The kids had spent the night together in their blanket fort. They had slept through the night all through most of the morning. They didn't want to leave. But they did eventually get up. Things needed to be done and they were running low on supplies. In the meeting room, the kids were figuring out how to split up the city sections for scavenging.

"So we can split the city into three sections. I'll take the biggest one and-"

"I can go too." Eri said. The boys looked up at the red eyed girl.

"Are you sure Eri? The city's going to be very difficult." Cody said.

"Yeah! And you just went on your first patrol WITH us the other day. We're going to be solo." Brad said.

"And? I can still help. And I have Meowstic with me!" Eri said, taking out and holding the pokeball. The boys all looked at each other, silently debating whether or not to let Eri do something so dangerous.

"Come on. Please?" Eri begged. "I don't want to stay here anymore!"

"Ok ok, you can come, but you're only going to stay with me." Cody said. Eri smiled.

"Yes!" She said as she pumped her fist in the air.

"Me too! I wanna go too!" Alice said excitedly.

"Sorry Alice. We draw the line at you." Mokuba said as he ruffled her hair. Alice huffed with a pout.

"But-"

"You just got back from a long journey Alice. Rest for now ok?" Mokuba said, placing a hand on her shoulder. Alice pouted and buried her face in the youngest boy's side. Eri chuckled.

"Don't worry Alice. We'll call Viarrah in to stay with you." Alice looked at Eri with hopeful eyes.

"Via's coming back?" Eri nodded and Alice smiled.

"Via!" She squealed as she ran out of the room.

"Alright guys. Lets suit up!"

**********

The four kids ran through the forest as fast as they could. When they came out into the city, they all split off. Brad went left, Mokuba ran right, and Eri kept up with Cody. The two then came into downtown ninjago.

"Stay close Eri. Gang members could be anywhere." Cody said as he got his spear off his back. Eri also released her Meowstic.

"Alright!" She said as she followed the blonde leader into an abandoned pharmacy. While they were inside, they searched for various different things. Food, medical supplies, and batteries. Eri and Meowstic were by the door when they heard something outside.

"What was that?" Eri mumbled as she peaked outside. She scanned the area but didn't see anything.

"Strange. We should report that to Cody. He might-" Suddenly, a string of black energy wrapped around Eri's waist and pulled her out of the pharmacy. Eri screamed as it snatched her away.

"Meowstic!" Her pokemon cried as he followed after Eri. Eri did all she could to try and remove the black energy from her body, but it was no use.

"Let go!!" She screamed. Suddenly, an arm wrapped around her body.

"It is you!!!" Eri stopped and gasped as she turned to see a familiar freckled face.

"Deku?!" She gasped with wide eyes. Midoriya hugged the small albino girl with glee. He then held the small girl out from under her arms.

"Oh god do you know how worried weve been for you?!?! You're so big now!! Why did you run away?! I'm so glad I found you! I missed you so much!!! I was so scared for you!!!" He rambled, eyes filling with tears. Before Eri could open her mouth, her body was pulled away from Deku's hands and Meowstic sucker punched the green haired boy.

"Mr Deku!!!" Eri gasped as Meowstic put Eri down. Midoriya groaned as he laid on the floor. Eri swore she could see his spirit leaving his body. Meowstic was about to do another move but Eri started him.

"Meowstic! He's friendly!" She said as she grabbed her pokemon. "Please stop attacking him."

"Meowstic Meow." He huffed. Eri held onto Meowstic as she ran to the poor guy.

"Mr Deku! Are you ok?!" She asked, kneeling next to him. Midoriya groaned as he turned onto his back.

"That hurt." He groaned as he turned to Eri.

"What hit me?" Eri chuckled awkwardly.

"W-well, uh, my pokemon did." She said meekly. Midoriya shot up with stars in his eyes.

"You have a pokemon?! What type is it?! What's its name?!" He asked with excitement.

"I have a Meowstic see." Eri said, holding Meowstic up. Meowstic looked very unhappy with it's current position. Midoriya chuckled awkwardly as Meowstic death stared at him.

"W-well, you have a really powerful pokemon Eri. It's amazing." He said, standing up and wincing as he held his side.

"Probably gave me some bruised or broken ribs." He winced.

"Here, let me help you." Eri said as she put Meowstic down, held her hands out to Midoriya, and closed her eyes.

"What-" Her horn and her hands then began to glow. Midoriya gasped as he felt his body being engulfed by energy. The pain in his side suddenly disappeared, and he could feel himself getting stronger. The energy then faded, and Eri's horn stopped glowing. She lowered her hands and opened her eyes. She smiled at the green haired boy.

"Do you feel better now?" Deku was wide eyed and mouthed. The last time he saw Eri, she was terrified of her quirk. But now, she was using it like a pro.

"Eri.. How did-"

"The spirits taught me." Midoriya looked at Eri with shocked confusion.

"What?"

"The spirits taught me how to use my quirk." Eri repeated.

"One of them had powers like mine, and she helped me control my quirk." Eri said as she carefully touched her horn.

"I can control it much better now. I'm not in full control, but I'm better than I was a long time ago." Midoriya stared at and studied the little girl. He could see how strong Eri had become since he last saw her. The little timid girl who was afraid of the world had been replaced with someone who was determined and powerful. Midoriya smiled as the feeling set in.

"Eri, come back with me." He said.

"Huh?" She looked up at Midoriya.

"Everyone's been worried for you. Some of them don't know if you're still alive or not. Please, come back to camp with me. Then we-"

"No." Mydoriya stopped mid sentence and looked at the albino child.

"What...?" Eri stepped away from Deku's hold. She looked at her toes and kept her hands together in front of her.

"I can't go back..." Eri softly said. Meowstic walked over to Eri and hugged her leg. Midoriya's smile fell as she said that. He took a knee in front of her.

"Why is that?" He softly asked. Eri was silent before giving her response.

"I need to help my team." She said softly.

"Your team?"

"Mmhmm. We have to find Miss Ryoko before we can go home."

"Who's Miss Ryoko?"

"The woman that you killed when you entered her world." Midoriya froze as Eri said that. Killed? What was she talking about?

"Eri what are-"

"When you and Mr Aizawa entered Ryoko's world, you killed her." Eri explained. Mydoriya's heart fell as he finally understood why Eri had run away so long ago.

"Eri.. Eri I'm so sorry I didn't-I didn't know!"

"I know that!" Eri suddenly choked out.

"I know that you didn't know! But it still hurts because she's gone!!" Eri cried. Midoriya's arms were suddenly wrapped around the ten year old girl. Her eyes widened before she hugged him back and buried her face in his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry Eri. I didn't know that we had hurt you like that..." He softly said, holding the little girl tightly. Eri cried into his shoulder. This old familiarity was so comforting to her. She almost didn't want to leave it.

"If you ever need to, you can come to the Alliance, and we will help you and your friends." He said. Eri sniffled

"Th-thank you... Thank you so much..." Eri sobbed. Deku chuckled and held Eri by her shoulders.

"You don't need to thank me Eri. Just know that I will always be here for you And if you ever need to," Midoriya handed Eri a small device. Eri looked at the small disc in her hand.

"What is this?" Eri asked as she wiped her tears away.

"It's a homing beacon. If you're ever in trouble and need my help, just press the button and I'll come running." He said. Eri smiled and hugged Deku again.

"Thank you Mr. Deku!" Eri said with glee. Deku chuckled and held her.

"Your friends must be looking for you now. Promise to keep in touch?"

"Always." The two released each other from the hug.

"Goodbye Midoriya!" Eri said as Meowstic used psychic on both of them. He lowered both of them back to the earth.

"Lets go Meowstic." Eri says as the pair ran off into the city.

**********

"Eri!!!"

"Eri where'd you go?!"

"Eri!!"

"I'm right here guys!" The boys gasped and turned to see Eri running towards them.

"Eri!!" They shouted as they ran and embraced the girl.

"What happened to you?!"

"Where did you go?!'

"You're not hurt are you?!" The boys asked millions of questions all at once. Eri laughed as the boys continued to fret over her.

"No no I'm fine! I wasn't in any danger." She giggles.

"Then what happened at the Pharmacy?" Cody asked.

"I just met an old friend." Eri said as she glanced up at the building behind them. There stood the green haired boy, smiling back at her.

**********

The quartet of adventurers returned to the treehouse mid-afternoon. When they got there, they saw that Alice and Viarrah were playing outside.

"Hey! Tiny!" Mokuba called out. Alice's head snapped up. She made eye contact with Mokuba and a large smile came to her face.

"Mokie!!!" She squeals happily as she hops up and runs over to the boy. Mokuba kneeled, snatching Alice up into his arms. The two laughed as they embraced each other.

"Did you behave for Viarrah?" Mokuba asked as Brad took the supplies from Mokuba's back and helped Cody take them up to the treehouse while Eri released Viarrah's spirit.

"Mmhmm!! Via showed me how to fold paper!! And she made my hair all pretty!! See?! See?!" Alice said excitedly as she jumped out of Mokuba's hold and twirled around.

"You look even cuter now.: Mokuba laughed as he watched Alice twirl. Alice suddenly stopped spinning and ran around. As Mokuba watched her, he then noticed the similarities of Alice and the little Ryoko he saw in his dream.

"What the heck..." He muttered. The longer he watched, the more Alice faded away and Ryoko took her place.

"Ryoko...?" Mokuba whispered. Alice suddenly stopped running, and turned to the youngest boy. His purpley gray eyes met sapphire blue ones. They locked eyes and Mokuba's eyes widened more.

"Ryoko-"

"Mokie..." The child softly said. She sounded just like Ryoko, but with a higher pitched voice.

"What is it...?" He softly breathed, shocked by the sight of Ryoko. The girl then put her hands over her chest.

"Mokie... My heart hearts...." She said. She removed her hands from her chest. Mokuba gasped as there was a large crack on her chest. It only seemed to grow as he stared.

"Help me..." Suddenly, Ryoko collapsed, turning back into Alice.

"R-Ryoko?! Alice!!" Mokuba gasped as he ran to the little girl.

"Alice!! Oh gods Alice!!" Mokuba screamed as he picked the girl up. She lay limp in his arms as the other three came running.

"What happened?!" Cody asked as he dropped to his knees beside Mokuba.

"I-I don't know! She-She was running around and then-"

"Mokie...?" Alice groaned as she woke up. Mokuba gasped and turned his attention back to Alice.

"Oh my gods you're awake! Are you ok?!" He asked. Alice fussed slightly and sat up.

"What happened?" She mumbled as she rubbed her eyes.

"Y-You.. fell over..." Cody said carefully.

"Oh... I'm tired..." She mumbled as she leaned on Mokuba. Mokuba looked to Cody for guidance. Cody overlooked Alice before sighing and standing.

"Take her to bed. We'll figure out what happened later." He said as he walked towards the treehouse. Mokuba silently stood, holding Alice in his arms. As he walked, he heard Alice's words before she fell asleep.

"I'm sorry Iko..."