Chapter Text
A high pitched ring panged through her ears as Uraraka groaned, struggling to open her eyes. The sky above was overcast with clouds, thick and gray, however there was no sign of rain. Frustrated, she shut her eyes tightly and let her head fall back onto the ground before she heard the distant sounds of familiar voices growing louder.
“Ochako!”
“Your Highness!”
“Uraraka, are you okay?!”
Bakugo, Kirishima, Ashido, and Deku.
The unison of their concern made Uraraka realize she had passed out again. As she began to sit up, she felt herself being scooped up into Bakugo’s strong arms. A pained sound escaped her lips as she felt stinging aches from various points of her body, “Shit, Ochako…”
“I’m guessing I still failed,” Uraraka mumbled bitterly, her head falling onto Bakugo’s shoulder. She blinked hard and shook her head as Bakugo’s face came into focus for her.
Bakugo let out a brief laugh of relief, shrugging, “You made a larger set of clouds this time. The air smells like rain too.”
Uraraka frowned, rubbing the back of her head, “But not a drop?”
“You should take a break.” Bakugo suggested, carefully helping her to her feet, his hands not leaving her sides as she struggled to stay standing, “You dropped damn pretty quick that time. At least before you didn’t lose consciousness until you fell on your knees.”
Letting out an aggravated huff, Uraraka took a step away from Bakugo before she felt her equilibrium shift, causing her to stumble back into him. He caught her instantly, as she gripped at his cloak, frustrated by her own shortcomings, “I’m so close, I can feel it.”
“We’ll try again tomorrow,” Bakugo assured her.
Uraraka shot him a look from the corner of her eye, “No, I want to try again in a little bit.”
“Kacchan’s right, Uraraka, the fact that you passed out this time shows you’re at your limit.” Deku said, his voice heavy with concern as he surveyed his friend.
“Then I’ll go beyond!” Uraraka insisted, struggling as she held herself at arms-length from Bakugo. After a moment of steadiness, her legs involuntarily buckled, causing her to almost fall had it not been for Bakugo catching her once more.
“Let’s at least take a break, eh, angel face?” Bakugo suggested, sweeping his arm under her legs and lifting her with ease. Uraraka groaned loudly as she leaned her head against his jawline, “Kirishima, Ashido, go down to the kitchen and let the staff know we’ll be taking lunch in our quarters.”
“Yes, sir!” Ashido and Kirishima replied in unison, running ahead of them to complete their orders.
As Deku followed Bakugo back into the palace, he continued taking notes in his journal, “It seems like this time you were able to sustain the cast longer. The spell you summoned was larger as well.”
“I can’t even hold myself up right now,” She fumed, her teeth clenched and fists bawled, “You two wouldn’t have this kind of problem.”
Bakugo rolled his eyes, giving her an assuring smirk, “Deku breaks his fucking bones when he casts beyond his limits and I’ve had my fair share of scars and damage done to myself as I’ve progressed.”
Deku nodded, “That’s right. It’s understandable that you’re experiencing some challenges, too.”
“But we can heal bones and cuts pretty damn easily, Ochako,” Bakugo reminded, nodding to the servants who bowed as they passed and ascended the stairway to the guest apartments of the castle, “With your magic, you use your mana directly from your spirit and we can’t see what kind of damage you’re taking on.”
Uraraka sighed heavily and slumped into him further, “It’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“And I’m not saying you can’t,” Bakugo remarked calmly, “But this is next-level shit and we need to make sure you’re taking care of yourself in order to get it done. None of us has the capacity to manipulate the weather. The fact you’ve gotten the clouds to gather as they have is fucking amazing.”
Deku moved ahead of Bakugo, opening the door to their chambers and stepping aside to allow him to carry Uraraka in, “Judging by the way you’re progressing, you might be able to make it rain by the time the others arrive in the next day or so. It would be good timing to have the extra support before entering the Altar of Shadow.”
Bakugo crossed the threshold of the room and gently laid Uraraka onto the bed, propping up the pillows to allow her to sit up as she sunk into them with another deep heavy sigh, “How are you feeling?”
Uraraka looked up at the ceiling, her eyes trailing aimlessly at the decorative panels, “I feel heavy.”
Bakugo leaned over, placing the back of his hand against her forehead, his brow furrowing, “You’re running a fever.”
“I’m fine, Katsuki,” Uraraka insisted, her voice growing soft as she shut her eyes, “I just need a nap and then I can try again.”
His scarlet eyes narrowed on her as Bakugo rose up from the bed, crossing to the dresser where a pitcher of water rested. He carefully poured some of its content into a nearby bowl and grabbed a hand towel resting at its side. Returning to Uraraka’s bedside, he dipped the towel in the water then rang it out before placing it on her forehead. Immediately, Uraraka relaxed further, savoring the cooling sensation she felt, “You’re not doing another damn thing until your fever is gone.”
Uraraka swayed her head from side to side, “No, I have to do this…”
Deku slowly approached, surveying Uraraka as he did, “Hey Kacchan, I can head back to my room and see if I have some materials to make an elixir for her. It might help.”
Expecting a protest or snyde comment, the Beast King merely bowed his head, his attention not leaving his wife as he moved to dab around her neck and cheeks, “That’s a damn good idea, Deku. King Aizawa should have an apothecary in the castle that has any supplies you might be missing so go see him if you need anything.”
Nodding with determination, Deku closed his journal and placed it back in his satchel, “I’ll be back in a little bit.”
After Deku left, Bakugo moved to unclasp Uraraka’s hood. Her hands weakly reached up, grabbing his as she tugged them, “No…”
“Ochako, we have to get you cooler.” Bakugo replied, gently pushing past her protesting hands as he undid the garment and moved it off of her, pulling the cape from under her as well. To his dismay, Uraraka’s face was flustered, her breathing quiet as she seemed to be struggling to keep herself awake. He continued to undo her tunic, allowing the air to reach her collar bone, gently dabbing the wet cloth beneath the folds of fabric before returning it to her forehead. She shifted as he removed her boots and leggings, muttering quiet protests about needing to get back to her magic as he pealed off her gloves, “I know you’re about a fucking stubborn as I am, but you need to rest until your mana comes back.”
Carefully, Bakugo helped Uraraka slip under the covers, ignoring her mumbling and gentle pushes as she struggled to try to sit up just to slump back into the bed. As he continued to attempt to cool her down, Bakugo ran his hand through his hair, his face wrought with worry, “Dammit, if Todoroki was here we could get some ice… I’ll have to have Ashido get some snow from outside…”
At that moment, a soft knock came from the door, “Enter.”
Ashido and Kirishima stepped inside with a cart filled with food for lunch. Immediately, they noticed Bakugo didn’t seem interested and saw their flustered queen.
“Hey, she doesn’t look so good…” Kirishima observed, anxious as he carefully approached the bed.
Bakugo held the bowl of water out, “Can one of you get some snow? We have to cool her down more.”
“I’m on it,” Ashido offered, taking the bowl and quickly disappearing from the room.
Kirishima stood over Bakugo, whose attention was fixated on the weakened Uraraka, “Hey, Bakugo…? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
It was the first time Kirishima heard the tone of worry in his friend’s voice, “Can I make you something to eat?”
“I’m not hungry.”
No sharp tones or quip backs - Kirishima wasn’t sure how to react to a concerned Bakugo. He moved to the other side of the bed, sitting at the foot as he surveyed the two, “You guys have been putting in some long hours these last few days… first with the research and then with the Queen’s magic attempts.”
Bakugo barely acknowledged Kirishima’s remark, “She’s pushing herself so damn hard… And there’s nothing I can do to help her with this more than I have.”
“What do you mean?” Kirishima asked.
Biting his bottom lip before hanging his head, Bakugo grasped Uraraka’s hand, his thumb caressing the top, “This isn’t like we’re facing some enemy where I can jump in and fucking fight to protect her. This is about her journey and her advancement. Sure, I can support her all I fucking want and do whatever she asks of me but as far as her breaking through to that next level? I’m powerless to do a damn thing but watch.”
Kirishima nodded with sympathy, “I was the same way with Mina when she underwent her training not too long ago. We could spar all day but it was on her to get her acid magic to the next level. She ran herself into the ground over it too.”
“I’m so fucking proud of her,” Bakugo confessed, a small smile playing on his lips as he spoke, “Ochako is a fucking warrior but she worries about everyone but herself until she literally breaks. It fucking kills me, Kirishima… I want to encourage her and make her feel empowered but dammit… every fucking time she pushes herself too hard I feel like maybe I should speak up when I’m seeing her reach her limits.”
The ruby guard titled his head to the side, looking at his friend with a questioning look, “So why don’t you?”
“It’d be demeaning to her and I never want her to feel like she can’t do something because of me.” the King admitted, “I’d be pissed as hell if she tried that shit on me too so I’m not about to give her a hard time on things if I wouldn’t be comfortable with her doing the same to me.”
“You two really are a good match,” Kirishima chuckled, “Like anyone could tell you what to do, Bakugo.”
“She could.”
“Oh?”
Bakugo’s fingertips passed over the crown of Uraraka’s head, gently stroking her hair as she settled beneath his touch, “If she wanted, I’d give her the fucking world, Kirishima. No one would stand in my way. Whatever she wanted, however outlandish or impossible it may seem… if it would make Ochako happy then I’d do it.”
Kirishima leaned on his hand as he smiled at Bakugo, “She seems to be content just being at your side, my friend.”
“She’s so fucking selfless… it’s why she’s lying in bed with a fever right now. Ochako is pushing herself so damn hard to get us into the Altar of Shadow… we could wait for rain, but no -- she knows how much of a time limit we’re on and how damn important this is,” Bakugo’s body began to tremble, “And all I can fucking do is sit here and watch her be like this. I hate this feeling, Kirishima! I fucking hate that all I can do is sit here and be powerless to do anything!”
Surprised by his King’s outburst, Kirishima noticed the distress wrought within Bakugo. He was worried and frustrated. It dawned on Kirishima that it may have been the first time in Bakugo’s life he ever cared about someone else more than himself and that he had not been in a situation where he couldn’t do anything to aid or beat the odds. Sighing with a kindred smile, Kirishima reached over, putting his hand on Bakugo’s shoulder, “She’ll be okay, Bakugo.”
“I fucking know that…” Bakugo mumbled, “But thanks for saying it.”
“Hey, no need to get all mushy on me, dude!”
Baring his teeth, Bakugo shot back, “Shut the fuck up and let my wife rest!”
Kirishima suppressed a laugh as Ashido returned, holding the bowl of snow. Immediately, she noticed the air in the room, “Is everything okay?”
“It’s fine, Mina,” Kirishima assured, hiding his mouth as she approached Bakugo.
Bakugo took the bowl from her and immediately packed the ice into the towel he had been using, “Thanks, Ashido.”
Ashido’s eyes widened in surprise before she smiled and nodded, “You’re welcome. Is there anything else?”
“No,” Bakugo replied, moving to Uraraka, “Ochako, this is going to be cold.”
Carefully, he placed the snow-packed towel onto Uraraka’s forehead, causing her to jolt for a moment before she stilled once more. Bakugo sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose, “You two can go now. There’s no fucking point in you just sitting here. Go see if the damn nerd needs any help making Ochako’s elixir.”
“As you wish, your highness.” Kirishima replied, gesturing to Ashido as he crossed to the door, “Please eat something and summon us if you need us.”
“Fine.”
When they left, Bakugo put his head in his hands, shaking it slowly as he felt his body begin to quake again. He felt his throat grow tight and dry as he tried to swallow the anxiety welling up within it. It was a foreign feeling for him and he hated it. After several minutes had passed, he felt the gentle touch of Uraraka’s hand on his forearm, bringing his hands down to look at her. Her eyes were half open and a warm smile formed on her lips, “I’m okay, Katsuki…”
“Of course you fucking are,” he agreed quietly, taking her hand in his and inching closer to her, “You just need to rest a little while.”
“Will you lay with me?” she asked weakly. Bakugo nodded, removing his cloak and crawling over to her side, curling up next to her as he rested his head on her lap. Slowly, she began to stroke his hair, “I heard everything you said…”
“Fuck…” he cursed, “I thought you were asleep for that.”
“It’s nice though… that you’re worried and want to help me…”
He grunted as he curled up further, his hand gently coasting over her thigh as he hugged her leg, “I’m not doubting your abilities, I hope you fucking know that.”
“I know,” she grinned, “But it’s nice to hear my husband is upset when I’m not doing so well… and it’s kind of nice to be taken care of…”
“You only need to ask if you want a little extra treatment, angel face.”
“I know, but it’s also not in your nature to baby me,” Uraraka pointed out, “In fact, I think we’d both find it smothering if you did...”
Bakugo rolled onto his back, looking up at her. She had gone from flustered to pale, noticing she was beginning to shiver. He growled as he moved up, taking the iced towel from her forehead and dabbing it around her neck and chest. Uraraka began to shift back and forth against the pillow, gripping at the sheets as her legs moved under the covers. As Bakugo tried to comfort her, she began grabbing at him, her eyes heavy and blinking hard as she tried to focus on his face.
“Katsuki--” Uraraka gasped, “I don’t feel so good--” At that moment, her eyes fell and her body went limp. Her face began to drain of color and her pink lips grew pale.
“Shit!” Bakugo cried out, reaching for her face, “Ochako? Ochako, come on! Come on, you can beat this! You can fucking beat this! You have to wake up! Gods be damned--- Kirishima!! Ashido!! Fucking anybody--!!!!”
Almost instantly, Ashido and Kirishima bolted into the room with Deku following from behind. Bakugo’s attention shot to Deku, immediately noticing the small vile of blue elixir in his hands, “What the fuck are you just standing there gawking for?! She needs help!”
Deku nodded as he rushed over, handing Bakugo the vile, who snatched it from his grasp. Bakugo’s composure was all but lost as he moved Uraraka’s wilting form into his arms, positioning her head back and bringing the vile to her lips. When the elixir began to spill from the corner of her mouth, Bakugo stopped and immediately took a swig, squeezing Uraraka’s mouth as his lips met hers, forcing her to swallow it.
He grabbed her wrist, pressing with his thumb as he leaned into her. To Bakugo’s horror, Uraraka’s pulse and breathing were weak. Carefully, he shifted her in his arms, laying her gently onto the pillow as he struggled to remain composed in front of the others. Had she pushed herself too far? Was she fading? No, Uraraka was stronger than something so small to do her in.
Bakugo’s thoughts began to race together as they increased in their volume, his breath becoming wracked as he unconsciously clenched his fists in frustration.
His racing mind was disruptive by Deku’s tiny voice “Kacchan? Is there anything we can do?”
The Beast King’s gaze did not leave his wife, “She just needs to rest. Ochako pushed herself too far today.”
“Should we get the doctor?” Ashido asked, quietly.
“Get anyone who might be able to help.” Bakugo ordered in a low tone. Ashido nodded and ran from the room, gesturing for Kirishima to come with her. The scarlet warrior lingered for a moment longer, looking at his King before following. Deku took a few steps towards the foot of the bed where Uraraka laid, surveying his friend with cautious eyes.
Deku felt words try to formulate in the back of his throat, but nothing came off his tongue. Instead he stood, lightly grasping the bed’s footboard as his eyes darted from Bakugo to Uraraka and back again, “She’s going to be okay.”
“Of course she is,” Bakugo mumbled, moving to wrap an arm around Uraraka’s head while gently stroking her hair, “She just needs to rest.”
“Kacchan,” Deku stammered, “What if … what if she--”
“Be careful what you fucking say next, Deku,” Bakugo hissed, baring his teeth though his eyes revealed the fear in his heart, “Don’t say a damn word on it. She’s just sleeping.”
Deku nodded, forcing a smile, “R-right. She just pushed herself too hard.”
Bakugo growled as he curled up into Uraraka, cradling her carefully as he watched her face intently.
+++
Uraraka wandered across the open field, green with lush grass and a seemingly endless sky. There was a slight cloud cover, but the sun still peaked through with streams of light. It was peaceful, but empty. There were no signs of life to be heard or seen. No people, no birds, or even the buzzing of insects. The only sound she heard was the slight rustling of the grass as the breeze swept across the landscape.
“Am I dreaming?” Uraraka whispered, her eyes scanning the horizon intently. She looked back over her shoulder, searching for the energy of another lifeform. Alas, she felt nothing, “Katsuki? Deku?”
Her voice echoed across the vast area, however there was no response. Uraraka inhaled sharply as she continued to look around, “... am I dead? No. No, that’s not it. I think… I hope.”
Struggling to make sense of where she was, Uraraka began to walk forward with intent. She continued to look around and occasionally turn, walking backwards for a few paces, before turning forward again, “Is anybody out there?!”
Silence.
A few moments passed before she heard a voice in the distance call back, “Hello?”
Uraraka perked up immediately, “Hello?!”
“Hello?” the child-like voice called back. They didn’t sound too far away either. She began sprinting across the field, her heart pounding as she raced towards the fading echo. As she ran, Uraraka noticed that the flat field began to incline, turning into a rolling hill. The farther she progressed, the steeper it got before she paused, grasping at her kneecaps as she sought to catch her breath.
“Hello?” the voice called again.
“I’m coming!” Uraraka gasped, panting before beginning to run again. When she finally reached the top, Uraraka saw in the valley below a lone sakura tree, rooted on a small island in the middle of a tiny lake. On the island sat a small child, with a book in their lap, waving to her from the shade of the tree. Uraraka looked around for any other signs of life or a potential trap but felt nothing. Cautiously, she walked towards the center and stopped at the water’s edge, “Are you okay? How did you get out there?”
The child was dressed in weathered clothes, wearing a hand-me-down mage’s hood, balancing a large magic book on their lap. As they raised their head, Uraraka gasped, immediately recognizing the figure staring back at her, “You’re… me?”
It appeared to be a younger version of herself, smiling meekly from the shade of the tree, “You took awhile to get here.”
Uraraka shook her head, turning side to side to examine her surroundings again, “I don’t understand. Where am I?”
The young Uraraka looked up into the delicate pink flowers, marveling at the soft pink petals that slowly fell in the breeze, “This is actually an extension of one of the roots of Yggdrasil. You’re at a cross-road, Ochako.”
“Impossible,” Uraraka exclaimed, “If this is truly a part of a root from the Tree of Life then why am I seeing it now?”
“Because you’ve got to make a choice,” her younger self continued, “You have to let go of these insecurities to get to the next level or else you’ll remain here.”
Uraraka swallowed, her eyes fixating on the being before her, “What do you mean ‘remain’ here?”
The young Uraraka signed, closing her book and placing it on the ground next to her. She slowly stood on her feet, brushing down her robes before walking to the edge of the water. To Uraraka’s surprise, she noticed the girl’s eyes were not brown, but red. She strained a little as she looked harder at her face.
Did she look like that when she was a girl? They didn’t have any paintings of her from when she was younger and she wasn’t the type to look at herself for a prolonged period of time in a mirror.
But there was no denying the familiarity of the child before her.
The girl raised her finger, pointing at Uraraka, “You’ve gone too far, Ochako, so now you must choose if you wish to stay here or return to Yggdrasil.”
Uraraka’s face drained of all color as she gripped her chest, “Then… I am dead?”
The child did not answer.
“No! That’s impossible! I was just with Katsuki and--”
“Why is it impossible? People die suddenly all the time. What makes you so special?”
“No!” Uraraka shouted, shaking her head violently, “I refuse to believe that this is how it ends! I have to get back! I have to help my friends and save our world! I have to get home to Katsuki!”
The young girl sighed, folding her arms across her chest before letting her head fall to the side, “You’re certainly determined. You know a lot of people who end up here never make it this far. Most just stay in the field wandering aimlessly or sleeping.”
“Who are you?”
“I’m a part of you.” The girl replied, bluntly.
“But… you don’t look exactly like me.” Uraraka remarked, squinting to try to get a better look, “I mean at least not from here.”
The little girl giggled, her hands moving to behind her back, swaying playfully, “I would not try to come into the water. You’ll never reach the island.”
Wrinkling her nose in confusion, Uraraka looked down at the water, which she noticed seemed to go from clear to a dark blue. If she had not known better, she would have sworn she saw the stars in the darker part, “It doesn’t look that far and I know how to swim.”
“Ochako, we’re getting off topic here. Did you want to stay here or did you want to return to Yggdrasil?”
“I choose neither! I have to wake up!” Uraraka cried, slapping herself as hard as she could across her cheek. She winced at the sting of her own strike, feeling her body begin to tremble as she looked at her own reflection in the water before her, “Did I… I really go too far?”
“A person’s mana has its limits and you’ve been pushing yours too far.” the little girl explained, “After a person’s mana has been depleted, then it begins to impact the body and eventually the soul.”
“No.” Uraraka protested, quietly, “I didn’t go too far... I didn’t go far enough. My will impacts my magic and I have the will to go farther than I have before.”
“Hello? Are you missing the fact that you’re stuck here in limbo right now?” The girl squawked, waving her arms about, “Leaving isn’t an option!”
Uraraka shot a glare at the girl, “And who are you to tell me where I can and cannot go? Why do you know these things? Who or what are you?!”
The little girl groaned, folding her arms once again before she sat on the bank of the lake, “I’m no one. Just a being here to ferry you to the other side in a comfortable fashion or keep you company for eternity.”
“That’s bullshit.” Uraraka snapped back, causing the girl to frown.
“Such language,” she remarked, “You’ve really picked up a thing or two from that husband of yours.”
“Don’t you dare insult Katsuki!” Uraraka hissed, balling her fists before a realization hit her, “Wait… you know about my husband’s bad language?”
“I know a lot of things, Ochako,” the little girl groaned, laying back onto the ground, stretching out, “I can wait here for eternity for you to make up your mind too, but I’m not sending you back.”
Uraraka straightened up, grinning, “So there is a way back?!”
“That’s not what I said!”
“You just said you could send me back but you’re choosing not to!” Uraraka declared, putting her hands on her hips, “Alright then, I’ll make you tell me how to get back!”
“With what?” the girl retorted, her face bored as she waved her hand about, “You don’t have any staff to cast magic at me with.”
Jerking in frustration, Uraraka looked around before her gaze fell to the ground. She looked at her hands and flexed them slowly, “Katsuki doesn’t need any object to cast… his sword just acts as a conductor if he wants it to. If I were him… how would I cast without an object?”
Several minutes seemed to pass as she aimlessly paced about the area. Slowly, an idea began to formulate in her head. She began to recall that Bakugo stated he casted his magic mainly using his palms. With that train of thought, she looked at her own hands and thought out loud, “What… what if I think of my fingers as mini staffs?”
“What was that now?” The girl called, raising her eyebrow. Realizing Uraraka was ignoring her, the girl came to the edge of the water.
Uraraka took a deep breath and began to focus. She felt the mana within her begin to pulse, starting from within her chest and flowing to every part of her body. The air around her began to tingle, as her hair and clothes began to dance in the aura she was producing. Normally, when she was about to cast, she’d force her mana into her staff and channel the spell through her omnistone. But instead she began to focus on letting the concentration points end at her fingertips. They felt hot, almost as if they would burst, but Uraraka slowly circulated the mana from her wrists to her fingertips, swirling the spellwork in her palms as a type of filter between the points.
The girl on the shore strained to see what she was doing, but once she realized what was happening her eye grew wide, “Impossible.”
Sparks of water and lighting began to flicker from Uraraka’s palms, almost like mini storm clouds brewing in the grips of her hands. She groaned as she focused harder, bringing her hands parallel to one another causing the clouds to form between them and increase in size, “Katsuki casts his spells using his palms as his cast-point. If I can just--- keep the spell circulating then I can make this….!”
With a crack of lighting from the cloud she created, Uraraka threw the growing form into the sky, continuing to chant as she blended the water with the air, while regulating the barometric pressure within the darkening nimbus. Another great flash of lighting, followed by a loud roll of thunder echoed through the valley. Uraraka felt the energy from the tips of her fingers to the bottoms of her feet and it was hot - almost painful, but she could manage it. She kept her focus, controlling her breathing as she narrowed her concentration into the cloud, transitioning to form a water spell from the droplets within the heavens.
Then it happened.
Rain began to pour from the sky, drenching the grassland with a continuous downpour. Holding her head up, allowing the stream of water to cascade down her face. She began to laugh and sob at the same time.
“Unbelievable…” The girl exclaimed, “You made it rain.”
Uraraka’s attention turned back to the girl, her expression changing from joyful to stern. She approached the water, her eyes scanning the surface for a brief moment before she slowly extended her foot to hover over it. As she stepped onto the small lake, Uraraka concentrated her mana into the bottoms of her feet, simultaneously turning the water beneath her to ice as she stepped. The being on the island’s jaw dropped as Uraraka slowly began to walk towards her, ice forming under her feet to allow her to walk on the water effortlessly.
When she finally made it to the island, Uraraka stood over the girl, staring down at her with determination, “I’ve made it here, now send me home.”
The young girl smiled and sighed, “Well, I suppose it’s better for the world if you go back anyway.” she moved over to Yggdrasil’s root, “All you need to do is touch this root and you’ll wake up where you are.”
Uraraka smiled and approached the root, extending her hand for a moment before she paused, “Hey, who are you?”
“Me?” The girl replied, pointing to herself, “No more than a guide to seem more comforting in your transition of life.”
“No, but you feel… seem familiar to me.” Uraraka remarked.
The young girl smiled, putting her hands behind her back, swaying on her feet, “Maybe we’ll meet again someday. Go home, Queen Ochako. Your friends and husband have been worried and fear the worst.”
Uraraka nodded, placing her hand on Yggdrasil. As she did, the root began to glow bright to the point it was blinding and she looked away.
+++
When she woke, Uraraka felt her head was airy and light. Had it all been a dream? As her vision started to focus, Uraraka’s hearing began to return.
“...ako… Ochako!” Bakugo’s voice exclaimed. Uraraka blinked a few times, feeling her husband’s hands on the sides of her face. As he came into view, she noticed his eyes were hollow, with dark circles around them. He appeared to not have slept in days.
“Katsuki…?” She whispered, reaching up and brushing his bangs from his eyes, “What happened to you?”
Bakugo shook his head and lifted her up, bringing her close and nuzzling his head in the crook of her neck, “Thank the fucking Goddess… thank the fucking gods, Ochako.”
As she wrapped her arms around his neck, she felt a few droplets of tears fall onto her shoulder as Bakugo held her tighter, “I’m okay… I’m so sorry I made you worry.”
Her attention turned to the side bed table, which was covered with burned candles, healing herbs, and reminisce of tonic bottles, “How long was I asleep?”
“You stopped breathing several times in the last seven days,” Bakugo replied, his voice trembling as he did, “Todoroki and the others arrived and between Yaoyorozu’s healing and Deku’s elixirs we’ve kept you as stable as we could.”
“What?!” Uraraka exclaimed, grabbing Bakugo’s shoulders and pushing him up to look at her, “I was out that lo--” immediately she stopped speaking, her eyes widening as she looked into her husband’s tear-filled eyes, “Katsuki… Have you slept at all?”
Bakugo shook his head, letting it fall forward to rest his forehead against hers, “You’re alright… that’s all that matters.”
Realizing he was addressing their comrades without a sharp comment and his cursing was at a minimum, Uraraka rubbed her nose against his, running her fingers through his hair, “You can rest now, I’ll watch over you this time.”
He didn’t argue with her. Instead, Bakugo slumped over, wrapping his arms around her waist as he curled up against the curve of her side. Within moments, Uraraka noticed his breathing change and Bakugo’s body finally relaxed.
A moment later, Deku opened the door with Kirishima and Ashido in tow. The three of them light up with joy and open their mouths, only to be hushed by Uraraka, who gestured to the sleeping King.
“Uraraka!” Deku whispered loudly, moving to the bedside, his eyes spilling with tears, “Thank the Goddess you’re awake!”
“Bakugo hasn’t slept in a week!” Kirishima added.
“How are you feeling?” Ashido whispered loudly.
Uraraka smiled, passing a hand through Bakugo’s hair, “Strong. We need to let Katsuki rest for a few days though before we enter the Altar of the Sigil of Shadow.”
Deku nodded, wiping his eyes, “Do you need anything?”
“No,” Uraraka replied softly. At that moment, a strange and coiled sound came from her stomach, startling herself and her comrades. The four muffled a laugh before Uraraka remarked, “Perhaps something to eat? Though I’d like to take my meal here. I don’t think Katsuki is going to let me go anytime soon.”
“We’ll get on it, your highness.” Kirishima chuckled, gesturing for Deku and Ashido to follow him.
Uraraka’s smile lingered for a moment more after they left before it faded. She let her head lean back onto the headboard of the bed as her attention turned back to the sleeping Bakugo, “I’ve awoken from one prison and now I worry about the hells we shall encounter in the days to come.”
+++
Despite his protests, Uraraka insisted that Bakugo rest a few solid nights before they made an attempt on entering the Altar. When he had recovered, the team immediately began to coordinate the infiltration of the Altar of the Sigil of Shadow.
“It’ll be better to have a small team,” Shinsou instructed, laying out the charts filled with symbols of the Sigil of Shadow, “Aside from the Sigil of Shadow, this Altar is known as the Altar of the Underworld.”
“Great, so we can expect to have some shit down there that’s hard to kill,” Bakugo grumbled, folding his arms, “If it’s not already fucking dead.”
“W-what do you mean by that?” Deku stammered.
“I thought necromancy was illegal?” Uraraka exclaimed.
“It is, but the magic within the Altar has its ways. Think of it as a way for the ancient Kings and Queens of our kingdom to ensure the protection of the Sigil.” Shinsou explained, “If you cannot brave the trial of the Altar then you cannot hope to reign in Dundrasil.”
“So who shall go then?” Todoroki asked, folding his hands as he surveyed the papers on the table.
“We will need your fire, Prince Shouto,” Shinsou replied, “Since you will come, as will Yaoyorozu with her healing and fire sword skills. The Beast King, Uraraka, Midoriya, myself… The dragons and perhaps the Rune Knight. The smaller the party with healers, fire, and white magic the better.”
“And what purpose will you serve, Prince Hitoshi?” Bakugo asked, “Your mind magic will not do well against creatures with no minds.”
“Father has given me the power to retrieve the Sigil of Shadow and I can still fight though I will need Queen Ochako’s magic scrolls to do what I must.” Shinsou confessed, gesturing to Uraraka.
Uraraka nodded in acknowledgment, “I’ll get on that right away, your highness. You’ll have more than enough.”
Bakugo bared his teeth, growling lowly, “We will not use your magic as a crutch for the shortcomings we may fucking have.”
Uraraka grinned, giving Bakugo’s hand a reassuring squeeze, “Don’t worry. I can handle anything down there.”
“We shall have to hope so, Queen Ochako, for it may be what is the difference between life and death down there.” Shinsou warned, grimly.
+++
As night fell upon the Kingdom of Dundrasil, there was an eerie silence as the party walked to the Royal Tomb. At its entrance stood two hooded statues, one symbolizing the great Queens of Dundrasil and the other the great Kings. They each held giant scythes that curled over the entrance leading to giant stone doors with the Sigil of Shadow on it.
“It’s so quiet.” Jirou commented, looking around.
“We’ll stand guard while you go below, my lords.” Kaminari stated, his eyes trailing the hillside over the tomb, “It’s almost like nothing living dares to come near here.”
“Nothing good lies below…” Iida murmured, placing his helmet on his head, glancing at Deku, “Midoriya, keep vigilant.”
“Right.” Deku agreed, drawing Full Cowling.
“This is truly a place forsaken by the light…” Yaoyorozu remarked, unsheathing her sword and setting it to the Fire Rune, “Prince Shouto, please stay close.”
Todoroki nodded, “I never use my left side, but today I will need to make an exception.”
Ashido and Kirishima’s skin began to become raised with their scales, “Let’s do this!”
“Your highness, if you will please.” Shinsou gestured to Uraraka.
Uraraka nodded as she and Bakugo walked past the archway of scythes. Once they crossed the field into the area between the statues and door, Uraraka handed her staff and gloves to Bakugo, “Okay, here we go.”
“If it gets to be too much, you’ll stop.” Bakugo requested quietly, but with a tone of desperate demand laced within his voice.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got this.” Uraraka reassured him as she moved forward. As she had done in the area with Yggdrasil’s root, Uraraka began to focus her mana into her palms to the tips of her fingertips.
To the surprise of her comrades, she summoned the small storm within her hands before launching it into the air. It was fluid this time, almost like second nature as she shifted her concentration from creating the storm to casting the water spell. As the lighting and thunder rolled through the sky, the downpour of rain began to replace the gentle falling snow. The rain saturated the doors for the Royal Tomb, causing the sign of the Sigil of Shadow to illuminate a brilliant purple within the carvings. The earth shook as the giant stone doors began to rumble open, revealing a dark staircase that descended to the tomb below.
Immediately, Bakugo and Shinsou’s faces went blank, almost as if in a trance. The two men approached the doors but halted before entering.
“Katsuki?” Uraraka asked, slightly concerned for her husband’s wellness.
“It’s almost like something is calling us…” Shinsou murmured.
“It’s the Sigil,” Bakugo remarked calmly, shaking his head to regain his senses. He turned back to Uraraka, handing her back her gloves and staff as he beckoned the rest of the team, “Come on. There’s no fucking going back now.”