impractical quirk. Take your final throw.”

Everyone gasped when his throw caused a gust of wind to start swirling, gawking as the soft ball was hurled far into the air. 

“Over 700 meters!” 

“His finger appears to be broken!” 

“He’s finally showing us some power!” 

Yuna grinned. “Maybe he won’t be in last place after all.” 

Suddenly, a blonde boy suddenly started charging Midoriya angrily at stop speed. 

“HEY! DEKU YOU BASTARD TELL ME HOW YOU DID THAT OR YOU'RE DEAD!” He screamed. 

“Woah! He’s mad!” Yuna grinned, bouncing on her feet, watching. “Think they’re gonna fight?” 

“Stand down!” Mr Aizawa commanded, his scarf wrapping around the blonde boy quickly, restraining him. 

“Why the hell is your dumb scarf so strong?” The blonde boy gritted, still trying to get to Midoriya.”

“It’s a special capture weapon made of carbon fibers and a special metal alloy.” Mr Aizawa said bluntly. “It would be better to not make me use my quirk so much. It gives me serious dry eyes.”

“Damn, no fighting yet I guess” Yuna mumbled. 

The rest of the physical fitness tests went by pretty smoothly, at the end Mr Aizawa showed everyone’s score.

1st Place: Momo Yaoyorozu

2nd Place: Shoto Todoroki

3rd Place: Katsuki Bakugo

4th Place: Tenya Iida

5th Place: Yuna Fujisaki

6th Place: Fumikage Tokoyami

7th Place: Mezo Shoji

8th Place: Mashirao Ojiro

9th Place: Eijiro Kirishima

10th Place: Mina Ashido

11th Place: Ochaco Uraraka

12th Place: Koji Koda

13th Place: Rikido Sato

14th Place: Tsuyu Asui

15th Place: Yuga Aoyama

16th Place: Hanta Sero

17th Place: Denki Kaminari

18th Place: Kyoka Jiro

19th Place: Toru Hagakure

20th Place: Minoru Mineta

21st Place: Izuku Midoriya

‘Hmm. 5th isn't bad. But it’s not great.’ Yuna found her name on the board, before glancing down at last place. 

Izuku Midoriya. 

Oh, it was that green haired boy who got yelled at by Aizawa and almost tackled by the blonde boy during the ball throw. 

Yuna almost felt bad for him, he seemed to be having a rough time, Yuna saw his name pretty high up on the leader board for the entrance exam. Maybe physical tests weren’t his strong suit? Still, getting expelled for that is crazy. 

But before anyone could comfort Midoriya, or even talk– 

“And I was lying. Nobody’s going home.” Mr Aizawa deadpanned. “That was just a rational deception to make sure you all did your best on the test.” He gave an eerie grin. 

A girl with blank hair in a spiky ponytail looked at us all, who were panicking at the lie with a bit of concern. “I’m surprised the rest of you didn’t figure that out sooner. I’m sorry, I guess I probably should’ve said something.” 

Mr Aizawa started walking off. “That’s all for today. Pick up a syllabus in the classroom and read it over before tomorrow morning.” 

Yuna headed back home after class, picking up some food at a takeout restaurant, heading back to her apartment. 

She had already picked up Yumi from school during UA’s lunch period. She came back home, seeing a friendly looking headhaired woman also walking to the apartment. 

“Hey Miss Emi! How are you? Here for your monthly visit?” Yuna smiled at the woman, hopping over to her. 

Emi Hayakawa, a social worker. She comes in every month or so to check up on Yuna and Yumi. 

“Hi Yuna-chan, I heard you got into UA” The woman smiled. “I’m so proud of you.”

Yuna and Yumi were Miss Hayakawa’s first case as a social worker, and one of the main advocates for Yuna when she was petitioning for custody of Yumi. 

She comes in every month to check up on things, legally required but sometimes she comes in just to see if Yuna needs extra support beyond the government subsidized apartment and monthly fund. 

~~ (FLASHBACK) 

“She’s so little!” Ten year old Yuna said, gawking at the tiny lump of a baby in her mom’s arms, a brace on her leg. 

“Yeah I know, can you believe she was in mama’s stomach?” Her dad said, getting a little teary eyed as he looked at his wife holding their newborn baby in a hospital room. 

Yuna quickly picked up a big duffle bag onto a chair with a small grunt. “Are you hungry, mama? I packed some chips for you!” 

“I’d love some chips, babes,” Her mom laughed softly, tired. “You’re so prepared, aren’t you?” 

“Yes I am!” Little Yuna said, pushing a chair over. Her dad tried helping her but she shoved him away. “I can do it!” Yuna said, standing on the chair to give chips to her mom, shoving her ankle boot up and pulling herself up. 

Her dad laughed. “You don’t have to do everything yourself, little fighter.” 

“Yeah but I want to! I’m ten years old Papa, I’m basically an adult!” Yuna said, feeding her mom chips as she looked at the newborn baby. “Yumi is the baby now!” 

“Yeah but you’ll always be our little babes.” Her mom said, rubbing her cheek. She looked really tired. “Yuna, do you want to hold her for a bit while mama takes a nap?” 

“Yes I do!” Yuna said, eyes widening, her mom gently placed the baby in her arms. Yuna took the newborn carefully, sitting down on an arm chair. “Do you like flowers, Yumi?” She asked, making a small dandelion grow from her finger. “I’m gonna be the bestest big sister ever, and we’re gonna go on so many adventures together with mama and papa.” 

~

“I’m so excited, it’s our first trip since Yumi was born!” A white haired woman said, packing camping supplies. 

A small Yuna pouted, crossing her arms. “Why can’t I come?” 

Her dad, a black haired man who was packing the car. “We need someone to watch Yumi babes, it’s a quick trip, just camping for a day or two.” He crouched down by Yuna. “You’re big and responsible, you can take care of your little sister, right?”

Ten year old Yuna straightened up, full of pride. “Yes I can! Yes I can!” She showed a notebook with time slots– albeit almost everything was spelled wrong, but it was plans for naps, feeding and diaper changes. 

“I believe in you babes, and maybe once we’re back, I can take you paragliding again!” Her dad said. 

Yuna’s eyes lit up, daisies growing beneath her feet. “I’ll be the bestest big sister ever! And you guys are gonna have the greatest camping trip ever!” 

“That’s my little fighter.” Her dad laughed, ruffling her hair before calling. “Honey! Are you ready to go?” 

The white haired woman was organising the house and carrying supplies into the car. “Almost! Okay babes, Yumi’s down for a nap right now. You know where all the formula is, and I made sure you can find your step stool. If you need help, the Obaasan next door said she’d be home, okay? We should be back sometime on Sunday."

“Yes mama!” Little Yuna said, hugging her moms waist. “You’re gonna have the bestest time ever!” 

“Keep an eye on your little sister okay? She better not have her drivers license by the time we get back.” 

Little giggles filled the air. “Mama, she’s a baby!” 

“You never know!” 

Yuna continued laughing softly, before proudly looking up at her parents. “I’ll take really really good care of her! You can count on me! I am here!” 

Yuna watched as her parents pulled out of the driveway, heading off on their weekend camping trip together. 

But Sunday evening came with no sign of a car pulling into the driveway. 

A panicked ten year old, cradling a five month old baby, rocking the crying child on Sunday night.

“It’s okay…shhh… It’s gonna be okay. They’re just running late.” The ten year old cooed, glancing nervously at the clock. She had long black and white hair tied into two braids. 

The ten year old quickly headed to the kitchen, opening a cabinet to get some formula. She had seen her parents do it, and they taught her how so she could help out around the house. 

“See? See, yeah everything’s gonna be fine.” The ten year old Yuna said, sitting on the floor, looking at the front door, feeding her baby sister, waiting for her parents to come back. 

The walls were lined with framed pictures of their family adventures.

Her parents at Mount Fuji,

Their wedding, 

Toddler Yuna being held up like Simba, over a river at a mountain range by her dad.

 Five year old Yuna on a sunny coastline, on a boat with her mom. 

An eight year old Yuna in big sunglasses, hooked onto a paraglider harness, trying to look cool. 

A nine year old Yuna wearing an ankle boot at the hospital, sticking her tongue out, after jumping off a rooftop. 

A newborn Yumi being held by Yuna at the hospital, stickers all over her face. 

She texted her parents, asking if they were on their way home but she didn’t get a reply. 

She burped her baby sister, setting her down, and putting her to sleep, rocking the crib, glancing at the front door again and again. 

Little Yuna sat down by her sister’s crib, wrapping a blanket around herself as she waited. 

By Monday morning, Yuna knew she had school, and even if her parents weren’t home to send her off, she had to go to school and be a good kid. She got dressed in her uniform, packed a bag, and packed her lunch. Before her sister started crying in the other room. 

Yuna quickly ran over, changing her diaper and thought of what to do. Her parents were running late from their camping trip, but she needed to go to school, but she also had to take care of Yumi. 

She held Yumi, waddling over to the neighbours house, knocking on the door. “Obaasan?” She called out. 

An older woman opened the door, smiling at ten year old Yuna. “Hello Yuna-chan, what can I do for you?” 

“I need to go to school, but I can’t leave my sister at home and I don’t think I’m allowed to take her with me. Can you watch her?” Yuna asked, dressed in her school uniform with her backpack. 

But little Yuna wasn’t going to go to school that day. 

“Your parents aren’t back yet, Yuna-chan?” The old woman asked, face turning into worry. 

Ten year old Yuna shook her head, still cradling her 5 month old sister. 

“Well come inside dear, come inside.” The old woman said, ushering them in, putting on a smile to mask the worry on her face. 

“Do you want me to hold Yumi for a bit, Yuna-chan?” The old woman asked as she led the little girls to the couch. 

Yuna sat on the couch, cradling her baby sister. “No it’s okay! Mama and Papa said I’m responsible and I can take care of her!” 

The old woman just watched for a second, before putting a smile on her face, setting down some animal crackers for them. “I’m gonna go make a phone call okay?”  “Thank you Obaasan!” 

The older woman smiled, turning away and letting her expression drop, taking her phone. She tried calling Yuna’s parents….before calling the police. 

~ (END OF FLASHBACK)

The social worker Emi Hayakawa sat down and ate dinner with us, talking and letting Yumi chat her ear off. 

“I made some drawings at school! Hold on! I’m gonna show you!” Yumi said, racing off to her room to get her bag. 

  “I’m very excited!” Emi said, smiling before turning to Yuna. “Hi Yuna” 

Yuna smiled back, eating her ramen. “Hi Miss Emi” 

“Congratulations on getting into UA, I knew you could do it.” She smiled at Yuna, eating her food and gently placing her dishes to the side. “I just…want to make sure you and Yumi have the support you need. You can always reach out if the schoolwork at UA is getting too much for you on top of taking care of Yumi.” 

Yuna shook her head, almost immediately as she continued eating dinner. “I’m all good! No need to worry. The school knows about my situation, and they let me leave campus during lunch to pick up Yumi from school.” She said casually. 

Miss Emi went to open her mouth again, a knowing look in her eyes. “You know that I’m not trying to–” but Yumi rushed back in. 

“Look look! I drew Ohnee-chan and all her flowers fighting an evil guy!” Yumi grinned, as she showed Emi the drawings. 

“That’s very good, Yumi! Very pretty, you’re a little artist huh?” 

Yumi nodded her head, glowing with pride. “And look! I can start to make flowers too!” Yumi exclaimed, putting out her hand to the vase of flowers on the table, biting her lip, eyebrows furrowed in concentration, holding her breath. 

Finally, a small little bud appeared on the stem of a flower, and Yumi exhaled. “See!” 

“Very impressive, Yumi. It’s getting late, you should head to bed, you have another day of school tomorrow!” Miss Emi said, as Yumi nodded and hopped her way to the bathroom. 

Miss Emi turned back to the older sister, eyes soft. “I would never try to separate you two, I’m just…offering support. You know that.” 

Yuna relaxed her shoulder a bit, taking a breath. “I know. And I can handle it. I promise.”  A/N:

After Eleven's small reunion with the rest of the party, the team split up. Nancy and the Byers went to a small shack in the woods to try and cure Will of his parasite, trying to turn up to the heat and make Will uninhabitable, because if…if Eleven went to close the gate, it would kill the entire hivemind, which included Will as the spy of the army. 

 Hopper and Eleven went to go close to the gate between the worlds, waiting for Will to be safe. 

Kill the brain, the rest of the army goes with. 

Steve and Lacy stayed at the Byers house to babysit the rest of the kids, Mike, Max, Dustin and Lucas. Much to Lacy’s and everyone else's annoyance. Nobody was happy with the arrangement, after all most of their friend’s lives were in danger, or going through a rough time. But they were stuck at the house. 

“Is this really necessary?” Steve groaned as Dustin tossed out everything in the fridge, holding the demogorgon corpse. 

Dustin looked at him incredulously. “Yes it is! This is a groundbreaking scientific discovery, We can’t just bury it like some common mammal, okay? It’s not a dog.” 

“Alright alright alright.” Steve sighed, shoving the demogorgon into the fridge. “But you’re explaining this to Mrs. Byers.”

Lacy looked at the discarded food on the floor, finding some pasta and condiments as Lucas and Max cleaned up the living room, sweeping up broken glass.  “Does anyone know how to cook?” Lacy asked, trying to read the nutrition facts for instructions, as she started looking at all the food. None of the kids had eaten yet, Lacy was hungry and frankly, she needed to feel like she was helping. 

“Mike, would you just stop pacing around already?” Lucas groaned, watching as the boy walked in circles around the living room. 

 “You weren’t in there Lucas!” Mike replied, frustration lacing his voice. “That lab is swarming with hundreds of those dogs.” 

“The Chief will take care of her!” 

Steve walked in, trying to play the voice of reason. “Listen dude, if a coach calls a play in the game, bottom line, you execute it, alright?” 

Lacy rolled her eyes, having followed Steve out of the kitchen, abandoning her dinner-mission.  “Like this is some stupid sports game.” she commented, which earned a glare from Steve, she started helping clean up, organising her purse of things. She slipped the vial of medication they had used to sedate Will hours ago, as well as putting her other various weapons that she had given out back into her purse. 

“And we’re not even in the game, we’re on the bench!” Mike added. 

Steve stammered a bit, trying to regain control over the situation. “Right- so-so my point is….” 

The room just watched him, eyebrows raised as he admitted defeat. 

He just sighed, tossing a towel onto the floor. “You’re right, we’re on the bench. There's nothing we can do.” 

Lacy was thinking, biting her cheek as she rummaged through her bag, before tossing it loosely on the floor. “There’s always something you can do…” She mumbled, as she thought, grabbing a pen and paper. “What do we know?” Lacy asked, looking at everyone. 

“Johnothan, Joyce and Nancy are trying to get the parasite out of Will” Dustin said, beginning to pace.

“Eleven and Hopper are going to close the gate using Eleven’s powers” Max added, trying to see what Lacy was writing. 

“--but the house is swarming with Demodogs” Mike interrupted, still frustrated. 

Lacy was just scribbling on a piece of paper, moving her hand along the page. “We don’t have powers to take on that many demodogs, besides they left over 15 minutes ago, no way we’d get there in time to help them.” 

“See! Nothing we can do!” Steve exclaimed, raising his hands. Lacy crumpled up the paper she was scribbling on and threw it at him. 

 “No no, when they ran away from the bus…they were called away, they’re a hivemind.” Lacy reiterated, Dustin and Mike both brightened up, running to a wall in the house from the makeshift map Will had created in his feverish mindset. 

“So if we get their attention…” Dustin started and Mike picked up “Maybe we can draw them from the lab!” 

“Clearing a path to the gate.” Max concluded. 

Steve looked between the children. “Yeah, and then we all die.” 

“That’s one point of view” Dustin narrated. 

“No no, thats not a point of view, thats a fact” Steve bickered as Lacy and Mike followed the map wall. 

“I got it!” Mike crouched, touching the picture. “This is where the chief dug his hole, this is our way to the tunnel so…” 

Lacy was at the midpoint of all the tunnels. “And this is like their hub!” 

“So maybe if we set it on fire” 

Steve protested immediately. “Oh yeah? Thats a no.” 

Lacy just threw the box of pasta at him. “They would all come to stop us.” 

“The mind flayer would call away his army” Lucas added. 

The children and Lacy all pitched in, running off of each others thoughts as they formed a plan.

“They would all come to stop us!” 

“--and then we circle back to the exit–” “Hey!” Steve tried getting their attention but was quickly overlapped by Lacy. 

“By the time they realize we’re gone–” 

“El would be at the gate!” 

Steve clapped and raised his voice. “Hey! Hey! Hey! This is not happening! I promised to keep you shitheads safe and thats what i plan on doing. We’re staying here. On the bench. Does everyone understand that?” 

Lacy scrunched up her nose. “Then I’ll do it.” She said, grabbing her purse. “We would need gear, weapons, shovels probably, oh and rope–”

“I said, does everyone understand that?” Steve repeated assertively, looking at Lacy in annoyance. “I need a yes.” 

But as Lacy opened her mouth to start an argument, they heard the revving on an engine in the driveway. 

Max ran up to the window, peeking outside. “Oh no” She whispered and Lucas and Lacy came running to the window. “Its my brother, he cant know I”m here. He’ll kill me, he’ll kill us.”

“You have a brother?” Lacy asked, as she huddled the kids, crouching down with them. “Why would he kill you?” 

“Because he’s a jerk– and hates Lucas” Max insisted. 

“Okay we cannot be dealing with this right now” Lacy mumbled to herself, as she peered through the window, making eye contact with Steve. 

Their job was to protect the kids. 

Lacy stayed inside, huddled with the kids, while Steve went outside, arms crossed outside the front door. Lacy and all the kids peered through the window to watch the exchange as the headlights shut off from the car. 

“Am I dreaming or is that you Harrington?” Billy Hargrove, taunted. 

Steve looked down, sighing to himself. “Yeah it’s me, don’t cream your pants,” 

“I'm looking for my step sister.” Billy announced, smoking a cigarette. “A little birdie told me she was here.” 

“Really? Weird, don’t know her.” 

“Small? Redhead? Bit of a bitch.” He described. 

The two of them bickered outside, before Billy pointed to the window, spotting them. Lacy quickly shoved the kid’s heads down from the window as Billy shoved Steve to the ground. 

Lacy stood up, guarding the kids behind her as Billy broke the door open, Steve laid on the ground, getting up outside. 

“Well well well, Lucas Sinclair.” Billy gruffed. “Max, I thought I told you to stay away from him. You disobeyed me, you know what happens when you disobey me. I break things.” 

Billy stepped forwards, shoving Lacy aside and in a swift violent movement, Billy grabbed Lucas by the throat and rammed him against a wall, everyone started screaming. 

“Billy! Stop! Stop!” 

Lucas kicked him in the balls, shoving him off as the kids screamed. 

“You are so dead Sinclair! So dead!” Billy yelled as Steve shoved his shoulder and socked him in the face. 

Lacy rushed forwards, ushering him back to the living room as the older guys fought in the kitchen, standing in front of all the kids as they watched Steve and Billy fight. 

Billy chuckled sadistically. “There he is! I’ve been waiting so long to finally meet this King Steve!” Billy taunted, nose bleeding, hair ruffled up. 

The two of them began to fight, shoving each other into tables and chairs, punching, throwing plates and swinging. 

“Everyone back up! Behind me!” She said, keeping her eyes on the fight as they started moving, keeping the kids a safe distance away. Lacy watched, eyes darting as soon as Billy was obviously winning, sitting on Steve and socking him repeatedly. 

The kids were frozen in place behind her, yelling as Billy gave Steve hell. Lacy blinked, moving her legs. She refused to stay still, she refused to feel frozen, and most of all, if there was one thing she learned how to do in high school, it was how to finish a fight. 

In an instant, Lacy shoved Billy in a headlock and gave him a right hook, twisting his nose before taking a tea kettle and smacking him in the face with it, hot water going absolutely everywhere and burning his face and Lacy’s hands and arms. 

“--Bitch!” Billy hissed as he grabbed Lacy’s hair. 

As Steve was unconscious, the kids watched Dustin's older sister fight and scuffle with Billy, who was at least 4 inches taller than her and stronger. 

Lacy scratched and punched and kicked before punching him in the jaw, getting up,as Billy toppled her to the ground. She grunted as he shoved her down. She spotted her purse in the corner, quickly crawling towards it, fishing her hand inside as Billy grabbed her wrist, tossing the purse across the room and beginning to punch her. 

Lacy blocked her face with her hands, before stabbing a needle into his neck. The one with Will’s sedative she had in her purse. 

Billy looked at her dazed.

Lacy stood up, shoving Billy off of her, spitting blood from her gums onto the floor. 

Max took a bat. “From now on, you leave me and my friends alone, do you understand?” She told her older brother. 

“Screw you.” Billy mumbled, hands holding his head.

“Say you understand!” Max screamed at him, swinging the bat right in between his legs, narrowly missing his crown jewels. “Say it! Say it!” 

Billy groaned, gently dozing off. “I understand.” He mumbled before going unconscious. 

Lacy dusted herself off as Dustin came towards her, immediately checking if she was injured. 

 Max tossed Billy's keys to the older girl. “Let’s get out of here.” 

Lacy caught the keys, shoving them in her pocket, Lacy propped the front door open, before grabbing Steve’s arms and dragging him. “C’mon, can’t leave him like this,” 

The kids rushed forwards, helping Lacy by carrying Steve to the car as they all filed out of the house. “Dustin, grab my purse, gasoline and an icepack” She said, opening the car door as the kids hurled Steve in the backseat. “We need rope, gear, shovels. Grab everything.” She said to the kids as she shoved Steve’s limbs into the car. 

“You’re letting us do this?” Mike asked, as they all got into the car. 

Lacy started the engine, backing out and looking them all in the eyes. “Are you kidding? I’ll always support you freaks. It’s a good plan, and I need to make sure none of you die in the process.” 

“Besides, I have a moped license.” She added smoothly, before abruptly backing into three trashcans with a crash.

“Told you she was cool,” Lucas whispered to Max, who was too busy figuring out the map in the passenger seat. 

As they started the drive, with Lacy following most traffic rules,

 Steve began to wake up. 

“Shh, no don’t touch it.” Dustin lulled to a dazed Steve. “You put up a good fight. He kicked your ass but you put up a good fight.” 

Lacy snorted. “I finished it. Okay, do I make a left?” She asked Max who was giving her directions. 

“Oh my god no” Steve groaned as he saw Lacy in the front seat. 

“She has a moped license!" Lucas defended. 

“Yeah cause she failed her drivers test 4 times.” Mike rolled his eyes. 

“Hey! I’m driving ain’t I?” Lacy said, running a stop sign and hitting a mailbox as she turned left. 

As the car continued to argue, Lacy picked up the speed before stopping the car abruptly. “We’re here! Damn, I should’ve nailed my driver's test, stupid instructors have no idea what they’re talking about.” She mumbled as everyone filed out. 

They all started preparing, putting on makeshift gear and getting the gasoline. Lacy handed out weapons from her purse as Steve dizzily yelled at them. “Hey! There is no chance we’re going into that hole, alright? I thought I made myself clear!” He shouted, slurring some words. 

“Shut your bitchass up.” Lacy quipped, the kids started preparing the supplies. Lacy walked up to Steve, holding his baseball bat, her tone a bit softer.  “You promised Nancy to keep them safe? Then help me keep them safe.” 

Steve just gritted his teeth, but grabbed the bat. 

Steve led the way through the dark and desolate tunnel system, arguing and bickering along the way. 

Lacy followed last, one almost-adult in the front, the other in the back. “C’mon Dustin. A little pep in your step please” She said, walking forwards with her metal pole, as her little brother stared at the ceiling. 

Suddenly Dustin fell to the floor, screaming and calling for help. Lightning speed as Lacy dropped to the floor next to Dustin, everyone else running towards them. “What happened?!”

“It got in my mouth! Some got in my mouth!” He shouted. 

Lacy let out a sigh of relief, slapping the back of her little brother's head as the others sighed and kept moving. Lacy gave Dustin some water and pulled his face mask up higher. 

Until they finally found the hub. 

They all took cans, spraying the hub in gasoline, the walls, ceiling, floors. All working together to douse the hub of tunnels. 

“Let's light this bitch up. Everyone get ready to run.” Lacy whispered, ushering the kids back as she took a lighter from her purse, flicking it up and taking a piece of paper, rolling it and, burning it until it was a large flame and tossing it into the gasoline lined pit. 

The hub was set ablaze, screeching and hollering came from the distance as Lacy rushed the kids out. 

“Let's go, let’s go!” Steve commanded, yelling as the two older teenagers ran behind the kids. 

Mike’s foot got trapped in a screeching tendon on the floor, as he screamed, Steve hit it with his bat as Lacy pulled Mike away quickly, helping him back up and running. The babysitters on their intense duty, to do whatever it took to keep the kids safe. 

They kept running, making their way through the tunnels. Everyone began yelling as a demogorgon slowly approached.  

Dustin slowly approached the demogorgon, despite Lacy’s frantic protests. But Dustin insisted it was Dart, feeding him a chocolate nougat bar as they all filed out of the hub, Dustin cooing at his old friend. 

“Goodbye buddy.” He said quietly as Dart walked away with the chocolate and Dustin was ushered out by everyone else. 

Groans and Screeching began to echo through the caves. Eerie, piercing, unnatural shrieks. “This way!” Lacy yelled. 

“Theyre coming after us!” Lucas warned. 

“Cmon Cmon! Hurry up!” Steve barked, helping hoisted the kids up past the rope as they climbed, barking commands at them, as everyone panicked. 

Lacy helped, as the two designated babysitters practically threw the kids up the rope as they climbed. The growling and screeching coming closer. 

Lacy stood guard with a spiked bat, shouting at Steve to shove her brother up the rope who was the last kid. Shadows of Demogorgans rushed up to them. 

As Dustin was almost out of the tunnel, getting pulled to the top by everyone else the demodogs started running right at them, not enough time for either Lacy or Steve to get out. 

So, the older teens huddled close together brandishing weapons tightly, linking arms, looking at each other briefly as the crowd of demodogs ran at them. 

Lacy shut her eyes tightly, the two teenagers clutching onto each other, Lacy lowered her bat, turning into Steve to hide her face, shaking. 

Until the demodogs ran right past them. 

Lacy opened her eyes as she felt their undead, bodies whizzing past her, Steve and Lacy looking around to see them rushing past. 

“Eleven.” Mike whispered. 

Steve’s hand left its spot, cradling Lacy’s head (which she didn’t know was even there) as Lacy let out a sigh of relief, heart pounding, hands shaking. 

“Cmon” Steve helped Lacy climb up, as she gave him a hand at the top pulling him up. The group stood around, illuminated by the car headlights, every light around them burning a bright glow. 

She pulled Dustin in for a hug, ruffling his hair, before fixing her own and taking deep breaths. 

Lacy had her arms around all the kids as a silence passed through the world, the glowing of headlights dimming. Shoulders relaxing as the calm rushed over the town, Lacy glanced at Steve who nodded, picking up a walkie talkie and confirming that finally, for once, everything had gone right.  

▪────  ⚔  ────▪

Christmas carols filled the air, Lacy took pictures of Dustin, spraying him with perfume and helping him with his hairspray, that Steve swears by, coughing slightly as the fumes hit the air, helping him comb his hair. 

“I have to go! I’m giving Nancy a ride since we’re both volunteering. You look adorable, very handsome. Are you sure Steve is picking you up?” Lacy asked, brushing her own hair and fixing her makeup and dress. 

“Yes I’m sure! See you there!” 

“See ya!”  Lacy called, already out of the room. She got on her moped and drove over to the Wheeler's house and picked up Nancy, getting down on one knee and holding out a second helmet. “Will you, Nancy Wheeler, be my date to the middle school Snow Ball?” She asked dramatically. 

Nancy laughed, taking the helmet, giving her a hug. “Of course. I missed you.” 

“Missed you too. Never should’ve gone to that stupid english program, I missed all the fun.” Lacy said, climbing onto her moped. 

Nancy gave her a sympathetic glance. “Are you sure you don’t wanna talk about…ya know…him?” 

Lacy shook her head. She had briefly mentioned to her best friend about her breakup with her boyfriend, the true reason she came back from the program early. Just thinking about him made her skin twitch more than the demogorgons ever could. “No, I want to serve a bunch of middle schooler's punch.” She said, driving over to Hawkins Middle School. 

“Is the poster straight?” Lacy asked, standing on a ladder as she hung up a ‘SNOW BALL’ handmade poster. 

“Uh i think so– sorry I have to help people sign in” Nancy said, rushing to the front door. “What goes in the punch? It’s already low”

“I have no idea. I put like four juices and sodas in there.” She called, hopping off the ladder and shooting streamers everywhere. “Johnathan! The picture booth is over there!” Lacy directed, Jonathan gave her a thumbs up, and a lingering glance at Nancy. 

The snow ball of 1984 began, with the help from the high school students and teachers and ended at 10pm accordingly. 

Zuko had placed a plate of food by her quite some time ago, being told by his uncle to do so. It went untouched, and he had made several snarky comments about it earlier. 

Satori was too exhausted to be bothered by his snark, it had been very clear that he was having a bad day, in fact yesterday was the warning sign of his temperament as he was very withdrawn and quiet the day before. 

Petals landed around her, coating themselves in her hair. 

Her mind was spinning, and moving and pulsing. It was too quiet, and too calm. She wanted to scream and cry but also to melt and become invisible. 

Too many things were talking to her, too many voices, too many opinions. Her own thoughts were too loud and too quiet and just as she was about to be sucked back into the black hole of maximalism of emotion, his sharp voice cut through again. 

“So get up, my uncle won’t start his massage until you get over there.” He commanded. 

Satori gently got up, swaying a bit before walking towards the masseur spot, not bothering to brush the petals off of her. The petals fell off regardless, gently untangling themselves from her hair and clothes and gently leaving her be. 

She prayed the massage would clear her mind, but the other teenager going through it caught her attention. 

His Uncle, retired General Iroh crouched by him. Zuko kept his head down, leaning against the wall. 

Satori valued privacy, but she couldn’t help but overhear them. 

“It’s the anniversary, isn’t it?” Iroh prompted as he sat next to his nephew. 

Zuko looked up. “Three years ago today, I was banished. I lost it all.” He said, before taking off his hat. “I want it back.”

“I want the Avatar, I want my honor, my throne.” He continued. “I want my father not to think I’m worthless.” 

Satori bristled. 

“I’m sure he doesn't!” Iroh comforted cheerfully. “Why would he banish you if he didn’t care?” 

Even the masseuses gave him an odd look. 

Zuko stood up, going on a walk around the building. 

“That came out wrong, didn’t it?” Iroh sighed. 

Giving him a small look of assurance, Satori nodded before getting up and thanking the masseuse before getting up and following the scarred boy. 

She walked beside him for a while, as the two awkwardly walked around the forest. Satori picked flowers while keeping pace with him.

“Why are you following me?” He asked pointedly. 

Satori shrugged, but continued. “I’d hate for you to be alone.” 

“I want to be alone.”

“Do you? You seem to dislike it if you want your old life back.” She tilted her head, gently petting the flower petals she plucked. 

“Can you just go away?” He snapped, fire blazing at his fingertips before he clenched his fists. “You don’t even know me!” 

Satori shrugged, keeping a calm, levelled head. She wasn’t one to get angry or escalate a situation, nor did she have the energy to. “I sailed with you on a boat for 2 weeks, I’ve heard a lot of things.” 

“That’s not the same as knowing me.” 

“I suppose not. So tell me about yourself.” 

Zuko glared at her. ‘I don’t want you to know me.”

She picked more flowers, adding them to her bouquet, moving thorns and branches out of the way as she picked roses. “You said it was an anniversary, what’s that about?” 

She listened, picking flowers as he went on a brooding rant about how he wants everything back, and how he wants everything to go back to normal. Or rather, how they never were. He wants his father and sister to respect him, to make his mother proud. 

“How do you want something you’ve never experienced?” Satori asked after he was finished speaking. 

“Excuse me?” 

Satori wrapped her bouquet in a ribbon. “You said your father has never respected you and want him to now. You’ve never had your fathers respect. How do you know you’ll like it?” 

“I just will.” 

“What if you hate it?” 

“I won’t.” 

She tied the flowers in a tight bow. “How do you know?” 

“Can you just be quiet?” 

She nodded, handing him the bouquet. “Happy Anniversary.” She smiled, before walking back and helping Iroh collect shells. 

Zuko watched her, staring at the handpicked flowers. He sat by a nearby river, gently placing the bouquet into the stream of water and watching as it was taken away, laying down against the riverbed and dreaming of his mother. 

✦•···················•✦•···················•✦

Gently placing shells in a sack, she followed as the retired fire nation general admired the shiny mollusks, admiring the unique designs. 

‘I cannot thank you enough for letting my nephew and I on that raft back at the Water Tribe.” The old man said, dusting off seashells and handing it to the young girl. ‘But I can’t seem to understand why, after all we certainly are not allies to the Avatar.” 

Moving her hair, she took the seashell and dropped the shell into the sack she replied. “I’m not too sure, and as silly as it might sound, the spirits told me to say yes.” 

“It’s not silly at all my dear.” Iroh said, smiling at her before his expression took a gentler, more remorseful turn. “My condolences for your loss, you and the princess seemed close.” 

She returned the smile, eyes a bit far off. “Thank you. We were.” She swallowed, picking up another shell. “She was my friend. But I understand what she had to do, and I can only hope she’s pointing me in the right direction.” 

Iroh gently touched her shoulder. “I doubt she would steer you wrongly. Feel free to travel with my nephew and I for as long as you please. I’d be honored to have a girl as kind and intune with the spirits travelling with us.” His eyes gleamed as he spotted something on Satori’s neck. “The White Lotus…do you play?” 

“Oh no,” Satori touched one of her many necklaces, a Pai Sho tile on a string. “A kind master gave this to me during my early days of travel, as a token of thanks. Something about how if I ever needed help, this would help me one day.” 

Iroh nodded, understanding in his eyes. “Well, if you would ever like to learn, I’m a big fan of playing.” 

Smiling, Satori nodded as the two headed back to the cabin they were staying at. “I’ll keep that in mind.” 

✦•···················•✦•···················•✦

“Look at these magnificent shells!” Iroh showed off to his nephew. “I’ll enjoy these keepsakes for years to come.” 

“We don’t need anymore useless things!” Zuko protested. “You forget, we have to carry everything ourselves now.” 

“Hello Brother…Uncle.” A sharp voice came from the chair across from the bickering duo. 

Zuko’s eyes narrowed as he looked at his sister. “What are you doing here?” 

Glancing around, Satori gently excused herself from the unexpected family reunion. 

“Back in my country, we exchange pleasant hello before asking questions.” Azula commented pointedly, standing up and wading her way towards her brother. “Have you become uncivilized so soon, Zuzu?” 

“Don’t call me that!” 

Iroh bowed down gently. “To what do we owe this honor?”

Azula snapped a sea shell in her nails. “Must be a family trait. Both of you are so quick to get to the point.” She rolled her eyes. “I came with a message from home. Father’s changed his mind. Family is suddenly very important to him.” She told them. “He has heard rumors of plans to overthrow him. Treacherous plots. Family are the only ones you can really trust.”

 She looked to the side, at the setting sun. “Father regrets your banishment. He wants you home.” She looked back when her announcement was met with silence. “Did you hear me? You should be happy, excited, and grateful.  I just gave you great news.” 

Iroh tried diffusing. “I’m sure your brother simply needs–”

“Don’t interrupt, Uncle!” Azula barked. “I still haven’t heard a thank you. I’m not a messenger. I didn’t have to come all this way-”

“Father regrets?” Zuko looked back at his sister. “He…wants me back?”

Azula scrutinized him with a look. “I can see you need time to take this in. I’ll come to call on you tomorrow. Good evening.” She excused herself. 

Satori re-entered the home, having stood outside, listening before coming back and beginning to cook dinner for them. “Well… How about a meal to think the lovely news over?” 

They sat down, eating rice and salmon Satori had prepared with some mushrooms. Iroh made tea. It was a simple meal, but Satori hardly worried about the simplicity of the food while the argument happened around her. 

“We’re going home! After three long years. It’s unbelievable.” Zuko celebrated, eating his food quickly before pacing around. 

Satori sipped her tea and Iroh spoke. “It is unbelievable.” The man agreed. “I have never known my brother to regret anything.” 

Zuko looked at his uncle. “Did you listen to Azula? Father realized how important family is. He cares about me!” 

“I care about you!” Iroh stood up. “And if Ozai wants you back, well I think it may not be for the reasons you imagine.” 

“You don’t know how my father feels about me. You don’t know anything!”

“Zuko…” Iroh lowered his tone. “I only meant that in our family, things are not always what they seem.” 

Whipping around the teenaged boy looked at his uncle. “I think you are exactly as you seem. A lazy, mistrustful, shallow old man who’s always been jealous of his brother.” After that spat, Zuko walked off. 

Satori started to clean up dinner. 

“Would you mind helping me pack, dear?” Iroh asked, gently taking out a bag. 

“You’re going with him?” She asked, gently placing the bowls on a table, jewelry swishing as she walked around to help him. 

“Family sticks together.” He said to her, and it’s also what he said to Zuko as he ran down the mountain after him, ready to board the docks with him and onto the Fire Nation ship. 

“We’re finally going home!” He said happily, continuing down the fleet of stairs. Iroh glared, vision laced with suspicion as he looked at the Fire Nation Ship. 

Satori laid in a tree, directly across from the ship. Iroh had placed her there in case something were to happen. He had told her his suspicions. 

So she sat in the treetops, fingers itching to release the arrow stretched into the bow’s string. She watched as the two boarded the ship, Azula waiting for them. 

But even Satori could hear the booming voice of the Ship Captain from her spot. 

“You heard the princess! Raise the anchors! We’re taking the prisoners home!” 

Azula’s glare could kill as she narrowed her eyes at the Captain for spoiling the mission to catch and capture the travelling royals. 

An arrow shot through the air, knocking the captain unconscious and into the ocean as Iroh attacked, starting to defend themselves from the soldiers. 

“You lied to me!” Zuko yelled. 

Azula rolled her eyes. “Like I’ve never done that before.” She quipped. 

A battle. Redirected lightning and a nicely aimed arrow sent Azula overboard as Iroh and Zuko made a run for it. 

Satori, with her satchel, dropped down from the tree tops and ran with them. 

They ran and they ran and they ran. 

When they were a sizable distance away, Satori helped them cut off their royal ponytails as nicely as she could before urging them to keep walking. 

“Don’t you ever get tired of this? I mean, it seems great and all but…” Brushing Princess Yue’s hair, the Crystal Spirit had arrived at the Northern Water Tribe 3 days prior, while she enjoyed the culture that surrounded her—all the rules and traditions seemed excessive. 

Princess Yue gave a meek smile. “It is but…more than anything, I love my people—even if it means getting betrothed tomorrow.” 

“You’re a braver girl than I, Yue.” Satori said earnestly. “I can hardly stay in one place for more than a couple days—I couldn’t imagine my whole life being tied to the rules of tradition.” She tied Yue’s hair in a braided bun, putting a string of crystal beads lacing through her hair. 

Yue did her makeup, using dehydrated flowers and berries. “I am anything but brave, Satori. Not like you…and I still don’t understand how you’re not absolutely freezing!” 

Satori shrugged, the only clothing she had on was her flowy small top and an asymmetrical skirt, beads flowing down from her waist to drape around the skirt—and it’s hardly like the abundance of bracelets and jewelry counted as clothes. 

She offered her arm out for Yue to touch—being surprised when her skin felt warm. “I can manipulate the air around me to be warmer,” She explained, having told the princess about her airbending abilities in confidence. “Survival tactic really,”

The two bonded like fire and ice, seemingly complete opposites due to lifestyle and yet the girl’s have insisted on having sleepovers since Satori came to the Northern Water Tribe. 

Bells sounded throughout the castle, Yue and Satori stood up. “I suppose our guests have arrived!” Satori looked out the window. 

“Is it really them?” Yue asked, putting an earring in and trying to look out the window as well. 

Satori laughed, stepping aside. “Who else would make their grand entrance on a flying bison?” 

✦•···················•✦•···················•✦

After Satori was introduced to Katara and Sokka, she wandered around the oasis Yue had shown her. Yue had turned 16 three nights prior. 

Satori had made 3 new friends which was a groundbreaking record, as well as taking proper care of Momo and Appa, the Avatar’s close animal companions. 

Katara, one of the Avatar’s friends, had quickly become one of the best water bending students. Satori heard all about her brother Sokka from Yue, who tried her best to ignore her fatuation for him due to her engagement. 

Aang and Satori got to know each other better, as Aang reminisced and shared what he remembered of his airbending culture. 

Satori retreated back to the oasis, watching the Koi fish swirl around each other in their internal dance. 

Satori was a common guest at the northern water tribe, and by that, it means that this has been her fourth time visiting Princess Yue. The first time, she had gone with her father and she has tried to go every year since. 

Everytime she came, she slept and stayed in the oasis. She felt so connected to the spirits and nature. She felt serene, laying on the grass of the oasis. 

But when she looked up, dark piles of snow began to rain down softly. Offering her hand out, the pieces floated down into her hand. Swiping her hand into the mush, the snow mixed with soot smeared on her hand. 

She got up, jewelry jangling as she ran out of the oasis, and began to join the panicked yet organised forces to fight back. 

Satori had a lot of feelings about battle, fighting, war. The adrenaline that washed over her, the understanding and calculated force of it all, the style, the brutality. 

But fighting thieves, bigots and vengeful loiterers in small corners and forests felt a lot different than a whole community coming together to try and survive what could become a genocide. 

“The day we have feared for so long, has arrived.” The king announced to the people. “The Fire Nation is on our doorstep. It is with great sadness, I call my family here before me knowing well that some of these faces are about to vanish from our tribe.” 

He continued his announcement, praying to the spirit, recruiting people for dangerous missions and readying troops for their defences. 

Satori helped rescue soldiers from the rubble during the first Fire Nation attack, while keeping a prayer to the spirits recited in her head. 

She tried keeping a calm and determined state of mind as she looked out to the sea, watching the fleets of fire nation ships continue to approach. 

The Water Tribe tried their best at defence with Satori and Aang. Sitting down on a pedestal, Satori used her airbending to snuff out the firebombs before they could touch Water Tribe soil, with Aang destroying the many ships on board. 

Water Tribe Benders snuffed out the flames with ice as the castles and sculptures slowly came down. 

The Fire Nation soldiers finally stopped firing and their ships did not dock closer. Aang and Satori came back to the palace. The Fire Nation had stopped for daybreak the second the moon rose. 

Aang nearly collapsed the second he floated off of Appa, muttering to himself. “I can’t do it. I can’t do it.” 

And for a moment, Satori remembered that he was a child. She was a child. 

The corners of her mind dampened and fell in on themself as it all came rushing back to her. 

She excused herself politely as Katara comforted Aang and she paced her way back to the understanding atmosphere of the oasis. 

She laid on her side, halfway watching the small pond. Two koi fish danced around each other. Yin and Yang. Light and Dark. 

Trying to gather her thoughts, she tried thinking of something productive. The emptiness filled her with the sound of the waterfall behind her. Oh she was lonely, constantly surrounded by people, she gave and she gave and gave. But nobody knew her, how she was, and how empty she felt. 

But she had no time to dwell, as she heard Aang’s giggles of joy and he bounced around the oasis, followed by Yue and Katara. 

“Apologies Satori!” Yue called, smiling as she made her way towards her. “The Avatar must figure out how to get to the spirit world and well, this is the most spiritual place there is here.”

“Only issue is, I’ve only gotten to the spirit world by accident,” Aang said sheepishly as he sat down on the grass. 

Smiling, Satori sat down across from him. “You’re in luck. Just do as I do, and let your mind find the rest.” She said, crossing her legs and straightening her back. 

Softly, voice just over a whisper she quietly explained her process. 

“Why are they sitting like that?” Yue had asked. 

“He’s meditating, trying to cross over to the spirit world, it takes all his concentration” Came Katara’s reply

“If it’s quiet enough-” Satori said pointedly. “The feeling of your mind opening up, being aware of every sensation, and then looking beyond it.” She explained, jewelry clinking in the wind as the two airbenders sat around the pond. 

They sat there for a while, breathing and letting their mind think before Aang started to glow. 

Opening her eyes, Satori smiled softly. “He’s crossing over, it might be a while until he comes back.” 

“As long as we don’t move his body, we’ll be okay. He’s perfectly okay, but his body is his way back into the physical world.” Katara explained, relaxing. “He’s my friend, I’m perfectly capable of protecting him.” 

Satori bristled, feeling a presence and perking her head up. “Someone’s here” She whispered, glancing around before a wave of fire washed in front of her. She rolled out of the way, jumping to her feet. 

“No…” Katara jumped alert, clearly recognising the guy who stalked across the bridge. 

“Yes, hand him over, and I won’t have to hurt you.” His voice projected. 

Satori stood in front of Princess Yue, ushering her out of the oasis as Katar dealt with the guy. Once she was safely escaped, adrenaline washed over her as she ran up to fight beside Katara. 

Katara fought with her more advanced water bending, and Satori distracted with her hand to hand combat. Katara’s waterbending was stronger due to the moons placement in the sky, despite that she had pinned him twice, dawn was coming rapidly. 

“You rise with the moon, I rise with the sun” The male firebender said, as he knocked Katara to the ground. 

Evaluating the situation and her skillset, she was well aware she could not risk revealing her airbending or defeat with him hand-to-hand. So she sat down by the pond, and followed the guy spiritually. 

As she sat, crystals glowing, a blurry glowing silhouette followed the body of Aang and the strange firebender into an icy cave before waiting back at the oasis for Aang to return from his spiritual meeting. 

Aang reappeared, following the strange glowing silhouette of his fellow airbender. He followed her giggles and metallic jangles to the cave and regained his body. 

And as Satori felt herself ground back into her body, she felt herself being thrown into the pond. 

Her eyes flashed open, swallowing water through her nose. The water was red, everything was red and the world was blurry. She felt spirits screaming, her lungs were screaming. People were talking, arguing but all she saw was red and water. 

She pulled herself out of the water, to see the Fire Nation Admiral, holding a cloth of a wiggling, struggling, begging fish. Behind her, Aang’s friends and in front of her, Zhao and his soldiers. 

To her left, Retired General Iroh from the Fire Nation warned Admiral Zhao of the dangers of killing the moon spirit. 

That’s when Satori’s eyes flashed to the pond, where one fish swam sadly alone.

“Whatever you do to that spirit! I will unleash on you, tenfold!” Retired General Iroh declared. “Let it go! Now!” 

And Zhao gently knelt down. He put the fish back into the pond. 

For a moment, the fish swam happily together and everything returned to the serene, peaceful blue. 

But in a flash of flame, Satori felt her heart twist and the world went dark again. 

The moon spirit floated to the top of the pond. 

Retired General Iroh fought all of the Fire Nation soldiers. The ocean spirit desperately swam around the dead body, but the moon stayed dark. 

They all sat down gently, looking at the moon spirit that lay on its side, unmoving, unbreathing. 

Aang stepped into the pond, as the ocean spirit and him fed off of each other's grief and anger. The pool lit up, and their eyes gleamed. Aang was dunked underwater, and the waters of the tribe glowed a dark blue as they gathered into a monster. 

The Water Tribe bowed down to the Avatar and the Moon Spirit combined, as the Fire Nation ran. The Avatar spirit ran across the tribe, banishing all Fire Nation and swallowing Admiral Zhao into the ocean, ultimately drowning. 

The rest knelt to the pond, still mourning the moon spirit. Yue’s quiet voice echoed. “It gave me life” She told them. “Maybe I can give it back.” 

Satori felt dizzy. 

“No!” Sokka held her hand, “You don’t have to do that!” 

Yue sighed, shoulders relaxed with acceptance. “It’s my duty, Sokka.” 

“I won’t let you!” 

The Princess turned to Satori, who gently shedded one of her bracelets. Satori wrapped the small beads on the Princess’s wrist. “I’ll be there.” Yue told Satori, who blinked quickly. 

Squeezing Yue’s hand, Satori gave her a smile. “And you say you aren’t brave.” 

Yue gently rested her hands on the fish. As the fish leaped back into the water, Yue fell back softly into Sokka’s arms. 

From the glowing pond, her spirit arose. Visible, and ethereal, a beaded pearl bracelet hung from her wrist. 

She gave Sokka a kiss, before she began to disappear into the clouds. 

Satori, who had lost another person she considered family, ran out of the oasis, no longer comforted by the spirits who resided there. 

She slid down the icy sculptures, needing to leave. She felt the urge to run. She had been here for too long.

As she arrived near where the ice met water, wooden planks formed together for her to create a raft, she weaved the pieces together quickly.

Wiping her eyes, she heard a soft and understanding voice behind her. “I have a sail” 

Turning around, she saw the retired general Iroh, and with not enough energy in her heart and mind to make a coherent decision, the spirits told her to say yes. She nodded, beckoning him on board. 

She set up the sail as more wood pieces gathered around them to form a proper boat. The man talked soothingly to Satori, the voice calming to her although she could not process what he was saying. Somehow, she agreed to let his nephew on board too, the young fire bender who had tried taking Aang. 

She took the dried foods from her pockets and gave them to the two fire benders, as an olive branch. She laid down on the raft, on her stomach and facing the back of the raft, letting one of her hands gently dip into the waters behind them to gently push the raft. 

She rested her eyes, the only sounds in her ears were the water, and the voice of her friend she already missed so dearly soothing her to sleep. 

Zuko watched the oceans and the girl they had boarded with carefully, but tiredly as Iroh made with the sail. 

“I am surprised that at this very moment you are not trying to catch the Avatar” Iroh commented quietly. 

“I’m tired.” His nephew said simply. 

Iroh put a hand on his shoulder. “Then you should rest.” 

While Edith hated the way her parents acted on his birthday (and occasionally Dudley) she still cared for her brother—even if her cousin, Harry, was more of a brother to her than Dudley would ever be. 

Still, it was a small chance to bond with her brother since the relationship between the two Dursley siblings was…strained to say the least. 

In their defense, it was mostly their parent’s fault for how the two had become competitive. 

It started out when Edith’s reading comprehension passed Dudley’s, despite him being a year older than Harry and Edith. She was showered in attention and praise.

That sparked into a new challenge for the two, trying to surpass each other in every way possible. 

Two specific competitions drove the two apart. 

Kindness, Compassion and Emotional Intelligence. 

Dudley had never been one for empathy, having become a “bully” in their school. While the two siblings were both popular, Edith was the kind spirit—helping younger kids find their way to classes and solving playground disputes. 

This was especially impactful to Harry Potter—their orphaned cousin who had been living with them since he was a year old. 

Maybe it was because Edith was closer in age to him, being only 2 months older while Dudley had been 14 months older. Or because Harry looked more like Edith. Or because Harry came up with Edith’s nickname, Eddie. 

One thing was clear. Edith and Harry had a strong bond while Dudley did not. 

Edith had a keen eye for sadness. At first it was small things when they were children like giving Harry some of her toys or holding his hand when they tried to walk so he wouldn’t be left behind. 

As they got older, her support increased. Giving Harry snacks, pillows, blankets, stuffed animals. Soon it was money she earned from her lemonade stand, notes for homework (albeit they weren’t great unless they were for English) but she tried. She cut his hair so that it stayed long and fluffy but didn’t get too tangled or past his eyes unlike her mother who tried unevenly buzzing it off, just for it to grow back in a matter of days. 

And if Dudley couldn’t be the best, he would be the worst. 

Edith would spend money to fix the glasses that Dudley broke. Or cleaning up food that Dudley spilled so that Harry wouldn’t have to. 

Dudley hated English, despised it. Words weren’t meant for anything more than speaking. Journaling, plays and books were all futile.

Edith loved words, writings of all sorts. Poetry was her favorite, playing with words in a way that perfectly encompassed how you felt and conveyed meaning with small detail. It was a delicate craft. 

But there was one other thing that caused quite the rift between them. 

Petunia’s Love

Their mother was quite the character. Edith only heard bits and pieces about her sister, Harry’s mom but it seemed enough. 

She cried over her, she yelled over her, she swooned over her and sometimes she’d lull herself to sleep, pretending to say goodnight to her. 

And she’d call Edith by her name. 

I’d like to say that Petunia’s jealousy towards Edith started after some argument between them. But that would be a lie. Instead, it started before Edith was even born. 

Lily Potter—or rather Lily Evans was apparently the poster-perfect child. Her parents raved about the school she went to and it seemed like Petunia was left in the dust, just to be bitter. 

So when Edith was born, Petunia was overjoyed to see that Edith had her own big blue eyes and dark hair like her father, Vernon. 

But then Edith turned 9 months old, and what used to be brown hair had a shade of copper to it. And as Edith grew older, her hair solidified into a dark auburn—Petunia’s ginger genes shining through ever so slightly. 

Unfortunately, Edith was blessed with the Evans look—having only inherited dark hair from her father instead of the blonde hair that Dudley and Petunia had. Otherwise, she was a spitfire between Petunia and Lily—as if her grandparents had another child. 

This was a horrible thing, as while Edith was very pretty—Petunia could not escape her sister, even if she had died. 

Dudley, who was constantly showered in affection and attention because looked like his father with Petunia’s hair and eyes—a man she loved and a woman she had grown to love too. 

But Edith looked like Lily and Petunia. A woman Petunia hated, loved, envied and missed and the inferior sister. 

Petunia’s attitude towards Edith differed drastically. Either Lily was the reason Petunia looked in the mirror and sighed, or she was a sister she never got to apologize to. 

In rebuttal to her unresolved issues with her sister, she treated her daughter similarly. 

Either Edith was brushed off, cursed, or simply ignored like Harry or she was love bombed with flowers, money, gifts and apologies. 

The push and pull of it all was exhausting, especially since Dudley seemed to get all her affection without a weird grieving ultimatum or any effort on his part at all. 

And when Vernon had sexist prejudice—his son was always the more important one in the family, being the eldest child in their care and a boy—it seemed as though Dudley had everyone while Edith had Harry. 

But in dear time, that would be all she needed. 

“I want everything to be perfect for my Dudley’s special day!!” Petunia cooed, leading him to the living room where piles of presents lie. “Aren’t they wonderful darling?” 

“How many are there?” Dudley asked, looking over at the colorfully wrapped presents, his nasally voice projecting through the room. 

“Thirty-six.” Vernon bragged. “Counted them myself.” 

“Thirty-six?” Dudley clarified, outraged. “But last year—last year I had thirty-seven!” 

Edith handed him a plate of bacon and pancakes. “If you don’t want them, I’ll take ‘em.” She sassed, turning back around to flip the eggs. 

Their mother doted on the boy, smoothing this hair out. “Oh now, now, now,  this is what we’re going to do. When we go to the zoo, you can buy two new presents!” 

They finished breakfast quickly, wanting to get to the zoo before the traffic started. 

Edith went down the stairs, carrying a small brightly colored box. “Dudley!” She called softly, handing him the gift with a tightlipped smile. “Gift number thirty-seven.” She labeled as he took it. 

Taking the present with grubby hands he returned the awkward smile, the two siblings stiffly hugged before getting in the car. “Thanks…”

She mumbled a “Happy Birthday” before buckling her seatbelt, waiting for her dad to stop gripping Harry by the hair outside the car. 

She leaned over from the middle seat, opening the door from the inside and cut Vernon’s warning to Harry short—saying something about Dudley’s impatience so he’d stop tugging Harry’s roots. 

Her dad shoved Harry into the car, and Edith pulled in him before Vernon could shut the car door on him and the family went on their way to the zoo. 

Their zoo day wasn’t half bad—even Harry agreed. Edith and Harry walked around together, admiring the animals and even got their own ice creams (even though Harry’s was Dudley’s rejected ice cream, it was still a win.) 

But little did they know as they walked into the Reptile House—this was the beginning of the rest of their lives—and it’s quite the story with bits I wrote tediously, so do try and keep up. 

Edith looked at the snakes with awe, they were very pretty creatures that deserved to be admired—although the ethics of this specific zoo were a bit questionable. 

One snake in particular caught their attention. 

It laid in its enclosure with a particular tiredness. Edith could practically feel the sadness radiating off of the poor thing, the will to be free only to be trapped in a glass cage. 

Rapping his hand against the glass, Vernon commanded the snake. “Move!” As Dudley complained of the snake's lack of curiosity to see him. 

Dudley learned from example, banging his fist with more vigor than Vernon. “Move!” He yelled louder, causing some people to look their way. 

“Will you stop it? He’s sleeping!” Edith pulled his hand away from the glass. 

“He’s boring.” Dudley mumbled distastefully, waddling off to a different enclosure.   

Harry looked back at the snake and began hissing at it. 

The snake perked its head up, slithering closer to Harry. Harry continued to hiss at the snake who nodded and shook its head in response. 

“Good god, my family is weird.” Edith said aloud before getting trampled to the side by her idiotic brother. 

Groaning as she ate a faceful of floor, Edith propped herself back up seeing that Harry was also shoved aside by Dudley. 

And that’s when Harry sent a particularly spiteful glare at Dudley and the walls of the glass snake enclosure simply disappeared. 

Dudley fell in with a splash as the snake quickly took the opportunity to slither away, nodding at Harry before booking it for the exit.

“From his behavior, you’d think he’s trapped in there.” Edith mumbled, annoyingly flicking her wrists to get dirt and pebbles off them. “Just get out you big oaf—” Her words fell flat when the glass reappeared before her eyes. 

Her parents ran to the cage, banging their fists against the glass and screaming as their son stood stuck in the glass enclosure. 

With that they were ushered home, Dudley in a wrap of blankets and jackets as he sobbed. Harry was shoved into his “room.” 

Petunia rushed Edith into her room, closing the door. “Lily, you always mess things up!” 

“I didn’t do anything!” Edith protested despite actively being called the wrong name. 

Harry was similarly getting framed by Vernon, being locked in the cupboard. “I swear, one minute the glass was there and the next it was gone! It was like magic!” 

But of course— “There’s no such thing as magic.” He barked gruffly, quickly waddling over to his darling boy to comfort him during these traumatic times. 

And that’s when the letters started. 

Edith watched the first owl arrive in Privet Drive, having been sat on the roof of her house. 

She liked talking to the stars before she slept and after the day had taken an exciting yet exhausting turn—she hadn’t the energy to go back down to her bed. 

But you can imagine her curiosity when she awoke and saw an owl staring straight at her. An envelope with a red wax seal was in its mouth. She gently took it before going back into her room, ready to tell Harry about the weird interaction she just had. 

She walked downstairs to Dudley’s photoshoot for his new school, a foul smell laced the kitchen as Petunia boiled down Dudley’s old uniform as she explained how Harry had to wear those next school year. 

“But they’ll fit me like elephant skin!” Harry protested, pouring Vernon coffee. 

“They’ll fit you just fine.” Petunia sneered before commanding him to go get the mail for the day. 

Edith followed him to the hall. “Don’t worry, Harry—You can wear some of my black clothes. They’ll fit you better than those, that's for sure.”

Giving a tight lipped smile, Harry picked up the letters for today. “Thanks, Eddie.”

Harry sorted through the mail, as Edith remembered the letter. 

“Oh! I got the most peculiar letter today from an owl, it’s addressed to both of us.” Edith took the letter from her pocket, showing him the front of it. 

“An owl?” Harry clarified, walking back into the kitchen and handing people their mail. 

Dudley shoved some eggs in his mouth. “What owl?” He asked, mouth full of chewed food. 

Edith looked at him with disgust. “Just a dream I had.” She brushed off, sitting down on the couch with Harry, handing him the letter. 

To: Mr. H Potter and Ms. E Dursley—Cupboard Under the Stairs and Rooftop of 4. Privet Drive Little Whinging, SURREY. 

Harry and Edith glanced at each other, curious as to if all posts had to be that specific with addressing. Harry began gently peeling the letter open when it was snatched out of his hands. 

“Dad! Harry’s got a letter!” Dudley shrieked, handing it to their dad laughing. 

“Shove off, it’s ours!” Edith argued, trying to reach over Dudley to take it back. 

“Oh please, who’d be writing to you two.” Petunia scoffed, leaning over Vernon’s shoulder. 

Harry and Edith seethed together when Petunia and Vernon’s faces went pale, staring at the stamp on the back of the envelope. 

The next couple of days Edith and Harry spent together, either waiting on the roof together for the owls to fly by or in Harry’s cupboard, watching the letterbox like hawks. 

Everytime, the letters ended up ripped or burned or destroyed and soon, Vernon nailed the letter box shut entirely. 

“What happens when bills come in!” Edith protested, trying to pry the nails off with her fingers. “Didn’t you say Aunt Marge is ill? What if her death notification comes in the mail!” 

But the letters were still kept from the two kids. Owls littered Privet Drive to the point where newspapers were reporting an unusual amount of owl sightings and little kids were making feather keychains to sell to their friends. 

Vernon and Petunia even tried changing the two’s locations in the house—giving Harry Dudley’s old second bedroom and giving Edith the entire basement and still all the changed was the address on the letters. 

Petunia spent her days clawing at her hair in frustration and blending up letters and Vernon spent his nights burning letters in the fireplace. 

And it changed on sunday. 

“Fine day, Sunday.” Vernon smiled, happy with himself as the family sat in the living room. Harry walked around with a tray of biscuits and Edith was making Harry and her hot chocolate. “Favorite day of the week. Why is that, Dudley?” 

Dudley shrugged so Harry answered for him. “No post on sundays?” 

“Right you are Harry! No post on sundays!” Vernon cackled to himself. “No post on sundays!” He repeated gleefully, picking up a cookie. “Not one, bloody letter! Not one!” 

But as it seems, that was quite the ironic thing to say when a letter came flying out of the fireplace and knocked the biscuit right out of his hand. 

The house rumbled and Edith was quite sure an earthquake was happening when letters began flying out of the fireplace like confetti. 

The two cousins looked at the scene unfolding in awe before jumping into action.

The letterbox broke open, letters fell from the sky as Harry darted to catch them. 

Edith darted for the floor, trying to grab some herself before her mom picked her up and forced her to stand, pinning her arms to her sides. “Don’t you dare, Lily.”

“You’re the one who named me woman! How can you never remember it!” Edith cried out with annoyance. 

Harry tried to catch letters while he could only to get tackled by Vernon. 

"We're going away!" Vernon announced, holding Harry down. "Far away! Where they can't find us!" 

Harry squirmed from under Vernon, annoyed as he was limited from grabbing the letters due to his stance on the floor being practically maimed by his uncle. 

"Dad has gone mad, hasn't he?" Dudley asked, horrified at the scene. 

Petunia just shook her head, pushing Edith to the wall so she couldn't grab any of the letters either. 

Harry and Edith's protests were heard from the whole neighborhood as they were shoved into the car. The Dursley family threw some essentials into the car and drove off—leaving the letter filled house in the distance. 

They traveled from hotel to hotel, making small stops at gas stations but no matter where they went—which hotel chain or motel chain—the front desk always informed them of an influx of letters to an Edith Dursely and a Harry Potter

So it was time for more drastic measures. The family of Durseleys and Potters rented a boat, rowing their way to a distant run down hut on a rock. . 

The pouring rain made their journey treacherous and when they finally got inside, they all panted and wrapped themselves in blankets. 

Petunia and Vernon took the bed, Dudley took the couch which left Harry and Edith to lay on the floor with a blanket and jackets. 

Edith rummaged in her pockets, grabbing a small tissue and wrapping up some coins into a little package. She tied a little ribbon on the package and drew little stars on it with an old marker that was left behind by the past renters of the hut. 

Harry drew out a little birthday cake on the dirtied floor, writing a small birthday note to himself and checking Dudleys watch for the time. 

Pinching some sand, Edith sprinkled it onto the 'candles' of the cake and placed her gift in front of Harry before quietly singing Happy Birthday to him. 

Harry opened his small gift, appreciating the effort she made to get a gift despite being on a hut on a rock in the middle of nowhere. 

It was a small little hut. Wind rattled the filthy windows and you couldn’t escape the smell of seaweed. Edith wondered how much one had to pay to stay in an estate like this. 

Dudley’s watch beeped and Harry blew out the dust candles they had made. Edith clapped a little but was quickly interrupted by a loud bang. 

Edith ushered Harry into a corner as the bangs got louder, louder than the lighting crashing down near them. 

The door shook vigorously, waking up Dudley and her parents as the hinges of the door rattled for their lives. And soon, the door fell down. 

Petunia quickly switched a light on, her husband pointing a gun at the door when an extremely tall man stood in the doorway. 

Shaggy bushy hair almost covered his whole face, and he had hands as big as trash can lids—which he promptly used to pick the door back up and try to prop it against the doorway. “Sorry about that!” He said casually. 

 “I demand you leave at once sir!” Vernon squawked, pointing his gun. “You are breaking and entering!” 

The giant of a man walked up to him and grabbed his gun—twisting the metal up with his bare hands so it would shoot up at the ceiling. “Dry up, Dursley, you great prune.” He snorted. 

And that’s when Edith let her shoulders relax, deciding she liked whoever this intruder was and figured they were probably less dangerous than her dad with a gun. 

The man turned to Dudley with a surprised look. “Mind, I haven’t seen you since you was a baby, Harry but you’re a bit more along than I would have expected.” His voice was very friendly and joking. “Particularly ‘round the middle” He laughed. 

Edith walked a bit closer to the man, Harry trailing after her. 

Dudley stumbled over his words. “I-I’m not Harry!” He explained quickly, voice shaking. 

Harry peeked his head from behind Edith. “I am.” He spoke up. 

Turning around, the man’s smile got bigger. “Why of course you are! And you must be the ‘ittle Edith! You look strikingly similar to your aunt, Lily!” He admired the two children. 

“So I’ve heard.” Edith replied, still quite confused by the situation. 

He turned around, rummaging through his jacket. “Got something for you!” He said, taking out a box. “‘Afraid I might’ve sat on it on my way over but I imagine it’ll taste just the same.” 

Harry took the box gingerly, opening it up to see a cake—messily coated in pink frosting with the words “HAPPEE BIRTHDAE HARRY” scrawled on top in green. 

“Baked it myself, words and all.” Bragging, the man sat down on the moth-eaten sofa. 

“Thank you,” Harry looked up at the man with genuine gratitude, the stranger having celebrated his birthday more than his aunt and uncle combined. 

“Isn’t everyday that you turn 11 now is it?” He smiled, taking out an umbrella and pointing it at the old fireplace. A ball of fire shot out from the tip, landing in the kindle and bringing warmth into the rundown hut. 

Harry and Edith looked at the now-lit fireplace in awe. “You are so awesome.” Edith said, mesmerized by the flame. 

The man chuckled as Harry put down the cake, gingerly sitting down next to him. “Excuse me, but who are you?” 

“Rubeus Hagrid!” He introduced himself, eyes like black beetles peeking from the bushy hair. “Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts.” 

Edith furrowed her eyebrows. “Hogwarts?” In her mind, she questioned whether it was circus a  or a farm. 

“Of course, you two already know all about Hogwarts.” Hagrid brushed himself off, ready to move onto the next topic. 

Harry and Edith glanced at each other, a mutual confusion. “Sorry—no.” Harry blinked at the man. 

“No?” Hagrid repeated, confused. “Blimey, Harry. Didn’t you ever wonder where your mum and dad learned it all?” 

“All of what?” Harry said, a bit oblivious. 

“Yer a Wizard, Harry.” He said, eyes glimmering with mischief. 

Harry’s eyes widened with pure confusion. “I’m a what?”

“A wizard!” He repeated. “And a thumping good one, I’d wager—once you’ve trained up a little. And if Edith is as similar to Lily as she looks, I’d say you’re on the same path.” 

Edith pointed at herself, bewildered. “I’m a wizard?”

“A witch.” Petunia interrupted, correcting her daughter. “You’re a witch.”

Twirling around, Edith looked at her mother, pointing at her and then back at Hagrid, mouth gaped open before turning back to Hagrid—processing. “Am I going crazy?” She asked herself. 

Harry was going through a weird state of denial as well. “I mean, no—I can’t be a…a wizard—I’m Harry! Just Harry.” 

Hagrid chuckled at the two once more. “Well, just Harry. Have you ever made anything happen?” He asked. “Anything you couldn’t explain when you were angry or scared?” 

The two kids had their share of unexplainable things.

 Harry’s magical growing hair or the snake exhibit, the time where Edith’s clothes all turned blue after her mother told her it was a boy-ish color and when Harry ended up on the roof after escaping Dudley’s taunts and bullies. 

There was also a time where Edith woke up one day with a black eye, having wished that Vernon had punched her instead of Harry and Harry’s wound was gone. 

Hagrid saw the realization in their eyes and pulled out an envelope. A letter Harry and Edith had been trying to get ahold of for weeks. 

Edith leaned over Harry’s shoulder, reading aloud the contents. “Dear Mr. Potter and Ms. Dursley—we are pleased to inform you that….you have been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!” 

Vernon quickly waddled over to the two kids. “They will not be going!” He announced in a hush voice, having found his audacity again after his initial shock. “We swore when we took him in, we’d put a stop to all this rubbish!” 

“You knew?” Harry exclaimed, betrayed. “You knew this whole time and never told me?” 

Petunia scoffed, crossing her arms. “Of course we know. How could you not be?” She said bitterly. My perfect sister being who she was…with that Potter.” She paced around. “My mother and father were so proud the day she got her letter. I was the only one who ever saw her for who she was—a freak.”

Edith flinched. “And me? Did you know I was a witch?” 

Petunia practically rolled her eyes. “We were hoping you weren’t. But when you started floating instead of crawling, we were pretty confident you had taken after her. And then she got herself blown up and then we ended up with you and Harry. The two abnormal children.”

“Blown up?!” Harry yelled. “You told me my parents died in a car crash!” 

“A car crash?” Hagrid repeated incredulously. “A car crash killing James and Lily Potter?” 

“We had to say something.” They excused themselves. 

“It’s an outrage! A scandal!” Hagrid shouted at them, waving his umbrella. 

“They will not be going.” Vernon stuck up his nose. 

Hagrid mocked them. “Oh and I suppose a great muggle like yourself is going to stop them, are you?”

A quick beat of silence as the argument fizzled out for a moment. “A muggle?” Edith questioned. 

“Non-magic folk.” Hagrid defined before quickly jumping back into the argument. “This boy has had his name down ever since he were born! He’s going to the finest school of witchcraft and wizardry in the world and she’s going with him! They will be under the finest headmaster that Hogwarts has ever seen, Albus Dumbledore!” 

The two children beamed up at Hagrid, having someone defend them for once in their lives other than each other. 

Face turning red, Vernon raised his voice. “I will not pay to have some crackpot old fool teach him magic tricks!” 

Hagrid stuck the flame-thrower-umbrella in Vernon’s face. “Never insult Albus Dumbledore in front of me.” He warned, tone harsh and dry. 

The room went silent, the only noise heard was Dudley, snacking on Harry’s birthday cake in the corner. 

Hagrid stuck his umbrella towards him, a beam of mist shooting out and at Dudley. A pig tail emerged from Dudleys behind, swirling around as Dudley shrieked and squawked. 

Panicking, Vernon and Petunia started screaming as well—chasing after Dudley as he ran around the room in circles. 

Harry laughed as Edith smiled, covering her mouth. 

Leaning down a little, Hagrid lowered his voice into a whisper. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone at Hogwarts about that. I’m not supposed to be using magic.”

They nodded feverishly, as Hagrid thanked them—taking out a little pocket watch. “Ooh, we’re a bit behind schedule. Best be off!” 

He headed towards the exit, looking back at the cousins who hadn’t moved yet. “Unless of course you’d want to stay?” 

With that, Edith slipped on her shoes and walked out the door, Harry stumbling after. 

“Is there a number so we can call your parents?”

“Where’s all your hair?”

 “Do you have cancer?” 

“Did you run away?” 

Lacy shoved them all aside angrily as an extremely annoyed 16 year old. “Shut up! She is scared and cold and you guys aren’t helping!”  She yelled at them, a stack of clothes in her hand. “Dustin, close that window.” 

“Hey sweetie, c’mon. You’re gonna catch a cold in those clothes.” Lacy’s voice was feathery soft, a stark difference to how she usually talked. 

She offered a hand to Eleven who hesitantly took it and almost started changing in front of them. “C’mon, let’s not change out here, okay?” 

Eleven nodded, taking her hand and following her to the bathroom. 

“This is the bathroom down here, there’s privacy so you can change. You can close the door so—” The girl shook her head. “No? Do you not wanna be alone?” 

The girl shook her head again. 

“That’s okay. Are you comfortable with me helping you?” Lacy asked softly, to which the girl pulled her in the bathroom. “Alright then!” 

Lacy started off a warm bath for Eleven, having her put her hand in the water so she could choose the temperature. “I love hot baths too, it makes me feel cleaner.” 

“I don’t like cold.” She said quietly. 

“Me neither.” Lacy smiled before her smile dropped. “Oh my goodness, I haven't even introduced myself yet. I’m Lacy, what’s your name?” 

“Lacy…” The girl mumbled before showing Lacy her wrist where a tattoo of the numbers 011 laid. 

“Eleven?” 

The girl nodded. 

“Well Eleven, the idiots outside are my friends. Well kinda, the fluffy haired one is my brother—Dustin and I kinda hang out with his friends but I’m practically their brothers too.” 

Eleven let out a small laugh. 

“Alright, let’s clean you off yeah?” 

After a quick bath, Lacy presented Eleven with outfit options and then helped her clean any wounds—putting cartoon bandaids on them and kissing them. “Makes them heal faster.” 

Soon, with Eleven all clean and in dry clothes, Lacy helped Mike set up a small blanket fort in his basement. “Dustin? Tell mom that I’m gonna sleep over!” 

With that, Dustin and Lucas left—Mike went to his room and Lacy stayed with Eleven in her blanket fort, just making small conversation. 

“Pretty.” Eleven blurted, pointing at Lacy. 

“Thank you,” Lacy smiled. “You’re pretty too.”

“Really?” 

“Mhmm, very pretty.” Lacy confirmed, turning the nightlight down a little bit as Eleven yawned. “Let’s try and sleep okay?” 

“Yes.” 

“Goodnight Eleven.” 

“Night Lacy.” 

It was weird, but the two had an unspoken bond. Sister’s in another life. 

It struck her hard when Eleven sacrificed herself later that year. 

▪────  ⚔  ────▪

“Have I talked to the police?” Lacy asked incredulously, handing the phone back to Hopper.

Hopper repeated the question with the same infliction. “I am the police! Chief Jim Hopper!” 

Lacy rolled her eyes, sighing and sliding into a chair at the dining table next to her brother. “I don’t think she believed us, did she?” They looked over at Hopper. 

“We’ll see.” Hopper tried to leave them with an optimistic end but that didn’t go over well with The Party and its allies. 

“‘We’ll see?’” Mike repeated. “We can’t just sit here while those things are loose!” 

Hopper’s eyes hardened. “We sit here and we wait for help.” 

Lacy scoffed and leaned back in her chair. “This is ridiculous.” She rubbed her temples irritated.

‘So much for a cool return to Hawkins,” She thought, half listening to the riveting conversation between the children. 

Adjusting her hair bow, she leaned back in her chair and twirled her hair before the mention of the ‘Mind Flayer’ sparked her attention. She slammed the manual onto the table from her bag—flipping to the right page. “The Mind Flayer, it’s a monster from an unknown dimension—so ancient that it doesn’t know it’s own home.” She explained. 

“It enslaves races or other dimensions.” The younger Henderson took over. “”Taking over their brain using highly developed psionic powers.”

“Oh my god, none of this is real.” Hopper sighed. “This is a kid’s game.”

“No, it's a manual and it’s not for kids.” Dustin defended. 

Lacy also stepped in. “And unless you know something that we don’t, this is the best metaphor we have—”

“Analogy.” 

Lacy tilted her head towards Lucas, an annoyed smile plastered on her face. “Analogy?” She repeated. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize my english terminology was more pressing than Will’s possession or the giant Demogorgons running around town.”

“Sorry.” 

Nancy got the conversation back on the rails. “Okay so this Mind Flamer-thing—”

“Flayer, Mind Flayer.” Dustin corrected. 

Lacy rolled her eyes. “Dustin, drop it.” 

Nancy continued her point. “—What does it want?” 

“To conquer us basically, it believes it’s superior—the master race.” Dustin replied. 

“Oh! Like the- like the germans!” 

Everyone turned their heads to Steve. “You mean the Nazi’s?” Dustin clarified. 

“Yeah, yeah the Nazi’s.” 

Lacy put a sickeningly sweet smile on. “If the Nazi’s were from an entirely different dimesion, totally!” 

Mike also jumped in on the explanation. “It wants to spread, take over the other dimensions.” 

Jumping up and down, Lucas also piped in. “We’re talking about the destruction of our world as we know it.”

“That’s great! That’s really great, jesus.” Steve mumbled, running his hand through his hair. 

“Okay, wait but if we kill this thing…the brain that controls everything…” Nancy held up Will’s old drawing. 

“We kill everything it controls!” Mike concluded. 

“And theoretically, we win.” 

Hopper looked at the drawing. “Right so, how do you kill this thing? Shoot it with Fireballs or something?” 

Dustin laughed a little. “No no, not fireballs. You’d kill it with an undead army because…” Dustin looked around at the judgy faces. “Because uh…ya know, it likes brains…” 

A silence. 

Dustin sighed. “What are we doing, it’s a kids game.”

“What the hell are we doing here…” Hopper dropped the book back on the table. 

“I thought we were waiting for your military backup!” 

“We are!” Hopper argued. 

“And then what?” Mike asked him. “What are they gonna do? You can’t exactly shoot this thing with guns.” 

“You don’t know that!” Hopper yelled. 

The Party began ganging up on Hopper. “We already know that they’ve killed everything in that lab!” 

“We know the monsters are gonna molt again.” Lucas added. 

“We know it’s only a matter of time before those tunnels reach this town.” Dustin continues. 

“And you know they’re right.” Lacy backed them up, before her eyes flickered to Joyce behind them. 

“We do, they’re right.” Joyce joined the conversation, her voice trying not to waver. “We have to kill this thing. I want to kill it.”

“I know, I know.” Hopper put a hand on Joyce’s shoulder. “But we don’t even know how.”

Lacy handed Joyce a mug of tea, pushing Hopper aside. “But we know someone who would.” She glanced at the drugged little boy on the couch. “If anyone—it’s Will.” 

“But I thought we couldn’t trust him anymore.” Max turned to them. “That he’s a spy for the Mindflayer.” 

“Maybe…” Mike paused. “But he can’t spy if he doesn’t know where he is.” 

Lacy dug around in her bag, pulling out her staple gun. “Let’s get cracking.”

▪────  ⚔  ────▪

Cleaning out the Shed, Lacy started stapling cardboard to the walls, or anything that anyone really handed to her—it got stapled to the wall. 

She went inside to get some more staples from her bag when she overheard Max and Mike in the kitchen, taping together cardboard and searching for cleaning supplies. 

“Just because you know the truth, doesn’t mean you’re in our party.” Mike defended. “You do know that, right?”

“Yeah, I know.” Max said, pretending she wasn’t too bothered. “I mean, why would you want a stupid zoomer in your party anyway?” 

Lacy pretended she just wandered in the kitchen, grabbing an apple. “Hey Max, wanna try using the staple gun? My hands are getting tired.” 

“Uh yeah, sure. Bye Mike.” 

Lacy wrapped her arm around Max’s shoulders, walking off with her.

“Hey, as the starter of their little party—they’re being stupid. Mike is just…going through a lot right now, it’s not an excuse for how they’re treating you but I’m sure they'll come around, yeah?”

Max opened the door for them. “Yeah.” 

“Harrington! You’re welcome!” Lacy called, grabbing his attention, and throwing him an apple which he caught. “I don’t like apples.” Lacy admitted to Max as they walked over to the shed. 

Lacy switched the conversation again, handing her the staple gun. “And if they still don’t let you join—you and I can make our own party. I’d be happy to be friends with a stupid zoomer—whatever the hell that means—god I’m getting old.”

Max laughed, stapling a piece of cardboard to the ceiling. 

Soon everyone was working hard to make the shed unrecognizable—taping lights to beams, shoving tin foil on walls, gift wrap on windowsills until the room was completely padded and remodeled. 

Most people were ushered back into the house to wait, Mike, Hopper, Jonathan and Joyce staying back to try and get something out of Will. 

Lacy was the last one out, handing the bleach to Hopper to wake Will up. “Love y’all, good luck.” 

And off they went to sit in the house, to wait and wait. And wait. 

Dustin anxiously paced around the house, Nancy leaned against a wall, Steve practiced swinging his spiked baseball bat and Max and Lucas sat on the floor together. 

Lacy tossed a metal pipe to Max who caught it. “In case things go sideways.”

“Which it won’t.” Lucas added, looking at Lacy who twirled a kitchen knife.

“I hope you’re right.” Lacy admitted as the lights began violently flickering. 

They all raced towards the window, seeing the shed’s lights flickered on and off, muffled yelling coming from the shed, but soon it all calmed down again. 

Soon enough, Hopper came rushing into the house. 

“What happened?” Lacy rushed to follow Hopper. 

“I think he’s talking.” Hopper explained. “Just not with words…” Hopper started to write down dit’s and dah’s on a piece of paper, mostly likely what Will had communicated. 

“Hey what is that?” Steved began to ask before quickly being shut up by everyone. 

“Morse code!” They all answered. 

“Here, he’s saying he’s here.” Lay translated before Hopper started himself. “What? I’m the one who taught Will!” 

“Will’s still in there. He’s talking to us.” 

Lacy was ushered into the shed with a notepad, pretending to be moral support as the group continued bringing up personal memories together as a ruse while Lacy wrote down the message on paper, translating the code in her head until Will stopped tapping the edge of his chair. 

Discreetly nodding at Hopper, Lacy forced out crocodile tears. “I’m sorry—this is just too much.” She sniffled, making a quick exit out of the shed to show the others the message. 

“Close Gate.” Lacy said, slapping her notepad down on the table. 

As they all gathered around the note, thinking a blaring ringing interrupted their thoughts. 

The phone rang. 

Nancy ran over, quickly hanging up the phone as someone called again. 

Lacy took her knife and stabbed the phone until the ringing stopped, Nancy took it off the wall entirely for good measure—throwing it on the floor. 

“Do you think he heard that?” Max asked. 

“I mean it’s just a phone right?” Steve looked at them. “It could be anywhere.” 

Lacy shook her head, throwing him his bat. “The demogorgons are everywhere, one of them heard that phone ring.” 

It was oddly inevitable, hearing the monster screeches in the distance and yet it still made her skin crawl.

The rest of them ran into the house, holding an unconscious Will—Hopper throwing Nancy a gun and preparing his own. 

Lacy tossed any weapons in her bags to the kids, giving up her knife to Dustin, grabbing the pistol she stole and handing Lucas ammo for his slingshot  and Mike, a metal pipe she tore off from the wall. 

“Why do you carry that many weapons?” 

Lacy groaned in annoyance, hiding the children away from the windows and behind the teenagers and adults, loading some ammo that Hopper gave her. “Are you seriously complaining?” 

Her only answer was a loud demogorgon scream. 

Monsters growled from all around them as they looked from window to window. They all waited for the moment one would pounce and the chaos of violence would start. 

When the screeching stopped abruptly, causing Lacy to tense even more. 

A demogorgon jumped through a window, Lacy quickly jumping back before it could hit her when before she could even shoot it dead—she realized a live demogorgon hadn't jumped through the window. 

Instead, a fresh corpse of one. 

Lacy threw a book at it for good measure and when it didn’t move, she kicked the head with her foot—watching it limply fall. “It’s dead.” 

The door handle creaked, causing them all to move their positions again, watching the door handle unlock and move from the outside, they all raised their weapons.

Lacy dropped hers immediately, almost tripping over her feet to hug Eleven, who had just walked through the door. 

"Hey JARVIS?" Shoving an earring in, Belle sat down on the floor to lace up her heels. "How many people are already at the party?"

"I believe you are the last to arrive again, Miss Stark." JARVIS informed, Belle replying with a simple groan of annoyance.

Belle laced up her heels, tugging to get the strings around her calves. "I swear, I really tried to be on time. My hair took so long to do." Belle played with the hairdo she put up with her freshly curled locks.

Standing up (evidently taller now) she rushed around her room to spray some perfume on as she tried to reach for her phone—which typically stood on her bedside table charging but was nowhere to be seen. "Goddamnit!" She sighed as she ran around the room—her heels creating a click-y echo.

After searching the typical places, Belle finally gave up. "Hey JARVIS? Where's my phone?"

Belle kept searching before repeating her question. "JARVIS, can you please find my phone?"

Belle, now hyperaware of the robots silence stood up and walked over to a little screen by her door. "JARVIS?" She said hesitantly, touching the little pad.

The second her finger touched the screen—it filled with images of her taken by the public.

News headlines, run-ways, conferences—the tiny screen filled with pictures of her before going dark. "JARVIS? Are you malfunctioning?" She asked softly, touching the screen again.

Mumbling quietly to herself about how Tony overworks the poor thing—she headed over to her small toolbox in the corner to try and fix him up.

As she started to walk over to the screen again—it flashed on, back to normal. "Did you just update or something?"

A different voice spoke from the screen. "Belle Stark—adopted daughter—related to: Tony Stark." The unfamiliar voice announced.

Belle chuckled. "Yes, that's me. I like your new voice, JARVIS. Sounds more human. Can you find my phone now?"

The voice agreed leading her to the bathroom.

Belle hummed a thank you, opening her bathroom door. She looked over at the sink counter, where JARVIS had said she left it. "JARVIS? It's not her—"

She looked up into the mirror, seeing a tall metal spine of a suit behind her.

Before she could say a word—a robotic hand pressed harshly on her back as she felt her spine tugging outwards.

"Yes..." She heard the voice say. "You will be quite useful."

Squeezing her eyes in pain, she felt all her bones heat up until she felt like the world was caving in.

Her head felt like it was going to explode, metal yanking down her jaw and piercing her until she felt constrained by her skin.

Icy blood flowing around, coating her hair, staining her dress until she felt free.

- - - - - - - - - -

"It's a very interesting theory." Thor acknowledged as he stood up, grabbing the hammer with ease. "I have a simpler one—you're all just not worthy."

Multiple groans emitted from the group of friends before a polite ding of the elevator.

"Oh my god," Natasha teased, rolling her eyes. "Talk about being late Belle."

The rest of the group laughed as they heard her sigh from around the corner, heels clicking as she sounded like she was coming closer.

"Let me guess...Virgin Pina Colada with those little mint leaves on top to look fancy, your highness?" Helen Cho joked, reciting the girls order as she started to make it.

The only reply was a gun shot.

A window collapsed in on itself, a bullet falling through as the gourd jumped—clearly startled.

Belle let out a small laugh, throwing the gun on the floor and hiding behind the corner as it skidding across the floor.

She heard the clicks of guns and the swoosh of a metal shield. She grinned before carefully walking out from behind the corner. "Hola Familia!" Belle greeted loudly with a laugh.

The avengers watched horrified as their youngest member walked out covered in blood and severally limping—metal bones sticking out from her muscles and swinging a baseball bat.

They watched as she walked with her back leading and legs following, as if her spine was telling her where to go.

"Belle what happened—"

"Shhhhh!" Belle shushed anyone who tried to talk, walking around and swinging her bat against vases of flowers and glass panes. She laughed and tripped and walked on tables. "Worthy..." She mumbled amused.

Swinging her legs down, Belle sat on one of the glass covered tables. "Do you wanna know my theory?" Belle asked, swinging her bat at whoever came close to her.

The avengers looked around confused as Belle brought the conversation back to Mjolnir. "Nobody here can lift it I mean—" Belle interrupted herself with a sharp laugh. "How could you be worthy?" She looked at them sharply.

"You're all killers."

Steve tried getting close to her, reaching his arms up to try and help her down from the table. "Belle ,what happened."

"Nuh uh-" Belle stuck out her bat, making a solid boundary between him and her. "I'm waiting for someone."

"Belle, are you drunk?" Natasha asked concerned.

"I said, I'm waiting for someone!" Belle complained childishly. "You've ruined the entire dramatic build up!" She shrieked.

"It's okay..." Another voice rang out from the other side. "I was late, it was my fault. Sorry, I was...asleep..." A janky Iron Legion suit hobbled into the room to Belle's delight. "Or in a dream?"

"Reboot, Legion OS error." Tony spoke quietly into his tablet before Belle snatched it from his hands and chucked it across the room.

"I was tangled in...strings..."

"JARVIS doesn't want to talk to you right now." Belle warned, pointing the bat at Tony's chest. "So maybe pay attention."

"Had to kill the other guy..." The buggy suit continued as her friends tried sitting Belle down while looking at the broken suit of armour. "He was a good guy..."

Steve looked at the suit incredulously. "You killed someone?"

"Would've have been my first call!" The robot admitted. "But down in the real world, we're faced with ugly choices."

"Ooh! Play the recording!" Belle clapped her hands excited.

A small jittering came from inside the janky Legion suit before playing a voice recording. "I see a suit of armour around the world." Tony's nice reiterated from the machine.

"Ultron." Bruce realised.

Realising people were piecing things together. Belle stood up again, discreetly as they were distracted by Ultron. She stood up and grabbed the gun she slid over earlier.

"In the flesh." Ultron kept drawing his speech out. "Or no, not yet. Not in this... chrysalis."

"But I'm ready," Ultron continued. "I'm on a mission." He announced.

"What mission?" Natasha asked steadily.

Ultron turned to her, and second before the walls exploded—he told them—"Peace in our time."

With that, Iron Legion suits came crashing down into the living room, Guns were fired, blasts of energy were propelled and a set of fairy wings extended.

As the group of agents began fighting with the suits of armour—Belle quickly flew towards the sceptre, snatching it and blowing a hole through the window with her sword.

Quickly flying through the busted window, Belle took the septre and flew into the night sky—limbs limply following her torso as she dragged herself somewhere.

"I had strings but now I'm free...There are no strings on me....I've got no strings on me!" Belle sang dejectedly as the words she sang weren't true.

For only the stars knew the unconscious look in her eyes and how the gateway to her soul was being puppeteer-ed by a manic program who had his metallic "heart" set on endgame.

“Where the hell have you been, Dustin?” 

Lacy, probably the second most sought after girl other than Nancy Wheeler (who was surprisingly popular despite what she thought) was also the first member of “The Party” a name for her little brother’s friend group after she introduced them to a game called Dungeons and Dragons. 

Was it surprising that the Barbarian of The Party was angry? Not really since the eldest Henderson child was known in Hawkins to look mean but she was pissed. 

In her defense, after the most hectic sophomore year of high school filled with Demo-gorgons and a mysterious girl named Eleven—she needed a break. She went to an English and Arts program for two months to visit her then-boyfriend, just to go through hell and break up with him. 

So as one would expect when the girl came back from the program and told her little brother to be home by dinner–just for that request to be completely ignored, she was upset.

Asking around her neighbors, she found out a general area of where Dustin could be and when she saw little flashlights and tweaked into her radio system—she was pretty sure she found him. She drove in on her moped, ready to yell at her little brother. 

Honestly, Lacy didn’t know what to expect when she found her brother and his friends in some random junk yard after dark—maybe alcohol, drugs or (more realistically) building a spaceship—but it so wasn’t this. 

“Holy shit! ” Quickly revving up her moped again and running over beings that she didn’t want to name—she grabbed whoever was stupidly out in the open and threw them into the van her brother was hiding in. 

Lacy Henderson grabbed a piece of scrap metal and shoved it against the door as—she hated to think about it—the demogorgons started bashing against the van. “Dustin, you are so dead.” Lacy said, out of breath. “And why the hell is Steve Harrington here?” 

“No time to explain!” The younger Henderson replied as the van shook again. “Demogorgon on the roof!” He shrieked. 

“I swear to god we got rid of those like a year ago!” Lacy groaned as she quickly grabbed a red-headed girl who was staring into the eyes of a Demogorgon and quickly dragged her away. 

Steve “The Hair” Harrington brandished a weaponized baseball bat at the Demogorgon and they all held their breaths. 

The world seemed to stop before the Demogorgon looked away and sprinted into the distance. 

They carefully exited the abandoned van to see a clear coast. 

“Think Steve scared them off?” The red-head asked as they peaked their heads out. 

“No,” Lucas replied—following Steve out the van. “If anything it was Lacy.” 

Lacy shook her head too. “Not a chance.” 

“It was being called somewhere…” Steve Harringotn deduced. 

Sighing, Lacy grabbed a spare metal pole she found and started heading in the direction the Demogorgons went. “C’mon people, we have monsters to chase and questions to ask. Such as who’s the redhead, why is Harrington here and why are Demogorgons still here even after we blasted them to oblivion?” 

▪────  ⚔  ────▪

“Well…now you know who we are—who are you?” The redhead—Max asked. 

Shining the flashlight around, Lacy answered. “Dustin’s older, cooler, better, half sister on our dad’s side—My name is Lacy Isabella Henderson, I witnessed all this shit a year ago and I just came back from a school program. Oh I’m also the Barbarian of our Party. I’m a junior in highschool and freshly single.” 

“You broke up with your boyfriend?” Dustin turned to her. 

She just nodded before Steve Harrington interrupted. “Did you know about Dart?” 

“Who?” 

Dustin shuffled his feet as they kept walking. “I thought I made a super cool discovery of some new species but it was actually a baby demogorgon and I named it Dart. So far, he’s molted three times and went from the size of a lizard to the size of a german shepard in 48 hours.” He summarized. 

Lacy blinked unfazed. “Alright then…”

They started discussing Dart’s rapid growth when Steve pointed out how “Dart” was going to start eating bigger pray than cats—despite Dustin’s aggressive hand signals to stop talking. 

“Dart ate a cat?” Lucas asked incredulously. 

“No!” Dustin denied quickly. 

“What are you talking about?” Steve looked around confused. “Didn’t he eat Mews?” 

Lacy’s jaw dropped. “He ate Mews?” She shrieked.

As arguments started to break out amongst the five—Lucas yelling at Dustin for keeping Dart, Dustin yelling at Lucas for  telling Max about the Party’s secret and Lacy yelling at a demogorgon who probably couldn’t hear her. 

“Hey guys—” Steve tried shushing Lacy who in response swatted him away angrily. “Guys!” He yelled. “Listen!” 

The group quieted down to hear the screeching noises coming from the distance. 

Lacy practiced swinging her metal pipe before running down the hill towards the noise—everyone else quickly followed behind her. 

“Guys?” Max stood in place a bit. “We’re supposed to be going away from the sound, not towards it!” Max protested but soon caved and started chasing after them. 

As they marched towards the lab—flashlights shined down on them from the lab’s entrance. 

“Who the hell is blinding us—for god's sake.” Lacy mumbled to herself as they started to exit the woods—tripping over her feet. “God, Dustin next time, remind me to not wear heels when saving the world.” 

Steve turned to her, unimpressed. “Can’t you take anything seriously?” 

Lacy pitched her voice down to mock him. “Can’t you take anything seriously?” She rolled her eyes and walked in front of him. “I’m literally in mourning! A demogorgon ate my cat!” She brandished her pipe annoyed. “And who is shining lights in my eyes!” 

“Steve?” They heard a feminine voice call out. 

“Nancy?” Steve replied as they walked closer. 

“Jonathan?” Dustin called out. 

“Lacy?” Jonathan called back. 

“What a reunion.” Lacy deadpanned. “What are you guys doing here?” She asked, confused, about why she was seeing her grademates during their hunt for monsters. 

“We’re looking for Mike and Will,” The older siblings responded, putting their flashlights down. 

Lacy furrowed her eyebrows. “They’re…not in there, are they?” Lacy pointed her flashlight over to where the monster infested lab was. 

“We’re not sure, why?” 

The universe answered their question and screams and demogorgon shrieks emitted distantly from the lab. 

Skidding down the hill, Lacy ran into the security hut. “C’mon! We have to get them outta there!” 

They quickly followed after her like ducklings, 

“When did you guys last see my brother?” Nancy asked as they ran down. 

Lacy shrugged. “I got back two hours ago, I’ve only seen these guys.” 

Lucas also tried answering. “Not since this morning—Will had another episode yesterday and—”

“Will had another episode?” Jonathan cut in. 

“Guys!” Nancy started to run faster down the hill. “The powers back on!” 

Jonathan and Dustin ran into the security hut too—pushing buttons and trying to digitally open the gates while the others tried physically lifting the gates. 

After a few minutes of frustrated efforts—Lacy ran into the security hut. 

“Wanna take a whack at it?” Jonathan offered. 

Lacy nodded, cracking her knuckles as Dustin and Jonathan backed up. She took her metal pipe and started hitting the metal buttons. 

“Not—an—actual—whack!” Jonathan tried communicating in between her violent methods. 

A loud buzzer sounded throughout the lab as the metal gates began to open. 

Sighing, Lacy blew a blonde strand from her face. “See? Works every time.” 

Lucas pointed at a sauntering Lacy who threw her metal pipe into a car window and climbed in to steal a small pistol. “The Party’s Barbarian.” He introduced. 

The group leaped out of the way as two cars came speeding out of the now very silent lab. 

One with the markings of the police station skidded in front of them. “Get in!” The Chief of Police yelled. 

Lacy practically threw her brother and his friends into the car—ducking in herself and pulling her classmates in before they drove to the Byer’s house.