Chapter 14: My Hero Academia-Cinder Fall Distortion
Hello and I'm back, ready to show the cast what it means to be a hero... yeah, no, just kidding. Instead we will see the audience seeing the villains being played on the screen. This should be one of interest. I have also just received permission to use another story.
RWBY: A Grimm Fate by crusader76.
A story about a Grimm turned human and how he'll adjust.
(Beta-reader: Nacoma23)
Mayden addressed his audience with an excited tone, "Alright everybody, who here likes superheroes?" To his surprise, only five people actually raised their hands. Those hands belonged to Ruby, Jaune, Oscar, Nora, and oddly, Neo. Why Neo had raised her hand escaped everybody present.
When Mayden about her interest in heroes, Neo simply raised a sign that said, "I have an appreciation for tragic heroes…"
She then flipped the sign and silently laughed, "Heroes who die tragically, that is!"
"Oooh⁓ Does that mean we're going to be seeing some super hero action!" Ruby exuberantly asked, wanting to see some heroics being sent upon.
"Oh, yeah, mama wants to see some broken legs!" Nora cheerfully cheered, which scared nearly everyone unaccustomed to her eccentricities. Cardin looked at her strangely, wondering why the Orangette was excited by heroes breaking legs.
He turned to Ren, whom calmly explained. "She likes heroes because they always have an excuse to break bones."
What he did not inform the former bully was that it was also one of the reasons Nora chose to become a Huntress. He remembered when she told him of her decision, and he asked her why she would want to become a huntress. She answered thusly, "Have you tried breaking people's legs without a title like that? They'd sent me to the joint faster than I can plead insanity!"
Ren had long since made it his duty to be the supervisor for the uncontrollable force-of-nature that is Nora Valkyrie.
"Heroes, huh, I guess it can't be too bad." Qrow admitted, though he wasn't that enthused about the subject. Having grown up in a tribe of bandits, Qrow didn't exactly have the same exposure to superheroes as his fellow adults. By the time he had heard of the concept of "superheroes", he had been too old to care for them. Not to mention he had become far too jaded to believe in such nonsense. Superheroes were more Ruby and Tai's thing than his. Though, he certainly didn't mind seeing some heroic action on the screen.
"Exactly what kind of hero are we watching?" Jaune asked, wondering what Mayden will show him. There were many types of heroes, and he wanted to know which one will be presented on screen. Will they see a White Knight or a dashing adventurer? There was also the chance of an Anti-hero, either classical or the kind he had saw in the so-called dark age of comics. There was even the possibility of heroes who won their battles by sheer luck. The choices and options were limitless.
"Aww, man, do we need to go through that bullshit?" Mercury whined, not pleased in having to watch a hero in action. The goody-goody types were often the most insufferable.
"Likewise," Whitley said, agreeing with the uncouth mercenary. He felt that he was a little too old to be watching grown men in tights chasing bank robbers around, whereas the police can do it just as effectively. There was also the fact that heroes don't exist in life, as far as he was concerned. He had plenty of evidence to the fact.
"I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but peg leg's right," Roman said, he too in agreement with Mercury. "No way in hell am I gonna watch some person in brightly-colored tights beat up people like me!"
"Thank yo- Hey!" Mercury shouted, offended by Roman's crack about his legs.
Mayden stared at his audience in befuddlement, having expected a more enthused response to his question. It seemed that opinions on the idea of heroes were more than a bit mixed.
The Keeper then explained his question. "Sheesh, all I asked was who liked heroes. I never said we were watching one."
"Awww," Ruby, Jaune, and Nora bemoaned. They had really wanted to see what superheroes from across the multiverse looked like.
"Sorry, but I only asked the question just to gauge your reactions." Not much to. It made sense though, as only children could truly appreciate heroes. It was honestly rare to see such enthusiasm in adults, since they became far too accustomed to the real world, becoming jaded and cynical toward the idea of superheroes. It was honestly kind of sad.
"So if we're not watching heroes, then what was the question for? Does it actually relate to what we are watching?" Emerald asked curious.
"Wow that was actually a legitimately good question, Emerald. Here's a reward." The sound of snapping fingers is heard and from out of thin air, a beautiful emerald appeared and landed upon the thief's lap. Appraising the gem, Emerald found that this one was a fresh cut with no signs of flaws at all.
"Oh! It's wonderful!" Emerald exclaimed, appreciating the gem's shining luster. She held it tightly to her chest as some in the audience looked on in envy. Roman was wondering if he could somehow steal it. It wasn't often one found such a fine gem like that every day. The Keeper ignored the current display of human greed and went on to explain the world that they would be seeing.
"As Emerald said, we won't be watching super heroes, but rather something that is associated to them." Some in the audience began guessing as to what else could be connected to superheroes. Others found out much faster, realizing just what could be connected to them. Weiss was the first to figure it out.
"We're going to be watching villains, aren't we?" It made sense. Villains after all did connect to heroes as their own personal antithesis. The Keeper was more than happy to say yes. Everybody now informed that was the next showing they would see.
"A villain, and why would you show us such a thing?" Ironwood asked, displeased by the very notion. A shame that the Keeper didn't particularly care for what he and some others thought on the subject.
"Hey, I already told you this. Not every world I'll show will be something everyone will enjoy." All viewings will have something others may like or others dislike. It was impossible to have a showing where everyone will have full satisfaction. The most the Keeper, and his kin, could hope for is that maybe everyone would unanimously like one world at the least.
"Come on guys, it can't be that bad... Right?" Yang asked, more to herself than the others. She wasn't sure if she wanted to see a world about villains.
"Just out of curiosity," Adam asked surprisingly, not being known to talk much in these showings. However even he had such a question. "Will these "villains" be us over here," He then jabbed a thumb at the so-called heroes, "or a case of switched roles, or just all of us in general."
Everyone stared at Adam as he continued. "I've already noted these worlds were more or less just I and everyone else in different situations and roles. So it would make sense that there were some universes where the roles we take are vastly different from the ones we're accustomed to. I base this on the fact that they we've seen worlds where time travel, gamer powers, magical-
'Uhm, magical... Huh, can't seem to remember that one. Wonder, I wonder why that is.' The recovering edgelord thought. For some reason, his mind went to Blake as being involved.
"Whatever the case, each world thus far had shown us in a different role, having lived different lives and, presumably, possessing different preferences. So it is not out of the realm of possibility that perhaps the so-called "good guys" would become villains in some other world." As he finished his explanation, everyone present just stared at the bull Faunus in complete shock. Silence reigned for a few good seconds.
Mayden broke the silence by asking, "Okay, who killed Adam and replaced him with a far more sensible imposter?"
Adam glared at the spectral host.
"I'm just joking. That was actually quite perspective, Adam." The Keeper commended, actually proud that Adam had finally presented a rational argument like a normal person. He was glad someone was paying attention, and it was Adam of all people. The Keeper also gave double points for the young man not raving about Faunus superiority and the usual tripe. Perhaps there was hope for him after all.
"However, while close, this viewing won't be the good guys turning bad. You'll find out in a second."
The answer was satisfying enough.
"I wonder who we'll see then," Cardin mused, looking over at the villains. He wondered who might show up and who wouldn't. After all, those guys were all thief, killers, and terrorists, or a combination of all three. So since they were going to see villains, it made one wonder which villain from their world they would see. The screen came to life, where they then heard a voice belonging to a man.
"Stop it, Cinder!" The man shouted. However instead of showing a person, all it showed was a glitchy hand that covered the scene. The hand was also attempting to grab 'something'.
Cinder's brow rose ever so slightly. So this was a universe dedicated solely to her? Color her intrigued. Many in the audience also began paying a bit more attention. Thinking they may get some information on her from this world.
The image then changed showing none other than Cinder Fall. However it seemed she was injured and a bit hurt. She had messy black hair that somewhat whipped in all directions, looking as though combing it was impossible. She had a scarred face with a cut and chapped slip. The woman also had disturbingly dry wrinkles her face, with nearly dead-looking eyes projecting her feelings about the world. They showed that she held absolutely no love for the world.
She wore multiple hands on her neck and arms, while also wearing a trench coat. The woman then spoke slowly in a raspy voice. "I... can't remember much... from before I met you and Salem."
'So this might show a bit of my past... or something close to it.' Cinder frowned, unsure if she liked that. She had noticed the damage on her counterpart and the almost apathetic look in her eyes. On this alternative version of her, Cinder couldn't help but wonder. 'What happened to this version of me?'
"Ugh, it's as if she fell from an ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down." Mercury quietly said quietly thinking his boss let herself go. Unfortunately for him, Emerald heard and threw her recently acquired emerald right at his eye.
"Damn!" Mercury shouted in pain.
Emerald chuckled with Cinder giving her an approving smile. Though she wouldn't show it, she felt slightly insecure at Mercury's comment.
The girls of RWBY shuddered as the sight, not used to watching Cinder look like that. But none of the girls said anything. Feeling such a thing would be rude. One should never say such a thing to a woman. Especially if said woman can conjure a fireball and incinerate your face with it.
"Ah, I know a lot about that." The image then showed a tall shadowy figure in the dark commenting on Cinder's words. It was none other than Dr. Watts sitting down on his chair wearing a lab coat.
"What is he doing here?!" Winter angrily whispered to Ironwood, whom also had a small look of anger on him. The two knew who this man was, but they didn't want anybody else to know. Unbeknownst to them, Cinder and her subordinates already knew who this man was and were also curious as why he was there.
"No idea, Winter, let's just continue watching." Winter nodded at her commanding officer and resumed. The two were unaware that Glynda was watching them. She was curious to find out what they knew.
Back on screen, Cinder just looked up at the wired ceiling. Saying nothing and doing nothing at all for a few seconds. She then began rummaging through her trench coat pockets until she pulled out another dismembered hand. Then spoke.
"And yet…" She said continuing from her first line. "When I wear "Everyone", my anger flows out."
The image then shows a flashback of a younger Cinder wearing a hood holding the same hand tightly. A look of anger flashed across the girls face, as the older Cinder continued speaking. "Ever since that day, I've been thinking day in, day out."
Another flashback then came again. This one showed a scene of two people, this time in some empty, dirty alleyway. Near the wall, sprawled out with their hands spread and head down was a little girl wearing a dirty red dress. Then from out of the shadows, the lone child heard a feminine voice.
"Nobody...came to save you, did they?"
Many people in the audience flinched. Ozpin especially felt uncomfortable. Practically everybody recognized that voice. Salem.
"Is this how she met Salem?" Blake wondered, realizing nobody actually knew much about Cinder's past at all. Her amber eyes looked at Cinder, who ignored her.
"Man… Cinder is looking worse for wear, huh Neo?" Roman asked his diminutive protégé, whom nodded in agreement.
Whitley himself felt a bit bad for the girl. He wondered if this was point in which this Cinder person became who she was. Emerald and Mercury were also curious, the former leaning in.
"Um, Cinder, Is this... you know…" Cinder said nothing at all, her eyes glued onto the screen. "Um... okay."
It would appear the Fall Maiden had no plans on revealing her past. However, the cast gathered here would at least be able to see this version of Cinders past.
From the alley a woman came showing only her back. She wore a formal black dress and had long blonde hair tied into a ponytail. She approached the nearly dead girl, all while speaking.
"It must have been so painful, Cinder Fall." By this point the young girl then lifted her head. Her hair covered her left eye with the right showing what may have been hope. "It must have been so scary."
"It must have been so painful." The person got closer and closer. The eyes of the young girl widened, she wasn't expecting this at all. She believed, after all this time, that she would live and die in this alley alone.
"That's why you ran searching for a helping hand." The woman said kneeling a bit with her hand outstretched. "It must have been so horrible."
"Surely a hunter will…" That had been one of the many things said by the many apathetic citizens who ignored the little girl's strife.
"Just leave it to the hunters to… Everyone used excuses like that to ignore you, didn't they?" Now the woman had knelt completely, not minding the inedible grub on the pavement and instead hugged the young girl. The girl froze in shock, awed that someone was actually showing her compassion. "Who in the world could do something like this to you?"
"It's fine now. You have me now." She said as the young girl known as Cinder Fall said nothing. Letting only her tears fall free just glad she had finally been noticed.
Cinder looked away. She felt a well of shame rising up, as she didn't wish for anybody to see this side of her. She wouldn't say it out loud, but a small part of her felt happy watching this.
'I wonder… if this is how Salem recruited her followers.' As much as Ozpin hated to say this, but Huntsmen and people like him couldn't save everyone. In fact, some people were left behind to slowly rot away as the system failed them. Maybe this is how Salem got her trusted comrades. Because she was with them at their lowest, giving them the helping hand that he and others could not provide.
Ruby felt uneasy about the situation. Up till now, she believed heroes would always save the day and give a helping hand. Yet realistically speaking, that was impossible. After all, the Fall of Beacon happened, as did the deaths of Penny, Pyrrha, and so many others. It is clear a hero can't always save everybody. Which means sometimes those with nothing will seek aid from other sources.
Those sources being people like Salem.
Even Neo felt bad for this version of Cinder. It reminded of her life on the streets after the fall. She unconsciously clutched to Roman's arm, as a part of her feared returning to that life. Emerald felt the same as she despised her former life as a street rat. So it made her happy to see this Cinder being taken care of. Although she did wonder about Cinder, her Cinder, and what her past was like.
It then showed Cinder speaking again as the flashback ended.
"What I remember most clearly is Salem's embrace. Until then I was an empty shell." On the side showed Tock herself looking in slight shock, for she was not expecting this big emotional reveal of her colleague's past. Saying Cinder's name, she wondered what else she would say.
"Huh... didn't expect me there." Tock said.
"Trust me," The Keeper told her and everyone else. "You and cinder aren't the only ones here, other than the good doctor."
Another flashback came. This time, the screen showed Cinder and her rescuer inside a small and compact room. The woman apologized a bit. Her face for some reason was hidden away in the shadows.
"Sorry if it's a bit cramped in here, but from today, this will be your room." She told the young girl as she walked around a bit gazing at the room. Little Cinder had taken to wearing gloves on her small hands. "I'll be your "Sensei" from here on out. Salem if we are alone."
"Salem…?" Cinder began slowly. Clearly still damaged from whatever happened to her. "Just what exactly... will you teach me…?"
As an answer, Salem called out, "Doctor!"
"Yes, milady," The voice of Watts sounded out with the door opening. From another room, Watts entered with a small cart. However, what was most disturbing was what was on it. For at the top was a multitude of disembodied hands.
"These," Salem began telling the girl, "Are your family member's remains."
Cinder then looked at the hands. Her Eyes slowly widened upon seeing them.
"You had inherited a unique power, hidden from mankind that only I and a few others know, a power that you used to kill your family... with those hands of yours."
Many in the audience flinched at those words. She killed her family! That would explain why this Cinder was so broken. Killing people at such a young age would surely damage a person's mind.
Ruby shuddered with Yang holding her close. The sisters were frightened by such a prospect. Winter did the same for her siblings, albeit with only Whitley resisting. Both elder sisters were glad that they and their cherished siblings wouldn't suffer such a fate.
Adam just narrowed his eyes. He thought it made sense, the killing that is. While not often, a person can develop their semblance at a young age, but can sometimes lose control, causing no small amount of devastation and tragedy. This Cinder likely suffered such a traumatic experience.
"Hold on... inherited?" Qrow began to consider that perhaps Cinder had inherited the Fall Maiden's power, at least in this universe. This version of Salem had located Cinder because of that power. It made sense to a degree, for unless the previous holder of the power was thinking of someone young, the power would be transferred to just about anybody. However, he couldn't understand how exactly such a power killed this Cinder's family. The Fall Maiden's power wasn't capable of such a thing.
Cinder was also wondering the same thing. She wondered if the Maiden's power in this world was different compared to the one found in her universe.
Back on screen, Cinder then felt a massive jolt through her head. She yelled as she grasped her head in horror. Within a brief moment, flashes of her lost past began to course through her mind. None of the memories she 'saw' were pleasant at all. Instead, they were more reminiscent of a nightmare.
The first memory showed the young girl looking down at a small dog. Cider pulled her face when the next image showed the dog gone, along with part of the wooden floor, having turned to 'dust'. A person ran up as Cinder felt a bile liquid enter her mouth.
"Do you remember?" Salem calmly asked. Cinder was unable to truly remember at all. She only saw brief flashes of her past. She saw a hand slowly disintegrating. Another showed a young girl calling out to her. The last was of a man just glaring at her. All this and a few other pieces of her former past she could see.
All of this caused the young girl to drop to her knees, throwing up the putrid liquid as small tears fell from her eyes. It was a sensation Cinder didn't like.
"What the hell." Qrow said as he gazed at this version of Cinder having a psychotic break.
"That looks bad." Oscar quietly said, thinking this Cinder had clearly suffered a harsh ordeal. It made him wonder if their Cinder had suffered something like this.
As for the woman in question, she actually felt bad for this version of her. Granted had it been anybody else, the most she would've felt would have been pity. She then felt a comforting hand on her hand. The hand belonged to none other than Emerald. Cinder made no move to remove it.
What remained in her mind were fragments of visions from the past... as well as an unexplainable wave of anger. An immense wave of internal rage and spite that was stronger than her urge to vomit.
The girl slowly went to the cart, gazing at the hands as Salem and Watts talked.
"Shall I fix her?" Watts asked only to be rebutted with a simple "No."
Salem then gazed at the broken child and gave her thoughts on the matter. "Even if your memories never return, your "feelings" will remain embedded in your heart. I can't take away your feelings, your anger. But I can teach you...Where to direct those feelings."
Those were the last words Salem said to the small child, who held tightly to the remains of her family. The path she now found herself on began at that moment.
As he watched the screen, an altogether alien thought came to Mercury. He honestly can't believe he was thinking it, but he actually felt both bad for and envious of that version of Cinder. He felt bad because even he can admit that what she had gone through was horrible. But he was also quite envious of both this version and his own Cinder, for they actually had someone who cared for them, who protected and guided them... the complete opposite of his father.
Adam said nothing, but he himself felt a bit off about this. Before he would have scoffed saying Cinder deserved such a thing, despite of the fact that this was another version. Now, however, after all of the things he has seen thus far, he began to feel some strange new sensation inside of him. He wasn't sure what he was feeling. He can't even begin to explain it. But deep down he now could see, that it wasn't just Faunus that suffered.
"And I thought I had it bad…" Ren silently said, recalling his own past. Of how his family had been ripped apart in front of him by the Nuckelavee, destroying his home and condemning he and Nora to a childhood fending for themselves. Yet he was certain that he would feel worse had it been him who had killed his parents. Nora just squeezed his hand tightly, somehow knowing of the mental torment her love was going through.
The scene finally returned to the present, back with Cinder, who had just continued on continuing her story. She now stood in a massive lab filled with wires, monitors, and equipment that led all the way to Watts.
"It's strange... when I wear "everyone", I feel sick to my stomach and want to throw up, but my heart becomes calm. How strange is that?" She wondered as she revealed why she donned the hands. From behind her, all of her allies listened in as well. Everyone who had been available was there, Mercury, Neo, Tock, Emerald, and even Roman. Each of them listened intently to the story told by their leader.
"All that's left of me are a few fragments of those visions of the past. But even so, there's still this gaping hole in my heart. My anger keeps pouring out of it," Cinder then looked down a bit as she continued on her speech. "And I feel a constant weight on my shoulders."
"Even if we were to destroy this Hunter's society…" A vision of Ozpin standing tall flashed across the screen.
"Even if we became rulers of the underworld…" A vision of an unknown masked person flashed across screen. "This hole in my heart won't disappear."
At this point, many on the "good side" didn't know what to say or how to feel. They can see now how some villains were clearly not born evil. They had this idea that Cinder and people like her were monsters who had no families and simply live just to cause harm. But sometimes, those "monsters" they often deride were people too, people who had been broken by circumstances beyond their control.
"But what I really despise is everything..." Cinder said as a new scene showed the entire city. "Everything that breathes pisses me off."
"In that case, why don't I just destroy it all?" Cinder calmly said.
Multiple pictures came from all over. A newly born child, Qrow and Winter, people laughing, a field of flowers, Ruby and her friends, Ozpin and Glynda, and so much more. Dr. Watts just watched in silence as Cinder revealing her true goals.
"You'll be able to see the most beautiful horizon. So lend me your strength doctor. I'll show you everything from Heaven to Hell."
Cinder's eyes narrowed at what her counterpart said. In the cinema where nobody saw, she smirked.
Tock just gazed at Cinder in a bit of shock. Then recalled the words Cinder was trying to say before. And as for the good doctor.
"Sounds like something out of a child's pipe dream!" He laughed, amused by Cinders words. "I'm impressed you could say all that with a straight face!"
But then the doctor did a complete 180 and faced the team with a manic smile. "Alright, I'm in! I'll lend you my strength, Cinder Fall! Let's see what you can do! After all, villains are those who bring pipe dreams to life!"
Roman couldn't help but agree with the doctor, even Emerald, oddly enough. Even Ironwood and Winter felt something stir within their beings. The Fallen Maiden herself wished she had this version of Watts in her world.
"What... It was that easy?" Roman asked, shocked by the doctor's quick agreement.
"Cinder had some pretty disturbing things on her mind, huh." Emerald said, but then pouted as she realized something. "Hey, does that mean the things I like will get destroyed too?"
"The wishes of my comrades are separate. Do as you like." Cinder told the young girl, who leapt in joy.
Emerald cried, "Alright!"
As for the doctor, he just stood up a bit from his seat.
"Hahaha⁓ You're more than I expected, Fall." Cinder just glared at the man.
"Bastard... you were messing with me…"
"I wanted to see how much you've grown with my own two eyes." Watts told Cinder, giving her his reasoning. "I had planned to cooperate from the start." Watts then gazed at the many tubes that held what appeared to be artificial humans. "These little guys here are part of that."
The doctor then looked at Cinder who lit up at the doctors next words. "And what's more... I've been preparing some "research" for you."
"Oh, this can't be good." Said Jaune, who could already tell something bad was going to happen.
"He's a mad doctor that works for Salem. I doubt anything he does canbe any good." Glynda opined, to which Ironwood and Winter agreed. While they couldn't say anything, they can agree with the others. Dr. Watts was far from a pleasant person.
Before any of Cinder's allies could say anything though, the doctor stopped them.
"However, I won't hand it over just yet! You guys are weak! That's a fact! I'll have you guys attain at least the bare minimum." From the shadows, a few small footsteps were heard. Then a figure was seen. "Unlike me, that thing isn't so naive as to accept you so easily from the bottom of its heart."
"Hazel." Watts said as an image of a gigantic Hazel made of pure muscle roared. "Make him submit to you. Only then will I give you everything. If you want it, grab it with your own two hands."
"That's Hazel!?" Roman said with his jaw hanging.
"This version of him is definitely….big" Qrow already seen Hazel before, and he thought he was a pretty strong guy. But this version made their Hazel look like an ant. The behemoth on screen looked like he had muscles for days.
"Well, now that's what I call a man." Tock said, a bit interested by the mountain of a man. She especially liked the jaws. Cinder felt certain that Salem's fighting power could go up substantially if their Hazel was like this one.
"Ah, I see." Cinder said ignoring Rocks and Neo's gaze. "That was a hell of a long tutorial."
"I ain't helping." Mercury said, lifting his arms. "You can go do as you like, leader."
"He's just salty that his semblance doesn't work." Emerald mocked with a smile.
"Shut up, crazy girl." Mercury replied before resuming. "I'm on the verge of finding some good members, so I'd like to spend more time on that."
"Mercury," Emerald cried in outrage, annoyed her by partner. Mercury didn't care in the slightest. The grey-eyed assassin just shrugged, fully agreeing with his counterpart.
"Criminals really are trash." Whitley muttered to himself.
"I don't give a shit about the leader's innermost thoughts. I move on my own accord, got it?" Mercury told Cinder who didn't seem to mind such words. Instead she just stared back.
"I look forward to seeing who you bring back." That was the confirmation Mercury needed to continue his recruitment drive.
"In that case, I want Mercury to come help me test out these High-Ends Grimm! His tastes! His aesthetic sense! They're perfect! Ooh, such a strong connection!" Watts interrupted, wanting Mercury to help despite the teen's vocal reluctance.
"Were you even listening?"
"Well then hurry up." Cinder told the doctor. "Send us back there. I'm suddenly feeling pretty motivated."
"From here on out," Watts said as a robotic arm extended out of his chair. On it was a small rectangle plate with little communicators on it. "Use these to contact me!"
The villains grabbed each one examining them.
"Now then, John," Watts said as he held onto some kind freaky Grimm with an actual brain and odd feet. There were also some metal parts attached to it. Watts then twisted something to start the monster up. "Send them to Hazel."
From the Grimm's mouth a disgusting black liquid came from the mouth. Yet it didn't land on the floor. Instead seconds later the villains excluding Mercury found themselves vanishing away. Back to where it is. Hazel.
"He looks bigger up close." Yang said, a bit shocked at seeing their enemy even larger and rougher... and naked.
"I have to admit, he is big, bigger than even the lieutenant." Blake mentioned recalling the White Fang lieutenant from before. This Hazel put the deceased faunus to shame in terms of height.
"I can already tell this is going to be painful." Roman said.
'Agreed.' Neo said through her sign.
Back on screen it would appear Hazel noticed. Turning he saw he many villains now gathered up. Cinder herself stood tall with a wide grin taunting the man.
"Yo. The future queen has returned." The monster that was Hazel just smirked darkly, ready to test Salem's new apprentice.
"A queen..." He growled menacingly. "Is one... Who commands respect. A queen is someone who is strong."
'It's been a pretty long story.' Tock herself narrated as the scene ended, 'A battle with Hazel. That is our reality... And now, our feature presentation.'
From afar a finger could be seen alongside a scarf. Located at some place where from afar a person could be seen. Adam Taurus himself smiled behind his mask in glee. It was a very intrepid smile.
'...The destruction of the League of Villains.'
The screen went dark.
"That was pretty cool." Cardin said, getting him some stares. "What? It's nice seeing the bad guys for a change and not dumb heroes as always."
"You got that right." Roman said. "I'm sick and tired of watching the same thing, the whole 'The good guys win and the bad guys lose' scenario? It's sooooo overrated."
'Too many heroes winning.' Neo's sign said.
"I actually agree." The Keeper said, as he was also sick of seeing the good guys always win without even taking a scratch. I mean come on! They have a grand battle and the heroes only get injured for like a few days or a week. For a villain, it took months or years of recovery. Or they just die, which happened more often than not. Thus the Keeper liked other realms that featured where the good guys do win... but not always and lose some key battles.
"I especially like realms with the focus being on the bad guys." The Keeper thought thinking of worlds such as 'From Lawbreaker to Lecture', 'Taking Back the Crown', 'Smoldering Rose', and so on. Those stories had such drama and epic action, with breath taking stories.
It was a shame that excluding the second one, many of them were not going to be finished by their creators. What a shame.
"Well, with that done, time to continue onto the next world, right." The screen then lit up again as the audience were about to see what else the Keeper had in store for them.
And I'm done with that. Hope you enjoyed, sorry for no action, but eh, that's just how the story rolls.
(Beta-Reader's note: A world where heroes win but they also lose... Infinity War and Endgame, anyone? *RIP MCU TONY AND NATASHA*)