Chapter 19 - The Cavalry Battle

Three days ago.

"It's good to see you my friend," an old man was sitting at a small, round table eating fish-shaped pastries. The man was short and aged, a scraggly grey beard hung down from his grizzled face. He wore a yellow spandex suit with a long cape to match, a black domino mask stretched across his eyes. Across from him sat a tall, handsome man in a black suit, enjoying a cup of coffee provided by his host.

"Likewise, Gran Torino," said Bruce Wayne, smiling.

"It's been a while since your last visit," said Gran Torino. "But you still visit me more than that old student of mine! You two aren't getting along still?"

"I'm afraid not," replied Bruce.

"Well, I suppose that can't be helped," said Gran Torino. "Your personalities are so different, and you're both stubborn as mules, too." He let out a chuckle, taking another bite of the pastry he was holding. "So what do I owe this surprise visit?"

"I need your advice."

Gran Torino snorted. "An old man like me giving advice to the World's Greatest Detective? Should I be flattered or worried?"

"Worried," said Bruce seriously. "As you know, I'm working the League of Villain's case."

"Toshinori mentioned that in his last letter," Gran Torino confirmed.

"I'm not supposed to be telling you this, but I feel as if you need to know. The police were able to recover the creature called Nomu," said Batman. "It offered no resistance to arrest and was completely compliant. I participated in the interrogation of the creature myself. After several attempts, it was determined that the Nomu can't speak. It shows no reaction to anything. It's as though it literally can't think for itself, no matter what's going on around it. I ran some tests of its DNA, and discovered that it was originally a low-level thug with a record of assault and extortion."

"Originally?" Said Gran Torino.

Bruce pulled a small round device from his pocket. Activating it, a small projection of a prisoner mugshot next to a police picture of the Nomu appeared. "As you can see, he has been altered drastically," said Batman. "This is genetic engineering at an unprecedented level. As I analyzed its genetic makeup, I discovered four people's DNA."

"Ghastly," said Gran Torino. "It's not even human anymore."

Bruce nodded grimly. "The transformation is a result of drugs and other unknown methods," he said.

"Why would someone do such a thing?" Said Gran Torino.

"That's why I came to you," Said Bruce. "Its been modified so that it's body could hold multiple quirks at once."

" What?" Gran Torino said sharply.

"As you know, it shouldn't have more than one power," said Bruce. "Even if new DNA is introduced that shouldn't give a person multiple powers." Bruce hesitated. "Not unless it's completely integrated into someone's body. Not all quirks work like One For All."

"What are you saying, Bruce?" said Gran Torino, even though he didn't want to hear the answer.

"There is someone out there with the power to pass different quirks onto people, Gran Torino," said Batman. "We both know it."

"Toshinori killed him," said Gran Torino. "I saw it myself."

"Death isn't always as permanent as we once believed, old friend," said Bruce.

Gran Torino stood from his chair, steadying himself with his cane. He still vividly remembered that fateful day, five years ago. The sheer weight of 100 years of cultivated power rocked the very earth itself as they clashed. The man who sealed the fate of the Symbol of Peace to die a slow death, who had killed his mentor and Gran Torino's dear friend. The man who filled his dreams with nightmares to this very day. He was still out there. Biding his time, getting stronger, plotting.

All For One was still alive.

"Have you told Toshinori?" Asked Gran Torino.

"No," said Bruce. "There's more."

"What do you mean?"

"Tomura Shigaraki."

"The Man-Child? What about him?"

"It regards Nana Shimura," said Bruce.

Gran Torino stood in silence, shaken to his very core. Even though he heard Bruce speak the words, he couldn't believe them. "My God," he said finally. "You can't be serious!"

"I'm always serious," said Bruce.

"You have to tell Toshinori," Said Gran Torino.

"No," said Bruce firmly. "And neither can you."

"Why not?"

"Because he is going to have to face Shigaraki and All For One again," said Bruce. "Knowing will only burden him further, making it harder to do what needs to be done."

"He has a right to know," said Gran Torino.

"And he will know," said Bruce. "But not right now. I need you to trust me, old friend."

Gran Torino sighed deeply. "This feels wrong," he said. "But I suppose you're right." They sat together in silence for a while. Gran Torino stared at the cold pastries before him. His appetite had soured greatly. He instead turned his attention to Bruce. His handsome face contained more lines than the last time he saw him. In many ways, he wasn't unlike Toshinori. They both carried the weight of the world on their shoulders. Their desire to fight for what they knew was right was unquestioned, and they both would go to the end of time itself to complete their mission. They both knew what it was like to experience great loss as well.

"I heard about what happened to Jason," said Gran Torino. "I'm so sorry, Bruce."

"Me too," said Bruce solemnly. "Thank you."

"How are you holding up?"

Bruce didn't answer. Gran Torino understood. He knew the feeling all too well. "Toshinori told me in his last letter about your new protege. Midoriya?"

"Izuku Midoriya, yes," said Bruce.

"Toshinori seems to think you took this kid under your wing just to get under his skin."

"He would think that."

"Is he wrong?"

"Not entirely."

Gran Torino chuckled. "You think he's ready for the sports festival?"

"I know he is," said Bruce.

"Well then," said Gran Torino. "This should be an event to remember."

Izuku hunched over, hands on knees, catching his breath. He was used to extreme physical exertion, but even he was taxed by that obstacle course. Izuku looked over to Todoroki, who was heading to the podium with the other students. He's good. Very good. He is the son of Endeavor, after all. It was clear that he was already very proficient in the use of his quirk. Izuku couldn't take any chances or underestimate him, or it would cost him.

But Izuku knew that something was off about him. There was more to his quirk, and Izuku knew it. He only used his right side when using his ice power. If Izuku's theory was correct, then this meant he was limiting himself. But if that were true, then it also meant that Todoroki was much more powerful than he was leading on. But why was he limiting himself in the first place? Just how powerful was he at full strength?

Izuku was brought back to reality by Midnight's projected voice at the podium. "Forty-two of you qualified to move on to the next round," she said, the display on the jumbotron spinning once again. "Gird your loins and prepare for your next test!"

The display stopped spinning, revealing the next event to be --

"Cavalry battle!" Said Midnight, cracking her nine-tails whip. "Those of you who are at the top will suffer the most. Of course, that's something you'll hear over and over again at UA. Show us what 'Plus Ultra' means!" She snapped her whip in Izuku's direction. "Izuku Midoriya placed first in the qualifier. He'll be worth ten million points!"

Izuku felt his heart drop to his feet. A cavalry battle was an event where four people, acting as the horse, carried a fifth person on their shoulders, who was the rider. The rider wore a bandana around their head that signified how many points they were worth. If the other team's rider managed to snatch the bandana off their head, they inherited those points. That meant that Izuku was worth ten million points.

In essence, anyone who takes him down secures their victory.

Izuku once again felt the weight of every eye pressing down on him, this time with an intense fury that burned him to his core. He never felt like more of a target than he did now. He supposed that this was the burden of being the best. Everyone was always gunning for you, be they friend or foe. He never expected to feel anything like this. It's ironic, a small part of his mind mused. I've always wanted to be a hero, but I've never wanted to be in the spotlight. A pro hero's career practically depends on gaining the spotlight. How do people manage it? How does Bruce do it?

Izuku turned to look at the VIP box. Bruce was staring directly at him. Izuku could almost feel their minds connecting, with Bruce's words passing through his mind.

A hero's duty is to the mission: stopping villains, protecting innocent lives, it's all the same, He had once said to him. Nothing else matters. Notoriety, fame, money, all the things that drive heroes these days do not matter. It serves only as a distraction, and when a hero is distracted, people die. Remember this. Izuku steadied his breath.

Remember the mission, he thought to himself. The mission is to win.

"Now, you've got 15 minutes to build your teams!" Shouted Midnight. "I recommend you get started."

Izuku was faced with a challenge. Since he had so many points, everyone would be gunning for him. People didn't want to partner up with someone had such a target as he did on their backs, so finding partners for something so risky was going to be difficult. The students around him were quickly forming teams. Soon there wouldn't be anyone left if he didn't move.

"Deku!"

Izuku turned to see Uraraka running towards him. "Let's team up," she said happily.

"Are you sure?" Said Izuku. "Everyone's going to be gunning for me since my points are so high."

"After all I've seen you do, I have faith in you," she said. "We're gonna win!"

"All right," Said Izuku. "But we need a few more." He and Uraraka approached Iida. He listened as Izuku explained their plan, emphasising evasion and utilizing Uraraka's quirk and Izuku's tech. With Iida's speed no one would be able to touch them.

"A good plan," Said Iida. "But I'm sorry. I'm afraid I must refuse your offer."

"What?" Izuku and Uraraka said, shocked.

"Since this all started, I've been losing to you," said Iida. "Please don't take this as an insult. You're a great friend. But if I continue to follow you, I'll never get stronger. Todoroki may have challenged you already, but he isn't the one who sees you as a rival. And I will try my best to defeat you."

As much as it pained him to lose him as an ally, Izuku had to respect his reason for it. They were all here to get stronger. And this was going to be the ultimate test for him as well: the Powerless vs. the Powerful.

It was time to show them what he was really made of.

"MIDORIYA!" Came a voice from the crowd. Running up to him was the pink haired support student from the first event who used her gadgets to move her through The Fall.

"Hatsume!" Said Izuku.

"You know her?" Said Uraraka.

"The name is Mei Hatsume!" Said the girl. "I'm from the support class. I was hoping that you didn't have a team yet. With you in the spotlight, this is the perfect opportunity to show off my cute babies to the CEOs of support companies tuning into the festival. By the way, why haven't you used the one we were working on yet?" She added to Izuku crossly.

"I don't want to use it too early on," said Izuku quickly. "I have a feeling I'll need it later."

"What are you talking about?" Said Uraraka suspiciously. "What were you working on?"

"Just a little something to even the odds," Said Izuku.

"Well, whatever," said Hatsume, placing a large chest she was carrying on the ground. She opened it to reveal that it was stuffed to the brim with different support items and other various kinds of tech. "I packed a ton of powerful babies to bring with me. I'm sure you'll find something you like in my arsenal." Izuku reached into the chest and pulled out what looked like a jetpack.

"I recognize this," Said Izuku. "This is based off Air Jet, the Buster Hero's jetpack, isn't it?"

"That's right!" Said Hatsume. Izuku and Hatsume continued discussing the tech and the different heroes she gained inspiration from.

They sure get along, thought Uraraka sourly.

"We still need one more," said Izuku, looking throughout the crowd. Most of the teams had already been formed. Losing Iida was a definite blow, but he still had an idea of someone who might help him, if he hadn't already been selected. Izuku found his target and walked with determination towards him, placing his hand upon his shoulder.

"Join me."

"I see," said Tokoyami, after Izuku had spoken his strategy with him. "An excellent strategy."

"Will you join us?" Asked Izuku.

Tokoyami paused. "When I first learned about you, Midoriya, I was surprised to see that they let a quirkless student into the top school in the country."

"I've heard that before," said Izuku.

"Then I saw you in combat," Tokoyami continued. "The Legend of the Batman was my inspiration to become a hero as well. A hero who shuns the spotlight, a master of the darkness." He extended his hand, clasping Izuku's. "I will join you, Son of Batman."

A blasting horn sounded, signaling that the time for selecting teams was up. "Oh goody," said Midnight. "It's time to get this party started.

Izuku placed his bandana on his head. Taking a deep breath, he surveyed the field before him. Every student was squared to face them. This was it. "Are you ready?" Izuku said. "Uraraka?"

"Ready!"

"Hatsume?"

"You got it!"

"Tokoyami?"

"Yes."

"Then let's do this!"

"Let's get this party started!" Shouted Present Mic. "One final countdown before the time starts!"

Tokoyami called Dark Shadow. Izuku straightened his utility belt. The students readied themselves as Present Mic began the countdown.

"3.... 2....1...."

Todoroki and Izuku stared each other down. His eyes burned with both a fiery intensity and a cold chill.

"Begin!"

The students all immediately began rushing towards Izuku and his team. "They're not even giving us a chance, huh?" Said Tokoyami. "Such is the fate of the pursued. Make your choice, Midoriya."

"Everyone, shut your eyes and hold your breath!" Shouted Izuku. He threw a small orb onto the ground, which exploded in a large cloud of smoke that covered them all. The students all balked in surprise. One of the students used their quirk and blew the smoke away. Izuku and his team were gone.

"What the--?" Came Present Mic's voice. "Where did they go?!"

"Up there!" Shouted one of the students, pointing skyward. Izuku and his team were floating in the air. Uraraka had used her quirk to make them lightweight, while Izuku used the jetpack on his back to lift them upward.

"Jiro, now!" Shouted Hagakure. Jiro extended her plug-like ear lobes towards Izuku and the others. But Dark Shadow was too fast for her, knocking them effortlessly out of the way. "Good work," said Tokoyami. "Please continue to watch our blind spots Dark Shadow."

"You're all doing great!" Said Izuku. "Let's keep it up."

Uraraka, using the hoverboots designed by Hatsume, directed them towards an empty piece of land away from the other students. The field was pandemonium. After witnessing Tokoyami and Uraraka's quirks and Hatsume and Izuku's gadgets, many teams decided against pursuing Izuku and went after the smaller-point teams instead. One in particular was Monomo, a hero student from Class 1-B. He and his team were moving quickly throughout the field, picking the smaller-point headbands off one-by-one. Aside from Izuku, Class 1-A was not doing so well points wise. They were more interested in going for the whole schmear: Izuku's ten million points.

"We need some breathing room," said Tokoyami as several of the groups began to converge on their position. "We can't get caught trapped between multiple opponents!"

Izuku turned to see Shoji running at them at full sprint. He seemed to be alone, but he would be on them in seconds. "Let's get moving!" Said Izuku. But Uraraka didn't move.

"I'm stuck!" She said, trying to lift her foot. Izuku looked down to see the hoverboot was stuck to the ground with one of Mineta's sticky balls. But Mineta was nowhere in sight -

He looked back at Shoji. His tentacle arms were extended upwards, the membranes between them forming some sort of a protective tent. Poking his eye out between the gaps of Shoji's front arms was none other than Mineta. He was wearing his team's headband, and was small enough to ride on Shoji's back while being protected by his arms. Izuku had to admit it was clever.

Meneta disappeared inside Shoji's protective tent, and a long, pink tongue extended outward towards Izuku, who moved his head just seconds before it connected, missing him by inches. So Asui is in there too, thought Izuku. They were stuck, and Asui's reach with her tongue was a problem. He would have to think fast.

"Tokoyami, cover me!" Said Izuku. "It's time to fight sticky with sticky." Dark Shadow began protecting Izuku's flank as he pulled a capsule from his belt. The threw at Shoji, who dodged it effortlessly.

"Not so fast, Midoriya," said Shoji. "I saw you use that glue capsule during training. I won't fall for it like Iida."

"That wasn't glue," Said Izuku, pressing on a detonator. The capsule behind Shoji exploded, launching him and his team forward. As they flew towards them, Izuku threw another capsule, which landed squarely on Shoji's chest. The capsule erupted in a sticky ooze, entrapping Shoji and his arms inside it from the neck down, but trapping Asui and Mineta as well.

"Whoa!" Said Present Mic. "Midoriya displaying his cunning sleight-of-hand, nearly knocking team Shoji off balance, but entraping them instead. Is that even allowed?!"

"They didn't get knocked over," Said Midnight. "So technically yes."

"That's a dirty trick!" Shouted Mineta, throwing as many sticky balls as he could. Asui tried again to use her tongue to get Izuku's headband.

"We need to get out of their range," said Izuku. He activated the Jetpack, which struggled to take them off the ground as Uraraka's boot was still stuck with Mineta's sticky ball. After a loud "CRUNCH" the boot was pulled free.

"My baby's ruined!" Shouted Hatsume in despair.

"Sorry," said Izuku. "But at least we got away. Nice work, Uraraka."

"It's hard to control with just one boot," Said Uraraka.

"Understood," Said Izuku. That meant their maneuverability was greatly hindered. It was too risky for them to take to the sky again. They were grounded. They had to now rely on Tokoyami's Dark Shadow and Uraraka's zero gravity. But Izuku also had a few more tricks up his sleeve.

A giant wall of ice cut suddenly through Izuku's path. Todoroki was back. Izuku had to confess he had almost forgotten about him. But now he was out for blood. "Midoriya," he said. "I'll be taking that bandana now."

"I didn't think this confrontation would happen until later in the contest," said Tokoyami. "He seems to have it out for you, Midoriya."

"I get that a lot," said Izuku. "The game's only halfway over. We can't stop now!"

"Forward, Iida," said Todoroki. Iida, carrying Todoroki in front, pushed forward at incredible speed, with Kaminari and Yaoyorozu carrying their rider behind him. Several other students were rushing Izuku's team in turn as well. Yaoyorozu created a large tarp from her exposed midsection, which Todoroki used to cover himself and his team. Kaminari then unleashed a blast of electricity that shocked the other students around them. While reeling from the shock, Todoroki used his ice to freeze the ground beneath the other contestants, immobilizing them.

Now he had a clear shot at Izuku.

"Will you look at that?" Said Present Mic. "He's stopped all those teams cold in their tracks!"

"But only after Kaminari immobilized them with his electricity," Said Aizawa. "He's adapting his strategy."

Todoroki was snatching headbands off the other students as he went along. His points continued to climb. He threw up another large wall of ice between himself and the other students, separating his and Izuku's team from everyone else. It was just them now. They were reaching them at great speed due to Iida's quirk. They would be on them in seconds. Izuku tried to activate the jetpack, but it was malfunctioning. Dark Shadow attempted to push them back, but Yaoyorozu threw up a large shield, protecting them.

"I have an idea," said Iida. "But it will leave me useless to you for a while. Be ready to get that headband!" Iida's engines roared with fury.

"Reciproburst!"

With blinding speed that rivaled the Nomu, Iida raced his team forward, and Todoroki snatched the headband right off Izuku. They were now in the lead.

"We have to get that headband back!" Said Izuku. "But be careful of Yaoyorozu!"

"No, we need to be careful about Kaminari," said Tokoyami. "If there had been any more sunlight, his electricity could completely destroy Dark Shadow."

Sunlight. That gave Izuku an idea.

"Tokoyami, recall Dark Shadow!" Said Izuku.

"What?!" Said Tokoyami.

"Just do it!"

Tokoyami complied. What are they doing? Thought Todoroki. Are they giving up, now that we have their headband?

"Everyone, avert your eyes!" Shouted Izuku. He threw a large device from his belt towards the other team. Iida slowed to avoid hitting it, remember being trapped in the glue from the training session. But upon hitting the ground, the device exploded in a blinding flash of light.

"I can't see!" Shouted Iida, coming to a stop.

"Flashbang grenade," Said Todoroki, trying to get his senses back. There were only 11 seconds left. They had to keep hold of their headband. He was about to place it on his neck with the others when he heard Midoriya's voice. "Now, Tokoyami!" Call forth Dark Shadow and get the headband!"

Todoroki felt heat as his left arm burst into flame. What am I doing? He thought, horrified. He never used his left side in battle. Was it a desperate attempt to keep the bandana from being taken?

His vision began to clear, but was still blurry, but he saw a dark figure lunging towards him. He reached out with his left arm to shield himself, still ablaze and clutching the ten million point headband. The figure knocked his arm aside, exposing his chest. Seconds later, he felt something latch onto the headbands around his neck, and were torn away.

The buzzer sounded. Time was up.

Todoroki's sight finally cleared. He looked at the ten-million point headband he was still holding, but the rest of the bandanas around his neck were gone. He looked at Midoriya, who was holding his grapple hook with the bandanas clutched in the claw. He began to understand. While they were blinded, Tokoyami had used Dark Shadow to try and get the ten million point headband. Instead it just knocked his hand away, which opened his guard. Midoriya then used the grapple gun to take the rest of the headbands around his neck. They weren't worth as much, but they still made up at least two thousand points. That meant that Midoriya and this team came in second. Todoroki and his team had won.

Todoroki leaped down to the ground. He stared at his left arm. He had used his left side in battle out of desperation, something he swore he would never do. Damn, he thought bitterly. The victory felt so hollow. At this rate, I'll end up exactly as he wants me to be.

The second event came to an end. Todoroki's team was in first, with Izuku's team in second, and Shinso, the purple-haired student from the general studies course, in third, with several other groups going down the ranks from there. The games were put on intermission while the contestants went to lunch. The students were all catching up, some of them cursing their performance in the games, others congratulating their peers.

"Hey," Uraraka said. "Has anyone seen Deku?"

Todoroki stared coldly at Izuku as they stood across each other in the hallway of the faculty and student lounge. Izuku wasn't intimidated easily, but he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of resentment, anger and pain that seemed to reside deep within Todoroki. This was perhaps something that the both of them had in common.

"You wanted me here," said Izuku. "Now what do you want?"