Bruce sat on his knees, his entire left side of his body blown to bits. "L-Lisa!" he called out in worry. Fire and debris began taking up the space of the small office...
"BANNER," Hulk roar within the back of his mind, "HULK COME OUT!" Rage began filling in Banner's heart. Fingers grew back in seconds and turning green as veins popped up.
"You…won't…win," Banner choked, suppressing the rage Hulk was trying to let loose. He screamed in absolute pain as part of the ceiling fell on his back. Banner lay there, thinking how important it was to keep control. He thought about all the civilians if he lost control. He thought about Lisa and how she was in need. Then Banner thought about her – Ruby. Smiling, Banner remembered all the times Ruby was able to be a kid. Then a sharp thought popped into his head. What if he hadn't been able to save her from the wicked in this world? "I WILL PROTECT EVERYONE!" His growing fists pounded the ground as he pushed up. Banner looked up toward Lisa's body as he allowed himself to change. There was no more Banner…only HULK!
Hulk stood and easily brushed the large amount of flaming debris off his back. "Banner...Hulk will protect News Lady." He pulled back his arm and clenched his fist. The flames were cast out of the building from the sheer force and pressure of a single punch from the Hulk.
Lisa mumbled from the vibrations Hulk generated, "Banner..."
"News Lady," Hulk said finding Miss Lavender's body. Her fragile body was picked up gently and carefully within Hulk's gigantic arms. Usually, Hulk would be bashful and full of aggression and ready to smash anything in his path. But now, he had to protect Lisa - an innocent soul who didn't deserve to get hurt for trying to help Hulk's name. He jumped out of an opening from the side of the destroyed News building, aiming for a space that wasn't too populated...
A bystander screamed as Hulk landed right next to him, "T-THE HUL-,"
Hulk dropped Lisa in the bystander's arms, "Help news lady!"
"W-what am I supposed to do with her?" The bystander began to lay Lisa on the hard concrete street. Ash from the explosion lightly covered the surrounding area in dirty coals that still could be hot.
Hulk roared to stop him, "HELP HER!"
The bystander shook violently as he quickly lifted Lisa's body off the street, "Y-YES SIR!"
Hulk looked around at the many faces of the surrounding civilians. Fear and concern on their faces as they stared at what they thought was a monster. It hadn't even been a full twenty-four hours since Hulk and Penny's confrontation. Mother's hugged their babies for dear life, children and adults fled in fear and the others that stayed spit out insults and words like venom-
"M-MONSTER!"
"HE'S BACK!"
"He's gonna kill us all!"
"WE DON'T WANT YOU HERE!"
"FREAK!"
A man ran up and a stone hit Hulk in the middle of his green forehead. It wasn't the physical pain that hurt, it was that someone did it in the first place. Why did Hulk ever think this 'Remnant' was any different from Earth? People would always think of him as a monster. "Hulk...go now." Even the slightest moments caused people to panic.
A woman screamed from Hulk just squatting down to jump away, "HE'S GONNA ATTACK!"
"Hum?" Hulk questioned as he felt a small tug on his pants.
A little girl with black hair and green eyes tapped the bottom of his thigh. "M...m...m," she struggled to speak as she looked up to the burning building.
A woman came and quickly pulled the little girl away, "Your mother isn't here!" Was she pulling the little girl away from the horrific scene of the News building in flames, or from the Hulk?
Hulk understood the little girl's call for help. "HULK HELP!" he yelled, happy that he could show everyone he wasn't a monster. He jumped up, caving in the street block and grabbed onto the building. He wasn't going to let this innocent girl lose her mother. But as Hulk did what he thought was a rescue mission, the little girl snickered to herself. Her eyes changed to their real color - pink and brown. She pulled her arm back form the woman and disappeared in the crowd.
Police cars quickly rolled onto the scene and tried their best to calm the crowd. "EVERYONE," an officer yelled into his speaker, "let us do our job!" Soon enough, the police began to push back the increasing crowds of pedestrians.
The entire building shook as Hulk took steps. He called out to anyone that could hear, "Hulk help!"
"SOMEONE, ANYBODY," a female-voice screamed a couple of stories down.
Hulk raised his foot, stepping with great force. He leveled two whole floors becoming to a dead stop in front of figure. "Hulk...help?" he asked the woman covered in rags.
Two eyes began to glow from under the hood. She chuckled, "My hero!"
No one had ever called Hulk that. He questioned, "Hulk...hero? ARGH-," he yelled in pain as fire hit his chest. He flew back, slamming into a wall and damaging the weakened building even more.
"REMEMBER ME?" The rags burned off to reveal a familiar woman in a red dress - Cinder!
"GLOWING WOMAN," Hulk roared in pain. More of her flames shot out, burning Hulk's now blackened skin.
Cinder smirked, "Not so fun when you're losing, IS IT?" Hulk's body was engulfed in flames as she stepped closer and closer. With every step, the heat and scorching increased. The pain finally stopped as Cinder stood over a downed Hulk. "Kneel before me," she ordered, the power and lust to humiliate clouding her judgement.
Hulk gritted his teeth and looked up to her, "Remember you...Glowing-Woman."
Cinder took a deep and collected breath, "Wrong...ANSWER!"
Hulk screamed as the fire boiled his blood within his face."AHHHH!"
"Yes," Cinder laughed, "SUFFER!"
"HULK BEAT YOU LIKE LAST TIME!" Hulk crawled forward, pushing back against Cinder's power. This time, he wasn't holding back against the assailant.
Cinder accepted the challenge, "We shall see, monster!" Her eyes glowed brighter than ever, pushing her abilities to the maximum.
Hulk's skin began to burn off as Cinder pushed him back. "Glowing woman strong…BUT HULK STRONGER!" Hulk jumped to his feet, bringing his arms back. Wind clashed with Cinder's fire and blasted right through it from Hulk's thunderclap. Windows in surrounding buildings shattered and their structures cracked from the immense pressure.
"Not bad..." Cinder grunted as she recovered from the immense winds. "But I won't be defeated-," a huge green knee crashed into her face.
"SMASH YOU!"
Cinder flew through the middle of the building, smashing through multiple walls. Her tumble finally ended once her back bashed into the last office wall, stopping her from falling twelve-stories. Cinder slide to her knees, blood dripping from her skull - aura severely cracked and on the verge of breaking. "I-impossible," she mumbled.
Hulk walked toward Cinder, each step shaking the entire building. "Glowing-woman...could have left Hulk alone!" He reared back his fist, "SMASH!"
The powers that be allowed Cinder to regain stamina from her Maiden powers, "Not yet!" Glass slithered down her arms and creating two swords. Green blood splattered across the floor as Cinder rolled between Hulk's legs and sliced open his thighs.
"STAY STILL," Hulk roared more annoyed than in pain. He tried to stomp on Cinder like a bug, but she was too fast.
"Too slow~," Cinder smiled, allowing the thought of victory distract her from Hulk's anger.
"YOU WEAK LIKE BANNER," Hulk screamed. The building was on the last verge of collapsing from Cinder's head crashed into the flooring from Hulk's overhand.
Cinder screamed in terror, "NEO HELP!" Hulk slammed his fist down again. A pink umbrella slipped between the green fist and its victim.
Hulk glared at the little girl holding the umbrella that had deflected his attack. The little girl waved her finger side to side at Hulk.
"H-he was...I was going to die..." Cinder said as her muscles shook from exhaustion.
"Hulk remember you too," Hulk growled at Neo. His green fist swung in their direction, "SMASH!" Neo and Cinder shattered into glass pieces, vanishing as the wind carried away the shards of glass. Hulk looked around, then hit his chest in victory. The gloated would be halted as the building shook once more. The bottom floor, it was about to give in and the entire building would be leveled. "Hulk...leave now," he sighed. He had been set up so he'd be blamed fro the destruction. Not like he's seen that move a dozen time. He looked to the sunset out of an opening in the building. "Hulk leave forever. News lady and Ruby be safe-,"
"AHHHHH," Hulk heard a girl scream in absolute pain - Ruby!
Ruby sat in a private Bullhead only Atlas could afford. But, she didn't care about how much the damn ship cost, she had to get to Banner. "Can't this thing go faster?" she asked Ironwood as he piloted.
Ironwood looked back to answer his only passenger. "This is the fastest we can go!"
"How'd you know?" Ruby asked with a glare.
"Know what?"
"How did you know I'd go after Banner?" Ruby asked. Even though it was Ironwood, it was the fastest way to get to Vale. She had to accept help from Atlas's Headmaster in order to get to Hulk and calm him down.
"Do you know what Banner is capable of? I knew this was bound to happen! But what does your dear Headmaster decide? He thinks it was safe to send Banner to get an interview with Lisa Lavender. Ozpin knew HE WAS A TARGET. Yet, he sends an underwhelming amount of soldiers, my soldiers, to watch Banner."
"AND WHY IS HE A TARGET?" Ruby yelled at the General, defending her friend. "He has done nothing but keep to himself, and what does the dear Atlas Headmaster decide?" she mocked. "To keep attacking and attacking and attacking. Lives would still be wit us if you hadn't attacked Banner last night-,"
"ENOUGH," Ironwood barked at Ruby. "I shall not tolerate this kind of attitude from you of all people, Miss Rose."
"WATCH OUT," Ruby screamed.
Ironwood redirected his vision to steering to steer the Bullhead into a huge cluster of smoke. The smoke dissipated as the ship flew straight through to reveal the horrific image. "This is why Banner should have been locked up," Ironwood said as the Vale News Network headquarters had a massive hole blown out of its side. Smoke leaked out into the sky, like the building was bleeding.
"Ironwood," Ruby said getting his attention, "put a sock in it! If anything, please. Just shut up."
"You two really shouldn't fight when you have guests," a voice spoke from behind the General and young Huntress.
Ruby recognized this voice. "You..."
"Hello, Red," Cinder smiled, Neo at her side with an innocent smile. She raised her hand out, fire igniting in her open palm. "We have got to stop meeting like this!" Cinder blasted a sphere made of fie from Ruby's scythe forming in her hand. Rose petals filled exploded, filling the Bullhead as the fire-ball hit the bait.
Ruby appeared behind Cinder and Neo, "TAKE THIS!" Crescent Rose sliced down. The blade clashed with the sharp tip of an umbrella. "You?" Ruby asked as her weapon and Neo's stalemated.
"Neo, try not to kill her. But if you must," Cinder said hoping Neo would. She strolled her way to Ironwood, her aura already piecing itself back together.
Ruby speed toward Cinder, "I qont let you win!" Neo quickly flipped in-front of Ruby, kicking her in her said as she winked in her face. Ruby rolled across the flooring as Crescent Rose slide out of her grasp. Ruby stumbled to her feet, and blasted toward Neo at incredible speed, "I WON"T LET YOU WIN!"
Neo smiled knowing that she could now finish her prey. She waved at Ruby before stabbing toward her neck and reengaged.
"Hello there, General," Cinder smirked as she got closer to Ironwood. Bullet shells bounced on the floor as she easily caught Ironwood's entire magazine.
Ironwood put the aircraft intro autopilot before standing. "Do you have a quarrel? Attacking a General and Huntress," he reloaded the chamber to his revolver, "is a quick way to acquire one."
"Do you honestly think you can beat me?" Cinder laughed as both of them assumed a stance. She created a glass sword and pointed the tip at Ironwood's throat. "Though, at least you won't have to see her die," she smirked referring to Ruby.
Even though Ironwood had treated Ruby roughly, she was still just a child. "DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HER!" Raising his arm, he took aim and unloaded. Bullets sliced in half as Cinder effortlessly tilted and turned her sword.
"You disappointment me, General," Cinder sighed slicing through Atlas produced ammo with ease. She jumped back, fading into the air before reemerging before Ironwood. The blade headed toward Ironwood's throat as Cinder swung horizontally. "Interesting," she nodded noticing the robotic hand that caught her blade.
"We...all have secrets," Ironwood grunted. "RAH," he yelled braking the glass sword within his robotic grasp. Cinder's aura sustained damage once more as the butt of Ironwood's revolver smashed into her head. "RUBY," James yelled looking up to find Neo overpower the young Huntress with kicks and punches.
Cinder grabbed Ironwood's leg as he ran by, "I guess you're right." She stabbed deep into Ironwood's human ankle. She rolled to her feet, pulling out the sword and slicing deeper into tissue.
"AGH," Ironwood grunted as he fell to his knees.
"Now," Cinder raised Ironwood's chin with the tip of her blade, "any last words?"
Ironwood looked to the side of Cinder. Ruby was badly beaten with her aura broken. Her neck was deep in Neo's grasp. "Don't hurt the girl," he pleaded. "If you're going to kill anyone, choose me!"
Cinder smiled, "Isn't that sweet? Funny thing is, this wasn't even on our to-do list. You were just in the right place, at the right time." She looked to her assistant with a evil smirk, "Make her hurt~." Neo smiled as she stabbed her umbrella into Ruby's ankle.
"AHHHHH!" People for blocks around could hear the pain filled scream.
"NO!" Ironwood reached for his revolver. He stopped inches away from the grip, his fingers lightly shaking. The left side of his body, his human half, began to felt warm and blood began to drench his clothes.
"Wrong choice," Cinder smiled, her sword deeply implanted withinin Ironwood's side.
"Please…stop," Ruby choked in Neo's grasp. She looked over to see Ironwood fall to his face. His blood growing into a huge puddle on the ship flooring. "N...N..." she tried to scream. She began to wiggle violently as her eyes glowed white once again!
"Neo, keep her quiet," Cinder ordered from Ruby's annoyance. The grip around Ruby's neck tightened, halting the power surge and putting Ruby on the verge of passing out. Cinder aimed her sword at Ironwood's face and neck as her eyes glowed. "Goodbye, General." Her sword stabbed into the side of the aircraft, failing to strike Ironwood's throat - the Bullhead had been hit.
A side of the aircraft started to rip straight down the middle to revel the Hulk's angered eye. "Hulk…protect…RUBY!"
Ruby chuckled seeing her friend for the final time, "Hulk..." she closed her eyes and allowed fate to take its course.
Everyone for miles cover their ears from the roar, "RUUUUBY!" Hulk reached in and grabbed Ruby and Ironwood within one hand. The Bullhead and Hulk went flying in separate directions from the Hulk's massive drop-kick. He slammed into the top of a building in downtown Vale. Civilians screamed as they thought another bomb had gone off. "R-Ruby?" he asked setting her down gently on the rooftop.
"Hulk," Ironwood groaned. "G-Go! Get the woman who did this!"
"But...Ruby-,"
"GO!"
Hulk looked down at Ironwood and realized who he had just saved. "HULK REMEMBER IRONWOOD," he growled. The pain from Penny's blades still dragged in his mind.
"Hulk," Ironwood said holding out his hand defensively. "I know what I've done. But you must understand! I was doing what I thought was best for the populace," James pleaded as he backed up.
Hulk growled as he raising his green arm, ready to end Ironwood. "Ironwood want Hulk dead!"
Then it clicked inside James' head. Hulk's weakness - Ruby. "You can't kill me," Ironwood said getting in Hulk's face. "If you do, you would prove everything that I have said about you, a monster. It would also break her heart." Ironwood motioned toward Ruby's peaceful sleep. Her breathing was slow, but showed she was going to be okay. "Now go. Get the people who did this to her." Ironwood leaned down, grunting from his own pain, examining Ruby's wounds.
"Hulk…SMASH!" Hulk roared into the air. An entire corner of the building crumbled from Hulk using it as a running start to a jump. Hulk speed toward the aircraft as he bounced off the side of another skyscraper. Hulk slammed against the aircraft, propelling deep into the Emerald Forest. Hulk and the aircraft slammed hard on the ground.
Cinder and Neo rolled out of the aircraft, badly bruised. They both stumbled to their feet, Hulk no where in sight...
Cinder screamed, "NEO WATCH OUT-,"
"HULK HATE YOU," Hulk screamed grabbing both of them.
"K-," Cinder coughed up blood from the Hulk crushing her ribs and spin within his grip.
Hulk pounded both of them into the dirt, breaking what was left of their auras. "HULK IS STRONGEST THERE IS!" Dirt and grass was sent flying as Hulk's fist rested in a newly formed crater, missing its target.
"Not so fast, you jolly green giant," Hulk heard a teen smirk from behind. Cinder and Neo rested in the arms of Mercury and Emerald.
"ARGH-," Hulk roared in pain. The ground shook as his knees smashed into the dirt. "PUNY BANNER! LEAVE HULK ALONE!"
"Hulk, it's time to stop this destruction," Bruce ordered.
"BANNER..." Hulk growled. Veins exploded within his skin from Banner's annoyance.
Emerald saw their chance to escape, "Mercury, time to go!"
"Don't have to tell me twice," Mercury nodded. They were out of sight as they jumped within the trees.
Hulk roared after them, "HULK SMASH YOU!"
"WATCH OUT!"" Mercury yelled.
Emerald didn't understand, "Wha-," she was shoved to the ground right as an uprooted tree zoomed over her head, stabbing into a boulder. Emerald got back to her feet and put Neo over her shoulder, "The extraction point shouldn't be too much further."
"Here," Mercury said putting Cinder in Emerald's arms.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Emerald yelled as Hulk started to catch up.
"GO," Mercury said getting in a stance in front of Hulk. "Em, I'll meet up with you after I'm done."
"If Cinder can't beat him, WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU CAN?"
"I'm not Cinder," Mercury smirked. "Now, GO!"
There was no more time to argue as Hulk closed the distance. "You are so difficult," Emerald groaned. She looked back, secretly praying for Mercury's safety.
"Plus," Mercury grinned as he turned back to face Hulk, "I want to see if you're as strong as they say you are."
Hulk halted his run, seeing that there was only one person. He walked up to Mercury and towered over him. Hulk's fist began to shake in anger.
"I don't have all day," Mercury said. He had to look up to even see Hulk's angered expression.
"SMASH LITTLE MAN!" Hulk threw an explosive overhand. Mercury spun out of the way and blasted off the ground. A foot kicked Hulk right in the jaw and helped Mercury jump onto a tree limb.
"Is that all you've got?" Mercury laughed.
Hulk spat out a loose tooth, "Little man..." He lunged toward the tree's base.
Mercury's smug face washed away as Hulk kicked the tree on its side. As soon as he hit the ground, Mercury's robotic legs shot and helped him roll to his feet. He turned to barely evade a tree being used as a club. Hulk using his newly formed weapon like a fly-swatter. His incredible ferocity lead to each hit missing its target. A boulder shattered into a million little pebbles as Hulk missed once more, not even touching the tip of Mercury's hair as he leaned back
"STAY STILL," Hulk screamed swinging the tree down. Mercury rolled to his back and kicked up. A shock-wave exploded as the tree clashed with Mercury's powerful legs. "ARGH," Hulk yelled as a he was sent back from the collision.
"It's like you're trying to kill me," Mercury smirked. Tears in his pants revealed his metal legs which were steaming from the massive attack.
"You...just like Ironwood."
"Don't compare me to him," Mercury said sounding hurt. "But, it's better than being a monster."
Hulk's eyes showed anger once more. "HULK NOT MONSTER!" His anger lead him to charge.
Mercury easily saw Hulk's right fist and jumped to the left. In his opening, Mercury blasted off the ground and drop-kicked the giant's green knee.
Hulk had to kneel as his femur popped out of it's socket, "AHHH!"
Mercury landed in front Hulk as he was down. "DON'T EVER COMPARE ME TO HIM!" Explosive kicks bombarded Hulk's face breaking his nose. "AH," Mercury yelled as he delivered the final kick. Hulk flew back from the kick to his throat, digging a huge burrow in the ground.
Hulk groaned as he slowly pushed off the ground, "Hulk...hurt." If it wasn't for Banner, Hulk would have ended this fight before it even started. Hulk punched into the ground, pulling out a huge patch of dirt and throwing it at his opponent.
"Too predictable," Mercury smirked. He raised his left leg and shot the huge dirt patch to dust.
"SMASH," Hulk roared emerging from the dust. It was all or nothing. If he didn't end this now, Banner might.
Mercury's right leg squirted oil as it was torn off. "MOTHER-," he was slammed into the ground by Hulk's overhand.
Hulk roared as he pounded on Mercury's back, easily breaking his aura and spine. "HULK SMASH LITTLE MAN!" Nearly all of Vale felt every single devastating blow.
"STOP IT," Hulk heard to his side. He stumbled back as a Sickle allocated his eyes.
"HULK SMASH YOU TOO!" Hulk charged at Emerald who was trying to help Mercury to his feet.
"I'm so sorry," Emerald said she shielded Mercury with her own body. A huge gust of wind hit her back. Was this death? Nothing more than a bush of air? Emerald looked back to find the a regular fist inches away from her face - Banner's fist. "What?"
"Run...," Bruce panted. Emerald didn't hesitate and took the opportunity.
"What...did I do?" Banner asked himself, scared for the worst. He sat to his knees, muscles shaking out of exhaustion and weakness.
"Banner?" an innocent voice asked behind him. All of Banner's worry disappeared when he heard that smooth voice.
"Ruby," Banner sighed in relief as he turned to find her. A cast around the foot that had been stabbed. Ironwood, Glynda and Ozpin accompanied her.
"Bruce?" Ozpin asked as he took slow and controlled steps forward.
"Yeah...I'm okay. I'm okay," Bruce said, assuring the group and himself.
Cinder, Mercury, Neo, and Emerald sat in defeat in their hideout. Cinder even with her Maiden amplifiers to her aura and healing hadn't fully healed. Even when she did, she would feel the soreness and the mental pain would alwasy stay with her.
Emerald decided to break the silence, "What are we-,"
"Silence, girl," Cinder ordered her. Her glowing eyes stared right into Emerald's.
Emerald faced forward, "Yes, m-ma'am."
"She has a point," Mercury said backing up Emerald. "She isn't going to be happy about this." He leaned against crates and tried to support his spine once his aura came back.
"SILENCE," Cinder screamed. The air become humid and hard to breath. "She will understand," Cinder said. But, there was fear in the back of her voice. Fear because of…Salem.
"Awww, it's a little sad seeing you all like this. It actually makes me feel bad for you," Roman smirked as he strolled into the room with crutches.
"Shut it," Emerald barked back. "Didn't Banner almost kill you?"
Roman glared at Emerald, "Yes…but I'm not stupid enough to fight something I know I can't beat. I tried to escape and the bastard kept comign after me." He looked to Mercury, "Kid."
"What?" Mercury snorted back.
"Take it easy. Once your aura comes back into play, your spine will piece itself back together." Neo came and hugged Roman around his waist. "Hey there, short-stack," he chuckled at Neo's affection.
"Enough," Cinder said waving her hand to silence them. "Yes, we were defeated, but we still haven't healed. I didn't know a creature of that power existed…" Cinder clenched her fist. "It matters not. Over the last couple of hours, informants at Beacon have kept an eye on our green friend."
"And?" Mercury asked.
"Banner has agreed to stay at Beacon and train. Ironwood has decided he could be a very useful assist. Knowing Ironwood, Atlas will have its very own attack dog. In exchange, Ironwood will keep the press and other Kingdoms off Banner's back. Ironwood has also ordered huge amounts of Atlas troops to guard Beacon due to the upcoming Vital Festival. But we all know the real reason," Cinder chuckled.
"So, what's the plan?" Mercury asked again.
Cinder sighed, "We lay low, heal and keep an eye on Banner. Then we'll infiltrate Beacon as transfer students for the Vital Festival. Then we can find the Fall Maiden that Ozpin has hidden from the world. The one that should have never gotten away," she growled at Emerald and Mercury for their other failed mission.
"Then what will happen?" Emerald asked. She didn't really 'care' for anyone at Beacon, but the students were still innocent.
"Beacon will fall...Taurus will have his fun...and Ozpin will die along with anyone else who has gotten in our way." Cinder held a picture of Banner in her hands, slowly burning it to a crisp. "I'm coming for you, monster."