FLASHBACK

Two weeks ago...
Deku and Uraraka's apartment.

The apartment was simple and not exactly what one would picture as the residence of two notorious Pro Heroes, but neither Deku or Uraraka were ever fans of luxury. In fact, despite their salaries, and specially now they were engaged celebrities, both agreed that something cheap and inconspicuous would be the best to keep unwanted visits away. That very same night they had to team up and combine Quirks to leave reporters and photographers behind, which surprisingly gave them a harder time than stopping the robbery at the museum, and make it home without being followed or noticed.

"I'm okay, Dad" Uraraka said through the phone, checking her face on the bathroom's mirror, relieved their last mission didn't leave her any marks before the each time closer big day. Her parents had seen them on TV that night, after they stopped a heist and were cheered by the legion of fans of both the heroes and the couple. "You know I am always careful. And Deku and I always have each others' back."

Hero daughter's support aside, the Uraraka's had been luckier on their business in recent years, in part because the damages those strong villains that must be fought by then would often make some construction experts were required. Kaminari and Sero used to bug on the fact that it was a surprise her family wasn't already millionaire, but after all the hard times her parents had gone through, she couldn't be glad enough for her success as a Pro, as well as Deku and her friends' care and support.

"Yes, I promise I'll send you a picture of me on the dress. Believe me, we can totally trust Aoyama for this" the following day Uraraka and her former female classmates would meet the Shinning Hero. He had volunteered to pick the best outfits for the bride, maid of honor and bridesmaids, and in that once in a lifetime occasion he wouldn't take no for an answer. "Oh, Daddy, leave Deku alone. He's been through a lot of work recently, but he's totally into the wedding. I know very well the man I am about to marry."

It was true she wished Deku didn't have to deal with so much, but he wouldn't put the glory before his loved ones and that was a fact. Testing himself to the limit, selflessly protecting and inspiring people was where the actions that described Deku to perfection, and she wouldn't ask him to change what she loved the most about him.

"Our honeymoon? Oh we haven't decided it yet. It's not easy to choose where to go on vacation when you can be needed at any moment" Deku and her always had pretty simple taste, and even now they had money for it, planning something like travelling abroad was still kind of new for them.

The next question was made by her happily curious mother and it made her blush so bad she almost dropped the phone into the toilet. "W...What!? No!" she cried when she embarrasingly managed to grab the phone before it fell. "We haven't talked at all about that yet!" well, maybe the words *not at all* weren't exactly true, though. "I mean, don't you two feel a bit too young to be...?!"

Mrs Uraraka just laughed and told her daughter to take it easy. Their girl was about to marry an amazing guy that would care for her with his life and they couldn't be happier for her. The step they were about to take was already important enough and there would be time for other plans.

The phone call ended a couple of minutes later, and Uraraka sighed before going back to brush her teeth. Once she was done, she got out of the bathroom.

"Deku?" Uraraka just arrived and entered their room, where she found him laying on the bed. His eyes were almost closed and wasn't even listening because he was half asleep after their long day of work and other stuff to do. At the sight of this, Uraraka held her laugh. As much as she adored watching Deku sleep, she knew there was no way she was going to miss the chance, so she put her fingers together and silently began to float until she was about two feet over her sluggish boy.

"De...kuu..." she called.

"Huh?" his tired green eyes opened slowly, but he felt like dreaming when a floating pink cheeked and brown haired beauty took his hands and smiled him back from above.

"Wake up, Wendy! It's time to fly to Neverland!" Uraraka cried before landing over her future husband for the second time that night, this time with both of them laughing. "You know" Uraraka rested her head against his chest and relaxed. "It's weird, but I still don't get used to you wearing a normal pajama..."

"Ochako, please, now I am a real hero on his way to take All Might's place; I am a bit too old to keep wearing his merc" Deku said as he surrounded her with his arms and softly rubbed his cheeks against her forehead.

"Is that so?" Uraraka asked as she took something from her pocket. "Well I don't feel too old to keep carrying this."

"The All Might key chain" it warmed Deku's heart the fact that, after all those years, she still took it with her.

"Back then I had to keep it out of the girls' sight. When Mina found it she reacted as if it was some sort of compromise ring, and I would get so flustered..."

"That was a different time!" Deku slightly blushed. "In fact, sometimes I think I should have picked a Thirteen one instead. She used to be your favorite."

"Oh she was my favorite and I am still a big fan. But one day you came along, and then... well, I always liked to wear because it reminds me of you and why you always do your best and more" Uraraka sweetly muttered. "And that doesn't mean I don't like the ring you actually got me..." she showed him the ring with the pink infinity symbol with which Deku asked her to be his wife.

"I know you are not the type of girl who is interested in wearing brilliant and luxury things" Deku softly looked her into her eyes as he held her. "But there has never been a more special occasion for the two of us and that's what I wanted to make it."

"You are a real cute. But just tell me you didn't give months of salary away to get it..." Uraraka's super instinct of saving was beating not far from the surface.

"Listen, you don't need to worry about the money anymore. We have covered ourselves the best way possible, as well as our families. As for the ring... I bought it a long time ago, so..."

"Really?" Uraraka was surprised. "Wait, you mean... years ago?"

A thousand years would pass and that girl would still have the power to make him blush with just a few words.

"Come on, Ochako, it's late and tomorrow we have stuff to do. One of these days, I promise I'll tell you the story of how I got the ring."

"Hmmmm... that's mean" Uraraka sat on top of Deku's stomach and looked down at him with inflated cheeks and narrowed eyes, like a mad little child. "My man decided he wanted to marry me years ago but he won't tell me the story of him being so adorable?" she pouted as she grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. "That's going to cost you some cuddles... hey, wait a minute..." Uraraka noticed something below Deku's shirt and before he could stop her she curiously unbuttoned it, revealing what her supposedly grown up fiancé was hiding: an All Might themed T-shirt that looked quite new and modern. "I knew it! Too old for wearing hero merc, huh?" she triumphantly teased a little embarrassed Deku.

"Oh you'll pay for that" now it was Deku who narrowed his eyes and was ready to take his revenge. "Cuddles, you said?" Uraraka squealed as he changed positions and kissed her cheek, she blushing and laughing in response. "Well let it be cuddles then!!"

*************************

July 10th, 16:20
East part of the island.

The cave was deep and would smell like danger from a mile away, but according to the lectures its dark way extended from the Eastern coast to the center of the island, where their information about the place was scarce. And everybody agreed that volcano (presumably inactive, or that was what they hoped) looked like the perfect place to keep prisoners, as well as to meet a final boss or two.

As one could expect, some people would already be inside of the tunnel, waiting for their hero guests. The one in command was a new mysterious dark gray coated gloved tall man, wearing a hood and a skull mask with sinisterly glowing green eyes and some unfriendly looking tools around his belt. Unlike most of The Man's henchmen he didn't have that much of a wrestler's look, but that was far from the only reason he stood out among them. Unfortunately, the member of the League they had sent to work with him didn't share his silent persona.

"Now, let's make something clear" Mustard kept talking as he adjusted his gas mask. "Sorry, what was your name again?"

"Penumbra" the voice was almost as metallic as the mask that covered its owner.

"Well, listen up Penumbra: you might be used to give orders for being a mob boss's man of confidence, but as a highlighted member of the League of Villains I don't need to prove we are at the same level on this mission. If they dare to come this guy, my gas will likely do most of the job, but I am a considerate guy and I don't want my partners to feel misplaced. And since we don't know which heroes we'll find and they say you are specially skillful in narrow environments, you'll have your opportunity to shine..."

Penumbra just ignored the trash talking brat he hoped would be put down soon enough, and went to check what the advance party of anthropomorphic rodent-like Nomus had found some distance from there: huge holes on one of the rock walls of the cave, leading to one of the parallel gallery. The edges were burnt and some smoke could still be appreciated from that acid melting. Mustard didn't need to ask who was the author.

"They are nearby!" Mustard announced to the Nomus. "Go find them while I...gah!!" he only had time to utter before someone grabbed him and pinned him against the ground with authority.

The moment of distraction Toru had earned for her partners was enough so Uraraka could let all the floating heavy rocks and debris Mina had just fabricated with her Acid Quirk fall over four out of the seven Nomus and the so called Penumbra, who hadn't moved a muscle yet. The combo of fighting skills of Uraraka and Mina was enough to submit the Nomu lizard that rapidly attacked them. Uraraka finished it by shaking the creature like a carpet thanks to her Quirk and Mina sprinted covering her full body in acid until she tackled the sixth Nomu against a wall. But just when the fight looked close to an ending both girls were stopped at the sight of the last Nomu grabbing the invisible girl by the neck in middle air.

"Impossible" Uraraka thought. Toru was an expert in hiding from her opponents before attacking them and her body wouldn't be seen. Unless... she thought of something when she saw the Nomu's now bright red eyes.

"Infrared Vision Quirk" Mustard corroborated as he got up, dying to mock the three heroes now the tables had been turned. "I suggested it to Shigaraki myself. Heroes with her kind of Quirks are particularly annoying to me."

"Let her go" Mina bravely demanded, as she secreted more acid with her hands. "We are three and everybody knows you are lame in combat."

"That's why I always carry this to a fight" Mustard opened his coat to reveal a gun on his belt. "Anyway..." he maliciously said behind his mask "... soon you'll feel too little sleepy for that"

That infamous purple sleep gas was already spreading through the air, and Toru wasn't very far, struggling just to breath. They needed an idea and they needed it now. However, Mina Ashido was usually more into action than thinking.

"Not yet" Mina responded. "In fact, shall we check how quick on the draw you are?" she defiantly asked as she positioned herself straight towards the villain, like a Wild West cowgirl.

Mustard reacted carrying his hand close to the gun and ordering the Nomu to crash Toru if the other two moved.

"U..ra..vity" Toru managed to utter with difficulty. Her visible glove was pointing to the ceiling. Uraraka looked upside and noticed a thin trace of light that penetrated into the cave. That part of the ceiling was actually a huge rock that prevented the sunlight from entering.

Uraraka moved as fast as she had learned from training, joined her hands and quickly floated until she touched the rock, as Mustard proceeded to shoot at her. It required some bigger effort, but once she managed to make it float, the sunlight penetrated and Toru played her role:

"WARP REFRACTION!" she internally said.

Thanks to that known hability, she shinning that envolved the inside of the cave blinded the Nomu, giving her the chance to escape, as well as Mustard. While the sleep gas started to go away now there was no ceiling keeping it inside, he was only able to desperately shoot a couple of times before Mina improvised her own gun with two fingers and shot acid to both the weapon and gas mask of the villain. Mustard screamed and then Uraraka fell over him knocking the wimpiest member of the League of Villains down. Meanwhile, the last Nomu met its end when a perfectly delivered kick by Mina melted half of its head and sent the monster to the ground.

Toru took her chance to handcuff and tide Mustard, and Uraraka put a small beeper inside his coat. This way he would remain immobilized until reinforces could arrive and arrest him without a problem, since now his mask had been destroyed he wouldn't be safe from his own Quirk. Finally, they went back to the amount of debris under which the unknown villain had been trapped to repeat the process, but they found nobody except the bodies of the Nomus.

"Oh no, he must have escaped while we fought" Mina lamented. "Now he will tell his boss and Shigaraki we are here..."

"They already knew we are here" Uraraka shook her head. "In fact, I would say at least they expected heroes would come."

"True. That explains the Nomus and the bad guys we found here" Toru said. "Can we be certain that guy left?"

"No. But we must keep moving" Uraraka resolved. "If they have seen us, every second counts."

The three girls agreed and got deeper into the cave until they found something interesting in one of the adjacent galleries: a machinery system that was moved along electric rails. After studying the map of the island they had learnt that somewhere near there was another entrance to those caves from the coast, and a cargo ship was still there unloading tons of supplies and items that would transported from there to the heart of the island, where the villains would have some use for them. They didn't have a much more elaborated strategy, so they climbed on the big mobile platform and they hid there. One way or another that would bring them closer to their goals.

"It's payback time, ladies" Mina maliciously grinned. "As soon as we have rescued everyone, we'll make these bad guys pay for everything they have done."

Uraraka was more focused on the mission than ever. They would save Eri, no matter what.

The girls looked back weren't able to notice, but what looked like a cloud of gray steam had gotten out from the mountain of rocks that crashed the Nomus some minutes ago. It was the villain they had seen before standing on top of the stones and the beaten Nomus, whose Quirk temporarily turned his body into a special gas that made him invulnerable and able to fly around and seep through surfaces in order to attack his prey with ease (a.n: basically like Reaper from Overwatch; I know it is almost a copycat, but I just needed some more filler villains and I wasn't going to make this a crossover 😿). And now he was observing them from the distance, and hearing instructions from his boss.

"Are you sure, boss? I've got them right where I could easily kill them..." he asked in surprise.

"Forget about them. Shigaraki says he already has someone prepared to deal with them, specially with Uravity. I need you for a more specific target..."

Penumbra listened to The Man's orders and was gratefully surprised.

"The hero Lemillion? He's here, you say?"

"Find him and finish him. There are other three with him, but he's specially hard to face because of his Quirk."

Penumbra knew that. That Penetration Quirk was actually similar to his. That meant that day a true challenge might be awaiting for him. A man worthy of his time and worthy to be killed in a clean fight.

"Understood" he nodded as he was told the last place Mirio and his team had been seen. "I will take care of him.

***************************

Meanwhile, in the base inside the volcano...

The two heroes' cell.

"POOOWEEEEEER!!!"

The criminal who was guarding the subway, one of The Man's henchmen dressed in black with the mob's logo, almost jumped when he heard a voice that belonged to none of the prisoners inside the cell.

"Oh, my! You found us!" the purple haired hero's voice (the one he mustn't answer to) was heard next.

"OF COURSE WE DID! YOU KNOW WALLS ARE NO OBSTACLE TO US!" none would miss the voice of Deku. The guard had a paralyzing lighting as a Quirk and was a trained wrestler, so he should be able to control the situation.

"Lemillion! Deku! I heard you! I know you are in there!" the guard cried. "There is no way you can escape with them! Get out slowly and surrender!"

"Oh, sorry, you said something? I couldn't hear you..." Deku answered.

"I SAID YOU TWO GET OUT AND....!!" the guard was able to talk or move no more.

"Oh, ok, no problem!" Lemillion's voice answered back. "May you bring Shinsho's equipment back and open the door for us, please?"

Much to his horror, the henchman's body didn't answer to him anymore. When he did as he was told and the door was opened only two people got out: the tailed one and the purple haired one, who was wearing a Deku puppet glove on his right.

"Thank you so much, good sir!" the voice of Deku was heard again as Shinsho, whose lips weren't moving at all, just played with the hero puppet. "Now please, enter the cell, if you are so kind..."

The henchman had no choice while he remained brainwashed. Once he was in, Mashirao hit him hard enough with his tail to knock him down and prevent him from giving the alarm. Finally, they closed the door again with its new occupant.

"Man, that is awesome! I didn't know you could do that!" Mashirao totally meant it. That ventriloquism number by his partner deserved a huge clap. "When did you learn?

"Thanks. You know my Quirk relies on the use of my voice and how I trick others to speak in response. But for the day I couldn't use my mask, I thought learning this thing might be useful" Shinsho explained.

"I still don't believe it! And what's with that Deku puppet?"

"This? Oh well since I was the one who would give a speech in the name of the old Class B during the wedding, I thought it would be funny to show my new ventriloquist's skills after the ceremony. I've learned to voice Deku, Lemillion, All Might and some more, but I still need some practice. Now" it was time to get serious. "Let's be careful, there might be some cameras. And we must rescue Eri and the Professor."

"They better not have hurt her..."

"We don't know the place, so they should find us sooner or later. I've got your back, Preacher" Mashirao didn't show fear. The two new friends and partners had a mission between hands.

*************************

Meanwhile, on the superior levels...

Dabi kept his eyes on the big screen where the news were shown. The destruction and mayhem heroes and villains were making of Tokyo would normally be a sight for him, but he wasn't satisfied. He had kept his villain's sassy and savage attitude at work like he must, but he knew and his teammates knew he hadn't felt satisfied at all for days.

"Come on, I want to see you back in action..." he thought when his shoulder was patted from behind.

"Time to go, Dabi" Toga had remained strangely distant for the last hours, but now her face was pure excitement. That could only mean her favorite heroes would have come to meet her. He wouldn't be so lucky.

"What's the need on watching the news? In Japan they are talking about nothing but the League!" Spinner couldn't think of anything better.

"Still nothing about Endeavor."

Dabi was the only member of the League who didn't feel euphoric about Endeavor's defeat. Why should he? Back then he had joined the attack with expectation, due to the idea of finally beating the person he most hated in the world, as well as his little brother. As planned, he let The Man's cells absorbed the hellish heat he could generate with his Cremation Quirk, and while the Hero Number One was busy, he would prevent Eri from escaping and face Shoto Todoroki, but as strong that could make him and as fire proof as he was, he didn't expect he would succeed over Endeavor and Bakugou at the same time. The Todoroki's patriarch had aged worse than he thought, and while he was just playing with his youngest offspring, the bastard had his ass beaten by a circus freak who, to him, wasn't even remotely on the league of Stain or All For One. The so called The Man had taken his opportunity to have his rematch against Endeavor, and that made him angry.

"I know how you are feeling, Dabi. I have felt that before" Shigaraki had just returned from the lab. Now their momentum was near, he was wearing the red coat and a new version of one of his iconic hands was hiding his face again. "I also dreamed for most of my life with killing All Might on his prime with my own hands. Eight years ago, when he faced All For One for the last time, I actually wanted him to live to fight another day against me. However, after that fight, he was entirely powerless and ready to get out of circulation."

Dabi listened to the man who turned a group of outcasts into the terror of Japanese heroes. A true villain whose vision and plans have managed to overshadow the Hero Killer's crusade in the streets against the corrupted hero society. The most scarred member of the League of Villains was a guy who loved to do things his way and answer to none, but he was smart enough to understand who had earned the right to guide them to a fairer order.

"Then I learned killing the man is not killing the hero. When a hero dies on duty, like Sir Nighteye did, people's faith is not dimmed, but encouraged. Midoriya once told me a hero is what he builds and protects with his life..."

"Deku is here, All Might. And I've been told you too. It's even better than how I dreamed it..."

Toga and Spinner still didn't know what Shigaraki was going, but the mention of Deku had drawn her attention.

"All we know about Endeavor is that he's alive and with little time left before he retired. But as I was saying, you would get nothing by killing him, specially now he's so weakened. I already told you Deku and other heroes have arrived. In fact, according to The Man, more heroes than we expected are here. Did I tell you who is among them?

"Little Shoto" Dabi didn't need to ask. He had established a hero-villain rivalry with his not so secret brother for the last years and there were few things that brought as joy to his black heart as exchanging flames with Todoroki and picturing Endeavor's shame at the sight of his failure as a father and a hero.

"The boy Endeavor raised and put through hell so one day he could be what he isn't. In other words: the work of his life..."

"Cut the fake suspense, Tomura" Dabi said. "I know where you are going, and I would gladly cause that pain to the old man. I don't know what to say... I have a lot of fun tormenting him. And death is so... definitive."

"You know me, guys. I won't force you into nothing you don't agree with. These are your demons, Dabi, and as your friend, I'll respect your way of facing them. However, as your boss I must ask you to take care of Todoroki."

"Not fair, Tomura" Toga complained. "You want Izuku all for yourself. And you know how much I love see him in blood..."

"Please, Toga, not now" Shigaraki sighed. "I am going to fulfill my destiny facing the pupil of my mentor's nemesis, and you are going to have fun with Uravity. You can't have everything."

"I guess not" Toga resigned. "But be careful, Tomura: Izuku is been after you all these years and he's one tough hero. Maybe he'll escape from you... and I can have fun with him at some moment..." she giggled. The day was so full of promises.

"I will not fail" Shigaraki hissed. "This is the final stand for us."

"Who knows?" Dabi started to see the humor in that situation. "Just take it easy, Himiko. Even if Uravity is killed, I don't think Deku is going to marry you instead" like the family of villains they were, they would joke about stuff like that anytime.

"Well..." Toga admired the shine of one of her blades and shot her comeback. "What's the harm on trying?"

"Let's do this, guys" Spinner stated, lifting his fist. "For Twice."

"For Twice!"

"For Jin..." Toga joined with a less light expression.

"Oh no, you guys are too nice... for me!" Toga was moved, but she didn't bother looking to check his back. She knew she was just crazy.

End of chapter 35.

I'm so sorry, Watties. I'm very late and I feel like the quality of the last chapters is starting to slowly decay.

I want to keep going so we can finally see the ending of this story I started over a year ago and you might be a bit tired of how long it is getting. But I will keep my word: there will be an ending for Wedding Balls. That ending is been in my mind forever, and all I need is to find our way there.

I can't tell how the writing will be in the next scenes, but I will make the ending as satisfactory as you deserve.

Even if this chapter was kind of bleak to me, I was tired of not updating.

I thank you all for your patience and hope you can keep enjoying the story enough to wait for the ending.

I might get distracted watching SAO or drawing, but I don't forget my readers.

Love you all, Watties! And keep it up with your writings! I love them too!

😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺