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Inko remembered meeting Princess Fuyumi once after she married Toshinori. The little girl had been only four years old and was completely silent from the time Inko first laid eyes on her to the time when she’d been ushered out of the room by her attendants. The most distinct thing she recalled besides the unusual coloring of her hair was how her eyes were wide to an almost impossible degree and she rarely seemed to blink.

Another servant had whispered that he thought it was creepy but Inko had recognized the look. It was terror and the need to keep what scared her in her sight at all times. She’d seen soldiers with similar expressions after they’d returned from the warfront. Her childhood friend Hisashi had worn that look when he was telling her about how he was planning on faking his own death to desert and run to another country.

“Uravity won’t notice another half-starved peasant,” he’d said, his laugh as broken as his spirit. “Just promise me no one will know the truth. Promise me, Inko.”

What could she do but agree? Just as all could she do was murmur tonelessly as she watched Fuyumi be led away, her head turned up to keep all the adults accounted for least once slip up behind her and strike.

- - -

The second time Inko saw Fuyumi was the first time she saw Prince Natsuo and Queen Rei. The princess hadn’t lost the wide eyed look in her adult years and it was one she shared now with her family. Her skin and hair seemed a far paler color than it had at age four and the red streaks had changed to pink. The same was true for the prince and queen and they averted their gaze from any bright lights.

Inko would later learn that they had been locked away in one of King Enji’s smaller castles and hadn’t seen the sun in many, many years.

Since she didn’t know this when they were first brought into the throne room, she did what any queen would do and rose to greet them. Izuku had been crowned as Yuuei’s prince just two months prior and she’d also been made public to her and Toshinori’s people.

Shouto stopped from his position in front of his family when he saw her, his brow furrowed. She wondered if he thought she looked strange wearing fine clothes before she saw him scanning the room. Izuku was already approaching them from where he’d been pacing anxiously and she could see the tension release from Shouto’s shoulders. So that was it.

“Welcome to my kingdom,” Toshinori greeted as he also rose, a smile on his gaunt face. He hadn’t been able to retain his form as All Might for very long ever since Izuku had started to gain the power of his quirk. That had been four years ago and since then they’d been plotting Yuuei’s moves carefully and exposing spies from Endeavor. “It’s been many years but you’re as welcome as you were before, Queen Rei, Princess Fuyumi, and Prince Natsuo.” He turned his eyes to Shouto who already had his hand clasped in Izuku’s and his smile seemed to grow even more. “Prince Shouto, I believe you don’t need a reminder of how welcome you are here.”

“Your welcome is most kind, All Might,” Fuyumi said and dipped her head politely. Inko thought she might have curtseyed had not her arm been looped with her mother’s. She sensed that Rei was incredibly vulnerable by how her children had placed themselves around her: Shouto in the front to fight off any aggressor and Fuyumi and Natsuo at her sides to keep her upright and moving forward.

“Shouto said we’d be safe here,” Natsuo said and leveled Toshinori with a mistrusting gaze. It didn’t seem like the word “safe” touched his tongue very often. “I know you and…our father aren’t on the best of terms. Why would you give us anything when we might decide to kill you and your family?”

“Natsuo.” Rei’s voice was barely there but it commanded the attention of her family as they all turned to look at her. Even Shouto took his hand from Izuku’s to look at his mother. “It’s very generous of All Might to grant us this trust.” Looking up at the two Yuueian royals, she bowed deeply to them, her long hair cascading in front of her face. “Thank you, All Might. Queen Inko.” Raising her head some, she looked to Izuku and a slight smile had her face softening. “Prince Izuku. All of us are in your debt.”

Silence engulfed the room as all eyes remained on Rei as she straightened up. Natsuo had relaxed his stance some though his arm remained around his mother’s shoulders as he supported her. Fuyumi didn’t look quite so pained and though she couldn’t see his face, Inko thought Shouto might not be frowning as much as he had been before.

“Now, I don’t think there’s a need to go that far,” Inko broke in and had to stop herself from jumping when all eyes moved to her at once. “You all are welcome here so you may rest at ease. You must be tired after your long journey. Izuku will show you to your rooms. If you want for anything at all, everyone in the castle will be more than happy to assist you. Izuku?”

Izuku had put his hand on Shouto’s elbow with a concerned look before starting to attention. Cheeks burning, he still grinned and gave the small group a short bow. “Right this way,” he said, his hands folded behind his back as he led the group of four out of the chamber.

Resting her hand on her chest after they all had gone, Inko took a deep breath before her attention moved to Toshinori when he came to her side. Seeing his worried look, she gave him a smile and touched his arm, watching him calm. “I was simply thinking about how they must be feeling,” she responded to his silent question. “They’ve all suffered in ways we don’t truly know. I wonder what more we might do to ease their fears.”

“I think them being here will be enough for the time being,” Toshinori said but frowned when Inko shook her head. “You disagree?”

“I know you’re mobilizing your armies along with the other three to fight back against Endeavor,” she said and looked past her husband as though she could see what all the kingdoms were doing beyond the castle walls. “I know Shouto has been rallying support among his people and has many families who will turn to his side. Izuku will help unify our lands as best he can with his relations with the other princes and princess.”

Inko took another deep breath to gather her thoughts and looked back at Toshinori. “None of this will help who we have on our hands right now. They will always be looking over their shoulders and wondering when this will all be torn away again.”

“Do you have a solution?”

“Not yet.” Inko didn’t realize it but her son shared more of her expressions than that of her husband. The one she wore now was calculating and determined. “But I will soon.”

- - -

Relationships had worn thin between Endeavor and the other kingdoms in the past four years and Inko sensed if their conspiring hadn’t prepared them, Enji would try to catch them all off guard in an invasion with his primary target being Yuuei. All Might’s head was what he was after and very likely the head of his new heir as well.

But this gave Inko an advantage that her male family members didn’t have: stealth and the ability to blend in. After she’d crossed the border between Yuuei and Uravity, she’d had her maid help dye her hair a light brown and cut it so it came to her shoulders instead of falling down her back as it had been in recent years. Her freckles were concealed with creams and her clothing switched to an Endeavan fashion.

“If I don’t return in three days time, return to the palace and tell them what I’ve done,” she instructed her maid and was relieved when there was no protest. She couldn’t afford to be talked out of what she intended to do now.

The sea was something that couldn’t be guarded from and Endeavor wasn’t able to keep every spot along the coast protected. Enji also hadn’t felt it necessary to guard too strongly against an invasion by Uravity as he guessed their poor state wouldn’t allow any attack from that front. This allowed Inko to sail her small boat undetected to an unobtrusive cove and hide it there until her return. Or almost undetected.

She kept her head down as she entered the capitol city after having meekly presented her forged papers to the men guarding the gates. After years of serving royalty, she knew how to seem as unobtrusive as possible. She hoped this would be the last time she would have to play such a role and sought to focus on that aspect than how many lives were at stake with her actions here. She just had to not think and keep moving forward.

The trouble with that became apparent as she got closer to the palace and looked up at it. Inko knew the basic layout of it from a visiting servant’s end when she had come for the last Kings Summit with Toshinori. That was seven years ago now and she was sure it was more heavily fortified than ever with Enji moving closer and closer to starting a new war.

“If you keep looking at the castle that hard, it’ll catch on fire.”

Inko nearly leaped out of her skin when she heard a voice so close to her but willed herself to turn casually. She couldn’t be suspicious here! Even if the person speaking to her was a tall man with a hood pulled low to hide his face. Alarm bells were going off in her mind but she kept her hands clasped in front of her to stop their shaking.

“Not that anyone would mind if you did,” the man continued, his words a lazy drawl as he slouched to one side. “You’re not from this kingdom, are you?”

“You seem to hinge a great deal of weight on strangers thoughts,” Inko replied, keeping her voice quiet and was glad now that they were still in a side street instead of standing out in the open. “Is there something I can do to unburden you?”

Getting a chuckle for an answer didn’t put her more at ease but she suspected her response had surprised him at least a little. Good. While she wished to be underestimated while she was in the castle, she didn’t want this man to get any ideas of how he might pull her strings.

“You don’t have to worry. We’re on the same side.” He held up his hands in a placating gesture and Inko squeezed her own hands tighter. They were burned from his wrist up into where the skin disappeared into his sleeves. “Let me guess your story: you want revenge. The king hurt someone you care about, is that it? Was your husband a soldier the king ordered to die fighting something pointless? Or did old man Enji make an example of your family and you were somehow left alive?”

“Something of that nature, yes,” Inko replied. She thought of Shouto’s scar and Fuyumi’s scared eyes. Of Izuku pressed against her stomach as he sobbed at the thought of quirkless people being burnt alive for something they had no control over. “If you are guessing all of these things, you must not be very fond of him either.”

The hood raised enough for Inko to see a grin framed by more burnt skin and a hand jut out. “Dabi. I’ll be your escort into the palace this evening, lady.” He saw her hesitation and lowered his hand but the grin remained. “You’re suspicious, right? Why would I appear saying all of these things and offer to help you get in? I want the same thing as you. Everyone will be a lot happier when that man and his council are dead.”

Inko hadn’t gotten to where she lived in her life by trusting many people but she could recognize an advantageous relationship when it approached her. Her eyes lingered on the burnt skin framing Dabi’s grin before she shook his hand firmly. “Please call me Kou.” If he was going to use an obvious alias, so would she.

She got another chuckle for that but the handshake was surprisingly warm. Did he have a fire quirk? Before she could consider that thought too far, Dabi yanked her back down the street and ignored her protesting gasp. “There’s not a lot of time and we’ve already wasted plenty of it. Try to keep up.”

Inko very nearly snapped that this was harder on her with her shorter legs and not being able to see very well in the dark but she held her tongue. Glancing behind her, she noticed that they weren’t really going too far from the castle, merely around it as they moved from side street to side street. Always they kept out of sight of any other person and had to stop several times to avoid patrols of guards. Dabi seemed to know their routes and never hesitated for too long before getting them moving again.

Their destination turned out to be a small tavern that was closed for the evening. Inko had thought they’d be going through the front but Dabi moved them into the alley where a side door stood and resisted his attempt to open it. Making an impatient noise, he muttered something about someone always destroying door handles and started to peer around in the gloom like he had dropped something.

“Do you…perhaps not have a key?” Inko asked and got a snort in reply. She was starting to realize that Dabi was young – not as young as her son – but far younger than her. Not having a key reminded her of finding Izuku and Hitoshi on their hands and knees in a hallway after they’d permanently moved into the palace as they tried to find Izuku’s missing room key. She’d teased him about taking it away from him if she was the one to find it and said that people who lost their keys might lose their right to own them.

Shaking the memory away, Inko peered through the gloom and held out a hand towards the ground. Stay focused. She heard multiple shifting noises as she waved her fingers and pulled them closer with her quirk. There were some pieces of trash that she let drop back before her fingers closed around what was clearly a key and she presented it to Dabi. She tried not to tut at the ungrateful grunt and followed him through the now unlocked door.

The door led to a staircase plunging down into further darkness and she balked at not being able to see the bottom. Her gut was filled with dread but before she could speak, blue fire appeared in Dabi’s hand and he held it up to guide their way. “Shut the door behind you. I don’t want to get killed by some rookie knight just because someone forgot to be inconspicuous.”

Closing the door felt rather final but Inko forced her legs to keep moving down the stairs after him. It went deeper than she thought a basement should go but maybe that was her fear making the moments stretch endlessly. Another door blocked their path at the bottom but this one clearly wasn’t locked as Dabi opened it easily and let his fire go out as the room on the other side was lit up.

“Dabi, you’re late! It’s not even midnight yet!”

The room seemed to be mostly storage with crates and barrels stacked against the walls. A beaten up couch, several chairs, and a plain table were crammed close to the fireplace which was the only source of light in the room. It seemed to fill the room with more shadows than anything else but at least it wasn’t completely dark.

There was only one other person in the room and he was standing by the table, having been apparently sitting in one of the chairs as it was now tipped onto the floor. Inko assumed his face was in shadows too for a moment until she realized it was covered in a mask that prevented her from seeing any of his features.

“Shut up, Twice. You’re too loud.” Dabi wandered over and dropped himself onto the couch with a loud sigh. Hooking his foot on one of the chair legs, he tugged it closer and propped both his feet up as he got comfortable. “I said I’d come back when I had something interesting to report.”

“But Shigaraki’s gone now. You chose the perfect time to come back! Also, who’s that?” Twice had been flailing his arms as he spoke before he came closer to Inko and tilted his head as he inspected her. She defensively clasped her hands in front of her again. “Is she an ally? Your mother-in-law?”

“She’s going to make things easier on us,” Dabi said as he stretched. “Make her a uniform, Twice. She’ll need one to get into the castle.”

“But–”

“Just do it. We need to get there before they change the guards.”

By the time Twice had finished and Inko had gotten changed, the sun was beginning to rise. She and Dabi hurried towards the castle but went towards a side entrance where a lone guard stood looking bored. He covered his hand in a wide yawn before perking up when he saw the two. “You can’t come in here,” he said and grinned, holding his spear out. “Go on, get out of here.”

“Shut up, Toga. You’ll wake everyone up.”

Inko had initially frozen at this before glancing at Dabi. It seemed her acquaintance knew people from all standings if he could scold one of the king’s guards.

“You’re no fun, Dabi,” Toga cooed though the grin stayed as he moved aside. “Who’s this? A new friend? You make that uniform look very cute.”

“Ask Twice about it when you go back,” Dabi said and opened the door. Turning his head towards Inko, she had the impression he was sizing her up under his hood before he was ginning too. “This is as far as I go. It’s up to you now.”

Resting her hand over her heart, Inko took a deep breath as she looked at the door framed by the two strange young people. That’s right. She couldn’t lose sight of her goal. It wasn’t just about the people she held most dear, it was for all the kingdoms too and everyone who had been forced to suffer due to Enji’s widespread terror. She pursed her lips and entered, leaving her doubts behind her.

- - -

For a castle ruled by such a powerful fire quirk user, Inko found the people inside cold and grim. It made sense as they were closest to the king and so likely had to suffer his wrath the most often. Perhaps that was why no one gave her a second look as she fell into step with the servants going to have their early breakfast. Everyone here was considered replaceable whether they left on their own two feet or by some other means. She decided not to think that far ahead and sat down wordlessly.

Most of her duties at All Might’s castle had revolved around cleaning and general housework which she fell into easily enough. It gave her more of an opportunity to make a mental map of the castle and learn about the people there, especially the king. Namely, where he ate his meals, where he spent most of his time, and who he spent that time with.

Unfortunately, most of what Enji did seemed to take place behind closed doors where servants weren’t allowed to tread. Even if he didn’t consider them to be on equal status of him, the king was wise enough to the likelihood that he’d have spies in his midst. If that was the case, how would Inko ever get the chance to carry out her plan?

The answer appeared in front of her while she was bringing more firewood into the kitchen and she had to clutch it hard enough to hurt to stop her eyes from tearing up. Sitting at one of the tables was Toshinori’s former tutor and Councilor of Education: Nezu. Large scars covered both of his eyes and they were closed as various foods were put in front of him to taste. He took his time in feeling for each dish and Inko’s throat went tighter than ever as she realized what that meant.

“They’re delicious as always,” Nezu said, his voice kind even as the food was torn away from him after a bite of each. A guard watched carefully as the tested food was put on a cart and followed a servant out as she wheeled it away to wherever the king was dinning that evening. “Ah, pardon me for the trouble, but is there anyone available to help me return to my room? I forgot my cane today.”

“I can help,” Inko said as she approached the table and set the wood down. Noticing one of the cooks look of dislike at Nezu, she did what she could not to bristle and lowered her eyes. “I’ve finished my tasks for now. We shouldn’t bother a guard for something like this.”

Nezu’s ears had perked up at the sound of her voice but he gave no other sign of recognition as he slid off his chair and smoothed his pants down. “My, how kind of you,” was his response and he stayed smiling as Inko put a hand on his shoulder and steered him out. “Thank you for troubling yourself with me.”

Inko was silent as they moved out of the kitchen and down hallways at random. When they were alone, she found a closet and pushed him inside before closing it after him and burst into tears. “Councilor Nezu, wh-why are you here?” she sobbed softly and knelt down. “Toshi- All Might grieved so terribly when he thought you had died.”

“Ah, he’s still so kind,” Nezu said and reached up to pat at Inko’s cheeks. His paws missed the first time and pat her neck before he adjusted accordingly. “I thought I would be dead too but Enji found it more amusing to have me test his food than let me die alone. I’d like to think that I having survived as long as I have causes him some slight anger.”

Inko couldn’t stop another small sob and let herself be pulled into a hug. She returned it and felt him pat her back. “You haven’t changed at all,” she said and managed a tremulous smile. “I’m so sorry, Councilor. If we’d known you were still alive…”

“You weren’t meant to know,” he said sagely and pulled back a little. “Now there are more important things at stake. Inko, I can’t say I know what you’re doing here but I can guess. You should leave this to the soldiers and everyone else.” He paused for a moment to let his words take effect before continuing with, “That is what I would say if I didn’t believe you had a chance. You must think you do or otherwise you wouldn’t be here.”

Her shoulders had slumped during Nezu’s scolding before she looked up again, trying to find his face in the dark. “Yes. I have to do it.” She thought again of the overwhelming fear and pain Enji had caused. “I know not everything will be fixed by my actions here but I must try.”

“That is all we can do for our loved ones. Now please listen closely. I have a plan for how to get you close enough to him to perform your task but completing it will be up to you.”

- - -

Inko clenched her teeth as she heard the sound of retching nearby. It would make anyone’s stomach roll but she did her best to focus on what was important to her over the noise. Izuku gleefully chasing after Hitoshi when he learned his friend was ticklish. Toshinori falling asleep in his chair by the fire as he read aloud to them. Her husband and son waiting for her to come home…

“You poor thing,” she murmured as she knelt down besides the woman on her knees. She smiled a little as she rubbed her back soothingly, her eyes towards the wall so she could avoid looking towards the ground. “Let’s get you all cleaned up and to a healer, okay?”

“B-But it’s almost dinner t-time. The King’s m-meal…”

“I can deliver it for you,” Inko promised as she helped her up. “There’s still time and I’d rather the King didn’t see you in this state either. Don’t you think so too?” She felt a bit more guilt pool in her stomach at the panic that crossed the woman’s face before she was guiding her inside towards the servants quarters. She was sure there would be someone there able to look after her and wasn’t disappointed when a similar looking woman – a sister or daughter perhaps? – rushed over. “Please make sure she rests. I’ll call a healer and finish her duties for the night.”

She didn’t feel like she deserved the amount of gratitude she was receiving and was quick to retreat. She wanted to tell them that they might not thank her in a few hours when she attempted what she’d come to do. But maybe they would. They were also living in terror here and who knew what their stories were of how they came to this place.

A healer was called and soon she was standing beside the guard and Nezu as the dishes were loaded onto a cart. It had taken very little effort to convince the guard that the usual servant was sick. He was young and seemed to be fumbling a bit through his motions as he escorted her out of the kitchen and towards wherever Enji was residing.

That place turned out to be the war room and Inko felt a cold sweat break out as she kept her eyes low. Would Enji be alone? She wouldn’t be able to carry out her plan if there were so many people around! Chancing a glance up and seeing him alone, her hands shook in relief on the cart as she wheeled it in, the guard stopping at the door and closed it. He was likely still there to keep watch but also listen to make sure the King didn’t call out for anyone though that was unlikely. The only two in there were him and a trembling servant.

In the time it took her to cross the room to the waiting table, Inko mastered herself and her body’s reactions. She was still afraid, yes, but she let the anger and hatred that had been near constant for nineteen years take over instead. Ever since she had been pregnant and had to flee from all she knew for fear of Enji’s influence. Ever since she’d had to call her darling child “Deku” and hear it spit in his face by those that didn’t even know him. Ever since she’d seen Toshinori’s weakened form and tearful gaze at having to confess his frailty. With each dish she laid on the table, she drew more strength from her rage.

Enji looked up for the first time from where he was looking over a map but didn’t seem to see her. Why would he? Servants were as livestock, each categorized only by their usefulness to him. He went to the table and started to eat as soon as he sat down. From this distance, Inko started to sweat again but it was due to the heat of his flames than any fear she had felt before.

“Wine.” The order came sharp and he pointed to his glass so forcefully he might have broken it had he made contact.

Inko pulled a bottle from the cart and easily pulled out the loosened cork. She let the wine breathe for a ten second count before pouring; knowing that any longer spent would seem suspicious. There was barely enough time for her to pull back before he was reaching in to snatch up the glass and drank deeply.

She took her time in corking the bottle and stood by the cart as she watched him eat. There was a set in his shoulders that seemed to disappear more and more as the meal went on and he began to sag forward a bit. His brow knotted in confusion and he took another gulp of wine. The glass nearly shattered as it was slammed back onto the table but Inko didn’t flinch. She just counted in her head again as she raised the wine bottle and sent it crashing into the back of Enji’s head.

Breathing hard, Inko watched as he slumped forward into his food and she was quick to drop the bottle and dry her hands on a towel, not wanting them to stain. He was shaking from where he’d fallen and she could hear a low groan of pain coming forth as she stepped towards him again. “Be still now,” she said softly and watched his flames start to lower. “You’ve made so many suffer. I don’t think there’s anyone more than you that deserves an ending as terrible as you’ve given others. Perhaps someone else would have given you that torture. But I cannot be that person.”

Her eyes were full of tears at the magnitude of what she’d done came crashing over her but still she waited. Enji’s head was turned towards her and though his eyes were drooping, she could see his eyes blazing in her direction. “You…”

“You know what crimes these are for,” she continued. Her lips were trembling and were making it difficult to speak but she forced herself to go on. “You know what you’ve done to your people. To your family. The scars you’ve left will never go back to the way they were. But we will move forward now. We will be stronger now without you. Your wife, daughter, and sons. My husband. My son.”

Her eyes were blazing now too and Inko saw the recognition on Enji’s face as he looked at her. He knew who she was. There was no way of knowing what his thoughts were as his eyes began to roll back in his head but they didn’t matter. Her hand moved to his neck and she closed her eyes and counted one more time. One-two, one-two…one-two…one.

- - -

“Hey, was this really the best thing to do?” Toga asked as she looked down at the majority of the palace. Her cheek was cushioned in her hand as she leaned out of the window, watching servants and guards alike run in a panic. “She sort of ended up getting our kill, didn’t she? Shigaraki won’t be happy, right?”

“Who cares,” Dabi said with a shrug as he leaned against the windowsill. “Just knowing that old man is dead is good enough for me. That’s the only reason I joined you freaks in the first place.”

“Everything you say is so heartfelt! I’m touched!” Twice chimed in and peered around the two. “They look like they’re having fun down there, don’t they?”

“Yeah.” Dabi’s eyes rolled over the scene before he caught a glimpse of two figures disappearing down a side street and grinned. “I think we can still take credit for this if we hurry. Come on.”

Toga grinned as she straightened up and followed after cheerfully. “Hey, hey, do you think his blood is any good still? It might be useful to have it as a backup!”

“Do what you want,” he said, his hands catching alight as they started to descend from the tower. “I just want to make sure he’s dead, once and for all.”

- - -

It would be too simple to think that one such action would change everything. It wouldn’t erase the years of agony everyone had endured to get to this moment or the supporters of King Enji from stopping their wrath as they tried to descend upon the other countries in droves. There would still be a war as Endeavor had many generals who weren’t yet loyal to Shouto or any of his siblings.

But there was healing. There was healing in the way Izuku looked at Shouto like he was the most beautiful person in the world and kissed his scarred eyelid. There was healing in Rei standing out in the sunny garden, her arms stretched wide as though she wanted to hold on and never let go. There was healing in Toshinori’s still booming laughter as he went on slow walks with Fuyumi and Natsuo as they adjusted to their new freedom.

Carding her fingers into Izuku’s hair, Inko thought that this too was healing as her now grown son slept on her knee while Toshinori discussed new education reforms with the reinstated Nezu. Her hand stayed steady and her smile was soft as she let the world continue to move them forward. There were comforts in knowing that he hadn’t outgrown his mother’s touch.