MHA: Dragon's Pride

I laugh while I flap my wings, Hawks right beside me as his own wings simply adjust to the air currents, trying to find the path of least resistance. He doesn't truly have wings, but that's the shape his feathers naturally form when they're attached to him. Based on what I've seen so far, he moves them telepathically, which is how he can fly without needing to flap them.

We've pretty much matched each other neck and neck for the entire race even though I'm fairly certain he can go faster if he explores the telepathic aspect of his quirk more. Well, we've been neck and neck since I slowed down to let him catch up. Even if he does train eventually, it won't matter. 

It's actually kind of adorable how he thinks he can match me in speed. His serious expression as we speed along the sky is the reason for my laughter. I let out a whoop as I do a barrel roll around him and he curses. "Come on, is that really all you've got? I could be carrying a truck and still match your speed!"

He huffs, flipping over so that he's flying on his back as he glares up at me. "Geez, you're cocky. If you're really that fast, how come you haven't won already?"

I smirk down at him and flash my fangs, enjoying the shiver that goes through him that he fails to suppress. "Do you really want me to destroy whatever confidence you have in your flying skills that badly?" I chuckle, my eyes flashing as I let my scales grow to fully encompass my body, the wind resistance seeming to almost vanish.

"In that case, I'll see you at Trash Beach!"

I give a strong flap of my wings and rocket ahead, leaving behind only a wave of turbulent air and my cries of joy in response to Hawks tumbling through the sky he fills with colorful curses.

I look down at the city as I leave Hawks behind, the scenery rushing by too fast for me to catch anything I could use to identify it. Or at least, that's the case before I bring myself to an abrupt stop, unmoved by the gale I stirred up with my flight slamming into my back. It breaks around me as I slowly flap my wings to maintain my position. But even then, it's done unconsciously. My entire focus is on the building far below me. A place I absolutely hate.

Below me, is Aldera Elementary. A place with nothing but bad memories. I can admit that I kind of stopped keeping track of what day it is, given I don't really have any kind of schedule to pay attention to, but given the fact that the school's parking lot is nearly empty of cars, I can only assume that it's probably the weekend.

Memories start replaying in my mind as I stay there. Memories of my and Bakugou's first day. Of when the teachers revealed that I'm quirkless so everyone would have to be careful around me because I was 'fragile'. Of how everyone would talk bad about me. The slurs that people taught the kids specifically for quirkless people. They echo in my head now.

Geneless. Remnant. Null. And more. New ones they came up with on their own, purely to try and make my life just that little bit worse.

But it was never enough, and they'd keep trying new things to get that little bit more. But after a point, that 'little bit' changes into 'a whole damn lot'.

I'm startled out of my thoughts when I feel a hand on my shoulder and a curious voice in my ear. "You good, Pyro?"

I look over my shoulder and see Hawks there, one eyebrow raised curiously. But there's an underlying tension that I can see in his shoulders. I look back down at the school and only then realize that I've been getting closer to it. There aren't any tall buildings nearby for me to compare against, but I'd have to say that I wouldn't have to drop too much farther to get it in range for my flames to at least singe the walls.

For a moment, I think about doing it. There's not really a good reason not to, other than the hero behind me would probably throw a fit. But… would it matter? Yes, it might be cathartic to be the one to burn it to the ground, but it's the people who were the real issue then. The ones who deserve to be punished.

But then again, I'm not the same person I was. So does it even matter?

Yes.

My instincts say yes, and I have to agree. Still though…

I shake my head, flapping my wings to put some distance between me and the school. Hawks lets out a squawk of surprise at the sudden movement and shoves his phone back in his pocket. Probably getting ready to call the fire department in case I actually did decide to destroy the building.

But this has been a good day apart from the water incident, and I don't want to taint it by associating it with Aldera. Yes, watching it crumble would be nice, but any memory including that terrible excuse of a school would inevitably sour. Even if the memory is of watching it burn.

So I shake my head after climbing high enough that it's nothing more than an indistinct blur below me. I look over at Hawks, whose breathing is a bit rough. I give him a lopsided smile as I forcibly push aside any thoughts of that hellhole. "Sorry 'bout that. Let's get back to the race."

With those simple words, I shoot off, once again leaving a gaping Hawks behind.

`~`

Hawks stares after the girl who quickly vanishes into the distance for only a moment before he shakes his head, letting himself drop to a height where he isn't worried about how thin the air is. How the arsonistic scaled girl he's keeping an eye on could be comfortable at such a height is a mystery to the rookie hero.

Well, rookie in official experience. The Chairwoman made sure that he had an abundance of unofficial experience before Special Forces stormed the HPSC headquarters and took her into custody. That incident sparked what can only be called a cleansing wave to sweep through the Commision. All of their clandestine programs, all of their shady or otherwise illegal dealings, everything came under investigation. Including the Legacy Feeder program, and the truth about Lady Nagant's imprisonment.

Speaking of, something that's been kept under wraps is how there's been moves to get her released from Tartarus, which he's been doing his best to assist with. What else could he do when he hears that the woman he succeeded did what he couldn't and broke free of the Commission's control?

And all of it, is thanks to this strange little girl who can't be more than thirteen. So, obviously, when he sees her unsettled for the first time today, he's not going to just let it be. He checks his phone to get the name of the building she was staring at and raises an eyebrow before he tucks it back inside his pocket and gets back to flying after her. Not that he has any doubt that he's going to lose the race, he's not too proud to admit that she has him beat in speed.

Still though, this race has proved to be fruitful in more ways than one. Not only has he gotten more information on her capabilities, but now he also has an avenue that he can investigate to learn more about her. Off the record, of course. He's way too attached to his head to let it roll like the Chairwoman's will.

Aldera, what secrets will you reveal?

`~`

It doesn't take long for me to reach the ocean after leaving Hawks far behind for the second time. And I have to say, it really is obvious to see why it's called 'Trash Beach'. Up and down its entire length are heaps of trash piled so high that they pass the one-story buildings across the street. It's not just piles of big things like broken refrigerators or washing machines either. Household appliances, furniture, decorations, etc. If it could be considered trash, then you'd be able to find it here.

As I look over it, I can't help but frown. Because even with there being a distinct lack of visibility under the abandoned detritus, there are landmarks I can see. Most notably, the short boardwalk that extends out into the water. It ends in a sort of gazebo that provides shade from the sun during the day, and gives a perfect spot to watch as the sun sets in the evening.

I let out a slow breath as I land near the stairs leading down onto the actual beach. I stare at the decorative stone with a plaque announcing the beach's name, covered in scratch marks bored kids have made over time. A game of tic-tac-toe. A heart on top of a triangle held up by a single line. A large 'X' over the plaque, as if proclaiming that the name's a lie. Which I suppose it is, now.

This isn't Dagobah Municipal Beach Park anymore. It's not one of the few places I remember going with the Midoriya family and all of us actually enjoying our time together. Now, it's simply Trash Beach. For all practical purposes, it's just a dump. The only thing that makes it stand out is where it's located.

I can't help the chuckle that leaks out at the irony of the situation. But it also makes sense. Because of course one of the only places I have good memories of turns into trash! That perfectly sums up my entire fucking life before I Awakened!

Up until I got thrown down that volcano, I was trash! My life was trash! That passive fucking personality I had was trash! The friends I thought I had-

I cut that thought off, taking a deep breath before letting it out slowly, accompanied by a burst of fire. It doesn't go far since I'm not actually trying to use it on anything. It does help a bit with the smell though. Not much, since the source is literally right in front of me, but enough that I don't feel like I need to step away to breathe.

I had friends. Real friends. I may not have had them for long, but they were my friends. And even if I haven't seen them since then, I still consider them as such. Not to mention that they're a part of my Hoard.

But… do they still consider me a friend? I don't know how they reacted to me vanishing. For all they know, I could be dead. If I were to suddenly show up, would they be mad? Disappointed? What if they were just pretending to be my friends as some sort of cruel joke? It wouldn't be the first time! But all the others had signs… They couldn't completely hide the fact that they looked down on me for not having a quirk. Those three didn't…

DRAGONS STAND-

"QUIET!" I roar out the command, forcibly silencing the instinct that bubbles to the surface. It's not that simple of course, and I spend a decent amount of time working to quell my inherent sense of superiority. The one telling me that it doesn't matter if they were pretending or not because they belong to me and-!

I let out another roar directed at the sky, this time letting my flames rage. Letting them burn my doubts to ashes. Five minutes later, I take a deep breath of the heated air, letting it out slowly.

I will not force them to be part of my Hoard. But until we meet again and they refuse, they are. As such, I will have faith that they are my friends. I don't know when that meeting will occur, but I have no doubt that it will.

For now though, I should probably deal with the two voices shouting from the depths of the trash piles. I wonder what people are even doing in there?