"Hngh—!"
A sharp hiss of pain escaped her lips as she lurched forward.
In an instant, Midoriya reacted.
"Woah—(Y/n)-chan!"
Before Shadow could even move, Midoriya had already grabbed her, his hands steadying her by her shoulders.
(Y/n) blinked, slightly startled, before looking up at him.
"Are you okay?" Midoriya asked, concern laced in his voice
For a moment, she just stared.
His green eyes were filled with nothing but worry.
Slowly, she gave him a small nod.
Shadow, who had taken a single step forward, narrowed his red eyes.
He saw it.
Just like earlier.
Her body was shaking.
Subtle. Barely noticeable. But it was there.
All Might sighed.
"Shadow... if you could..."
Before he could even finish, Shadow had already grabbed (Y/n)'s hand.
With one pulse of chaos energy, they both vanished.
"EH?!?"
Midoriya and his mother screamed, eyes popping out of their heads.
"WHERE DID SHE GO?! WHAT WAS THAT?!" Midoriya shouted, pointing at the now empty space
Inko clutched her chest, panting. "D-Did she just disappear?! What was that?! Is he a magician?! Is that his Quirk?! Are they okay?!
All Might chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck.
"No need to panic. They're just waiting downstairs."
Midoriya stared at him for a second before blinking.
"O-Oh."
A long pause, and then..
"WAIT THAT'S SO COOL!!"
He suddenly slammed his fists against the table, practically vibrating. "THAT WAS JUST LIKE A MOVIE!! HE CAN TELEPORT?? WHAT KIND OF QUIRK IS THAT?! HOW DOES IT WORK?! IS IT INSTANTANEOUS? CAN HE DO IT FROM LONG DISTANCES?! CAN HE TELEPORT OTHER PEOPLE TOO??"
All Might sighed with a fond smile. "Always the fanboy, aren't you?"
Midoriya froze, realizing what he had just done, then cleared his throat and sat back down, attempting to act normal.
"Ahem—right. Sorry. That was just— really cool."
All Might let out a deep laugh. "Well, I should get going."
With a final bow, he bid the Midoriyas goodbye and stepped outside.
Midoriya, still trying to process everything, walked over to the window and peeked downstairs.
There, he saw All Might approaching a sleek car.
Shadow was already helping (Y/n) into the seat.
Midoriya watched as (Y/n) steadied herself on her crutch.
But his eyes narrowed.
As she took a step, her body tensed.
Even as Shadow assisted her, there was an undeniable strain in the way she moved.
And when Midoriya had caught her earlier...
She had been shaking. Though not visible, he could feel her muscles shaking at the core just by touching her.
Midoriya's chest tightened as he remembered that feeling as he looked into his hands.
.
===(In (Y/n)'s House)===
It was close to midnight, and All Might lay awake in his bed, staring at the ceiling in (Y/n)'s house. He had insisted on staying with her, not just for her safety but for his own peace of mind. Yet, even with her under the same roof, the muffled and gurgling sounds from down the hall had been going on for hours—growing louder, more strained.
He clenched his fists against his temples, his body tense as he listened. He wanted to get up. To go to her. To stop whatever was happening. But would she even want that? Would it help? Or would it only break him more to see her like that—helpless, suffering, and unable to do anything to take her pain away?
The quiet of the house was suddenly interrupted by the soft click of a door opening. Footsteps—measured, careful—moved through the hallway. All Might slowly sat up, his heart pounding as he peered through the crack in his door.
Miketsukami.
The young man carried a set of cleaning supplies in his hands, his face unreadable yet heavy with emotion.
All Might locked eyes with him, then turned his gaze toward (Y/n)'s open bedroom door. Shadow's mat was still beside hers, untouched. The bed was empty. The air was heavy with something unspoken.
That was when another door clicked shut—from downstairs.
All Might moved toward the stairwell, peering down into the dimly lit space. No one was there. He turned back to (Y/n)'s room, stepping inside hesitantly, his chest tightening at the state of it.
Her bed was messy, the sheets tangled as if she had been tossing and turning all night. The pillow was damp—soaked. He didn't need to think too hard to know what it was. His gaze flickered to the drawer beside her bed, where a small paper bag sat, half-crumpled, its contents unknown but ominous.
And then, his eyes landed on the vanity mirror.
Shattered. Completely destroyed, with fragments of glass still clinging to the frame, others scattered across the wooden surface. Another small mirror sat beside it, its reflection obscured by smeared dark paint—no, not paint.
Blood.
All Might inhaled sharply, his grip tightening at his sides. His heart clenched painfully as he imagined what had happened here. What she must have gone through alone.
"She wanted to reassure you that she will be back," Miketsukami's voice was soft yet heavy with meaning as he stepped closer. "She... realizes she woke you and apologizes for the trouble."
All Might swallowed, his throat thick with emotion. He knew Shadow was with her. She would be safe.
But even so... how much more of this could she endure?
How much more could he endure, standing on the sidelines, unable to shield his daughter from her own torment?
.
The forest was quiet except for the soft rustling of leaves and the rhythmic sound of (Y/n)'s uneven steps against the earth. She moved slowly, her lion's foot exposed to the cool night air, using a sturdy, thin staff as support. Despite her resilience, she couldn't hide the groans and hisses of discomfort escaping her lips. Shadow walked beside her, his sharp eyes watching her every movement, prepared to catch her if she faltered.
He wasn't sure why she had suddenly decided to wander off into the middle of the woods. Was she acting on instinct, or was there a purpose behind this silent trek? She hadn't spoken a word since they left the house, and Shadow debated whether breaking the silence would help or disrupt whatever thoughts were consuming her.
Then, up ahead, he noticed it—a break in the darkness.
The dense trees gave way to a clearing bathed in soft moonlight. At the heart of it stood a magnificent tree, its ancient trunk stretching high into the sky, the branches adorned with delicate white and pink blossoms. Beyond it, a vast lake mirrored the celestial expanse above, reflecting the moon's silver glow and the stars scattered across the sky. Fireflies flickered in the darkness, creating an ethereal atmosphere.
It was... breathtaking.
Shadow had never seen anything like it. But when he turned to look at (Y/n), he realized she was not marveling at the beauty around her. Instead, she was staring at the great tree before them with something deeper—something reverent, yet laced with sorrow.
She inhaled slowly, her breath steady but heavy, before taking another step forward. Shadow followed in silence.
When they reached the base of the tree, she finally spoke.
"Shadow..."
His ears perked up at the sound of her voice in his mind, but she didn't look at him. Her gaze remained locked onto the tree before them.
"This tree... it's called the Infinity Tree. This is one of the few places where I was able to visit my home world... Narnia."
Shadow's eyes widened. His gaze shifted from her to the tree, realization settling in. This was her connection to Narnia? This was the gateway?
Stepping forward, he reached out and placed a hand against the bark. The surface was warm, pulsing faintly, as if it were alive with hidden energy.
"Are you going to visit Narnia?" His voice was quieter than usual, laced with something rare—hope.
(Y/n) didn't answer right away. She continued to stare at the tree, her hands trembling slightly at her sides. Then, her lips parted.
"No..."
Shadow blinked. His hope was quickly replaced by confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"I can't. I don't have the power to open the portals to Narnia... it opens on its own."
Shadow watched as she reached out and placed her hand against the tree. The moment she did, a soft breeze stirred through the clearing. The wind responded to her breath—slow, deliberate, heavy. The leaves trembled, the fireflies shifted, and the lake rippled ever so slightly. It was as if the entire clearing was attuned to her, reacting to her very presence.
For the first time, Shadow truly grasped the depths of her power. What she had displayed in the prison... in Kamino... in the arena... it was only a fraction. She was holding back—perhaps more than anyone realized.
But before he could voice his thoughts, she spoke again.
"Even if the portal were to open... I still can't go back."
Shadow clenched his fists. "Why?"
"When do you plan to return?" he asked.
(Y/n) exhaled deeply.
"I don't know. Not anytime soon... maybe never."
Shadow's jaw tightened. He wasn't one to press emotions onto others, but there was something deeply wrong about the way she said it—like she was forcing herself to accept something unbearable.
Then, her voice turned soft, almost pleading.
"Promise me something..."
Shadow straightened.
"If the portal opens... do not hesitate to see Narnia with your own eyes. It can appear in different places, leading to different parts of Narnia. You don't have to tell me if you go... but don't refuse the chance. Please."
A single tear slipped from her eye, catching the moonlight.
Shadow was about to respond, but then he sensed something—a presence behind them. No... multiple presences.
He turned slightly, catching the faint outlines of figures in the darkness. The Paladins.
They had come, though their footsteps had been silent. Miketsukami must have alerted them. He glanced at (Y/n) and realized she had already known. She had felt them before they even arrived. And yet, she hadn't turned.
Her words had not been directed at him alone.
They had been for all of them.
Shadow swallowed the lump in his throat, then slowly nodded.
"I promise."
"I promise."
"We promise."
The unified voices of the Paladins echoed in the clearing.
(Y/n) finally turned her head, just slightly, as if to acknowledge them.
Then, Shadow asked the question that had been eating at him.
"Why can't you go back?"
Silence. Then, a slow, measured breath.
"If I return... a war will begin."
Shadow's entire body went rigid.
"What?"
"It was the deal I made with the Witch. Before she was sealed in the Reflection Dimension, she swore that my return would be the signal for battle. If I go back now, I risk everything. Narnia would be plunged into war... and I don't know if I have the power or the capability to stop it."
She clenched her fists, sharp nails threatening to pierce her palms.
The Paladins exchanged grim looks. None of them spoke. There was nothing to say—no words that could undo the weight of that truth.
After a long pause, Krystal finally stepped forward.
"It's late, (Y/n)... you need to rest."
"And don't forget to keep taking your medicine. Tomorrow, you have a doctor's appointment," Damian added, his voice firm yet filled with concern.
(Y/n) didn't move at first. But after a long moment, she finally turned away from the Infinity Tree.
She leaned on her staff, limping past her team without so much as a glance. The Paladins stepped aside, watching her with quiet understanding, their expressions laced with sorrow.
Shadow trailed behind, glancing back at them.
Their faces spoke volumes.
They had no words—only grief for their leader, their friend, the person they admired most in the world. Yet, there was nothing they could do to ease the burden she carried.
Shadow could have teleported them back instantly, but... he didn't.
Because if (Y/n) wanted to return home right away, she would have asked.
Instead, she walked. Limped. Endured.
And all they could do was follow.
.
.
.
To be continued...
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Hey Friends! I got to finish this chapter! I didn't think I could finish it quickly, but with classes about to start soon, might as well get most of what I can do done.
Next up would be the dorms chapter! Wohoo!
What do you guys think so far?
Comment your thoughts, ideas, etc! Your feedback is always helpful and appreciated!
Thank you friends! Can't wait to write more!
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