Ochako Uraraka stood alone at the edge of the cliff, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. Her eyes, heavy with emotion, lingered on the crumbling silhouette of the city below — a broken reflection of what used to be. The wind rustled gently through her hair, but she barely noticed. Her heart was elsewhere, lost in thoughts of what once was.
Footsteps crunched softly against the gravel behind her. She turned around and her gaze landed on the familiar figure of a green-haired boy making his way toward her.
"Hey, Ochako," Izuku Midoriya said as he stepped up beside her. "What are you doing all the way out here alone?"
She gave a small shrug, her arms folded as she looked back out over the ruined skyline. "Nothing much. Just... thinking. About how fast everything's changed."
"Yeah..." Izuku murmured, glancing down at his hand, the one marked with faded scars. "It really has."
There was a long pause, filled only by the distant wind and the soft hum of night. But it wasn't uncomfortable. If anything, it felt grounding.
"I miss it, you know," Ochako said softly. "The way things used to be. Before everything went to hell."
Izuku nodded, the corner of his mouth twitching into a faint, bittersweet smile. "Me too."
Another quiet moment passed between them before he finally spoke. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you... for a while now." He turned to her with a soft smile. "Thank you for saving me that day. If you hadn't stood up on that rooftop and said what you did... I don't think I would've found the strength to come back."
Ochako's cheeks flushed slightly, but she smiled and looked away. "I just did what I thought you would've done," she said, then hesitated. Her voice dropped, softer now. "But... that moment, when I was up there, shouting for the world to hear, I realized something. About myself... and maybe even about us."
She turned to face him, her features illuminated by the pale moonlight. It cast a silver glow over her face, and for a second, Izuku felt his breath catch in his throat. Her smile was gentle, tentative, almost, but it carried something unspoken beneath it.
"But it can wait," she said, turning her gaze back toward the shattered skyline. "We've got a lot on our plates right now. And with the war coming... I don't want either of us losing focus because of feelings we haven't sorted out yet."
Izuku let out a slow sigh. "Yeah... I get that." His voice was low, thoughtful. "When I was away, I had time to face a few things, too. About myself. About... how I feel about you." He paused, and Ochako turned sharply to look at him, her eyes wide in surprise. "But you're right. The battle ahead has to come first. People are counting on us — we can't afford to fall short."
Then, Izuku looked at her fully, his expression softening into a gentle smile. "But once it's over... when the dust settles and the world isn't on fire anymore... we'll have all the time in the world to figure this out. You and me."
Just then, Iida's voice rang out from the Prototype Stronghold, calling his name — urgent, as always. Izuku glanced toward it, then began walking in that direction.
He'd only taken a few steps when he heard her voice again — quiet, trembling just enough to make him stop.
"Deku... Izuku..."
Ochako's voice called out behind him, soft and uncertain, and when Izuku turned around, he was struck by the raw vulnerability in her eyes.
"We have plenty of time, right?"
For a heartbeat, he just looked at her — memorizing the way the moonlight softened her features, the way her voice barely reached him through the wind. Then he nodded, slow and sure.
"We will," he said gently. "I promise."
But then, without warning, the night sky shifted — the soft silver glow of the moon swallowed by an eerie crimson hue. Clouds twisted unnaturally, the stars vanishing behind a veil of red. The air turned heavy, oppressive.
Ochako's expression changed in an instant. The warmth and gentleness that had once graced her face vanished, replaced by a cold, unreadable mask. Her eyes, once filled with quiet affection, now glinted with something sharp and accusing.
"Then why..." she whispered, her tone low but laced with bitterness as she began walking slowly toward him. "...Why did you leave? Why did you lie to me?"
Izuku stood frozen, unable to move, unable to speak. She was in front of him now.
Gently and almost lovingly, she raised a hand to his cheek, her fingers brushing against his skin with a tenderness that betrayed the fury in her voice. But then, without warning, her fingers dug in — sharp, painful, desperate.
"Why!?" she screamed, her voice cracking. "Tell me, Deku! Why did you lie!? You said we had plenty of time, didn't you?! We had time, so why!? Why did you disappear!?"
She shook him now, her grip unrelenting, her face twisted in anguish. Her tears shimmered in the red-tinted light, but they didn't fall — held back by sheer force of emotion.
"Answer me, Deku!!"
Her voice rose into a broken, heart-wrenching wail.
"Whyyyyyyyy...!"
******
Izuku jolted upright with a gasp, his chest heaving as cold sweat clung to his skin. His wide, frantic eyes darted around the dimly lit room, only to land on the familiar walls of his bedroom in his grandfather's mansion. Reality slowly caught up with him, chasing away the lingering shadows of the nightmare.
Groaning, he dragged a hand down his face in frustration, trying to slow the rapid thumping of his heart. "Damn it..." he muttered under his breath. "I was doing so well... weeks without a single nightmare."
With a heavy sigh, he collapsed back against the bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, blank and unfocused. For a few long moments, he lay there in silence, until the memories of the previous day, of that moment in Ameri's office, came crashing down on him like a falling slab of concrete.
"Fuck," he growled, pressing the heels of his palms against his eyes. "I really messed up..."
'Come on, Izuku, it's not entirely your fault,' Nana's voice echoed gently in his mind, soothing like a mother comforting her child. 'You couldn't have known her words would catch you off guard like that.'
At that moment, a tiny shadowy figure emerged from the ring on his finger, landing with a casual plop beside him on the mattress. About the size of a fist, the impish creature adjusted its miniature tie with exaggerated flair and smirked.
"Still, darting out of the room with that lame excuse?" Alikred said, snickering. "Top-tier moron move, Izu-boy."
Izuku groaned again and rolled onto his side, burying his face in his pillow. "You're not helping..."
'Shut up, you little gremlin,' Nana snapped at the demon before turning her attention back to Izuku. 'And you, stop sulking. You made a mistake. Fine. But sitting here won't fix it. Talk to her. Ameri's smart, she's kind, and she cares about you. She'll understand. But only if you're honest with her. Misunderstandings don't fix themselves."
"I know, I know..." Izuku mumbled, exhaling through his nose before sitting up again. He turned to the shadow demon, narrowing his eyes. "And where the hell were you yesterday? I tried summoning you, like, five times. I wanted to ask you about Ameri, but you just ghosted me."
"Well, well, Izu-boy," Alikred said with mock wisdom, straightening his tiny suit. "I was busy with something very important."
'Don't listen to this bastard!' Nana snapped. 'He spent the whole time watching shows and reading books from your memories!'
"Oh please, like you didn't do the same!" Alikred shot back.
'At least I was still keeping an eye on my boy!' Nana shot back. 'Unlike you, you lazy leech.'
"Will you both shut up? I just woke up, for fuck's sake!" Izuku snapped, rubbing his temples, finally silencing both the ghost in his head and the demon from his ring.
"Anyway," Izuku said, glancing at the Alikred perched on the edge of his bed, "can you tell me more about what happened to Ameri? I know Eligos used some kind of magical perfume that messed with her mind, but... how exactly did that work?"
"Oh-ho, curious, are we?" Alikred smirked, puffing out his tiny chest. With a dramatic snap of his fingers, a monocle materialized over his single eye, and a miniature robe draped over his shoulders like he was preparing to deliver a university lecture. "Then allow Professor Alikred to educate you!"
"You see, Izu-boy, magic isn't a one-size-fits-all kind of deal—it reacts differently depending on the target's nature. Take elemental magic, for example: ice spells work wonders against fire-type demons, like your hot-blooded pal Asmodeus. But mental spells—curses and mind-affecting enchantments? Those don't land as easily on someone with a naturally gloomy personality. Like your ever-smiling, sunshine-filled Kalego-sensei."
"I see..." Izuku murmured, nodding slowly as he pieced things together. "So how does all that tie into what happened to Ameri?"
"Patience, Izu-boy," Alikred said with exaggerated grandeur, wagging a tiny finger just inches from Izuku's nose. "I'm getting to the juicy part. Just like there are spells meant to counter a person's nature, there are others crafted to amplify it—to stir up what's already lurking beneath the surface. Think of it like pouring fuel on a fire you didn't even know was burning."
Izuku blinked. "So the perfume didn't change her—it brought something out?"
"Exactly!" Alikred said, snapping his fingers. "In Ameri's case, it's likely the perfume honed in on a desire she hadn't consciously accepted yet. Something deep down she hadn't faced. That's why it clung to her for so long. The spell didn't just override her—it worked with her. Some part of her didn't want to let go of that feeling, and that resistance made it harder for the enchantment to fade."
'Hmm... that actually makes a lot of sense,' Nana said thoughtfully. 'And maybe it was your conversation with her, right before her speech, that helped her come to terms with that hidden part of herself. That moment of clarity might've been just enough to loosen the spell's grip and let her break free from it.'
Izuku let out a long sigh and rubbed the back of his neck. "Man... if there's one thing I've learned from all this, it's that magic is way more complicated than I thought." Then, after a beat, he added, "But still... a spell that can affect someone's personality like that? That's kinda scary... but also kind of fascinating."
"Anyway, I should get moving," Izuku said as he pushed himself up from the bed and stretched. "Alice and I planned to study at his place today."
Meanwhile, neither Nana nor Izuku noticed the sly, glinting spark in Alikred's eye—his tiny grin curling just a bit wider at Izuku's curiosity in personality-altering magic.
******
A few hours later, Izuku found himself at the Asmodeus family mansion, seated in Alice's room as the two of them went over material for the upcoming exam.
"Ugh, my brain's turning to mush," Izuku groaned, leaning back in his chair and rubbing his temples. The table in front of them was covered in scattered books, open notebooks, and half-scribbled flashcards, while Alice sat across from him, calmly flipping through one of his neatly tabbed textbooks.
"Indeed," Alice said, closing his book. "Even I'm a bit surprised at how much material there is to cover. But I suppose it's only natural—Babyls is one of the most prestigious academies in the Netherworld. Naturally, the exams are going to be difficult."
"Yeah, I know," Izuku muttered, rolling his eyes. "My grandfather is the principal, remember?"
"I do," Alice said with a sly smirk. "Which is precisely why you can't afford to slack off or bomb the exam. It would be rather embarrassing, wouldn't it?"
"Yeah, thanks for the reminder," Izuku said flatly.
Just then, the door to the room creaked open, and the Asmodeus family's butler, David, entered, carrying a silver tray laden with tea and neatly arranged snacks. Right behind him, seizing the opportunity, Alice's little sisters darted into the room.
"Alice, play with us!" they squealed in unison, their big eyes sparkling with hope as they rushed up to him, hands clasped in pleading.
"Sorry, I can't right now," Alice replied calmly. "As you can see, I'm studying. And I have a guest," he added, gesturing toward Izuku, who gave the girls a friendly wave.
"Hello, Izuku-sama!" the girls said in unison, as if just noticing him for the first time.
"Hey there. How are you two?" Izuku asked with a warm smile.
"Good!" they chirped together again, before turning their attention back to Alice, trying to win him over with exaggerated puppy-dog eyes. But Alice remained firm, politely refusing.
Trying to help, Izuku leaned forward. "Tell you what—how about I tell you a story while we snack?" he offered with a grin. "But after that, you've gotta let your brother get back to studying, okay?"
The girls exchanged a look.
"Hmm... is that okay?" Lily whispered to her sister.
"I guess... as long as we get to spend some time with big brother," Viole conceded, puffing out her cheeks in a cute little pout.
"Very well," Alice said with a sigh of surrender, casting a helpless look Izuku's way. "I suppose I can allow it. David, would you please bring some additional snacks? I suspect we'll be needing more."
"Of course, young master," David said with a small bow before slipping out.
A few minutes later, a fresh tray arrived, complete with more pastries and delicate teacups. The two girls eagerly climbed into the seats beside Alice, their legs swinging above the floor as they waited with rapt anticipation, eyes wide and sparkling as they waited for Izuku to begin his story.
Izuku chuckled softly as the girls leaned in, their excited energy filling the once-quiet study. He tapped a finger to his chin thoughtfully, then leaned back with a storyteller's grin.
"Alright, then. How about a tale from the realm above the clouds?" he said mysteriously, making their eyes widen with curiosity. "This is the story of The Thunder Prince and the Trickster Star."
The girls straightened up immediately, eyes sparkling. Alice folded his arms and leaned back as well, resigned but secretly curious.
"Once upon a time," Izuku began, "in a shining golden kingdom far above the clouds, there lived two brothers. One was the Thunder Prince—brave, strong, and loud like a storm. The other was the Trickster Star—clever, quiet, and full of secrets. Though they were not born the same, they were raised side by side and loved each other deeply. They would race through palace halls, duel with wooden swords, and fall asleep under the starlight, dreaming of their futures."
"Aww..." Viole whispered, resting her cheek in her hand. "That sounds nice."
"But," Izuku continued, his voice dipping slightly, "the Thunder Prince was chosen to be the next ruler. He was strong and bold, and everyone praised him. But the Trickster Star... he began to feel small, like no one saw his light anymore."
Lily frowned. "Why didn't they both get to be rulers?"
Izuku smiled gently. "That's just how things worked in their kingdom. Only one could wear the crown. But instead of telling his brother how he felt, the Trickster Star started keeping secrets. And one day, when the Thunder Prince made a mistake—rushing into battle when he wasn't supposed to—the King stripped him of his powers and sent him away to learn humility amongst their people."
"He got grounded?!" Viole gasped.
"In a way," Izuku laughed. "He was banished to learn a lesson. But while he was gone, the Trickster Star tried to prove he was worthy by taking the throne for himself. He told himself it was for the good of the kingdom... but deep down, he just wanted to feel special too."
Lily's eyes were wide. "Did they fight?"
"They did," Izuku said quietly. "When the Thunder Prince returned, he had changed—he was wiser, humbler. But seeing his brother in the throne room, lying and scheming... it broke his heart. They fought like lightning and shadow, not because they hated each other, but because they didn't understand one another."
"But... but they made up, right?" Viole asked, a little too anxiously.
Izuku nodded with a warm smile. "Eventually. It took time. They were both hurt. But even after betrayal and battles, the Thunder Prince never stopped calling him 'brother.' And the Trickster Star... even when he vanished into the dark, he remembered the warmth of those days under the starlight."
The girls were silent for a long moment, their hands in their laps, expressions thoughtful. Even Alice looked pensive.
"So... the Trickster didn't really want to be bad," Lily said slowly.
"No," Izuku agreed. "He just wanted to be seen. Sometimes, when you feel like no one understands you, you make choices that hurt. But the Thunder Prince never gave up on him. And one day, when the end of their golden kingdom loomed near... the Trickster chose to fight by his brother's side again. Not because he was asked. But because he wanted to."
Viole's eyes sparkled. "And then they were friends again?"
"They were brothers again," Izuku corrected softly. "Maybe not perfect ones. But real ones."
Alice sighed, placing a hand atop his sisters' heads. "You two had better not start scheming like the Trickster Star," he said dryly.
"We won't!" the girls replied in perfect unison, their eyes wide with innocence. They looked up at him with so much admiration, it was clear they'd never dream of it.
David returned just then, setting down a fresh tray of honey cakes and sugared fruit. "A fine tale, young master Izuku," he said with a slight bow, the hint of a smile tugging at his mouth.
"Thanks," Izuku said, a fond smile tugging at the corners of his lips as memories of watching old comic book movies with Eri and Mirio drifted through his mind. He let out a soft breath, gently setting those thoughts aside before turning his attention back to the two little girls. "So, what did you think of the story?"
"We loved it!" they squealed in perfect unison, eyes shining and cheeks flushed with excitement, while their admiration for Izuku visibly shot through the roof.
"I'm glad," Izuku said with a chuckle, reaching out to gently pat their heads.
"That's enough fun for now," Alice said with gentle authority, folding his arms. "It's time for you two to head out so we can resume our studies."
"Aww..." the girls groaned in chorus, their shoulders slumping with exaggerated disappointment. But to their credit, they didn't argue. With the reluctant obedience of kids who knew they'd already pushed their luck, they slid down from their chairs.
"Thanks for the story, Izuku-sama!" Viole said, beaming.
"Yeah, it was amazing!" Lily added, waving enthusiastically.
"Come visit again soon!" they both called out as they exited the room, David waiting just outside to escort them back.
As the door clicked shut behind them, the room finally settled into a quiet calm, and the two boys returned to their studies.
******
A few hours later, Izuku and Alice finally wrapped up their study session for the day. As Izuku began gathering his notes and stuffing them into his bag, the door suddenly flew open with a bang, startling both boys.
In swept a stunningly beautiful woman with long, flowing hair and an air of sensual confidence. Her figure was impossible to ignore, and the room seemed to brighten with her presence. Without hesitation, she made a beeline for Alice and pulled him into an affectionate, if not suffocating, hug, pressing his face against her ample chest with gleeful abandon.
"Alice! Mommy's back from work! Did you miss me, sweetheart?!" Amaryllis sang in a melodious voice, nuzzling her cheek against her mortified son's face.
"Mother, please—give me some space!" Alice groaned, trying and failing to wriggle out of her grip. "Can't you see I have a classmate over?!"
"Oh, I know!" Amaryllis said cheerfully, still clinging to him like a proud, doting parent. She finally turned her attention to Izuku, her eyes lighting up. "My daughters wouldn't stop talking about you! They said you told them the most wonderful story."
"I'm glad they enjoyed it," Izuku replied with a warm, modest smile.
"And this is your first time visiting our home, isn't it?" Amaryllis added, her voice taking on a more gracious tone as she released Alice, who immediately took a deep breath like a man rescued from drowning. "I'm so sorry I wasn't here to welcome you properly."
"Oh, it's no trouble at all, ma'am," Izuku said with a polite bow of his head. "I imagine your schedule must be packed, especially being one of the Crowns."
"You're absolutely right," Amaryllis said with a weary sigh, her shoulders briefly slumping. "There's always some crisis or paperwork waiting for me. But..." Her eyes softened with a maternal glow as she looked over at Alice. "The thought of coming home and seeing my children, hearing their voices, it makes everything worth it."
Izuku smiled, though his expression shifted subtly as a quiet ache tugged at his chest. "Alice is really lucky to have a mother like you," he said softly, a wistful look flickering across his face as memories of his own mother surfaced. But realizing where he was, he quickly composed himself, his polite demeanor returning like a well-worn mask. "Thank you again for having me over," he added with a respectful nod.
But unfortunately for him, Amaryllis noticed the brief flicker of longing in Izuku's eyes. Her gaze lingered on him for just a moment too long. Then, without warning, a faint pink glow shimmered across her irises—subtle, but unmistakable. Something else about the green-haired boy had just piqued her interest.
"You know what?" she said, a spark of amusement dancing in her voice. "I think I'm going to borrow your... what did you call him? Ah, right, friend. I'll be borrowing your friend for a bit."
Before either of the boys could react, she was already beside Izuku, moving with the effortless grace of a snake. She looped her arm through his, and his entire face turned crimson as he felt something soft and warm press firmly against his elbow.
"M-Ma'am?!" Izuku squeaked, frozen in place.
"Mother! Leave my friend alone!" Alice snapped, a tick mark throbbing on his temple. "Do not try to corrupt him!"
"What was that, sweetheart?" Amaryllis asked sweetly. But the air in the room suddenly shifted—thick and suffocating, like the unseen coils of a massive serpent tightening around Alice's chest. Her smile remained, but there was steel behind it. "Do you really think so little of your own mother? That I would do something inappropriate with Izuku? Do I look like some lowly succubus from the Crimson Coven to you?"
"I—I didn't mean—Forgive me, Mother—" Alice stammered, his confidence evaporating.
"I don't care what you meant," Amaryllis cut in, her voice sharp as a blade. "Alice Asmodeus, you are my son and the heir to the Asmodeus line. Your words carry weight. What you say reflects not only on our family name but also shapes how your sisters see the world. They look up to you, never forget that."
"And what kind of impression do you think you just gave Izuku-kun? That he isn't safe around the mother of one of his closest companions? That the Head of Lust is no better than some alleyway predator, creeping after children a fraction of her age?" she said coldly, each word landing heavier than the last as Alice's head dropped lower and lower.
"I've given you the freedom to act as you see fit," she continued, her tone calmer now but no less firm. "I've treated you like an adult because I trust you. But don't forget—you're not one yet. And I am still the Head of this house. I will not tolerate anyone, especially my own child, dragging my name through the mud. Is that clear?"
"...Yes, Mother," Alice said quietly, his voice subdued. "I overstepped. Please forgive me."
"Good. As long as you understand," Amaryllis replied with a soft sigh, her posture relaxing. She adjusted her hair with one hand, as if brushing away the tension. "Still, you're grounded for the next three weekends. You'll stay home and spend time with your sisters. Understood?"
"Yes, Mother," Alice repeated obediently.
Amaryllis let out a soft sigh before turning to Izuku with an apologetic smile. "Sorry you had to witness that."
Izuku almost replied with, 'Don't worry, it's routine at this point,' but wisely held his tongue. Instead, he simply gave a polite nod.
"Anyway, follow me," Amaryllis said breezily, already turning on her heel and striding off without offering so much as a hint of where they were going or why.
Izuku cast one last glance at Alice, who was still frozen in place, his posture stiff and expression distant, clearly reeling from the verbal lashing. Figuring it best to give him a moment, Izuku said nothing and silently followed after the Asmodeus matriarch.
To be continued...
******
A/N: Hey everyone, I need your help. I've been thinking about how to approach the Royal One arc differently from the canon for a few months now, but I just can't come up with any fresh ideas. If you have any suggestions or ideas, I'd really appreciate it!