Paragons of Virtue & Glory
(The following fan-fiction is entirely non-profit. I do not own the central characters. MHA is owned by Kohei Horikoshi & Shuiesha, RWBY created by Monty Oum & owned by Rooster Teeth)
Season 1: Welcome to Remnant
Episode 1: The Day of Arrival Part 1 - A Grimm Fandango
"Legends. Stories passed down through time. Regardless of the world that Mankind calls home, they are still quite fond of these epic tales of heroes, and Gods amongst mortals."
"In the world of Remnant, Man was born from dust, and became strong, wise and resourceful. But they were immediately set upon by the children of darkness; The Creatures of Grimm. It seemed Mankind's brief existence would be returned to the void."
"But even in the darkest hour, the slightest change can be enough to spark hope, and such a power was indeed discovered. Named appropriately... Dust. With nature's wrath in hand, Humanity pushed back, and their future guardians were born; Huntsmen and Huntresses, protectors of the people. And thanks to their defence and sacrifice, Man's civilisation grew."
"And so it was on another world, simply named Earth. This planet had no Dust, no Grimm. Life flourished as did the civilisations of Humanity, only to face a different challenge. The sudden and inexplicable emergence of powers, abilities not born of the soul or magic. Dubbed 'Quirks', Man struggled to reconcile the newly powerful amongst them, and for a time, chaos reigned."
"But just as there were those who sought to take advantage of these unique abilities for personal gain, there were those who stood up to champion the ideals of justice, and fight the evils of the world. These Heroes efforts gave rise to a new status quo in a super-human society, and peace followed..."
"Through the efforts of both Pro-Heroes and Huntsmen, these two worlds prosper. But even the brightest lights will flicker and fade in time. And when they are gone... darkness will return."
"So, gather your armies and champions, build your monuments to Symbols of Peace and a so-called free world. But know this... There will be no victory in strength."
UA Hero Academy – Main entrance, 4:50pm
The event, that would later be referred to as the 'Beacon Incident', could understandably be argued to have begun at least an hour previous. But it was only at this time that, while several issues remained unsettled, it could be said that the biggest concern had been resolved somewhat.
Class 1-A, and their teachers, through means unknown, had finally returned.
Though it was clear that they had been through a number of trials. Costumes were torn and damaged. Some sported cuts, bruises and even burns. Many seemed genuinely shocked and surprised to their own return, and others wrestled with some measure of emotional trauma. There were calls between students to check their own numbers and well being, while two particular members of the class screamed their lungs out in either frustration, relief, dread or some cocktail mixture of them all.
In short order, the staff raced to check on their students and colleagues. Calls for medical assistance were made as there were more people to look after than the school's nurse could handle at once. Some students were so full of adrenaline, that Ms. Midnight had to use her quirk in order to settle them down. Those students from other courses, years and classes, were all told to head to the dorms and wait there until the situation was fully in hand, and more information could be gathered.
The Students and Teachers had returned. But they had not come back alone…
Recovery Girl's Office – 1 Hour later
Principal Nezu walked down the hallway, keeping pace with the Police Detective beside him. Tsukauchi had been asked for specifically, taking him off the search for the League of Villains temporarily, in order to get statements and ascertain what had happened.
Pushing open the door to the Nurse's office/infirmary, the pair took a moment to take in the scene. A few beds had sleeping students, recovering no doubt from having Recovery Girl's quirk being used to heal them. At the far end by the window, a blue curtain had been drawn around one bed, but low voices and silhouettes indicated there were a few students talking to the individual who had been treated there.
Recovery Girl herself was at her desk, writing up a report when they entered, she raised her head, and sighed. "If you're looking to speak to Midoriya, he is conscious, but he still needs his rest. I've only allowed his two closest friends to stay with him as it seems to help keep him calm right now."
"I do apologise for the intrusion Recovery Girl," Tsukauchi bowed respectively towards the small elderly heroine, "but myself and Principal Nezu need to get a statement from Midoriya about what happened, and it might be awkward with another Officer." Recovery Girl looked at Nezu who simply gave her a small nod. Sighing once more, she turned back to her desk.
"Alright, but please don't over-excite the poor boy. While I haven't heard any details myself, I gather that these young children have been through an ordeal that rivals the USJ, and the Summer Training Camp. And If I ask you to leave, I expect you to respect that."
"Of course." Tsukauchi gave another bow before turning his head toward the curtain, just as it was pulled open a little and a pair of faces looked at him with slight trepidation. He gave a friendly smile to reassure them. "Hello there, I'm Detective Namosa Tsukauchi, from Mustafu Police Dept. I believe we met previously after the USJ. Ochaco Uraraka, and Tenya Iida, correct?" The two nodded, though Tsukauchi and Nezu noted they still seemed nervous.
"We remember you Detective, and though I wish the circumstances were different, it is good to see you again sir." Iida adjusted his glasses, after he and Uraraka bowed. Uraraka was quiet, but she nodded in affirmation of Iida's words.
"Do you mind if we talk to Midoriya alone for a while. I promise to keep it as short as possible until I get the relevant information."
"With respect sir... We…"
"Iida. Uraraka. It's okay." The pair looked behind them, and though the curtain was still largely drawn, Tsukauchi and Nezu could clearly see a scarred right hand waving assurances. "It may take a while... but I will see you both back at the dorms afterwards. I promise."
"Deku..." Uraraka, seemed hesitant to leave the boy's bedside, "...are you sure?"
"It'll be fine. Try not to worry."
"Well, if you're sure..." Iida gently chopped his left hand as he spoke, "...then we'll see you later, Midoriya." With that he opened the curtains wider to invite the guests to properly approach. There on the bed, with a number of band aids and gauze wrappings across his face and arms was Izuku Midoriya.
Tsukauchi was slightly taken aback. He had met Midoriya a few times before, but while outwardly he seemed unchanged, beyond his injuries of course, there was something in his eyes and smile that gave the detective pause. For a moment he flashed back to meetings he had with Veteran Police Officers and Pro-Heroes, forced to retire due to injury or trauma. The looks in their eyes... held a pain that they all chose to handle privately, though it was still there. It was unnerving to see something so similar in a 16 year old boy.
Iida bowed once more to the Principal and Tsukauchi as he went to leave, but Uraraka hesitated a moment, before rushing to Midoriya's side, and wrapping the green haired boy in a big hug, whispered something to him before letting go. After making her bow, she hurried after her classmate who held the door open for her. Nezu smiled warmly, as he made to clamber up one of the available seats by the bedside, so that he could talk to Midoriya face to face.
"I'm glad to see that you are not without the support of your fellow classmates. You have good friends, Midoriya." The boy's smile turned a shade warmer, and a slight blush tinged his freckled cheeks.
"Yeah, I do."
"Sorry to impose," Tsukauchi said as he walked in and closed the curtain afterwards, "but it's better if it's just us talking here, especially if something relating to…"
"They already know." Nezu's smile slipped from his furry face in surprise, and Tsukauchi also found himself momentarily speechless. "Everyone in Class 1-A knows now. Along with Mr Aizawa." Midoriya looked down at his right hand, lost for a moment in examining the scars that made it so crooked. "...No more secrets…"
"...Midoriya?" Izuku looked up and remembered where he was and who he was talking to. Tsukauchi had sat down and had taken out a notebook, looking at him with a touch of concern.
"So-sorry!" Midoriya spluttered. "I know how surprising that must be to hear, after all you two and Recovery Girl were among those who were in the know originally, but..." Midoriya took a breath to steady himself. "...Things got out of hand. It ended up making sense to explain everything to everyone."
"Midoriya." Nezu gently got the boy's attention. "You and your fellow classmates, along with All Might and Erasure Head, went missing after your exercises at the USJ. Since Thirteen reported your disappearance, along with the bus that was intended to transport you back to UA, at least 1 hour passed. Now, you are all returned, but in a state of distress, and in some cases, serious injuries. Both All Might and Erasure Head have been taken to hospital to have their wounds tended to, along with the...others, who did not immediately flee after arrival. And we have a giant petrified stone dragon at our entrance, that Hound Dog is convinced, is actually alive." He stood up on the seat, to better look at Midoriya. "Please, will you explain this to us? Can you tell us... what happened to you all?"
Midoriya held his gaze a moment, and then looked at Tsukauchi and gave a brief nod. As Tsukauchi got his pen ready, Midoriya opened his mouth, and began to recount everything.
Unforeseen Simulations Joint (USJ) – A few Hours ago
"Today we'll be refreshing some rescue procedures, whilst splitting into groups of four." Shota Aizawa said, pulling his ever present capture weapon down so that his students could hear him clearly. Beside him to his right, was All Might in a UA tracksuit, and a whistle hanging round his neck. On his other side, was Thirteen, the space themed hero doing some last minute checks on a list she held. Before him, his students. Class 1-A were assembled in their hero costumes, listening intently. "The teams have already been decided, and each group will alternate between being heroes, and civilians in need of rescue."
"You may have your licenses, Bakugo and Todoroki being the exceptions, but it was clear that there were some things you struggled with during the second half of the exam, so we'll be doing our best to get you up to speed. I expect your best."
"Yes Sir!"
[Present Mic: "Class 1-A's Home-room teacher, Shota Aizawa. Hero Name; Erasure Head."
"His Quirk; Erasure. He can cancel another person's quirk just by looking at them, but the effect ends when he blinks!"]
Teams Bakugo & Shoji
"Help us! Please! None of us want to die!" Kaminari wailed, though to those who knew him, they realised that, this time at least, he was merely hamming it up as part of the exercise. Kaminari, Shoji, Jiro and Koda, had drawn the short straw for the first series of exercises as the civilians to be rescued. That left Team Bakugo as the Heroes, searching for them in the wrecked city zone.
Kaminari was currently 'trapped' by rubble placed over him, and pretending to have at least one broken leg. A little further away, Kyoka Jiro snorted in amusement as she listened from her own hiding spot. "You really are such a drama queen, Jamming-yayy."
"Help! Oh Please! Is there anyone who can save us from this...?"
"SHUT UP LOSER!" Bakugo strode towards Kaminari's position, almost dragging his team mate, Sero behind him, as he marched forward, intent on getting this over with. "Quit your whining before I explode your ass!" Those watching from afar, teachers and students alike, couldn't help face-palming at that.
[Present Mic: "Katsuki Bakugo. Hero Name; Currently Undecided."
"His Quirk; Explosion. He sweats a Nitroglycerin-like substance that he can ignite from sparks on his hands"]
"What kind of attitude is that?! Didn't you learn anything from the rescue part of the exam? Minus Points!" Kaminari yelled back, needling his classmate with the same words he had heard from the actors-playing-victims they had encountered during the aforementioned exam. The reaction to that was...understandably predictable.
"WHAT. DID. YOU. SAY?!" Kaminari couldn't help a nervous grin when he heard that. But he also kind of figured it had been worth it.
[Present Mic: "Denki Kaminari. Hero Name; Chargebolt."
"His Quirk; Electrification. He can shoot out a powerful electric field from his whole body, but he needs support items for precision. Also, if he goes over his wattage limit, he becomes a total blathering idiot for a few minutes."]
'Well, Kaminari is going to die. Got to admit though, he really burned Bakugo with that.' Jiro thought with a smirk, as she kept tabs on what was going on through her Quirk.
[Present Mic: "Kyoka Jiro. Hero Name; Earphone Jack."
"Quirk; Also Earphone Jack. She can hear really quiet sounds, and the Jacks on the ends of her lobes can also plug into speakers to provide a sonic attack based on her own heart-beat"]
Back outside the building they were 'trapped' in, Sero was doing his best to calm down an almost raging Bakugo.
"C'mon dude! Kaminari's right, it was that kind of attitude that had you fail. Try taking a deep breath, and calm down a little before heading in. I'll meet you there and assess the wounded victim's injuries." Bakugo snarled and shrugged off Sero's hand on his shoulder, biting back a retort. Hesitating only long enough to be sure Bakugo wasn't going to continue arguing, Sero aimed his right elbow at a window and shot a line of white sticky tape towards it, then drew it back into himself to propel him forwards and up.
[Present Mic: "Hanta Sero. Hero Name; Cellophane."
"Quirk; Tape. He shoots strong, sticky tape from his elbows, that he can either use to help himself get around, tie people up, or tear it off for some wicked traps."]
Meanwhile in another building...
"Help us, please! My brother and I are trapped and we're worried the ceiling is going to collapse any moment!" Shoji called out, huddled with his 'brother' Koda.
"We hear you!" Came the response from Kirishima as he raced alongside Ashido to get to them.
"Don't you worry, we'll have you both out and safe in no time!" She declared with confidence, before turning to Kirishima. "What do you think? How do you want to handle this?"
[Present Mic: "Mina Ashido. Hero Name; Pinky."
"Her Quirk; Acid. She secretes acid from her body, and she can control the PH level, as well as the viscosity of the acid she produces."]
"Before we go in, we need to do a quick check of their injuries," Kirishima frowned a little in thought. "I'll head in first. With my Quirk, if the ceiling does come down, I can use my hardening to protect both myself and them. If their injuries are minor, we should be able to get them out pretty quickly, so I'm counting on you to help with that, and with any debris I can't protect them from." Ashido responded with a 'Mm-hm!' as she readied herself.
A moment later Kirishima rammed through the blocked door, arms above his head, his bare skin now hard and cracked like rock.
[Present Mic: "Eijiro Kirishima. Hero Name; Red Riot."
"Quirk; Hardening. He can make his whole body, or just a part, harder than rock, which makes him both a strong shield, or a devastating weapon!"]
"Oh thank goodness, a hero." Shoji responded, playing the role of victim with greater seriousness than his electric team mate. In his many arms he cradled an 'unconscious' Koda. Kirishima and Ashido keeping an eye on the ceiling approached the pair.
"We need to move you both out of here before the roof comes down, are you able to do that?" Ashido asked, whilst checking Koda's pulse. The shy animal loving member of their class, couldn't help opening an eye and giving a brief shaky smile at her. All the while Kirishima kept close and held his hardening just in case.
"I think so, but my brother took a blow to the head, he's been out for a few minutes."
[Present Mic: "Mezo Shoji. Hero Name; Tentacole."
"Quirk; Dupli-Arms. He can form different body parts on the tips of his arms/tentacles. He's also a reliable recon specialist."]
"Well, your brother has a pulse and is breathing, so I think he'll be okay with medical attention, but it's best to move you both out of here." Ashido said, moving to help support Shoji as he stood up, and then quickly left the room, Kirishima bringing up the rear.
"Well, the ceiling didn't fall, which is good. Now we're going to escort you to the nearest relief station." The red haired hero in training stated, doing everything he could to radiate confidence and positivity.
"Much appreciated." Shoji replied, smiling behind his face mask. Beside him, Koda was also smiling, even though he was still supposed to be unconscious.
[Present Mic: "Koji Koda. Hero Name; Anima."
"Quirk; Anivoice. He can talk to and control Animals of any shape or size, though it has no effect on humans."]
"Isn't a little unfair to have all the students who are great at reconnaissance stuck on one team?" Toru Hagakure asked as she and the others watched Bakugo's team finally track down Jiro and bring her to the spot designated as the 'Relief Station.'
"Hagakure raises a good point. It would make more sense to spread out the people with Quirks suited for finding people amongst the other teams." Momo Yaoyorozu agreed, hand on chin as she pondered the issue.
"Perhaps our teacher wants to encourage us to develop our own senses and awareness." Iida chimed in, and getting a nod from Aizawa in confirmation.
"That's right. While it would make perfect sense to divide those with Quirks suited for recon amongst the teams as evenly as possible, in reality, it may not be so easy. If you respond to a disaster, you have to work with the other Pros there, as effectively as possible in order to save people. But if there isn't someone with a quirk that's good for finding people, then you have to make do as best you can. You can't just wait for someone with the perfect quirk to show up. Not when lives are at stake." He frowned as he looked at Bakugo's team, now finished, but the explosive teen was still bickering with both his own team and the others, while Thirteen tried to calm him down in order to move on.
'Bakugo has made some improvement. The supplementary courses he's taking with Todoroki are definitely helping a lot, but there's still resistance to being a team player. His pride is still deeply entrenched in his character.' Aizawa sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. 'Let's hope he's not going to be too difficult when it's his turn to play civilian…'
Teams Yaoyorozu & Todoroki & Midoriya
"Everyone take these, they should make it easier to work in this environment." Yaoyorozu opened up her costume's chest section so that she could deposit several gas masks she just created on the ground (Meanwhile Sato held Mineta by his head and had him turned away so that he couldn't try and peep on the Vice Rep's body).
[Present Mic: "Momo Yaoyorozu. Hero Name; Creati."
"Quirk; Creation. She can create any non organic object by transforming the lipids in her body, but she has to understand how it's put together first before she can do so."]
"Thanks Yaomomo!" Hagakure quickly picked up a few of the masks and started to hand them out. Ojiro and Aoyama, her team mates along with Yaoyorozu, gladly accepted, since they were going to be operating in the fire zone, smoke inhalation was one of their big concerns.
Tenya Iida got into a running stance, all while holding onto a cart, that Yaoyorozu had previously fashioned. His team mates already on board. "I'm going ahead, so hold on tight. With civilians scattered about, it is essential we ascertain their whereabouts and condition as soon as possible!" With that statement, he was off leaving a brief dust cloud in his wake.
[Present Mic: "Tenya Iida. Hero Name; Ingenium."
"Quirk; Engine. The engines in his calves, grant him superhuman speed, as well as some powerful kicks!"]
"While Iida conducts his search, the rest of us should help set up the relief station, as well as stand by as emergency reserve." Yaoyorozu took charge, the others trusting her leadership and organisation skills.
Meanwhile, Iida had found the first two victims, and came to a screeching halt that had Mineta fall forward from his spot on the cart. Nearby, Tsuyu Asui and Fumikage Tokoyami were in a spot that simulated a ruined building encircled in flame. They huddled in the centre, Asui softly ribbiting, in mock distress.
"We need to get those flames out if we're to get close!" Iida declared.
"Leave that to me." Todoroki declared, as he quickly manifested a massive amount of ice to cover the flames. Some patches of frost lingered on the right side of his body, but he didn't look overly troubled, since now he and the others could now reach Asui and Tokoyami.
[Present Mic: "Shoto Todoroki. Hero Name; Shoto."
"His Quirk; Half-Cold Half-Hot. He can make ice from his right side, and intense fire on his left."]
"Our thanks for your timely arrival."
"The heat from the flames was definitely unpleasant, ribbit."
"No worries," Sato said as he and Mineta moved to help the two up, "lets get the two of you somewhere safe." In short order the pair helped the pair onto the cart, whilst Iida turned it around, ready to head back.
"Grape Juice, stick with me. We'll find the others, whilst Ingenium gets these two back." Todoroki said, getting a thumbs up from his diminutive, purple clad, team-mate, even as Iida began to move off, once again at speed.
Quickly manoeuvring through the streets, Iida was more gentle in applying the brakes, being more considerate of the passengers that were playing bystanders. "We are here at the relief station!" Iida announced loudly as he came to a stop, Sato in the back of the cart, keeping the two 'civilians' secure. Ojiro and Aoyama approaching to help off load them and get them checked out.
"Don't worry guys, everything is going to be okay from here on out." Ojiro said with a smile as he aided Asui.
[Present Mic: "Mashiro Ojiro. Hero Name; Tailman."
"Quirk; Tail. As you can see, he has a pretty powerful tail that he can use as easily any other limb on his body."]
"Oui." Aoyama sparkled as he supported Tokoyami toward Yaoyorozu's set up Relief Station. "Our sparkle will guide you through these trying times Mon ami."
'Such blatant revelry in the light." Tokoyami grumbled in his head.
[Present Mic: "Yuga Aoyama. Hero Name; Can't Stop Twinkling (The Twinkling that Can't be Stopped!)."
"His Quirk; Naval Laser. Yep, a belly button laser. His armour is adapted so that he can shoot out beams from other parts of his body as well, but if he overuses his quirk he gets tummy issues."]
Meanwhile back with Todoroki's team…
"Please help! My Grandfather is trapped!" Uraraka called out to Todoroki and Mineta as they approached. Todoroki stopped a few feet away and saw the challenge before them. The flames in the area weren't too bad, but some of the debris trapping Midoriya looked unstable. Before they could move any of it away, some parts would need to be secured so it didn't completely crush Midoriya when they started to free him.
"Grape Juice, can you...?"
"Already on it, Shoto!" Mineta declared, already seeing what Todoroki wanted him to do as he started pulling off the balls on his head and throwing them in specific spots. 'I'll show everyone how much I've grown. I'm going to be a Hero that everyone thinks is cool!'
[Present Mic: "Minoru Mineta. Hero name; Grape Juice."
"Quirk; Pop-Off. The balls that grow on his head can stick to anything but himself. He just bounces off them. And they grow back as fast as they are pulled off."]
"Good work," Todoroki nodded, "I'll also help reinforce the structure with precise application of my ice. We should be able to get him free before it melts."
'You guys are doing great!' Uraraka thought as she watched her class mates quickly secure any debris that could potentially fall, then start freeing Midoriya. She had a big smile on her face, and clenched her fists close to her chest in excitement.
"There! You're free now sir." Todoroki declared only to be very suddenly taken aback by Midoriya's response.
"I could really use some food." Todoroki and Mineta were slightly speechless, as Midoriya simply sat there, eyes closed, and was apparently untroubled from the hellish environment he was currently in.
"Um... Sir? We really should be..." Todoroki attempted to regain some initiative only for Midoriya to once again derail him with a surprising question.
"So who might you be?"
"I'm... Shoto, a Hero in training from UA, here to get you and your... Grand-daughter to safety."
"What was that you said?" Midoriya put up a hand to his ear.
"I said, I'm Shoto from UA!" Todoroki responded at a slightly louder volume, a little exasperated at his friend's behaviour. Midoriya opened his eyes and tilted his head to the side as he regarded Todoroki's expression.
"Kacchan?"
"Shoto!"
"...So what's your name?" At that, Todoroki turned to look at Uraraka, who had her hands to her mouth, and was trembling from how hard she was trying not to laugh and break character.
"Did... he get hit in the head at all, by any chance?" He asked, Mineta nodding his head, and shaking his fist in frustrated confusion.
"Yeah, for real, what's going on?!"
Uraraka settled herself enough to answer, her right hand reaching behind her head to scratch and mess with her hair as she did so. "Well... my Grandfather is pretty old..." She said, whilst internally, she thought to herself; 'The character card that Deku was given, said "Senile Grandpa". I guess he's having a little fun playing the part.'
Meanwhile, Midoriya continued to just smile and look around absently whilst thinking to himself. 'Thanks Gran Torino. It may not be what you intended, but I learnt something from you, that's testing my class mates to be better prepared as heroes.'
"Hey, hey, hey! Did you find the others? Great job you guys!" Hagakure's voice called out to them as Iida arrived with the cart, the Invisible Girl riding in the back with Ojiro and Sato.
[Present Mic: "Toru Hagakure. Hero Name; Invisible Girl."
"Quirk; Invisibility. She's able to bend light around her so that she's completely invisible. It's possible that in time she might learn enough control that we actually see her face."]
"We... could use a hand... Midoriya... I mean, this old man seems a little confused, though from what we can tell he is largely uninjured." Todoroki stepped back as he spoke, while Uraraka moved up to try and help, playing the role of the dutiful relative. If anyone looked hard enough, they might have noticed that the pink spots on her cheeks were a little more rosy than usual.
"Come along Grandpa, let's get you out of here."
"Are we getting food?"
"No worries sir," Sato declared as he came forward to help the 'doddering' Midoriya, whilst Ojiro used his tail to sweep a path clear of any debris that could trip him up. "We've got food back at the Rescue station, and plenty of water too."
[Present Mic: "Rikido Sato. Hero Name; Sugarman."
"Quirk; Sugar Rush. For every gram of sugar he consumes, he can transform it into pure power, making him quite the strong man. Though it only lasts a short time, and overuse can decrease his mental abilities temporarily."]
"Well that sounds good." Midoriya said as he was guided into the cart with Uraraka by his side. Just as Iida turned it around and began to run back, he added "just who are you all again?"
…
"Problem Child... why did you feel the need to go so far with your performance that half the students from the teams in charge of rescue are pulling their hair out?" Aizawa was giving one of his trademark scary looks, that had the green haired boy before him sweating nervously.
"Well sir..." Midoriya began, "I got the idea from Gran Torino, the Pro I did my internship with. That's actually how I had my first introduction with him you see. I guess it was for the same reason as you occasionally show up in just your sleeping bag, to see how we'd react. Since you gave me the role of 'Senile Grandpa', I got to thinking how there may be some civilians we have to save who could be... unintentionally difficult to deal with, so…"
"Okay, that's enough. I get your point." Aizawa interrupted Midoriya's spiel before it turned into one of his muttering sessions, and turned off the intimidation look as he sighed. "You're not wrong, some people will act irrational in an emergency due to fear, or they could have mental conditions that require an extra level of delicacy and care. Just maybe leave the dedicated in-character performances to Iida unless we tell you to. Alright?"
"Yes Sir! Sorry!" Midoriya bowed in apology, but Aizawa waved it away.
"Focus on getting ready for your team's rescue exercise." Then he gave a smile. One of his big scary sadistic smiles that promised much stress and trauma. "Oh and Midoriya, just so you're aware, you'll be rescuing Bakugo's team. I hope your prepared for your own 'difficult' civilian."
Those students listening in from nearby sweat-dropped in sympathy.
Teams Shoji & Yaoyorozu
"I hear a voice..." Jiro said, her eyes closed in concentration, hands over her headphones that covered her ears, while her jacks were stabbed into the ground before her. In the squall zone, the rescue team was beset not just with a dark environment, but one that had cold winds blowing loudly.
Not that would stop Jiro from tracking down the 'civilians' they had to save. "I think it's Hagakure. Twenty metres east of our position. And I think I can hear Aoyama muttering fifty metres to the north."
"Way to go Jiro, you're our MVP!" Kaminari declared with a thumbs up, only to receive an annoyed scowl from the rocker girl in front of him.
"Would you quiet down and do something useful? It's hard enough to hear in this place without you yammering." That had Kaminari frown and sulk. He didn't think he deserved that really. Shoji meanwhile took charge.
"Okay then, I'm probably the best one to find Hagakure given how much I've trained my Quirk alongside hers." He formed a mouth on one of his arms to address the others. "Kaminari, you head off with Koda and get to Aoyama. Keep your radio handy in case Jiro finds anyone else nearby." That got nods from the group, and they quickly split up to search.
…
"There's still room for improvement, but I'd say they're all doing well, despite having such small groups to accomplish their tasks." Toshinori Yagi stated as Aizawa dismissed the teams following review.
[Present Mic: "Toshinori Yagi. Hero Name; All Might."
"Quirk; Unknown, as it's never been publicly revealed. He's the former Number One Hero in not just Japan, but the World. Though he may be retired, he's still seen by many as the Symbol of Peace."]
"Just time for Young Midoriya and Young Bakugo's last exercise," He noted as he side-eyed the Underground Hero. "Speaking of, what role did you have Bakugo take as a civilian?"
Aizawa hid his smirk behind his capture cloth. "He's supposed to be playing an unconscious individual with a minor concussion. It'll be interesting to see if he can handle shutting up and staying put, as Midoriya and the others rescue him."
'Well... sounds like both boys have their work cut out for them, and the rest of Young Midoriya's team as well." Yagi scratched his cheek, while looking at Thirteen giving Midoriya and his team their instructions for the landslide zone. 'I'm watching both of you. Do your best out there.'
Teams Midoriya & Bakugo
"Help! Can anybody hear me?!" Ashido called out from a hole that went down 10ft. She and Sero lay at the bottom, though Sero stayed quiet, pretending to be greatly injured. At the top, the heads of Tokoyami and Asui appeared.
"We hear you, Ribbit! We're on our way to help." Asui called, followed by her Crow-headed partner.
"Try not to move if possible. One of us is coming down to you now." Tokoyami turned his head and addressed Asui, who regarded him with a quiet 'ribbit'. "Froppy, you head down and quickly assess the injured, while I and Dark Shadow ready the stretcher." He shifted said stretcher, tucked under his right arm, for emphasis. Asui nodded, and then began to crawl down the side of the hole, her hands and feet sticking to the surface, even through her boots and gloves.
[Present Mic: "Tsuyu Asui. Hero Name; Froppy."
"Her Quirk; Frog. She can pretty much do anything a frog can do, including shoot out her tongue around 20 metres."]
"Are you able to move at all?" Asui asked as she got close enough to step down next to Ashido. The pink skinned girl nodded, but then pointed at her black haired companion.
"I can move, but I'm worried about him. He's been out since we dropped down here."
"Ribbit. Let me take a look at him then. If you can move, my partner can lift you out no problem." Asui immediately went to work, doing all the checks she had been taught to do when dealing with an unconscious patient. Meanwhile Tokoyami called down from above.
"Froppy, I'm sending Dark Shadow to you, please give him the instructions he needs." With that a shadowy figure, but with definite mass, coiled down till it was just beside Asui. It resembled a humanoid bird, but it's lower body simply elongated back up the shaft to where it connected with it's master. The bird monster spoke, though it's tone was friendly.
"Hey there Froppy. What do you need from Fumi and me?"
"Dark Shadow, can you carefully lift this lady out of this hole? She appears to only have minor injuries and can still move, and we'll need space to bring down the stretcher." Asui asked, briefly looking the sentient quirk in the eye. Dark Shadow gave her a thumbs up.
"Just leave it to me." With that he effortlessly pivoted around and lifted Ashido up into a bridal carry, before retracting himself back up to the top where Tokoyami awaited.
"You are safe now Miss." Tokoyami helped Ashido down, and led her a few steps away from the hole before turning to his living quirk. "Will we be needing the stretcher?"
"Yeah. Hand it over, and I can get right down there."
"Very well then. Good work Dark Shadow."
[Present Mic: "Fumikage Tokoyami. Hero Name; Tsukuyomi."
"Quirk; Dark Shadow. He has a sentient shadow monster living within him that can become anything he wants. While relatively weak in the light, it's super strong in darkness, though it also becomes more aggressive and harder to control."]
In another part of the Landslide zone, Midoriya and Uraraka found Bakugo and Kirishima in a gully. Kirishima was carrying his left arm as if it were broken, and surprisingly, Bakugo was actually quiet and playing an unconscious victim pretty well, though he had facial tics and twitches that betrayed his irritation.
"Okay, it looks like it's just a concussion. We'll use the stretcher we brought with us and carry him back." Midoriya quickly assessed, trying not to rush the process, but also aware of how irritable Bakugo could be with 'Deku' being the one to rescue him, so it'd be better to be as quick and efficient as possible. Uraraka beside him nodded, before touching Bakugo's chest with one of her hands. A chime sounded as her quirk activated, and Bakugo started to float a few inches off the floor.
"I'll take his feet, while you take the head." She said, getting a nod from her partner. As they took position, Uraraka took charge of the count before shifting Bakugo over to the adjacent Stretcher. "On three. One... Two... Three!" Gently they guided him over the top of the Stretcher. As Midoriya moved the stretcher up so it was actually touching him, and bracing his head, Uraraka put the tips of her fingers and thumbs together. "And... Release!"
[Present Mic: "Ochaco Uraraka. Hero Name; Uravity."
"Quirk; Zero Gravity. When she touches a person or object with all five finger beans from either hand, she can cancel out gravity's effects. If she overdoes it though, it can make her particularly nauseous."]
"There," Midoriya said taking the stretchers handles, whilst Uraraka gripped the other side, "we're all set." He half turned to Kirishima. "Just follow us, we'll guide you to safety."
"Hey thanks man." Kirishima replied with a sharp tooth smile, and he fell into step with the pair.
'Gah! I'm so done with this! Just get me back to the teachers and we can finish this dumb exercise!' Bakugo was grinding his teeth as he was carried. The others had noticed but were doing their utmost to ignore it. 'Stupid extra role. Like I'd ever be this injured, and treated like I'm weak! And carried around by the Nerd and Pink Cheeks of all people...!' Without meaning to, he let off small puff of an explosion from his left palm. The others noticed, sweat-dropping as they understood just how much the blonde's patience was being tested.
"Okay, I see Froppy and Tsukuyomi!" Uraraka declared as they exited the gully. Back the established Rescue Station, her two friends waved at them, whilst Ashido and Sero (no longer playing unconscious) were sat together and also waved. "We're almost there guys."
That's when there was a rumble in the ground, not enough to truly knock them off their feet, but enough to slow everyone down as they found their footing. Midoriya's eyes widened at the implication.
'Oh no! The landslide zone's special feature! They're releasing a controlled Avalanche!' Out-loud however he said "Tsukuyomi! Aid me in keeping the rocks away from the bystanders!"
"Froppy!" Uraraka called out, understanding what needed to be done, "help me with getting the injured to safety while the boys do their part!"
"We're on our way!"
"Hold on Uravity, ribbit!"
Taking a brief moment to see that Uraraka had made the stretcher weightless, Midoriya summoned up his power, green sparks flying off his body, and then jumped up toward the incoming rolling stones.
'I have to hit them in the right way so that they won't threaten either Uraraka and Tsu, or the Relief Station.' He thought, his mind already quickly calculating the angle he would need. '8%... Full Cowling!' He aimed a swift swinging kick into one of the boulders, cracking and sending it, and some of the smaller debris, safely clear.
[Present Mic: "Izuku Midoriya. Hero Name; Deku."]
"Tsukuyomi!" Midoriya called out as he noticed some boulders further away not deviating from their course.
"Onto me Dark Shadow! BLACK ABYSS!" Tokoyami shouted out his special move, as Dark Shadow enveloped him like shadowy armour. Extending claw like talons from his hands, he swiped the incoming projectiles away with ease.
"Looks like the guys are handling things well," Asui said as she aided Uraraka with Bakugo, who was shaking and grinding his teeth violently. Though to his credit, he hadn't yet broken character. Asui glanced back occasionally to be sure of her team mates condition, as well as keep an eye out for any stray rocks that somehow got past the two. "Ribbit. And we're now at the Relief Station, so I guess we've completed the exercise."
'I'm so ready to be done with today.' Was Bakugo's thoughts on the matter.
…
"Good work today everyone!" Yagi congratulated the students as they boarded the bus. With all the exercises complete it was time to leave the USJ and get back to UA campus. Yagi noticed how, despite being a little weary after a hard day of training, pretty much everyone was in good spirits.
Aizawa and Thirteen had pointed out any mistakes made, and explained ways to improve to each group, but honestly, Yagi felt that for first year students, they'd done well and taken on board every lesson and experience they'd accumulated up to now.
Aizawa waited by the door as the students passed. He looked bored, but Yagi knew the Underground Hero was very aware of what was going on. After the first Villain attack on the students, which had incidentally been during their first week of school, and at the USJ itself, the homeroom teacher was not about to drop his guard until they were safely back on UA grounds.
Yagi also noticed, as he followed a happily chatting Ashido and Hagakure on-board, their bus driver, a few metres away having a quick phone call. He frowned a little. He hoped the man's conversation wasn't going to hold them up too much.
After he took a seat near the front, Aizawa followed and took the seat on the opposite side of the aisle. "The driver...?" Aizawa didn't look up at Yagi's inquiry, but he did answer.
"He's finishing up now, no need to worry All Might." Yagi nodded, and then turned as he heard Iida's voice call out.
"Aoyama! You've been told before; Do not stand when the bus is about to pull away! That is a safety hazard! You should be in your seat and wearing a seat-belt!" Aizawa sighed. Yagi could sympathise. Iida was a very earnest student, who took school and his position as Class Rep seriously. Maybe too seriously.
"Would you like me to handle it?" He quietly asked as the various students bickered and chatted. Aizawa shook his head.
"I've got it..." Aizawa turned around in his seat to address the problem children, his quirk already active Yagi noticed, his eyes shining red, and the black bangs in front of his face suddenly floating up and out of the way so his vision was not obscured. "That's enough! All of…"
He didn't finish his sentence. Because right then, before the bus driver could board, there was a bright light surrounding the bus, piercing the windows and making everyone shield their faces. Even those who were not looking directly out the windows, felt the need to close their eyes on instinct.
"AAAAAAHHH!"
"What the Hell!?"
"Are we under attack?!"
And it wasn't just light, Yagi realised. In that moment, besides the sound of surprise and fear from the students, he could hear a roaring sound that he could only describe as walking into a room filled with multiple loud conversations, with the volume turned up to eleven! It was happening so fast and so loud that even seasoned Pro's like himself and Aizawa were stunned.
Then, finally... the light and roaring vanished. And the bus lurched as gravity asserted itself, and they fell for two seconds before crashing hard on the ground.
Yagi blinked several times, and coughed up a little blood. He winced as he nursed his left side, where beneath his clothes was a massive scar that he kept hidden from most people. Beside him, Aizawa was groaning, and behind, he could the students moan and whimper.
"Everyone... is everyone alright? Is anyone injured?" He called out, even as he stepped out of his seat and went down the aisle to check.
"I... bumped my head on the seat in front of me... but I believe I'm fine. Sacr'e bleu..." Aoyama groaned. He was sitting in amongst the front rows next to Koda, who was now fretting over the blonde French student. Yagi took a quick examination on the spot, noting a red mark on the forehead.
"Any dizziness, or nausea at all Young Aoyama?"
"Non... My apologies, I should have heeded our dear Class Rep earlier."
"Don't worry about that just now. Stay put for the moment. Young Koda, please keep an eye on your classmate for a bit." The shy boy nodded, as Yagi turned to move down the bus.
"All Might!" Yagi looked over his shoulder, and was relieved to see Aizawa up and active. "Stay with the students, I'm heading outside to check what's happened."
"Got it," Yagi was briefly swallowed by steam as his body grew in size and muscle, looking more like the number one hero people remembered. "I'LL BE HERE!" He declared, putting a twist on his catchphrase. He knew Aizawa wasn't one for his show-boating (as Erasure Head called it), but right now he wanted to reassure their young charges. For once Aizawa didn't make any sign of disapproval, or annoyance. He understood exactly, and turned to leave, even as Yagi coughed up a little blood and de-buffed instantly.
"All Might, are you okay?!" Midoriya worried as he stood up from his seat next to Iida's. The Class Rep also looked concerned for Yagi's well being, judging by the expression on his face. He waved away their concern.
"I'm fine Young Midoriya, Young Iida, but are you or any of your fellow classmates injured here at all?" The green haired boy and his spectacled friend shook their heads. And as Yagi took in the rest of the bus, he was glad to see that no one was signalling that they, or someone near them, were hurt. Everyone was still looking on edge though. Even Bakugo, though Yagi took his expression to mean he was already preparing himself in case of a fight.
'He's not the only one,' Yagi noted. Many students, including Midoriya, Kirishima, Uraraka and Asui, were already adjusting themselves in preparation of having to move quickly. Given the number of times their lives had been put in danger this past school year, he couldn't help a mixture of pride at how quickly these young heroes were maturing, and also some sadness that they were constantly faced with such burdens that they shouldn't have to carry just yet.
"Um... guys..." Kaminari shifted in his seat as he stared past Sero through the window, "... I don't think we're at the USJ anymore." Sero quickly turned to see what the blonde was talking about and gasped. And he wasn't the only one. Every student looked out the nearside window and beheld a view of grey barked trees, and orange-red leaves.
Forever Fall Forest, Kingdom of Vale.
Outside, Aizawa was confronted with the same scenery, one hand on his capture scarf as he looked around. Wherever they had ended up, the bus was now on the edge of a large clearing in an unfamiliar forest. A quick check on the vehicle as he circled around it, showed that however they were literally dropped off, the bus itself seemed largely intact, with no sign of any leaking fuel or oil. Undoubtedly it would have some damage, but at the very least Shota didn't need to worry about quickly evacuating the students away for fear of explosion.
Using the branches of a nearby tree, he swung himself up onto the roof. He could hear the students inside, checking out the view from their windows, and wondering what was going on. He wished he could give a definite answer, as he wasn't sure himself. If it was an attack, there were things that didn't make sense; if they could be dropped from high up, why not higher where they had more chance of being hurt or killed on impact when the bus touched ground? And why here... wherever here was?
He tried to get an idea of the lay of the land, but the trees were taller than the bus. He'd have to go higher. Once again using his capture weapon to get him quickly to a branch that could support his frame. He began to climb, until he could see above the tree line. He frowned. The forest, as far as he could tell, spread out for a good few miles in every direction. Pulling out a small pair of binoculars, he tried to find a land mark of some kind, and then he saw it. In the distance, west of their position, what looked like a raised cliff, with perhaps a castle? Some kind of large building at least, and that meant that they had some place to aim for if they couldn't get a call through.
On that note, he swapped out the binoculars for his mobile, and then scowled when he unlocked the screen that it had no signal. He tried looking up another network, with the hopes of more luck, but was surprised to find only one available, and that it was unknown. His frustration only grew when he attempted to access this network only to meet repeated failure. 'Great... lost who knows where, with the nearest population likely a good few miles away, no network to access, so no calling for help.' He sighed before putting the phone away. 'Maybe Yaoyorozu can make a ham radio for us to use, but just in case, better get everybody ready to move out.'
…
Izuku was worried about the lack of signal. He and a number of his classmates had tried using their phones, along with All Might, to contact the school, only to find that wherever they were, the signal was no good. All Might was keeping everybody calm, but Izuku could tell that he was just as nervous.
He and everyone else looked up briefly when they heard a bump on the roof of the bus. 'Probably Mr Aizawa," Izuku reasoned, and he caught sight of the Teacher's black outfit dropping past the window. Shortly the bus door opened and Aizawa reappeared. He spoke without preamble, cutting all questions and conversations short.
"Everyone, we're getting off the bus. I don't know where we are, but it's best if everybody is up and ready to move." Nobody argued. If there was going to be a fight, they'd need to have the room to do it.
Izuku took in the scenery as he and Iida stepped out, followed by Uraraka and Asui. If the situation hadn't been what it was, he felt that the place they had ended up in was pretty serene. A small gust of wind shook the leaves, and his hood briefly flew up over his head, thankfully not obscuring his vision, thanks to the eye holes in the cowl. He continued to look around even as the last of his classmates disembarked.
Then he heard a gasp, from the tree-line. He wasn't the only one who picked up on it, as Shoji also whirled around, a few of his Dupli-Arms shifted to have ears at the tips. Aizawa also picked up on it, and had a hand on his weapon, his Quirk already in effect as he turned sharply. Izuku looked into the forest, and saw a few metres from himself, a child's head poking out from around a tree, peeking at him with golden eyes, and a pair of black dog ears poking out from their hazel brown hair.
"Hello," he waved at them, relaxing a little, putting on a friendly smile, and kneeling down so he would be closer to their own height. "Did we scare you? I'm sorry. Don't be scared, we won't hurt you, everyone here is nice." The head fully poked out, revealing the child to be a girl, maybe no older than five. She wore a look that spoke of confusion, and wariness.
"Super...Super-Strong-Bunny-Man?" She spoke slow and in English, but a few of Izuku's classmates couldn't help hearing that, and had to work really hard not to burst out laughing. His Hero costume's hooded cowl did look like it had small Bunny ears. It wouldn't be the first time people had made the comparison. "Are... are you him? Are you Super-Strong-Bunny-Man? Are you here to help me?"
"W-well... my name is Izuku Midoriya, but my Hero name is Deku, so you can call me that if that's easier. Me and my friends are Heroes in training from UA academy in Japan." Izuku blushed a little at the name the kid had given him, but it seemed that she didn't know Japanese, or at least didn't speak it very well. Hopefully his spoken English wouldn't be too bad. He focused on what the young girl had said at the end. "Do you need help? Are you injured in anyway?"
Slowly, the girl walked out towards him, a little unsure, her eyes flicking across the many students. Izuku noticed her state of dress; a white & blue patterned dress and skirt, but stained with mud (and possibly something darker) frayed and torn at the edges. She was bare foot, and behind her, she had a dog tail, hanging down in fear and worry. Her feet and legs looked like they had scratches, but they had healed. In her arms, held close as if she couldn't bare to be parted with them, was a doll that looked like it had the same dog Quirk features as herself, and a scrunched up roll of paper.
Aizawa and All Might silently signalled to certain students to stay back, and keep watch. Crowding the girl was not likely to help matters right now, and if she was a civilian who needed help, it would be best to let them handle it. Though, given how she had approached Izuku, they would obviously do what they could to guide him.
The girl stopped in front of Izuku, looking him in the eye with a measure of scrutiny. 'She sort of reminds me of Eri. Maybe because they're around the same age?' Then she tucked the doll under her right arm and unfolded the paper, looking at it, then at Izuku, back and forth for a few seconds, before fixing him with a stern frown.
"This is you, right?" She showed off the paper, turning it so that Izuku could see. On it was a crayon drawing of multiple people, and animals, and clouds with faces, all chasing off some scary monsters all in black with red eyes. Izuku thought they might be wolves. "It has to be. You have to be Super-Strong-Bunny-Man. I wished for you to save me, and now you're here. So you have to be." Her voice had turned scolding, seemingly annoyed that she had to explain this supposedly obvious truth, even as she pointed at one figure in particular amongst the people fighting the wolves. A figure that looked like…
"OH! Oh wow, that actually looks like my first costume." Izuku kept up a smile, remembering that the girl had clearly said she was needing help and being saved. He wouldn't lie, but he knew that he needed to avoid setting off a tantrum. "Did you draw this? It's very good. I can see why you think I'm... Super-Strong-Bunny-Man…"
'So Cute!' Uraraka thought as she approached. A silent nod from Aizawa, allowing her and Asui to do so. They could probably help comfort the girl enough to get some answers.
'Ribbit, ribbit. Adorable!'
"... But you can just call me Deku. And everyone here will do what we can to help you." The girl's face lightened up a little, even as Izuku pushed back his hood to show his full face. She still looked confused but she didn't look as upset any more. Aizawa came up softly on Izuku's right as the girls approached from his left. "What's your name?"
"... Gale."
"Nice to meet you Gale." Izuku extended a hand, and after a moments hesitation, Gale reached out and took it, before dissolving into sobs and full on hugging him, dropping her doll as she did so. Izuku had been caught off guard, but gently hugged her back and patted her head. Aizawa and the others kneeling down and spoke softly, doing what they could to calm her down. Asui picked up her doll, keeping it close in case she wanted it.
After what might have been two minutes, Gale seemed to have calmed down enough to talk again, slowly pulling away from Izuku. "Gale," She looked at Aizawa, "can you tell us what you meant by 'wishing Bunny-Man to save you', and where we are right now?" Gale's bottom lip trembled, but she rubbed her eyes with an arm, and then answered.
"Mummy always said that Heroes always saved people and put smiles back on peoples faces. Mummy's stories are what made me draw out my dream heroes. Mum...Mummy and Daddy tol...told me to run when the Grimm came! Everyone in the village was screaming!. I ran, and ran, and ran for... till morning!" Gale was shaking the more she talked, and Izuku and the others couldn't help feeling rising concern. "I kept walking, hoping to find Beacon. Beacon is where Huntsmen and Huntresses are trained, Daddy said. But... it's so far... and I'm so tired. I wished with all my heart for Super-Strong-Bunny-Man and friends to save me! Then I... I felt tired... dizzy... then all of sudden... POP!" She claps her hands as she shouts the last word.
Aizawa's left eyebrow rose a little higher. "Pop?" She nodded, fists clenched.
"The Pop was loud enough that I was awake again, and then there was a big CRASH!" She pointed at the bus. "At first I thought the Grimm had found me, only to find that. Then I saw you exit... and..." Gale slowed down as she suddenly began to scrutinise Aizawa's face. Aizawa's other eyebrow went up as he tried to figure out what the little girl was thinking, only for her eyes to widen and then she pulled out the drawing again, stared at it, before squealing excitedly. Her tail was now up and wagging.
"What is it? What's got you excited?" Uraraka asked. Gale grinned even as fresh tears pooled in her eyes. She held up the drawing again, pointing to a grouchy looking face, with black and grey curls around it as he seemingly observed the 'heroes' defeating the wolves.
"Grumpy Cloud! It's Mr Grumpy Cloud!"
How Class 1-A managed not to all fall over themselves laughing at that moment will forever be a mystery, and a testament to their willpower not to test their homeroom teacher's patience. Even Bakugo, who watched the scene from the rear of the bus, had to put a hand over his mouth, whilst steadying himself with the other.
'Mr Grumpy Cloud?! Dammit, the little dog-eared brat is killing me here! It's almost as funny as freaking 'Glamouroki' back at that dumb make up class!'
"...Uraraka, Asui. Can you stay with Gale and Midoriya for a moment. I'm going to have a quick talk with All Might." The two girls nodded, before asking if Gale could find them in her drawing. Aizawa however stood up and motioned Yagi to follow him.
"You think she's as lost as we are?" Yagi whispered, Aizawa nodding, a frown on his face as he went over the limited information he had.
"Here's what I can determine with some amount of certainty. First, she believes her family and home are gone. That's worrying enough by itself. Secondly, She believes these Grimm are certainly the cause, though it's unclear what exactly they are. For all we know it's a villain's Quirk, or a super rare case of a pack of animals developing a Quirk."
"Third, I suspect that she may have a Quirk that involves teleportation or warping. I'm basing that off her description of wishing for her 'heroes' to save her, and then feeling tired and dizzy. Plus, it feels all too convenient for her to do that and then we show up, don't you think?" Yagi couldn't argue that, and Aizawa took his silence as agreement and continued. "If that is the case, then she possibly has never had any Quirk counselling, which means she has no idea how to properly control this power."
"Finally, she mentioned heading for 'Beacon'. A place she heard trains 'Huntsman and Huntresses'. That could be a Hero School, and if it is, I spotted a facility, maybe a castle, west of here. That could possibly be what she meant. It's pretty far to cover by foot, but it gives us something to head for."
"How long would it take to get there, do you think?"
"Three... maybe four hours, at best. Unlike the Training Camp, the students won't have to battle through monstrous creations made to slow them down." Yagi grimaced. He felt like they had just unintentionally tempted fate, just by referencing that.
"What if we run into these Grimm?" He asked, already having an idea of what Aizawa would say.
"We'll keep her in the centre of our group. Koda's Quirk should be enough to handle any hostile wildlife, but on the off chance it doesn't, we'll have our heavy hitters on the front line with him, and Shoji and Jiro working reconnaissance."
"All right then," Yagi looked away to the West, as if trying to see the place Aizawa had mentioned. "I'll rally the students. We should be ready to move out as soon as possible."
"I want to ask Yaoyorozu if she can make a ham radio first. My phone can't get any signal and the only network it can find is both unrecognised and can't be accessed right now. If we can get through to somebody, maybe we can save ourselves a long hike."
"If we're lucky. We'll be ready to move out either way." Aizawa nodded before walking away, seeking out the raven haired Vice Rep. Yagi meanwhile, stole a quick glance at Midoyria and the others as they spoke to Gale, before signalling Iida to come over. Internally he prayed for some good fortune for them all.
…
The Alpha Elder had tracked it's prey, small and insignificant as it was, from the village it had fled. The same village the Alpha's brethren had levelled. It could smell the fear, uncertainty, and somewhere close by, the smell of hostility, of aggression.
It could leave it alone. But it figured it was better to finish it off before it gathered the Hunters. Even though the horde numbered over a hundred, and the Elder was the premier leader over all the others, a survivor of numerous battles, it knew... It knew that it was best to not alert the Hunters to it's presence. Not yet…
The Queen had plans…
The prey was close. It had found others. Maybe twenty or so... An acceptable risk. The Elder growled out to the others, and in amongst the shadows of the trees, the horde began to move.
…
"So lets see here..." Uraraka studied the drawing that Gale held up, "that's Tsu right there," she pointed at a frog like figure in lime green crayon.
"Best Frog!" Gale announced, while Asui ribbited softy, very pleased with the name the young girl had decided to bestow her.
'Adorable. Ribbit.'
Nearby, Ashido and Hagakure were supposed to be keeping watch after All Might had them all shift position. He had the students form two concentric circle rings in the middle of the clearing, keeping Gale in the middle where she could be best protected. The two were supposed to be keeping watch along with the others, but they couldn't help but be a little distracted by listening in to Uraraka, Asui and Izuku talk to the new arrival, and hear her announce her own cute names for everyone. They quietly giggled as much as they dared, even as a few feet away, Mr 'Grumpy Cloud' Aizawa, worked at a radio set that Yaoyorozu had made, with Kaminari providing the power.
"And this person... could that be Shoji?"
"Handy-Man!" Said Handy-Man smiled behind his face mask, and formed a mouth on one of his lower tentacles to give a bright grin for the kid and his friends to see.
"Ooh this one looks like Mineta."
"Ribbit, oh yeah, I can see it. It's the hair. What do you call him Gale?"
"Sticky-Boy!"
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up you guys," Mineta said, as no one could quite stop the giggles at that one, "but when I was younger, I actually did consider that as a Hero name briefly."
"So are you planning to change your code name when we get back then?" Kaminari asked with a teasing smirk. Mineta shook his head, but he was smiling too.
"Nah, I like being the fresh-picked hero. Nobody will ever take me seriously if I went around calling myself 'Sticky-Boy' you know?"
"I think I found Bakugo," Uraraka continued pointing at a yellow, orange and red scribbled figure. Izuku nodded. No doubt about it. Especially since that figure seemed to be exploding the wolves to death. "What's your name for him then?"
"King Explosion Murder!"
"…"
"…"
"... Ribbit…"
"VINDICATION!" Katsuki Bakugo's shout echoed around the clearing, followed by him laughing victoriously. Everybody else simply sweat-dropped. They were probably never going to hear the end of this from him. Nearby, Koda was doing what he could to calm the few birds he had summoned for information gathering, keeping them from flying away from all the sudden shouting.
"Try and keep it down, Young Bakugo." All Might gently reprimanded. Besides possibly distracting Aizawa, and those specialising in recon who were using their Quirks to gather intel, he didn't want the group to make too much noise. The former number one was starting to get a bad feeling. An itch in his side combined with gut instinct was telling him to be on guard.
"Okay, moving on from Kacchan," Izuku returned the inner circle's attention to back to Gale's drawing, "who would this person here be, Gale?" The girl looked at where he was pointing to a figure in pink and white scribbles. Gale gave the biggest and most innocent smile in response, and pointed straight at Uraraka.
"Oh that's Miss Pink Cheeks!" Uraraka felt her face go red, even as further away, Bakugo was being told off for laughing loudly again. But the gravity girl's permanent blushes went even redder as Gale continued. "She's Super-Strong-Bunny-Man's girlfriend!"
Uraraka could feel her face burning, even as she could sense Ashido turning her head, a smug smile on her own ever-pink face, eager to tease 'Miss Pink Cheeks' about this. Izuku's face was probably just as red as hers, as he started his embarrassed stuttering denials. Meanwhile Bakugo was considering whether or not he could legally adopt the kid (though if he knew Ashido was wondering the same thing, he would've changed his mind pretty quickly).
'Don't do it! Do not accidentally float yourself away in a flustered mess Ochaco! C'mon, you can do this. Stay strong!'
"Quiet! All of you!" Jiro suddenly called out, her Earphone Jacks plugged into the ground, while she held her hands to the earphones she wore, her expression serious. "I'm picking something up. A large... a pack of animals... I think? From the South!"
"How big a group are we talking about here Jiro?" Aizawa spoke lowly, but just loud enough that Jiro could hear him. He dropped the radio mic and receiver he had been trying to use to call for aid, but with no success. The rocker girl closed her eyes as she focused, and a bead of sweat was noticeable on her forehead.
"Big... really big!, I think there's over 50... no, more like over a hundred animals, coming closer Sensei!" Aizawa's eyes widened. That didn't sound like a pack, that sounded like a herd. A pack implied predators, but he'd rarely heard of a group of large predators that numbered more than 20 or so in the natural world. Everybody else tensed up as they heard the news, and Gale began to cry, snapping both Uraraka and Izuku out of the last remains of their embarrassed states in order to try and calm her.
"Grimm! The Grimm have found us!"
"H-Hey, it's going to be fine!" Izuku forced as much confidence into his voice as possible. Uraraka and Asui nodding.
"We'll protect you, no matter what!"
"Ribbit, what can you tell us about the Grimm? Are they all wolves, like in your drawing?" Gale shook her head.
"Some are like big wolves, some are like big birds, or bears. Grimm are soulless monsters that devour Humans and Faunus like me!"
'Faunus?' Izuku briefly pondered before turning his head over to his classmate Koda. "Koda! Can your bird friends tell us anything useful?"
"... They say... Hey wait!" Koda was suddenly wrong-footed by the birds he was talking to flying away in a panic.
"What happened Koda?" Iida asked, while the quiet animal whisperer watched them fly further off at speed.
"...They said to run," Koda said, now very, very, nervous as he looked over to the others. "They said... death was coming."
"Bring it on!" Bakugo growled, turning to face the approaching threat, a fierce smirk on his face. "We'll send them back to hell!" His hands flexed as he readied for combat.
"That's the way Bakugo!" Kirishima praised, standing close by. "We'll protect the kid, and send whatever comes at us packing!"
"Don't get overconfident!" Aizawa warned, standing up to address everyone, and standing just behind the first line, containing Bakugo, Kirishima, Tokoyami, Koda and Todoroki. "Yaoyorozu, the radio was a bust, so make a flare gun and have it ready."
"Yes Sensei!"
"Everybody keep your eyes open and cover each others blind spots. Hopefully Koda can make whatever is coming back off."
"Young Midoriya," All Might moved over and knelt down beside the green haired boy, "I'll stay here with young Gale. You, Young Uraraka, and Young Asui, will need to take up a position in the defence."
"Got it..." Izuku felt a hand grab his sleeve, looking back to Gale. She was looking at him with tears once again falling down her cheeks. He was once again reminded of the young girl he and his friends had fought to save from the Yakuza. He patted her head. "Don't worry, everything will be okay. I'm just going to help the others drive off these scary monsters, so you don't have to be scared any-more."
"You promise?"
"Nobody is going to die today. I promise."
"I've got movement!" Shoji suddenly called out from his place in the second line, even as his Quirk manifested eyes and ears to help his awareness. "Coming through the trees now!"
"We can see it for ourselves, Multi-arms!" Bakugo shouted at him, while Izuku took one last moment to reassure Gale, and with a nod to his friends, moved to support his classmates. He instantly picked up on what Shoji meant, as dark forms began take clearer shape the closer they got from the shadow of the trees.
He was confused as to why Jiro had said there was over a hundred, since he could only make out maybe ten creatures, but then he saw the eyes. Glowing red eyes stared out them from the darkness, looking at them with a threatening gaze. It was like the forest itself had woken up and found prey to devour.
Then one of the beasts stepped out into the clearing, and they could finally get a solid look at the Grimm. Gale's crayon drawing had made the creatures look like black wolves. This however, looked like it was a werewolf drawn from the dark abyssal depths of hell itself. Black fur, as pitch black as it was possible to be, and hungry red eyes, assessing the prey before it. It walked on all fours, but given how it's body was built, Izuku had no doubt it could stand upright on his hind legs with out issue.
"The spikes and the exposed skull... osteodermos armour... I've never heard of something like this in the natural world before. Could it be that it gained a Quirk like Principle Nezu? Or was it modified and created, like the Nomu...?"
"Stop your stupid muttering Deku!" Bakugo shouted back, making Izuku flinch and realise he had been muttering out loud again. Then he gasped as three more wolves appeared behind the first, lowly growling.
It was unnerving, but this was Class 1-A. They had fought Villains from their very first week of Hero school, and had survived crisis after crisis, and becoming stronger and more determined with each event. They were not about to run away, even if some (namely Kaminari, Mineta, Aoyama and Koda) looked more nervous and scared than the others.
"Koda," Aizawa had put on his goggles, fully getting ready to move at a moments notice, with his capture scarf already loose and prepared to be unleashed. "Try talking to them and get them to leave. The rest of you be ready to help cover him if things go wrong." Koda gulped, even as the others in the first line gave a tense 'Yes Sir' in response, but he steeled himself, and opened his arms out as he whistled at the Grimm.
"Peace my shadowy friends. There's no need to fight or harm us." The four wolves immediately turned their heads to lock onto him, still slowly approaching, with more of their kind standing ready at the tree line. "Won't you talk to me new frien...?"
"Prey... Human... Kill..." Nobody but Koda could hear that response. And only Koda could understand. In that moment he looked into the lead wolf's eyes, and he knew. They were only enough like animals for him to understand them... But they were not natural. They were supernatural! Entities existing with one purpose; To Kill! Every instinct in his body screamed at him to run, even as his legs froze, preventing him from doing so. Not even his encounters with villains at the USJ and at the Summer training camp had left him this terrified.
The monster held his gaze a moment more, and then it lunged, clearing the distance between them in a heartbeat. There was blood suddenly in the air, as Koda dimly noted that the Grimm had swiped it's claws across his chest, even as it opened it's jaws wide, ready to bite down on his neck, and end his life. It had been so fast he had yet to notice the pain.
There was suddenly a pressure around his chest, he was being pulled back, even as short range explosive bursts hammered the creature, a green flash blew past him and smashed it away, while a jet of flame struck the ones racing up behind it. He landed in two sets of arms who held him, while he dimly noted the worried cries and angry roars of his friends and the demonic hounds assaulting them.
Aizawa was silently cursing behind clenched teeth as he used his scarf to pull Koda out of the way, but the Grimm had been faster than even he expected, and now four bloody gashes could be seen through the torn costume Koda wore. 'Dammit! Not good. If Koda's power had no effect on these Grimm then they have to be the result of a villain's Quirk.' Kirishima and Tokoyami were helping pull Koda back, deeper into the centre where he could have his wounds tended, and be better protected. 'Bakugo and Todoroki are best suited on the front line, but I'm worried about them flanking or circling around us.'
"Shoji!" Aizawa yelled over the sound of explosions and fire streams, "keep on the look out for these Grimm trying to surround us, we'll move back to the bus so we can focus our efforts on the ones coming from the front." Shoji gave an affirmation, further extending the number of arms he had, with additional eyes and ears. "Hagakure! There's an emergency first aid kit in the front of the bus, grab and bring it here as fast as you can! Yaoyorozu! Fire a flare now!"
…
"Hey, Weiss…"
"Yes Ruby?"
"What's that shooting into the sky over there?"
"...I think that's a flare…"
"Somebody needs help?"
"If it is a flare, then yes, I would very much assume that somebody is in trouble."
"...Weiss, you and Pyrrha tell Professor Goodwitch! I'm going to gather the others, right now!"
"Understood. And hurry!"
…
The first wave was mostly of the werewolf variety. They rushed forward on all fours, bounding at great speed, before attempting to pounce on their intended victims, or rearing up on their hind legs to slash and claw with their fore limbs. In amongst the wolves were odd, short, two legged creatures, that at best resembled a theropod dinosaur, only without arms, or discernible eyes. However, none of them found no further easy prey.
Bakugo was in his element, using his explosions to both slay and stun, his combat instincts and reflexes, allowing him dodge and counter attack with ease, and he used his mobility to not just keep out of reach, but to allow the others a chance to gang up on those that were now vulnerable. Kirishima in particular made himself a solid wall that hit back with powerful punches, using his hardening to protect himself from harm. When away from the explosions light, Tokoyami's Dark Shadow surged forward to deliver rapid swinging hits. Bakugo may not like being a team player, but he could do it well when the situation called for it.
He'd lost his grin though. While he and Koda weren't friends, he was a classmate, and the fact that he hadn't been fast enough to save him from getting hurt, angered him greatly. His pride wouldn't stand for that. "DIE YOU SHITTY WEREWOLF BASTARDS!"
"Do they actually die?" Todoroki mused as he sent out a wave of ice that froze the Grimm solid to the ground. "Every time it looks like we kill one of them, they simply disintegrate like black ash on the wind."
"Oui, surely they are more akin to the dirt monsters Pixie Bob made during the first day of Training Camp?" Aoyama finished off his comment with a blast from his Naval laser, taking care to give Tokoyami a wide berth so as not to overly hamper his abilities. The blue beam struck a Grimm in the face, and after a second of sustained fire, the laser tore through it. Just as Todoroki observed however, what remained of it's body just seemed to turn to black particles that disappeared shortly after.
"We can figure that out later guys!" Kirishima said as he trapped one of the dinosaur looking Grimm in his arms, before slamming it into the ground that it was practically buried. "Just keep them back from the others!" 'Like Fatgum said,' he thought to himself 'you have to make the enemy lose the will to fight, before you do!'
"While I agree that we should focus on our defence, we should still look to assess and strategise where possible." Tokoyami said staying close to Todoroki since he was focusing on using the ice part of his Quirk over his fire. "And I've noticed that some amongst these beasts are more durable than the others. Perhaps the more elder the Grimm, the stronger and more dangerous it becomes."
"If that's the case, that may also apply to intelligence as well." Todoroki added. "There's a great deal more waiting in amongst the trees, but they're only attacking with this small force."
"Todoroki, are you suggesting that this is simply the Grimm testing our defences and position?" Iida called out, his helmet locked on, hiding his concerned expression. Todoroki merely gave him a side-eye glance and a nod, before trapping yet another wolf in ice. Yaoyorozu spoke up even as she loaded a new flare round into the gun she created.
"I agree. I don't doubt Jiro's assessment of the enemy's numbers, and both Tokoyami and Todoroki's analysis makes a good level of sense. In any case, Mr Aizawa, Iida and myself will focus on strategy and co-ordination, so those on the front can fight with more freedom."
"Stop talking, and fight more you idiots!" Bakugo yelled, slaying two more Grimm as he did so. As they disintegrated, he took stock only to find a brief pause in the fighting. For the moment, the field was clear of Grimm. He looked over at Todoroki and pointed at him.
"Hey! Icy-Hot! How many have you killed?"
"Assuming the ones frozen completely in my ice are dead, then 15." Todoroki responded, a small frown the only thing giving away any concern the two toned boy might be feeling. Bakugo scoffed, and turned his pointing hand back at himself, jabbing his thumb into his chest.
"Hah! I've killed 23. And the ones in your ice don't count! Unless they disappear, they don't count as dead!"
"Bakugo don't turn this into a competition!" Kirishima called out to his abrasive friend, "There's no prize or top score or anything for killing the most!"
"Hold on a minute..." Izuku spoke up, his eyes on his childhood 'friend'. "Kacchan did get a lot more kills, but that's in part due to so many in that wave focusing on him specifically."
"We just went over that there might be smart boss Grimm, Deku." Bakugo growled, one eye focused on the trees ahead. "Of course they're going to focus on me and Icy-Hot, since we're the strongest fighters out here."
"While that makes some sense, that isn't what I meant Kacchan." Izuku turned his head back to the groups centre, now using the bus as a temporary barrier against any possible flanking attacks. All Might and Hagakure were wrapping gauze bandages around Koda's chest, while Uraraka and Asui stayed close to Gale, who was trembling even as Uraraka wrapped her up in her arms. "Out of everyone they've focused on with their attacks, they seem to have a strong focus on either you, or anyone who is particularly afraid right now. Before Todoroki caught it, I swear one of those werewolves was heading straight for Kaminari."
"Are you saying I'm scared Deku?!" Bakugo ignited sparks in his left hand in warning, but Aizawa stepped in, before things escalated.
"No. Midoriya is pointing out that these Grimm are targeting people based off their emotional response. While fear is no doubt part of it, anger and aggression could work as well." He spoke up as he addressed everyone once more. "Stay calm, and focus. If Midoriya's theory is correct, we can make things easier for ourselves if we don't give into fear."
"Yes Sensei!" The group responded.
"They're coming again!" Shoji called out, and everyone saw what he had picked up on. More Grimm stalked out into the clearing, this time prowling closer rather than running full tilt. In amongst the wolves and creepy dinosaurs, Class 1-A couldn't miss the inclusion of what looked like bone armoured demon bears, further increasing the number from the previous wave.
"Midoriya, Iida," Aizawa called out getting the two's attention, "stay alert, with your speed, I want you to be our rapid response. Especially if this turns out to be a feint of some kind."
"You can count on us sir!" Iida proclaimed, while Midoriya simply nodded, his face set in grim determination. Aizawa immediately turned to Jiro who was right next to him.
"Jiro, if you can, see if you can't find out if there's somebody close by. If these Grimm are the product of somebodies Quirk, they should be close by to help co-ordinate and make more. Or if that's not the case, keep on the look out for somebody responding to our flares."
"R-right Sir! I'll try." Jiro was already getting her Jacks back into the ground, trying not to focus on the growls and snarls of the Grimm as they now began to charge. Aizawa, looked up to find Ojiro.
"Ojiro. You and me will help support the front line, but don't stray too far from Jiro. We'll be keeping her safe while she works. Yaoyorozu..." He barely acknowledged Ojiro's quick affirmation before turning to find his top student already anticipating his order, and firing another flare into the sky, the flare itself flashing bright red.
It also acted as the start of the next fight itself. Todoroki focused on trying to slow the Grimm down with an icy sheet across the ground, rather than encase them, especially the bears. With unsure footing, the cohesion made the Grimm stumble, allowing the students to exploit that weakness, mercilessly. One wolf however seemed more adept than the others, using it's own kin as platforms to jump onto and off of, in order to get closer. This creature was even nimble enough that it dodged Aoyama's navel laser, timing it's leap to the last moment, and landed past the first defenders, knocking over Aizawa, then ran straight for Jiro.
She didn't need her Jacks to hear it, she could see it bearing down on her, and she flinched, half expecting to feel it's jaws clamp down on her in the next few seconds.
A disc stuck itself to the Grimm's skull, and then a stream of electricity, soared over Jiro's head, shocking the creature with enough voltage to literally stop it in it's tracks.
"Nuh Uh! No way am I letting you get to Jiro, you crazy wolf monster!" Kaminari declared, his frightened face now replaced with a look of collected determination. "Ojiro! Get it now while it's stunned!"
'When did Jamming-yayy get so cool all of a sudden?' Jiro thought, a faint blush on her cheeks as she regarded the boy she liked to tease, even as he cut off the electricity, allowing Ojiro to smack the creature down into the ground, hard, with a swift smack of his tail.
"Sorry! It surprised me when it managed to get past Todoroki and the others," the martial artist apologised to Jiro. "Man, these things are surprisingly durable. I don't remember Pixie Bob's monsters being this tough." He used his tail to flip the monster into the air, frowning at the fact it hadn't started to break apart yet. As the creature came down he leapt up, and wrapped his tail around it, spinning himself and the creature rapidly, adding further momentum, before once again slamming it down on the ground.
It still wasn't dead, but it was very shaky as it tried to rise, only for powerful sound-waves to pulse right in it's face.
"Audio-Jack; HEARTBEAT DISTORTION!" Jiro called out her special move, her Jacks now planted into special Amps locked onto her wrists, and now fully aimed right at her attacker. She gritted her teeth as she put as much force as she thought would shatter rock into the attack, before the bone skull began to crack, and the head finally exploded.
"Jiro! Are you injured at all?" Aizawa called after getting back to his feet. He did what he could to hide a wince. The wolf had shoulder checked him, and while he was sure nothing had been broken, he probably was going to be sporting a massive bruise later when this was over. He once again silently cursed just how quick some of these beasts could move, that even he, an experienced Pro, was having trouble.
Jiro held up a thumbs up, and to her credit, her voice sounded steady, despite the close call. "Yes Sir! I'm good!" In front of her, Ojiro picked up the fallen sticky disc, Kaminari had shot from his Pointer-Shooter, and tossed it back to the electric teen.
Aizawa wondered where Midoriya and Iida had been, as they were on rapid response, only for when he checked around, he found that they were already occupied, keeping back Grimm that had emulated the one they'd just neutralised, or had just managed to get past the ice and were now bearing down on the front line, or looking to slip past where they thought the defence was weakest. It did seem like Bakugo was drawing the majority of the creatures, so maybe Midoriya's theory had some weight to it.
"Kaminari, see if you can target a few more of those in front. Don't go so far you take yourself out, but do what you can to wear them down and give the rest of us a chance to co-ordinate." Kaminari flinched at the idea of going closer to the Grimm, but bit his lip, steeled his nerves and nodded. As he moved he was already shooting out discs that would allow him to focus his electricity for sharp shooting. Jiro went back to her search, with Ojiro, still standing guard. Meanwhile Aizawa, wrapped up a two legged Grimm, trying to take advantage of it's bigger cousins getting the attention to slip through. He swung the scarf around his head before releasing the creature to fly away, only to be swiftly exploded as it got within range of Bakugo.
Ashido started aiding Izuku and Iida. The green haired teen noted how as he and Iida would team up to stun a creature with a kick combo, the pink skinned girl would slide by, a trail of acid allowing her to quickly skate, before shooting focused sprays of stronger acid at the Grimm.
'Ashido's agility and flexibility is a real asset here, just as much as her Quirk itself.' He noted as he spring boarded off a stunned Ursa to kick a wolf, then immediately bounce back to smack both feet into the bear's face, cracking the skull. 'In fact, outside of Kacchan's and Todoroki's attacks, the most effective way to deal with these Grimm is with combos, with our classes teamwork. It simply isn't efficient to try and take on so many alone.' His mind briefly flashed back to the Entrance exam, where he and the other applicants faced UA's faux villains, their robot drones. 'With the school's robots, they were hardy, but considering the difficulty some of the others are having, the Grimm are generally tougher. But still...' Izuku used 8% to punch a dino-Grimm sending it back into more of it's own kind and toppling the lot of them like bowling pins. '...Each Grimm can only take so much damage, and despite the odds, their numbers aren't unlimited. With every death, our chances of survival increase!' A fierce grin, one that could make one think of All Might in his prime, appeared.
"Midoriya! Get clear!" Izuku jumped straight up, and he saw Aoyama's laser, along with Sero's tape and Mineta's pop off balls go flying out, trapping the Grimm, tying them up, and leaving them more vulnerable to attack.
"Thanks Guys!" He shouted back at the trio who were doing what they could to give Bakugo and Kirishima some breathing room. Izuku couldn't help but notice the tears and rips in Kirishima's costume, and how his exposed hardened body was also sweating hard with exertion. Even Bakugo's face was sweating, and while that did indicate he had more to work with in regards to his explosions Izuku also knew that a drawn out fight was not really in his childhood friend's interest. Pushed too far for too long, it was conceivable that he could tire out from forced dehydration, simply by how his Quirk worked.
He also noticed something else. "Mineta! Don't try and stick them to the ground, they're just ripping up the earth in order to free themselves!"
"Well then what am I SUPPOSED to do!?" The dwarf shouted back, understandably frightened and panicky, though the presence of the others seemed to help him keep it together.
"Stick them to each other, you idiot!" Bakugo roared even as he unleashed another volley of 'Autocannon', "then they'll be even bigger targets and they'll struggle to move how they want!"
"Oh! R-right!" Mineta immediately took the advice, aiming his Pop-Off balls at the actual bodies of the Grimm, and Sero aided by using his Tape to force them to press together. Just as Bakugo said, the Grimm stuck together, struggled to move in cohesion, and in some cases, they attacked the one who had been targeted by Mineta, in an effort to free themselves.
"We can do this!" Izuku yelled out, determined to keep up morale. "We can beat them back...!"
"FLANKERS! Coming from behind the bus!" Shoji's shout stalled anything else Izuku might have said, as he turned his face to look behind him, and he gasped in terror…
…
The Elder observed. The Prey it had been tracking had found young humans to shelter them, but these humans were...odd. They didn't smell like the Humans or Faunus that it and it's lesser kin had devoured before, and they were putting up a harder fight than it had originally expected.
Still, it had plenty enough numbers to send out. It had deliberately forced them to defend just from the front, while it had Beowolves sneak around to attack their more vulnerable rear, the crashed vehicle, being a poor defence to rely on. And it could already detect the Nevermores approaching from above.
And if it determined it necessary, it could always take to the field itself. Nothing it had seen amongst their weapons or abilities had it concerned, for the Elder's hide was thick, and it's natural armour had only become more dense as time went by.
It would kill them all. As the Queen commands.
…
Four Werewolves leapt upon the Bus roof, that Shoji stood on top of to help keep watch. They had almost escaped his notice, but not quite, and his warning came just soon enough that All Might, Uraraka and Asui automatically began moving Gale and the injured Koda away, putting themselves between the Grimm, and those who would be the easiest prey.
Gale screamed when she saw the Grimm, and her voice caught their attention. This gave Shoji an opening. "OCTOBLOW!" He delivered rapid fire punches from a dozen hands on each side of his body, knocking the closest beast back into the others, not dead, but certainly heavily stunned. One of the Grimm recovered quickly enough to launch itself at him, only for a bullet of air to smack it's skull to the side, leaving it open for another barrage from the masked Hero.
"Thanks Midoriya!" Shoji called out, recognising one of Izuku's newest moves, 'Air Force'. He made sure to duplicate a few limbs with a focus on having additional eyes, and one focused on the boy, who was still leaping around the front, but taking time in the middle of his jumps to aim his gloved hands and flick his fingers, sending compressed bursts of air at the Grimm.
Shoji''s eyes noticed something else though that got his attention even as he faced off against the Grimm. "Beware the skies, I see some large birds that could be Grimm coming our way!"
"Come on! Seriously?!" Hagakure wailed even as she came to help protect Gale and Koda. "How many types of Grimm are there?!"
"Toru, panicking won't help us here." Asui bluntly said. "We have to stay as calm as we can..." whatever else she was about to say was interrupted by the growl of a wolf as it leapt from the roof toward herself and her friends. Gale once again screamed, but the creature didn't get any closer, as it was intercepted by someone Class 1-A thought they wouldn't see in action again.
"Fear not young Gale, for hope is not lost!" All Might stood wrestling with the creature. Not the weak skeleton of a man, the Symbol of Peace had been reduced to, but the massive giant of a man with serious muscle. "It will be... all right... BECAUSE WE ARE HERE!" His impassioned shout was a like a morale booster for everyone, and Gale looked at the man in sudden wonder.
'...Buff-Buff Man?'
"All Might!" Izuku and Bakugo yelled out as they saw their idol once again fighting, but while it was inspiring, they couldn't stop their own worry as well. All Might had retired because he had spent the last of his titanic strength months ago in Camino Ward fighting All For One. Even from where they were on the battlefield they could see the former Number One struggle to hold back one Grimm, his body steaming, and blood coating his teeth as he did all he could to protect his students and the girl in their care.
All Might used his old experience to twist and wrestle the Grimm onto it's back, pulling off a simple judo throw, but it quickly became clear that he wouldn't be able to hold his muscle form for much longer, and despite himself he coughed and hacked. His injuries were acting up as he forced his body to hold the form he used to naturally have in his prime. The Grimm writhed and wriggled, scratching and snapping at All Might the whole time. Then it finally wrapped it's jaws around his right forearm, and All Might couldn't stop the yell of pain.
Luckily, help was nearby. Asui wrapped her tongue around the Grimm's neck, and Uraraka raced up and slapped it with one of her hands, removing the effects of Gravity. Confused and choking, the wolf released All Might, and he rolled clear, as Asui used her long tongue to hurl the Grimm up into the air.
"Watch out!" Shoji shouted as the other Grimm suddenly leapt down whilst he wrestled the one in front, but the girls were calm. They had a plan.
"Toru! Do it now!"
"Warp Refraction; Say Cheese!"
"Release!"
Hagakure leapt up and bent the light in such a way it caused a massive flash, temporarily blinding the two Grimm, and leaving them exposed for Uraraka's part; restoring the effects of Gravity on the wolf they'd thrown up, and with perfect aim and timing, it came crashing back down right on top of the other two with enough force to end all three.
There was a sharp crack, that had the girls (and a once again 'Thin-Might') look up. Shoji looked exhausted but he had managed to snap his Grimm's neck. As it fell limp they could see the cloud of particles start to form from it's body, and blow away. Shoji looked them and the others over. "Nice work there. Sorry I couldn't hold them back more."
"Don't apologise Shoji, you did great!" Uraraka praised.
"Keep watching our backs, and we'll back you up in turn!" Hagakure called back.
"Ribbit!" Asui croaked in affirmation as the girls went to check on All Might, who thanked them, and tried to wave them off, but they insisted on moving him next to Koda and Gale, so that they could at least wrap up the bite wound. Meanwhile Aizawa, wrestling a wolf himself whilst tying it up in his scarf, had Sato move to support Shoji in case another attack came from that direction.
'Not good,' he mentally growled as he allowed both Iida and Midoriya to kick the creature to death, Izuku's 'Iron Soles' breaking it's spine, while Iida boosted his engines for an enhanced kick that sent the creature's neck in an unnatural direction. 'There's a definite strategy at play here, like whoever is responsible is testing to see what works, and what doesn't, all the while, forcing the majority of our strongest to focus on the front, while sending smaller packs to attack from the flank. Even if that doesn't work, if we don't get a break soon, everyone is going to be too exhausted to continue fighting!'
"JIRO?"
"I can't find anybody human but us, Sir!" Jiro responded, watching as her friends and classmates fought on valiantly. "If there's somebody controlling these things, they're too far away for me to find past all of this fighting!" She noticed a Grimm get past Kaminari's aim, and she switched to her Amp to stall it enough for Todoroki to roast it with fire. The two shot her back a thumbs up and a nod in appreciation.
"Oh to hell with all of this..." Bakugo growled before taking a deep breath. "ICY-HOT! USE YOUR DUMB ICE WALL MOVE!"
"My 'Heaven Piercing Ice Wall'...? That might only…"
"SHUT UP AND DO IT ALREADY, IDIOT!" Bakugo checked his right gauntlet. 'Time to clear the field...' An instant later, a massive glacier appeared and the air around the students turned to that of an Arctic winter briefly. The Grimm were frozen solid within, just as Bakugo intended. Quickly positioning himself before the structure, he snarled as he pulled the pin on the grenade like support gear on his arm, aiming directly ahead. "Now... DIE!"
…
BOOOOOMMM!
"DID YOU SEE THAT JUST NOW?!"
"Yeah, Rubes, we saw it. And heard it."
"Hard to miss a sudden Ice Glacier appear above the tree line, and then see it shatter from an equally massive explosion."
"How are you so calm when you say that, Blake?"
"I've seen explosions before. Not necessarily that big though…"
"We need to get there faster!... Oh Weiss, what if we did...?"
"We are not doing that again!"
"Turn the volume down Ice Queen!"
"Yeah! And besides... this time will be different!"
"You guys...! If you... (huff!) can get there... (Pant!) We'll... be right... behind you!"
"...In what way will things be different this time?"
"Because this time, well be doing it, as a team…"
…
Bakugo's and Todoroki's attacks cleared the field, and gave everyone a breather, only for a brand new wave to charge forward with a furious collective roar. Wolves, bears, and now for the first time since the fight began, Grimm versions of wild boar and gorillas. No feints this time, just the weight of the horde.
"Todoroki! Freeze the ground!" Yaoyorozu called out even as she made a small shield on her arm, and started making flash bangs and a quarterstaff. Todoroki didn't immediately answer, his right side was covered in a layer of frost, even as he used his left to try and regulate his temperature. His breath steamed as it left his body. He did step forward with his right foot though, and once again the field was covered in a fine sheet of ice.
"Mineta! Lay down as many balls as you can!" Aizawa ordered knowing what his smartest student had in mind. Mineta's scalp was already bleeding, but to his credit he gritted his teeth through the pain and launched a volley of his purple balls across the ice.
'I get it,' Izuku thought, 'It's an improvised mine field. Even if the Grimm keep their footing on the ice it'll slow them down, and if they strike even one of Mineta's balls it will slow them down further!' He cast his eyes about over his classmates, and then quickly to the sky. 'But there's not much we can do about those giant crows circling us. Unless they come into range, we can't have Aoyama, Bakugo, or even Yaoyorozu if she makes a cannon, take them down.'
"Deku!" He turned his head enough so he could catch sight of his best friend. The one person who turned a life long insult into a Hero name he cherished. "Don't get lost in your head or worry about us back here. Okay?" Uraraka looked at him with firm determination, and behind her, he could see All Might give him a thumbs up, as well as Gale watching him with wide eyes.
"Right!" He gave her a nod, and turned his attention fully to the horde now halfway across the ice. 'Uraraka's right. I have to trust my classmates and focus on the enemy in front of..." He gasped at what he saw.
It strode with confidence as it pushed back the trees in it's way. It was the size of an elephant, and was surrounded by a dozen or so of the Grimm bears. Izuku Midoriya had only a small dalliance with learning about prehistoric creatures (his primary hobby and passion was Heroes and Quirks after all) but a few creatures stuck in his mind. What he saw looked to be one such beast, only brought back to life as a hellish Grimm demon.
It was giant sloth; A Megatherium. And it stared at them all with four eyes before giving out a roar that sent chills down even Bakugo's back. And the Grimm roared back, and began to change how they moved.
The gorillas were using their fists to pound and break up the ice, and wild boar Grimm were somehow rolling into balls and spinning at high speed, like a race car's tyres as they take off. The spines along their back, along with their massive tusks, allowed them to shred the cold hard ice sheet, and even tear through Mineta's balls, barely slowing down. Between the two new Grimm types, the horde was now making faster and better progress.
The giant crows also made their move, one coming close enough to swoop over their heads, making Shoji and Sato duck, lest they be knocked off the bus. It wheeled around smoothly while the other also came down low but circled wider. The one above the horde flapped it's wings forward, and shot it's feathers! They speared towards the students, and everyone had to quickly dodge as best they could. The bus however caught the worst of it, and Shoji and Sato barely managed to jump off and away before it was speared through, shattering the windows, and further ensuring that it wouldn't run again.
The crow rose higher and fired another round of it's spear-like feathers, this time aiming behind the students, effectively closing off their avenue of retreat.
'The co-ordination... the moment when it appeared and roared... and the fact that it's the most protected...' Izuku's mind raced as he realised what they faced, even as he pushed his tired body to 12%.
'This has to be the Boss-Grimm!' Bakugo came to the same conclusion. He checked his other grenade gauntlet, and was satisfied that it was loaded up. 'It's going to take maximum fire-power to take that down.'
"Yaoyorozu!" Todoroki called out, also realising the full threat, "Can you make a cannon?"
"I'll need a little time!" Yaoyorozu replied, "in the meantime, everyone grab some flash bangs and stall!" Aizawa had already grabbed a number of her weapons, and with silent signals had Tokoyami fall back so that he wouldn't be so badly affected. Ojiro and Kaminari, Jiro and Kirishima all picked up some grenades as well and made ready to throw.
"Ready... Set... Throw!" Aizawa directed, the students following his orders, pulling the pin and then hurling the grenades amongst the Grimm. The light and noise disoriented them, though the ever spinning boars were the least affected. The Megatherium, looked away, one massive clawed paw covering it's eyes.
'A chance!' Todoroki once again released a wave of ice, this time directed entirely at the sloth and it's grizzly Grimm guard. The creature and it's kin were covered, though not entirely, heads and feet poked out and impotently struggled to free themselves. The sloth itself, had been locked in place with it's right arm still covering it's head.
Todoroki once again breathed mist, his body shivering. He had to be careful when using his flames in case he started a forest fire, hence why he was so focused on using his ice, but his body was rapidly reaching it's limits when it came to tolerance for the cold and ice he produced.
"Now you're mine!" Bakugo yelled as he used his explosions to propel him into the air and over the heads of the other Grimm.
"Kacchan wait!" Izuku called out even as he himself raced forward. 'It's not a good idea to go out like that by yourself! Not without support!'
"BAKUGO, MIDORIYA, STOP! DON'T BE RECKLESS!" Aizawa was having an internal panic attack, that he barely kept from his face. In his head, he was reliving one of the worst days of his life, watching his friend, Shirakumo run on into the building ahead of him. 'I won't let you die... I won't let any of you die here!'
"We need to take this Boss-Grimm out now before it gets free!" Bakugo yelled out his reasoning as he aimed his gauntlet and released yet another massive explosion, right in the Grimm's ice covered face.
KRAKABOOM!
The force of the explosion knocked him back, but it also slew the front three Grimm bears, and even the other Grimm were momentarily unbalanced. The trees close by, lost more than a few leaves.
Bakugo was grinning. 'Got you, you big bast... Huh?' His grin vanished as he stared into the fading smoke. A shadow moved. His instincts screamed at him to dodge, and he listened. But not fast enough.
A clawed hand swiped out and caught him a glancing blow with a backhand even as he used his explosions to try and get himself clear. It happened so fast, even Bakugo couldn't quite react in time. Blood and spit left his mouth as he felt his ribs break on one side, and a sharp pain across his thigh. He was dimly aware of being sent flying once again over the Grimm's heads, but he was struggling to think in that moment. Just before he crashed into the Grimm's midst however, he felt a pair of hands grab onto him and pull him close, and a flickering green light could be seen at the corner of his vision.
"Hold on Kacchan! I've got you!" Izuku said, as he zipped past or outright used the Grimm as stepping stones, carrying Bakugo's body to the safety of their classmates lines. Izuku stole a quick glance back, and his worst fears were confirmed. Bakugo's attack had done little to no damage at all to the Megatherium! It was now free of Todoroki's ice, and it roared once again, as the Grimm surged. And in that moment, Izuku wondered if they could really make it.
The horde outnumbered them maybe six to one at this point, and despite the delaying tactics they'd used, without himself and Bakugo on the front-lines (Where they were supposed to be!) their classmates would be overwhelmed in moments.
'No! Not like this! Save them! SAVE THEM! What's the point of this power if I cannot save the people right in front of me!'
There were echoing cracks in the air, that could be heard even over the Grimm. Jiro and Shoji both picked up on it, as did Aizawa and All Might.
"Wait... was that...?"
"...Sounded like gunshots…"
"More enemies? Or is it...?"
'Re-enforcements' Toshinori Yagi smiled as he looked up and saw their relief.
Just as Izuku made it back to his classmates with Bakugo, the body of one of the crows crashed on top of the horde... minus it's head! Izuku landed next to Uraraka and Asui, and turned his head to see what had happened. The memory of this event would be as imprinted on his mind as much as the video of All Might's début; There leaping off the headless, disintegrating corpse, was a girl his age, with silver eyes and wearing a black dress, with a long red hood and cape that billowed out behind her. She held a massive mechanical scythe, also in red and black colours, carrying it with no discomfort, and resting it behind her in a relaxed, but ready stance. She caught him looking at her with an open mouth, and she smiled.
"Fear not strangers. Help has arrived, for Team RWBY... is here!"
[Cue Opening]
Conceptual 1st Season Opening: Save the Day
We thought we knew the road, the plan life had for us.
Our Story already written, headed for happiness we trust.
But now there's a twist, there's more that exists.
We've opened a door, and there's no going back, to what we all knew before.
This is not the day we were waiting for, our dreams have gone off script.
But this is the day, that has come, and our hopes are not extinct.
Protecting something is always hard, but we won't give up, we'll find a way.
We'll stand together, say "I Am Here!" And that's how, we'll save the day!
Next Time on Paragons of Virtue and Glory:
[Present Mic: Hey there Hero Fans! It's time for the next episode... Preview! Can you dig it?]
[Prof. Port: The next episode introduces some of the finest young Huntresses and Huntsmen that I have had the privilege to teach.]
[Present Mic: Wait, wait... hold up a sec! Who on Earth are you?]
[Prof. Port: Me? Well I'm Peter Port. Professor and professional Huntsman from Beacon Academy. And since everyone is in Remnant now, I'll be taking over the Character introductions.]
[Present Mic: Oh no you don't! That's my gig! I'm the Academy MC!]
[Prof. Port: Correction. You're U.A's MC. Not Beacon's...]
[Present Mic: GIMMIE THAT MIC!]
[Sounds of arguing and fighting ensue]
[Deku: Sirs! Please stop fighting! You can do the preview together!]
[Ruby: I don't think they're listening to you Midoriya, and... EEP! We're almost out of time!]
[Deku: Next time! "Day of Arrival Part 2 – Beneath a Broken Moon."]
[Ruby: Don't you worry Class 1-A, teams RWBY and JNPR will be here to help!]
[Deku: Go Beyond...!]
[Deku & Ruby: PLUS... ULTRA!]
[Mic and Port: Now look what you've done! We missed it!]
NOTES:
Hello there readers! I hope if you made it this far, that you've enjoyed part 1 of Paragons!
I'm currently looking for a Beta to help go over the other chapters (first time posting stuff on FF). If anyone is interested, please PM me.
Updates will be irregular (sorry!) but I do have up to Episode 4 currently written. If I can, I'll try and see if I can get two chapters a month.
Constructive criticism is appreciated, and I'll try and answer some questions, now and then. I'm aiming to have Episode 2 ready to release in the next two weeks.
Until then, in the words of Gentle Criminal "See you next time!"
EDIT: This chapter has been edited since release to correct mistakes missed previously, to better improve the story, and reading experience - (Last edit 30th August 2023)
