21 Boot Camp (2)

I've decided to wait on jumping to another sight as:

Royal Road is too confusing and won't let me publish anything

The same for AO3 and Fan-fic.net.

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{5:30 AM: Day Two of the Training Camp}

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The students of Class 1-A yawned as they all stood in a line. I nodded my head as I saw that they were all doing their best to stay awake, even after they all got up at 5:00 AM. We gave them 30 minutes of reprieve before the training from hell began. Shame that Class 1-B wasn't here, yet.

Aizawa stood next to me as the students waited for their orders. Finally, Aizawa broke the silence that was cast over us.

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"Today, we begin a rigorous round of reinforcement training," Aizawa stated as he pulled a ball out of his pocket and his phone. "This trip's mission statement is to strengthen everyones' quirks as a whole, thereby allowing everyone to achieve their temporary licenses." He said as he looked down the line of students. "This is preparation to stand up to and against live-action hostility and aggression from your enemy."

"Basically," I barked, causing a few to jump, "Welcome to hell. Let's see where you stand."

"Bakugo," Aizawa spoke up," Try throwing this."

"Is this a repeat of the physical exam?" Bakugo asked. "Whatever."

"705.2 meters," I stated to the students, "That was your score the first time. Try seeing how far you'll go this time."

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The students began to mutter, trying to guess how far Bakugo would get. I just sighed, no matter how far he got, he'll still be subjected to one hell of a training course. As Bakugo stepped away from the line, he got cheers and support from a few students.

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"Hup and a-" Bakugo said before launching the ball skyward. "DROP DEAD!"

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The students and I deadpanned at his shout. But a few seconds later, we heard a beeping from Aizawa's phone. The students were in anticipation as to what he scored. With a smirk that sent chills down the back of the students' spines, Aizawa showed the score.

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"709.6 meters," He stated as he showed them the screen; they were in shock at how it didn't go farther than Bakugo's first throw. "In three months, you all have gained a vast amount of experience, and of course, you have certainly grown."

"Your experiences and growth have been slim at best!" I shouted as I kicked Bakugo back into the line. "Today, we're going to make you wish they weren't! Starting today, we'll be focusing on upgrading your quirks."

"We will be pushing you beyond your limits," Aizawa smiled creepily, "So try not to kick the bucket on us."

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x-x-x-x-x

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"What fresh hell is this!?" Class 1-B shouted as they watched Class 1-A go through their torturous training.

"Simple, boot camp," I shouted at Class 1-B, "You're late," I said looking at Vald King. "They were supposed to be here at the same time as class A."

"I thought I let them sleep in for the first day," He defended himself. "Before we break them down and build them back up again."

"They had to run half the distance class A had to," I told him, surprising class B. "They didn't even have to fight like they did. They get no rest until they get caught up."

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Class 1-B gulped when I said that. After that, the full team of the Pussycats introduced themselves. With the full team's help, class B's training got underway. After they got separated by their type of quirks, I got to work with my student, Momo.

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"Momo!" I shouted above the screams of the tortured, "Front and center!"

"Yes, sir!" She shouted back after she swallowed a hunk of cake as she produced complex shapes with her quirk.

"Now then," I said once she was in front of me. "Go get your rabbit and report back to me."

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She looked confused for a moment before she scampered off to go grab her pet. Around two minutes later, Momo returned cage in hand. Her rabbit, a simple Japanese hare with dark brown coloration, looked around curiously. The screams are not really scaring the rabbit.

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"Follow me," I ordered as I walked away from the training grounds.

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Momo did as she was told and followed me. We walked until we came across a small stream. As I stopped, she did as well. I turned towards her and pulled a [Hunting Knife] and a [.45 Auto Pistol] out of my [Pip-boy].

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"Have you been following the instructions?" I asked.

"Yes sir," Momo answered, "I've been personally taking care of Snuffles by myself."

"How long have you had him?"

"About three weeks now."

"Good, good," I said as I stared at her. "Pick one," I demanded as I held out my hands.

"Uhh..." Momo hesitated for a second before gently grabbing the pistol. "This, I suppose."

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I nodded my head before stowing away the knife. For the next ten minutes, I taught her how to properly maintain the firearm. Once she had sufficient knowledge of how I taught her how to shoot. The proper stance, how to aim, and how to fire it. Gunshots echoed throughout the forest as she familiarized herself with the gun. After she shot a decent amount of times, I stopped her.

Taking the gun away from her, I pulled the magazine out. I removed all the bullets except for one. And I then handed it back to her.

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"I have one task left for you before we can move on to the next part of your training," I told Momo as she took the gun.

"What is it?" She asked.

"Shoot Snuffles," I ordered.

"What?!" She screamed.

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x-x-x-x-x

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"Where did Yaoyorozu and Six go?" Aizawa asked Ragdoll.

"Let me check!" Ragdoll said before she used her quirk. "They're over to the west, about a hundred meters out."

"Why would they be out that way?" Aizawa asked himself, then Tiger came over to them as the students he was training were doing weird stretches, and the rest were taking a minute break.

"I saw the girl run off before coming back with that rabbit of hers," Tiger spoke up. "After she returned, I watched the two walk off."

"Why would he-" Aizawa stopped as he remembered something from his history lessons. "He wouldn't," He said as he went wide-eyed.

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Just then, a singular gunshot rang out.

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"Shit," Aizawa cursed and looked towards the gunshot, "He did."

"What did he do?" Tiger asked as anger seeped into his voice.

"Both of them are still there, I haven't lost them," Ragdoll stated as she used her quirk to check up on Six and Momo.

"During the pre-quirk era, there was a conflict that trained their soldiers to raise and care for an animal. The animal either being a rabbit or a chicken most of the time," Aizawa explained as he closed his eyes. "From the beginning of their training to the end, the animal was to be raised as if they were family. At the end of their training, they were given a choice between a knife and a gun. Once they picked one, they were given an order. Murder the animal they raised with what they picked."

"That's just cruel," the two said, unaware that the students and the other two Pussycats were listening.

"It was a different time," Aizawa said. "A time where Heroes were myths, legends or storybook characters."

"And he had her do that?!" Tiger shouted.

"How horrible..." Ragdoll spoke.

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The three descended into silence. Not long afterward, Momo came running out of the forest with tears in her eyes. When Aizawa asked her what was wrong, she wouldn't speak. Six walked out about five minutes later with an empty cage under his arm.

Tiger looked as if he wanted to kill Six for what he had done. But Six didn't care and walked away.

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x-x-x-x-x

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I sighed as I walked passed all the looks and glares.

I did what I was requested to do.

I don't regret it.

At least it was better than my first time taking a life. At that, I can remember.

As I walked towards where Momo sat crying with her back against a tree, Tiger stepped into my path. His face looked like it wanted to break every bone in my body.

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"Haven't you done enough already?" Tiger demanded as he stopped me.

"I'm just doing my job," I answered and tried to move around him, but he stopped me again. "Look, I was doing just what I was asked to. If you have a problem with it, suck it up and deal with it."

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Tiger looked furious. I saw him tense his muscles in preparation to throw a punch. But before he could, Mandalay cut in front of him. I wasn't one to understand, but they shared a look that I'm guessing spoke a lot. That or Mandalay used her quirk to talk to him. All I know was that Tiger stepped down and walked away.

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"Sorry about that," She said before taking off towards where Tiger was shouting at several students who had stopped their training.

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I'm guessing that Tiger had some sort of tragedy that made him have a soft spot. That or he was just a shit hero. Times are changing rapidly. He'll either need to buck up and deal with what's to come or get out of the way. I knew it, the staff at UA knew it, and the HPSC knew it.

Once I got to Momo, she didn't see me and continued to cry. As I looked down at her, I couldn't help but get flashbacks to the Mojave. Of the children that lost their parents to the war or their sense of self due to the Legion's mind rape. I sighed as I took off my helmet and kneeled down in front of her.

I reached out and gently placed a hand on Momo's head. She was startled and looked up. She saw my eyes and slowly the tears stopped falling. I rubbed her head a bit then stood up. I wasn't that great with consoling kids, that was Veronica and Rex's kind of thing. They did it the most, I, however, was always a grump according to them.

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"Trust me, this was better than what I had to do," I told her sincerely, removing my hand from her head.

"Will... will it ever get easier?" Momo sniffled and asked.

"It never does," I answered. "But at one point, it all starts to blend together."

"I don't like it..." She sniffled again.

"No one sane ever does," I told her, "But do you want to know the lesson I wanted to teach you?"

"What is it?" Momo asked, her eyes showing curiosity.

"All life is a grace from God," I started, remembering a time when I was lost. "But, there are times when you have no other choice but to take a life. Whether it was for the good or the bad, we don't know for sure. I'm trying to teach you to understand that."

"I understand, I think," Momo spoke up after a bit of thought. "But I suppose that my first time taking a life is an animal rather than a person."

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We laughed a bit as she seemed to cheer up. Once we stopped, I slipped my helmet back on. As I stood, I offered a hand to Momo and helped her stand.

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"Still though," Momo said as she let go of my hand, "I think you could have been a little nicer with the way you ordered me."

"I don't regret it," I told her as I walked away. "Now, get back to training," I ordered her, this time a little bit lighter than I would usually.

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Once she ran off, Aizawa walked over. I glanced at him, knowing what we wanted to talk about. I was expecting it ever since I got back.

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"Let me guess, you're disappointed in me," I said once he was in earshot.

"Surprisingly, I'm not," He answered which surprised me a bit. "You handled that well."

"Thanks," I spoke as I began to look through my [Pip-boy].

"Did you at least bury the rabbit?" He asked as I pulled out a [Shovel], intending on using it to knock some kids around.

"I'm not a monster," I said as I walked away. "Plus, she missed. So, don't tell her that, okay?"

"How?" He asked curiously.

"She closed her eyes when she fired." I answered, "The kick knocked her aim off. She ran before I could say anything."

"And the rabbit?" He asked.

"Scampered away."

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Give me your power stones! Give me the precious! GIVE THEM TOO ME!!!