Emerald Lightning
Disclaimer: I do not own DC comics or My Hero Academia.
Takeshi: Welcome back. It took longer than expected but it's ready for publishing.
Nazo: What's this about DC? Are we using elements from them?
Kei: That will be revealed later. Anyway, this is us taking the story of an alternate world of MHA in a different way. Some concepts are borrowed from TAD, but like a reboot's true purpose it's made to correct the problems of the original.
Takeshi: In this story, Izuku Midoriya gains the powers of electromagnetism while trying to become a hero in the eyes of others through series of events as he attends UA High. Because he doesn't have 14A, his development is different. The full genres are Supernatural, Friendship, Drama, Humor, Romance, Adventure, and a bit of Mystery. Pairings are at the bottom.
Kei: That's it?
Takeshi: Thank you Chaosmagemon for inspiring these stories in the first place.
Chapter 1: Why Did My Dreams Respark?
"I'm sorry, but your son is Quirkless."
Life is not fair. No one in history is born equal. The young Izuku Midoriya has to learn this lesson eventually. But to discover the truth so young is harsh. In a world where everyone has abilities called Quirks, dreams of fantasy became reality. It is possible to become what many could only ink down on paper; superheroes.
At age four every single one of Izuku's companions has unlocked their Quirks, and in amazing detail he sees the blood difference between himself and the other kids. Ever since seeing the greatest hero to have graced the screen, and his life, with his very presence, he's been infatuated with the idea of becoming a hero. More than just to look cool, but because he enjoys the idea of saving others. He could not wait for his Quirk to come out.
But, this is the news he got. In a doctor's office, he sits beside his mother Inko, who can't believe what she's heard either. Izuku stops shaking in his seat as she speaks, "This must be a mistake. Both my husband and myself have Quirks so clearly my son should have either."
"That's the thing; by age four a child manifests either of them," says the Doctor Eggman looking professional. "In some cases there are chances it becomes an evolution or a fusion of the two. But, here's what research has proven; everyone who has gained a Quirk has a missing joint in their toe. Your son has both joints, and so he has become the rare 10 percent that has no Quirk at all."
"No…" His mother is visibly devastated by the news. Izuku hasn't moved an inch, that same dark and sad look in his eyes for the past ten minutes. "This can't be true! Isn't there any way?"
"I'm afraid not. With the two joints in his smallest toe, and the fact that he's five years old, if he hasn't awaken a Quirk by now he never will."
That final piece of news seems to be one of the last few nails needed in his emotional coffin. His mother takes his hand leaving the hospital, slightly shocked by the static electricity he gathered by shaking in his seat earlier.
Once at home, Izuku drags his feet as he walks to his room. He enters his dark castle, fluttered with posters and figures of heroes. Most of them include All Might. He couldn't turn on the lights, not after what he learned. He just slips into bed, that same look of despair in his eyes. Static electricity hits him again, but that still keeps him down.
He couldn't even get it up to leave the bed when his father comes for a visit. "Hisashi!"
"Inko," he says as he enters, hanging his hat up. The adult with rugged green hair and dark blue eyes glances around seeing Izuku's shoes placed away in an uncaring manner. "Did something happen?"
"Izuku, won't be…" He can tell she's hesitant. Being a police detective for years he can tell when someone's having trouble with something. Also as a husband he knows she can lack confidence, something that's rubbed off on their son.
"Go on. Slowly."
"Izuku… he won't be able to gain a Quirk." She looks aside worried about her son. She knows in this society being normal is weird, especially for kids. Everyone will pick fun at him just because of something out of his control. "It's something he's always wanted, and yet-"
"It's fine." She looks up surprised at him. His admitting to Izuku being Quirkless being okay is strange. Granted she'd love her son regardless and is grateful he does, he's being nonchalant about it. Pressing him about why, Hisashi responds, "I don't think it's a good idea for him to be a hero. He's too passive for the career of a hero."
"He's just five years old!"
"I think it's best that he doesn't have any type of power." His cryptic message remains inside her head, causing memories to resurface. As he walks towards their bedroom, Inko looks back where her son is moping.
Hopefully, tomorrow is a better day.
…
At kindergarten the next day, the catatonic Izuku sits on the floor still frozen. Kids walk by him with ignorance. Having heard that he has no Quirk, they voice their honest, hit the nail opinions of how much it sucks to be him.
The kid Katsuki Bakugo stares with a grin at the defenseless Izuku. "Deku… he sucks… Because he's not me!" With this thought in mind, the day goes by with little importance.
Free for the moment, the kids go on an adventure in the nearby tree lines. Really it's just Bakugo and his buddies, with Deku along because he looks up to him. The dead eyed kid walks at the back of the pack.
"Onward!" speaks the leader Bakugo as he guides his flunkies over a fallen tree over a creek. He slips on some moss, and falls into the stream.
The other kids go down to check on him, many asking if he is okay. The blond child reassures them, holding his head. "Kacchan? Are you okay?" asks Izuku, holding a hand out to him worried. "You're not hurt right?"
The injured boy looks up at him, his red eyes noting the honest worry in his. Angered, Katsuki blasts him with an explosion from his palm. "Shut up Deku!" The scarred boy rolls over in the water in pain.
Later that day, upon picking up their children, Inko comes to find her son with a burn on his cheek. She goes to him checking his face. "Izuku! Your face!"
"It's okay mom…" he replies.
Inko brings her son back home. Knowing from the counselors that Bakugo was banned from returning after getting a stern talking to, she still dislikes him for what he's done. Her son has a burn on his face; thank goodness there won't be any mark left over.
Back home, Inko brings her son to the kitchen. "Izuku, I'm sorry that happened to you."
"All I did was ask if he was hurt, and he attacked me…" She hugs her son, eyes calling out a reverse waterfall.
Thinking about it, this is just how his life is gonna be like. Despite the rule of not using Quirks in public, there will be people who will hurt him and he can do nothing about it. This will be more prevalent as a child because kids won't know when to stop. As much as she wants to protect him, she can't be everywhere.
"Oh, you're back." Hisashi comes out of the bathroom when he hears noises, hanging up his phone.
"You're back early?"
"Just on a break." Hisashi sees Izuku in the corner, rubbing his damaged cheek. "Izuku…" He puts on his dad face and looks at the damage. Pulling away the padding on his cheek, he sees nothing by freckles. "Where's the injury?"
"Eh?" Inko goes to their son checking him, and like her husband sees nothing. His cheek is completely clean. "Izuku, you're okay?"
"Yeah, I guess so," he says, though is still reasonably sullen. His parents allow him to move to his room, refined with peace knowing he's okay.
Though inside his room the young five year old comes to a bit of thinking. Being hit by Kacchan today has left him to believe he's weak. It is a lot for a toddler to think about, but this is a real eye opener. Whether he gains a Quirk or not, he would be taken out by any criminal. He needs to get strong, because right now his dreams are dead.
…
Years have passed since this happened. Age 9, Izuku still in denial tries his hardest to awaken whatever powers are inside of him. This led him to working out as much as he could, and each time afterwords he tries and fails to do anything: whether it's breathing fire or moving small objects. All he got was static electricity hitting him the next morning. He never saw Kacchan after that either, and he never expressed his desire to be a hero to his parents or anyone since.
Approaching his tenth birthday in two months, Izuku lays in his bedroom looking at a figure of All Might in his hand. His body is slightly more fit than a little kid should, but that's all a testament to his resolve.
Mid thought, Hisashi enters Izuku's room and sits next to him, without knocking. "Dad?"
"Hey. Ready to cease the day?"
"Y-Yeah…" He weakly smiles looking at his toy.
"You still wish to be a hero, don't you?" Izuku drops his head, leaving his desire unconfirmed. His father sighs placing a hand on his shoulder. "Izuku, I think it's okay if you chose another career. There is nothing wrong with being a cop."
"Dad…"
"If you want to save lives, it's okay. I respect that desire." He rubs his shoulder proudly. "It's what made me want to be a police detective. I want to save people, and protect their everyday lives that gets ruined by villains and careless criminals."
Izuku knows this. He respects his dad and his resolve to be a police officer, and that is honestly why he secretly wants to be a hero. He wants so much to be like him, and knowing that he doesn't have a Quirk hurts. He wouldn't tell him that though; if there's one thing he wants to avoid is enforcing the decision to be a cop. "I don't want to be a hero anymore. It's stupid anyway, a Quirkless hero trying to make a difference."
Hisashi makes a light nod to the side. "You don't have to be a hero though."
"Dad, even if I wanted to be a cop, I don't have a Quirk. I'd be in just as much danger as a hero if I became a cop."
"We're not allowed to use our Quirks in public either so it won't matter. Infact for a time, all police officers didn't have Quirks." He makes a groaning sound before Hisashi continues. "Whatever you decide, we'll support you. I mean, I bet if you had a Quirk you would be a much more capable hero than even All Might."
This cheers him up. Izuku moves in and hugs him. Their moment is cut off when Hisashi gets a call on his radio hand mic. Knowing that he's needed, he gets up from the bed to go to work. "Bye dad! Be careful out there!"
"I'll be fine." He brushes his hair back and goes off.
Taking the time to listen to his father's advice, Izuku looks over video files on the internet for police in action. Professional heroes are sanctioned by the government and giving the duty of quelling villains who do not care for the rules when the police can't handle it. With heroes around most of the cops are reserved for collecting the captured criminals, undercover work, and raids.
Even for a cop his father stands out as an exceptional officer, one of the top detectives at the moment. Hisashi was one of the few to join the police work who didn't dislike heroes of his generation. He is pretty well respected, being able to apprehend villains with the help of other cops.
"Maybe being a cop wouldn't be so bad." He sighs before going outside, putting aside his thoughts for becoming a cop or a hero to focus on getting a Quirk first. Knowing that he doesn't have one, he gave up being a hero temporarily.
Although, even as he ventures towards the Dagobah Beach himself he worries if this will indeed be pointless. Can he gain enough physical strength to overcome his lack of a Quirk? 'We'll have to see.'
Ever since elementary school closed out for winter break he has been working hard training his body physically. He changes venues to the beach when he finds less people around. Since the place is cluttered with scraps, trash and broken electronics no one else would be there. It's a great place to be alone and get in shape; then again if he could he would clean this place up a little bit. What's a nine year old to do?
Upon making it to the beach Izuku prepares to do some physical training by warming up. As he does, his electrolytes burn out slower than usual. This time he has more energy than usual. Maybe it has something to do with the pasta he had last night.
'Let's go the distance this time!' Izuku begins running now, brushing by a broken down television set. When he hits it, a noise goes off. He takes a glance back and sees the static sound pouring out. "Huh?"
His eyes scan the back of the idiot box for whatever it's plugged into, only to find there's no cord at all. 'It's not plugged in?' Frightened by this knowledge, he backs up into a microwave, contact with it turning it on. The tv turns off. "What's going on?!"
He stretches his hand out and touches the television, and it turns on again. Putting two and two together, he equals four with this realization. "Whoa… I'm like a fusebox!" An even bigger realization hits; he finally has a Quirk!
"Yes! Whoo hoo!" He jumps up in the air happily, kicking his feet up and falling over on his head. Next thing is for sure, understanding the core concept of what he can do.
To start, Izuku raises his hand to draw out his power. After a few seconds of concentration, instead of trying to breath fire or push stuff, he's pulling out some form of green electricity. He fires it out, and a small electric stream hits a rusted pipe. It hits and knocks the thing into a pile. "So my power really is electrokinesis." He then raises his hands to collect more power from within, and fires a huge bolt to destroy the base of a leaning tower by accident.
This causes it to tilt. The assortment of scrap metal and tv would fall on him, ending his life. He instinctively raises his hand for protection, releasing another shock. This time instead of damaging the metal, it levitates. Stuck in place like a time stop, the young boy becomes fascinated with this. "Huh…" He fires again, releasing a single stream that hits the torn off door of a car, and causes it to float.
"So it's also telekinetic? No, that doesn't make sense. Magnetism?" He pulls back, causing the door to come towards him. "WHOA!" He dodges, and the door hits a pile. Like a grenade going off, scrap metal hits him.
Ordinarily, this would cue the waterworks. But he's so amazed by his power that he can put the pain on the side. "Electromagnetic manipulation; this is so cool!" He's slightly upset knowing that he doesn't have a similar strength Quirk like All Might's, but this is pretty cool. He can think of plenty of possibilities to fully utilize his power.
After concentrating pulling the metal on his face off he rushes on home to give the good news, reaching within an hour as he misses the first train. Once he gets to his humble abode, he sees police cars piled up outside. "Huh. Maybe dad's back!"
Entering inside, Izuku sees his mom talking to police detective Naomasa Tsukauchi. He's a tall man dressed in a tan overcoat with a matching hat. Izuku knows it's him because he's met him before, him being Hisashi's junior. He finishes saying something, and his mom drops down to her knees.
Izuku comes up asking, "What's wrong? Mom, are you okay?" Inko lies against the wall, eyes teary. "Tsukauchi-san?"
"Izuku." Tsukauchi takes a knee, the sigh he gives evident of a heavy heart. "I'm sorry son, but your father has been killed in the line of duty."
The shocked expression moves to his face now, Inko going over to hug her son. Knowing he needs some context, Tsukauchi continues. "He was with his partner Giman Mitsuhide undercover at the Shinnosuke Bank. But before the heroes could arrive, one of the gunmen shot him as he protected a little girl."
Izuku comes out of his catatonic state in denial. "No! He can't be gone! You're lying!" He runs up to Tsukauchi punching his abdomen. It doesn't hurt, but it doesn't matter. Nothing feels worse for him than to have to say this, and listen to his crying.
Inko pulls him away, holding her son close. He's all she has now. She doesn't even mind the mild shock she suddenly received. Her son is more important to her at the moment.
Tsukauchi, knowing they need some time alone, leaves the home. He places a hand on the bridge of his nose, grieving in his own thoughts. 'If only I was there, this could have been avoided…'
"Officer Tsukauchi," speaks a feline officer. He's actually a cat woman of lite yellow/tan fur and brown eyesl; this of course is Shiba. He approaches Tsukauchi handing him some notes he wrote down. "We've identified the shooter and his partner. They've been taken in and are being processed."
"Good." Tsukauchi looks over the notes. Taking in a slow, deep breath, he exhales and moves forward.
...
With their time of grief ending, the funeral is planned out and processed days after Hisashi's death. A police style funeral, many a good men and women come by to give their thanks to Midoriya's family.
At the end, Inko and Izuku kneel before the fallen officer's tombstone, praying for him. In kanji it reads, "Here lies Midoriya Hisashi: an amazing officer, a respected friend, a devoted husband, and a loving father. May his spirit find peace in the afterlife."
"Hisashi, may you rest with the knowledge that the man who murdered you will never wield a gun again." Inko removes her hands after prayer to look to her son. She notices he stiffened up when he heard the word gun. "Izuku, let's go."
She sits up, and prepares to leave. The thin widow looks back to see her son giving his words. "Dad, I'm going to miss you so much…" Izuku tries to wipe away his tears, but more continue to pile up on his bottom lids. "I wanted you to see my power, and even then I didn't know what I could do. I always looked up to you for what you did. I want to be like you, and protect the every day lives of others." Sparks form by his fingertips as he clenches his fists. A renewed resolve returns to him before he touches the stone.
As he walks away with his mother, in his heart Izuku understands the seriousness of the world he would embark into: no one is born equal, and you can't expect to reach those same privileges. But what he understands more than anything from his father and his death is that everyone deserves the same dignities. Everyone has their own lives to live, and no one should ruin them for whatever reason. He wants to protect those dignities like Hisashi, and this is the start of that path. 'From here on, I will become the greatest hero in the world, and punish anyone criminal I come across!'
Kei: So let's get this out of the way; the pairing is Izuku x Ochako and/or Nejire - because we haven't decided whether to keep both at the end or have him end up with just one - Yaoyorozu x Todoroki, and maybe Toshinori x Inko. You know, if he lives that long. There was also an idea for Katsuki x Shiozaki, but we couldn't get that far in the story. We may or may not add another girl to Izuku's pairing, but we'll think on that later.
Takeshi: Next chapter we'll have the Entrance Exams. Since this story has a different origin, Izuku will be inspired by a different hero.
Kei: And unfortunately, because we want to be better we have not a choice but to pander to you rabbits. Since Oriks Gaming is looking at us now we can't be spiteful apparently.
Takeshi: Then stop talking about it.