Chapter 52 - Lightning's Edge

You and Felix were flying together, soaring gracefully through the skies of the Hidden World. The wind whipped around you as you pilfered through the vast realm, enjoying the thrill of flight and the freedom it offered. But suddenly, an intense, sharp pain stabbed through your chest, causing you to gasp. The world around you spun for a moment, and before you could catch your balance, you felt yourself toppling down a slope, losing control.

But before you could plummet any further, you felt a strong grip around your waist. You glanced up, seeing Hookfang, Felix's trusted dragon, catching you just in time.

"Easy there, Princess," Hookfang grumbled in his deep, rumbling voice. "What's going on? You alright?"

Felix was at your side in an instant, his eyes wide with concern. "Y/N, what happened? Are you hurt?"

You winced and took a deep breath, trying to push through the sudden wave of dizziness. "I don't know... it just came out of nowhere... this pain," you managed to say, voice strained.

Felix's brow furrowed. "We need to get you somewhere safe. We can't take any chances."

With a nod, Felix mounted Hookfang, and the two of you took off again, this time flying lower and slower, making sure to stay close. The weight of the moment hung in the air as the pain lin

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A few hours had passed, and while the sharp pain in your chest had dulled slightly, it still lingered, haunting your every breath. You couldn't shake the feeling of unease, and the thought of it gnawing at you made it difficult to stay in one place.

Slowly, cautiously, you slipped out of your nest where you'd been resting, careful not to disturb Felix who had fallen asleep beside you. The night air was cool, but your thoughts were heavy. You needed answers. You couldn't ignore the strange sensation that had gripped you earlier.

With a quiet flap of your wings, you took off, leaving the warmth and safety of your nest behind. The Hidden World stretched out beneath you, vast and full of mysteries. The entrance to the realm was in sight, and the familiar silhouettes of Skullcrusher and another Rumbling Horn perched at the entrance came into view. They had always been the most vigilant guardians of the Hidden World.

"Your Highness, why are you leaving again?" Skullcrusher's deep voice boomed, and his sharp eyes narrowed as he observed you in mid-flight.

You stiffened, caught off guard by his directness. The concern in his tone was clear, but you couldn't let that stop you. You needed to know what was happening to you, and the only way to figure it out was to follow your instincts.

"Umm... I just kinda have to," you stammered, your voice betraying a hint of uncertainty. "But I'll be back soon. Don't worry."

Skullcrusher didn't seem entirely convinced, but he nodded nonetheless, stepping aside to let you pass. You gave a final glance over your shoulder at the guardians and then soared towards the entrance, heart pounding in your chest, hoping you'd find what you were searching for.

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You had been soaring through the skies, looking for your classmates, though you didn't expect to find them out here, so far from the training camp. You thought you'd have more time before they'd be anywhere near this place. But as you flew over the forest, a terrifying sight met your eyes—flames licking the edges of the trees, smoke rising up to the stars.

Your heart clenched painfully in your chest. No, not again... you thought, the fear washing over you as you veered off, heading toward the forest, where the flames were spreading. You had to make sure no one was hurt.

You landed carefully in a clearing, the ground beneath you soft and wet with the remnants of smoke and fire. You looked around cautiously, eyes darting in every direction, as the purple flashes from distant explosions lit up the sky. And then, your eyes fell upon a familiar sight that made your heart drop.

It was Izuku, Katsuki, Shoto, and Mezou—all of them battered and bruised, clearly worn from a brutal fight. You blinked in disbelief, the chaos of the situation momentarily stilling your thoughts. How did they end up here?

"Izuku!" you cried, shifting into your human form with a worried look on your face. Your wings fluttered uneasily as you rushed over to him.

Izuku, who had clearly been through a lot, looked up tiredly. His green eyes were clouded with exhaustion, and his body was covered in cuts and bruises. "Y/N..." he murmured, his voice weak. "We didn't expect this... It... it's been bad out here."

You knelt beside him, your dragon instincts flaring, wanting to protect him, to make sure no more harm came to him. "Izuku," you repeated softly, reaching out to touch his shoulder. "What happened?"

Before he could respond, Bakugo grunted, sitting up with a glare. "Tch, you think this is bad? It's not over yet." He was bruised, but there was a fire in his eyes. "We've been dealing with something much worse. They caught us off guard. Some damn villains are after us."

Shoto stood nearby, his icy expression holding a flicker of concern as he glanced over at you. "We're lucky to be alive... but it's not over yet. We need to get to safety."

You nodded, your heart sinking. They were all in danger, and you knew you couldn't just stand by. "Don't worry," you said, your voice steady despite the panic welling up inside. "I'm here now. Let me help."

As you stood and looked at your friends, the weight of the situation sank in. You had to protect them, no matter what it took.

A voice rang out from the shadows, "Oh, it's you."

You froze, your heart skipping a beat. But then, another voice—rougher, colder—cut through the air. "No, it's not!"

A growl rumbled in your chest as your eyes narrowed. You could feel the presence of the League of Villains nearby. Figures emerged from the shadows, their silhouettes dark and menacing. Your claws extended, gleaming in the faint light, as your dragon instincts kicked in.

Dabi stepped forward from the forest's edge, a smirk playing on his lips. He twirled his two-pronged flame lance in his hands, clearly enjoying the confrontation. "Well, well, look who finally decided to show up," he said, eyes glinting with malice.

And then, just behind him, the voice that made your stomach twist came—a voice you knew all too well. "Ooh~~ Y/N!" Toga's excited, almost teasing tone echoed through the clearing, and you couldn't stop yourself from bristling at the sound of it.

Toga, with her unnerving grin, stepped forward, her eyes glinting with the thrill of the hunt. "It's been too long! You've been hiding away, haven't you? So much fun, to see you here... with all of us."

Dabi's smirk deepened. "We've been waiting for you, Y/N. Too long, really. You won't be able to escape this time."

Your dragon form pulsed with energy, your body ready for a fight. But deep down, a part of you was torn. They weren't just villains—they were people you had once known, even if it was a long time ago. Toga's twisted affection, Dabi's cold indifference—it all felt like a distant nightmare you couldn't escape.

But there was no time for hesitation now. You couldn't let them win. "Stay back," you snarled, every muscle tensed and ready for the battle that would inevitably unfold. You would fight, and you would protect your friends—even if it meant facing your past.

Dabi stepped closer, his cold smirk never leaving his face. "I told you back at the cave that I didn't blame you for leaving, and I still don't. But now..." His grin widened as his flames flickered to life around him, his eyes gleaming with dark amusement. "Now that you're here, my bow's not gonna let you go. And neither will I."

He raised his hand, summoning the surrounding flames to dance like living things. The heat was intense, curling in the air, taunting you. You could feel the power in the flames, and you instinctively braced yourself, your claws tightening.

Before you could react, the fire crept closer, threatening to scorch the ground beneath you. You flared your wings out wide, pushing the flames back with a forceful flap. "You won't get them," you snarled, your voice thick with warning.

Your friends—Izuku, Katsuki, Shoto—stood behind you, their faces filled with concern and determination. They had no idea what you'd been through with these people, the League of Villains, but you wouldn't let them hurt anyone else.

Dabi didn't seem to care. He chuckled darkly, as if the tension in the air only amused him. "We'll see about that, princess."

Toga, standing off to the side, licked her lips with a gleam in her eyes. "Let's have some fun, Y/N. I've missed you." Her voice was sweet but dangerous, her hands twitching with anticipation.

You weren't sure how this would play out, but one thing was certain—you weren't going to let them take another step forward. You would protect your friends at all costs, even if you had to face your past.

"Get back," you hissed, stepping forward, prepared for the fight that would come. You weren't the same person they once knew. You were stronger now. Strong enough to stop them.

You looked down, your mind racing, when your gaze fell upon a patch of forest that hadn't been touched by the flames. It was a brief moment of clarity in the chaos around you. You couldn't afford to hesitate.

"Run!" you shouted urgently to your friends, your wings flaring as you lifted off the ground. You were ready for this—your instincts had taken over, and you couldn't wait any longer.

Without giving Dabi a chance to react, you surged forward, diving at him with all the speed and force of a predator. Your claws gleamed, your roar echoing through the air, filled with the promise of destruction. You were going to stop him—this time, you wouldn't hesitate.

Dabi's eyes widened for a split second, but his smirk never faltered. He raised his flame lance, preparing for the incoming attack, but you were faster. With a powerful strike, you swiped at him, the sheer force of your movement pushing him back.

The fire surrounding him flared up in response, but you were too quick, spinning mid-air to avoid the flames and landing just out of his reach.

"You're not getting away this time," you snarled, eyes glowing fiercely as you prepared for the next move. This wasn't just about protecting your friends anymore—it was about stopping the League, for good.

Toga and Twice lunged at you, their movements erratic and fast. Toga's grin was manic, her blades flashing as she darted in, while Twice mirrored her, his movements a twisted reflection of her own. You swung your tail in a defensive arc, knocking them both back with force, but they quickly recovered, circling you like vultures.

You flared your wings wide, your senses heightened, every nerve alive with the need to protect your friends and stop the League once and for all. "Get away from me!" you snarled, your voice laced with fury as you swept your wings out to create a gust of wind that sent both villains tumbling back.

But then, a crackling sound split the air—lightning, intense and blinding. You blinked, momentarily disoriented by the flash. The strike seemed to come from nowhere, but as your eyes adjusted, you realized what it was. The air was charged with energy, and your own powers seemed to pulse in response to it.

"That's new..." you thought, a mix of surprise and dread creeping into your chest. The strange sensation of raw, unbridled power filled you, sending a ripple through your scales.

You were ready for whatever came next, but the storm of lightning hanging in the air was unlike anything you had ever felt before. Was it the environment? Or was it something else entirely?

Dabi, who had been watching, smirked. "Interesting. You've evolved, haven't you, princess?"

The challenge was clear in his eyes, and you knew that this battle was far from over.