Smoke filled Skies

"No matter what you do, always be aware of your starting points. Your origins. That's what 'progress' is all about. What is it you're busting a sweat for? What is is you're okay getting grumbled at by me for? Always keep your personal reasons in mind." Aizawa said as he walked through the crowd of students looking them over.

The sun was already well and truly risen as the kids got to work, improving. Growing. He was proud of them, he had done his best to help each of them get the best training they could. Apart from one.

Looking over at the field of continuous deconstruction and construction he saw Nick floating within it. Yes, floating, the lightning dancing of his skin seemingly the only thing tethering him to the physical ground.

Although he saw through that, he saw that the deconstructed dust was swirling around him, he was holding himself in the air with deconstructed matter. Focusing on breaking it down to its core elements so that it could be reassembled into anything. Anything he wanted. He was in control, everything in his field was his to command. Aizawa knew that, he could feel the waves of power rippling through the air.

Turning away he got back to helping the class because he could help them. Only Nick understood his path forward at this point and despite his strength, he was working himself to the bone to get to a higher level. Aizawa could understand it… something about the class was different. It was like they were motivated more to… make their quirks better. He didn't quite get it. But it was like they were shouldering the responsibility of their quirks now.

---

Nick felt it, the flow and weave of particles, he felt like his mind was bleeding through the mass that he was controlling. He had made the tracker finally to a level that he was happy with so he was now focusing on his quirk. And something that he felt he had ignored about it.

The feeling of feedback he got. He wanted to increase that understanding.

So he let his mind bleed into the material that he was affecting. He felt every tug of atomic bonds the charge held by particles, and how they held together. What made them unique and the same. He let his mind submerge in this feeling as he held himself in the air using the deconstructed dust. Keeping it in that state, a state of its base form. What it truly was.

---

It wasn't long before the evening had come around, cracking his neck Nick didn't bother listening to the explanation of the test of courage. He was a bit upset that Mezo was away doing his remedial courses but it was alright.

Looking at the night sky he kept a careful eye out for rising smoke… but he could see none right now.

With class B already in the woods getting ready to scare he waited for the groups to get made. Everyone had a partner this time since Sero had passed since he was with Sato.

With the four exam failures gone to take their extra classes the rest of class A paired up by lots. Looking at Ida he didn't say anything… hopefully he wouldn't be nagged.

---

"And now it begins… fall to the earth 'heroes.'" A husky voice spoke, vocals strained like that of burn victims. The low hum of the voice was as menacing as it was deep.

With his hand against the tree, he felt his quirk like fire in his veins, his arm heating up dangerously as he stared ahead. The tree ignited in a blue flame that licked between the branches as the forest was instantly ablaze. The blue light flickering making the shadows stretch and dance.

Hearing the sudden yelling, the screams of wanna-be heroes he just looked ahead. His eyes as colder than ice despite the flame that licked his skin.

---

Walking through the forest he pushed the air away from him with his quirk as he dashed towards the source of the fire. He knew that the class would deal with Mustard and that a clone of Dabi was going to be fighting Aizawa at the lodge. Midoriya would probably pick up Kota without an issue.

Dashing towards the midpoint he needed to get to Ragedoll as fast as he could. She was stolen at the start of this all as soon as Yuga sent the coordinates of the midpoint to Kurogiri. He wouldn't let her get kidnapped since All for One having the search quirk was a pain in the ass.

Dashing through the forest the blast of fire at the lodge showed what was happening over there.

As he ran at fall speed he dashed into the midpoint sliding to a stop as he saw the Nomu standing over Ragdoll who lay unconscious on the floor. Black smoke beginning to form. Focusing his quirk he transformed the earth beneath the Nomu into steel in an instant before getting it to suddenly launch up and pierce the body of the creature in multiple spots.

Charging up his legs he dashed forward as fast as he could. Putting his hand against the beast before with a pulse of his quirk he put a tracker in the creature. Grabbing Ragdoll at that same moment and pulling her from the arms that reached out of the mist. The hands were older… it must have been Kyudai.

Seeing Kurogiri's eyes narrow he knew it was best to get out of here. Charging his legs he dashed away as fast as he could.

Throwing her over his shoulder with a curse, dark mist was swirling just at the edge of the clearing. Dashing as fast as he could back towards the lodge. He didn't have time to deal with that shit for now, he had to get her to safety. At least he had gotten a tracker on the Nomu that had started to run after him but it was far slower than Nick and soon he lost it in the forest.

He still didn't have a good way to deal with Kurogiri's quirk, he needed to find and join up with Earsure… but needed Bakugo kidnapped...

As he run he heard Mandalay's message,

They were given permission to fight. That means Dabi's double was beaten and that Midoriya had gotten Kota back to safety.

That was quick, events were unfolding fast. As he made his way back to the group as fast as he could he suddenly felt the wind change around him rapidly as he leapt to the side and flipped over whatever attack was coming.

Landing on the ground he looked up just in time to see the giant yellow eye of Dark Shadow bearing down on him as Tokoyami trapped in its midst said desperately, "Please help me!" His eyes pleading as he looked over at Nick. Cursing the boy hoisted the unconscious Ragdoll on his shoulder.

He couldn't just leave this alone, it was also one of the few people that he couldn't deal with easily. Dark shadow didn't have any mass and it was strong enough to tear steel apart. Especially when dealing with Ragdoll.

Cursing he jumped back as another claw slammed into the floor where he was standing. Growing two more arms from his shoulders he got them to hold Ragdoll for him as he turned to look at Dark Shadow who once more charged at him, charging his arm up he slammed his fist into the oncoming claw. The ground caved around his feet as he felt the recoil of his strike.

As he slid backwards he saw Dark Shadow claw flying backwards as the strike clearly weakened them. Morphing the ground he formed hundreds of thick metal cables as he wrapped them around the form of Dark Shadow and dragged them down into the floor. Dashing forward he said, "Sorry about this Tokoyami." Before punching Dark Shadows' head hard enough to make the trees sway.

As Dark Shadow was hit hard Tokoyami gained control again. Cursing his luck he turned around to see attacking a wall of ice with his elongated teeth.

Everything was happening so fast.

"You all good Tokoyami?" His voice hurried as the boy stumbled to his feet.

"yes, thanks for saving me… Dark Shadow is already recovering because of the darkness that surrounds us. I will be able to help in a fight if we can get to Shoto." His voice was still edgy despite the situation.

He couldn't hear any explosions. Had Bakugo already been caught? There was no message about him being a target since Midoriya never would have encountered Muscular.

Seeing Shoto engage with Moonfish on his own he dashed forward with Ragdoll and Tokoyami who were limping slightly.

Seeing the teeth hurtle towards him suddenly he held his hand out and as soon as the teeth touched him Nick took a sample of Moonfish's quirk before deconstructing his teeth. Letting the villain drop to the floor with a wail. Dashing forward he grabbed the villain who was now nothing but a man in a straight jacket and knocked him unconscious with a touch.

"You alright Shoto?" Nick said as he vaulted over the ice lump that the kid was hiding behind. Tokoyami stumbling around it as well. "Where is Bakugo?" He asked suddenly.

"yeah, I am alright, thanks for the help. Bakugo was with me just a moment ago, I thought he ran off or something he just disappeared." Shoto said as he stood up and made some light with his fire.

Looking around he didn't feel anything with his air sense… Mr Compress must have gotten his hands on the boy already. Having grabbed him and stealthily taken him away somewhere.

Seeing Midoriya run out of the forest already saying, "w-what is happening! Where is Bakugo? I thought he was with you Shoto!?"

Seeing that they had a moment to breathe and no other goal than to get back to the lodge since no one else knew Bakugo had been kidnapped he turned to them and said. "Let's all get back to the lodge, Ragdoll needs to be checked, she got hit in the head come on."

As they started to run he knew he needed to at least put a tracker on one of them, he needed All Might to engage with All for One and with the Nomu having been killed Momo wouldn't be putting a tracker on it.

Cursing he said. "All of you hurry back to the lodge. I am going to go and find Bakugo, no if and or buts. Go. NOW!" He said as he handed over Ragdoll to Midoriya who was in his full cowling mode. Seeing them all nod they started to rush back towards the lodge. He didn't he had anything to worry about with those three being escorts. They were all plenty strong enough to at least buy him some time and Midoriya wasn't injured at all.

Not knowing the situation since things were clearly different he dashed towards the retreat spot, the midway point of the trial of courage. It was where Kurogiri had stolen Ragdoll from and where the Nomu had been dropped. It was the only place that made sense and it was an area that was a small and clear location so that Kurogiri could know its coordinates. It was also where Yuga was right now… the traitor.

He must have sent the coordinates when he got there during the test of courage. He must have been the one that started this all by sending the midpoint location.

Launching himself through the forest he broke into the clearing that was where the test ended for a second time tonight. His gaze drew over the figures that stood in it. Twice, Dabi, Toga, Mr Compress and the Nomu are the same five as Canon.

As Dabi turned and saw Nick he said. "Oh, so the problem kid appears! I was told to watch out for you, and given this encase you did show up!" His voice was eager as he held up what looked like a small lantern with a blob of flesh in it. A brain with eyes… a Nomu.

Not knowing what it was going to do he activated his quirk as fast as he could but suddenly felt nothing around him but a small layer over his skin… he had been separated from space… Eyes glaring at Dabi as the man suddenly lit a fire around him Kurogiri opened a portal he dashed towards them as fast as he could. The ground shattering, and he wanted to plant trackers.

As he blazed towards the portals he reached out ignoring the fire that washed over his skin as the face of Bakugo sunk into the portal. For a moment he was uncompressed as the mission was completed. The last thing Nick saw was the rageful eyes as Bakugo was pulled back into the portal.

Nick was fast. But the portal was already closing.

As the portal closed, Nick's fingers barely brushed against the last whisps of smoke he cursed as he slid to a stop. The clearing was empty… he was alone in it.

The damn feeling around his skin cleared as he cursed. Had Kyudai made a Nomu just to deal with his quirk? Letting out a scream the ground around him exploded as he heard a yelp of surprise. Turning he saw Yuga backing away on all fours. The clearing was washed with flickering golden light as the lightning danced between the floating bits of destroyed trees and the earth holding them in the air.

Glaring at Yuga, Nick cursed his luck. He had saved Ragdoll and in the end, what he wanted was achieved. Bakugo was kidnapped and the rest and he could still say he found their location out since he knew it from canon but he had been bested again. Despite his strength.

"Go back to the lodge… now." He said to the blonde who nodding his head frantically scrambled to his feet and dashed towards the lodge.

As soon as he knew Yuga was gone his appearance calmed in an instant as he looked towards the smoke-filled sky. Things had gone perfectly almost perfectly. Bakugo was kidnapped and the Nomu had a tracker on it. And he had tried his best to stop things from happening. Some things had happened faster than canon but all in all the events didn't even take 20 minutes for everything to be over.

---

And so they lost to the villains. It was relatively the same as canon. It wasn't long after that the firefighters and police arrived at the scene.

The results were mostly the same as canon. Some kids were unconscious and were recovering as the effects of the quirks wore off. Quite a few sustained injuries varying from bad to minor. The rest were unscathed… although Bakugo's whereabouts were unknown.

Out of the pro heroes Pixie-Bob was in critical condition due to head trauma, that was it. Ragdoll had gotten back to the lodge safely.

Two villains were captured. Moonfish and Mustard.

The forest boot camp came to an end with that. The camp was cut short as in bleak spirits they were all transported back to the city, some in ambulances and others just in the bus. There was no chatter, just the quiet mood of what had happened.

They were all taken to the same hospital and checked over individually. It didn't take long for a lot of them to be dismissed. Those that were not waking up from the gas were sent to rooms and those with grave injuries were sent to their own rooms too. Midoriya wasn't injured because Muscular was never there.

So he was dismissed shortly after but it didn't take long for him and Shoto to find Nick who was walking out of the hospital.

"Ni- Hendrix!" Midoriya called out, his eyes desperate. Nick had just gotten out of his talk with the police over his account of events. Everyone in the class could have been required to do so.

Slowing Nick looked at Midoriya, his eyes already asking the question. Looking at the green-haired boy he shook his head… and that was enough.

Midoriya started to break down, tears flowing down his face.

"I'm sorry." Was all Nick said as he looked at Midoriya, his voice was quiet.

"WHY DID YOU SEND US BACK! WHY DIDN'T YOU LET US HELP!!" Midoriya suddenly screamed, walking over to Nick he grabbed the taller boy's collar and tried to drag him down but found that he didn't move, not even an inch.

"Because there was nothing we could have done… I tried Midoriya, but they had something that stopped me from using external manipulation. They were prepared for me… I failed." Nick said, grabbing Midoriya's hand as he looked into the boy's eyes. Rage and tears brimming around the edges.

"Even if you guys were there you could have just gotten kidnapped as well or worse. Bakugo is still alive. I failed to rescue him. That is my fault. But trust me, I will fix this." He had already given the tracking information to All Might and the detective, they were going to use it in their plan.

Looking at Midoriya he didn't want the kid getting in his way.

"I'm sorry Midoriya, but I will make it right."

Turning he walked away leaving the two boys in confused silence. Looking up at the sky, he would go tonight, he had made sure that Yaoyorozu didn't have a tracker on the Nomu and was glad that event had changed. Must be because he already engaged with it and changed its path.

The others should never end up coming then. It was for the best.

---

With the strategy meeting having finished as Night fell the Heroes got ready to move on to the villain's hideout.

Inside that hideout, multiple people sat gathered around. Staring at a kid that sat before them a feral grin plastered on his face. "What say you choke and die on some of that shit?" His expression was that of anger and rage but also concern.

Hearing the response to his offer Shigaraki stood up and walked over to him. "Well if your not going to join us I guess we don't need you then." He said as he stood up and walked a few steps forward.

"Dabi… remove his bindings." Shigaraki said as he grinned wildly.

"What? The kid'll go ape-shit." Dabi responded as he motioned twice to get to work, however. He wasn't about to say no to the crazed bastard.

"We have to treat him as an equal, after all, we are scouting him. If he wants to do anything I'll just turn him into dust…" His voice was slightly mad as he watched Bakugo start to rub his wrists.

"We all here have been shackled by the Hero society… what say you join us huh? We won't shackle you just because you have a dangerous quirk. We can make you stronger than that Hendrix kid… doesn't he just piss you off?" Shigaraki said, as he mentioned Hendrix his voice gained a sing-song glee, something becoming very wrong.

Looking up Bakugo slowly stood up from his seat. His gaze looked down at his hand as he walked over to Shigaraki and held his hand out. His feral smile smirked in amusement. "Then we have a deal."

Nick had taught him one thing. Sometimes it was best to be patient. He was stronger than his quirk, he didn't need to be explosive.

Getting close he smiled as he waited for Shigaraki to reach his hand out but the other just laughed. "That wouldn't go well for you friend." His voice was curious, his gaze looking at Bakugo. But with the distance closed he lunged forward. The explosion sounded as Shigaraki was thrown backwards. Rolling a bit he went to push his hand against the floor to help himself up… but all he felt was a throbbing pain.

"I'll beat that asshole with my own god damn strength. I don't need a whining group of nobodies upset and wanting to harass Heroes to help me. I look up to the figure that All Might strikes. When he wins with his own god damn strength!" Bakugo said as the villains backed away from his smoking hands.

Looking down at the pooling blood Shigaraki felt rage overtake him. He tried to push off the floor but nothing was happening. His vision turned red… his other hand was gone… a bloody stump remained.

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Got the chapter for today done! Let me know what you think, it was a bit rushed since I haven't had much time so let me know if it need some touchup tomorrow.

Thanks for all the support! Comments and reviews are always welcome!