Perhaps the most fascinating thing about My Hero is how realistic some things, like injuries and the like. So, I'm gonna try to do the same here with how neck injuries are evaluated…don't expect a genius writer though. This actually hurt my brain and I may have made an error! I am no medical professional!

Chapter 07: To Be a Hero

After his meal, Ozpin returned to his tower at the Emerald Bridge. He returns to his paperwork: schoolwork, hero work, bills. A few minutes into it and Ozpin realized that he couldn't concentrate. His thoughts constantly returned to the topic of unfairness of the world in all kinds, going from the Quirkless to Mutant-types.

Knowing well that he won't be getting any work done for the time being, he leans back on his swivel chair and looks up at the large, glowing green orb lights up on the ceiling. The lights reflected off his small glasses as he stared listlessly.

He can't help but imagine what kind of hero Young Midoriya could have been. Perhaps, with the right equipment, he could be a fine hero. Summer would have probably been thrilled to meet a Quirkless hero…and would probably kicked everyone's collective butts for what happened.

Ozpin has been a hero for as long as Toshinori and is happy to call Japan home since he attended UA. Having to have grown up in the Home of Heroes – USA – he was indeed inspired to become one himself. Crime rates wasn't as bad in America, so he ventured out to Japan, where heroes are needed more than ever. His parents were worried, of course, but they respected his wishes. He barely had trouble being in a different country, it almost came naturally to him. And being friends with Toshinori came just as easily.

Almost as if –

Ozpin closed his eyes as he remembered a conversation he had with Toshinori while they were at UA.

~ Flashback ~

"A Symbol of Peace?" a young Ozpin questioned, peering at his friend through big, round glasses. He was seating on a rooftop with his friend as they watched the sun set. His hair was black and longer then, put together in a low ponytail. His hero costume at the time

"I know it sounds crazy, but you've seen what the world is like," Toshinori said, young and strong with a twinkle in his pure, bright eyes and his wild blonde hair rustled from the breeze. "They need a symbol, a pillar to rely on!"

"Sounds like quite the heavy burden. And you believe you're up for it?"

"If I don't, then who would?" Toshinori's tone made it seem that it was the only option. That there was no other person to do the job. And maybe there wasn't. Maybe there wasn't someone as bold as Toshinori.

Ozpin closed his eyes and smiled. He faces the sun, the dying light reflecting his glasses. "You know," Toshinori looks at him curiously. "You don't have to do it alone." Ozpin opens his eyes to look at his friend. "I can watch your back!"

"You'd do that?"

"Of course. Heroes should help each other, right? Besides, what are friends for?"

"Thank you, Oz."

~ Current ~

That was then.

Back when they were young and eager. Ready to take on any obstacle. Back when…everything made sense.

Ozpin had no idea that he had dozed off, but he was quickly awakened by a resounding alarm.

"An alarm? From where?" he asked himself. Holo screens appear on the light balls.

"It's coming from…Chewabaku Hardware?" That's where Ruby headed to. He presses a button on his desk. "South Magia!"

A woman's voice spoke through. "I'm on my way!" Ozpin looks back at the screens. There are four in total for the four CCTV cameras installed. He scanned his eyes on them, taking in what he was seeing. Then, he noticed what he was not seeing.

"Where's Ruby?"

"This kid…" Toshinori muttered as he watched Izuku try to save his friend from the sludge villain. "He has no Quirk of his own, and yet…" His grip on a near pole tighten as steam emanate from his thin body. "Even though he has no chance, even though he has no power, even though he is afraid…he still…" His muscles grew beneath his skin. "I am pathetic…useless…worthless! I have to move…I need to act…!" He was so supposed to be out of time. He shouldn't be in his muscle form. Was it his will? His newfound resolve? One for All? It didn't matter to All Might. All that mattered was saving people! That means saving Izuku and Bakugo!

"I am a hero for God's sake!"

With Roman gone with the girl, the criminals became frantic.

"What should we do?"

"I don't know!"

"Let's get out of here! A hero will be here any second!"

"Not before we kill these guys." It was the lizard man.

"W-What? Why?"

"That Quirkless bastard up and left us out to fucking dry! I'm fucking pissed and I wanna shoot something up!" The lizard man spots the mother and daughter. "Starting with you two!" The mother moves to shield her child.

"No, wait! Don't!" one of the criminals exclaimed.

Before the lizard man pulled the trigger, a violet-colored force knocks him back, way back, to the other end of store and into the fridge section, creating a large dent from the door. Everyone turns to see a blonde woman with glasses, a black/purple cape, and holding a riding crop.

"It's South Magia!" a patron exclaimed.

"The Good Witch Hero!" another added. The rest of the hostages were relieved, but the criminals become more frantic.

"Shit!"

"Let's get out of here!"

The criminals moved to escape, but the pro hero had used her Quirk to bind them with rope.

"I'd advise you all to stay put until the authorities arrived," she said. She turns to the civilians. "Is everyone okay?"

[Glynda Goodwitch! Hero Name: South Magia! Her Quirk: Telekinesis! You don't want to be on the receiving end of her riding crop. With only the power of her mind, this lovely lady can immobilize her foes with a single glance. Mind over matter, baby!]

The shopkeeper walks up to her. "The Wicker Gentleman has got away with a young lady! Please, save her! She saved us!"

Lying forgotten among broken glass was the Silver Line keychain.

A couple buildings over, Roman drags Ruby on a roof top, talking on the phone.

"The robbery was a bust. Get over here before a hero gets me!" he demanded to whoever was on the other side. "…No, I didn't get the things I needed…Then you try to wrangle up a bunch of nobodies…" He glares down at Ruby. "…or deal with overzealous brats with a martyr complex." Ruby glares back at him. Roman huffs angrily. "…Fine. What about the girl?" Roman looks at Ruby intensely, almost curious. "Yes, she does…I'll be waiting." He hangs up. "Well, Red, it looks like you'll be joining in on the fun, after all."

Ruby's voice was still hoarse from her injury. "Whatever you have in mind, I want no part in it!" She struggles to get out of his grasp.

"Easy there, girly," Roman said, keeping a firm hold on her. "You'll only make things harder for yourself."

"NO!" Ruby had no idea what possessed her to do this, but she bites down on Roman's arm. With a shout, he wrenches her away, practically tossing her off.

"Little brat," Roman growled.

Ruby gets up to her knees. "Why…Why are you doing this? Is it because your Quirkless? Even if that's the case, becoming a criminal isn't the right answer! All it does is putting enmity on those who don't deserve it!"

Roman glared but didn't answer. Then, a large helicopter appeared from the sky and hovered over the roof where they stood. "About time." Roman takes out his cigar. "Well, Little Red, it's been fun and as much—" He hops in the aircraft's open side door. "–as I would love to stick around!" He aims the bottom of his cane at her. "This…" A lead lifts, revealing an opening at the bottom of the cane. "…is where we part ways." He opens fire at Ruby.

Ruby raises her arms to shield herself, which is more of a futile attempt. She's spent in stamina, which means no Petal Bursting out of this and she can't move. Hopefully, the hostages have been rescued. She closed her eyes, accepting her fate.

When nothing seems to have happened, Ruby opens her eyes and instead of seeing a familiar white cape greeting her in the afterlife, she sees the tails of a black tailcoat. In front with his back towards her is a tall man – though not as tall as Toshinori – with silvery gray hair holding a cane in one hand with his other outstretched forward, a green hexagonal patterned barrier stood in the way of the bullet. Ruby knew who it was immediately.

Ozpin the Great Wizard, U.A.'s vice principal and longtime companion of All Might.

With a push of his small glasses, Ozpin conjures up several small barrier orbs and – with a swipe of his cane – at the aircraft, all aiming towards Roman. The Wicker Gentleman was able to evade them as he knows that if he gets hit by just one, then he's trapped.

"Oh, for…" He moves to the cockpit, where the pilot – a woman in a fiery red dress – operated the control stick. "We've got a pro!" The two quick switch places with Roman now steering while the woman went to confront Ozpin. The mystery woman stood at the open space and the sleeves of her dress started to glow. With a caress of her hand along the sleeve, she unleashed molted blobs at Ozpin and Ruby. The hero in green used his orbs again to capture the blobs inside. Then, the blobs started to glow bright and detonated, thankfully of safe distance between hero and villain.

Unfortunately, it gave the villains ample time to escape, leaving Ozpin and Ruby on that rooftop.

It was taking a lot of All Might's willpower to not only stay upright and stave off the blurred edges of his vision from growing, but also keeping himself in his muscle form for the civilians and other heroes. He was barely reacted to the other heroes helping the police with gathering the remains of the sludge villain into the armored van nor to the cheers of civilians nor Bakugo being praised and Izuku being scolded. Every noise that reached his ears were muffled by his busied mind.

He feels exhausted. Tired. He wanted to just pass out right there.

But he can't. He's the Symbol of Peace. He has to be a pillar of hope. He can't afford to show weakness.

His vision threatened to sway again and he was about to fall back when he felt a hand on his back. Or, at least, a phantom of a hand. Sort of like a muscle memory, in a way. There had been a few people who would have physical contact with him and among them was someone he cared deeply for, almost on the same level as Nana Shimura.

He could almost hear her voice. A calm, caring voice with a hint of her English accent.

"You've done your best, Toshi. You have been Atlas for so long, putting the needs of others over yourself. It's okay to take time to yourself and rest."

That very much sounds exactly what Summer would have said if she was truly here. She had always cared for All Might's well being and was glad to take on the mantle of his 'shadow' during the night so he could rest.

Was she looking down on him right now? Was she proud of him? Was she upset with him?

Then, he felt a push on his back. He turned around to see no one except for reporters coming up to him for a few questions. He sees the young man, the one Izuku risked his life to save, sauntering off. So, where's...

"Go."

All Might needs to find him.

The sun was close to setting as Izuku trudged his way home, after a thorough scolding from Death Arms and Kamui Woods for such a reckless stunt.

Today was…very eventful. Like a roller-coaster. It started out great, as he finally found someone who believed him. Then upsetting because of Bakugo and his callous remark. Then back to great since he was meeting with Ruby again, only to get his heart ripped in two when she tried to convince him not to become a hero – he still doesn't fault her for it. It's possible that she was talked into it and was only concerned for his wellbeing. Then it gets worse when he gets caught by the sludge villain and…he doesn't want to think about that again.

Then, like a dream come true, he meets All Might. All Might. The Number 1 Hero. The world's Symbol of Peace. The one person he wanted to ask if he could be a hero without a Quirk…and was told no. Yeah, sure, more disappointment, but…Izuku kind of knew, but in his heart and mind, he hoped that All Might could change that. It didn't seem that fate was on his side, unfortunately. Not only that, but he was also an inconvenience to everyone, including All Might. Maybe he should just apply for the general course.

Little did he know that his life was about to change.

For better or worse.

Thankfully, no one was physically hurt by the robbery at Chewabaku. The only one injured was in fact Ruby. Thanks to her plan, heroes – along with the police that aren't busy at the Sludge Villain site and paramedics – arrived at the scene.

Ruby sat at on a gurney near one of two ambulances as she was being checked by a paramedic, Sky Arc, one of Jaune's sisters. A woman in her mid-twenties in a light blue shirt and round glasses.

"Where does it hurt more?" Sky asked as she gently probed Ruby's neck.

"Right here," Ruby said, indicating around the jugular area.

"Any stiffness in the neck or pain around shoulders or arms?"

"No."

Sky then positioned herself to perform the Spurling test, foraminal compression test, is used to evaluate cervical nerve root injury, with Sky actively compressing the right and left foramina. "Any decreased sensations in arms or legs or muscle weakness?"

"Um…" Ruby moves her arms and legs. "Not a lot?" The paramedic gives her a look. "Not a lot."

"I don't see the need to ask about paralysis since you're moving. Now lay down, sweetie, this may take a while." Sky lays Ruby down on the gurney with her head and neck secured by a brace. Ruby felt afraid that she might need to go to the hospital. "And don't move your head around too much. You might feel a prickling sensation." The paramedic's hands glow a bright blue and hover them over her neck.

"You have a healing Quirk," Ruby observed.

"Yeah, a rare mutation. What about you? I've always wondered."

Ruby wanted to shake her head out of reflex but can't because of the brace. "No, it's a combination of my parents. My sister has a rare mutation though…I think." There was a long silence. "…So, healing Quirk and you became a paramedic?"

Sky shrugged. "I couldn't think about anything else I wanted to be."

'I want to be a hero, just like All Might, because there is nothing else in this world I'd rather be.'

"Not even a hero?" Ruby asked.

"Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, Rose. It's all about the conviction."

"Conviction," Ruby muttered, staring up at the golden sky. No long after, Sky finishes healing.

"There we go. All better?" Sky asked as she helps Ruby up.

Ruby turns her head back and forth and side to side. "…Yeah, a lot better actually!"

"Good. I'd still take it easy though," Sky advised. "I may had healed whatever damage that was inflicted, but it could easily be reverse if you're not careful."

"Okay." Glynda walks up to them, her heels click on the pavement.

"May we speak with her now?" she asked Sky politely. Sky looks at Ruby.

"Are you up for it?"

"Yeah," Ruby nodded.

"Okay. Call for me if you feel anything out of the ordinary," Sky said before leaving to check the others.

Ruby turned to Glynda. "You're…South Magia, aren't you? The Good Witch Hero."

"Indeed, I am."

Ruby knew a few things about the witch themed hero. For one, she is a member of the Wizard's Court, working with Ozpin. Another was that she is U.A.'s third year heroics teacher. Ruby had heard from her sister and her sister's friends about Glynda's strict disposition and here, under the woman's stern chartreuse eyes, Ruby felt that she was in deep trouble.

"Am I in trouble?" That was when Ozpin walks up.

"No, not exactly," he said with an enigmatic smile.

Ruby's eyes shined with recognition. Now she wasn't in danger, she could properly meet the hero. "You're Ozpin. The Great Wizard!"

"Heard of me?"

"Well, yeah." Ruby slides off the gurney. "Your agency is at the Emerald Bridge and you're the vice principal of UA!"

Ozpin smiled at her enthusiasm. It reminded him of her mother. "Hello."

"Nice to meet you," Ruby greeted back. Then she remembered something very important. "Is everyone okay? Is everyone safe? Shopkeep? The other customers?"

Ozpin bit back a chuckle. And yet another thing that reminded him of Summer, putting the needs of others over themselves. "Yes, Rose, everyone is safe."

Ruby blinked. "You know who I am?"

"Of course. Your sister goes to UA, after all. I also knew your mother."

"…My mom?"

"She used to work at Wizard's Court for a while. Similarly, to what a dusty old crow is doing now."

"A crow…? Like Qrow Branwen? He's my uncle. You know him too?"

"As well as Taiyang Xiao Long. We all go way back. You must be proud, knowing so many heroes."

Ruby smiled proudly. "I am. That's why I was planning to go to UA's hero course."

"Was?" Ozpin questioned, feinting ignorance to what have transpired at Archam's Treat.

"I…I don't think I have what it takes to be a hero," Ruby said sadly.

"Really? And why is that?"

Why indeed. Ruby wondered that too. But, with everything that happened today, it made Ruby realize that she isn't cutout for heroism. "I guess I didn't have the drive. A real conviction, you know?"

Ozpin's small smile turned into a grin. "Is that so." He motions Glynda over. She hands him a tablet. Ozpin shows Ruby the clips of her setting off the alarm. "What do you call this then?" Ruby was then shown several clips of her trying to enact her plan. "You could've easily escaped the store to track down a hero. Instead, you stayed behind. May I ask why?"

"Because it's the right thing to do," was Ruby's simple answer. "Who knew how long it would take to find a hero? And what would've happened to the hostages if I did escape? I couldn't have let it happen. I know that I don't look that tough or my Quirk isn't all that great, but I wanted to help somehow."

"Is that right?" Ozpin said. He then showed her more clips, but they weren't from the inside the store, they were outside and of the some of the costumers, including the shopkeeper and the feline store clerk.

The first clip was a middle-aged man, Ruby realized was the one criticizing the heroes.

/I've this kid every now again at the store. I'd never would've thought she'd be the one to save me today./

The second one was of the feline clerk.

/I thought she was just a small child. Color me surprised!/

The next was the old shopkeeper.

/In all my years at retail, I've been through a few robberies. I've been saved by many heroes. Little Ms. Rose is definitely up there on that list./

The last one was of the mother and daughter, the woman holding her child in her arms.

/It was so frightening…If it wasn't for that girl… I'd hesitate to think what would've happened if South Magia didn't make it in time./

/Can you tell her I said thank you?/

Ruby stared in awe of what she was seeing.

Ozpin turned off the tablet with a small chuckle. He takes something from his jacket pocket and looks at it fondly. "An old friend once told me 'A true hero isn't measure by strength alone, it is the heart behind it. The drive to do the right thing.' And I am being honest when I say," He shows Ruby what it was. It was her Silver Line keychain. It had minor damage to it, small dents and cracks from her kick and the impact to set off alarm. "You do have what it takes." He places it in her hands.

Ruby silently stared at it for while. She could make out the smile inside the hood. Almost as if her mother smiling proudly at her. "I…I don't understand."

A soft breeze blew through, rustling Ozpin's already tousled hair. "…Ruby Rose…"

Toshinori stood tall in front of the prostrate, crying form of Izuku Midoriya. "Young man…"

"You too can become a hero."

As the sun sat in the horizon, Izuku and Ruby's dreams of becoming heroes have been given a new life, thanks to the words of two men who have rarely seen such pure convictions in their long careers.

You can become a hero.

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, from humble beginnings or darken backstories, natural talent or hard-working. Whatever the beginning or end result, it is the rest of the story that foretell the journey to herodom.

This is a story of how Izuku Midoriya became the world's greatest hero, with Ruby Rose as his underground partner.

Just like All Might and Silver Line.

Just like Toshinori Yagi and Summer Rose.

Night had finally fallen when Roman returned to his motel room. As soon as he was inside, he lets out an aggravated sigh. Neo, who had been waiting for him, looked at him curiously. She then gave various hand gestures. Sign language, in fact.

'A bust?' she signed. It was intended to be a joke. This wasn't the first time Roman would return to their hideout agitated. Usual it was because of some idiot Roman hired.

"Yeah, it was a bust." Neo looked surprised. This was the first heist he had ever failed.

'What happened?' she asked.

"Some brat hero wannabe." Roman sighs again, though for listless. "There goes our money. Maybe I should have taken that shopkeep's money."

"Perhaps we can accommodate you." A black mist appears in the small motel room. Not knowing what to expect, Neo and Roman ready themselves, parasol and cane at the ready respectively. The mist then grew smaller as it took on more solid shape. "Please, don't be alarmed." The mist revealed a crisp clean suit. The body inside said suit was still covered by the black mist and yellow eyes glowed brightly. "I come in peace."

Roman still had his cane aimed at the intruder. "And who are you?"

"Who I am is of unimportance. I am merely here as a messenger for my employer."

Employer? "And who would that be?"

"I unfortunately am unable to reveal their name during this conversation. What I can say is that my employer has struck a deal with yours." This got more of Roman's attention. Someone had struck a deal with Cinder? Add that to the growing list of things he has left out about.

"Then why are you here?"

"I wish for us to get off on the right foot," Kurogiri answered. "Our employers desire for our partnership to be a positive one."

"Sure, fine, whatever. Got nothing else better to do. Though, do at least tell me your name. I don't wanna give you a stupid nickname like Black Mist or something."

"It's Kurogiri."

Roman blinked. "Oh." Neo silently snickered. "Well, all right then. Nice to meet you and all that shebang."

"Likewise."

Fun fact: Glynda the Good Witch was the Good Witch of the South in the original book. I wonder why that was changed.