Some following my stories will have seen a oneshot pilot I did for a My Hero Academia/Elfen Lied crossover called Der Erlkönig: Origins. I really, really wanted to turn that into a full story, but despite my best efforts, I couldn't get the full story beyond a couple of chapters. So, with a heavy heart and more than a little disappointment, I decided not to go any further with the story. I am posting the first two chapters to give you guys a taste of what I intended.

That being said, I do intend to do a full My Hero Academia story one of these days. It's one of the best shonen series of all time, and actually treats its subject matter surprisingly seriously. It's like a more positive version of Watchmen or Worm or Miracleman. I can't guarantee when it will happen or what crossover it will be in...but I really, really want to do one. So, watch this space...

DER ERLKÖNIG

CHAPTER 1:

THE DAY HAS COME

What defines a hero? And what defines a monster? The line is more blurry than you'd think.

In a world where 80% of the population has some special ability or 'Quirk', superheroism is a vocation. So too is supervillainy. Yet neither side realise that the origins of Quirks had a dark past, tainted by the genocide of an emergent human subspecies. Then again, few even suspected the truth at the time. An interaction between the virus that caused this subspecies to emerge and the vaccine used to stop it caused the advent of Quirks.

However, the subspecies, known to those who knew of its existence as the Diclonii, still existed. Their potential slumbered deep within the human genome, only needing the right mixture of genetics in order to re-emerge once more, in a world that has largely forgotten about them, if they even knew of their existence. A human subspecies with horns, devastating psychokinetic abilities, and a tendency towards violence slept uneasily within the darkness.

Fifteen years ago, it re-emerged, in the form of a boy. A boy who wanted nothing more from life than to emulate the best humanity had to offer. A boy who intended to defy his darker instincts, when they emerged later in his childhood, and traumatised him.

A boy who wanted to be a hero.

This is his story. But not just his story, but those whose lives he touched, and changed. Some for the better. Others for the worst. One thing was certain, though. This boy would make his mark on the world, as either a great hero, or a feared villain.

His name was Izuku Midoriya.

Shota Aizawa sighed quietly to himself in annoyance as he examined the dossiers for the latest batch of prospective students for UA on his tablet. Unlike a number of heroes, he kept his real name out of the spotlight where possible, his actions mostly flying under the radar. Personally, he preferred going out there and actually dealing with criminals to teaching. It was partly a sense of civic duty and, admittedly, partly a distaste for teaching, though that was due to the fact that too many teens with Quirks never used their heads to do more with their Quirks, to strengthen them, to cover for weaknesses. He even expelled his entire class last year simply because their arrogance and complacency had been too much, though Principal Nezu had ensured that the better ones got admitted to other hero schools.

Aizawa, as the Underground Hero Eraserhead, believed that one had to push one's self harder as much as possible, at least where it was rational. His Quirk, the ability to disable most other Quirks (save for those that mutated the body substantially), was useful, but he needed something more. It was why he trained his body to its limits and beyond, proving the catchcry of UA, 'Plus Ultra!'

Still, he knew more than a few problem children were coming this year, and he might have to teach them. Two of them, he had already met. Another, he had heard of through one of those previous two.

As if on cue, the file on that latter problem child came up, a belligerent-looking boy with blonde hair that looked like an explosion. Katsuki Bakugou. His Quirk was the ability to generate nitroglycerin via his sweat, and thus he could create explosions on demand, particularly using the palms of his hands. His intelligence was undeniable, but his psychological profile was, admittedly, spotty. He'd refused to see any therapists, and the school he went to sang his praises, despite the testimony of another problem child.

In fact, he soon found the file, of an earnest-looking boy with green hair and eyes, though with pink and red flecks to them both. More extraordinary, though, were the pair of horns, like cat ears. Though Aizawa was more troubled by the subtle haunted look to his eyes, almost absent, save to someone who knew how to look.

Officially, Izuku Midoriya did not have a Quirk, despite the horns. Genetic tests done on top of the toe joint X-ray test had shown that Izuku should have been Quirkless. But that didn't mean he didn't have powers.

Eraserhead remembered the incident well. He'd been late to the scene, too late, coming shortly after All Might did. He remembered the carnage, though. A restaurant at a theme park, the walls painted with gore and viscera. There was a critically injured woman, the mother of Izuku, being taken to hospital.

He remembered the sight of All Might cradling the horned boy, murmuring reassurances. What Aizawa saw was not the monster too many saw, but a boy who had acted out of anger. It was a small mercy that the only victims were a dozen Villains who had caused a hostage situation.

What the boy did though was horrific. He remembered the medical examiner's report on the final victim. There hadn't been a mark on the man, and yet, he simply dropped dead. It took the medical examiner until he cut open the Villain's skull to realise why: the man's brain had been pulped without the skull being damaged. Aizawa would later learn it was to do with the psychokinetic projections Izuku used, 'Vectors', he called them. They could turn intangible or tangible at will, grasping anything within a two metre range…and that was at normal power.

The problem was, the boy was…not quite unstable, but he had mental health issues. According to the report of the shrinks in Asphodel, the facility he was detained in, Izuku admitted to hearing a pair of voices in his head. One, which he dubbed the DNA Voice, seemed to be the figurative devil on his shoulder, urging him to kill and slaughter. Another was called 'Nana', and was said to be an ancestor of his, albeit one who encouraged him to avoid violence. These voices resisted treatment via drugs, so that particular treatment was discontinued. In any case, scans of the boy's brain showed no areas active in his brain that were normally active in schizophrenics. Then again, much of his brain was different anyway, including an enlarged pituitary gland, so who knew?

Interestingly, Nana did exist, apparently, being a resident of Kamakura back in the 20th Century, around the time when Quirks began to emerge. Nezu had managed to find out that much through some digging into records, and Izuku had identified her from the few photographs that still existed. Given the weirdness of Quirks, a genetic memory wasn't too farfetched, even if it defied explanation, and Aizawa despised irrational things.

Still, the psychological profile was heartening. Aside from those voices, as well as some issues relating to PTSD and depression, Izuku was actually well-adjusted, driven to increase his control over his abilities so he wouldn't hurt someone again. In fact, he stayed in Asphodel past the period of his custodial sentence, partly out of what seemed to be civic duty, to learn how to keep himself under control. While he didn't push his power enough, Aizawa had to admit, trying to work on his control was rational, and he approved.

Aizawa had actually met Izuku a few times. Calling him a fanboy was rather like calling All Might buff. Izuku had gushed over his abilities, and asked some rather annoying but still intelligent questions. Aizawa had even been allowed to read Izuku's analysis of his power, what he knew of it, and such an analysis was actually quite impressive. The boy's psychokinetic abilities were frightening, but his intellect was equally as potentially lethal. What was more, he could see a hero or villain using their Quirk, and within ten minutes, figure out most of the pros and cons. He asked no stupid questions about powers. If the boy had become a Villain…well, Aizawa was glad that the boy had a moral compass, despite his mental issues.

Still, he wasn't sure what Nezu was thinking, bringing the boy in. The boy had the will and heart to be a hero, true, and could be a great Pro-Hero. But too many judging eyes were on him, more than even the average hero-wannabe with a dangerous Quirk. Certain politicians and members of the press who were either irrational, or else exploited irrational fear to get what they wanted, either votes or attention.

And that was without going into his fellow problem child, Himiko Toga. A rather…odd girl with a Quirk based around blood-drinking to induce a transformation. She'd gotten in trouble for violent behaviour at school. The two were friends, and Izuku and Toga had helped keep each other from falling into darkness, the former doing more for the latter, admittedly.

Putting Bakugou and Toga together was a potential mistake, given their volatile mentality. And with Izuku and Bakugou at odds, well, if they were in the same class, things might get problematic. If they did, Aizawa would have to lay down the law. Personally, he reckoned Nemuri Kayama, aka the 18+ Heroine Midnight, would be a better bet as Izuku's homeroom teacher than Aizawa. The powers Izuku possessed were no Quirk, and weren't affected by Aizawa's own Quirk. He'd tested that. Izuku's Vectors could even block most bullets up to even an anti-tank round, as long as he had them active, so a tranquiliser dart was out if he did lose control, though Kayama's Somnambulist Quirk would have a better chance of succeeding.

This wasn't because Aizawa truly believed that Izuku would actually go on the rampage from any potential trigger, despite what some politicians and so-called journalists believed. Aizawa was a pragmatist who believed in being prepared for worst-case scenarios. Although he placed an emphasis on rationality, logic and pragmatism, he was far from lacking sentiment or warmth of any kind. He truly hoped that Izuku would achieve his dream, as long as he put the effort into it.

With that thought in mind, Aizawa left for the viewing room, where the faculty and guest Pro-Heroes would be judging the students during the practical exam. Hopefully, there wouldn't be too much inanity to deal with while he waited…

Izuku Midoriya felt the stares acutely. In a world where strange abilities were the norm, he had to stand out. Then again, he was kind of infamous, so he had to expect that. He killed a dozen people. Villains, to be sure, but he killed them shortly after he turned ten. No matter how you sliced it (ooh, bad choice of words there, given what his powers could do), it was a traumatising experience for a kid.

For five years, he had been confined to Asphodel, a facility that was part-prison and part-school, where those with dangerous Quirks could learn how to control them. He'd spent most of his time there voluntarily after his 'sentence' was up. He still wasn't sure whether he had control as much as he would like. And yet, here he was, with his dream about to come true. Or become one of his worst nightmares.

A week ago, he had a couple of special guests, ones he had admittedly met before. Nezu, the small, vaguely rodent-like animal who was also the Principal of UA High School, the top Hero school. And Toshinori Yagi, the man who was more publicly known as All Might. His greatest hero, and a man burdened with more pain than any one should. Izuku felt privileged to know the secret behind All Might and One for All, that the famous Pro-Hero was ailing thanks to a battle with All for One, a villain many thought dead, but, well, they couldn't be sure.

Izuku didn't want to kill anyone ever again if he could help it. But All for One, from All Might's stories, would probably prove an exception to the rule if he ever made himself known to Izuku. Leaving aside a list of crimes longer than a man's arm, there was the fact that All for One had crippled a man whom Izuku looked up to like a father, especially as his own father was absent.

The sound of humming came from the girl walking alongside him, bopping along to the tune of the song she was humming. Her blonde hair was done up in a pair of twin buns, her golden eyes glinting mischievously, her lips curled in a sardonic smirk. "Are you sure that you're not shaking?" she sang to herself, though Izuku knew that she meant the song for him. "Such uncertain roads you're taking. Every step that you take, it is changing you. Where is tomorrow? The day has come(1)!"

Izuku rolled his eyes. "Himiko, you're not helping."

The girl merely poked her tongue out at him. "Singing helps with morale, Izuku. Science fact. Besides, it's stopping you from muttering a million words a minute." She put a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, we're here. We're at UA, even if it's for the entrance exam. This is a declaration of war to those who think we can't be heroes."

Before Izuku could say anything, he heard an unfortunately familiar voice snarl, "It's gonna be a war you're going to lose, Deku." And with that, a familiar form stormed past, his blonde hair still sticking out everywhere like a frozen explosion, glaring behind him. "You're worse than useless, Deku," Katsuki Bakugou, someone Izuku once thought of as a friend, growled. "You're a villain, so's your girlfriend, and no matter what these idiots at UA you fooled think, that's never gonna change."

Izuku merely glared back at him coldly, trying to ignore the too-familiar voice that demanded that he turn his former friend into mince. Even now, he could feel his powers acting up. Bakugou merely scoffed, and strode into the UA building, but Izuku knew he was afraid, even if the bully didn't want to admit it. "Y'know, I've said it before, and I'll say it again," his companion said. "I wanna cut him. His blood is probably the only pretty thing about him. He's got an ugly attitude and an ugly soul."

"I know, but we're trying to be Pro-Heroes," Izuku said. "The best way to beat him is to be better heroes than he ever will become. We're at least trying to be better than what we're thought of."

Himiko smirked. While she had a rather vicious and sadistic streak, Himiko Toga was also Izuku's best friend, or at least the best friend he had about his age. She had a blood-based Quirk that allowed her to transform into anyone she ingested blood from. She could even copy their Quirks, admittedly something she only recently learned.

But because it was blood-based, and she had a rather morbid fascination with blood that got her into trouble more than once, she was considered a potential Villain. Only her parents bringing her to Asphodel, not to be incarcerated but to join their rehabilitation program, helped bring her back from the brink. It helped that Izuku met her, and upon learning her Quirk, listed the various heroic things she could do with it. And while she still had some disturbing tendencies, well, it could have been worse.

Then again, it could have been worse for Izuku too. He didn't actually have a Quirk. He was a Diclonius, a member of a human subspecies with psychokinetic powers and heightened aggression. Oh, and he had a pair of voices in his head, one of which wanted him to get down to business, namely purging humanity. So, understandably, to say he was troubled was an understatement.

He looked around at the other hopeful applicants for the UA entrance exams. The exams for entering the most prestigious and high-pressure Pro-Hero school in Japan. There was a rather earnest-looking round-faced girl with brown hair, looking a bit nervous. A boy with a bird-like head and a serious expression. A short boy with what looked like purple, jelly-like spheres on his head, who was leering at some of the girls.

And then, there was Himiko and himself. A pair of monsters, trying to become heroes. Then again, there were those who believed he could. His mother, despite being afraid for him, had been nothing but supportive in the wake of the incident that nearly killed her. Toshinori Yagi, aka All Might, was another. Nezu, Ingenium, Eraserhead, Himiko…they all had faith he could. And that was worth the world to him. Time to prove that their faith in him was not misplaced…

CHAPTER 1 ANNOTATIONS:

Nothing much to say here, save for some preamble. For more details on Izuku's pre-exam life, read Der Erlkönig: Origins.

1. Toga is singing the Jonathan Young English cover of The Day, the first opening song for My Hero Academia. Because what else would she sing?