DISCLAIMER: I do not own My Hero Academia in any shape or form. This will be true for the chapters to come as well. Beware of curse words and traumatic events occurring in this story.

This is my first ever fanfic. Well, this is the first time I'm actually trying to write a story. If my style seems out of place, it could be because I still haven't discovered mine yet. Hopefully it will improve over time.

Anyway, this is a story set in an Alternate Universe where the bio-luminescent baby was never born. As such, the Quirk society was never brought out into the public. Yet, there are a handful of people with Quirks, or "Powers" in this universe, playing hero by themselves.

Anyway, don't hesitate to leave a review, even though this is only the first chapter. Let me know if there's anything you guys want to see in the story moving forward, I might be able to accommodate it. Also, feedback is valuable, positive or constructive. Enjoy!

Chapter 1: A Quirk-free World

Fantasy isn't real.

This was the harsh truth that young Izuku Midoriya had learned.

"Kacchan, please stop!" pleaded young Izuku, 4 years old.

"Keep quiet, Deku!" scolded Katsuki Bakugo, pumping his fists for the next strike on the helpless kid.

"S-Stop calling me that…"

"Why should I? It's true isn't it? You're useless, a Deku! That name is made for you!"

Izuku looked back at his classmate whom he was protecting, battered and bruised on the ground, saying, "Please… don't… do this…"

He looked back at Bakugo, who despite being his same age, looked so scary. Izuku hesitantly raised his hands to protect his freckled face.

"I-I won't l-l-let you h-hurt him…"

"Heh, I-I-I w-w-won't l-l-let y-y-y-you!", Bakugo mocked. "Heroes don't stutter, you Deku," he said right before landing another right hook on his face.

Heroes don't stutter. How true that was.

Izuku loved comics. Especially his ultimate role model, Mightfist. A fictional hero so powerful that he could change the weather with a single punch. He was there to protect the world whenever it needed help. He always stood tall in his bunny-like blonde hair with a grand smile on his face, despite any situation. Izuku wanted to be just like that; he wanted to save people with a smile.

And yet, he stuttered. Every time.

Izuku entered his final year of middle school. His social anxiety won him no friends. Not even his teachers respected him. They even blatantly ignored any cry for help he sent.

Well, obviously. Katsuki Bakugo, the school idol, hates him. Who would be friends with him then?'

Bakugo was the perfect student. He was from a prestigious family. He excelled in his academics. Respect tailed behind him and no one would dare to turn against him. Except this green-haired kid, whom he had the curse of knowing since childhood.

Final year of middle school was exciting for many reasons. Out of all that, one of the most exciting reasons were-

"High School Applications!"

The students in the class cheered in excitement, as the teacher made his over-dramatic flourish.

As the forms for recommended high schools were being handed out, there was incessant chattering among the students.

"Oh, where do you-"

"-is amaz-"

"-Bakugo, you're applying to UA, right?"

Everyone turned to the ash blonde boy, captivated by what they heard.

UA. Currently the top high school in Japan. Aside from its proficiency in its academics, the staff valued student development, considering its incredibly popular sports and culture festivals every year. This allowed it to be set apart from every other elite school out there. For this very reason too, UA had an acceptance rate of less than 60%. Getting in with a scholarship had a 10% chance. Not to mention it's quite hefty in terms of fees. No one from their school had managed to get in. Yet.

"Of course I'm going into UA! I'm better than all you extras after all!" Bakugo screamed.

Even if the class was offended, they just agreed.

"Hey, Midoriya's also applying there, right?"

Izuku immediately shielded his head.

Oh no, Kacchan's gonna kill me! Why did I have to write that down… why is Kacchan going there too-

"DEKUUUU!"

Bakugo banged his fist on Midoriya's table, forcing him to jerk back.

"The hell am I hearing, Deku? You're going into UA? Like HELL you are!"

Shoving the table aside, Bakugo grabbed Izuku's throat and pushed him back to the wall.

"I'm gonna be the first person from this school to get into UA. The only person. You get that you shitty Deku?!"

Bakugo banged Izuku's head on the wall and dropped him.

"Hey Bakugo, look what we found!"

Bakugo turned back to see a couple of extras, handing him a fresh comic book.

"We just pulled it from shitty Deku's bag!"

Grinning, Bakugo takes it and looks at the cover.

"Mightfist, huh? You still hold on to that guy?"

Bringing the comic to his face, he tore it into shreds.

"You're 14. Grow the fuck up."

Izuku was devastated, seeing the small pieces of his comic fluttering around him.

"Listen up, Deku. It's obvious that you're not gonna be worth anything anytime soon. If you wanna be better, pray that you won't be a stupid stuttering mess in your next life and take a swan dive off the roof."

At that moment the bell rang, marking the end of the school day. "Let's get out of here," said Katsuki.

The teacher had already left the class by then, after seeing the commotion happening. So, everyone else left, leaving Izuku alone on the floor in tears.

"I-I just b-bought that… after s-saving so m-much…"

Frustrated, Izuku gathered up the pieces fluttering around, and threw them in the trash. Mightfist had always been his inspiration. He wanted to do things just like him. Yet, so many things stopped him.

His own lack of belief in himself.

Other people always looking down on him.

Finally, the fact that Mightfist isn't even real.

He's right. Should I do it?

Izuku sighed, forcing out the stupid thoughts in his head, gathered up his bag and left the school.

"Mom, I'm home!"

Izuku walked in, putting his bag on the couch. The TV was broadcasting the news about another building that was unusually demolished, killing about 20, and injuring about 100.

"Izuku! How was school?"

"Just fine."

"You got that new comic today, right?"

"Uhh, yeah, I did… but…"

"Please don't tell me you lost it again?"

Izuku sighed, knowing there was no way to tell the truth. He sure as hell could not tell what Kacchan did.

"I'm sorry. I'll be more careful next time."

His mother looked at him, concern in her eyes. "Are you alright?" she asked.

"Wha-, uh, yeah! I-I'm fine. Just fine…"

"You know you can talk to me, right baby?"

"I know, M-Mom."

Seeing his silence hurt Inko Midoriya. She knew there was something going on with her son. She tried to get it out of him before, but he always stayed quiet.

"Tell you what." Inko brought out some money. "Here you go. For a new book."

Izuku looked at his mother, shocked.

"Mom, I'm fine. I lost it; I'll get it aga-"

"Izuku, I know you." Inko retorted. "You won't be in any peace of mind unless you finish that book."

"Here, take it." she insisted, pushing the money into his hands. "Now go on! Day's not going to last forever!"

Izuku beamed at his mother and skipped out of his house, missing his mother's pitiful look from behind him.

"Izuku, please be better someday…"

It was dark and the only thing that could be heard were a mere handful of people and the chirping of birds.

Izuku was running back, having gotten his new comic. Thankfully, they had one edition left, although the guy at the reception was confused as to why this kid had bought the volume a second time.

It was already dark, so Izuku was late. He had to get home fast. Deciding that a little shortcut through an alleyway wouldn't hurt anyone, Izuku deviated from his normal path. Just as he was about to exit, he dashed headfirst into someone right around the corner.

Suffering the recoil from the dash, he rubbed his head while sitting on his ass and looked at whom he hit.

"K-Kacchan?!"

"Heh. Shitty Deku." Bakugo stood up, an evil sneer reaching his eyes, his two friends ganging up behind him. "What was that, some form of revenge for your stupid Mightfist trash?"

"N-No! W-Why would I?" Izuku stammered, staggering back as he stayed on the ground. This was going to end badly. All he hoped was that he would be too bruised, and his other new comic wouldn't be torn either.

"You know, Deku? No one's here to watch you now. So, it's time for you to di-"

"Oh? We didn't expect company."

Izuku looked behind him and saw three hooded figures. The one in the middle step up into the light, revealing an ash blonde head with a mad smile.

"All we wanted was to bring down another tower, but this could be a good appetizer. Mind if we join in the killing?"

Izuku heard faint scurrying behind him.

"Oy, Bakugo, let's go!"

He turned around, seeing that the other three fled. He turned back to the even more sinister trio.

"Oh? They ran? How sad. Fewer people to kill. And now all we've got is this little twig. You two can handle him."

The one on the right somehow pulled a sword out through his knuckles. The one on the right revealed claws on his fingertips.

Izuku was still sitting there. He couldn't move. He couldn't get up. He was a sitting duck.

How… how are they doing that? That's not human!

The two came running forward-

"I AM HERE!" shouted a voice as a buff man in a white shirt and khaki pants jumped out of nowhere in front of the two. He punched both in the gut at the same time, making them fly back into the walls on the sides.

Izuku looked at the two culprits, sticking into the walls through the dent they made on impact. That's impossible. No one is that strong. The only person who could do that is…

The hero looked back, revealing his bunny like blond hair and overall American appearance. He was flashing a smile that could be recorded for generations, one that the young boy had seen in a hundred different comics. "Are you okay, kid?"

"M-Mightfist?"

"No, sadly," replied the hero. "I am the hero Mightfist is based on! I am All Might!"

All Might charged at the man in the center, who suddenly started to grow under his cloak.

"Colorado Smash!"

All Might drove a massive fist into the hooded man, but he only moved back a couple inches.

"What?" the super strong hero remarked.

The hooded man's height was equal to All Might's at this point. Suddenly, his hood tore apart, revealing layers upon layers of muscle tissue growing on top of his body.

"Muscular. I had a feeling it was you."

"All Might. It's a good day to kill you."

Screaming, Muscular charged forward, somehow growing even more muscle fibers on his arm. He directed a punch at All Might, who expertly dodged and struck him in the face. A signature evasive strike that Mightfist always used.

Muscular staggered back to the wall and went down on his knees.

Looking at him with anger, All Might asked, "You're the one who destroyed all those buildings, yes?"

"So what? They're all just twigs anyway. It was fun."

Izuku could see All Might pulling something from his pocket. His phone? Did he… just dial an emergency call?

"Those were people you killed. A hundred injured, 20 killed, just yesterday. Doesn't that strike anything inside you?"

"Only 20 killed? And 100 injured? What a shame. I'll make sure everyone dies next time.

All Might grunted, as Muscular stood up once again, looking at him.

"You're a little strong, All Might. BUT NOT STRONG ENOUGH!"

They charged at each other. Muscular aimed to punch All Might, but All Might dodged again and grabbed his other arm.

"New Hampshire Kick!"

The muscles in All Might's legs grew even further, shooting him up as he kicked, bringing Muscular along.

Izuku scrambled up, ignoring all the rubble formed from the kick on the now broken ground scraping his hands. He could still see the two muscled fighters soaring in the sky.

Keeping the trajectory in his mind, he dropped his backpack and ran. He had to see what happened.

Something about that entire encounter seemed off. All Might looked strong, but Muscular was clearly stronger by somehow being able to expand his muscle fibers like that. All Might's first punch also had pretty much no impact. What Muscular said also bothered him.

He was afraid. Afraid that All Might was going to die. And maybe that's why he ran.

He kept running and running until he reached the former Dagobah Beach, now commonly known as Trash Dump Isle. The two landed somewhere in the middle, causing a massive amount of sand to be displaced into the air.

Ignoring the shock of the few people around him, Izuku ran into the beach, weaving through the masses of trash, looking for the two assailants. "Where are they?" Izuku mumbled as he frantically sprinted around the whole beach.

He turned around a corner outlined by a fridge and saw something he only half expected.

The demonic Muscular standing over a deflated form of Izuku's idol Mightfist, known in the real world as All Might.

"Your power is weak, All Might. You're still contained by your body."

Muscular punched him in the face, putting his body weight behind it. All Might spat out blood.

"And now, the Peacekeeper's blood will be on my hands."

Izuku noticed All Might's face, not smiling anymore. His cheeks were almost entirely sunken, trembling. He looked smaller, so much smaller. Izuku had been in that place before; Kacchan got him there enough times. He knew how it felt to be small, to be defeated.

He looked at Muscular, who had his left hand raised to deliver his final blow.

If I don't do anything here, All Might will die.

Suddenly, Izuku's legs began to move. He couldn't control them anymore despite any fear that he felt for the towering presence in front of him. He ran up to Muscular in record time, his light footsteps on sand not letting him know of his presence.

Suddenly, Izuku could feel something breaking within him. A spark. Growing. Getting stronger. He pulled power from it and channeled it into a jump.

He surprised himself by how high he went. Soaring up 15 feet high in the sky, he began to fall on Muscular. At that moment, he looked at All Might once again.

Despite his now sunken face, he was smiling again. His eyes were bright.

Green lightning crackled across Izuku's arm as he held it cocked back for a punch as he fell.

Just as he reached Muscular's neck, he remembered something from his Mightfist comics.

"Whenever I feel like I can't win, I just get up on my feet, and I scream one word inside my heart. That word is…"

"SMAAAASSSSHH!"

Izuku hit Muscular right below his ear. Muscular was pushed back so quickly that he created a sonic boom, forming a crater where they stood. He went out flying into a car. He cleanly ripped through and went even further to rip through something else. Muscular finally landed about 100 meters away, smashing straight through rusty metal, rotten wood and garbage. His muscle fibers were entirely torn apart. He was bleeding and unconscious.

"Kid." All Might mumbled, staggering from the recoil of the sonic boom. "What the hell was that strength?"

He looked back and saw Young Izuku standing there on top of the crater he formed in the sand, panting heavily with his body drenched in sweat, his right arm purple from how broken it was.

As he collapsed, All Might mustered up his muscle form and dashed forward to catch him. When he was in his arms, All Might let his enhanced muscles go, returning to his original skinny form.

"That was the most heroic thing I have ever witnessed."

Izuku opened his heavy eyes. There was a man slapping his face.

"Wake up, kid. Wake up, kid. Wake up, ki-"

"All Might, the more you do that, the more you'll annoy him." said a much older female voice.

"I know, Recovery Girl, but I need to thank him."

"Well tell him now. He's awake."

Looking back, the now skinny man saw Izuku's eyes open.

"Mightf-fist? Is that you…?"

Recovery Girl sniggered behind him. The skinny man replied, "No, kid. Just simple All Might." He started rubbing the back of his head. "Thank you for the help back there. You saved my life."

Huh? Oh… Wait…

"Um, Mightf-All Might? What's going on? There was a guy who could make muscles on top of his arms! Someone pulled out a sword like Wolverine?! How… how is any of that possible?"

Sniggering, All Might replied, "That's not all, kid. Look behind you."

Izuku sat up leaning on his left arm since his right was in a cast. Looking behind, he saw a series of Muscular shaped holes formed in random pieces of the garbage around him. There were about 10 or 15 things that were cleanly sheared through, and a massive dent on the truck in the end.

"You did that, kid. With a single punch."

Looking at the bunny man, Izuku asked with a shaken voice "W-What? B-But how?"

He heard a sigh from the granny, "Listen, I'm going out of here. I'll give you his results tomorrow." She walked away grumbling about sanitation and tetanus.

"I'm guessing you didn't need help?" another strange voice said.

Izuku looked past his plastered hand to see a disheveled man wearing a bandage-like scarf.

"No. Thank you for showing up though."

"Save it, and don't repeat this. If you call for backup, you wait for it first. Remember that." The dark haired man walked away as well, grumbling about coffee.

"What's your name, kid?" All Might asked, catching Young Midoriya's attention.

"I-Izuku Midoriya."

"Well, Young Midoriya." All Might asked. "I would like to make you an offer. Would you like to be a hero?"

"A… hero?" Izuku asked, clearly taken back. "What do you mean? Superheroes actually exist? Well, it's not surprising considering that there are potentially people with superpowers out there. Naturally, some people with kind hearts would choose to fight for what they believe in… mutter mutter mutter…"

"Yes, kid!" All Might interrupted. "They're very real. And very confidential in their work too, unless the world should find out about our powers."

Remembering everything he witnessed, what he did, Izuku could only nod at the idea of superpowers.

Pondering over whether he was worthy of the title of hero, he remembered everyone he tried to save before. All those failures mocking him, telling him he was worth nothing.

"All Might, I-I can't." Izuku said, tears forming in his eyes at the prospect of turning away his dream. "I-I can't save anyone. I'm t-too weak. I'd b-be a t-terrible hero. I mean, t-there's not a whole l-lot t-that s-someone like m-me can d-do. I'm just some f-f-fanboy who's s-stuck in h-h-his head way t-too often… mutter… even if I have a s-s-superpower… I'm s-still a Deku… mutter…"

"NONSENSE!"

The green-haired boy looked up to see the super skinny man towering over him.

"Listen up close, kid. You saved me just a moment ago, right?"

The young boy was shocked to hear that, the tears in his eyes growing even bigger. He was right. Izuku saved someone. For the first time in his life, Izuku felt a little bit like his idol.

"You ran all the way here too. You ran up to strike Muscular. You see, every hero has one defining moment: when their legs just start moving, despite immense danger. Say whatever you want, kid. You are clearly capable of being a hero."

Izuku let his tears out then. That was the one thing he wanted to hear his whole life. His mother's sad smiles while Izuku played hero as a kid, believing that her son's dreams would be crushed. Kacchan's imprudent face sneering over his. After all that, this was the first time that this young kid had heard that he could be what he wanted to be. And so, he cried for everything he had never had, but now found.

"W-We're here, kid." Buff All Might set down Izuku in front of his house. Izuku was still confused as to how he could just switch between his buff and skinny forms but couldn't find it in him to ask.

"I want you to meet me tomorrow at the beach. The same spot."

"Alright, Mightf-All Might!" Izuku responded enthusiastically, earning a chuckle from the still buff bunny-man.

"Oh, and there's this." All Might took off Izuku's bag from his shoulder. "I found this in the alleyway as we were taking care of those other two."

Izuku eagerly took his bag back but noticed All Might thumbing through a particular multi-colored book.

"Horikoshi-sama has done really well with these comics. Although, I still don't like the character's name. Stop using your 'fists' so much and give it your 'All' instead, don't you think?" he said, laughing at his own pun.

"All Might, you're technically Mightfist, right?" Izuku asked. "So, could you… maybe… give me your autograph?"

"…What?"

"You know… an autograph." He pulled out a marker from inside his bag and offered it to the big man despite being unable to look him in the eyes. "I-It would r-really m-mean a l-lot…"

Hesitantly, All Might accepted the marker and opened the comic. He took a second, but then scribbled something.

Returning the pen and the comic, he said, "Your cast can be taken off tomorrow morning. Be thankful for Recovery Girl's power. Remember our meeting tomorrow, Young Midoriya. As soon as your school ends, be at the beach."

"I will, All Might! Goodbye!"

Waving his hand, Izuku entered his house.

His mother freaked out over him being so late and the cast he was wearing. Following All Might's advice, Izuku said that he was in a car accident, and although it wasn't bad enough to ask her to report there or even cost anything, they did ask him to wear the cast for the night. Inko surprisingly accepted it and hugged her son, fearing that she almost lost him. Soon enough, Izuku walked back to his room, feeling incredibly tired after the fight, the running and the healing.

Feeling curious despite his heavy eyes, he opened his comic and read the autograph that he got.

Thank you for being my first fan.

-All Might

Izuku teared up a little, realizing how painful it must have been for him to hear that.

A world where you can only be a hero in hiding. No one knows who you are or what you've done for them. Yet, you keep moving on. You keep saving people. You are still a hero, despite people not knowing you.

For a hero like that to get a fan?

…

Fantasy isn't real. Tragedy is. What happened that day was a clear sign of that.

Izuku Midoriya decided that tragedy was far more important than fantasy. And for that, he will become a hero. Then maybe, after doing that, he could end up living a fantasy too.