"Join our group. We're protecting Kacchan and making our way back to camp. We could use your help."
"If you're protecting Bakugo, then shouldn't he be standing here with you guys?"
"What're you talking about? He's right over here behind u-" The green-haired boy turned, expecting to see his blond classmate, but only saw empty space. We're in crisis mode, and we thought we were doing well. That we'd covered all our bases! But-
"Nice trick, eh?" The greenette and everyone else turned to look up into the trees. A man in a black top hat and a yellow trench coat perched in the branches, tossing a small turquoise marble in his red-gloved hand. "I took the lad you were talking about with my magic." He caught the marble in three fingers. "A talent like his would be squandered, were he cast as a hero. We'll provide him with a grander stage where he can truly shine."
"Give him back!" The greenette looked furious.
"Give him back? What an odd thing to say. Bakugo doesn't belong to anyone. He's his own person. Don't be so arrogant." The masked man admonished.

"We'll stop you-"
"Right now." A red-and-white-haired boy finishes, stepping forward. Ice shot from the ground before his foot. It blasted towards the masked man in a series of spikes. The man leapt to the other side of the clearing, holding onto his hat.
"Why the aggression? We merely wish to show him that there are options besides the fanatical world of heroism he's drowning in." He crouched in a tree, looking like a colourful gargoyle. "It's important to choose a path that aligns with your core values, after all." One of the others, a boy with eight arms, whirled around.
"It's not just Bakugo. Tokoyami's gone!" The candy cane boy whirled around to gape at their aggressor. He snatched two of our strongest classmates without a sound. He scowled, glancing around. What power is this?

"If you're monologuing because you think you've beaten us, you're mistaken!" The man rolls the marble between two fingers.
"A bad habit of mine. I was once an entertainer, you know." He says. "Taking Tokoyami was a bit of improv on my part." A second marble appears in his hand. "Moonfish. Our dear 'Blade Tooth'. He may not look it, but he's a dastardly death row devil whose last appeal was denied. When I saw the avian take him down so easily and violently, I decided he should join our troupe."
"You bastard! You can't take them!" The greenette shouted.
"Midoriya, calm down." The octo-armed boy says quietly.
"Here, take this guy for me." The candy cane boy says, handing his charge to a classmate.

"Okay!" The candy cane boy took a step towards the villain, ice shooting from the ground near his feet. It kept on growing and growing until a large chunk of the forest was frozen solid. The air temperature dropped sharply, and powder snow appeared on the right side of his face, in line with the white half of his candy cane hair.
"Apologies." The man appeared, already fleeing. "But sleight of hand and escapology are my specialties, not combat. I'm not foolish enough to fight hero candidates from UA." He put a hand to his ear. "Vanguard Action Squad. I've acquired our target. Our little show has officially come to a close. Meet me at the retrieval point in the next five minutes for the final bow."
"They're going to take them." The candy cane boy stated, glaring at the masked man as he disappears. "Our friends."
"They can't!" Midoriya yelled, looking desperate.
"You're right. We'll stop them." The candy cane boy yelled, leading the group in a charge.

"Hey, Dabi! Did you hear the radio? I'm so pumped up; our boy Compress totally got the job done." A man in black-and-white spandex said. His voice changed abruptly. "The man certainly took his time. I was starting to get bored."
"Don't be a pain. He did a good job." Dabi states. "Now we just have to wait for everyone to regroup here."
"You're the pain." The other man's voice changed again. "Forgive me."
"This place was supposed to be hard to find because of the wall of flames and poisonous gas. But looks like the gas is gone. Things never go according to plan, do they?"
"For real." His voice changed again. "This is the plan." A blond boy crouched in a bush nearby, a hand over his mouth. The gas is gone. Someone defeated the villain! They're fighting. Maybe . . . I should too? He peered around the bush, only to lock eyes with Dabi.

The boy's eyes widened and he ducked back behind the bush. He saw me! Dabi stared at the bush a few seconds more before moving towards it.
"Hey, Dabi!" The other man yelled, raising an arm. Dabi turned with a blank expression. "Speakin' of which, totally not important, but shouldn't you be calling that Nomu back? You said he would only react to your voice, correct? That sounded vital." The boy stayed silent, sweating behind the bush.
"That's right. You're the one who reminded me to let him loose on the students earlier." Dabi said, walking back.
"No problem." His voice changed. "Bow before me!"
"Shigaraki designed the monster specifically for me. He's probably killed someone by now." He touched the comms link in his ear.

"Damn it, this guy's quick." The candy cane boy muttered.
"If only Iida were here!" The brunette gasped, moving with heavy steps. These ingenues aren't as big a deal as I expected. The masked man thought.
"C'mon." The candy cane boy sprinted off.
"We can't give up. Not now." Midoriya grunted, his face pained. "We have to catch him. And get our friends back."
"But he's pulling farther ahead with every second." The octo-armed boy stated.
"Uraraka. You have to make us float." Midoriya groaned.
"Huh?"
"And then, Asui. You can launch us as far as you can using your tongue!" He looked at the frog-girl hopping next to him.
"Ribbit?" She asked, looking confused.
"Shoji, hold Todoroki and I and use your Quirk to correct our trajectory through the air. Measure the distance with your eyes, Uraraka." He explained. "And then, when the timing looks right, release us!"

"I see." Shoji said, eight arms pumping. "Human Bullets."
Wait, Deku." Uraraka frowned. "You're still going to fight with those injuries?" She eyed his mangled arms. He's in bad shape. I wouldn't be surprised if he lost consciousness any moment now. Todoroki thought, slowing to match the group's pace.
"Midoriya. You stay here. With that much pain, you-"
"Trust me, I don't feel any pain right now. I can do this. Hurry!"
"Wait, Deku. Here!" Uraraka used her shirt to splint Midoriya's arms. Once that was done, Shoji wrapped both Todoroki and Midoriya in his arms. Uraraka rested a hand on each of them, and her palms glowed briefly. Asui wrapped her tongue around the trio, lifting them off the ground like they weigh nothing.
"Okay. Go ahead, Tsu." Uraraka nods. "Make sure you've got a good grip on them." Tsu nodded, throwing her body weight forward, tossing the trio above the trees. They screamed, hurtling towards the masked man at high speed. He turned to face them and was smacked square in the chest.

"Huh? Lame." A blonde girl states, pulling down her bandana. "I'm the only one here?"
"Hey, crazy. Did you get the blood?" Dabi asked, stepping out of the bushes. "How many different kinds?"
"One person's!" The blonde grinned.
"Just one!" The spandex man exclaimed, pointing a finger in the air. His voice changed. "Hey, what gives? Weren't you supposed to get at least three?"
"That's just the way it went down." The blonde shrugs. "I thought those brats were gonna kill me."
"Whatever. You're looking a little too happy right now. Strange. Shouldn't you be full of shame?" He deadpans, his voice changing every second sentence. The blonde giggled.
"Yeah, but I made some great new friends. And I found a cute boy I'm interested in!"
"Is it me?" His voice changed. "No thanks, babe." It changed again. "I love you, too!"
"Both of you. Shut it." Dabi glared at them. "You're too loud." He looked up. Someone was screaming.

The masked man tumbled from the sky to land in the clearing, Shoji, Midoriya and Todoroki clinging to his coat.
"Give Kacchan and Tokoyami back to us!" Midoriya growled from the masked man's back.
"Woah, Woah, what's this?" The spandex man asked. "Oh, hey, wait, I know these kids." His voice changed. "Who are they?"
"Out of the way, Compress," Dabi raised a flame-covered hand.
"Got it." The Compress says, disappearing into a turquoise marble as flames barreled towards them.
"That's cold." The spandex man said. The three kids screamed and leap away.
"My arms are burning!" Shoji yelled as some of his arms got caught in the torrent.
"Midoriya! Shoji!" Todoroki shouted, then whirled to look at the spandex man.
"The beat-up little boy and you. You're on Shigaraki's kill list!" He exclaimed, springing into the air. His voice changed again. "No, they weren't!" Todoroki steps forward, sending two waves of ice at Dabi and the spandex man.
"So hot!" The spandex-clad man shouted as he dodged. A hypodermic needle on a tube streaked at Midoriya's head, and he ducks.
"Hi, Izuku! My name's Toga!" The blonde rushed at him. "I've been thinking since I saw you . . . That you'd be so much cuter if you just bled a little more! I can help!" She pulled out a knife, raising it above her head. Shoji slammed into her as she swung the knife down, knocking her aside.

"Midoriya!" He exclaimed as Toga hit the dirt, still holding the knife.
"So, that's how it is." She sulked as she got to her feet. "You wanna come between us." She gripped the knife harder. "To be honest, you're not really my type." She glared, her yellow gaze hard. "But I'll cut you anyway."
"She's crazy," Shoji said bluntly, bracing for another clash. Todoroki sent another wave of ice at the spandex man, who leapt away, taunting him.
"Ha, ha! This is easy!" He pulled a flexible steel ruler from his wristbands, slicing through the ice shards. "Give Me all you've got!" His voice changed. "Hey man, cut me some slack!"
"What the hell is with this guy?" Todoroki snarled. The turquoise pearl in the bottom of the crater made by Dabi's fire glistened, then exploded outward, turning back into Compress.
"Ugh. I can't believe you wrecked my exit." He complained, getting to his feet. "Unrehearsed amateurs."
"You got Bakugo?" Dabi walked over.
"Of course. . . . Huh?" He reached into his empty pocket.
"Midoriya. Todoroki. We're done!" Shoji said, standing up. "He gave away his best trick. I'm not sure what your Quirk is, but it has to do with those little marbles, right? The ones you'd stashed in your pocket. So, I'm guessing these are Tokoyami and Bakugo." He said, holding up the two marbles.
"You rescued them!" Midoriya shouts.
"Ha, ha, ha! Well, colour me impressed. Just as I'd expect from someone with so many hands. How splendid." Both Midoriya and Shoji rushed Compress.

"Right. Nice job, Shoji." Todoroki nodded, enlarging the wall of ice he'd generated during his fight with the black-and-white villain.
"Moron," Dabi said, extending a hand.
"No, wait." Compress said.
"A Nomu!" Midoriya screamed, sliding to a halt.
"Quick, this way!" Todoroki called, changing course. A cloud of dark purple vapour bloomed from the shadows, yellow eyes glowing in the centre to block that route of escape. Not this guy. Shoji reeled back.
"He was at the USJ!" Todoroki shouts.
"The Warp Villain," Midoriya was shocked.
"It's been five minutes since the signal. Let's go, Dabi." The mist states, glaring down at them.
"Sorry, Izuku. But I'll see you later, 'kay?" Toga waved, disappearing. The spandex man dove through the mist and disappeared too. a section of the mist vanished with them.
"Hold on. We're not leaving without the kid." Dabi glares at the trio of boys.
"Don't worry. They were so proud of themselves for rooting through my pockets that I thought I'd let them gloat." The trio stared at Compress, shock written on all their faces.
"But allow me to explain a basic tenant of magic. If I'm flaunting something shiny," He removed his mask, "It's because there's something else I don't want you to see." He poked out his tongue, showing the two marbles nestled there.

"He's got them!" Midoriya and Todoroki screeched in unison, shaken. Compress snapped his fingers and the marbles in Shoji's hand resolved themselves into two large chunks of Todoroki's ice.
"Is that my ice?" Todoroki looked shook.
"That's right." Compress's voice was sly behind his stylized mask. "During the freezing attack, I prepared dummies and slipped them into my right pocket."
"Damn it!" Midoriya rushed at Compress, furious. His Quirk lets him compress and hold things!
"A little bit of misdirection. Forgive me. I do so adore a twist ending." He stepped back into the mist.
"You can't do this!" Midoriya launched at the group, Shoji and Todoroki close behind.
"One last bow." Compress tipped his hat.
"And then the curtain fal-" He stopped, the marbles flying from his mouth as a shimmering laser tore past his face.
"Aoyama?" Midoriya was stunned. Todoroki and Shoji lunged for the marbles. Midoriya attempted to catch one but fell back with a yelp of pain. Shoji caught the marble containing Tokoyami, while Todoroki's fingers brushed the marble containing Bakugo, only for it to be snatched from his grasp by Dabi.
"Well isn't that a tragedy," Dabi held the marble like he was going to flip it. "Poor little Shoto Todoroki." Todoroki stumbled past him and collapsed.
"Confirm it now. Release them." Dabi backed towards the mist.

"That laser ruined my finale." Compress whined, clicking his fingers. Tokoyami materialized in Shoji's hands, while Bakugo materialized with Dabi's hand holding tight to the scruff of his neck.
"Checkmate. Heh." Dabi dragged Bakugo through the mist.
"Kacchan, no!" Midoriya bolted after him. "Kacchan!" He screamed again, leaping forward just as the rest of the mist vanished, along with the attackers and his friend.

"Stay back, Deku!" Were Bakugo's last words before the mist swallowed him. Midoriya faceplanted in the spot they'd been standing a millisecond earlier. He groaned and stood, seconds before a rift appears in the ground below him, swallowing him whole. He screamed, looking up at the receding moonlight as he fell before darkness invaded all corners of his vision.