Chapter 2: You Too Can Become a Hero
Parody: My Hero Academia/ Boku no Hero Academia, Chapter 1
Appearance: The Multiple Live of Jaune Arc, Chapter 4
On a playground a little boy cried behind the form of a girl much smaller then himself, said girl was currently looking ahead of herself. Her silver eyes looked on the several kids before her.
"Why are you being so mean, you're making him cry!"
She took a makeshift fighter's stance and obviously scared as her body shook and yet she didn't waver and stood her ground her silver eyes keen on the form ahead of her.
"If you keep on hurting him, then I'll, I'll stop you myself."
Before the little rose a slightly older blonde girl with shoulder length messy blonde hair looked to her with scarlet red eyes. Her annoyed expression shifted to amused and she smirked.
"Hmph, just cause we have the same dad you think I'll let you be in my way." Said blonde didn't hate the girl in front of her, she was her sister after all even if only half. But they weren't raised together, when her mom left her dad he remarried and had the little brat. But Yang didn't really care, after all her mom had taught her the right way to see things. So, seeing her little shrimp of a sister stand up to her peeved her a bit, that was until she figured it'd be a good Idea to teach Ruby the lesson Raven taught her.
"You wanna act like a hero." She slammed her fist into her open hand and a small explosion burst from it.
"You don't stand a chance without a Quirk."
Ruby took a scared step back and that was all Yang needed as she struck forward.
It's a sad fact… but not everyone is born equal…
Little Ruby laid prone on the playground beat up as the boy continued to cry but thanked her.
When I was just three, I learned that some people were just better than others.
The scene focused on the small puddle of tears that reflected the bright sun only for a boot to abruptly step in it as an older Ruby ran across the puddle of water on the streets of Vale.
but that won't stop me. Or hold me back, if anything it's what pushes me to do even better.
Ruby looked up and saw in the distance, a large man with a shark shaped face, his size was gigantic like that of a Goliath and he roared. Ruby went wide eyed.
"That's one big baddy!"
The roaring man swung his arm breaking off the main body of a transmission tower, however just before it could crash into the ground a portly but muscular man rushed out and slammed his fist together. Raising them he stopped the metal structure and smiled brightly his teeth not being able to be seen behind his mustache.
"Wow Look it Deatharms!" The older hero smiled brightly.
"Hohoho have no fear a simple weight like this is little more than a feather to me, why in my younger day-"
"Man if not for breaking into long-winded stories he'd be really popular…"
Abruptly long streams of liquid floated through the air forming a safety measure of sorts in front of the crowd, standing at the center of them all was another older man with wild green hair and large ridiculous glasses.
"EveybodyIwouldliketorequestyouallstaybackthisareaisfartodangerious."
"Wow the rescue specialist Oobleck is here, guess we don't need to worry huh?"
The surrounding crowds begun to take pictures and make phone calls explaining that they'd be late or just begun to casually talk. Seemingly excited Ruby begun to work her way through the crowds all the while keeping her eyes on the villain anticipating which hero would come next.
"This guy must be pretty desperate to go full monster in the middle of the city like this huh? What happened?"
"It's disappointing really, dumbass stole someone's bag and got cornered…"
"Seriously a Quirk like that and he's just some petty thief, man what a disappointment."
Above the two a shadow rushed forward towards the giant menace, seeing it a group of women squealed.
"~Ahh! Its Edgeshot, we're your biggest fans! ~" The form of a lean toned man closed in on the villain he was clad in shinobi garb accentuating his raven hair except for the single pink streak of magenta that matched his eyes.
"Wow it's the number four hero Edgeshot."
"Ha, guess this is gonna be over pretty quick." The Villain glared at Ren.
"Get away from me or else I'll crush you to bits!"
Every time the man tried to strike the Hero he maneuvered out of the way. His body begun to stretch out till it became as thin as paper and much more durable. Using it he circled around the criminal's arms forming makeshift cuffs.
Ruby smiled brightly.
"Wow this is gonna be good, I can't believe I get to see Edgeshot fight on my way to school." The old man beside her crossed his arms smiling.
"He may be fairly new but he's already number 4, plus I heard he has a partner debuting soon."
The man smirk grew.
"Oh man I just met you and I can already tell your one hell of a fangirl." Ruby blushed rubbing the back of her head, it was true she was a hero-fanatic.
Edgeshot made sure he had the villain in position then shouted.
"Assault, Robbery, and illegal use of your Quirk All grave mistakes…" His arms folded into multiple tendrils of paper thin flesh. Ruby's eyes sparkled.
"Here it come his Thousand Sheets Restraint!"
"Thousand Sheet Res-!"
"Hiya!" From seemingly out of nowhere a colossal woman twice the size of the Villain appeared in a white and pink outfit. She kicked out at the giant hitting his legs that broke from the force before she punched him sending him flying into a nearby building side.
Everyone stared in awe at the smiling ginger, she wore a pink combat skirt with a heart in the middle of her bountiful breast. While many men ogled her form Edgeshot sighed and put his hand to his forehead.
"Nora… you were supposed to just observe today."
Said woman looked to Ren smiling brightly somehow managing to still look cute as a button despite her colossal size.
"I'm sorry Renny, I just got peeved when he said he was gonna crush you."
"Did you have to brake his legs though." In response she merely smiled brightly earning a groan from him.
"Also Nora you forgot to call me Edgeshot…"
"Hmm, but that's not fair, you called me Nora."
"'Sigh' Because you still don't have a hero name." Nora gasped.
"Your right! Oh, oh I know! How about Lady Valkyrie, or Pink Bomber, or Mt. Lady… Nah that last one was stupid…"
Ruby in her excitement shout out a combination of the first and last name.
"Oh, oh what about Mt. Valkyrie!" Nora smiled to the small rose throwing a thumbs up and striking a pose that accentuated her… busty form.
"That one Mt. Valkyrie! What do you think Renny?" Edgeshot avoided her gaze a blush evident as he tried to ignore the two 'peaks' of the newly dubbed Mt. Valkyrie.
"I-its rather fitting… and call me Edgeshot on the job."
Beside the old man Ruby pulled out a notepad number 13 and begun to take notes, mumbling to herself as she noted both the advantages and weaknesses of her quirk and personality. The geezer chuckled before pointing a finger at her.
"Taking note huh Fangirl, guess you wanna be a hero to then huh!" Ruby smiled brightly to the question.
"Yep, it's my dream!"
-Signal-
"Okay then let's go over what Quirks are… Yang can you tell me where the first Quirk incident occurred." Sitting in the room a blonde beauty with a mean look in her eyes smiled.
"Easy, In Mt. Glenn some lady gave birth to a glow in the dark brat, everyone thought it was some kind of miracle but then over the same year one snot nosed kid after another begun to have weird powers or looks to them. Next thing we know everyone got a power to them… or Quirk, Am I right or am I right teach?" The man nodded his head albeit reluctantly.
"Yes… miss Xiao Long." An explosion rang through the room as the girl glared at the teacher.
"It's Branwen!" With a slight shudder he nodded.
"R-right, okay then… next question what did said event lead to that revolutionized the world safety, how about our little genius Ruby cover this." The man pointed to said girl who'd skipped two grades and squeaked in surprise.
"Um… Some Quirks proved more powerful the Semblances a majority of the time and the later quickly died out. With intelligence enhancing Quirks technology advanced rapidly and with more powerful Quirks the Grimm menace has steadily declined. More over with nearly everyone having powers criminal activity went on the rise, and in this world of disorder a new profession rose." The man smiled.
"And that is." Ruby smiled as she answered.
"Heroes!" The teacher nodded.
"Very good miss Rose." The man then pulled out a stack of papers.
"Now then all you aspiring kids are in your final year of Signal, so you all should decide your futures, here is your career aspiration documents. Not that I really need to look though after all…" He threw the paper aside.
"Most of you are aspiring to be heroes aren't you, especially with such amazing Quirks." Most of the students activated they're abilities from overextended and monstrous jaws, to transforming limbs and levitation and more as if to affirm the teacher's words.
"Aspiring heroes… ha! Hey, teach don't lump me in with the rest of these losers. After all they'll be lucky if they end up as some has-been D-list heroes side kick, we all know I'm the only real deal here." Yang grinned at the teacher giving off an air of complete confidence. In response the students argued with the buxom blonde who offered to go against them all.
The teacher looked to her sheet and hummed.
"Well, Yang you do have impressive test results I'll give you that."
"Damn right, I'm gonna make my way to Beacon."
"Beacon huh? I guess with these grades you could actually make it in. Though I do feel the need to remind you the acceptance rate is less than two percent."
"Well duh, wouldn't want some joke to get in, right? It's impossible to get into, which is why it's the only place for me."
Yang leaped unto her desk making a big show of herself.
"You're looking at someone who aced all the mock test and interviews, and whose the only girl here who got a chance of making it in. Just watch I'll get in graduate and make my way into the hero scene, I'll become so popular I'll even surpass ALL MIGHT himself!"
"Oh! Miss Rose you've applied for Beacon as well?" The entire room went silent at the teacher's words while said Rose covered her head in her desk seemingly embarrassed. The next moment the entire class broke into laughter.
"Seriously, Rose!? That's impossible!"
"Haha Someone who only knows how to study can't become a hero!"
"Yeah Without a Quirk its hopeless!"
At that final comment Ruby stepped up from her seat.
"Hey They got rid of that rule last year! I could be the first one to do i-"
"RUUBBBYYYY!" Slamming her fist on the desk with a small explosion sending her on her butt, looking up she saw Yang who glared at her.
"Listen up Brat, your even worse than the rest of these rejects you Quirkless Wannabe! You actually think they'd let someone like you in when they can have someone like me!" Ruby panicked at her accusations.
"No Yang, you got it all wrong really! I'm not trying to compete against you or anything honest! You gotta believe me!" the girl scurried back hitting the wall a small embarrassed blushed covering her face as she spoke.
"It's just… I wanted to be a hero since we were little, like mom was… So even if I don't have a quirk, I can still try my hardest, right?" She looked up and was met by a grinning Yang.
"'pfft' hehehe hahaha! Are you serious! Someone like you could never get up there with the best of the best! Hell, you'd die in the exams." Ruby looked down saddened.
"Frail Little Ruby, aren't you enough of a pain for dad, you really wanna add on to that by failing to even get into school?" Ruby clenched her fist but accepted the people laughing at her, after all somewhere deep inside she accepted what they said as true…
-Vale City 12:02 PM-
"Stop get back here!" From a store a sewage green mass rushed forward, wet bundles of lien in its form as it laughed.
"Dude, where are all the heroes at?"
"No Idea…"
"Maybe they're still at the western ward after that scene this morning."
"Yell all you want suckers, this cash is mine!"
His form struck a small object and burst apart into rancid green slime. From a convenience store a figure in plain jeans and a all too familiar hoodie stepped out, his groceries in one hand.
"Guess nobodies gonna stop him huh…"
"Not like anyone can…"
He looked to the villain running through the streets, abruptly the man's height begun to grow while his hoodie tightened around his growing form until it was on the verge of ripping. His voice was strong and firm as he spoke.
"I can." The man turned and where surprised when they saw the man as he stepped past them a confident stride in his steps."
"He will be stopped, and do you know why?" He smiled brightly for them all to see.
"Because I am here!"
-Signal 3:30 PM-
Students chatted on their way out of the class while a young happy Ruby looked through her scroll at the multiple reports on the Giant Villain incident and the appearance of the new heroine Mt. Valkyrie.
"Man, this is all over the news today, 'heh' I should really take some notes." The petite rose pulled out her Heroes notepad to add some last minutes thoughts and details only for it to abruptly be swiped from her hands. She looked up and was met by the familiar scowl of her half-sister.
"You didn't think our talk was done yet did you Rubes?" From behind her two of her followers, a pair of twins stepped forward smiles on they're faces.
"What you got their Yang? Her Diary? Heh." The girl gave it a close looked.
"What the? Hero Analysis for the future No. 13. What? Are you seriously taking notes on how to be a hero? Haha that's like so pathetic!"
"Delusional dweeb!" The two behind Yang broke into laughter while Ruby sat up panicked.
"Okay, real funny guys, but can you please give it back…" Yang didn't even hesitate slapping her hand on both ends of it causing the small notepad to be enveloped in a tiny explosion. Yang looked slightly surprised to see the notebook still somewhat intact but shrugged and threw it over her shoulder, Ruby watched in hurt to see her efforts be so easily tossed aside. Yang however showed little concern for her half-sister's panic and decided to speak up.
"'sigh' You just don't get it do you sis? Most people say first rank heroes show their potential early on, people look at them and just know they'll make something of themselves. So, when I'm the only person from this garbage school out in Patch who makes it into Beacon everyone will start talking about me like that. They'll realize I'm the real deal, that's not ego talking I'm just that awesome, a true prodigy through and through." The two girls beside her deadpanned, slightly envious of her confidence but also equal parts disgusted.
"Here's a little word of advice sis."
Yang patted her little sister's shoulder and leaned in from her shoulder Ruby could feel her uniform burn as her older sister triggered her quirk to the most minimal extent. She smiled in an all but kind matter to her baby sis.
"Don't even think of applying, a shrimp like you wouldn't last a minute after all when it comes to being a hero, The weak die. The strong live, That just the way it goes." Yang and her pals made their way out of the class, while Ruby just stood there and trembled. Yang however stopped at the door way.
"If you decide to try out, I might just do you the favor of knocking you out before anything too bad can happen to you."
Ruby sent a glare at her sister but in return Yang just smiled raising her palm were multiple explosions rung out menacingly effectively stopping whatever fight was in the frail rose. As the three left the room and begun to make their way down the stair Yang offhandedly spoke.
"Hey Melanie, Miltia, which of you two said that hilarious nickname? What was it again…'heh' Oh yeah now I remember! Delusional Dweeb!"
"Hehe, that would be m-" No sooner than the words left Melanie's mouth did a small explosion send her skidding away crashing into the wall knocked out. Yang didn't bother looking the bitch's way instead just continuing the conversation with the remaining and panicked Miltia about where they should go.
Ruby looked around the outside of the school building for her notepad finally finding it in a puddle, her already sad expression deepened at seeing that. She picked up the worn notes and begun to sniffle as tears formed.
"'Sniffle' Stupid Yang… 'hic'" She remembered her earlier year when she dressed in a little red cloak like her mom's from when she was alive. she'd run throughout the house pestering her dad to put on her favorite video. He would just chuckle and play it for her to settle her down.
"Heh I just don't get why you love this video so much, I think it's a bit scary and that's coming from an Ex-Sidekick."
The Little Rose maneuvered herself on top the seat and begun to swing back and forth excitably only to become utterly entranced upon the video beginning and leaned in stars in her eyes.
She loved her mom and dad and what they had been, heroes however as guilty as it sounded while they were two of her favorites there was another. The man who inspired her when she was at her darkest the hero among heroes.
The video played to reveal disaster footage from the catastrophe that nearly lead to the fall of Mt. Glenn. Things looked hopeless as the tunnels had collapsed and cries could be heard and yet the person filming looked into the distance.
"Who is he? That guys already saved at least a hundred people in less than ten minutes! This is just crazy! I can't believe it…" From the crash site a figure stepped over the bus on his back were multiple people who if not for his aid clearly wouldn't have made it.
"HAHAHAAA?" His laugh was strong and uplifting almost seeming to cut through the despairing scene. Seeing it the little Rose buds face lit up in amazement. His outfit was equal parts yellow and white with small streaks of a red and orange. His body was bulging with muscles while his golden hair had two distinct cowlicks in the air giving the appearance of antenna, his eyes were a deep and powerful azure.
"Have no fear citizens, For I Am Here!"
Ruby cheered in joy raising her tiny action figure of the man high into the air.
"He's the greatest in the universe!" The little brunette made her vow once again.
"Once I get my Quirk, I'm gonna be a hero! Just like Papa, Mama and him!" Taiyang grinned at the display as his daughter mimicked All Might's signature laugh.
The scene however shifted to that of a doctor leaning back into his chair with a pensive look on his face.
"Sorry kid, but it's just not gonna happen."
Said little girl froze on the spot while Tai looked to doctor equal parts concern over his daughter and annoyance at the man's bluntness.
"What? Are you saying there's something wrong with her? Most of the other kids in her class have begun to show signs of their Quirks… she's been worried, so I decided to have her checked up." The doctored sighed before looking to a file.
"My records show that you're a fourth generation Quirk user correct? What powers did your late wife and you have." Tai shrugged.
"I have a muscle enhancement Quirk but it's pretty weak compared to others, Summer had super speed… Not uncommon ones but they got the job done." The doctor nodded.
"Your kid should've manifested one of these Quirks or a combination of both by now, at least that's the usual way of it. 'Exhale' But after looking at a few scans I'm afraid to say I doubt she'll manifest one at all. I could go into detail, but I don't wanna bore you, to sum it up her health while not bad just wasn't made to develop a Quirk.
That night in Patch the tiny bud remembered huddling in her room as the rain fell looking at the video of her number one hero play over and over again. Tai opened the door to check on her and saw Ruby huddled up close to the video but unlike always she didn't shake in excitement but instead trembled with her sniffles and hiccups being as numerous as the raindrops outside.
"See that dad?" Her finger pressed against the screen as it closed up on All Might pressing against his bright toothy smile.
"There's always a smile on his face 'hic' No matter how bad things get… I remember mommy told me that even when things seem impossible a hero never gives up…" She turned to her dad streaks of tears running down her cheeks as she shook and sniffled with all she had she asked one more time.
"I can still be a hero too dad…right?"
Tai leaned down enveloping his daughter in a hug as he apologized over and over again. But as he did her tears only increased… because that wasn't what she needed to hear from her dad at that time. As her world crumbled, she only wanted to hear him say one thing.
The scene flashed back to reality as Ruby walked under an overpass.
She looked ahead determination in her eyes as she remembered the promise, she made to herself that day. That no matter what anyone else said she'd never stop believing in her dream. That she'd keep smiling just like her Hero All Might! Stepping under the structure she let out her best attempt at All Might's reassuring laugh feeling a bit braver for it, unaware that behind her a green mass begun to form from the sewage drains.
Feeling a bit off Ruby looked behind her and froze at what she saw, before her was the unstable form of a sludge like man.
"Oh look, just what I needed a skin suit." The gelatinous form stretched out its limb towards her and in response Ruby could only run. But the villain's form allowed him to propel himself towards her in but a moment he was on top the girl her screams quickly turned silent as he maneuvered his rancid form. Shifting to a more unrefined form he let his body search hers looking for any way inside as he begun to plunge his sewage like mass into her.
"Hey brat pipe down, no need to worry I'm just taking over your body. It'll be easier for both of us if you would just stop resisting, after all it'll only hurt for a minute… Who knows, you might even start to like it after a bit." Ruby hand grasped at the green sludge forcing its way down her throat trying to pull it away only to find the act futile as it just broke apart in her grip.
…Can't… Breathe…
The Sewage man looked to the young rose's desperate attempts to free herself.
"You can grab all you want but it won't matter, after all my bodies made out of liquid." The mass leaned in close looking the young girl dead in the eye not knowing why a shiver ran through him but despite it he spoke.
"Thanks for the help kid, you're a real hero heheh… Didn't think I'd get lucky and manage to escape from 'him' heh I nearly made a mess of myself when I heard you laugh, thought he had caught up to me. Imagine my relief when I saw a midget like you instead of that tank with feet. All I need to do is take over you and then hightail it out of here before he tracks me down." Ruby's struggle begun to weaken as her form begun to give in.
Can't… fight… feeling… weak.
Tears begun to form.
Am I… dying?...
As her eyes begun to dull, she spotted something in the corner of her eye, it was her notebook flipped open to reveal a simple design of an outfit, of her outfit…her future. Maybe it was that sight that pushed her to give a final weak plea.
"Somebody… please… help…"
"Have no fear…"
The storm drain's lid flipped up into the air hitting the ceiling and imbedding it there. A large stretched out shoe hit the cement floor making a single crack as the figure smiled.
"For I am here!"
All Might leaned forward his gaze not on the now scared villain but maintained on the little girl and upon looking into her dulling eyes he seemed momentarily stunned.
"Summer?"
The Villain saw the chance and took it swinging a slimy tendril towards him and in response All Might ducked the tendril hitting the wall behind him causing a huge crash. He leaped forward as the villain sent another tendril thrusting forward like a wet spear. In response All Might pulled back his fist.
"Atlas…" He slammed his foot in the ground.
"Smash!" from his punch a wave of force launched forth the power of it breaking apart the tendril before hitting the villain and forcing his body to break apart. The barely conscious Ruby opened her eyes and saw him, her number one hero.
"All…Might?" Ruby said before the world went black once more, however the dark didn't last long as an incessant thumping continued to tap her cheek.
"Hey, come on, wakey, wakey." Finally, the petite Rose's eyes opened and before her leaning over was a very familiar and handsome face, deep blue eyes with black sclera looked to her brightly as his smile grew.
"Wow, thank goodness thought I lost you for a second there."
Ruby wanted to talk, she really did but at the moment all she could do was think Oh my Oum time and time again till her tiny little brain steamed over.
"Are you okay?" The large man put his palm over her forehead, this of course earned a excited and incredible panicked response in the young Rose getting her to scuttle away a huge blush on her face.
A-All Might just touched me!
The man smirked at her panicked state seeming use to the response.
"Sorry you got caught up in my justicing like that…" The large man rubbed the back of his head a bit embarrassed, which just looked a tad silly when you considered his imposing form.
"Usually I make it a point to ensure civilian don't get in trouble like that and would've caught the baddy sooner. But… As it turns out, the sewers in Vale are a 'lot' more complicated … Hahahaha." Ruby could only look on at her hero still starstruck but at least able to stand now, an impressive foot in her opinion.
"Well, anyways, thanks for the distraction young miss?" The man gestured for her to give her name.
"Ru, Ru, Ruby… Ruby Rose!" The name came out as a squeak to which he nodded an almost nostalgic smile on his face…
So you're her daughter…
"Alright, Young Ruby as I was saying before thank you for your distraction. Because of your help I was able to capture this fiend." Jaune thrusted out a bottle of Everyone Loves Grape soda and inside was the sewage green slimey form of the villain. Ruby looked to the captured villain before taking in his words and pointing to herself with a shaking hand.
"I-I helped you?" The man smiled to her and nodded and at that the little Rose's already immense joy at meeting her hero grew all the more.
OhmygodIcan'tbelieveit'sreallyhim! Helookssomuchcoolerinperson!
Realization suddenly struck the tiny rose.
Holy crap I need to get his autograph!
The young rose searched her body for anything to get signed.
"Oh come on! Seriously this is the one time I don't have anything on me!" finally she spotted something.
"Ah! My Notebook!" Grabbing it she opened it to find a blank page.
"Please sign my Notebook!" She found one only to go near catatonic when she saw his signature already there.
"Oh my Oum! You already signed it!" The shaking little blur bowed repeatedly and in response All Might smiled giving a thumbs up.
"Well, I gotta get this guy to the police ASAP, so stay out of trouble." The man begun to stretch readying to move, his words though caught Ruby's attention.
"Wait your leaving already?"
"Pro Heroes are in a constant battle with time, sometimes it proves to be an even tougher nemesis then villains themselves." Ruby reached out her hand but hesitated.
He can't leave yet… there's still so much I have to ask.
"Okay Young Ruby stand back I'm taking off." One moment the number one hero was there, the next he was gone, a dot in the sky.
"Wait a sec, somethings off." The man looked back and was greeted by the sight of Ruby clinging to his leg for dear life high in the sky.
"What in Oum's name!" He wanted to get her off but somehow her clinging to his leg for dear life told him she might not have the skills necessary to descend safely.
"Please, I have a lot I want to ask you!"
Sweet Oum above that is one hell of a pair of puppy dog eyes, thank god I've built an immunity, a resistance… Oh dammit it's too strong!
"Okay, okay just wait for me to land! So, stop looking up before something gets caught in your eyes." At his words Ruby buried her face in his leg and he looked away and coughed. Raising his hand to cover his mouth he looked to it and saw blood.
Dammit…
He looked down to see a nearby roof and decided it would do and descended, not noticing the soda bottle containing the villain slipping out of his pocket.
Upon landing on the roof, a very shaky Ruby struggled to calm herself.
My entire life flashed before my eyes… wow, my sisters a real bitch.
"Not a very smart move but we all make mistakes, just bang on the door till someone gets you. See you around miss Rose." Jaune readied to leave and seeing that the young Rose snapped back to her sense.
"Wait a second!" She stretched out her hand to him.
"Sorry I'm in a rush."
"I have to know!"
She recalled the doctor's words and her father's apologies and finally all the things Yang had said over the years. Sometimes she felt like a failure, but even so she always told herself to never give up on her dream just like her mom. That's why she'd never give up ever! And that was why she needed to ask him, her hero.
"Can I be a hero… even if I don't have a Quirk?!" He paused.
"I'm a normal girl without any powers… But even so…" She shook nervously but pushed past it and looked to him.
"If I don't give up can I become a hero like you!?"
Jaune turned slightly looking her way.
No Quirk…
A image came to mind of his younger days… of a girl who stood at the top who looked to him kindly her emerald eyes looking into his disbelieving that he didn't know her but loving it all the same but also curious as she asked.
Jaune… do you have a Quirk?
She's just like m-
A pain shot through him.
No! Not here!
All Might keeled over and begun to grunt and tremble as steam begun to seethe from his form.
No, not now… Not here.
Ruby's gaze however was not on the Arc as she looked down nervously fidgeting with her fingers.
"Everyone thinks I can't do it… even my dad… It's like not having a Quirk makes me some kind of weakling, even my classmates make fun of me." Even as he attempted to fight against the inevitable her words reached him reminding him of a time long ago. When he had thought much the same.
"But you know, that just makes me want to prove them wrong, ever since I was a kid… I-I thought saving people was the coolest thing someone could do."
The number one heroes form was now entirely covered in steam and the silhouette inside begun to change. Ruby smiled as her dream came to mind.
"I want people to see my fearless smile and feel safe." She blushed at saying it out loudly.
"To be the kind of hero everyone can look up too." She then looked up to her hero bright eyes and a wide smile that would make any adult think she was absolutely adorable.
"I want to be a hero just like you!" However, who she expected to meet eyes with and what she did set her gaze on were entirely different things. Standing before her where the steam had finally parted was a very skinny man with angular features and long limbs. He had spiky, disheveled hair and a very long neck and his eyebrows so thin they were nearly invisible. Seeing the form before her Ruby could only think of that of a skeleton while the man looked back to her, she did what any rational teenager would do.
"AHHHH!"
The Everyone Loves Grape Soda bottle fell into an alleyway barely missing a trashcan and landing in the middle of the ally. Slowly the stunned villain within begun to open his eyes and see his surroundings. He begun to recall the series of events that led him here, to say he grew upset was a gross understatement.
However, his anger was soon changed to curiosity as the sound of footsteps came from behind him as well as a very annoyed voice.
"Still though that was rough Branwen, don't you think you were maybe being a bit rough with your sis there?" In Miltia's voice was a slight iota of fear but the buxom blonde didn't seem to be concerned by it or the girl's fear. She merely finished her drink and shrugged.
"It's her own fault for getting in my way." She saw the bottle on the ground and took the opportunity to let out a smidge of anger by kicking it, sending the bottle flying into a wall the force enough to pop off the cap.
"But um… you know isn't bullying her a bit of a waste of your time?" Miltia was speaking very cautiously knowing the wrong words could give her the same fate as her twin. Yang paused and for a moment she looked almost happy as she recalled her sister's words about trying her best, her eyes even changed to their very rare lilac as for a rare moment she'd been truly calm. However, the next instant she remembered her mom's motto.
The weak die, the strong survive, those are the rules.
Her eyes then flashed back to they're usual scarlet.
"Somebodies gotta teach that idiot how the world works, better me then a villain." She clenched the soda can in her hand making it explode before she threw the burnt to a crisp can away.
"I hate it when that little moron talks about heroes."
Miltia's phone rang and seeing the message she seemed a bit less nervous as a thought came to mind.
"Hey Yang after you blasted her my sis's hair was messed up pretty bad." That actually seemed to bother the blonde, her hair was a taboo to touch after all, so she felt a bit guilty over apparently damaging the other twin's due.
"'tsk' it was her own damn fault, but I guess I should've held back against a weakling like her." Miltia waved her hand.
"No, no its fine, it's just she's heading to the salon and asked if I wanted to come, wanna go with?" This seemed to put the blonde bomber in a good mood if her smirk was any indication.
"You don't have to go threatening me twice with a good time, lead the way." Miltia smiled… for all of a second as when a mass begun to lift itself behind Yang she gasped and pointed.
"Well well, aren't you a feisty one!"
Returning to the rooftop Ruby looked on in absolute confusion at the extremely scraggly blonde before her. All the while the man merely looked back at her.
"Wh-wh-who are you?" She then noticed something and begun to look around.
"Where'd All Might go?" Something clicked in the rose's mind and she pointed an accusatory finger at the scarecrow of a man.
"You're an imposter!"
The blonde skeleton frowned at her words.
"No I promise I'm All Mi-augh…" From his mouth a good amount of blood begun to leak.
"B-B-But how! That can't be possible! With how skinny you are where do you get all that muscle from!" The blonde begun to wipe the blood from his mouth.
"It's just me sucking in air and flexing, you know, trying to look buff and all."
"That can't really be all!" Ruby fell to her knees not being able to come to terms with the reality before her.
"My hero, the giant of a man who saves the day… beating down any obstacle with a fearless smile." The Blonde sighed at hearing that seeming a tad bit annoyed.
"Your wrong kid… there's plenty of fear behind that smile…" The man then sat against the railing of the roof looking smaller for it.
"Promise me you'll keep quiet about this, if your half the fan you claim to be it shouldn't be that much of a problem. The last thing I need is for you to go spreading this…" The man then gripped his now baggy hoodie and lifted it up to reveal a sight that made the young Rose recoil in fear and disgust. On the left side of his abdomen and chest was a harrowing purple and red scar like that of a spider web indented deep into his side.
The blonde sent a weak smile her way.
"Pretty nasty right, I got this in a fight about five years back… My respiratory system was basically destroyed, and I don't even have as stomach anymore. Thank Oum we Arcs are so ungodlying stubborn or I wouldn't have made it through all the necessary surgeries. Hell, I don't even mind that it can't be fixed but I can't even do hero work for even three hours a day at this point. I used to look pretty good if I do say so myself but now, with all the malnutrition and blow back from surgeries this is what I look like outside of those few hours." Ruby looked absolutely horrified.
"No way five years ago… Wait! You mean the fight with that Villain Rainart?" The man seemed surprised at that.
"Wow, so you know about that battle huh, haha no though the battle that did this… I doubt you'll be able to find any sources about it. The government and me did everything we could to keep it under wraps."
Jaune then looked up to her.
"Anyways my point was despite all of that I can't show it, my fear & worry, I'm the Beacon of Hope and Justice, people everywhere can't see me frown. They have to think that I'm never afraid" Jaune then looked to his palm a small tremble in it.
"But honestly… I smile to hide the fear lingering in my depths… It's no more than a brave face I don when the pressure is there, this job isn't easy and don't believe anyone who'd say otherwise." He looked into her face and saw Summer her mother and his idol and one of his teachers when he was still in training in Beacon. He also remembered her dying before him.
I won't let her face the same fate as you did Summer… or you Pyrrha. The image of a woman with kind but powerful emerald eyes and bright red hair came to mind.
His gaze went cold as he stared the girl down.
"A hero has to put his life on the line everyday…" His fist trembled as he readied his next words.
I'm sorry… young Ruby, but I won't let your mother have died for nothing…
"Some Villains…" The man gritted his teeth.
"Some villains are just too strong to defeat without powers, so no young Ruby you can't hope to be a hero without a Quirk."
He felt like a monster for saying it, but he had decided where he stood. Summer Rose was a selfless woman and a true paragon, she'd given everything and lost her life the least he could do as the Beacon of Hope was ensure her precious daughter didn't suffer the same fate.
The little Rose looked to her hero unable to speak or cry, he could see it… his words had wiped away the embers of her remaining hope. She looked down her expression unreadable.
"I-I see…" He stood up.
"If you truly want to help people there are still plenty of means, policemen and medics save many lives and are no less heroes to the people than any other.…"
He turned from her opening the door and said his final words to her.
"It's not wrong to have a dream young Ruby… But you must dream of things obtainable." He didn't look back at her but instead closed the door, the moment he was out of her sight tears fell from his trembling form.
"I did it to save her from dying an early death… so why?" He gritted his teeth as streak of tears fell.
Why do I feel no better than a villain for crushing such a honest little soul's dreams.I'd think you'd be a great hero Jaune…
He fell to his knees at her memory.
"I'm sorry Pyrrha…"
It was then that he heard it, in the distance a mighty explosion roared, he turned to it wide eyed.
"No!"
Ruby looked on in shock seeing the smoke cloud she didn't really think about it as she ran there, not realizing that All Might was just ahead of her despite his frail and weakened state.
At the spot flames spewed forth threatening to consume the surrounding area within the flame riddled area Deatharms rushed forward and leaped pulling back his fist and striking the foe before him. However, the villain's form wasn't solid and instead of knocking him away the veteran's arm sunk into the sewage like mass before being struck away. Other heroes tried to get close but found the threat far too powerful. The villain merely smiled however within his form a figure writhed in anger her crimson eyes glowing.
"Let me go! You picked the wrong person to mess with you slimy fucker! I swear the second you let me go I'm gonna kill you!" Her palms sparked before exploding numerous times only adding to the destruction. The villain smiled as he looked to the girls display of power and smiled, with her quirk once he took over her, he'd be able to kill All Might for sure.
The citizens looked on in fear before they spotted someone and smiled one pointing out towards the figure as the earth trembled.
"Look its Mt. Valkyrie!" The giddy giant rushed forth smiling.
Until she paled when she realized.
"On No! It's a one-way street it's too narrow!"
Edgeshot stretched his arms capturing the nearby civilians including one starry eyed Militia
.
Edgeshot looked to the villain and gritted his teeth. His Quirk was no use restraining or piercing someone composed of liquid. Oobleck struggled to maintain the nearby flames until support came. Deatharm gritted his teeth.
"Dammit, we don't have the right Quirks for this." Deatharm roared out to the panicked heroes.
"It doesn't matter until back up arrives our duty is to do damage control and save the innocents, he looked to Yang as she struggled against the villain trying to take her over.
"Dammit, is there really nothing I can do… Young miss forgive me…"
Behind the crowds a frail Jaune Arc finally reached the devastated area out of breath. When he looked up to see what was happening, he went wide eyed.
Its him the villain! I must have dropped him in the air… After everything I said to young Rose, so pathetic!
Jaune attempted to transform but a searing pain ran throughout his form and he clenched his scar.
Dammit! I'm at my limit!
Ruby ran through the smoke cloud.
No young Ruby you can't hope to be a hero without a Quirk.
She slowed before looking down to her signed notebook.
Even All Might said…
'Hic' She grew flustered as she wiped her face.
No… Don't cry dammit! deep down you knew this all along… You should have just grown up.
A explosion rang out and Ruby looked ahead, feeling her heart pump.Why did I come here? What did I think I could do…
"Let me go!" Ruby went wide eyed.
That voice!
she rushed to the crowds to look and was shocked when she saw the familiar villain.
How did he… no when I grabbed onto All Might's leg could the bottle have fallen out… This is all my fault. Guilt riddled the young girl's heart.
"I can't believe all those heroes can't beat him?"
"What can they do he's got a kid."
"Shit you serious." Ruby went wide eyed at that, she remembered being captured how close she was to dying. She looked out to find them and froze when she saw the girl writhing within.
"Yang..."
"Isn't there anyone in the city who could?"
"Wait, what about All Might he was fighting that guy earlier."
"Wait what! All Might is here in the City!"
"Where is he?"
"Why isn't he helping!" Jaune gritted his teeth his shame overwhelming.
Dammit! So pathetic…
Ruby begun to tear up.
I'm sorry Yang, I'm sorry All Might if not for me…
So Pathetic.
I'm sorry… Someone will show up and save the day, they have to.
How can the Beacon of hope and Justice not help… I'm no hero!
Jaune cried.
Ruby looked to her sister… it was only for a moment, but their eyes met and when Ruby looked into them there was none of her former condescension nor anger but instead she looked back into frighten lilac eyes. She didn't know why but before she could think Ruby's legs stepped forward and she rushed past the crowd. Jaune went wide eyed as did the other heroes as she entered the danger zone not knowing why her feet carried her forward.
She heard the heroes telling her to turn back, that she'd die and the villain himself looked to her with utter hate at remembering the young rose's face. Yet despite that she advanced her legs running forth with great stride despite her rapidly beating heart and overly panicked mind. Yang's eyes fluttered at the heroes calls and within her dazed state she looked out before her and saw Ruby running her way in clear fear.
"R-Ruby…"
What am I doing, why am I running!? Why can't I stop!
"Damn brat time for some payback!"
The slime villain readied his arm for a powerful swing to kill the little pest, Ruby looked on in horror. She didn't know what to do, so she did what she always did and referred to her notebooks remembering Edgeshot's tactics.
Without a moment's hesitation she grabbed her backpack and spun adding power to her throw she let go of the sack letting it launch the villain's way. The objects flew out of it hitting the man's eyes making him groan in pain and pull back ignoring the quirkless girl closing in on him. His form slightly came undone giving the buxom blonde time to breathe in desperate breaths only to then notice the form of her weak and useless little sister desperately trying to scrape aside the green sewage surrounding her.
"The hell are you doing here!"
"I-I don't know, my legs, they, they just started moving!" She started to wonder what could've pushed her to do it, to push the useless her to try to save her older sister. Through her mind came all the insults from her, from everyone only to then realize none of it mattered… because in the moment. She attempted her best smile just like the man who even now was still her hero.
"I couldn't just watch you die big sis."
I wanna be a hero, that makes the world a better place, a world where everyone smiles and lives happily.
Jaune's hand gripped the wall and begun to shift slightly expanding and shrinking repeatedly as steam begun to seethe out.I have to do something….
He pushed through the horrid pain that'd kill lesser men.
No matter the cost!
Her voice came to his mind.
When you think you can't go on anymore…
Pathetic, pathetic so pathetic!
The villain finally regaining his sense of composure begun to smother Yang once more ignoring Ruby's desperate attempts to free her sister.
"You damn brat just die!" He swung at Ruby striking to kill, Ruby shut her eyes and covered herself silently apologizing to her sister that even now she was useless. Upon hitting his mark, a small explosion rang forth.
"I really am pathetic…" It was when she heard that voice that she realized she was still there, still alive and she dared to look. Only to then go wide eyed as she saw him, standing over her with a smile on his face he stood shielding her with his own muscular form all the while his eyes baring into hers relating a certain gratitude.
"A-All Might, but your time limit…" His smile grew despite how blood leaked from his mouth.
"I told you didn't I… What it takes to make a great hero… and yet…" His fist flexed and he rose it skyward ripping off the slime.
"I wasn't living up to my own ideals!" All Might grabbed Yang's wrist.
"A hero has to put his life on the line every day!"
"Damn you!" Jaune's eyed glowed azure as he pulled back his fist.
"Vale Smash!" like before in the underpass his fist rocketed forward carrying a force far beyond that of a mere man. And with it a torrent of force struck the villain unhinging every bit of his form making him scatted apart while in his other hand he held unto both sisters. Nora ducked down wrapping her arms around the civilians and other heroes enduring the force of the blow. At the center of it all a small twister formed from the punch with enough strength to alter the clouds above.
Rain begun to fall to the city and the citizens as well as heroes looked up in disbelief as above them it looked as if they were in the eye of a storm. Deatharms looked up before looking back to All Might.
"Good show boy, changing the weather even." Jaune never broke his smile as he wiped the blood from his mouth and stood straight. The men and women looked in awe at the man for a moment his foot nearly gave but he wouldn't allow it and he rose his arm up skyward and in response the people cheered not noticing how Jaune looked back at nobody else but Ruby.
Ruby walked back to her house a bandage or two on her from slight burns but nothing else she was a bit down, after all she had been scolded for acting recklessly. But hey on the bright side Yang was praised on her quirk and offered agencies too look up when she had the chance.
What really bothered her was that she never got to talk to All Might, to apologize, if not for her that villain wouldn't have gotten the opportunity to have caused all that.
"Maybe if I apologize through a fan site he'll read it."
"Ruby!" Ruby stopped recognizing the voice she turned back to see the long mane of golden hair rushing her way and right before her the figure of one Yang Xiao-Long who stopped before looking at her.
Whether what she sent Ruby was a glare or not she didn't know. The blonde stared her down for a long moment catching her breath before she spoke but as she did her gaze broke and she looked away.
"Don't go thinking you did anything…" She looked up to Ruby her eyes wide in anger.
"You didn't help me, you just got in the way of me using my Quirk to escape! Got that! Because of you All Might needed to come to our rescue, you just got in my way! I would've been fine by myself! So, so don't you dare look down on me you Quirkless failure!" Her eyes then narrowed to slits and her voice went cold.
"You didn't do anything, don't forget that…" She turned away her teeth gnashing.
The Weak die the strong live, those are the rules.
She's the weakling…not me.
She trembled and roared.
"I don't owe you nothing brat!"
Ruby just watched as her older sister stomped away, still fuming before tilting her head confusingly.
"What?" But she decided to let it go before she got confused.
"'Sigh' She's right though…"
I really didn't do anything to help, probably just got in the way… but at least I tried… one last time.
She then turned finally accepting that her dream would always remain just that.
"I AM HERE!" From nowhere All Might popped out assuming one of his signature poses.
"Waaah! A-All Might, h-how'd you get here, weren't you surrounded by reporters." She placed his hands on his hips and begun to bellow.
"HAHAHA! I the Beacon of Hope not ratings, Justice never re-BLGGGH!" Popping out of his muscular form Jaune spewed scarlet.
"All Might!" Jaune wiped his face as he readied himself for something… uncomfortable.
"Miss Rose, I came here to thank you and to correct something incredibly foolish I said." Ruby looked befuddled.
"What?"
"Hehehe, 'sigh' If you hadn't been there and done what you did despite your personal experiences and status."
"S-Stop I didn't really do anything I just go-"
"No you did…" She looked to him.
"At that time, no one acted despite miss Xiao Long's peril… not even me the Beacon of Hope and yet despite that the quirkless, weak you did. Do you want to know why?" Ruby looked to him unconsciously shaking her head in affirmation Jaune eyes grew kind as if reliving a memory.
"It's really simple actually… All the best heroes will tell you if you were to get the chance to ask. They'll all say it, that when they saw someone in peril… "
The scene then switched to far back in his Beacon days when Cardin was attacked by a Ursa, when he stepped forward to protect him.
"Their bodies just moved, without a thought they did not hesitate to save another. That is the sign of a true hero." The memory of Ruby rushing to Yang flashed, of this frail little child in that moment she looked so… heroic, he then looked into her eyes.
"Young Rose… is that not what happened to you?" Ruby's word caught in her throat and she trembled, she gave a weak nod, not believing what was happening remembering her father's words. Jaune nodded.
I'm sorry Ruby…
Those weren't the words she needed to hear from her father then…
"I knew it… and now I will take back my biggest mistake." Ruby begun to tear up not daring to hope. While Jaune felt the autumn wind brush past him and felt her as he said those very same words to Ruby that 'she' had said to him when he needed them most.
"Ruby Rose…you too can become a hero…"
What little restraint the Reaper had broken in that moment as she cried out in joy hearing the words that had seemingly never been destined for her. But now, she heard them and by the person she most respected most aspired to be no less.
That day was her first step to becoming the number one Hero…
