AN: Here it is! As always I do not in any way shape or form own My Hero Academia. Please R&R
Beria The Hero's Dawn
Past
Human kind, are a chaotic and capacious species. Their dramatics and over reactions to the littlest things are impressive. Swinging between destruction and utopia with every breeze. An example could be found with the birth of a random glowing baby in China, and soon after the world falls into chaos. With this random harmless occurance the vaste majority fall into hysterics.
While the international news marvels over that glowing babe, another more traditional community witness one of their toddlers mutating. Her two legs become four more suitable for a deer, and a spotted cat's tail and ears sprout in loud scream of pain and confusion from the poor child. Desperate for an explanation the people turn to their spiritual leader, the half blind elderly shaman takes one look on the child's new appendages and names her a spirit reborn to the mortal coil to guide their tribe during the coming upheaval in the world, and so, while the rest of humanity tear themselves apart questioning their place in the universe, these nomadic and 'old fashioned' people embrace the change. Even if they believe spirits are the cause for this they embrace and support these differences. They see past the physical and see the child.
Time goes by and the young girl is taught everything her people knew from weaving baskets to connecting to the spirit world, to hunting and clothes making, to herblore. The young girl child took to their lessons like a fish to water. Once she learned all that they could teach her at the age of thirteen it was decided that their future leader needed to know more of the outside world. So, they brought in a tribesman whom had left to receive an outsider's full education. Teaching and preparing the girl now young woman so that she could lead them through future trouble was their sole focus. On her nineteenth day of birth she ascended to tribal leader.
Present Day
Stepping through their tundra surroundings with twenty dogs behind and beside them, nine of whom are attached to a loaded sleigh, a deerlike centaur with a snow leopards' tail limps through the untouched snow. With a wooden crutch supporting their front left side. A vision of white they blended in with the surroundings if not for the sled carrying baskets and furs. The figure that ever so slowly limped through the harsh weather, while their lower body was covered by a thick white ice tipped pelt, their upper half, the likely more humanoid half, wore layers upon layers of white leather and fur.
The being seemed as if a figure from a distant past, stepped straight out of an old legend to walk amongst mortal humans, an aura that almost whispered to any whom caught a glimpse, this is someone as dependent upon the land as any human from the long distant past and moved with a grace, and command as enrapturing as any mythical figure. Their surroundings are hidden by a veil of snow. The wind, already blowing harshly from what seems to be every side, suddenly picks up even more. Blowing against the heavily covered centaur suddenly, their fur lined hood is pushed back and a long white braid falls out, cat ears are pressed back tightly, only visible due to their dark leopard spots. Their face from their nose down is covered by a fur wrap. Their eyes' wide and dark. Voids that hid deep thoughts and harsh memories, that anyone could easily be mesmerized with only a glance from such a strong gaze. Still struggling to move forward, the dogs close in attempting to steady their master, to break the wind, to move forward. Their thick pelts only emphasizing their large girth obviously gained from constant hard work. Long fur colored in browns, tans, whites, and greys. Their pricked ears pinned to their massive skulls and black noses pointed out from a long muzzle, reaching for that next step against the howling wind.
The sled though small, was packed down with baskets and rolls of fur. While obviously organized and placed into optimal ways to spread there weight and increase the ease with which it could be pulled, judging by the furrows the sled made in it's path and the straining dogs that pulled it, it was no easy task. The harsh weather only further hindering the journey being made through its heart.
Finally exiting the snow storm, the deer centaur and their dogs slowly, steadily make their way down the rocky snow- and ice-covered terrain of a mountain. The faint winds that once buffeted them now, more alike a gentle caress. The sight from so great a height, grey clouds swirling above clearing away so that sunligh peaks through, the golden light highlights drifting snowflakes and reflects off of snow drifts and ice. Midway down the group is met by the sight of jeeps, ATVs and flashing lights. A large man wearing a ranger's mountain uniform steps up to meet her. "Konnichiwa, Beria-sama, my name is Yammamoto Takehashi. I will be your local guide during your stay here in Fujiyoshida.", with a small bow.
Pushing her face covering down the figure, a fey-like woman with delicate features and pale coloring replies, "Thank you for meeting with us despite our unusual meeting place. I know my way of transportation makes others uncomfortable, especially when confronted with so many of my pack, and please, call me Alicia. I am here to heal not as a hero." her voice gentle and carried through the group for all of it's softness. Her gratitude and apology clear in her tone. Unknowing that with just her voice she had grabbed more positive outlook from her escort than being able to control and corral what looked to be wild wolves-some even more positive that they were dire wolves even!-All with an obvious handicap from closely appearing as a wounded deer, the favored prey for any large carnivore. The woman, unknowing of the gathering respect, then nods in recognition. As they walk towards their escort down the mountain and to the tourist city.
Now off the mountain Alicia removes her thick fur lined parka to reveal a thick knitted navy cowl neck sweater. Her dogs are riding in three jeeps her small sled tied down to the roof of one, her one basket is settled beside her in a fourth jeep. As they maneuvered down the rocky trail, she holds the covered wicker basket steady as whimpers and yips come from it. The most recent litter of pups breed from her lead sled dog Ruth and the alpha male Bruiser. Still too young to leave their mother and their future still undetermined. Depending on their personalities and attitudes they could be sold to become companion dogs, given to service dog schools, or trained to help her as rescue dogs.
They reach their destination just passed noon. The city is loud, warmer than she is used to and smells strongly of pollution. She and her dogs are bundled off to a station to go through her passport and just to let the government and the local heroes know she is in the country. After going through the paperwork it's night outside. Luckily the rangers and police were nice enough to share their stations dogfood with her pack and even give her a little something. By the time she reached her room at a small hotel she was asleep before her head touched the pillow.
The next morning while watching her pack play in the open park nearest to her hotel, she made phone calls to various doctors whom worked with Pro Heroes. As the lead doctor Hiroshiro was speaking of the surgery and the aftercare needed it became abundantly clear that Alicia and her pack would be within the country during their notorious summer. Considering even their winter was a bit warm to them, Alicia knew she would need some help to keep her pack and self from keeling over due to heatstroke. The one thing that popped into mind when extremes and Japan are mentioned, is UA. Their moto of Plus Ultra was taken to great heights by their alumni. With this in mind she made an appointment with the notorious principle Nedzu the Mammalian Hero with hopes to cut a deal.
In the meanwhile she was still left with a limp, a large pack of wolf-dogs, and waiting for the translator gear to arrive. A translation gear is a recent invention resembling an earbud that as the name implies, translates any pre-programed language spoken. There are of course a few draw backs to this impressive invention. For one it translates only heard spoken words, it does not work for anything written nor does it translate what the user says. Then there is the cost. Thankfully as an international pro-hero I receive a hefty discount and I am well paid for my work.
Looking around I notice an increased crowd of mostly young children, watching my pack play fight. Looking at them I decide to change locations, before a child decides to rush up to one of my older grumpy dogs. Just as I straighten up to call the pack to me, I felt a slight tremor in the ground and a faint explosion in the air. Training and instinct had both my pack and myself on high alert, as we looked for the ground-zero. Loud sounds and vibrations in general were usually not a good sign in the mountains and snowy tundra that we usually patrol.
While the surrounding civilians seem unbothered-as if it was normal-I was on high alert and calmly, methodically began to narrowing it down the likely epi-center of the disturbance. Already I was mentally going over the most likely scenarios and various procedures needed. My Dogs had spread out, scouting and scenting-for either harmed civilians or possible villain presence-as we closed in on the sight of the disturbance I watched as a green boy laid on the ground in a defensive curl, as a group of four other boys, all of them wearing the same school uniform, surrounded him. One blond haired boy out front crackles like fire-crackers popping from his palms-a quirk-the obvious perpetrator, as the others standing a step behind him laughed. The green boy was obviously injured and scared.
What happened next should be obvious. This was an obvious case of violent quirk use and it seemed no one else was going to step in so I did. I had my pack herd the obvious aggressors away from their victim and keep them contained. As I went to check up on the injured child. The blond one was yelling what I know to be curse words at myself and the pack-he even tries to attack them!-but my police escort, whom I had forgotten about, began to shout right back at the little brat. While the hooligans were taken care of I focused once more on the shaking body before me.
Luckily I had brought my medical pouch with me on total autopilot before we left. As I made calming shushes to calm the crying boy, I gently rubbed his least burned part of his back. The poor boy was covered in mostly first degree burns but as he slowly uncurled he revealed second degree burns on parts of his face, chest, and arms where he had obviously tried to shield his more vulnerable parts. His uniform is burned, barely hanging to his frame, and if I am seeing correctly, actually fused with his skin in the worst off places.
Horrified but able to hide it from experience, I proceed to provide minimal first-aid, as I remain calm even as I called out to the intern babysitting me, "Call an ambulance. This one is going to need professional help." If I had looked back at them I would have seen the intern pale before grabbing their cell out. As it is I heard the snapped out coordinates and what was likely a summery of the situation, before they proceeded to yell even more at the little mini-villains. Once the green haired boy was loaded into an ambulance and the little gang taken to the precinct to be picked up by family I decided to call it a day. My leg was killing me, my emotions were high, and memories were flitting through my head. I was not in the mood to socialize anymore.
Without further ado I passed out once I was relaxed in my hotel bed.
The next morning, she is woken up by her cellphone. The caller id showed an unknown number. Bleary eyed she grabbed the phone before it vibrated off the bedside table. " 'Ello?", "Good morning Alicia-san. I am Nedzu principle of UA." suddenly wide-awake Alicia straightens her back, "Yes this is Alicia. Thank you for getting back to me so soon Nedzu-sensei."
"No need to call me -sensei Alicia-san! Now what can we here at UA do to help the golden age rescue hero Beria?",
"Ah, you see due to a past injury healing wrong I'll be here during the summer to recover, but due to my pack and mutation quirk we cannot handle the summer heat. I was hoping you might have a suggestion since who better to know the needs of an animal and the available resources than the local HighScecs animal hero himself?"
"Hmm, I see. I have a suggestion if I may?"
"Please go ahead. Your knowledge and opinion are the whole reason I sought you out."
"Well, if you have nothing planned while you recover from surgery, you would be welcomed to guest speak, maybe even part time teach a class here at UA. Your experiences as a hero predating the pro hero licensing would be invaluable to the next generation. In return our Hero Support department would be more than happy to create a weather-controlled section of our grounds.",
"Wow, ok, that sounds great! I am unsure if I can teach though. The faculty may have to guide me somewhat on this but, I'll be happy share my experiences with a new generation."
"Excellent! I'll send you this year's syllabus and have one of our staff pick you up at the station when you arrive!", the principles' tone almost seemed to chirp his response. I curiously felt a chill go down my spine oddly enough.
"Thank you again, I'll look forward to working alongside you while I am here sir." After hanging up it hits me. I have just agreed to teach at UA. The most over-the-top and famous Hero School. In the end I just hide my face in my arms with a groan for the future headaches I have myself up for.
Past
In the woman's twenty-eighth year, after guiding her tribe for seven years, there had been many more blessed births to her people. Now though the outside world with whom they had been avoiding direct contact with more now than ever before, has begun to demand their attention. The glowing babe that had first baffled them has been joined by more strange children. The world has for the most part, deemed these odd children as 'freaks', while others have called them a mutation, the next evolutionary step for humanity. There are people wanting to stamp out their presence, others whom want to take advantage of them, and it seems as if none of the outsiders wish to treat these children as they are, children. For this reason, the tribe has been keeping their own blessed young far away from those hostile eyes, but it seems as though fate has decreed different.
Five months later
Standing at the gates to UA with her waist high to knee high dogs milling round her and a leather messenger bag crossing her chest. The rescue hero Beria limps into her new temporary home beside the concrete hero Cementoss, also known as Ken Ishiyama. The sight they made drew a few eyes on their way to the school from the hospital. Though Beria, also known as simply Alicia, did not need a crutch, her foreleg was weakened. The recovery to take place here on UA's grounds would take a year of physical therapy, taking her off active hero missions, and travel was off the table till further notice.
The two heroes, one a vision of a winter fey, the other a large hulk of a humanoid cement. Their appearance a representation of natures beauty and the progress of urban development side by side.
The school grounds are larger than would normally be allowed. The front building seems normal enough if slightly a slightly eccentric design, the side buildings and the larger open space show there use as training grounds for future heroes. The school moto of 'plus ultra' is truly emphasized just by looking at the school grounds. The donations made by alumni, government support plus the school's faculty adding their own personal touches are obviously all needed for the upkeep of these grounds let alone the needed upgrades to turn out the top-grade hero's this school is known for.
As the two pro hero's make their way inside the grounds, a frothing sea of furry backs following their every step, never going far from their alphas side. They are met on the main buildings steps by the being known as the animal hero Nedzu, principle of UA and Alicia's new benefactor during her recuperation here in Japan.
I am met with a joy filled voice saying, "Welcome, welcome! To UA academia's crew Beria-sensei!" his head only just reaching my knees, his voice is surprisingly deep with what can only be described as a sort of growling-like accent, with a squeaking quality that is so very at odds with his glittering eyes and deep tone of voice. I would not be surprised if he used his contradictions to unbalance his opponents. His sharp suit is fitted over his white fur, his body a chimera of canine, rat, and bear. I watch as even in this short interaction his instinctual use of body language effects the tone of the conversation, how he expresses his emotions, and just the dichotomy of it all made my head spin.
Chuckling, "Thank you for this opportunity Nedzu-sensei." I reply with a small bow, my white braid of hair falls over my shoulder and my snow leopard ears are perked forwards in interest as I observe all of my surroundings.
Following Cementoss-sensei on a short tour of the grounds. Directly going to places she will need to go and anywhere else being pointed out along the way.
The repurposed inside training ground 1632 is now a wintery tundra. The buildings that once simulated an abandoned city torn down and an empty rural village now in its place, as snowflakes, real actual snow, fell from a ceiling hidden by a hologram of a cloud covered sky. At the edge of this empty village atop a hill and separated by a stand of evergreens is ranch styled country retreat.
Past
Old and young are laid low. The elders and the youngest are the first to leave the mortal coil, and others are growing ever closer to this same fate. The young woman knows that they need outside care, but the young blessed of the tribe were also the among the first to leave them. She is among the last four of the spirit touched in the tribe, they need the outsiders medicine but they will not speak to one such as her, neither would they treat one of the other Blessed. The Outsiders will demand payment, concessions from her people, the money demanded will mean sending her tribesmen to mingle with the outsiders to earn their money. Mingling means a closer eye on their people, it gives them a way to burrow their ideas, in doctrines, into the minds whom leave us. So, the woman plans. She gives the head medicine man instructions on how to request help. She sets up a long step by step plan for her remaining people for the next year or two. She writes down contingencies for everything she can think of even as she carries out her usual duties. Then she calls for a young hunter of the tribe one evening. The boy, almost a man, meets her before her fire. She passes her title onto him with her sheafs upon sheafs of paper, full of advice and plans. As the new chief sits before her stunned at this turn of events, she stands. Revealing her travel pack as she pulls her hood up, she steps outside of the light. Taking the few remaining Blessed children, they leave.
Two years after that night the tribe are met with the sight of those Blessed, thought to be forever out of their reach, Greet them upon a hilltop. Now grown to young men, they rejoin their tribe. Grown strong and skilled they fall into tribe life as if never gone. Hugging parents and greeting siblings, some for the first time, they live. The young woman, the once leader, however was never to be seen by her people again.
Alicia/Beris's POV
With the pack running through the indoor winter wonderland I am free to look through this year's Hero Course students. Looking at their general information the teacher's observations and their performances during their points test. As I make my way to the first classroom for the day, I cannot help but note down the more obvious troublemakers, the key to dealing with them will be finding the underlining cause for this behavior. Till then it will be up to the homeroom teachers and the rest of us to keep them on point. That explosive duo really takes the cake though. Honestly a late bloomer with little to no self-preservation and low self-esteem and what appears to be his bully with no self-control and explosive sweat. Good god! These two alone would give me grey hair!
Stepping into the room everyone stands and bows, "Good morning sensei!", "Yes, yes good morning class. Now please sit. My name is simply Alicia also known as the rescue hero Beria. I don't care if you call me either. I will be teaching you the different categories of Heroes, the history of how and why it came to be, and how this effects you in everyday heroing. Of course I am also going to offer extra-credit self studies too. Little things that every hero should know such as onsite first-aide. Later today or tomorrow I will also be introducing you to my rescue dog pack, for practical reasons I want them to be able to track you down for, say example, if you are 'lost' on campus. Any questions?"
Hands go up, though not many. I point to the familiar greenie, "Yes you Midoriya-san, right?", "Midoriya Izuku, Alicia-sensei. Are you really the international hero Beria? The longest working Pro Hero from the beginning of the Quirk era?"
"Yes." I reply with a deadpan. I point to the next one.
I point to a rosy cheek girl next, "Ochaco-san, yes?", "Ochaco Uraraka, sensei. Is it true that you work with a pack of dire wolves to find and rescue civilians?", I blink. With a raised brow I say "I don't know about 'dire wolves' but I breed a quirked pack of rescue dogs. They sniff out humans and dig them out of the snow for me. The pack is multi-functional and invaluable to my work and lifestyle. In fact, as I said earlier, in a later class I will be introducing all of you to the pack." They start to murmur at that announcement, worry and excitement seem to be the theme.
Past
Snow blind and set adrift the once leader wanders. Through forest and field, over and through hill and valley. All is unfamiliar with unknown landmarks. She sees more in her lone wonderings than ever before. Caves and glaciers, frozen animals and Neanderthals. The past forever preserved in ice hidden beneath the earth. She watches moonlight glitter across numerous snow-covered plains and wolf packs flow through icy forests searching for prey. The ribbons of color called aurora borealis winding above her head as she moves through midday moon. The scenery changed after every snow storm traveled through, even just a step through one and she found herself upon the mountain peak across from her previous position. Still the young woman carries on her face shadowed by her thick hood and her lower half protected by winter dense fur. She moved ever forward stopping only when the need for rest became obvious. Searching always searching. For a home, for a purpose. A place to rest and to call her own. Hunting and foraging for every meal, unable to store excess against leaner times, took its toll on her body. Traveling for so long with no companions took its toll upon her mind. One day as she traveled through a blizzard, searching for shelter from the harsh wind, she stumbled upon a cave. On first sight it appeared shallow if just big enough for her to fit inside, but once squeezed in she noticed that it went deeper. Looking outside at the storm that did not look to be easing anytime soon, she made a fire and settled for the night.
The storm continues and supplies are running low. The woman finally stands from the warm life-giving warmth of her fire. Taking a branch as a torch from the fire she follows the tunnel further into the cave. She follows the winding tunnel, through the just barely able to squeeze through to the so low she was bent in half areas, and into the large echoing galleries. The passage split and reconnected, the darkness when pushed back by her torch revealed breathtaking sculptures, ancient cave paintings, and crystals that reflected the firelight and twisted the shadows in an awe-inspiring play.
Exploring the cave tunnels eventually led to the sight of an open-air glade. Surrounded by high treacherous walls the bottom is untouched by any but the gentlest of winds. The ground is covered by chest high snow drifts and at the center is a faintly steaming hot spring.
Beria/Alicia's POV
After class I retreat towards my snowy domain. Even with the ac inside it was still a little too much for my eternal winters pelt. As I was making my way to the closest exit, I am joined by one of the senior staff, Aizawa-sensei homeroom teacher for class 1A, or as I liked to privately call it, the maddening class. Honestly looking through both 1A's and 1B's general profiles I could almost see that line between eccentric and madness separating this year's hero's course. With this in mind Aizawa-sensei has my highest respect for taking them on and sticking it out, despite our conflicting ideas on what makes heroes, vigilantes, and villains.
"Mind if we talk?", Asks me the eternally exhausted man. As if I had an option now.
"Might as well. So, what's up?" Flippant, go for flippant! is all I can think. I mean yeah I am older than the guy, and he looks like an insomniac hobo, and he is apparently in a committed relationship with coffee and Hizashi Yamada. Yet I cannot help but admire the guy somewhat. I mean come-on! He goes out on patrol, gets maybe two hours in bed, rolls out to teach! On top of it all he's an underground hero. He does not brag, he does not pose for pictures. He just does what he thinks is right and he is super protective of kids. Granted he shows his care with 'tough-love' but, his actions almost scream that this is as close to the original definition of 'hero' as there can be in this era.
"This year's students. What do you think of them now, after your first class?", he isn't looking at anything really but, I can see a sharp glint in his eyes before it's gone again. Is he fishing for something?
"Hmm, I'm not completely sure, but on first impression? Iida-san needs to loosen up, Mineta-san needs to learn respect for women, Midoriya-san needs to learn control of his quirk, and Bakugou-san is a ticking time bomb, no pun intended. Those are just the ones who really popped out to me. I will need more time to observe the rest." I say, really though, those four immediately jumped out as the ones most likely to either burn-out or get slapped in the face with reality. "Honestly these kids are supposed to be the future heroes. The majority of them don't seem to even realize that the world and society are not cut and dry. That there is more to heroism than 'beat up the bad-guy' and look pretty for the camera!" I can't help but to rant to the underground hero. Because seriously? That mindset would have had those kids in major trouble back in my day.
'Oh no.' I pause as that last thought registers, mild horror filling me, 'I just sounded like one of those cankerous geezers.'
Not realizing his conversation partners internal conflict, Aizawa continues on. "Hmm, yeah I noticed those problem kids already. I was this close to expelling Mineta-san if not for the principle getting on my case for expelling last year's whole class."
As I exited the building to head to mine, Aizawa turned down another hallway towards the teachers' lounge.
Eraser Head/Shouta Aizawa's POV
Following the hallway, he thinks back to the newest teacher. The reports on her were exceptional but the way she openly criticizes everything. It just rubs me the wrong way. Though the times I heard her point of view on hero society have been few, the trains of thought those comments follow sound more like excuses to break the law. Granted she likely adopted those ideals during the height of vigilantism. Before lawmakers began to take into consideration for the need of pro hero's in society. With the way she plays the mountain hermit she likely hasn't updated her views or philosophy.
Just what was Nedzu thinking of hiring her? Yeah, she is a great resource to hear about history from someone who lived through it but, she is supposed to set an example for the students. I'm going to have to keep a closer eye on this year's students aren't I. With that 'happy' thought he enters the bright teachers' lounge. With a mental groan I shuffle my feet to the sleeping bag behind my desk, covered in yet more paperwork, I give a wave to Nemuri as I pass her. Reaching my goal, the call of sleep reaching the climax as I zip the yellow hero-grade fabric up to my neck. Before I can drop off into a much-needed nap, Hizashi calls out to me. Looking at the man I call friend and husband, I question my life's choices.
"Shota! How's the newbie settling in? What's your impression of her?", enthusiastic, and loud, as always.
"She's not too troublesome. Has the biggest problem children clocked.", I then close my burning eyes, dead to the world for the next twenty minutes.
A sigh goes through the room even as the teachers consider the few words of observation given. This new teacher is more like a cryptid than a pro hero during this era of multi-media. The hero scene no matter where you go is vividly reported on with few hardline rules set on the massive beast called reporters. Beria is a hero whom crosses country borders without care rescuing lost hikers and mountain climbers and her earliest recorded work was during the vigilante era. That she had come down from her snowy peaks to actually teach the next generation certainly set off what seemed like a shockwave through the international media. With both the number one hero and the hero from the golden age teaching at UA in the same year, the reporters once word reaches them, will surround the school's borders. It wouldn't be a surprise if they actually resort to sending drones over the wall to get some images of them on the grounds. On second thought, this has to planned. Nedzu positively thrives for this level of headaches. As one the school's faculty curse Nedzu even as they wait for their own chance to talk to the Pro Hero's Cryptid.
Past
The years pass without her notice. That ravine that she had found at the heart of a cave system has become home to a roughly cut cabin. The hot springs used for warmth and bathing. The snow used to insulate the outer walls and melted for cooking. Her travels through the blizzards are gaining definition. Now always able to return to her hidden cabin she gathers oddities on her travels now. Whether it's an oddly shaped rock or a pretty feather. She brings the bounties of her hunts to salt and dry them, she gathers plants to dry and crush into medicine, anything unused is stored away for another time. Time passes some more and the rough-cut cabin is refined little by little.
Watching the wolfpacks band together to better hunt and survive the winter is a sight she never grows tired of. Their savage beauty combined in their desperate attempt just to live. As they run across snow covered plateaus, searching for tracks, tireless in their gait, their furry backs move across the moonlit plains like a dark river with flashes of light here and there. Even as they single out a prey their take downs with flashes of fang and the spray of ruby bright blood it leaves her mesmerized. Despite her admiration for these animals she never loses her head. Always observing from a distance, high above on a rocky ledge or covered by wind driven snow. She knows well enough that a famine driven pack would tear her apart if given a chance, especially as her totem animal had blessed her with their similar body.
One day during her travels through a valley within the grips of the spring thaw, she hears growls and whimpers. Looking through the brush to her left, down a way along a path to the creek running through this forest, is a she-wolf caught in a bear trap. Her right foreleg was half way chewed off and her jaws dripped her own blood. Even exhausted and in pain, the wolf was beauty personified. With a thick ruff and bright eyes, her coloring matched the forest so well that she seemed to almost be made from the surrounding elements. A nature spirit almost, if not for her dire straits.
Beria/Alicia's POV
Yips and yaps fill the air as the adult pack members sit to the side as I put the youngest members through their paces. Depending on how they handle the mock scenarios they will either become full-time rescue dogs or they will go to a reputable service dog school. The companion dogs had already been rooted out and those three young pups where sent to their very own forever homes, kids to play with and lazy days included.
This year the remaining pups have shown good verve so-far. They tracked the mock dummy, dug said dummy out of the foot of snow, so it's looking good.
This session however is special. I had set it up so that I can hit two birds with one stone, today the students of class 1-A will be meeting the pack. Exposing the future heroes to my senior pack members as well as the newest recruits will give me a better gauge on both.
The seniors know full well to hold and wait when presented non-threats so how the students' approach and interact with them will tell me where to work. The younglings however are still in that excitable puppy stage, though friendly they will get rough, so best for them to practice discipline and restraint on young sturdy trainees than have an accident later down the line.
1-A Student's POV
After getting the note to meet our teacher in training building 1636 we all trooped there wondering what our lesson will be.
Just opening the door, we are blasted with cold air! The gust felt like daggers compared to the heat outside. Looking around I couldn't help but marvel at both the realistic mimicry of the outside and how the icicles refracted light prisms from there spot on the tree branches. Even as I wrap my arms round my torso and huddle closer to my classmates for warmth.
"Wow it's freezing in here! Look! There's some winter gear by the door." Izuku quickly notices. "Tsuyu-san! Are you ok?", on hearing that I and the other's looked to see that indeed Tsuyu-san was pale and huddled down. Worried I made to step towards her but then, "Ah! Isn't your quirk Frog? Amphibians don' do well in lower temperatures so-" Midoriya simultaneously figures out the problem and falls into muttering. While Bakugo yell's at Midoriya for being a nerd I grab one of the bigger thermal coats to cover the frog girl.
Setting the bundled girl on Mashirao's back, his tail aiding to keep our out-of-it classmate steady, we set into the snowy environment.
We soon come across a rural village, and nearby we hear barking dogs. We are going to be meeting sensei's 'wolf pack'. Midoriya sets of into another mumbling spree and Bakugo seems only slightly irritated than usual. We set off following the barks, just as we push into clearing, we are surrounded by huge wolfdogs!
Before we realize that we are in danger a whistle cuts through the air and just as soon as we were ambushed, they were gone again.
There cantering up to us is our sensei. Her snowy hair pulled up in no-nonsense bun a white button-up covered by a buttery leather waistcoat. She was as put together as ever but here in these subzero temperatures she was in her element. With her leopard tail lashing the air her ears perked towards us she effortlessly commanded attention and obedience. Her dark eyes zeroed in on Mashiro's burden, concern flitted in her expression before she "Come over here Mashiro-san. Tsuyu-san can sit beside the fire, in fact all of you come warm up a bit. We can talk about what today's class is about while you recover." with a sheepish expression she explains "I got a little caught up in training and lost track of time, sorry about that."
Beria/Alicia's POV
After I chivied the class to the firepit, with minimum grumbling, I began the days lecture, "Okay so today is all about animal partners! How you approach them, how you work alongside them, and how to give minimum first-aid if needed. Any questions so far?"
"No? Alright then. I believe in the tried and true hands-on experience. Any mistakes are guaranteed to stick." With a smirk she clicks her tongue and the students are covered by overgrown puppies. Shrieks and giggles fill the air as the youngest pack members slobber on the teens.
While the young were distracted by each other the seniors stood to the side watching. Looking at them I noticed that all but a couple of the teens seemed to be overwhelmed by the pups so I called out, "Hold!", the dogs, and about half the teens stopped what they were doing, "Sit!" was barked out, and they all sat right there in the snow and dirt. Dogs and humans alike! Laughing I call out, "You realize that those commands were for the dogs yeah?" their splutters of embarrassment were music to my ears.
Chuckling, "Okay so I was thinking once familiar with each other what better way to test you than a snowball fight? Now form a line, come on, come on. You met the youngest, now I have to introduce you to the older members. That's it. Calmly hold a hand out let them get your scent. No, no! Don't come to them, let them move first. While they are trained rescue dogs, I regularly breed wolf into them. So, they are more in touch with their wild ancestry than other dogs."
Lined up in front of the firepit I lead the dogs down the line. Watching to ensure there is no misunderstandings, I notice Tenya-sans stiff movements, Minoru-sans wide eyes, Denki-sans large grin, and more. They all follow my instructions though with great determination from quite a few. It's not surprising. Many are afraid of dogs and others who were fine before will stiffen once informed that the pack are actually wolf-dogs.
By the end of class, the teens were relaxed and the dogs either ignored or play-fought with the heroes-to-be. All in all, it was a success. With the pups listening to commands, being gentler, and the older generation not taking offense to slip-ups. It was a good class. Now for class 1-B... here's hoping nothing goes wrong.
Past
Curled up on scrapes of warm fabric surrounded by low wooden walls, easily stepped over if so inclined, a She-Wolf lays on her side. With the missing foreleg covered by bandages and a sleepy content look on her canine face she basked in the presence of four balls of fur cuddled to her belly, and the banked embers in the fireplace before her. With shadows flickering here and there, the mother wolf knew that her pups and her were safe. Knew that they would live. With that certainty and filled with contentment she falls asleep in her new den.
Beria/Alicia's POV
Later during lunch, A, the intruder alarm went off. Chocking on my bite I scramble to my assigned route during emergency. With the constant noise echoing through the buildings and across the grounds I still manage to drown it out with long years of experiencing a storms wind shrilly whistling in my ears. The pack are in their kennel and the first years should be evacuating from the cafeteria with the older students overseeing them. With that knowledge of the most vulnerable most likely placements and trust in everyone's training to get the job done I focus on my own surroundings.
As a licensed Rescue Hero, I have little to offer in case of a villain except support to the front liners. Without my pack I have even less aide to offer. As I make my way to the front gate after checking the maintenance rooms I meet up with Edge-Shot-sensei. Seeing my furrowed brows, he is quick to inform me that no, it was not a fool hardy villain after All Might or anything else nefarious trespassing on school grounds. Well, unless you count swarming reporter's breaking in, ravenous for a scoop. Which by the way, I do, I shudder at the thought of being in the crosshairs of those piranhas. Honestly, reporters never change no matter what era they are from. Just as rude and inconsiderate when frontpage worthy news is dangled in front of them now as they were back during the 'Purges'.
Past
Wandering once more the woman is this time accompanied by what looks like a large wolf. Their shoulders easily reaching the chest of her deer half, their fur russet and ears swiveling. As she travels under the snow heavy branches of an evergreen forest, as ever with no thought to where this forest is located. Under the midday moon shadows and moonlight dance to an eerie tune made by whistling wind and shifting branches.
With no discernable reason why, the wolf pricks its ears and darts to their right. Its steps light and fleet for all of its girth. Swiftly following her companion, the woman just as agile as her totem animal's blessing, thinking a hare or lone herd animal nearby might have caught its attention.
As she reached her friends side, having jumped fallen trees and creek beds alike to reach them, she finds the wolf digging at the base of a pine no different from another. Wondering just what was going on she decided to clear the snow alongside the determined canine. Soon a pale hand is revealed. A small hand. Horror coursing through her veins she franticly swept the packed snow away from a small human body. Pale frosted face with blue lips, wearing barely appropriate winter gear, a thin layer of ice covers the frozen child from head to foot.
Quickly, carefully picking the child's body up she held it under her first layer of furs. Hoping desperately that if slowly, gradually she defrosted the child it would recover. Sharing her body heat as she made camp the woman sent up prayers to the spirits for safety and peace.
With a fire started she wrapped the child up in her blankets and placed the bundle before the fire. While she made a stew for later her wolf companion laid beside the child's form. Time blurred and she nodded off before the fire. Slowly the child became limp from their previous stiffness, color bloomed in their cheeks and their lips were now more pale than bloodless. Their eyes fluttered open and sobs broke the silence.
1-A Class POV
After Lida's awesome job of calming everyone in the cafeteria and Deku's abdication of class president to him everything went back to normal. Though granted all that panic over the stupid paparazzi breaking in was so not cool. We went to class, Bakugo exploded-repeatedly-Deku muttered, all in all its routine. Heroic's class 101 with All Might and getting to wear our awesome costumes was amazing! At least until the hero vs. villain with the meek greenie and the angry blond. The way Blondie just honed in on the poor kid was a little intimidating. While the fight was pretty cool the aftermath not so much. Damn, all that power packed in that small almost meek green bean? Granted he needs better control of his quirk but that's what UA's for. He's definitely gonna be a major player in the future. Add a little confidence some control and he'll be a shoe in for the top ten hero's list.
Beria-sensei's first class, after the orientation, was amazing! We learned our limits in an extreme climate, met the Dire wolf Pack, and we just had fun! Beria-sensei is now the top favorite teacher! It was a bummer when class ended. We had sat down around the firepit with mugs of hot cocoa/tea and were listening to Beria-sensei tell stories of some of her early missions. She's like that favorite grandma, cool stories, hot drinks, and fun.
Beria's POV
As I'm gathering my paperwork in the teacher's lounge Edge Shot comes up to me, "So, the rest of us are heading out to this great restaurant for a 'you survived the first day' party. Do you want to join us?" all with a hip-shot resting against the edge of my desk and a smirk on his face.
"Eh, why not. Sure, just let me pack my bag and I can go."
Past
Running across a snowy plain just for the sheer enjoyment alongside a pack of ten strong wolves, the woman is a vision. Her deer half is made from snow, her long lashing tail is a trail of snowflakes, and her human half a pale beauty sculpted from ice and wind. Her clothes thick and decorated by lovely embroidery of playful dogs and falling snow, that seems to move on its own.
The sun shines down on their playful race across a bright empty plain of light. The snow shifting into hills and forming valleys according to the whims of the winds. Clear blue skies above meet with the horizon seeming to go on for forever. They run and weave through each other, their panting breaths and occasional, almost laughing, yips the only sound to echo out across the plains.
Tired of their play they slow to a trot and begin to turn to return to the hidden den. Just as grey icy clouds began to cover the sky and icy winds to whip across their faces, one of the wolves catches something on the cross wind. Pouncing suddenly on a snow pile a man is revealed. Still alive and somewhat conscious. His coat and a heavy pack on him his face hidden by goggles and black mask. He is surrounded by what are obviously sled dogs, plied one atop of the other with the man at the very center. An obvious attempt at warmth. the four dogs at the very edges are dead, three at the mid-layer are just a hairs breath from death, then the man clutching a female dog to his chest. It will be a challenge to carry them to safety but she's too compassionate to leave living being to slowly fall into a cold eternal sleep.
With the stranger laid across her back and the dogs with even a sliver of life on her larger packs backs, the blizzard finally arrives. Through the wind-driven snow she sees the warm fire light spilling across the snow from her little cottage's windows.
Laid out on a pile of various furs in front of the hearth the man, more teen with a patchy beard just coming in, is the first to regain consciousness.
His tale is a simple one and a now common occurrence during this time. He is the son of Alaskan hunters. They bred pure bred hunting dogs on their homestead but he can speak canine. It wasn't hard to hide his talent from others being so isolated. It was even useful to his family but then, on a rare visit to the small harbor town a few days travel from his home he was overheard. People he would occasionally see once or twice a month realized he was different. These strangers decided he was too different and that they would be the ones to remove him from this world. They waited to strike later in the night. With a mob and fire, it was a nightmare come to life. He ran. Grabbing a coat and a bag meant for the next day he ran into the kennel with his closest companion-Kira-and sloppily hooked the other dogs to their smallest sled. They ran with their families screams and roaring fire echoing in their ears.
Time passed and he stayed. He set up a basic lean-to for his dogs and my wolves. He later on started to breed the two packs together. He tracked the wolf-dog's lines and he trained them. Plying his families trade made him happy and could only be to my own benefit. He grew. He healed. With strong shoulders, enough muscles and hair to be mistaken for bear from afar and a smile tucked into the corners of his lips he became a man grown. I mentioned taking him back into civilization, maybe meting a girl and starting a family but, no he said. He wanted nothing to do with other humans let alone strangers. As time passed the man's hair became as white as mine and wrinkles formed on his face. His strength waned, his body withered and the man finally passed into deaths grip. I his elder, his mother and sister, his hero stayed young and spry. Time before the man had meant nothing. With him now gone I can only feel a cold gust blowing inside me.
I mourned my once companion who taught me so much. I cried for myself as my long life now stretched before me. I tended to my pack and added little things to my home. I hunted and I watched the life and elements surrounding me. Life continued on and I was helpless to only be swept along with it.
UA Sensei's POV
Classes went on, nothing exciting since the paparazzi break-in. Then the USJ Incident. Eraser Head was hospitalized, the students were likely traumatized, and the villains had teamed-up and were actually organized. Then there's the Nomu. It, it can only be called an it, stood toe-to-toe with All Might, then it disappeared from custody. Everything about this reeks.
With the Sports Festival coming up quickly we cannot afford to show any sign of weakness but then Alicia just had to mention the facts. "1) Class 1-A has been targeted multiple times by the villains, 2) All Might has been neutralized once all ready, 3) The sports Festival though vital for their future careers it is a very big security risk. The students will be showing off everything they can do and any aces they have on live TV. The villains will have a full report on each future hero and will know what to expect in battle, while our students will be going in blind." All this was said with a deadpan look at us as if we were idiots!
We know this already, but, we might have overlooked a couple of points.
The festival has been a staple of our culture since even our beginnings. A tool to reasure the public, a friendly compitition for all the department students, and a tool for propaganda. It boosts moral, inspires future heroes, and it is a way for general students to promote themelves to the hero department if their quirk was in compatible with combating robots in the entrance test.
The students need to make a good impression, we need to reassure the civilians that everything is ok but, it's just like Beria said. The villains will know what to expect while our students will likely be going in to be slaughtered. Dead if you do, dead if you don't. It is an inescapable moral dilemma we can't escape. The only recourse is to train the hero department, especially the first years, even more hard after the festival. Make them improve themselves, give them a hidden ace or two, up their sleeves after they have already shown their old tricks and fitness off. If they are quicker, smarter, have better quirk control after they give an idea of their potential to the masses then they are less likely to die. The rest of the school will be running drills for what-if situations. Just because they are unlikely to be targeted does not mean they might not end up as collateral. Self-defense, escape routes, and anything else a citizen might need to extract themselves if caught in an untenable situation. We can give them the needed skills to run, but our heroes-to-be need to know how to put a stop and how to help in emergencies. They will be the future leaders. They will need the actions grounded into their muscles till it becomes instinct to keep their feet grounded, to rise into a fighting stance if thrown, to know how to plan out contingency plans.
It is agreed by all the teachers. After the festival is over, the hero department students will be going through a Hero Bootcamp. They will either improve themselves or else. They have no other choice anymore.
The whole school will go through more drills for just in case. The upper years organized to watch their kohai. We the faculty will need to up the ante. Patrol schedules, Training and refining our own skills, plans and tactics meetings, anything and everything to give our students that much more of an edge. The villains have threatened our charges. They have shown they are a valid threat more than usual. We will meet this threat head on, PLUS ULTRA!
Beria's POV
What was supposed to be a relaxing recovery period is now more hectic than my busiest day had ever been. Even if it is not my specialty, I will assist in fighting this League of Villains however I can. Between Nedzu's High Spec quirk, the gathered information via the teachers networking, and my own unique outlook we come up contingencies and backups for everything we can. Including vague 'fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants' tactics. With a list of known local villains, recent reported movements and all observations from action reports we predicted multiple possibilities. Looking at all the considerable amassed information I had to comment "It is almost as if they are pieces on a board being moved by a yet unseen hand." I say this in a drawn-out mussing tone. "We aren't seeing the whole picture. What have the local crimes been? Missing people? What kind of Rings have been even whispered about?" I started off slowly, gaining speed as I thought about missing pieces. 'What are they gathered for? Who is cunning or strong enough to hold them together? Something here is off, but what?' as I ponder these things everyone else seem to realize what I have. Nedzu, of course, doesn't seem surprised. Instead he says this, "If something does not make sense, start from the beginning. What are the basics needed, what are the personality types, what is the goal?"
"They need funding, supplies, doctors, weapons, information. So far, the seeming ringleader appears unstable. Treating the world as a game. The teleporter is level-headed. He acted as a minder to the 'leader' and stayed close to him, a bodyguard maybe." As I rattle this off I slowly pace three steps left, five steps right.
"We know there is a shadow leader. We know they want All Might dead. Just how far reaching is this though?" Aizawa throws in his own comment. His eyes sharp and posture alert from his seat.
"We need more information. What are the crimes connected to this League? Did they get some kind of benefit towards their goal from them? Just where have they been? We have too many unknowns currently." I throw my hands in a show of frustration.
By the commiserating looks I am not alone in being annoyed.
Standing to his full height Nedzu suggests that we break for now. We all agree to reconvene tomorrow after classes.
Alicia/Beria's POV
The next day on my way to the main building I make my way across the white stone plaza area. The false dawn the only light in the sky as my path under the great dome is lit by light posts cold white light. Sigh, as I sip my jumbo-sized travel mug, I cannot help but to think back to the chaotic days that humanity lost so much, even electricity. We had actually been using firelight and hunter gatherer level tech.
It may have been hard and humanities kindness skewed quite a bit, but the flickering flames cast a warmer light upon its surroundings than the cold impersonal electric lights.
I am almost to the teachers' lounge when Aizawa inched his way around a nearby corner. First glance I had to do a double take, no matter how many times I see this he still looks like a giant hairy caterpillar. "Aizawa-san! Good morning." I call out a greeting. 'Keeping up good personable connections are important.' Even as I repeat my mantra, 'I hate mornings' and my daily early complaints.
"G'morn'." He looked up at me with bloodshot dark eyes. I think the eye bags have actually grown. "Coffee." His eyes have unsurprisingly zeroed in on my desperately clutched mug. The look he was eyeing me with was disturbing. It almost seemed as if he was trying-and failing-to make puppy-eyes at me. Shuddering I stepped around him tossing out, "If you want caffeine there is a pot right there in the lounge."
Shuddering still I settle at my desk sending up a prayer to the spirits that I never see that look aimed at myself ever again. Cynical, scruffy, perpetually tired Eraser Head trying to pull off a cutesy begging look? Yikes!
Looking up I see Aizawa out of his sleeping bag, clutching a mug by the coffee pot. As I watch he throws the average sized mug back like a shot glass. The blank look never twitching. Good Lord, I cannot help but wonder at the man's sleep schedule. Working as an underground hero at night and a fricken high school teacher during the day? It's a wonder the man doesn't collapse.
"Alicia-san, how did the problem kids react yesterday to your pack?", looking up from my paperwork daze I see that Aizawa is now leaning against a counter cradling his coffee. The words take a moment to pierce the fog in my head before I reply, "Hmm, pretty well actually. Tsuyu-san had some difficulties due her quirk but, she is aware of it now and seemed to enjoy the lesson once thawed out. Midoriya-san was a little too caught up in his head muttering about probabilities and statistics. Bakugo-san even got along well with them. A lot of swearing but he was well behaved and the bigger rambunctious dogs seemed to like him." I report the ones whom I thought would have the most trouble and had some kind of difficulty instead of say, an entire recount of the kids playing.
"Hmm. Alright then." is the only comment I get. Looking over his eyes are half closed and I cannot tell if he's in deep thought or half-asleep.
Present Day
The day of the festival everyone is tense though the experienced pro-heroes hid it better than others. As Present Mic and Eraser Head commented and announced the event the stadium went wild. I was in the front row pro hero's seating, where the prospective heroes with their own agencies sat to better scout out future interns this summer. Luckily for me a Support Hero department student was able to put together my own little portable 'snow-cloud', after many, many explosions. It's an adjustable metal ring that can be worn as a chocker, belt, anklet, anything. This ingenius accessory works by spreading an intangible forcefield half an inch around my entire body to contain a constant temperature-controlled breeze. With this I have no worries about walking across even the Sahara during mid-day.
Then it is time for the top 1A's student to give the class pledge for this festival. Only for the loud pomeranian to simultaneously insult everyone and paint large bright targets on his whole class's backs. Looking in his files it turned out that I had met this one and his victim the day before I accepted nedzu's offer of work here. I had thought for sure at that time I would never see either chibi again. One was so hurt and scared I thought he would avoid anything that even hinted at violence let alone aim to be a hero, and the blond one seemed so aggressive and out of control I thought for sure he would be either black listed from any hero work or maybe even in juvenile detention but, no, instead the angry boy was put into mandatory angry management and had to do so many hours of community service before he was accepted into UA. The timid greenie instead of running away from violence managed to also enter UA, and into the same homeroom as his former aggressor, whom was once a childhood friend. Once I read that and looked closer at their interactions with each other I immediately brought this disturbing series of events to Aizawa's and the schools councilors' attention. It was then decided to just keep a closer eye on them, and maybe nudge them towards Hounds', the councilors'', office more often.
The moment Bakugou opened the ceremony to the last event, it was intense and it went down-hill fast. The sabotage, the drama, the grand declarations! All it had needed was some kind of family drama and this would have been a perfect candidate for day-time drama tv.
On the bright-side though I made a killing making bets on class's 1A and 1B with the surrounding heroes. The fact I was one of their teachers was shadowed by the fact I was living history apparently. So, while these new vict-ahem-friends, my new friends, were bedazzled by my mysterious presence, I easily convinced them to make a couple of friendly bets.