Chapter 21: A Mad Ideal
"Is that…" Ruby asked in shock and horror.
"A Nomu?!" she and Izuku exclaimed. The creature…it sure did look like the Nomu from before, but it was this dull, pale green color rather than a dark blue. Plus, it didn't have a bird like face and was leaner, but clearly exuded tremendous strength from the way it pushed the metal of the train with ease.
"Gran Torino!" Maria called out.
"You kids stay put!" Gran Torino ordered before propelling himself to the Nomu, giving a hard kick to the noggin to get the creature off the hero it attacked. Gran Torino attacks again, knocking himself and the creature out of the moving train towards the dark buildings of Hosu.
"Gran Torino!" Izuku exclaimed, running to the hole. He and Ruby look on in shock at the inferno happening before them in the district. "What's going on?"
Ruby looks around in the train cart as the locomotive slows to a stop, seeing everyone distressed over the situation. Her eyes then land on Maria, who was tending to the wounded hero. The train conductor comes.
"What happened?" he asked Maria.
"A giant villain came out of nowhere," she said.
"Where are they now?"
"Hero Gran Torino is taking care of it. Right now, we need to get this youngster some help," Maria said, referring to the downed hero.
The train conductor nodded. "Thanks. Everyone!" Ruby and Izuku looked at each other, silently asking each other what they should do. "Please, remain calm!" They then look determined, as if reading each other's minds and nodding. "We have emergency responders coming their way and–"
"Excuse us!" Izuku said, getting the conductor and Maria's attention.
"We're getting out!" Ruby added and two jumped out of the train.
"Deku, Roslein Ryder! Get back here!" Maria exclaimed. She gives an irritated sigh. "Kids these days!"
Chaos spread like the fire it caused. Heroes from all over Hosu were called to action, even the ones who were about to call it a night.
Among the heroes in action was the General, who utilized his expertise and Quirk to help people evacuate the danger zone. As he did, Shion Zaiden, the Nightmare Hunter, was using their dreamcatcher like staff to people out. Glowing strings shot out of the dream catcher to catch people.
A look of rare anger was evident on their face. "Right while I was about to be on the Hero Killer's trail…"
Penny, as Marionetta, used her Strings to create a pulley system to lift up debris that was trapping people.
"Thank you so much!" one of them said.
Penny nodded, ignoring a bead of sweat. "Is there anyone else?"
"No! Everyone got out safely!"
"Okay!" Penny lets go of the debris, allowing it to fall into a broken pile. She looks back at the pandemonium. "Who…caused this?"
*BA-BUMP*
"Tenya…where is Tenya?!"
"How can there be two Nomus?!" Ruby wondered as they ran. "One was already bad enough!"
"I don't know…Maybe they're brothers?" Izuku surmised.
"I hate to see that family tree," Ruby said.
Izuku stops and looks at the place where Gran Torino last was. "I don't see where he is…Rose, can you use the scope of your sniper to find him?"
Ruby nodded. "I can try." She jumps to get a hold of the cement barrier of the train tracks and pulls herself up, perching herself on top. She takes out Crescent Rose, turning it into sniper mode. "Let's see…" She focuses her scope on the hole Gran Torino went through. "...I don't see any movement inside from here. He might've taken the Nomu out somewhere else."
"I see. Let's get down from here, then," Izuku said.
Ruby nodded and put Crescent Rose away. "Okay. Let's–"
*BA-BUMP*
Ruby let out a small noise and started to sway.
"Rose?" Izuku asked. Then Ruby started to fall off the bridge! "Rose!" Activating Full Cowling, Izuku leaped over the barrier and fell after Ruby. He manages to grab her hand and pull her to him. Now having her in his arms, Izuku twists around so he can land on his feet. The landing made a significant impact on the pavement, courtesy of One for All's output. Izuku took in several breaths to calm rattled nerves and rapidly beating heart.
It happened so fast…
"...Rose…Rose, what happened? Are you okay?" he asked. Ruby had her eyes closed, her head laid on Izuku's shoulder. She looked pained. "Ruby!"
Ruby started to stir and opened her eyes. "...I…zuku?"
Izuku sighs in relief. "...Yeah, it's me," he said, his voice shaky and so was his smile. "How are you feeling?"
"Woozy…What happened?"
"I was just about to ask you that. Can you stand?"
"...I think so."
Izuku lowers her to stand on her feet. Ruby swayed again, but was able to stay steady. She looks up at the bridge they were at.
"Whoa…did I really fall from that?"
"...Rose? What happened up there?" Izuku asked.
"I…don't know," Ruby said, putting a hand to her temple. "I had this strange feeling coming over me. I–"
Flashes started to invade her vision.
'Tensei…Tensei!'
"W-What?" Ruby gasped.
"Rose?" Izuku spoke, unaware of what happened.
'Tenya... I'm sorry...Will you take this name for me?'
Ruby's breathing started to become quick and in short spurts, her heart palpitating rapidly.
"Rose? Rose, can you hear me?" Izuku said.
'Come…I will dispose of you with these hands!'
"Rose, you gotta listen to me. You're having a panic attack," Izuku said, trying to stay calm for his friend. They are now on their knees, Izuku has his arms around Ruby's shoulders. "Take deep breaths with me, okay?"
Ruby didn't respond. It didn't appear that she was listening to Izuku. He sounded so far away to her. All she could hear was her breathing, heartbeat(s?), and…Tenya's voice?
"What's going on? Why is this happening?"
'Ḧ̴̖́͜͠Ẻ̴̝͝R̷̠̬̤̈̓̀Ö̴͉́̚ ̴̻̓K̵̬̲̋I̶̤̯͒͊͐ͅL̴̻̭̽̈L̷̢̨͐͒̉Ĕ̴͓̃R̴̩͎͔̓͒̋!̸̣̻̆̾́!̸̯̌̓!̸̧̎!̸̰̩͇̍'
"Iida…" Ruby muttered with terrified realization.
"Huh?"
"It's Iida…He's looking for the Hero Killer…He's in danger!" Ruby exclaimed. She suddenly bursts away, heading off to an unknown location.
"Rose!" Izuku exclaimed, sprinting into a run, following the petal trail.
"This feels…awfully familiar."
As he ran, a small breeze picked up, carrying some of the rose petals into the air.
Tenya was finally able to track down Stain in an alley, getting ready to kill a pro: Native. He had tried to attack the villain, but Stain saw him coming and hit him with the back of his jagged blade, sending Tenya back. Stain, having zero intentions to kill a random child, demanded Tenya to leave.
Then…Stain saw vengeance in Tenya's eyes and pointed his sword towards him.
"I am the younger brother of a hero you attacked…" Tenya started to say, getting up back on his feet despite being at sword point. He didn't care. "The younger brother of the most excellent older brother!" He was finally going to have his revenge. "I have come to this place to put a stop to you." For the sake of his beloved brother, Tensei Iida! "Remember this name as long as you live! Ingenium! It is the name of the hero who will defeat you!"
"I see…" Stain said, staring intensely at Tenya. "...Die."
Tenya's Engines blared to life. "Like I would!" he exclaimed.
What happened next, neither expected. A red swarm of rose petals flew into the alleyway and plowed into Tenya. At the moment of contact, the red swarm materialized into Ruby Rose.
Tenya gasped. "Rose?" They rolled once when they hit the ground, with Ruby on top of Tenya.
Stain, to his credit, didn't react much to the sudden appearance. He looks down at the petals on the ground.
"...Rose petals?" He looks back at the kids, seeing the petal trail leading to them, specifically Ruby. "Did the petals come from the other one?"
"Rose…what are you doing?" Tenya asked.
Ruby rises, but doesn't remove herself as she gives Tenya a heated glare. "I should be asking you that! What were you thinking, attacking the Hero Killer?!"
"Out of the way, Rose!" Tenya pushes Ruby off and moves to get up. Ruby then grabs him from behind, wrapping her arms around Tenya's neck and under his right armpit. It was a difficult grapple, only being able to hook her fingers, but Ruby somehow manages to keep her hold on Tenya. "Rose!"
"Enough is enough!" Ruby said. "I won't let you throw your life away! Think about your classmates! Think about your friends! Think about your family! Think about your brother!"
The mention of his brother further ignited Tenya's fury and started to thrash to get Ruby off. "Let go of me this instant!" Due to their differing height, Ruby didn't have her feet on the ground, thus no stable footing. Tenya could feel her grip loosening and grabbed her arms to pull her hands apart. He then takes a hold of Ruby's arm to pull her over his shoulder and on the ground, almost mirroring the two hand shoulder throw Izuku did to Bakugo back during the battle trial, though, surprisingly, not as rough.
Still, Ruby coughed from the impact, almost in shock that Tenya did that. Willing to hurt his own classmates to get to the villain.
Ruby heard Tenya stepping away from her, heading for Stain again, but she wasn't going to let him get far. She pulls out her harness rope and throws it at Tenya's leg, coiling around his calf. Ruby pulls it, causing Tenya to lose balance. She bursts forward, getting ready to tie him up with her rope.
But Tenya was faster. Perhaps due to his rage-induced adrenaline rush, Tenya quickly lifted his leg to kick Ruby, canceling her burst and hitting her in the stomach, sending her flying. She then burst back in midair, landing on Tenya again, flat on his back with her legs straddling him and her hands on his wrists, holding him down. Ruby used every ounce of her muscle power to keep him down, a struggle for sure as she knew Tenya was stronger than her.
She needs to act fast.
"...Iida…this isn't the answer," Ruby said. Tenya fights against her grip. Ruby could tell that she was going to lose it, but stays firm as she tries to get through to her friend. "Tenya... please. You're a good person but you're making all the wrong decisions!"
"SHUT UP!" Tenya spatted.
"Is this really what your brother would've wanted?!" Ruby exclaimed, desperation in her eyes.
"You don't know anything!" Tenya shouted.
"Of course, I do! My sister was hurt too! Remember?!" Ruby said.
'By the way, she's doing okay.'
Tenya's chest raised up and down from his heavy breathing. "At least your sister still has a chance…" His voice was breaking, from probably both anger and grief. "...at least she could still be a hero…" Tenya gives Ruby probably the most terrifying, hateful glare she had ever seen.
"At least your sister isn't crippled!"
Tenya's words made Ruby's mind go blank as she stared at Tenya with a shocked look.
Seeing this, Tenya shoves her away to get back on his feet and attacks Stain, who was watching the whole thing with a mild curious expression. With a rage fueled shout, Tenya goes to give a powerful kick to Stain, who easily dodged the attack and gives Tenya his own kick, stabbing the spikes on his boots into Tenya's shoulder and stomps him to the ground.
"You should've listened to the girl," Stain said. "You're weak." He stabs Tenya in his upper arm, making him scream. "You and your brother." Stain grinned. "Because you are fakes."
"Shut up, villain!" Tenya shouted, his voice breaking even more. "My brother…he's paralyzed from the waist down due to a spinal cord injury…he could no longer be a hero." Never again will Tenya watch as his brother would save people. Tensei…is an excellent hero who saved many lives and led everyone…until now. There was no reason to hurt him like that!" Tenya fought a losing battle to keep his tears from flowing. "He was my hero…he was an excellent hero who gave me a dream! I won't…I won't forgive you! I'll kill you!"
"Is that right?" Stain nudges his head at Native, who is slumped up against the building, bleeding from his shoulder and struggling to move. "First, save that guy. Reflect on yourself and save others. Don't use your power for yourself. Being taken by the hatred before you and trying to fulfill your own desires…" Stain narrowed his eyes. "...that is the furthest a hero should be." Stain removes his sword out of Tenya's arm, making him shudder in pain. The villain lifts the bloodied tip up to his face. "That's why you'll die."
Ruby, who had been frozen by Tenya's words up to this point, gasped.
Stain laps his tongue along the blade, licking up the blood. Tenya gasped when he suddenly felt paralyzed all throughout his body. A horrified thought came to mind.
Had Stain paralyzed him like he did to his brother?
Stain raises his sword for a swipe, getting ready to cut off Tenya's head. "Goodbye. You're an offering to a more just world."
Tears continued to fall as he slowly came to realize that he was about to die. He was going to die without ever avenging Tensei.
"Damn it…"
The jagged blade goes down, aiming for his neck.
Tenya closed his eyes. Waiting for his death…
"AH!"
Tenya's eyes snap open.
That…wasn't him screaming.
Then he saw red rose petals fall into his view.
His heart dropped into his stomach
"No…"
Everything was in slow motion as Tenya saw Ruby fall over him, landing just a couple feet ahead of him on her front.
"That didn't go…as I expected," Ruby muttered. She thought she knew pain…but this…was a whole different level.
More tears were beginning to form in Tenya's eyes. "Rose, no…"
Even from his vantage point, he could see the blood oozing from her leg.
"ROOOOOOOOOSE!"
Izuku gasped. "Was that…"
For the first time in a long, long time, Stain was surprised.
That same swirl of red petals came back, taking his killing strike, before materializing back into Ruby. Stain sees more of those red, rose petals leading back to Ruby.
He makes his way over to the wounded girl, much to Tenya's horror.
"No…No! Stay away from her!" Tenya shouted. "What have I done…?"
Stain reaches Ruby, kneeling down next to her. Her hair…its color and length was familiar…
Unable to see her face because of her hair, Stain grabbed her by her neck with a grip firm enough to not choke her and turned her so he could see her face.
Tenya didn't like this. "Let her go, damn it!" He felt his heart bumping against his ribcage. "Rose…she's gonna die because of me!" He remembered the face Ruby made when Tenya said those cruel words to her. "This is all my fault…"
Ruby opened her eyes, revealing their silver color to Stain. The man tilted his head with slight curiosity.
"Why do you…look like her?" he asked.
"...Huh?" Ruby said, confused.
"Why do you have her face?"
What is he…?
Stain is suddening knocked back by a punch to his cheekbone, letting go of Ruby. Before she could fall back, an arm caught her.
"Midoriya!"
It was indeed him, his arm poised post-punch and green sparks all around his body that faded out. He turns to Ruby.
"Are you hurt, Rose?" he asked her.
Ruby nodded. "My leg…the left one…"
Izuku moves over to the leg and was aghast by the sight. The wound…it looked deep…it stretched from the outer side of her thigh that curved to her knee.
This wasn't a superficial cut.
Ruby needs immediate first aid.
Izuku shakes his nausea and starts taking what he had learned during the rescue exercise at their second visit to the USJ. Izuku runs through what he needs to do, all the while trying to keep himself from getting an anxiety attack. Clean the wound. He needed to clean the wound to wash off dirt and debris. Luckily, he has a water bottle that he had yet to open, having it in case to hydrate himself. He carefully pours the water on the laceration, making Ruby wince a little. Once done, he takes out a roll of gauze that he has on the chance he needed to patch a wound during his training and wraps it around Ruby's leg.
Blood could still be seen, staining the white with red.
Izuku felt conflicted between facing Stain and tending to Ruby.
"Rose, think you can put pressure on it?" he asked her. She puts her hand behind her to sit up.
"...Yeah…Yeah, I think I–" Ruby gasped, suddenly stiff. "I…I can't move…"
Izuku whips around to see Stain licking his sword.
"Just what do you think you're doing?" Stain asked.
"What did he…?" Izuku wondered.
"It's his Quirk…I think," Tenya said. "I haven't been able to move since he cut me…"
Izuku glances around. There's Ruby, Tenya, and Native…all injured and unable to move.
"This is bad…This guy…he's different from the guys at the USJ Incident," Izuku thought. "Those are the eyes…of a killer!" Hiding his phone behind his back, Izuku presses a button.
[Your location has been sent!]
Shion somehow manages to entangle the largest of the three Nomus that were released by Shigaraki in the strings of their dreamcatcher. It was a struggle though, as the Nomu was incredibly strong. The other heroes nearby came over to help Shion, keeping the hold on.
Unfortunately, with one tug from the Nomu, Shion and the other heroes are pulled towards it. Shion's eyes grew wide as the Nomu moved to grab them.
*BANG*
The Nomu shrieks in pain from a bullet hitting its arm. Shion gasped.
"The General," they said.
"Do any of you need assistance?" he asked. The Nomu goes to reach for the General, but Ironwood leaped out of the way and shoots the creature with his gun. The shots seem to aggravate the Nomu and it starts to thrash around. Ironwood clenched his teeth. "These things seem to be resilient…"
"Is that…like that creature Izuku, Ruby, Tenya, and the rest of their class faced in the attack at the USJ?" Penny wondered from far off the side. She notices something fluttering in the tiny breeze. She reached for it, grabbing it in her hand and taking a look at it. "A petal?"
It made her think of Ruby and wondered if she should text her about the situation. She took out her phone and was surprised to find a text from Izuku. It was even more curious when the message was a location. Izuku's location? But…why is it in Hosu? And why no other message?
Penny looks over at where the heroes are seeing as they are still busy with the Nomu. After some deep contemplation, Penny decides to follow the path to wherever Izuku might be and maybe learn what he is doing in Hosu. According to the GPS, Izuku was about 3 kilometers away. She kept her eyes on the screen of her phone as she went on her way.
It was because of this she didn't see that she was about to bump into someone and fell to the ground, dropping her phone.
"Oh, my! I'm so sorry! I didn't see where I was go–" Penny gasps. "Shouto Todoroki?"
Todoroki shook his head from his own fall. "Penny Polendina? What are you doing here?"
"I was about to ask you the same thing," Penny said. She gasps again and gets back on her feet. "But, now's not the time! Izuku needs help!"
Todoroki gets up too. "You've got a message from him too. His location, perhaps?"
Penny nods. "Yes, I have. I don't know why he's in Hosu, but…if he's here, then that means Ruby is too…and I wonder if it has anything to do with Tenya."
"I've been thinking about him lately, ever since the news about Ingenium…" Todoroki said. "I've overheard my old man talking about the Hero Killer being here and I was wondering if there was a connection…I can't help but wonder if this is the case."
Penny gets an idea.
"We need to inform a pro," she said.
"I've already told my old man, who's sending the requests as we speak," Todoroki said.
Penny nodded. "Alright. Hold on to me, Todoroki!" she said, holding out her arm to Todoroki. While curious about the request, Todoroki complied. "I'm going to use my Strings to get us there quicker. Provided that you guide us!" Todoroki nodded. Penny nods back and summons up her Strings with her free hand to pull them upwards in the air.
A thought came to Penny's mind.
"This…was all my fault…wasn't it?"
{~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* - Our Hero Academia - *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~}
Tenya Iida
Quirk: Engine
"Gives him car-like engines in each of his calves, giving him incredible running speed and extreme kicking power."
— Affiliation: UA High School Hero Class 1-A Student
— Birthday: 8/22 (Leo)
— Height: 179 cm
— Blood Type: A
— Likes: Studying, Beef Stew
— Color: Indigo (4B0082)
{~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* - Our Hero Academia - *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~}
Penny Polendina
Quirk: Strings
"Allows her to shoot out steel strings from the tips of her fingers."
— Affiliation: UA High School Hero Class 1-B Student
— Birthday: 02/18 (Aquarius)
— Height: 165 cm
— Blood Type: O
— Likes: Friends
— Color: Pigment Green (009633)
{~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* - Our Hero Academia - *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~}
"Midoriya…take Rose and get out of here!" Tenya said. "This has nothing to do with you!"
"...I protect those who can't move and stall time for me," Izuku declared. "I'll try to drive away the Hero Killer if I can!" At least until a pro shows up.
"No! You need to go!" Tenya insisted. "Rose needs medical attention and this has nothing to do with you!"
"If I were to listen to that, then I wouldn't be a hero!" Izuku said. He takes a fighting stance and then smiles as he faces Stain. "After all, meddling in someone else's business is the essence of a hero!"
Stain seemed to have liked what he heard as a grin appeared on his face. Izuku charges forward and is able to dodge Stain's slash attack, leaping over him, and delivering a downward 5% Detroit Smash, something reminiscent of Bakugo's movements.
Tenya watched in amazement. "Midoriya…his movements are much more fluid compared to before."
"That's because Midoriya had been training to better handle his Quirk than before," Ruby said as she recalled the moments of his training she was able to catch. "If you ask me, he's one step closer to achieving his dream."
"Midoriya…" Tenya thinks back on his past actions. "And have I been doing…?"
Izuku lands, feeling proud that Full Cowling is working as it should. "I can fight!" Suddenly, he couldn't move. No matter how much he tries to move a muscle, nothing would respond. The only thing he could move was his eyes. "I-I can't…my body…from such a small graze?" He shifts his eyes to Stain's knife, seeing a dribble of blood on it.
Realization hits Izuku. It's blood. It's the blood that Stain consumes that causes people to be rendered paralyzed!
"That was impressive, kid. Had me for a second," Stain grunted the congratulatory towards Izuku. He walks away, heading back to Tenya. "People who are all talk are a dime in a dozen, but I'll let you live." He aims his sword at Tenya. "You're different from these guys."
"No…stop, damn it!" Izuku cursed, unable to move from his spot.
"Iida…" Ruby muttered, stuck in her half upright position as tears started to form from her aching eyes as they glimmered in the moonlight.
Suddenly, a current of fire appeared to make Stain back off from Tenya again. The man snarled lightly at the new interruption.
"One after another…people keep getting in my way."
Ruby tries to move her head to see who it is, though she somehow caused it to fall back, making her see the world upside down.
She gasped at who she saw. "Todoroki…and Penny!"
"Todoroki…you're using your left side!" Izuku noticed.
"You really need to add more detail for times like this, Midoriya," Todoroki said, showing Izuku's message on his phone. "It made us late."
"Luckily, I was able to use my Strings to get us here quicker," Penny said. Her heart clenched at the sight of her downed schoolmates. "...But not quick enough, it seems. Do not fret, for pros are on their way!"
Once Todoroki used his ice to get everyone out of harm's way, Tenya had to watch as Todoroki and Penny worked together to fight off Stain, using well coordinated attacks against the villain. There were many close calls as Todoroki gains a graze on his cheek, but Penny was there to help prevent the Hero Killer from taking some blood. At some point, Ruby started to gain mobility again and not long after, as did Izuku who jumped back into the fray, making Stain realize that they were type O, a blood type that required the least amount of time compared to the other blood types.
Unfortunately, Izuku gets injured again, gaining a cut in his leg and gets paralyzed once more.
With each attack towards his classmates and any new injuries, Tenya felt even more guilt. If he hadn't given into his rage…if he had just confided in his friends…then none of this would be happening…
Penny skidded back close to Tenya. She had tried to use her Strings to trap Stain, but even when he was occupied by Todoroki, the man was quick enough to swipe them away. Penny looked at Todoroki, who now has two stab wounds on his left forearm. She looks around at the incapacitated people, her eyes then landing on Tenya. He stared back, as though trying to figure out what she was thinking.
"...Todoroki! How many people can you carry at a time?" she asked.
"...I can do two, why?" Todoroki asked.
"Polendina, what are you…?" Tenya started to ask. He stops when Penny gives him a saddened gaze.
"I'm so sorry, Tenya. This was all my fault," Penny lamented. At first, Tenya didn't know what she meant. That is until he remembered him asking her about the heroes stationed in Hosu. Penny gets back on her feet and moves to stand between Stain and Todoroki. She shoots out her strings and attaches them to any loose rock or debris. "So, while I distract Stain, you and the others will have to get out of here!"
"Polendina!" Todoroki called out.
"Penny, no!" Ruby and Izuku exclaimed.
"Sacrificing yourself so others will get away to safety…" Stain grinned. "All right then."
"No…Polendina, please don't!" Tenya pleaded. Begged! How many more people are going to suffer because of him!?
"It'll be okay, Tenya," Penny said. "Because…I am combat ready!"
"Polendina…Penny!"
"I know it's frustrating, Tenya. But, you're gonna have to let that leg heal!"
That was what Tenya's mother said to his ten-year-old self. He had accidentally broken his left leg when trying to mimic his brother.
So, here he is, in a hospital bed with his leg in a cast, pouting. Apparently, it was going to take a few weeks to heal, even with today's technology and the Quirks available. And he is as bored as any ten-year-old would be.
To help with this, Tensei had an idea and the permission to do so by a certain pro.
"Hey, Tenya, there's someone I want you to meet."
Tensei takes his little brother in a wheelchair to a room on a different floor. Inside was a girl around Tenya's age. Her ginger hair was cut short with a white bandage around her head. She had freckles dotted across her fair face and her bright green eyes…looked dull, unhappy.
"Who's she? What happened to her?" Tenya asked his brother.
"She got into an accident. Why not say 'hi' to her?"
And Tenya did that.
"Hello! My name is Tenya Iida! What's yours?"
The girl turned to him, looking lost.
"...I don't know…"
Tenya learned that her name was Penny. The poor girl was suffering from a trauma related amnesia and had difficulty remembering things, even her own name. Tenya asked Tensei what they should do.
Tensei's response was, "Why not be her friend? I'm willing to bet she could use one."
And that's what Tenya did. Everyday, he'd come to visit Penny in hopes of giving her a bright enough day. These visits were monitored by the hospital staff and James Ironwood. Some days were frustrating, as Penny would oftentimes forget Tenya's name and he had to remind her whenever he visited. It was a gradual process that was going on for a couple of weeks, until one day…
Tenya had come by with some paper for them to draw on when he heard–
"Tenya…" Penny said, a genuine smile on her face. "...I'm so happy to see you again! What are we going to draw today?"
Little by little, Penny's long term and short term memories have started to regulate to a functional level, much to the happiness of everyone around her, including Tenya. Penny remained in the hospital, however, due to circumstances that a young Tenya Iida didn't have time to process, but he still visited the girl whenever he could until Penny unexpectedly moved away to a place unknown to Tenya after a year into their friendship.
"That's just how life goes, Tenya," his mother had said. "Some people come into our lives for only a brief moment before leaving. It just makes these small moments even more precious."
There were times that Tenya was afraid that Penny forgot all about him, but he made a vow to remember her.
Then, next year, the first year at Somei Academy…
"Salutations, Tenya Iida! It's a pleasure to see you again!"
A now 12-year-old Tenya was at the gates of his new school when he heard his name.
He turns around to see a face he could never forget.
He smiles. Thank goodness. She hadn't forgotten about him after all.
"It's nice to see you again as well, Penny Polendina!"
"You wish to become a hero as well? Then, let's be heroes together!"
Finally, Tenya felt his hand twitch. "No…I can't…" Slowly, he starts to pick himself up. "...I won't…" Stain was able to dodge Penny's attacks and was about to slash Penny at close range. "I won't let my friend fight alone!" Tenya gets back on his feet and uses Recipro Burst to kick Stain before his attack could land on Penny. The resulting attack even broken Stain's sword.
"Tenya!"
"Polendina…I'm the one who should be apologizing," Tenya said. "I shouldn't've dragged any of you into this…and for that, I am sorry. I will not allow anymore of your blood to spill!"
Stain glowered at this.
"A person's essence doesn't just change so easily," he said. "You will never be anything but a fake who prioritizes his own selfish desires. You are a cancer to society that warps the idea of 'heroes.' Someone must set you straight."
"Are you saying that you are that someone?" Penny questioned. "It sounds more like you're trying to justify your reasons for hurting so many people."
"Polendina, Iida, don't listen to the logic of a murderer," Todoroki said.
"No…He's right," Tenya said. "I have no right to call myself a hero…Even so, I cannot give in. If I do, then Ingenium will die."
Having had enough of this, Stain attacks, resuming the fight. Todoroki keeps him at bay with his flames, but the villain is resilient. Almost inhumanly so. Tenya wanted to help but realized that his left Engine was stalling. He then gets the idea to get Todoroki to cool down his Engine with his ice. Stain throws a knife at Todoroki's head, but Tenya moves an arm to shield his friend, the blade piercing deep into the appendage. Penny then takes Todoroki's place while the boy goes to cool down Tenya's Engine.
Once recovered enough, Tenya activates Recipro Burst Extend and Izuku activates Full Cowling and they leap into the air towards Stain.
"If I just have…" Tenya, Izuku, and Penny thought as they converged on Stain.
Tenya readied himself to deliver a kick. "...my leg…"
Izuku charged his body, arching his fist back. "...my fist…"
Penny appears from above, her strings now coiling around Stain and her hands are clasped together above her head. "...my support.."
They hit their mark: Tenya kicked Stain's torso, Izuku punched his face, and Penny hammered down his head.
"...That's all I need right now!"
The airborne group started to fall until Todoroki used his ice to cushion their fall, sliding them down to safety.
Ruby sighs in relief. "Glad that's over."
They look up at the now unconscious Stain, trapped in Todoroki's ice. While Todoroki and Izuku talked, Tenya stared at the inert form. It's over…it's finally over…
Penny suddenly appears in his view. "Polendina–" He gets interrupted when Penny suddenly hugs him around his neck.
"...I'm so happy you're okay," she said in Tenya's armor. He couldn't feel it, but he did hear her tears dripping on his armor.
There was a moment of hesitancy, but Tenya returned the gesture, wrapping an arm around Penny.
"I'm sorry for worrying you," he said, his voice breaking again as he too had tears streaming down his face. Izuku and Todoroki smiled at the sight. As did Ruby, despite herself.
"Okay, that's adorable and all, but can someone please come pick me up because my arms are starting to hurt and my leg is on fire!" Ruby complained.
Todoroki suddenly looked horrified. "Did I hit your leg? I'm sorry. I'll try to refrain from using it from this point forward!"
"What? N-No, Todoroki. It was a figure of speech!" Ruby said. "My leg isn't actually on fire, it just hurts alot." She could hear Izuku giggle. "What's so funny?"
"I'm sorry…" was all Izuku could muster.
"Are you doing okay, Ruby?" Penny asked as she helped Ruby out of the alley, acting as her crutch. The others followed with Native carrying Izuku on his back and Todoroki pulling on Penny's detached strings that were used to tie up Stain.
"Eeee-yep!" Ruby responded, sounding a little loopy. "By the way, Roki, thank you for putting a little ice on my leg."
"The cold can numb the pain and decrease circulation, so as long its not in direct contact with the wound," Todoroki said. He rubs his finger over his scar. "Otherwise, it'll cause frostbite."
"Well aren't you a mister smartypants," Ruby grinned.
"Uh, Rose?" Izuku wondered from his perch.
"It's probably the blood loss," Native said. "We need to get her to the hospital. All of you."
Tenya looks over at Ruby, remembering their scuffle, his cruel words towards her, and her risking herself for Tenya. Then, he remembered the things Stain had said to him.
Penny noticed his expression. "Tenya?" The boy looks at her. "...There's something I want to tell you."
"Like what?"
"Before I met you, I was completely blank. I had no memory of my past, no family, and no friends to speak of. I was all alone…"
Izuku and Ruby were both surprised by what they had heard.
…No family? Then who…where…
"But then, you came along," Penny smiled at Tenya. "You've come by to see me again and again. Brightening up my day everytime you do. It's thanks to you that I am who I am today."
"Polendina…" Tenya spoke, nearly speechless.
"What I'm trying to say is you are my hero, Tenya," Penny said. "You have from the very beginning."
It felt like it had been an eternity since the last time anyone had seen Tenya smile genuinely. "...Thank you, Polendina." Tenya shakes his head. "I mean, Penny."
With the tension now gone, everyone smiled at the exchange, especially the 1A students, who are happy to have their class rep back.
"Alright, let's get this guy to the police an–"
"There you are!" A shout from across interrupted Native. Izuku looks to see Gran Torino and Maria.
"Oh, Gran Torino!" Izuku exclaimed. "I'm glad to see that you're oka–!" Izuku gets his face planted by the sole of his mentor's boot.
"Idiot! Maria told me everything!"
Maria hurried over. "Ruby, Izuku…Mis sobrinos están bien…" She looked relieved. Then she looked angry. Furious even. "¿Por qué saliste corriendo así? ¡Y ahora mira lo que ha pasado! ¡Deberías haberme escuchado y haberte quedado quieto!"
"I agree!" Gran Torino fumed. "Just what the hell were you thinking, running off like that?!"
"Wait, what did she say?!" Izuku asked.
"I have no idea, but I feel that I understood every word," Ruby said, cowering behind Penny.
"Ruby, who are these two?" she asked her.
"They're the heroes Midoriya and I are interning with, Gran Torino and La Cazadora."
"But why…and how?" Izuku asked.
"I was told to come here all of a sudden and I had Maria calling me and freaking out!" Torino seethed. He seems to calm down. "Well, all and all, I'm glad that the two of you are okay."
Maria looks at their wounds. "For the most part, anyway."
"We're sorry," Izuku and Ruby apologized.
Torino sighs. "Jeez…the boy really is like Toshinori. And Rose…she is like her mother."
"They're over here, sir!" a hero shouted from a distance. Coming into view was James Ironwood, followed by Shion Zaiden.
"I was given a call by Endeavor about a request for help," Ironwood said. He takes in what he was seeing. Four injured children plus a pro hero. "Those wounds…call for an ambulance!"
"Yes, sir!"
Shion notices Stain. "Is that…the Hero Killer?" The other heroes noticed too.
"C-Call the police too!"
Ironwood puts his attention back on the children and then to Penny. He walks over to her. "Marionetta, what happened?"
"Um…uh…" Penny stuttered. She shifts her eyes to Tenya, unsure what to say. She didn't want Tenya to get in trouble. Not after everything that happened. "I…"
"We came across the Hero Killer trying to kill Native!" Izuku exclaimed. Ironwood shifts his attention to Izuku. "We thought we could fend him off and save Native but…" Izuku started to feel small under Ironwood's gaze. After all, he's raising Penny to be All Might's successor. That technically made her and Izuku rivals.
"...I see. I feel it's appropriate to let you all know that I think what you did last night is exactly what being heroes is all about," Ironwood said. "You recognized a threat. You took action. And you did the very best you could. Now, leave the rest to us. And Marionetta?"
"Hm?"
"...I'm happy to see you are not hurt."
Penny smiled. "Thank you, sir."
Maria suddenly looks up. "Get down!"
Everyone looks up to see a Winged Nomu diving down towards them, its empty left eye socket heavily bleeding out.
"It's the one that escaped!" one of the heroes exclaimed.
Before anyone could make another move, the Nomu swooped down and snatched Izuku right off Native's back, causing the man to fall.
"Midoriya!" his classmates shouted.
"Izuku!" Penny exclaimed.
The Winged Nomu takes flight with Izuku in its clawed grasp, creating a powerful tailwind that prevents the others from going after it. After some of the Nomu's blood splattered on Ironwood's face, the man brandishes his gun to aim at the Nomu, his plan being that his shot will make the Nomu fall and Gran Torino can fly his way to catch Izuku. The tailwind made it difficult to aim, but Ironwood knew exactly what he needed to do to stop the creature and save Izuku.
All he needed to do is–
A long, lumpy, soggy tongue lapped against Ironwood's cheek to lick the blood off, breaking Ironwood's concentration. The man unconsciously put his hand over his cheek as he watched in disbelief at Stain, who regained his senses and somehow freed himself of Penny's Strings, chased after the Winged Nomu. Because Stain licked its blood, the Nomu froze and started to descend, giving Stain the chance to stab the creature in its exposed brain and, surprisingly to the heroes, save Izuku from its clutches.
Now back on the ground, Stain loomed over the fallen Nomu, his hand still on Izuku, keeping him on the ground despite Izuku squirming to get himself loose.
"...This is all…" Stain said. He rips his knife through the Nomu's brain. If it wasn't dead yet, it was now. "...to create a more just society…" A chill creeped up and down the spines of everyone as Stain said those words.
By this point, Endeavor finally makes his appearance. He notices Stain and, with a smirk, goes to use his fire before he is stopped by Ironwood.
"Wait, Endeavor! Stain has a hostage!" he exclaimed. That was enough for Endeavor to stop.
Stain relinquished his hold on Izuku and stood up. He turns around, revealing his noseless face to everyone as his mask has fallen off.
"You fake…" Stain muttered in a chilling tone, his eyes glimmering with bloodlust, his greasy hair in disarray around his bruised face. With his saliva staining his chin, he looked like a true mad man. Stain took a step forward. "...I must make things right…" From those words alone, everyone felt an overwhelming presence shadowing over them, engulfing them in a haze of red and black. Even the moon appeared to have taken a reddish hue. "...Someone must be dyed with blood…" Tenya and Todoroki felt that they had lost the ability to breathe, like their hearts were about to burst in their chest. "...I must take back what it means to be a hero…" Penny and Ruby held on to each other, their grips so tight they might draw blood. "Come! I dare you fakes to come get me!"
Stain had not used his Quirk on anyone…and yet no one moved a muscle…No one could move their feet, no one had the urge to fight…only to run…
Because…they were afraid.
Stain stared at them all with a haunting gaze.
"There is only one, true hero who has the right to kill me…"
Ä̵̳́̄̊̏͊͛l̴̨̡̬̮͕̼̦̤̋̅̐̏̚l̵̗̯̠̪̖̫̱̱̬̃͒͗̾̉̚ ̷͈̠̙͎̻̙̾͋̽͌̋̏͘M̵̡̫̫̙̄̽͋̆̒͐ì̶̬̞͉̼̣̭̺̹̄̀̂͜͠g̴͈̫̱̅̎́̕͜h̶̡̠͉̞̞̹̹̑̽͊̒̐ͅt̴̢̛͇͓̦̱̻͊̈́̋͆͒̅̽͛
Suddenly, it stopped with a drop of Stain's bloodied knife.
That overwhelming feeling of fear…fear of death…was gone.
Nearly everyone collapsed to their knees from the sensation while others, like Ironwood and Endeavor, stood on shaky feet. Penny and Ruby were on the ground, holding each other.
Izuku felt that he was on the verge of passing out, if not straight up vomiting, from the terror, but he was more shocked at what he is seeing now.
Stain had passed out on his feet due to a broken rib puncturing his lung.
Roman fell to his knees. He, Kurogiri, and Shigaraki had just felt an overwhelming sense of fear.
One that they haven't felt before.
"What the hell…" Roman was able to force out.
"Such presence…Even from this distance…" Kurogiri muttered, his voice slightly shakened.
Shigaraki took in long, deep breaths. He wanted to ignore how his heart pounded in his chest…how his hands shook against his neck as he scratched at it roughly.
Despite this feeling of fear, Shigaraki felt anger…hatred.
"Stain…"
Chapter 22: Definition of a Hero
…I just realized the amount of GreenRose and Dos Robots material I accidentally made. Lol!
After this chapter, there are five more left plus the epilogue.