The Chains that Guide a Hero
Chapter 1
I'll admit, I'm doing this one because I didn't see a very good one when I was poking around the MHA database. So I built this one instead. Hopefully you all enjoy this as much as some have enjoyed my other stories. Before I get in too deep, Izuku will not have OFA. And I have plans for AFO, and Toshinori won't be as injured compared to most stories. He'll still be short on time in some cases. Mostly due to the chimeras and similar draining him. Also, I'm aging up everyone to college level. I've seen plenty of other fics that do the same. So on with the show.
(No POV)
In the time since quirks awakened, people had believed they were used to strange occurrences. Now there were people who had multiple limbs, or could breathe fire, or even fly. But just before the story of the symbol of peace began, another strange occurrence started happening. Out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean a strange mass appeared that was constantly covered by fog and mist. Aside from that more and more people had incidents where they went out of control with their quirks or disappeared with no explanation. No one knew how or why this was happening, but the terror was real for over a decade. But when All Might first burst onto the scene, he managed to make a huge dent in some of these incidents. Even with the unforeseen entities that were attacking, All Might could intercept them. But he was not the only one. From time to time a strange group of police would appear at times and solve the crimes and save people faster than most heroes could. While no one truly knew who these people were, they were still grateful for their help.
(10 years before All Might meets Izuku in cannon)
For Midoriya Izuku, he had felt like his whole world had come crashing down. He had just been to the doctor the day before and they had told him that he was quirkless. And when asking his mother if he could still be a hero, all she could say was she wished things could be different. A few days after this, his father Hisashi had come home and tried to comfort Izuku as well. But to no avail. The elder Midoriya's thought that maybe a trip or quick vacation could lighten Izuku's mood. So, they went on a hot springs and ski trip to Hokaido. While Izuku did have some fun playing there he still felt the sting of the stigma of quirklessness. When he played with some of the kids from the area, a few had asked if he had a quirk. He passed it off at first as it not being active yet. A taller girl named Momo wasn't sure he was telling the truth, but she didn't feel the need to pry. At the end of the day, the parents decided it was time to head back to their hotels. But Izuku suddenly felt something was amiss. "Wait a minute! Does anyone else feel that?" Izuku had stopped and was looking around. When some of the parents were wondering what he was talking about, Izuku responded with, "I don't know. There's something here. I don't know what but….. Yaoyorozu-san! Look out!" Izuku cried out before jumping to Momo and her father.
Right after he pushed them to the side a deep gouge was cut in the pavement. This terrified everyone and most parents picked up their kids and ran as fast as they could. The only one's left in the area were the Midoriyas and Yaoyorozus. When they had finally shaken off the shock of the attack, they all tried to run, but they were pulled into the gate. Once inside they were face with a terrifying landscape before them. What was worse, most of them were feeling sick due to the influence of the realm. But Izuku was fine. "What do we do?!" Momo's mother cried out as she struggled to stand. Izuku on the other hand had a different urge and something else pulling at him. He could sense whatever it was from before was still there. And when he could tell it was getting close to his family, he picked up a rock and threw it at the apparition. When it tried to attack him, he kept dodging out of the way. But he couldn't avoid the shockwave stomp that the creature used. Just when he thought he was going to die, another strange being came out of nowhere and attacked the monster.
"Hold on! We'll get you out of here!" A few who were still conscious could hear. Izuku looked up and saw a person in what looked like a police officer uniform. But not one he was used to. Two of the people who arrived started helping the Yaoyorozu's escape from the monster. As well as heading toward a portal out of the dimension. However, the one fighting the monster wasn't having much luck. He had already looked injured and now he was even more wounded after a Laius blade ran part of him through. He barely managed to push it back before he started to succumb to his wounds. Izuku once again showed his courage and threw a rock at the monster before it could deliver the final blow. The officer then threw a flashbang at the beast before calling Izuku to him. "I don't have much time. My Legion needs someone else. Look son. Hold onto this." He presented Izuku with the wrist lock for his arm that attached to the Legatus. As the officer coughed up some blood, he just said to the boy, "Throw this part. And direct the Legion with all your will." Izuku was terrified at what he was saying as well as the fact the man was dying in front of him. And once the Legatus slightly activated, he was all the more afraid. And now he could see the creature. It's large shield and sword on its right arm. This was a Laius chimera.
Izuku wasn't sure what to do but he knew he had to save his family. So he took the man's advice and threw the part he directed him to out. It spun for a second before a flash of light revealed a large, bodied creature with two floating arms. An Arm Legion. It immediately started attacking the chimera, and eventually broke through its shield. But it was also taking hits. 'That's not good. I have to help it! But what can I do?!' Izuku's young mind thought furiously. Then all of the sudden the Legion came back to him and levitated the boy into its body. All of the sudden, Izuku felt like All Might. So, he copied what he had seen the greatest hero do in his fights with villains. He started unleashing blow after blow with the Legion empowering and strengthening his attacks. Until the two managed to finish off the monster. But Izuku was exhausted after, and the Legion overheated. When the other officers returned, they had seen Izuku finish off the chimera. When they saw their superior injured, they called for a medivac, but he stopped them. "It's too late. Just take me home. And we should bring them too. The boy has potential. He would make a good Legionus. And those two need redshift treatments. It's been an honor serving with you two." The older man said with a small smile as he passed.
The two younger officers fought back their tears and gathered everyone up. The tall young man picking up both parents and putting them over his shoulder, and the young woman picking up Izuku and having her Legion carry back their superior. When they came back out of the other side, they were in their home city. On the Ark. A few other Neuron officers were there and helped take everyone who needed help. "We need to debrief the chiefs. They'll want to know about King. As well as that boy from the other side." With a nod from a fellow officer, the two rookie Neuron members head out. And the Midoriya's are taken to ARI for treatment of Redshift. When the rookies returned to Neuron headquarters, there were double the officers as usual milling about the office. "Ah. Yukin. Sandra. Good to see you two." The one who addressed them was the male chief of Neuron, Jason Howard. A tall well-built man who had been a Neuron member in his younger days. His once brown hair was now flecked with gray hairs and he had a bit of stubble. But he was still quite the capable officer. "I'm guessing you two have a report about what transpired in the Astral Plane?" A second voice said. This was the other chief of Neuron, Akira Howard. She had fought by and stood shoulder to shoulder with her twin to protect the Ark from the chimeras. She had lighter hair compared to her brother, but unlike Jason she did not have any gray hairs on her head.
Both of the officers saluted before giving their reports. The young man, Yukin Guan, was tall, about 6'5" with long black hair. He had a trimmed goatee, and bright green eyes. His partner Sandra Marinez was about a head shorter than Yukin with strawberry blonde hair cut pixie style, and her eyes were a dark brown almost black color. What they reported in the Astral Plane was that some more people from outside the city had been grabbed up by chimeras and were trapped in the plane. "There was a chimera there that was attacking them. It would have killed the people who were trapped there if it weren't for the boy. He distracted it and gave Mr. King an opportunity to defeat it. We were about to engage it too when he ordered us to save the civilians." Yukin spoke first. Some others were chuckling because he had a high voice that didn't match his imposing physique and face. (Think kinda like Pica from One Piece. But not quite that high.) He went on to say that Alan King must have been severely injured during the fight because Izuku had his Legatus and Legion. Sandra spoke up next, "and the boy seemed to handle the Legion really well. He's only a kid and he could direct it and fight with it. At least when he was inside of it."
Both Howards hummed and asked where Izuku was now. "He and his parent were taken to ARI. He didn't have sickness from redshift but his parents did. Not sure why though." With that said both Howard agreed to meet with the family when they all woke up.
At the ARI facility Izuku had begun to wake up. And when he did he, screamed because he thought he might still be in the Astral plane; before one of the doctors came in. "Its alright son! You're fine. You're safe. Please. Calm down." As the terrified child looked around, he first asked where his mom and dad were. An older nurse came up next to him with a sweet smile before saying, "they're alright as well. They were sickened by the astral plane. But don't worry. We've treated them, and they should wake up in a day or two." The nurse had kneeled next to him and was petting his head to calm him down more. The doctor went on to explain that they needed to continue some tests and treatments for him as well. With that Izuku laid back in his bed, as the nurse turned on the TV to some cartoons from the Ark. While Izuku didn't recognize the shows, he was still entertained and distracted while the ARI scientists could continue their work. One of which noted he had a high compatibility with the Legions. "Guess that explains why he was able to fight back even though he's a child." After the tests were done, and Izuku had eaten dinner, he eventually fell back asleep.
The next day was much of the same, but Yukin and Sandra both came to check on Izuku. When Izuku asked about the man who helped him, both looked down before explaining that he had passed. Izuku was saddened by this but was happy when the officers called him a hero for not just helping his family but also those others who were trapped with them. "What happened to the Yaoyorozu's?" Izuku asked at one point. And Yukin responded saying, "We took them back to your side. But we didn't get back to you and your family fast enough. So, we had to bring you here to get all of you treated." Izuku is a bit confused by this, but he now has something different to think about. The older nurse came in and told him both of his parents had woken up. Yukin offered to take Izuku over to their rooms, while Sandra called in to the chiefs that the Midoriyas had woken up.
When they arrived, the whole family came together and hugged each other tightly. A few tears also fell. Mostly from Izuku and Inko. Yukin then talked to the doctor to ask, "Are they well enough that they could answer some questions and maybe be willing to listen to some explanations?" The doctor said they could, but it shouldn't be right away. Hisashi heard the conversation and asked what he was talking about. Sandra explained, as she had come in after calling Neuron, "the chiefs want to speak with you. You need to know more about where you are, where we pulled you from and some of what happened." While the adults want to disagree, when Izuku mentions that he could explain what the monster he saw was they relented. When both of the Howard arrive and introduce themselves, they make sure to bring some extra water and the like for everyone.
"So. Where to begin? I guess we can start with the fact you're….. not exactly in your same world. So to speak." Jason says first. At seeing how confused the family is, Akira goes on to explain, "The city you're in now is called Ark City. In our world, it's the only habitable place. Most of humanity was wiped out after first a meteor strike, and then the gates that opened up after bringing the chimeras. Those things you saw." Akira looks at Izuku to explain the last matter. Both go on to explain that they and the officers who saved them were part of a task force to combat this threat: Neuron. She explained that the thing Izuku used a captured chimera that had been repurposed to fight against the chimeras. "And aberrations. Violent mutations of over redshifted people. Only a few of us can really resist the influence of the Astral Plane. And link so well with a Legion, we can fight with them as our partners. Just like you did." All of the Midoriyas are shocked by the description of what had happened to one world and what was left of it. Inko shook her head and tried to use her quirk to pull a water bottle to her. But she couldn't. This shocked her and she asked Hisashi to try and breathe fire. Everyone in the room was confused by that, and the officers and doctors thought it looked weird when he tried, and nothing happened. "What happened to our quirks!?" Hisashi cried out, and Inko was thinking much the same.
The officers though had a different question. "What are quirks?" This shocks the family again, but Hisashi is the first to explain that they were abilities that almost everyone had in their world. "80% of the population has them." Izuku looks sad and Hisashi apologizes to his son. When asked why he apologized he explained that Izuku was quirkless. "Well, that may explain why he was healthier and stronger than all of you." The doctor in the room said. He went on to say, "we completely removed the redshift from your bodies. Healing the sickness that was eating away at you. Maybe these quirks are a lighter form of aberration creation. One that proliferates over time rather than immediately. In other words, quirks are just turning all of you into monsters. And if we blueshift you, you regain your humanity." This stuns the eldest Midoriyas and Izuku is scared of what that could mean for everyone back in their home world.
While Akira doesn't want to force them toward a decision, she decides to bring up a factor to all of them. "We can get you back eventually. Probably. But for now, it might be best if you stayed here on the Ark. Aside from that, we have something of an offer for Izuku. He has the potential to be like us. A Legionus. We act as protectors and investigators here in the city. We can teach him how to use a legion better when he's older. But for you two, we could use some extra hands around the office. If you don't mind helping with some filing and computer work, we'd be willing to hire one or both of you on." None of the Midoriyas know what to think and ask to have some time to decide. The officers nod and leave them to their thoughts.
For the next few days, the family spends more time together and considers what the officers and doctor had said. Izuku is curious about what he can do so he wants to learn more. But his parents have to make up their own minds first. Neither of them is sure that they want to do. But they both agree on one thing. "If they can help Izuku, and maybe give him the possibility to be a hero… shouldn't we at least try?" Inko brings up 3 days after they explanations were given. Hisashi isn't sure, but he does agree that it could be helpful to his son. So with that, Hisashi takes up a job working at the Neuron office as a file clerk, and the officers set up the family in a fairly comfortable apartment.
Over the next 15 years they lived on the Ark, and Izuku learned more and more. He eventually gained full approval to use a Legion when he was 16. And by 18 had gained 2 more and learned the full capabilities of each. He had even gone on some search and rescue missions in the Astral Plane. His lead partner was the Arm Legion he had fought with to save his family. But he also had a Sword Legion and an Axe Legion for extra offense and defense. Hisashi meanwhile had become a big help for the officers in Neuron. He was efficient and had a photographic memory to identify what files they needed and where each of them was without much effort. Even Inko was well liked with the officers as she had not only visited to see her husband and son and bring them some homemade food, but she also started doing the same for some of the other officers.
Just before Izuku turned 20 he decided to broach a topic with his bosses about going home. "I know we found out that my parents can't go back through the plane, but I can. And this… honestly, I think people have a right to now some more about what has started attacking our old world. I know some at ARI had found a way to send vehicles through the plane and it might do some good for the city if we can get more resources here." "And you want to take that UA test right. And show more of what a Legionus can do. Right?" Jason gives him a look with wry smile. Izuku just rubs the back of his head before agreeing. Both Howards do agree on one matter though. The ark could use some more resources. So, they eventually bring the topic up with the UNION. They debate for a while, but eventually do agree to send some through to the other side. In hopes of helping their people.
So, with that done, Izuku, Akira, Yukin and Sandra are the main ones chosen to lead the convoy of ships back towards Japan. They have a few scares in the Astral Plane but they eventually make it to Tokyo bay. When they arrive, there are quite a few who are confused by the strange but impressive looking ships and people who have arrived. The park outside of the bay and ask to meet with the Prime Minister before they try to dock. Said man agrees and All Might comes along as some extra insurance. When they arrive, Izuku is the first to shout at seeing his favorite her from his world. "I can't believe it! All Might?!" Izuku says, and when the man gives a big jovial laugh, he asks how he knew him if they were from the fog region. "That's because he's originally from your world. This could take a while gentlemen. If you'll allow me." Akira says before directing the men to sit at a table she had Yukin set up. With a nod and positions set, Akira tells them about the Ark and the world on the other side of the fog. Both men are shocked and the hero among them had said he had witnessed and fought the chimeras. "Or I think I did. About 10 years ago I got mixed up in a fight that was pretty dangerous. I came away with a few injuries, and the enemy I faced was attacked by a monster I couldn't see. Even he couldn't sense it and it ripped him apart. I fought it as well, but I managed to make it retreat."
Akira nods before explaining what it was and the fact that only people with a Legion can see them. To demonstrate, she gives them both goggles that will help them see the Legions. And all of the Neuron officers activate their Legions. Jaws drop again and All Might takes his goggles off and puts them on again to make sure it isn't a trick. What Akira mentions next is what they were offering and hoping to gain from this side of the fog. Namely needing food and some construction materials. They were willing to offer technology, but the Prime Minister said, "the first shipment doesn't have to be about exchange. Given what you've all had to deal with I'll put it before the cabinet and the house and diet as aid resources. Hopefully, they'll go for it. For now, I do approve of allowing you to dock at the harbor."
With that said Akira types in her Legatus and sets the ships in motion to go to into port. While waiting to dock she mentions that Izuku wanted to take the UA entrance exam. "Well now he must have an impressive quirk, eh?" "Actually I'm quirkless. And frankly its for the best after what I've learned." At this All Might and the Prime Minister were shocked, so Izuku explained what his family had learned while on the other side. At hearing that quirks were slowly turning people into monsters like the chimeras both were terrified of the consequences and repercussions of the truth. So, they asked that they keep it secret for now. Especially at how blueshifting removed Izuku's parents' quirks. But All Might agreed to help Izuku with getting into the exam. "From what you've said you're already a hero young Midoriya. You saved lives on the other side and are looking to do the same here. So, I would be happy to get you ready for the entrance exam." With that Izuku set to living once again in Mustafa Japan. And preparing to apply to UA university.
Okay. This is done and now I can start into a few other things. It may take some time before I get back to this one but I hope people like it. Especially since the only one I saw was a crap one with going for the harem option in the worst way. So review if you enjoy!