AN:/Is that some heckin' conflict upon the horizon?

Izuku and Shinsou stared at Pyrrha's now sleeping form, thanks to Shinsou's quick thinking and quirk. The silence was overwhelming, and neither seemed willing to break the silence. Eventually, Shinsou sighed. "Things always seem to happen to you, right, Midoriya?"

It took everything Izuku had to not groan. "Tell me about it. I'm still trying to process her whole story. She died? But she couldn't have, she's right here."

Shinsou stiffened up. "What if she didn't?"

Izuku looked over at him. "Huh?"

"Remember the part near the end. That 'Cinder' chick shot her in the chest with some magical bow, right? Able to make it appear and disappear in the middle of the fight. Not to mention that both of them were apparently fighting over actual magic? And that other girl that showed up, Ruby, she apparently did some magic of her own with the Silver Nikos' must have seen."

Izuku rose a hand up to his chin. "All the different magic collided together and had some adverse reaction?"

Shinsou shook his head after a second. "I thought so at first. It sounds like something out of a messed up fairytale. And there are pieces of the puzzle that don't make sense. She said her 'Aura' broke. What is Aura?" Shinsou ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

Izuku sat down in the chair that Pyrrha had previously occupied. "Pyrrha explained to me that Aura is the manifestation of one's Soul. It's like a shield."

"Her soul broke!?"

The wielder of One-For-All waved Shinsou down. "We don't want to wake her. I don't think it's her entire Soul, just a majority of it. Here let me keep a list so we can keep track." Izuku got a piece of paper and scrawled out a chart.

PYRRHA NIKOS:

SHOT IN THE CHEST WITH "MAGICAL" BOW

FOUGHT OVER ACTUAL MAGIC

OPPONENT 'CINDER' USED FIRE MAGIC

CINDER TRIED TO DISINTEGRATE PYRRHA WITH FIRE

DURING DISINTEGRATION 'RUBY' CAUSED SILVER LIGHT?

DURING DISINTEGRATION PYRRHA'S AURA/SOUL SHATTERED

PYRRHA STILL HAS ARROW IN HER CHEST? BLACK AND GOLD WEBLIKE PULSATING

PYRRHA MENTIONED HER CHEST HURTING SEVERAL TIMES THROUGHOUT U.A. STAY, ARROW STILL IN CHEST, POSSIBLY MELTED? MAYBE CULMINATION OF MAGIC INSTEAD OF ARROW?

"Okay, so what else, Shinsou?"

The General Studies student rubbed his temples. "We don't know anything about the silver light that Ruby did. Was it meant to save Pyrrha? Or maybe stop Cinder?" He dropped his hands to his sides. "Is she even from the same planet as us? The rest of your class mentioned to me at first that Pyrhha didn't speak Japanese. It wasn't English either. I've taken enough classes to know it's not any western language, and she definitely looks western. Not to mention that Remnant or team JNPR hasn't been heard of before?"

Izuku rubbed his head. "Okay, let's say she is from a different world. How would she know what Spartans would look like? If you haven't seen her armor or weapons-" Izuku gestured to the table next to him that actually held said weapons "- there's clearly some basis off of Ancient Rome."

Shinsou shrugged, "I… well… maybe instead of a different planet, cause she did appear in the sky, maybe a different reality? She said she was fighting on a tall tower, right? That would explain why she was way up there. In that other reality, that Earth instead dubbed 'Remnant,' had that tower at the beach!"

Izuku sighed. "You could have a point. Or maybe even a different time? She didn't know what quirks were, or about Japan, or Hero society in general. I don't know, but I'll write it down." All at once, Izuku's, Shinso's, and Pyrrha's, phones all chimed quietly. Glancing at his phone, Izuku saw that time shone brightly at 23:00. "Ah man, the mission is tomorrow. Shinsou, sorry, but can you make me go to sleep and wake up at 5? I can't be late for this mission."

"Midoriya?"

"Ye-"

He felt his mind go blank, and his friend's soothing voice echoed in his head. "Sleep."

She saw her team in a city, fighting Grimm.

She saw team RWBY fighting some people in white.

She saw Grimm amassing upon a massive city.

Her chest pulsed painfully.

In the mass of Grimm, there was a large floating one.

Pulse.

She saw something on the big Grimm.

Pulse.

She saw snow-white skin.

Pulse.

She saw pitch-black eyes.

Pulse.

Pulse.

Pulse.

She heard. "Oh? What's this?"

The voice was smooth, pleasant, and welcoming.

Pulse.

So why did it hurt?

Pulse.

"Young one, you are so far away. Why are you so far from Home? Are you able to respond?"

Pulse.

Was she going to die?

Pulse.

Was the voice going to kill her?

Pulse.

Pulse.

Pulse.

pulse.

It stopped?

"Are you okay now, small one? You must be so afraid. Do not worry, young Maiden. My quarrel is not with you."

But the Grimm? The voice control's Grimm? The Grimm kill. The Grimm is Dark. She is not Dark. She is Light.

"You are light. The Grimm are dark. But Me? I am neither. I am Gray. I am Dusk. I am Dawn. I am Salem."

Salem. Why? Why kill?

"Why? Small Soul, I have tried peace. I have tried talking. And what did it get me? This body. This curse. I have suffered agony and pain like none other. I see you have felt some pain, young Maiden. Because of… the other Maiden. Cinder. Cinder tried to take your power. And she succeeded. But only partially. You are still Maiden. That is why you still exist."

Salem. Please. Allow her to understand. Why kill?

"You wish to understand why? You want to know my motive? To see if the ends justify the means?"

She remembers she wants to help people. She remembers the smile of her Hero.

"You wish to help. You wish for no more pain. As do I, Small Soul. That is why I kill. Why I send the Grimm to slay. I wish to rule, Honest Soul. I wish to prevent Mankind from slaughtering one another in their petty wars. From their discrimination. I wish to save. And so I must kill."

Salem. She wants the killing to stop. She wants to help. How can she help the killing stop? Please. What can she do to stop this slaughter?

"You wish to join me?"

She wishes to stop the suffering.

"I see. I will give you two tasks. For each task you complete, I will give Mankind a five-year break from all Grimm attacks. If Mankind can set aside their hate and can prevent wars from occurring again in the period given, I will eradicate the Grimm."

How is she supposed to do tasks? She is not there. She is not Home.

"I will grant you a vessel, Small Soul. It will take time to create. Small Soul, please tell me. What is your name?"

Her name? Her name...

PULSE.

What is her name?

PULSE.

PULSE.

PULSE.

Who is she?

PULSE.

Pulse.

pulse.

She remembers.

She is Pyrrha Nikos.

"Thank you, Honest Soul. I will call for you when your vessel is ready. Rest, young Maiden of Fall. I truly hope you do not fail me."

For the smallest of moments, she saw the pure white skin be filled with color, and the pitch-black eyes turn into a bright cerulean. She saw Salem, the woman. Just as she was sure, Salem saw Pyrrha, the Soul.

Izuku broke wall after wall, the Pros and Police barely able to keep up with him. After Red Riot and Sun Eater stayed behind to engage with villains, something in Izuku's gut told him he was running out of time. His Aura spiked out in his anxiety as another wall was torn apart. Suddenly, the hallway opened up into a vast circular room full of sharp stalagmites, and he could see LeMillion there, fighting Overhaul and one of his henchmen. The henchman pulled out a gun and aimed not towards LeMillion, but somewhere in the rocks. Eri! To shoot an innocent girl! Izuku felt his Aura flare up around him. Full Cowling: 25%! He launched himself forward and felt steel crumple beneath his foot as he shot forward and kicked the gun. Izuku heard the man scream out in pain as the Hero landed.

"Deku!?"

"You're here too?"

That must be LeMillion and Overhaul. Where is Eri-chan? Izuku saw the red of LeMillion's cape and jumped over to it, thinking maybe he was using it to shield Eri from sight.

"I should've killed you both back in that Alley!" He heard Overhaul roar behind him. Again, his gut told him to dodge, but his head told him to look back and read the situation. That hesitation allowed him to get hit by a pillar of rock. He heard a high pitched scream as the impact launched him aside.

In his vision, he saw his aura flare. The scream must have come from Eri. LeMillion was in the middle of phasing through one of the rock pillars, dodging Overhaul's attack. He didn't feel any pain from the assault, only a little winded. Izuku stood from his new position and looked for Eri again. "Damn!" There was no red in sight.

"Ah?!"

He turned around quickly at hearing the soft gasp. That explained why he didn't see Eri, she was behind him from his landing. Izuku smiled brightly. "It's okay, Eri. I am here!" He stepped closer to her and put his arms out. "Let's get outta here, what do you say?" Eri took a step towards him, but her face immediately turned scared and backed away.

Once more, his instincts told him to run, and he did by jumping forward in front of Eri, spinning around with his guard up. Overhaul stood there, one of his hands where Izuku's head just was. "I say," The Yakuza head growled. "That you've overstayed your welcome. You and that other boy. They're getting hurt because of you, Eri. I told you, you're a curse. Come with me, so you don't hurt them anymore. I'll let them live if you come with me now. If you don't come in ten seconds, one of them dies. In twenty, they both do."

Izuku heard the quiet sob behind him and glared at the villain. "You are not a curse, Eri! You're a blessing! We can help you! I can help you!"

"5. 4." Overhaul started counting aloud. Eri whimpered. Izuku tensed himself up in preparation for the attack.

"3."

"I…" Eri's voice was shaky. "I don't want any of this. I don't want anyone to get hurt."

Izuku spoke up, glancing quickly back at the girl before returning his eyes to Overhaul. "If you go, Eri, he'll hurt you instead!"

"B-but, I deserve it!" Her voice cracked. "People get hurt because of me! I'm cursed!"

"Then, I'll just break your curse!" Izuku flared his Aura and called upon his Full-Cowling to its 20%, seafoam green lightning coursing over his body.

"2." Overhaul growled.

"1!" The Villian's head turned to the right only to meet Mirio's boot. "Deku! Take Eri and Run!"

He didn't even respond to his elder, merely putting his arms out to the little girl, now giving her his full attention. "You… can really break my curse?"

Izuku smiled at the timid young girl. "Of course. If you come with me, I'll take you away from here, where we can get you cured. Nothing will stop me from helping you, Eri-chan."

She stepped forward once, and a flurry of emotion went through her. Fear, Sadness, Uncertainty, Distrust, and finally Hope. Hope that maybe, just maybe, that she could be free. She had been free before, but he always brought her back, never letting the pain truly end. Can this Hero really help her? The green Hero just continued smiling, never once looking back at the fight behind him, never once looking upset or afraid. He just smiled. She felt a surge in her chest, and suddenly she was in his arms, holding him tight. "P-please... save me."

"I won't let you go again." His voice washed over her, as Eri took in his scent and let his presence envelop her. Was this what good people smelt like? Felt like? She… she was safe. "Last time was a mistake. I'll always be with you, Eri." Her Hero spoke. She was safe. He was leaping and bounding, taking her out of the big arena they were fighting in.

"BRING HER BACK!" He was screaming again, trying to get her. The Hero just held onto her tighter, and the wind seemed to be going faster.

"POWER!" LeMillion's voice was closer, seemingly in between the Green Hero and the Monster with every step, to protect her.

The Hero spoke up after he bounded off another rock. "You wanna know a secret, Eri-chan?" A secret? Right now? "There are over 20 Heroes here to save you! And over 50 police officers!"

"S-so many!"

He smiled at her as they entered a hallway. "Right? And we all wanna help you." They do? "Hey, some of the Heroes are up ahead, so I'm gonna yell, okay? Wanna cover your ears? I'm gonna make sure they go help LeMillion, and I'll get you outta here."

"O… okay." Eri covered up her ears. She must not have done it right, as she could still barely hear the Hero.

"...go further in… just overhaul… getting eri out…" She heard muffled voices talk to the Hero, but he never stopped running. He really was trying to help her! She let go of her ears and grabbed tighter to the Hero.

"H-hero?"

"Yes?" He was so calm and so kind. He was safe. "We're almost out, Eri-chan! Just a little bit longer, okay?"

His name can wait, she guessed. There was a loud boom behind the Hero, but it must have been okay, cause he kept smiling. Maybe it was a Hero who did that? Suddenly the light brightened around them. Were they outside now? There were more police officers here and was that... a dragon!?

"Eri-chan?" The Hero whispered to her, "You see that Dragon? That's the Dragoon Hero: Ryukyu. She was most upset when she heard a little girl like you were in a place like this. She said she wanted to give you a ride when you were safe." A Dragon wanted to give her a ride? But wasn't she cursed? Is that how he was going to break the curse? The Dragon would breathe its magical fire on her and get rid of the bad? "Now, we're going to get you to a safe place, okay?"

"B-but-"

"Don't worry, Eri-chan." She saw his smile. "You remember what I told you earlier? How I wouldn't let you go? That seems kind of impossible, right?" She nodded. "Well, that's where my magic comes in."

"Magic?"

He took one hand off of her and placed it in front of his mouth with a wink. "You gotta keep it a secret, though. It wouldn't be magic if everyone knew about it." Eri's eyes widened in understanding. "So, I'm gonna put a spell on you, okay?" She tensed up. "Unless you don't want me to. Do you want to know what the spell does?"

He wouldn't hurt her, she knew that he wouldn't hurt her. He promised that he wouldn't hurt her. He was safe.

She was safe.

"W-what does the spell do?"

He still smiled at her, never once looking upset or angry or mean. "The spell, Eri-chan, will let me protect you with my Soul. So even if I'm not with you physically, I'll always be with you. I might not be able to hear you or see you, but I'll protect you with everything I have, okay?"

His Soul? Isn't that dangerous? Wouldn't that hurt him? She may only be 6, but even she knew that souls were very important. She remembered her Grandpa talking about them, back when he wasn't very sick. "Will it hurt?"

The Hero kept smiling. "Of course not! I promise you Eri-chan, I won't let you get hurt anymore."

She shook her head. "Will it hurt you?" Not once did his smile falter.

"Nope. And even if it did, helping you is worth it. Eri-chan, you don't need to worry about hurting anyone with your curse anymore. Because I am here. And if you let me cast the spell, I'll always be here."

"Always?"

"Always."

She was scared. But her Hero wasn't, and LeMillion wasn't. The Heroes weren't, and the Police weren't. The Dragon wasn't. She could be brave; she could help make things easier. He was warm. He was safe. I am safe. Her arms trembled, and her sight blurred. "I'm scared, Mr. Hero." The tears started to flow freely. "P-please, always save me, Mr. Hero?"

"Of course, Eri-chan. I'll always be here."

She swallowed and locked gazes with the smiling Hero. "Do the spell." She trusted him. And he seemed to realize that, as he began to glow a deep green.

"For it is in courage that we achieve immortality. Through this, we become a paragon of hope and light to rise above darkness. Infinite in compassion, and unbound by hate, I release your Soul, and by my own, save thee."

Warmth soared throughout her, as she felt his magic, his Soul hold onto her tightly. It was like a big hug. The emerald green pressed into her, and she felt something within her fade away. Suddenly, like a light switch being flipped, the emerald green turned into a light gray and exploded out of her. The force of the gray faded, and she saw that his green and her gray meshed together. She grew tired and rested her head against his chest. As she drifted off to sleep, she now knew two things from his soul intertwining with her.

Her Hero's name was Izuku Midoriya.

And she was finally safe.

AN:/ Sometimes being just a little bit faster can alter even fate.
You ever see a word so often it starts to lose all meaning? It was driving me crazy trying to find the right word to describe the sensation Pyrrha feels, but I finally settled on 'Pulse'. It was originally going to be 'Beat' but as just a soul it didn't feel like it fit.