Wally had found the Nomu hard to put down. Though he hit it a lot of times, it just seemed to bounce back. Shock absorption, perhaps?

He needed something better than just his fists.

Then Shine came running out of a side street.

"Hey, babe, we have a problem. Twice is here! He's making clones! The kids are going to be outnumbered!"

"Oh, crap!" Wally backed up. "But this thing is bad."

"I'll handle this. You go get them," Shine said.

"But...are you sure you can? I mean I've been hitting it for, like, 2 minutes, and it keeps recovering," Wally said.

"Wally...you have to trust me," Shine said, "God will give me the strength...or else a miracle is going to have to happen. This plan is a disaster."

"Hey, don't call it yet, babe. It's just the third act," Wally said.

"Counting what exactly as the first and second?" Shine asked.

"The freaking out and formulating a strategy parts, duh." Wally sped away. "Just flash your sword if you need me."

"Right, well, let's hope I don't need it," Shine muttered.

The Nomu got back up and eyed her coldly.

Shine brandished her sword. "I don't know if you're human or not, so I'm not sure if this will hurt you, but we'll see."

"So there's a trick to how that works," Shigaraki's voice startled her. He was sitting under a doorway. "Interesting."

"I knew you'd stay close," Shine said, "Want to call this thing off and fight me in person?"

"I think beating you once was enough," Shigaraki said, "Nomu will do this more efficiently." 

The Nomu struck at Shine. And it should have been impossible for her to hold up against it, but she met the blow with the sword...and held her ground.

It was like the sword took the brunt of the force itself. It gleamed in the light like a star.

Shigaraki's mouth fell open watching, and he hissed. "What the h---?"

"What the heaven," Shine corrected.

"Huh?"

The Nomu recoiled like it had somehow hurt itself.

"It's not supposed to respond to pain," Shigaraki said.

Shine stepped back. "Once it made contact...I could tell...this creature is neither human nor beast... It's...like it's had 5/6 of its soul removed but just enough will-power left to follow orders."

"A fascinating commentary on its life story, but not what I wanted to hear," Shigaraki said, bored.

"Is watching me die, or else kill it, your idea of fun?" Shine asked.

"Well, I should have a little after the day I've been having so far," he whined.

The Nomu swung at Shine again. She moved much faster than she normally would have, and struck it in the back.

Then she drove her sword into where its ribs would be.

No blood appeared, but the Nomu gave a terrible shudder and clutched at its head.

Shine pulled her sword out. The creature continued to writhe.

Shigaraki almost choked from surprise. "What did you just do?"

"I can feel the torment..." Shine had tears running down her face. "The...sheer terror and horror and...how could you? Even you, Tomura Shigaraki, might have a heart... These creatures aren't something that should ever have existed..."

She dropped to her knees. "Whoever did this ought to beg God for His mercy for inflicting something like that on another human being."

Shigaraki felt kind of unsettled. He was the type to be able to dismiss brave words, but open distress freaked him out.

"Stop being so overdramatic. They were just low life thugs anyway, before master got a hold of them."

"Do you know what he did to them?" Shine said.

"Enough..." Shigaraki actually didn't really know the process. The doctor was in charge of that.

"Only ignorance would possibly excuse your lack of empathy," Shine said, "but even that is a pathetic excuse... Fighting this thing is almost more painful to me than to it. I can't stand the sight of suffering."

"I don't know what you're on about, Likstar, but if you want to give up, by all means, let it finish you off," Shigaraki said.

The Nomu shuddered. 

Shine shook her head. "Go on, leave us. No need to fight me."

"You fool. Those things are programmed to listen to only one voice command," Shigaraki said.

Shine looked at him and her eyes were glowing gold. "There are exceptions to every rule, you know."

The Nomu suddenly banked for the street like a whipped cur.

Shigaraki was, for once, rendered speechless.

Shine turned to him and held up her sword. "Let's talk."

But Shigaraki's shock turned to rage, as it always did, and he charged at her.

Shine wasn't quite ready for it. She flinched. "Wait--" 

But Shigaraki slammed her into the wall of the building behind her, by her throat, and the shock almost knocked her out...almost. She saw stars.

"What did you do to it? Just what do you think you're doing?!" He was almost hysterical.

Shine used her free hand to try to pry him off. "Shigaraki, stop it," she gasped, "This won't solve anything. Just hear me out."

"You don't tell me what to do!" Shigaraki said.

Shine had probably seconds before he killed her, and her mind was racing--

Then, like a thunderbolt in her thoughts, two words started to resound through her mind.

Tenko Shimura. Tenko Shimura.

Shine didn't have a clue what that meant. It was in Japanese! Maybe it was a saying?

But it wouldn't shut up.

Shigaraki began to close his last finger.

Shine had no other option, so she just said the words out loud: "Tenko Shimura."

The effect was instantaneous. Shigaraki froze like he'd just seen a ghost.

"What did you just say?"

* * *

Mirko was still fighting Dabi when a super fast force yanked her out of the flame surrounding the area.

"Oh, don't tell me someone else is interfering," she said, "You're all such pains in my a--. Ow!"

Wally had dropped her on the street. "I need you to go help Shine. She's fighting a Nomu by herself. I'll get the clones. I'm fast enough to get all of 'em, trust me, and I'll get the kids out. Just make sure it doesn't crush her, okay?"

"What? Are you serious?" Mirko said, "She can't be that stupid."

"Hey, she's just really brave," Wally said, annoyed, "Would you mind helping us out?"

"Look, I'll save her because it's my job, but I won't promise not to punch her afterwards," Mirko muttered, bounding away.

* * *

Wally looked at the clones and punched them all into mud in about a second flat.

"Not bad." Dabi was leaning on the wall, actually out of breath. "But it won't be enough. By now Crazy will have made her move."

"Toga is here?" Wally said.

Dabi laughed bitterly. "Just weren't prepared for this, were you?"

Wally looked around. "Where is she?"

"If I'm not mistaken, she went that way." Dabi nodded toward a small street past the cage. "Compress went after that other girl, the stupid one. Good luck with that..." He sank to the ground.

Wally frowned. "I don't like you, you know, but...don't do anything stupid, okay? Just get out of here."

"Sure, sure," Dabi muttered, "'I'll get right on that... Don't know why I'm helping you jackasses anyway..."

"Gotta go--finish this talk later." Wally dashed away.

And he was just in time to stop Toga from dragging Momo and Miss Joke into a dumpster, though she had already collected blood. When she saw him she yelped and ran for it. Wally didn't go after her because he stopped to make sure the girls were okay... They weren't much hurt except for the marks where the needle had gone in. 

"We'll get you guys to a hospital as soon as we can round up everyone else," Wally said, kind of worried, "Where'd that Harley Quin chick go? She probably stole some blood or something. I should take her in."

Wait, that was against the rules. Ah! He kicked a can.

[Totally unrelated, but if Miss Joke is this universe's Joker, and Toga is this universe's Harley Quin, does that mean Harley took out the Joker in this? No, I don't ship them. It's just a weird thought.]

* * *

Mirko raced back to where she'd last seen the Nomu fall--in time for it to go barreling past her, knocking her aside in the process, and then running away. Then it stopped, as if confused, and then turned back.

Mirko was running on adrenaline as it was, but something about how weird that was made her hair stand on end. 

The Nomu made some kind of screeching sound and charged at her.

She jumped up and dashed away. She'd grab Likstar and get out of range before she took this thing on again.

Then she skidded to a stop. Shigaraki had Likstar pinned to the wall...again?

No, he wasn't holding onto her. He was stepping back.

* * *

"How did you know that name!?? Shigaraki hissed at Shine, "How? There's no way!"

"That's a name?" Shine said. Come to think of it...Shimura... Hadn't All Might or Deku said that...? The...the 7th holder, wasn't it? What was it?

She couldn't remember. But clearly it meant something to Shigaraki.

He was freaking out. Panicking even.

Protective instinct kicked in. She didn't like the guy, but she hated to see anyone in agony.

"Hey, are you okay?" she asked.

"What?" Shigaraki looked at her through the hand on his face. "What are you saying? Who told you that? The only person who knew about that was...and you couldn't..."

"It was my gift. That's all." Shine didn't know why she was trying to be comforting. "There's no need to freak out about it. That meant something to you, didn't it?... Did you know them?"

Shigaraki took that in with some amount of calm. "You could say that... So you don't know what it means?"

"No, I don't."

"Well, then, that's not so bad..." He winced. "Shut up!" Who was he yelling at?

"Likstar!" Mirko's voice cut across the tension. "Heads up!" 

Shine looked. Mirko was racing toward them with the Nomu right behind her.

"Mirko? What are you doing here? Don't interrupt. I'm fine."

"Like he--." Mirko hopped around them as the Nomu grabbed at her hair.

It struck out blindly. Shigaraki wasn't really paying attention, and it smacked him into the wall.

"What? Nomu!" he cried, in shock, "You're not supposed to attack me!"

The Nomu made a terrible gurgling sound.

"I seem to have aggravated its buried rage," Shine said, "It wants release and is mindlessly destroying anything it perceives as a threat."

"What the he-- does that mean?" Shigaraki forgot he was supposed to be killing Shine.

"It means you've gone too far," Shine said.

Mirko panted. "Look, I'm gonna be straight with you, and you will never hear me say these words again, but I don't think I can take that thing. I don't know what its quirk is but it's strong. If you can do that door thingy you did before and get us out of here, that'd be great."

"I can't do that," Shine said, "I was blocked."

"What?" Shigaraki said, "Still?"

"It was your fault, as I recall," Shine snapped.

"Well, I didn't think it would last this long," Shigaraki snapped.

He was actually legitimately afraid now that the Nomu was not obeying him.

The monster glared at them and made another awful sound.

Mirko's ears stood up. "All right, fine. I'll try to hold it off--"

"Don't you dare," Shine said, "It's a wild animal now. You're already beat up. It'll kill you."

"Don't be ridiculous. I won't go down that easy," Mirko said.

"Listen, Mirko, if you don't knock it the flip off, I'll fight you myself," Shine said.

Mirko blinked at her. "You want to take a stab?"

"Well, if it comes down to it, I don't think you understand the situation," Shine said.

"If you two want to have this fight later-- that thing is going to attack all of us," Shigaraki interrupted, "And I don't feel like dying."

"Well, it'd be karmic punishment for you," Mirko allowed, "But still, it can't go raging around the city."

"You b----," Shigaraki began.

"Shut up, both of you," Shine said.

The Nomu snarled and struck at the wall much faster than them. Mirko jumped and pushed Shine out of the way, knocking Shigaraki aside in the process. Shigaraki pitched forward toward the monster, and the Nomu snapped him up by his coat-- he was lucky it wasn't his arm.

"Just kill it," Shine said to him. 

Shigaraki probably would have, but the monster flung him aside, as if it either knew he would, or just didn't want anyone that close to it. It screeched again.

Mirko covered her ears. "That's the worst sound I've ever heard."

Shine pushed her off.

"Hey! Are you stupid!" Mirko grabbed at her, but Shine moved too fast. 

The Nomu swung at the ground near Shigaraki.

"It wants to kill you," Shine announced, rather unnecessarily, "It blames you for its agony."

"The Nomu aren't capable of cognitive thought!" Shigaraki protested, scrambling away.

Shine ran up to the Nomu and jammed her sword into its back.

The creature froze and jerked.

"I release you," Shine said in a low voice, "Be no longer bound to this shell."

The Nomu shuddered...and then fell to the ground like it was completely...dead.

Mirko almost threw up. Her mouth dropped open.

"How in the...?" Shigaraki sputtered. 

Shine pulled her sword out. "All I did was sever the last strand of consciousness. It was already basically dead... Whatever kept it alive wasn't natural... I'm no mad scientist, but Frankenstein does come to mind here... I hope you remember this, Tomura."

Mirko was still too shocked to get up, even if now was the perfect time to take out the villain.

Shigaraki, for once, was actually terrified. To him the Nomu were impossible to beat without a lot of power... Just stabbing it? That didn't make any sense.

"You should listen to me now." Shine wiped her forehead. "Do I have your attention?"

Shigaraki hissed. "What do you want?"

"I want you to leave the kids alone," Shine said, "Do you understand? Don't come near them or the school."

She got down on one knee, so she could look him right in the eyes.

"Or, listen to me closely, I will not go back on what I said. But I will, for every attack you make, hunt you down and destroy your toys, your hideouts, your tools-- 10 fold for what you do. I maybe can't turn you in, but I can sure as heck make it a pain in the neck for you to keep trying."

She stuck the sword into the ground in front of him, making him flinch.

"I'm not Stain, Shigaraki. I won't sacrifice human lives for my cause. But, I think you'll find, that having me actually pissed off at you is not going to be fun for you anyway."

Shigaraki stared at her.

Mirko's mouth was never going to recover from how far open it had fallen.

Shine's eyes blazed with light. "Remember...no matter where you go, or who you're with, we can find you. You can't hide from us, you can't run, and your stupid, little toys won't save you. If you attack us again, you better be prepared to face it head on."

Shigaraki clenched a fist.

Shine then stood up and looked pointedly down at him. "But, on the other hand, if you leave us alone, then no Pro will ever find you because of me. I promise, if I have the chance to save your lives, I will do it. And if you need help, as long as it's not something that's morally reprehensible for me to do, and is not a plot against innocent people, I will help you. I'd take the deal. If simple kindness wasn't enough to convince you, I hope a show of force will be. If you don't heed this warning, don't expect to get another one. Are we clear on this?"

Shigaraki swallowed. "You think you can scare me?"

Shine picked up her sword. "I didn't want to have to...but I will not say it's beneath me. Sometimes fear is a good thing. It shows you know what to respect."

Mirko wished she'd thought of something that bada-- to say in the past.

Shigaraki just laughed psychotically. "You and your fine words... Like you'd actually live up to them. Let's be real, Likstar, your loyalties are clear."

"I would hope so, but I have a feeling you mean something different," Shine said.

She eyed the Nomu. "Well, I have to go make sure your friends aren't hurting my kids. I wouldn't follow me if I were you."

She turned toward Mirko. "Come on."

Mirko sat up. "I...can't... I mean, I have to--"

"You think you can take him?" Shine said, "No way. Come on."

"I don't have to listen to you," Mirko tried.

Shine gave her a look.

Shigaraki hissed. "I'm not gonna stick around for this." He vanished into black ooze.

"Well, that works too," Shine said.

"You just let him go...and what was all that?" Mirko said, stumbling to her feet, "Did you just make a deal with him?"

"I don't expect you to understand." Shine walked away. "I didn't plan on you witnessing that anyway...but I couldn't risk the moment passing... If you plan to arrest me, just know, if you do, they win...just saying."

Mirko followed her slowly.

"Ah, there you are." Compress stepped out from around a corner. "I think I have something you want."

He held up a marble.

Shine blinked at it. "Camie?"

"How did you know?" Compress said.

"I just...did," Shine said.

"You--" Mirko jumped at him--Shine blocked her with her sword, and she rammed into it.

"What? Why, you--!" She scrambled back up.

"While that was extremely entertaining to see, attacking you own ally is a foolhardy move," Compress said.

"Funny, I was going to say the same thing about this whole plan," Shine said, "Hand Camie over, Magic Man, or I'll sic the Rabbit Hero on you."

"So much for diplomacy," Compress said, "Perhaps we could negotiate? I want Shigaraki back."

"We don't have him," Shine said, before Mirko could stop her. "So if you'll kindly hand Camie over, that'd be great."

"Don't have him?" Compress said, "Then where did he go?"

"Perhaps he ran off. I don't know."

"He would never just leave us here," Compress said.

Shine stared at him. "Give Camie back, Compress. Enough. You've lost. Get while the getting is good."

"Likstar, I am not a coward, and the odds are far from in you favor," Compress said.

Then they all heard someone yelling.

Mirko's ears twitched. "That's...Endeavor."

* * *

Shoto and Bakugo had only made it partly up the street before they ran into yet another problem, and that was Spinner, who was rushing to eagerly help his fellow members.

Spinner took one look at them and attacked at Bakugo. He intended to spare Todoroki, per Stain's wishes.

Bakugo was tired and dehydrated, but reflex kicked in, and he still dodged, but it was close.

Shoto tried to throw some ice. He was tired too. Maybe he should try fire instead. He was shaking.

But it was clear enough they weren't going to be a match for Spinner, a fresh fighter.

Just when it looked like he was going to wear them down at last, a wall of fire blocked his path.

Shoto and Bakugo turned to see Endeavor, looking very angry.

"Endeavor?" Spinner said.

"What the...?" Bakugo was puzzled.

"How are you here?" Shoto said.

Endeavor crumpled a piece of paper. "Call it a hunch."

Spinner knew right away he was no match for the number one hero.

"Drat!" he muttered, running, "Dabi, get your a-- up. No time for a siesta!"

Dabi was still leaning on the building. "Oh, it's not, huh?" he said in a weird voice.

"What's wrong with you?" Spinner came up to him. "The No #1 hero is here.
We have to run. Mission abort."

"Yeah, I know." Dabi struggled to get up. "It's a little cold for me, though."

"Huh? It's roasting over here, and I'm a reptile," Spinner said. There were still burning patches.

"Hey, Dabi!" Twice waved. "Come on."

Wally punched him. "Hey, Fire Man. Took you long enough."

"Be more specific next time," Endeavor griped. 

"So you sold us out after all," Dabi said.

"Not really," Wally said, "And shut up."

"Dabi? Spinner?" Compress appeared, "Nevermind them. I've got the girl."

"Which one?" Spinner said.

"The blonde."

"Camie?" Bakugo raged, "Put her down, you b------!"

Shine and Mirko came running up behind Compress.

"Hey," Shine nodded.

Endeavor raised his hands. "Hand over the hostage."

"Or what?" Compress held up a marble. "If I toss this you might never find it again."

"Scum," Mirko spat.

"Likstar, keep your pet under control," Compress warned, "or I'll throw this sky high."

"She's not my pet, and that won't induce her to listen to you," Shine said.

"You would be wise to surrender," Endeavor said, "This won't end well for you."

Compress looked around. "But I have a hostage."

Endeavor looked toward Dabi and Spinner. "So do we." He formed some fire into a spear.

"Figures..." Dabi muttered, "Not that it'll hurt me anyway..."

"It'll hurt me!" Spinner squeaked.

"I propose a trade," Compress said, "I'll give you the girl, if you let us all go freely."

Wally looked at Shine like "Should I?"

She shook her head. If Compress dropped Camie, she could be lost for good. Even Wally might not be that fast.

Endeavor clearly hated it, but he scowled and nodded at the villains.

Spinner and Dabi began to move backward, out of range. Compress landed on the ground and tossed the marble at them. Bakugo reached up and caught it.

Shine blinked. "Wait!" she said.

Everyone frowned.

"That's not Camie," Shine said, "Where did you put her?"

"His mouth!" Shoto cried.

Bakugo glanced at the marble. "Is that true, you piece of s---?!"

Compress smiled slyly. "Well, I guess old habits die hard."

Shine's eyes sparked. "Give. Her. Back!" she yelled at him, the way a general might yell to charge into battle.

Compress started to laugh, "you can't think I'd just--"

Something really weird happened right then. The whole earth shook beneath them.

Earthquakes were common in Japan, but the timing of this one was just a little unnerving.

The villains and heroes all fell to the ground. Shine did too.  

Compress fell to his knees. A marble shot out of his mouth and rolled free. Bakugo managed to lunge forward and grab it.

The buildings already weakened by fire started to crumble. Spinner looked up and ran for it. Dabi got up, then tripped because he was exhausted and feverish.

Wally tried to move, but the ground was yanked out from under him.

Bricks started to fall.

Shine looked up, then she held out her sword, and a portal opened under Dabi, just as the chunks were going to land on him.

The other side of the door opened right in front of her. She didn't have the energy for anything farther than that.

Dabi looked up, stunned. "What the...?"

The ground stopped swaying.

Everyone looked at each other dazedly.

Dabi looked at Shine. "Did you just...save me?"

Shine propped herself up on her sword. "Yeah...guess I finally got unblocked... Great timing, right?"

Dabi fell over.

Compress sat up. "What the...? Did...did you cause that?"

"I don't know," Shine said.

Shoto and Bakugo stared at her.

Wally stood up. "I'd run if I were you," he said.

The villains all got up and ran for it. Spinner took Dabi with them.

Endeavor went after them, but before he could catch them, they were warped away.

* * *

No one knew what to say after that.

"One heck of a 4th act." Wally was the exception. He helped Shine up. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah...but what just happened?" Shine wondered.

Endeavor returned. "Well, they escaped... I see I came just in time. What are you all doing here?"

"Dad...?" Shoto was still puzzled. "I don't get it... What happened?"

"Shoto, this is not the time," Endeavor said, "I want answers first. Why were you all here?"

Shoto fell over.

"Maybe you should take him to the hospital first..." Shine suggested.

Endeavor plucked his son up like he was a doll. "We'll be talking about this later, Likstar."

"I'm sure..." she muttered.

"Where's Ponytail?" Bakugo sat up.

"I found her and Miss Joke on a street. I think they were drugged," Wally said.

"What?" Mirko said, "By who?"

"Toga, but she ran away," Wally said.

Sirens blared just then.

"Well, I think this is our cue to leave," Shine said to Wally, "The Nomu will be enough explanation for all this destruction, along with Endeavor being here. Mirko, feel free to take the credit. We'll take the students back to school... I guess Camie will have to come with us until that quirk wears off."

Bakugo held up his hand. "This is her, right?"

"It is," Shine said, "Don't ask me how I know... Maybe it's just alive."

* * *

Wally rushed them all back to UA, since Shine wasn't ready for that kind of distance yet. Endeavor let them take Shoto only because it was faster than waiting for medics to arrive.

Recovery Girl had a fit when she saw them-- but didn't ask too many questions. Perhaps years of keeping All Might's secret had taught her it was better not to know sometimes.

Bakugo refused to let the marble out of his sight, even while he was getting treatment, but he wasn't hurt except for a few minor burns and scrapes from falling. He was mostly just dehydrated.

Shoto wasn't hurt any worse than that.

Momo and Miss Joke, however, were in an almost comatose state from the drug and blood loss.

Recovery Girl gave them something that would help counteract it, but she said they wouldn't wake up for hours, even so. Shoto refused to leave the infirmary.

Shine and Wally were somehow unscathed, except for a few bruises where Shine had been grabbed or Wally had hit his hand too hard.

Camie decompressed only about 30 minutes after they got back and fell into Bakugo's lap, completely puzzled about what happened. "Ah, where am I?!" She took a wild swing at him. "Oh...it's just you. Why am I in your lap?"

Bakugo dropped her on the floor. "It was an accident, idiot." He turned red.

"I'd like to hear the explanation for that." Camie rubbed her back. "You didn't have to drop me. That hurt." She looked around. "Did we get away?"

"Yeah...more like they ran off. Some crazy s--- went down. You missed it."

"Uh, no fair..." Camie said.

"Next time don't get yourself captured, idiot," Bakugo said.

"I didn't plan on it..." Camie coughed. "Ugh, I feel like I gargled nails... I need tea."

"There's a vending machine in the hallway," Bakugo sighed, "Come on."

"But I don't have any cash."

"I'll spot you."

"Really? Wow..."

"Shut up."