Jaune and Pyrrha walked down a dirt path flanked by towering trees and dense foliage. It seemed like a long walk to reach the Forest Temple. The forest had been deathly quiet. There was a moment or two where they had frozen, thinking they had heard the wing beats of a Nevermore, but it faded as quickly as it came.
The Emerald Forest seemed empty, devoid of life. That meant the only two inhabitants seemed to be the pair of them as they made their way out of wilderness, following the path along a small clearing, past the trees, quickly approaching the giant mouth of a cave.
The air had felt thick between them. None of them had spoken since they had started walking. The only sounds they heard were their footsteps and the occasional breeze that seemed to blow through the forest.
"Think this is it?" Jaune asked.
Pyrrha took notice of the cave paintings. She effortlessly made out the illustrations to be people with spears fending off a giant scorpion, likely a Death Stalker Grimm. She deduced that this painting might be a warning, aiming towards anyone who ventures deeper into the unknown. This ancient art must've been painted here a long time ago.
Maybe there was a battle here, Pyrrha thought.
Pyrrha noticed Jaune already entering the cave's mouth. She trailed after him, her countenance washed with concern. The deeper they ventured into the cave, the more their surroundings grew darker.
"Jaune, I'm not sure this is it." Pyrrha told him.
Jaune gave a sigh.
"Pyrrha, I made the torch. Could you maybe humor me for at least five more feet?" Jaune said, gesturing the torch in his hand.
Jaune yelped when he suddenly tripped. Dropping the torch into a puddle, extinguishing the flame and surrounding them in darkness. Only thing that glowed in said darkness was their eyes.
Pyrrha then felt the air around them. "Do you feel that?"
"Soul crushing regret." Guessed Jaune.
"No... it's warm. And I don't think it's natural."
The pair continued forward while trying their best to stay together. Jaune saw a faint golden light deeper into the cave and made his way closer to it, taking Pyrrha with him as they were linked hand-to-hand. The closer they were to the light, the clearer they could see each other. Eventually they found the source of the light.
"Oh! That's the relic!" Jaune tried to reach and grab it, but it ended up pulling back. "Hey! Bad relic!"
Jaune tried to grab it again, but it pulled back once again. When he attempted a third time he finally caught it by the tip of its tail.
"Gotcha!" Jaune felt proud of his achievement.
Pyrrha stared with worry. "Jaune..?"
Jaune lifted his head and was met with bright, large red eyes staring back at him. Followed by a bone chilling hiss.
A loud high-pitched scream sounded off throughout the entire Emerald Forest.
Izuku stood at the Emerald Forest clearing with his arms folded. He watched Weiss passing him back and forth, trying to find the direction they were supposed to go. Ruby Rose sat crossed on the earth's floor next to Izuku, her countenance washed with a mix of boredom and annoyance. Izuku wasn't alone at watching this display as even the predecessors of One for All observed the ice queen.
"Okay, I say this for everyone here that this girl has no idea where she's going," Daigoro spoke up, glancing at his spirit comrades.
"Thank you for pointing out the obvious." Kudo muttered.
"It's definitely this way." Weiss walked in one direction before turning around. "I mean, this way! It's definitely this way."
She then walked back toward Ruby and Izuku.
"Alright, it's official: we passed it."
Izuku sighed and stepped up to her.
"Weiss, it's okay to say it." Izuku said, frowning at her.
"Say what?" Weiss inquired, placing her hands on her hips. Izuku scanned his surroundings before looking back at her.
"That we're lost." He answered simply.
"We're not lost," she replied indignantly, her tone laced with confidence in her argument. "We just have to find the path that we unknowingly passed, only then we can proceed forward without any problems."
Izuku closed his eyes with a sigh. Hearing Weiss's argument only seemed to annoy Ruby further.
"Why can't you just admit that you have no idea where we're going?" Ruby questioned as she stood up next to Izuku.
"Because I know exactly where we're going!" Weiss tried to defend herself. "We're going… to... the forest temple!"
Ruby groaned in annoyance. Followed by a groan from Daigoro and Nana and an amused and disappointed chuckle from Kudo and Bruce.
"I could scout for us." Offered Izuku, holding up his hand as he spoke. Weiss whipped her head at Izuku with narrowed eyes.
"No!" She snapped, pointing her finger at the boy. "I don't care if you're from another world; I'm not going to let some other-worldly boy-scout give me directions when I can easily figure it out on my own! And it's not like you two know where we are either!"
Ruby glared at Weiss.
"At least we're not pretending that we know everything!" Ruby shot.
"What is that supposed to mean?!" Weiss questioned.
Ruby's lips parted until Izuku stepped in between her and Weiss.
"No, stop it! Stop arguing!" He scolded, throwing up his hands. His voice carried over both Ruby and Weiss and the two girls stopped their yelling. "Look, whether you two like it or not, you're partners now. Shouting at each other isn't going to solve anything! Nor is it going to get us out of this forest faster."
Izuku shifted his gaze towards Weiss then briefly turned to Ruby as he continued.
"I'm sure you have your reasons to attend beacon. But there's one common goal that you both share, and that is to become huntresses—to become heroes! If you try to find a way to actually work together, then I know without a doubt that you'll become the strongest team in beacon; but if you two continue to constantly be at each other's throats, you'll never make your dream a reality!"
Izuku took a moment to let the heat die down as both girls remained silent. He looked between the girls as both Weiss and Ruby's expressions softened, having listened to what he had to say. Izuku releases a breath before stepping back from the pair. Silence descended upon the clearing as Weiss glanced at the ground with folded arms and Ruby looked away while rubbing her arm.
Izuku parted his lips to say something but paused when he felt a spiritual hand on his shoulder. He turned to meet the eyes of Nana Shimura, her eyes focused on Ruby and Weiss.
"Repeat what I say, Izuku," Nana instructed softly, nodding her head at the duo. Izuku turned back at Ruby and Weiss.
"As partners, you'll have to find ways to combine your powers and techniques together to take down any villain or Grimm you come across. What kind of relationship you two have is entirely up to you, but it should be a good one if you want this partnership to work," Izuku advised, smiling as he spoke. He gestured his hand towards Ruby. "And you girls can start by sharing what you can do with each other. Your Semblances, and your weapons. At least when you two complete the test."
"I think I can get behind that." Ruby nodded.
"I do see the logic in it." Even Weiss found it acceptable.
"So..." Ruby offered her hand to shake and a hopeful smile. Weiss sighed before she accepted and shook her hand.
"We'll start with a professional partnership and... see where we go from there." The heiress said.
"Works for me." Ruby said while also fighting back the urge to give a delighted squeal.
"Great, now with everything settled." Izuku lifted his head and stared up at the clear blue sky. "I have an idea on where we might be able to find the Forest Temple from a better angle."
Ruby perked up, curious. "How?"
Izuku grinned. "I'll fly us there."
Weiss blinked, shocked by what the green haired boy just suggested.
"Excuse me?" She asked incredulously.
"You can fly?!" Ruby asked excitedly, her eyes lighting up.
Izuku nodded before turning around. His back facing Ruby, then jabbed his thumb over his back.
"H-Hop on my back, Ruby." Izuku said, looking at Ruby over his shoulder.
Ruby stepped up to him then encircled her arms around his neck. Immediately Izuku went stiff as his brain worked overtime at the knowledge that a girl was riding on his back. He was so glad neither of the girls saw his face, otherwise, they would see he was beet-red.
"A-Are you on tight?" Izuku asked. Ruby nodded. "O-Okay, Weiss, stand next to me."
Weiss did as told and walked up to his side close to Ruby.
"Okay, this next part is gonna feel... weird." Izuku warned the girls, causing the pair to look at him with bewilderment washing their countenance.
Dark tendrils of BlackWhip emerged from his hips. Ruby perked up, a bit surprised as she watched each tendril wrapping all around her. Another tendril reached towards Weiss, and slowly coiled around her waist.
"There, now you two won't fall off." He stated.
Izuku glanced at Weiss. Try as she might, he could tell Weiss seemed slightly nervous, especially when the dark tendril started to tighten its grip around her waist. A smile graced his lips before he reached out and took Weiss's hand in his. She perked up and turned her gaze towards him.
"Don't worry; I'll never let you go." Izuku reassured her, flashing her a reassuring smile.
Weiss blinked at him as she felt the warmth in Izuku's gentle hand. His words gave her such comfort and relief, she'd be lying if she said it didn't make her heart flutter. The only one who didn't seem that nervous was Ruby, whose face was completely calm.
"You girls ready?" Izuku queried, turning his attention towards both girls.
"Uh huh," Ruby responded quickly with a nod. Weiss simply nodded.
"Okay! To Emerald Forest, we go!"
Izuku ascended into the air with a great leap. Wind whipped the trio's faces as they rose to the clear sky. Ascending higher and higher, until they floated above an ocean of trees.
"Okay, hang on tight. We're gonna go fast now." Izuku cautioned before pulling his arms behind him.
Bright red veins appeared over Izuku's person. Said veins danced around his body in loops, reaching up to his forehead and ended in a cross. They disappeared in a flash as crackles of emerald energy shrouded his body. He charges the power of One for All through flexing both of his fingers, all the while facing forward.
'One for All: Full Cowling... 15%!' He mentally shouted as he flicked his fingers, propelling himself forward with incredible speed.
Air whooshed around them as they sped forward a bit faster. All the while Ruby and Weiss looked around in fascination. The air was thin and cool, clouds swirled above them, and the only sound they heard was that of the wind. The sun shone down upon them, warming them with its unobstructed rays. It was breathtaking to the two young girls as they took in the awesome sight, words unable to describe how they were feeling.
Ruby suddenly laughed joyously. Never in her life did she ever think that her first experience in the air would be this wonderful. A smile graced her lips as she experienced flight, the exhilaration that came after feeling the rush of wind. Her entire body felt alive, free, and energized; like everything that has been holding her back since she began travelling to Vale had vanished. She could still feel the tendrils wrapped around her body, but it was no longer present, and her breathing calmed as time passed.
Ruby subconsciously outstretched her arms like the wings of an airplane. Happy tears were beginning to fly off of her face, and Izuku smiled up at her. Their speeds increased, but not too much where it discomforted the two passengers. Ruby's smile grew a little wider, reveling in her surroundings while she listened to the breeze that blew past her ears.
Weiss looked genuinely flustered. Not just flustered, but wonderstruck. Her wide eyes gazed down upon the Emerald Forest, filled with awe and amazement. She lifted her head to face forward, seeing the world zipping by. Weiss wondered at this moment if this was how birds felt flying freely through the air.
"This is amazing!" Ruby shouted, laughing happily as they flew above the forest. "It's like I'm flying!"
"Yeah, I know what you mean." Izuku nodded in agreement.
Weiss perked up when she saw something in the far distance.
"Izuku, there! Do you see that!" Weiss pointed with her finger.
Izuku peered ahead to the direction Weiss was pointing. It was far but he could see shapes of broken stone structures dotting the landscape. There was no doubt about it: That was the Forest Temple.
"You think that's the Forest Temple?" Ruby questioned, looking at Izuku curiously.
"It has to be," Izuku replied. "Hang on you two, I'm gonna set us down."
After a few minutes of flight they reached the Forest Temple. All at once they were down on the ground in the temple's center, and the black tendrils were gone. Ruby landed nicely, breathing exilarantly. Weiss seemed to stagger, placing a hand on a stone pillar to steady herself as she turned towards the boy who landed last. Weiss looked toward the ruins and the various relics set up on pedestals.
"Oh my god, that was awesome!" Ruby ranted excitedly like a little girl. "Izuku, you are amazing. You took us up in the air like "whoosh" and "zoom"!"
Izuku laughed at how animated Ruby was getting.
"Wasn't he amazing, Weiss?!" Ruby asked, turning her gaze towards her partner. Weiss folded her arms.
"I'll admit, it was... exhilarating. It was like nothing I've ever experienced." Weiss sighed in contentment then turned to face Izuku. "And you do this back in your other world?"
Izuku nodded. "Yeah. It was hard at first, but in time I managed to get a balance with it."
Ruby looked around the place. The minor section of the shrine appeared to primarily comprise the shattered remains of a circular building, with a symmetrical pattern adorning the floor. Three columns were fractured and scattered in fragments across the vicinity. Five stone pillars remain erect, supporting a ring of stones. Small artifacts are positioned on platforms encircling the circular structure.
"Well Weiss..." Ruby glanced at Weiss over her shoulder, pointing at the relics. "We're here, let's get a relic."
Weiss nodded and trailed after her with Izuku following behind. She took a close look at each of the relics to find they were two sets of different chess pieces, a few white and the others were black. Izuku decided to keep watch for the girls, just in case any unsuspecting Grimm were to attack them.
"They're chess pieces..." Weiss muttered, trying to think of the significance behind them as she noticed a few empty pedestals. "It would seem we weren't the first ones here; a few relics are missing."
"Well, not everyone makes it to first place." Izuku stated. "But there's still some relics here. So a few is better than none right?"
"Let's pick the horsey!" Ruby exclaimed as she grabbed the white knight piece.
"Why that one?" Weiss asked.
"Because I love animals!" Ruby replied.
"I don't see anything wrong with that." Commented Izuku, shifting his gaze to Weiss.
Weiss rolled her eyes. "Fine."
Izuku perked up when he heard bushes rustling. He rolled his body around, staring at the direction of the noise where the sound seemed to originate from. Even Ruby and Weiss shifted their gaze to the direction he was currently looking at. The bushes continued rustling for quite some time before two individuals emerged from behind one of them. Said individuals were two girls, and one of them Ruby recognized immediately.
"Yang!" Ruby cried out happily, waving to Yang and Blake.
"Ruby!?" Yang called back in disbelief.
Izuku and the others gathered around Yang and Blake.
"Guess you came here first, huh baby sister?" Yang teased, placing one hand on her hip.
"Actually we came second. Someone else got here before us." Weiss clarified, gesturing her thumb at the temple.
"Yeah, and we wouldn't have gotten here without Izuku's help." Ruby added proudly.
"Izuku?" Yang shifted her gaze towards Izuku. "Oh, hey. So you're participating in the test exam too?"
Izuku rubbed the back of his head.
"You can say that," Izuku replied, grinning sheepishly.
Blake raised a brow at Izuku.
"Aren't you that boy from the amphitheater the other day?" Blake questioned, folding her arms.
"Yeah, why?" Izuku inquired, turning his gaze towards Blake.
"Then how come I didn't see you on the cliff with all the other students? Aren't you also attending beacon?" Blake questioned.
"No I'm not. I'm more of a welcomed guest." Izuku explained honestly. "At least that's what the headmaster said."
Blake blinked in bewilderment. Now she has even more questions. But before she could probe further, the group heard a series of rocket explosions. They all turn in the direction of the forest where several trees were knocked down to reveal an Ursai, with Nora riding it like a giant horse.
"Yee-haa!" Nora cheered as she fired Magnhild's grenade launcher form into the back of her Ursa, causing it to explode as she flipped and landed gracefully on her feet.
"Aw, it's broken," the girl whined as she smacked the Ursa on the head.
"Nora..." spoke Lie Ren. "Please... don't ever do that again."
Ren blinked when he heard a woosh. He lifted his head to find his bubbly partner had vanished. Nora ran over to the temple, completely ignoring the individuals that made it before them in her narrow span of attention.
"Oooooh!" She cooed over the white rook piece.
Nora placed the piece on top of her head in a comical fashion. Against all laws of physics, stuck without any adhesive. Thus began dancing with victorious background music playing in her head.
"I'm queen of the castle! I'm queen of the castle!" She sang and danced.
"Nora!"
She giggled with embarrassment at her peers, whom she finally noticed.
"Coming Ren!" She called back and ran over to him.
"Did... she just ride in on an Ursa?" Asked a dumbstruck Blake.
"Definitely looks that way." Izuku commented.
"I-" Yang tried but more Grimm snarling interrupted the conversation.
"Heads uuuuup!"
Everyone looked up to see a screaming Jaune Arc falling from the sky. Without thinking, Izuku shot forward and jumped, snatching the falling blonde out of the sky. Jaune landed in his arms with surprise as Izuku held him bridal style, stepping from tree branch to tree branch on the way back down to earth. Once Izuku landed back on the ground, he set Jaune back on his feet.
"Are you alright?" Izuku asked worriedly, placing a hand on Jaune's arm.
"Uh yeah. I think so, thanks, Midoriya." Jaune responded with a nod.
Jaune shifted his gaze to see Ruby running up to him.
"Ruby?" Jaune said with surprise as Ruby stepped up to him.
"Jaune!" She answered.
"Nora!" Screamed Nora as she popped up in between them.
"Did he just fall from the sky out of nowhere?" Asked Blake.
"Honestly, I don't even know anything anymore," Weiss answered as she shook her head. Ren stumbled over to join them.
Yang growled as red embers flared up around her. "I can't take it anymore! Will everyone just CHILL OUT for like two seconds before something ELSE CRAZY HAPPENS?!"
They waited exactly two seconds while her fire died down. When Ruby thought it was safe to approach her again, she tapped her on the shoulder.
"Uh, Yang?" She pointed up towards the Pyrrha running into the clearing.
Crashing through the trees behind her was a deathstalker. Smashing down trees left and right as it snapped at her with its claws. She jumped at one moment and passed between a pair of pincers.
"Jaune!" Pyrrha yelled as she got sight of him.
Pyrrha managed to give the deathstalker the slip for a few moments before finally joining the group. Izuku briefly looked at her with relief then turned back to where he last saw the behemoth. Both of his hands balled up to a fist.
"Okay, uh, I guess the gang's all here?" Jaune announced, breaking the silence.
"Yeah, now we can die together!" Declared Yang.
As if on cue, the deathstalker came crashing out of the treeline again. Screeching in rage as it lumbered towards them. Izuku narrowed his eyes and started forward. Ruby noticed his movement and trailed after him in two steps.
"Wait, where are you going?" Ruby called after him, looking at him worryingly.
Izuku proceeded forward without stopping.
"I'll take care of it. You guys stay back." He declared, shocking Ruby as well as the others.
"What?! Are you crazy?!" Weiss exclaimed. "That thing is three times bigger than you! You can't fight it by yourself!"
"I've fought worse than this." Izuku argued, stopping in his tracks.
"Wh-What could be worse than that?!" Jaune also exclaimed.
"You guys don't have to worry about me." Izuku said, looking at the group over his shoulder with a confident and reassuring smile. "Your test was just to get those relics and make it back to the start line. Ozpin only had me come here so he could see what I can do, and I plan to show him exactly that."
Izuku redirected his gaze towards the deathstalker. His eyes once again narrowed, then assumed a fighting stance in preparation. Everyone's eyes widened a little as red marks appeared over Izuku's body before they faded and he was softly glowing green electrical energy.
'One for All: Full Cowling...45%!' He mentally shouted as he slightly crouched before kicking off in a sprint.
The group blinked in shock as Izuku was already right in front of the Grimm in the work of an instant. Izuku clamped his fist, preparing for a punch that contained the potency of a nuclear weapon. Anchoring it back, preparing for a devastating blow. Everyone's eyes widened as Izuku's fist briefly glowed brightly.
"Detroit..."
He swung away with incredible speed.
"SMASH!"
With a power that can only be likened to that of a high auxiliary armor piercing bunker buster, Izuku delivers a forceful uppercut, propelling the deathstalker upward. The sheer strength of the attack causes the scorpion grimm to soar through the air. As the deathstalker is propelled further away from Beacon, it breaks the sound barrier, leaving behind nothing but a glimmer in the sky as it cuts through the clouds. The students, in awe of the spectacle they have just witnessed, find themselves struggling to piece together the sequence of events that has just transpired.
"Whoa..." Yang was rendered speechless.
"THAT. WAS. AWESOME!" Nora shouted with a wild and joyous look on her face.
"I... I've never seen that kind of brute strength in anyone before." Jaune remarked softly.
"That was incredible..!" Pyrrha looked in awe.
"Well, he certainly handled it." Ren agreed.
"He... he took it out like it was nothing." Weiss breathed out, stunned.
"He took that deathstalker out before it even had the chance to make a move... impressive." Blake remarked.
Ruby's lips formed a smile as her silver eyes sparkled at the boy's performance. Said smile reflected pure awe of Izuku's actions, with the knowledge that people like this existing; people with such courageous hearts and fighting villains and monsters. She concluded that even if they come from different worlds, there are good people in this world and beyond. That thought alone made her very happy.
All celebrations suddenly came to an end as they all heard the sounds of a wolf-like howl drifting through the clearing. Everyone turned to see a massive pack of Grimm consisting of Beowolves, Ursai, Boarbatusks, and even several Griffons that flew in the air before landing with their brethren. The horde faced Izuku with their sights solely on him; and the one that appeared to be leading it was the very same Alpha Beowulf that Izuku, Ruby, and Weiss had encountered before.
Izuku tightened both of his fists. Glaring intensely at the group, not backing down as they slowly stalk towards him. Izuku glanced at the students over his shoulder.
"All of you get what you need. I'll distract them as long as I can!" He told them, turning his gaze back to the horde.
Yang's eyes grew large and her hand reached out. "What?! But Izuku, we can—"
Yang's words were unheard from the boy as Izuku bolted toward the horde in incredible speed. The last thing they saw was the young hero leaping high in the air, descending back down to earth and disappearing behind the ocean of Grimm. Only the sounds of growling, shrieking, and something being punched or kicked could be heard from the other side.
"Hey uh, guys? That thing is heading towards us," said a nervous Jaune. He pointed skyward as a Nevermore lazily gilded around for a pass.
"Uh, any ideas on how to fight a giant Grimm?" Asked Yang as she looked at her friends.
Ruby briefly looked up at the flying creature looking back at her allies.
"We don't! Our mission was only to find the relics, then make it back to the cliff. We don't have to fight any of these things," she declared happily, earning a smile from Weiss.
"So run and live," summarized Jaune. "I can get behind that."
As much Jaune liked that idea, one thing still worried him.
"What about Midoriya?" Jaune asked, his tone laced with worry. "I mean, he's fighting fifty Beowulf-sized Grimm alone..."
"Worst case scenario, he'll probably retreat if it becomes too much for him." Pyrrha said.
Once it was settled Ruby grabbed the other white knight piece and nodded to her friends. Jaune grabs the other white rook, and trails after his allies. Yang didn't take off right away, instead smiling at her little sister as she led their group.
"What is it?" Asked Blake.
The blonde smirked at her. "Nothing."
Eight companions bolted through the forest. All of them throw caution to the wind in favor of speed, with the support of their aura boosting their physical aspects. Even Jaune, who's aura was locked until Pyrrha released it for him earlier that day, was able to push himself to keep up with the other, more experienced fighters.
Yang stopped for a moment as she glanced at the horde of Grimm over her shoulder. For a brief moment, worry washed over her face.
Yang shook her head and proceeded sprinting back with the others.
A/N: And that's chapter 9 young readers! Next chapter will feature the end of the exam for Ruby and her friends as they fight off the Nevermore, and maybe another unsuspecting Grimm that Izuku will help fight against. Now some of you in the comments seemed worried that each of the chapters and ones that'll come in the future are not original, well, let me establish a second time that the events in this world will be altered. Solely because Izuku was transported in remnant. Plus if I hadn't added some of the scenes we already know in some of these chapters, it would've been a short read.
There will definitely be a time where the story will drift away from the cannon events that we know. A good example would be the scene in chapter 6, when Ruby and Izuku met Nora and Ren instead of Weiss. So again, there will be changes that'll make this original so until then just bear patience. I've also been debating whether or not there'll be any hope for Izuku to get back home, but I'll put it to the side for now and think more about it later.
With all of that said, I'll be taking my leave. See you in the next chapter young readers!