Ember of Mercy
April
While the successor of One for All is training on the beach, so is the fledgling guardian. On the other side of Takoba Beach, Ophelia was attempting to coach Ayano on how to utilize her powers. Ayano was standing on the beach in some sportswear they had bought with the synthesized yen.
“Normally, Guardians use three different elements within the Light. Those are Arc, Void, and Solar. Though a few years back, Guardians began experimenting with powers from the Darkness. But mastering the Darkness comes with risks, and I feel that it would be better to wait to go over those. A lot of Guardians tend to specialize with one of the elements. The former Hunter Vanguard, Cayde-6 was notorious for using Solar, while Warlock Vanguard Ikora Rey uses Void. Our Titan Vanguard Zavala, however, used both Void and Arc.” Ophelia explained, stopping to let Ayano take the information in.
“Let’s start simple.” Ophelia started again. “From what my friends described when training their Chosen, Arc tended to be rather simple. Arc, as a function of Light, is about motion and conduction. Hunters originally used Arc energy in the form of a knife, but after the Red Legion invasion of the City and subsequent loss and regaining of the Light, it came in the form of a staff. We won’t try that until you become more familiar, so let’s begin with grenades.”
“Grenades?” Ayano asked.
“Guardians can also use their Light to form different types of grenades, though most tend to be, well, lethal. So we’ll only be using the ones that won’t kill. For Arc, I believe the flashbang will do the trick. Many natural phenomena contain Arc energy, such as lightning storms. Using your abilities is all about feeling. You need to feel the energy within yourself. Go ahead and give it a go.”
Ayano steadied herself and faced towards the veritable trash mountain in front of her. She held her hand out in front of her, closed her eyes and tried to find that feeling she had felt the night before. She finally felt something, but instead of the flowy energy, it was something more akin to touching a live wire. Ophelia could feel her tapping into the Light and watched as a pale blue light began coalescing in Ayano’s hand.
Ayano felt a light buzzing in her hand, she grasped the potent energy. Opening her eyes, she sees what looks like a grenade in her hand. She sets herself into a throwing stance, winds up, and then chucks it towards the garbage pile. It hits the pile and begins shining brighter. Ayano quickly shuts her eyes and even with them closed, she can see and hear the detonation. Once the ringing stopped, she opened her eyes again.
“That was well done!” Ophelia cheered. “You’re a natural at this.”
For the next hour, Ayano kept channeling the Arc energy into the flash grenades until it became like second nature to her. At sometime around 7 am, Ophelia decided that she had it handled and the two started on the next item.
“The Arc Staff is the ultimate expression of Arc energy for Hunters. Some Guardians like to describe their more powerful abilities as “Supers” or “Ultimates.” Like it's some holo-game.” Ophelia chuckled.
As Ayano prepared to summon the staff, Ophelia scanned some of the trash and formed them into a few dummies. “For today at least, I only want you to summon the staff, but after that we’ll practice with a wooden facsimile until you can handle it well. I don’t want you getting hurt with such potent energy.”
Ayano felt the tingle of Arc once more, but this time released more energy and shaped it. Ophelia could see the staff begin to take shape. Once fully formed, it was like instead of being contained, the electricity was flowing throughout her whole body. Her hair began taking on a blue sheen and flowed in a nonexistent wind. It was like a valve had been wrenched all the way open.
Ophelia was excited, it seemed the unique energies of this universe were affecting the forms of Light itself. She could see an occasional red sparkle of lightning within the storm.
“Okay, release the energy.” She ordered. Ayano closed the open valve and the staff and lightning faded away. She suddenly felt exhausted and fell to one knee.
“Are you okay?” Ophelia fretted, hovering around her.
“Yeah… Just felt winded.” Ayano reassured her Ghost.
“Let’s stop here for now.” Ophelia decided. “I wanted to go around and find some material anyway.”
The two made their way out of the park, passing by a rather skeletal looking blond man watching a green haired boy haul trash. They managed to leave without the pair seeing them.
That night, Shota Aizawa once again found himself in the same area of Musutafu as he had the night before. His goal was to see if that mysterious vigilante would show their face. After about 5 hours, it was 2 am and the vigilante was a no show. Normally, he wouldn’t care as much, but from the little he saw of them, they looked rather small. He hoped against anything that it wasn’t some kid. He had reported what little information he had to the local police department, but they claimed that they had never seen the vigilante before.
So they must be new to this. He thought to himself, perched on a ledge.Huffing to himself, we decided to call it a night, he still had classes in the morning to teach. His current class wasn’t the greatest, as he had to pull the normal routine of expelling and then re-enrolling them. And once again, the parents had complained about it.
He would come back for the next few weeks to keep an eye out, but otherwise he would return to his normal duties. He just hoped that the vigilante would give up.
May
The next month was tough. Using the wooden pole that Ophelia had synthesized, Ayano practiced some forms with the pole. Ophelia was using her eye to project a video off the internet so Ayano could practice. Their days started with stretches, and Ayano found that she was rather flexible. Next was using the staff against the dummies, then they moved onto channeling more flash grenades, and then ended with Ayano keeping the Arc staff intact. She had steadily gotten more used to the process, and was even able to do some of her forms with the electric weapon. If she wasn’t feeling drained after that, she practiced her powered jumps and dodges.
On rest days, Ophelia would often leave the hotel room to scrounge for materials. She used them to discreetly sell scraps so they could continue to live in the room. The receptionist, Hotaru, had agreed that he would be willing to let them stay at a cheaper price as long as they would bring in some income. He still wasn’t quite sure what Ophelia was, but he just assumed it was some type of robo-nanny. Ophelia was also using some of the money to buy materials to make Ayano a proper uniform. It wouldn’t be anything super amazing, but she wanted her chosen to be at least a little more protected.
Speaking of her chosen, Ophelia was still getting used to having a Guardian. She had been created from the Traveler a century or so after the Last City’s founding and had been roaming the system looking for her Guardian. After the Red War began, she hunkered down in the City and helped the Vanguard protect the citizens. The years after the Red War were some of the darkest in Post-Collapse history. The death of the Hunter Vanguard, the shadows encroaching on the moon, The Witness’ fleet capturing half the system’s planets and the Guardian Order’s first use of Darkness, Savathun and her Hive gaining the Light (though it was originally assumed it was stolen), and then Cabal Emperor Calus’ invasion of distant planet Neptune and Neomuna, finally with the Witness breaking into the heart of the Traveler itself. The end of the Witness had renewed Ophelia’s fire in finding her chosen, and she decided to embark into space for that reason. And now, she finds herself here, in an alternate universe. Ayano was unlike any guardian that came before, perhaps except for the Vanguard’s prized Guardian.
Yes, Ayano was young, perhaps the youngest Guardian in history, but she was able to grasp the concepts presented to her. Yes she stumbled some, but she tended to learn quickly. Ophelia hopes to start on the next element soon, and perhaps after that, they could ease back into helping those who cannot help themselves. She often watches this world’s protectors, the Pro-Heroes, as they go about their duties. Ayano never seemed all that interested, but when broached the subject of going out at night, she seemed receptive. Perhaps it was an innate sense of duty. Speaking of the Pro Heroes, Ophelia could see both the appeal and see how off-putting it could be. Many pros were in it merely for the fame they could gain, but almost the same amount were doing this not for themselves, but for the people. But the existence of heroes also facilitates the creation of their opposite, villains. There will always be those who harm, but many are forced to turn to crime out of desperation. Maybe her and Ayano could help protect the innocent, and from Ayano’s attitude, it seemed she wouldn’t be consumed by the allure of fame. And if she does, Ophelia will be there to steer her back to the right path. Many ghosts merely behaved as bystanders, but she refused to do so.
June
“Solar is the element of heat and fusion, but is not a purely destructive expression of Light. Solar is also the element of health. It keeps away the cold nights and protects those under its glow. Hunters use Solar offensively, usually in the form of a gun or a swarm of blades. In terms of the grenades, I feel that the healing grenade will be optimal. Originally, only the Warlocks were able to use it, but some time ago, the others began to be able to as well.”
Ayano frowned a little at the explanation. She’s not sure why, but the thought of using her gift in a purely destructive way made her pause. It was nagging at her, but no matter how hard she tried, it never came to her. She turned to her ghost.
“Ophelia,” she said. “How do the Warlocks…. use their solar abilities?”
“Oh?” The Ghost paused. “Warlocks, in the past, used Solar to enhance their bodies, they were even capable of reviving themselves without the intervention of us Ghosts, but after the Red War, the art was lost. To make up for it, Warlocks learned to use Solar in the form of the Dawnblade, raining fire upon their enemies. They also used the light of dawn to create a Well. This well would protect all those in its radius, keeping them from harm. Does that answer your question?”
“Yes,” Ayano nodded, her hair swaying lightly in the breeze. “I… want to try now.”
They were still in their normal spot, but as the months passed, the green haired young man cleared more and more of the beach. By her calculations, they still had plenty of time to find a new training area, as the boy was still on the other end of the beach.
Ayano took a deep breath. Unlike the crisp feeling of Arc, Solar felt like a gentle warmth. Visualizing what she wanted, she began with the grenade. A ball began forming within her cupped hands. Once she felt satisfied, she let it go. It fell to the ground in a splash and then the core rose a foot or so into the air. Ayano reached out towards it, and it warmed her hand. Once she made contact, it was like all the scrapes she had accumulated during the training had faded away and she felt more energetic.
“Well done!” Ophelia cheered. “You seemed to grasp this much easier than Arc.”
But Ayano didn’t seem to hear her. She was focused on the warmth she felt. She wanted more.
“Ophelia, I think I’m ready for the super.”
“Are you sure?” her Ghost asked, confused. “Let’s start with the Golden Gun. Just visualize a pistol within your hand, and aim it towards the dummy.”
Ayano looked down at her hands.
Is this what I want?
She felt for her inner fire. But, unknown to Ophelia, instead of reaching for the blaze of the sun, she pulled on the gentle warmth, the warmth of the hearth, that which heals, not that which hurts.
Ophelia watched in anticipation. She was worried when Ayano asked to go straight to the gun. Though her worry changed into confusion as her chosen stuck both hands out, one open palmed, the other a closed fist. Her blinking eye widened as the solar energy began to form into a blade as Ayano moved her hands apart.
But…. But that’s impossible!
She saw the soft orange of the Dawnblade’s wings form on Ayano’s back before they were absorbed into the blade. Ayano then reversed her grip on the sword and plunged it into the ground, the outline of the wings appearing on the blade and a yellow orb above the sword connecting onto Ayano.
A Well of Radiance?! But only Warlocks can do that!
“How– How did you do that?” Ophelia asked, stumbling over her words. Ayano looked up where Ophelia was hovering.
“I… I didn’t want to hurt. Violence shouldn’t always be the first option.” She said resolutely, her figure awash in a heavenly glow, her raspberry hair gaining a yellow highlight and a dim halo above her head.
If Ghosts were capable of crying, Ophelia was sure she would be sobbing. Guardians, while protectors, tended to resort to violence. She was proud that her chosen felt so strongly that she was able to break the class binary, altering her destructive fire into a radiant warmth. Ayano brought her hands up and Ophelia floated down to rest above her chosen’s hands.
“Is…. something wrong?” Ayano said.
“No, no.” Ophelia gazed into the warm yet cold eyes of her Guardian. “Hunters have never been able to create a Well of Radiance. But yet, you did it. And that makes me unbelievably proud.”
“Thank you, Ophelia,” Ayano said, bringing her into a hug of sorts. There the two stood, basking in the light of the morning and in the well’s warmth.
September
Izuku was slumped down in his room’s desk chair. The training had been grueling thus far, but he would be lying if he said he regretted it one bit. The beach cleaning had been going well, and he was ahead of schedule. In All Might’s training plan, he was to receive One for All sometime in mid-November. Originally All Might wasn’t going to give it to him until close to the entrance exam, but through the teaching classes the Number One Hero was doing, he realized that One for All would not be the same for Izuku as it was for himself. So after talking to Recovery Girl (and boy did Izuku wish he could have met the hero) All Might had decided to transfer earlier so Izuku can learn the feel of having a quirk before being thrown into a practical exam.
He was broken out of his thoughts as a ping from his laptop sounded out. He opened the email, which was a notification from a forum he had been frequenting as of late. Sometime in late July, a vigilante was spotted in Musutafu. They mostly operated at night so pictures weren’t that clear, but it looked like a small-ish and thin figure (Izuku had guessed that it was someone around his age. Either that or someone with some bad height genes) who wore a black, silver and blue suit and a hooded cape that had a white fur collar and a wolf emblazoned on the cape part. None of the pictures had seen their face, but eyewitness accounts described a face mask that covered up to the eyes and a pair of dark blue goggles. The local press had taken to calling the vigilante the “Phantom of Musutafu” as there was no self-proclaimed name. From all reports, the Phantom had never spoken and had never given a name. Many on the board were trying to guess the vigilante’s quirk, and Izuku was no different. Using what little videos existed, the Phantom mostly used an electric staff that seemed to appear from nowhere. Izuku thought it was an electricity based quirk and they had presumably trained it enough to make constructs from it.
(Somewhere else, an electric blond was feeling strangely inadequate)
Even Eraserhead had been spotted in the area more often after the Phantom’s appearance. Izuku could hardly contain his excitement, Eraserhead was his idol, after All Might of course, as he mostly fought quirkless and it gave Izuku hope that maybe he could make it as a hero, even without a quirk.
Part of Izuku was conflicted on gaining a quirk. For years, he was determined to become a quirkless hero. He knew that he’d never be number one like that, but now that he would be getting All Might’s quirk, he resolved to not forget where he came from. All Might agreed with that sentiment, saying that he was proud that his successor was able to keep himself grounded. He didn’t want to end up like Kacchan, after all. Speaking of Kacchan, ever since the Sludge Villain incident, he had been rather subdued.
He remembers that, sometime in July, Kacchan had asked to speak with him after school, and Izuku had agreed, mostly due to how little bite there was to Kacchan’s words. They had met up at the gates of the school and Izuku was worried that he would be going home with burn marks on his uniform again.
“Hey, Deku.” Kacchan said.
“Um, yes?” Izuku responded.
“After All Might saved me from that Sludge bastard, I was told that I could have died if he had gotten there any later. So I just wanted to say thanks, and sorry.”
“Wait, what?” Izuku was dumbfounded.
“I won’t say it again, nerd.” Kacchan said, turning around. “And don’t forget, I will be the Number One Hero, but put up a fight at least.” And with that, he was gone.
Izuku was sure he was dreaming, but a pinch quickly told him he wasn’t.
“Izuku, dinner is ready!” His mom called, pulling him out of his reminiscence.
“Coming!” he called back.
His mom had been really supportive of his training. She was worried of course, but after All Might had come over and explained what her son was getting into, she seemed to lose her bristles. Though that was only after making All Might promise to look after her son.
His mom had made quite a spread for dinner.
“Izuku, honey?” she said. “I decided that I was going to take a few more shifts at the hospital.”
“That’s fine, mom. But why are you asking?”
“Well, there was something I wanted to save up for.”
“That’s great, mom.” Izuku said, smiling.
December
Ayano and Ophelia were resting in their room after a quick night out. At Ophelia’s discretion, Ayano limited herself to just using Arc, as to make any authorities think she only had the one ability. She was wary at first at going out as a vigilante, with what memories she had of vigilantes being frowned upon, but after a while she got the hang of it. She loved the feeling of helping people, especially without expecting anything in return. That was why she never bothered to come up with a name, because she didn’t want to be like the pro heroes. It was like a part of her distrusted pros.
Currently, she was lying on her bed in the soft pajamas they had bought for her, when Ophelia got her attention. Ayano sat up in her bed and looked towards the table.
“Can you sit in that chair there, and then bring the table up to you?” Ophelia asked.
Ayano did as she was asked, though she was confused as to why. Her question was somewhat answered when a slice of cake on a plate materialized on the table.
“What’s…. the occasion?” She asked.
“I wasn’t sure you remembered since you were out of it when we first met, but today is December 12th.”
Ayano’s face scrunched up trying to remember why the date was so important. Then it came to her.
“Ayano —--
Dec 12th, 2313 - June 5th, 2326
Beloved sister, daughter, and friend”
“Oh.” She whispered.
“Happy 14th Birthday, Ayano.” Her Ghost said, lighting the candle. Ophelia looked up at her Guardian just in time to see a single tear leak from her eyes. She started to move towards Ayano, but paused as more tears fell. The young girl needed this.
January
Using her powers, Ayano leaped across the gap between buildings. It was almost a few months shy of a year since she was revived, and she was proficient in her Arc, Solar, and now Void abilities. Outside of her ability to use the Warlock’s Solar powers, her Void abilities manifested in what Ophelia described as “Shadowshot Deadfall.” Void felt like the opposite of Solar. Where Solar was warmth, Void was all encompassing nothingness. Ophelia had described it as the manipulation of spacetime and dark matter. The Shadowshot itself was not wholly offensive, and the feeling of the cosmic bow in her hands felt inviting. Void had even empowered her base abilities as she found that, with Void, she was now able to cloak herself using either her empowered dodge or using a smoke bomb.
Though her head was covered by her hood and mask, she could still feel the wind whipping past her face. It was a rainy night, and while her armor provided some relief, she could feel the cold in her bones. Ophelia had asked if she wanted to turn in for the night, but Ayano said she was fine. She had heard a sound, not unlike the sound she heard back on that first night she went out all those months ago.
Skidding to a stop, she peered down the building to see a young girl running down the street, looking as if she was being chased. Looking where she was running from, she saw two people chasing her down, wearing plague masks? Aiming between the two parties, Ayano readied a flash grenade and turned the tab on her goggles to shade more. Jumping off the building, she tossed the grenade towards the assailants and when it went off, used her empowered jump to break her momentum. The girl who was running turned when the flash went off and watched as Ayano engaged her pursuers.
Calling upon the Void, Ayano then threw a smoke bomb to further disorient the two masked men. Limiting the Arc flow of her Arcstrider staff, she was able to swiftly take them down. Standing above one of them, and not hearing the girl running, she pointed her staff and asked them a single question.
“What do you want with her?”
She could hear the gnashing teeth, but the rain muddled the sounds of the other attacker getting up. He kicked her knee in and she lost control of her staff, with it dissipating away. With her on the ground, the two men turned tail and ran off.
Dang it. She thought.
On wobbly legs, she heard the girl walk up to her. Trying to compose herself, she turned to face the person she saved.
“Are you… alright?” Ayano asked. The girl was soaked from all the rain, her shoulder length black hair sticking to her neck.
“Yes.” was the short reply.
Ayano could hear police sirens off in the distance, signaling the need to leave.
“Stay safe, alright?” Ayano asked before turning.
“Ophelia, it’s time to go.”
“Sure thing! Prepare for transmat.”
As the police cars turned the corner of the street, Ayano was gone.