Chapter Text
The Skychasers circled over the anticipated area for the Breach Event to take place. The morning air was crisp at this altitude, carrying the scent of pine and mountain snow from the Skyreach Peaks below. Berdoni’s powerful wings beat steadily, the Stonesnout’s emerald scales catching the early sunlight and throwing back flashes of jade and forest green. Izuku could feel the dragon’s anticipation through their bond- a thrumming excitement mixed with protective concern.
“Do you see anyone yet?” Titania called to Izuku from atop her Ironwing; Vervyth trilled, the peregrine-patterned dragon gliding in beside Berdoni, the green Stonesnout rumbling to the she-dragon while his Dragoneer answered.
“Not yet,” Izuku answered, glancing over at Atlas, who was speaking into a communication crystal. “Atlas said we’d be getting a send-off, but I don’t know who would want to come to something like this- we’re just-.”
“We’re just making Asterinovan history by attempting to go through a Leyline Breach to start a new life in a new world with our family,” Adrian said in fluent Japanese, swooping in on Belfyre with a smirk. The black-blue Nightsnagger’s glowing orange spines cut through the morning air like beacons as the dragon banked gracefully. “Buddy, they wouldn’t DARE miss out on something like this.”
It took three months to get the seven Skychasers to become passably fluent in his homeland’s language. Izuku also had to drill home mannerisms, culture, and hero laws in Japan. He didn’t even have time to tell them about the rest of his world. Each Skychaser carried three storage bags fit to burst with their needed supplies, even with the bags being enhanced dimensional storage units powered by Mana Stones Adrian had modified.
Three months of goodbyes, preparation, and gathering eggs and dragons that would be a good fit for their plans and Izuku’s world and putting them in Eco-Gems- a magic device Azure developed to keep feral or injured dragons separate from the clade when they needed to be delt with carefully. Now, flying on their dragons- Izuku on Berdoni, Titania on Vervyth, Atlas on Pevimir, the grey, red, and black Bloodchaser, Viltair on Jourlok, the green, black, and gold Bloodchaser, Scarlett on Shadow, Azure on Frosthowl, and Adrian on Belfyre- they approached the coordinates where the Leyline Event would manifest.
“Remember,” Atlas called out, his voice carrying over the wind, “once the Breach opens, we maintain formation. Dragons must stay in physical contact with each other- wing to wing, tail to flank, whatever works. And we all keep one hand on our dragons at all times. Break contact, and we risk arriving scattered across different locations in the other world. Or worse.”
“Or not arriving at all,” Viltair added grimly, Jourlok’s green, black, and gold scales shimmering as the Bloodchaser’s coloring caught the light. “The Breach doesn’t care about our intentions. Only our connection to each other.”
“There!” Viltair’s voice cut through the wind, the tactical specialist pointing toward the eastern horizon. “Movement at bearing zero-nine-zero.”
Izuku squinted against the sun, his hand instinctively moving to shade his eyes. At first, he saw nothing but the endless expanse of sky and the distant purple-grey mountains. Then, slowly, shapes began to resolve themselves from the morning haze. Dragons. Dozens of them. No- hundreds.
“By the First Flame,” Scarlett breathed, her usually composed voice tinged with awe. Shadow, her dark blue Ironwing, released a low, resonant call that echoed across the sky.
They came from every direction, converging on the designated coordinates like a living constellation. Izuku recognized the distinctive silhouettes: the broad wings of Stonesnouts, the sleek profiles of Ironwings, the massive bulk of Mountainbacks, the serpentine grace of Skycoils. There were dragons of every color imaginable- crimson and gold, silver and sapphire, obsidian and pearl. Their Dragoneers sat astride them in full ceremonial armor, banners streaming from lances and saddles all bearing the Skychaser Emblem.
“I told you,” Atlas said, a rare smile crossing his face bright as he guided Pevimir closer. The grey, red, and black Bloodchaser’s amber eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “Every Dragoneer team, every guild squadron, every independent rider in five kingdoms wanted to see you off. You’re a legend, Izuku. The Riftfallen Dragoneer, the outsider who became one of Asterinova’s finest.”
Izuku felt his throat tighten. He’d never thought of himself that way. Even after seven years in this world, even after earning his place among the Skychasers, he still sometimes felt like the powerless kid from Musutafu who’d been told he could never be a hero.
“Formation approaching from the north!” Azure called out, her analytical mind already cataloging the arrivals. Frosthowl, her male Bonechiller Stonesnout, released a crystalline trill of greeting. “That’s the Stormwing Squadron. And behind them- the Sunfire Guard!”
“South-southwest, the Twilight Riders,” Viltair added, his tactical training evident in his precise observations.
The dragons formed a massive aerial corridor, creating a pathway through the sky that stretched toward the coordinates where the Leyline Breach would appear- word had traveled fast in the three months they had decided to leave. Cutting ties with the guilds they had helped and the teams they had cooperated with got the news sent all over the five nations of Asterinova, and this was the result- all of their friends, their memories, coming to say farewell. Izuku could see Dragoneers saluting as the Skychasers passed, fists over hearts in the traditional gesture of respect. Some called out in Asterinovan, their voices carrying across the wind:
“Safe skies, Skychasers!”
“May the winds favor your journey!”
“Bring honor to Asterinova in the new world!”
Titania guided Vervyth closer to Berdoni, her expression soft in the way it only was when they were alone- or when she was especially proud of him. His wife, the fierce warrior who’d initially been skeptical of his abilities, had become his greatest champion. “You did this,” she said quietly. “You inspired this. They’re not just here to see us off- they’re here because you showed them that anyone can bond with dragons. That strength comes from the heart, not from inborn power.”
“Titania’s right,” Adrian chimed in, Belfyre’s blue-black scales gleaming in the sunlight, the Nightsnagger’s glowing orange spines pulsing with soft light. The tech-specialist Dragoneer had been instrumental in preparing for this journey, modifying storage units and researching the Leyline Breach mechanics. “You changed Asterinova, Izuku.”
Izuku wanted to protest, to deflect the praise as he always did, but the words caught in his throat. Because looking at the hundreds of dragons and their riders assembled to honor their departure, he realized they were right. He had changed things. Not through power or quirks or inherited strength, but through determination, compassion, and an unwavering belief that he could be a hero- even in a world that wasn’t his own.
“Coordinates reached,” Atlas announced, checking the communication crystal again. “The Breach should manifest in approximately ten minutes. Everyone, final equipment check.”
The Skychasers moved into a tight formation, their dragons instinctively positioning themselves in their practiced pattern. Izuku ran through his mental checklist: storage bags secured, Berdoni’s saddle straps double-checked, communication crystal tucked safely in his jacket pocket, the carefully wrapped package containing his old hero analysis notebooks protected in a waterproof case.
“Izuku,” Scarlett said, guiding Shadow alongside Berdoni. Her violet eyes were serious behind her flight goggles. “Are you certain about this? Once we go through the Breach, there’s no guarantee we can return. You’ll be bringing us into your world- a world you left behind.”
It was a question they’d discussed many times over the past three months, but Izuku understood why she was asking again now, at the final moment. This wasn’t just about him anymore. He was bringing seven Dragoneers and their dragons into a world that had no knowledge of Asterinova, no understanding of dragon bonds, no framework for integrating an entirely new form of heroism into their society.
“I’m certain,” Izuku said firmly. “Japan- my world- needs what you can offer. The hero system is broken in ways I didn’t fully understand until I came here. It’s too focused on quirks, on flashy powers, on individual glory. But you’ve shown me what true heroism looks like: teamwork, bonds that transcend power, protecting others not for fame but because it’s right.”
“Plus,” Adrian added with a grin, “your world has this thing called ‘internet’ that Izuku’s been telling me about, and I am DYING to see what kind of tech they have. Imagine what I could do with Asterinovan magic combined with Earth technology!”
“Adrian, we talked about this,” Atlas said sternly, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice. “We’re not going to Izuku’s world to cause chaos with magical technology.”
“I’m not going to CAUSE chaos,” Adrian protested. “I’m going to carefully, responsibly, and totally safely experiment with-.”
“Five minutes to Breach manifestation,” Viltair interrupted, his eyes on the specialized detection crystal mounted on Jourlok’s saddle. “Energy readings are spiking. Everyone, prepare for dimensional turbulence.”
The air around them began to shimmer, reality itself seeming to ripple like the surface of a disturbed pond. Izuku felt Berdoni tense beneath him, the dragon’s muscles coiling with nervous energy. He leaned forward, pressing his hand against the Stonesnout’s neck in reassurance.
“It’s okay, buddy,” he murmured. “We’re going home. Well, one of my homes. You’re going to love it- there are mountains perfect for Stonesnouts, and forests, and the ocean. I’ll take you to see Mount Fuji. And there are people there who need us, who need heroes who understand that power isn’t everything.”
Berdoni rumbled, a deep sound that Izuku felt more than heard. Through their bond, he sensed the dragon’s trust, absolute and unwavering. Whatever world they were going to, they would face it together.
The assembled Dragoneers from the various teams and groups of the guild began to chant, their voices rising in the ancient farewell song of Asterinova. It was a haunting melody, speaking of journeys into unknown skies, of bonds that transcend distance, of the eternal hope that those who fly far will one day return.
Then the sky tore open.
Not one breach- hundreds.
Reality fractured like shattered glass, swirling vortexes of impossible colors erupting across the heavens in every direction. The Breach Event had begun, and it was far more chaotic than any of the ancient texts had described. Each portal was a doorway to somewhere else- different times, different worlds, different dimensions entirely. Through one, Izuku glimpsed a world of endless ocean beneath twin suns. Through another, a landscape of crystalline spires that sang in frequencies that made his teeth ache. A third showed nothing but darkness and distant, cold stars.
“By the First Flame!” Atlas’s voice cut through the sudden chaos. “Viltair, we need that signature NOW!”
The assembled Dragoneers scattered, their formations breaking as dragons instinctively pulled away from the unstable portals. The air itself had become dangerous- riptides of dimensional energy pulling and pushing, trying to drag anything nearby into random breaches.
“I’m searching!” Viltair called back, Jourlok banking hard to avoid a breach that suddenly opened directly in their path. The Green, black, and gold Bloodchaser's chest scales flared with inner fire as Viltair pressed both hands against the detection crystal mounted on his saddle. “There are too many- the signatures are overlapping-.”
“Skychasers, tight formation!” Atlas commanded. “Stay together! Avoid the breaches!”
A portal opened directly ahead, showing a world of ash and fire. Berdoni dove, Izuku’s stomach lurching as they dropped fifty feet in seconds. Vervyth followed, Titania’s face set in grim concentration. The other Skychasers scattered and regrouped, their dragons’ instincts and years of training keeping them from colliding as they navigated the deadly obstacle course the sky had become.
“Left! LEFT!” Adrian shouted as Belfyre barrel-rolled away from a breach that appeared without warning. Through it, Izuku saw what looked like a world made entirely of geometric shapes, reality itself reduced to mathematical concepts. The Nightsnagger’s glowing orange spines blazed brighter as Adrian pulled up hard.
Azure and Frosthowl nearly flew into a breach showing nothing but white void- empty, endless, terrifying in its absolute nothingness. The Bonechiller Stonesnout’s frost breath misted in panic as Azure yanked on the reins, pulling them away at the last second.
“This is insane!” Scarlett called out, Shadow’s black-blue wings pumping hard as they climbed above a cluster of three breaches that had opened in a triangle formation. “How are we supposed to find the right one in this?”
“Viltair!” Atlas’s voice carried the weight of command and urgency both. Pevimir’s grey, red, and black scales seemed to absorb the chaotic light from the breaches as the Bloodchaser’s powerful wings carried them through a gap between two portals. “Status!”
“I’m trying to isolate Izuku’s Mana signature from the interference!” Viltair’s hands moved over the detection crystal, his face tight with concentration even as Jourlok dodged and weaved through the breach field. “Every portal has its own dimensional frequency- they’re drowning out the specific signature we need- wait!”
A breach opened directly below them, showing a world where the sky was ground and the ground was sky, everything inverted and wrong. The Skychasers scattered, dragons shrieking warnings to each other as they pulled up and away.
“There’s too many!” Titania shouted, Vervyth’s wings straining as they climbed. “We can’t keep dodging forever- eventually one of us is going to-.”
“Got it!” Viltair’s voice rang out triumphant. “Bearing two-seven-zero, elevation angle thirty degrees up! The breach with the purple-black distortion- that’s the one! It matches Izuku’s Mana signature perfectly!”
Izuku’s head snapped around, searching. There- through the chaos of swirling portals, he saw it. A breach that looked different from the others, its edges tinged with a familiar darkness that made his heart clench. It looked wrong somehow, darker than the others, but Viltair’s detection crystal didn’t lie.
“Atlas!” Izuku called out. “I see it!”
“Skychasers, on me!” Atlas commanded, Pevimir already banking toward the identified breach. “Formation delta-three! We’re going through hot!”
The dragons moved as one, years of training overriding the chaos around them. They wove through the breach field like needles through fabric, dodging portals that showed glimpses of worlds both wondrous and terrifying. A world of living metal. A world where time flowed backward. A world that was nothing but screaming wind and lightning.
Berdoni’s powerful wings beat steadily, carrying Izuku through the gauntlet. A breach opened to their right- through it, the man saw what looked like Musutafu, but the buildings were made of organic material, growing like trees. Not his world. They flew on.
Another breach, this one showing a Japan where the ocean had reclaimed the land, buildings rising from water like the remnants of a drowned civilization. Still not right.
Thirty seconds to target breach!” Viltair called out, Jourlok’s green, black, and gold scales gleaming as they led the way through the chaos. “Stay tight!”
A massive breach opened directly in their path, easily three times the size of the others. Through it, Izuku saw a world of pure energy, beings of light moving through impossible geometries. Titania didn’t hesitate- Vervyth dove under it, the Ironwing’s wings folding tight as they shot through the gap beneath. The other Skychasers followed, their dragons moving with perfect synchronization.
“Almost there!” Atlas’s voice was steady despite the chaos. “Prepare for breach entry! Remember- physical contact at all times!”
The dragons shifted mid-flight, moving closer together even as they continued to navigate the breach field. Vervyth’s wing brushed against Berdoni’s flank. Jourlok’s tail wrapped around Frosthowl’s leg. Shadow’s wing overlapped with Belfyre’s. Pevimir pressed close to the formation, ensuring no dragon flew alone.
The target breach loomed ahead, its purple-black distortion growing larger. Izuku’s heart pounded.
Seven years.
He’d been gone for seven years.
What would he find on the other side? Would anyone even remember him?
“Skychasers, sound off!” Atlas called, his voice steady despite the chaos around them- if this didn't work, if they didn't make it, then he wanted to hear the names of those he spent adventuring, flying, and being a family with in his ears before he met Shinnylo again.
“Titania and Vervyth, ready!” The Ironwing shrieked her battle cry.
“Viltair and Jourlok, ready!” The Bloodchaser’s scales flared with inner heat.
“Scarlett and Shadow, ready!” The dark blue Ironwing’s darkness seemed to deepen.
“Azure and Frosthowl, ready!” The male Bonechiller Stonesnout’s breath misted in the warm air.
“Adrian and Belfyre, ready!” The Nightsnagger’s glowing orange spines blazed like beacons.
“Atlas and Pevimir, ready!” The grey, red, and black Bloodchaser’s eyes gleamed with determination.
All eyes turned to Izuku. He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment. Seven years ago, he’d been pulled through a different kind of breach, arriving in Asterinova confused, broken, and hopeless, convinced he could never be a hero. Now, he was returning to his world not as the Quirkless failure Bakugo had mocked, but as a Dragoneer, bonded to one of the most powerful dragon species in Asterinova, part of a squadron of elite warriors into the unknown.
“Izuku and Berdoni,” he called out, his voice strong and clear. “Ready!”
Izuku looked back one final time at the assembled Dragoneers from the guild that had become his second family, at the world that had given him a second chance, at the sky that had taught him to fly. They were still there, maintaining their formation despite the chaos of the breach field, their fists raised in salute.
Titania glanced back as well, her eyes scanning the crowd of Dragoneers one final time. There, among the assembled riders and dragons, she spotted her father. He stood tall in his formal robes, his hand raised in a crisp salute, tears streaming freely down his weathered face. Their eyes met across the distance, and she saw in his expression everything he couldn’t say- pride, love, fear, and hope all mingled together. She nodded once, a silent promise that she would try to return, then turned back to face the Breach.
“Remember,” Titania called out, her voice cutting through the wind. “Physical contact at all times! Dragons must be touching- wings, tails, anything! My Shield Spell won’t protect us otherwise!”
“On my mark,” Atlas commanded, his voice cutting through the wind and chaos both. “Three... two... one... GO!”
The dragons shifted, moving closer together. Vervyth’s wing brushed against Berdoni’s flank. Jourlok’s tail wrapped around Frosthowl’s leg. Shadow’s wing overlapped with Belfyre’s. Pevimir pressed close to the formation, ensuring no dragon flew alone. It was awkward, uncomfortable, but necessary.
“On my mark,” Atlas commanded. “Three... two... one... GO!”
As one, the Skychasers dove toward the Breach. The assembled dragons roared in unison, a sound that shook the heavens, a farewell and a blessing combined.
The world stretched and compressed simultaneously as they entered the Breach. Colors inverted, sounds became visible, time felt like a physical substance they were swimming through. Izuku clung to Berdoni, feeling Vervyth’s wing pressed against them, maintaining that crucial contact. The dragons’ instincts kept them together even as reality twisted around them.
And then something went wrong.
The Breach shuddered. The colors shifted from the expected silver-blue to purple-black. Izuku felt a pulling sensation, as if something on the other side was drawing them in, something that wasn’t supposed to be there. The dimensional passage that should have been smooth became turbulent, chaotic.
“Hold formation!” Atlas shouted, but his voice sounded distorted, stretched across impossible distances.
With a sensation like breaking through ice, they burst through-
-not into open sky, but into an enclosed space.
Izuku had a split second to register his surroundings: a massive domed facility, artificial lighting, various zones visible in the distance that looked like disaster simulation areas. The USJ. He recognized it from hero news articles he’d read years ago, before his disappearance. The Unforeseen Simulation Joint, a training facility for hero students.
But they hadn’t emerged from above. They’d come through a swirling portal of purple-black mist that hung in the air at the center of the facility’s plaza- a portal that was now rapidly shrinking, looking distinctly unstable.
Seven dragons and their riders materialized in a cascade of displaced air and residual dimensional energy. Berdoni’s massive form hit the ground first, the Stonesnout’s instincts keeping him steady despite the disorienting arrival. The other dragons followed, wings still touching, maintaining contact even as they landed in a defensive cluster.
“What-.” a voice rasped, filled with confusion and rage. “What is this? Kurogiri, what did you do?”
Izuku’s head snapped toward the voice. Standing perhaps twenty meters away was a figure that made his blood run cold despite having no idea who it was. A young man- barely older than Izuku himself- with pale blue hair that hung in shaggy strands around his face. But it was the hands that drew the eye: disembodied hands attached to his body, covering his face, his neck, his arms. One hand covered most of his face like a grotesque mask, leaving only one red eye visible. The man was scratching at his neck with frantic intensity, his visible eye wide with fury and confusion.
“I- I don’t understand,” another voice said, this one emanating from a mass of purple-black mist that was coalescing into a more defined form. A figure made entirely of darkness and fog, with glowing yellow eyes, wearing what appeared to be a metal neck brace and formal vest. “My warp gate was meant to scatter the students. I didn’t summon anything. This interference- it’s as if something hijacked my quirk, used it as an exit point-.”
“Dragons,” someone in the crowd of people- no, villains, Izuku realized with growing clarity- whispered. “Those are actual dragons.”
Izuku’s tactical training kicked in, his mind processing the situation with the speed Asterinova had taught him. They were in the USJ. These were villains- dozens of them, scattered around the plaza and visible in the various disaster zones. The man with the hands was clearly the leader based on his position and the way the others deferred to him. The mist villain- Kurogiri, the leader had called him- had some kind of teleportation quirk that their dimensional breach had interfered with.
This wasn’t a homecoming. This was an active villain attack.
“Defensive formation,” Atlas commanded in Asterinovan, his voice calm despite the situation. “Dragoneers, assess threats. Do not engage unless attacked.”
Izuku frowned, hunching down on Berdoni’s saddle. “Atlas, these are villains- they need to be taen out before they can move.”
Atlas looked back at his team mate, understanding in his eyes- this was Izuku’s world now, and he had the expertise here despite being absent for so long.
The Skychasers moved with practiced precision, their dragons forming a protective circle, wings spread and brased on the ground for leverage, eyes tracking every villain in sight. Izuku could see the tactical assessment happening in real-time: Viltair counting enemies and marking exit points, Scarlett identifying the most dangerous-looking villains, Azure analyzing the facility’s layout, Adrian checking his equipment, and Titania and himself readying their Aerokineses and Terrekinesis magic.
“Izuku,” Titania said quietly, Vervyth’s body tense beside Berdoni. “Where are we? This isn’t what you described.”
“The USJ,” Izuku said, his voice tight. “It’s a hero training facility for U.A. University. These people- they’re villains. We’ve arrived in the middle of an attack.”
“Villains?” The man with the hands- the leader- laughed, a sound like breaking glass. “VILLAINS? You crash through Kurogiri’s gate riding MONSTERS and you’re calling US villains?” His scratching intensified, nails digging into his neck hard enough to leave red marks. “This wasn’t supposed to happen. This isn’t part of the plan. We were supposed to kill All Might, not deal with- with WHATEVER THIS IS!”
“Tomura Shigaraki,” the mist villain- Kurogiri- said carefully, his voice attempting to be calming. “We should retreat. This is an unknown variable. We don’t know what these creatures are capable of-.”
“NO!” Tomura- Shigaraki, Izuku filed the name away- screamed, scratching more frantically. “No, no, no! We came here to kill the Symbol of Peace! We came here to show the world that heroes can die! We don’t run from some fantasy NPCs and their cosplaying riders!” His visible red eye fixed on Izuku with manic intensity. “Who are you? What are you? Answer me!”
Izuku met that crazed gaze steadily, his hand resting on Berdoni’s neck. Seven years ago, he would have frozen, would have stammered, would have been paralyzed by fear. But he wasn’t that person anymore.
“We’re heroes in our own rights,” Izuku said simply, his voice carrying across the plaza. “And you’ve made a very big mistake.”
Tomura’s scratching stopped. For a moment, there was absolute silence in the USJ. Then Tomura began to laugh again, that broken-glass sound that set Izuku’s teeth on edge.
“Heroes,” he repeated, his voice dripping with mockery. “More heroes. This world is infested with heroes. Fine. FINE!” His hands spread wide, and Izuku could see now that he was missing fingers on some of them- no, wait, those were the disembodied hands, not his real hands. “If you want to die with the students and teachers, that’s your choice. Villains!” His voice rose to a shout. “KILL THEM! KILL THE DRAGONS! KILL THE RIDERS AND THE HERO BRATS! SHOW THEM WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY INTERFERE!”
The villains began to move, some hesitant, others eager, all of them converging on the Skychasers’ position and ignoring the group of twenty hero students watching with fearful confusion at the steps of the USJ.
“Well,” Viltair said dryly, Jourlok’s green, black, and gold scales beginning to glow with building heat as the Dragoneer pulled his weapon, a longbow with silver inlays and glowing runic carved from amber that Adrian made. “This is not how I expected our arrival to go.”
“Skychasers,” Atlas commanded, his voice hard as steel. “Prepare to engage. You know the rules: Protect each other, protect your dragons, and find out if there are innocents in this facility.”
Berdoni roared, the sound echoing through the USJ like thunder, and the other dragons joined in. It was a sound of challenge, of defiance, of warriors ready to face whatever came.
Tomura Shigaraki stood at the center of his villain army, scratching at his neck with renewed intensity, his red eye fixed on the dragons with an expression of manic fury and something else- something that might have been fear.
“What,” he rasped, “are you?”
The Skychasers had come to Earth.
And nothing would ever be the same.
“Your worst nightmare,” Scarlett cackled, flipping her twin daggers in her fingers gleefully, flame spiraling from the edges.
Four of the six riders dismounted, charging into battle while their dragons took wing. Izuku, and Titania, along with their dragons, took to the air, flying in opposite directions to look for civilians or hero trainees in danger.
The fight for the USJ had begun.