AN/ In this fic, Deku' ghost rider is always gonna be similar to 'spirit of vengeance ' movie and also gonna be silent. And thanks for reading my story.
The landscape were normal, except for it continuously changing. Terrain changed in different climate, time, view and touch. If that's a confirmation, there's few theories. One, it's how afterlife works or the second, it's all a worst dream and He'll wake up to the world where torment continues. He'll gladly choose the first one.
After life, no suffering, just peace and love, no bullies and the fairies in distance...wow. Perfection. Finally a place he can sleep in peace without any worries in the wor- heaven and nobody there to disturb him. A land full of little fairy's with him listening to their beautiful sweet hum as they fly here and there.
In truth Izuku never was asleep the moment he got here, like he was always here dreaming of his life back in the hellhole known as earth. He then snapped open his eyes at the idea if dreaming and living on earth again.
As he looked straight in the blue and lavender sky he saw something shiny descending the sky elegantly towards him. Izuku abruptly sat up as the being descends further to come face to face with him. And what he saw made him chuckle at the adorable little...him. Yeah, this little fairy is a miniature version of him but adorably round and has small leaves replicating clothes and yellow antenna' on it's head. The fairy is as big as his palm and started to wonder if they lookalikes or really the same person.
"Hiya, big me." it chirped happily giving small wave.
"So I was correct, we're the same person." Izuku said.
"No I'm me, big me." it pouted and Izuku sweat dropped.
"Ha, You're weird you know." Izuku chuckled and the small fairy pouted.
"I'm You after all. Don't expect so highly of you." The fairy snapped back and Izuku tried not to slam his head again and again.
This little thing is not a socially invested one for sure. Yeah, like it said, I was that awkward around people. He thought out loud.
"Aye." The little fairy agreed.
"Wait, was I muttering again?" Izuku asked cheeks red.
"Your me, silly. I think what me think." The fairy said making sense but Izuku' brain couldn't process any of what it saying. this little thing confusing him.
Izuku blinked and the fairy tilted it's head sideways waiting for him to say something.
"Umm..ok? Well, I have a quick question." Izuku said.
"No It's not afterlife." The fairy answered his unasked question and Izuku sat there dumbfounded.
"How did...oh yeah I'm you, make sense." Izuku muttered and thought of the answer the fairy gave him. "Then what is this place?" The fairy looked...offended.
"Umph...I thought me knows what me knows." It complained and puffed it's chest in an attempt to look really mad but the size of the fella betrayed it and it turn out to be even cuter. sighing it looked at him and said. "I'm in an illusion."
Illusion? Wait, am I really dead or I'm dreaming again? Izuku wondered.
"Yes Illusion. Of course me dead. I'm really this stupid?" The fairy shouted all at once, both answering and insulting at the same time.
"I'm in an Illusion where me can experience anything that me want and can see whatever me want. Basically when me was living in earth, me never experienced such beautiful view before and me got tired and is Imagining this and taking in the feelings of something foreign but most wanted. Me wanted peace, so me getting peace...for now." The little thing explained twirling it's tiny fingers in round pointing at the changing landscape.
"Oh." Izuku said, having trouble put two and two together. But his eyes widened. "Wait, what you mean, 'For now'?" Izuku shout fearing to hear the next part. I don't wanna go back. Heaven is fine.
The fairy just looked up at in a 'are you serious, bruh' look but shook it's head. "Well my part ain't done here on earth. The fate is already written." The fairy said now seriously and flew away before saying. "Goodbye me."
"WAIT! COME BACK." He shouted but the scenery immediately dropped in an instant leaving only darkness behind. "What's happening?"
The place is now completely dark and the ground also vanished. 'What did it mean, not done?' He thought and he could feel the familiar numb and weighing feelig in his heart and the anger, sadness, helplessness, hate all replacing his calm and happy demeanor he had a few seconds ago. Now he's feeling the same way before a car ran over him. Lost inside.
Izuku was speechless. Well is that how being happy feels like? It felt good.
"Sure, it did." Izuku stiffened when a booming yet calm voice echoed the dark nothingness.
"He..HellO? Who are you, mister?" Izuku called out but heard nothing except for a heavy sigh.
"103 years. Finally, someone I could open up my thoughts to. Fear not young man, just turn around." The man said.
Izuku complied and when he turned around the terrain light up to a light purple color, revealing a fiery orange orb spinning slightly and there stood a man wearing tuxedo. He has ash grey hair and thick facial, and due to his old age, the man has wrinkles and his green eyes are nothing but weird. His eyes are bloodshot and dull but relaxed nonetheless.
The man offered Izuku a genuine smile and spread his arm in an attempt for a hug, which Izuku ignored and kept his guards up. The man has this powerful strange aura in him that's quite intimidating and nerve wrecking. He looks strong with that six and a half foot tall and muscular build even after he's ageing.
"No welcome hugs? Umm...handshakes maybe?" The man asked stretching out his arm.
"Who are you? Where am I? Why am I here?" Izuku voiced out bluntly.
The man chuckled. "Introductions huh? Well You're Izuku Midoriya, born powerless but a great survivor of a brutal community. And me? You see, I've lived so long and things changed quick, that my personal information are long lost with countless memories. It's nice to meet you, young man." The old man still have his arms stretched.
Izuku raised an eyebrow at that. How does he know me? not in detail but still... Izuku thought and hesitantly reached for a handshake.
When they clasped each others hands and for second Izuku felt like the time stopping. Confused, he saw the old man has frown on his face and before modoriya could react, the space around them started to flicker with billions or trillions of images flashing.
Izuku's eyes widened at the sight. Images, so many images. Each images that pictured, Izuku Midoriya' life from the start to end and now reliving those, many faces he forgot, those who closest to him, lost friends, pain, happiness and dreams that he left behind. Trillion images flashed in few seconds that felt like an eon as the man broke their handshake.
Izuku could only do one thing, and that is to stand there unable to move. His thought to be lost heart beat harder and lungs take in large amount of air and ears hearings things again and again and to be honest, he prefer hell over his lost life if he's said to live it again.
"Wh...What was that?" Izuku croaked.
"Centuries of living, I heard people saying, when an individual takes his last few breaths, they relive their life till they dies. However, half of the claims are false." The man explained.
"Oh..that means I'm technically dead huh?" Izuku wondered.
"Still half false." the man said smiling at Izuku, who raised a brow again.
"What do you mean?"
"Watching your memories, I sure to say your mortal body perished but your soul is tough." The man said.
"Isn't that how it works?"
"True, but a normal individual who perished either go to hell or heaven and in billions of those, there are one always said to be refuse to leave a mortal realm and wander around the fantasy realm."
"Fantasy realm?" Izuku asked to himself thinking back at the place he was few minutes ago. All those illusions and stuff?
"Ah, I see you already found your answer. And yeah, you're one of the souls who are tough and want to achieve something dearly, am I correct? That you want to be a hero." The man questioned.
"What it matters anymore? When I was alive, I couldn't do anything other than tell myself how pathetic and weak I am. That I can't be a hero even I dearly put effort into. Why it matters now. I'm dead now." Izuku aggressively replied. The emotions he held back now exploding, filling him with hate and anger.
"Negative thoughts huh?" The man muttered.
If people hates your good side, then why be a happy lil cinnamon roll? Now nobody is here either way.
"What if that dreams can be come true?" That snapped Izuku out of his thoughts.
"What?" He cautiously asked.
"You can be hero. A very powerful hero." The man repeated taking Izuku off guard.
"H..How?"
"Mm...The thing is I'm a deal maker. Fulfill an individuals seem to impossible wishes under various conditions and in return they do me favors." The man started. "Eternal life ain't pleasant but I've done enough works to lessen the curse. I'm out of time." the man added making Izuku wait.
"Is that even a thing? And what are you getting at?"
"Is that, you will be my one of the last interaction before I've welcomed back to heaven." The man answered. "And it's possible to be achieve your dead dreams and become a hero. A rider. You Izuku Midoriya, can be a hero. The spirit of vengeance. The ghost rider. The collector of the soul of the sinners." The man said happily and looked back Izuku who are visibly shaken by the new..whatever happening to him.
"Yo..What..you saying that fully well I'm dead and how come you believe in such a thing?" Midoriya questioned rather aggressively thinking he's being pranked ever after he's a ghost.
The man laughed as if he heard the most funniest thing in the world. "Young man. As I mentioned, I'm a deal maker. I can fulfill your dreams so you can protect those in danger. The exception is, you're free and can save the soul of an innocent without trouble. A term I use is, a vigilante. And you'll know if an innocent hurt and all you have to do is collect the soul of those who inflict pain on the said innocents." The man explained.
Izuku stared up at the tall man trying to spot a joke, well apparently, there are non, but seriousness indicating he's truthful. But Izuku recalled the last two sentences. "Wait,wait. Collect the souls? Like..as In kill the delinquents." Izuku shouted in disbelief, earning a nod from the man. "But that make me no better than villainy. I want to be a hero." Izuku complained.
The man nodded. "Quite reasonable argument." The man started, wrapping his hand on his back and turned to face somewhere. "But, that also false claim, young man." The man said earning Izuku's attention. "Will you look at that. The heroes of your society. Watch how, inspiring, kind and lovable they are. And after that, we'll make a deal." The man said as the void of purple nothingness became dull and dark and soon the place light up with a projection like window overseeing the incidents happening at the earth. The doings of the so called heroes the whole world trusts.
(EIGHT MONTHS LATER)
Izumi prepared for the new and the most important day of her life but still the second best. The first best day is Izuku's birthday. No forces in the world is capable of ruining that day for her, not even his...death.
Deep down, she still trusts he's with her and like all birthdays of her twin little brother, she has planned what present she'll buy for him.
As she packed her stuff, she adjusted her U.A. school uniform which rather uncomfortable with a tie. But truth to be told, neat appearance are compulsory when it comes to the greatest hero school of all of the Japan. A school where many legendary heroes graduated and amongs them, All might was the main one to gather attention. Everybody is willing to experience the training and hardwork the number one hero gone through.
'Izuku would've proud of me..right?' Izumi thought. All might was everyone' inspiration and Izuku wa- no, Izuku Is the top the list of fanboys and he'd dreamed of enrolling at U.A.
That thought sank her heart further. 'After all I've costed him his dream.' The guilt killed her every day and night, but moved on with many good memories of the fallen angel and the best...hero?
All might once said. 'The true heroes are those, who fights back knowing they have no chance of winning.' and Izuku proved that by risking his life to save Katsuki and everyone scolded him, crushed his dreams gruesomely, when they should be praise him for his bravery. When he finally broke, now Izumi knows that he had nothing else to live for except a small part of his broken dream, which a car took away, along with his life.
When he's gone, everything he did and said, now feels right. What is so wrong of someone want to save another and be a hero? Selfishness blinded everyone, that's why. Now thinking of the situation, Izumi figure out, that quirkless can be a hero if you support them. After all, there are thousands of heroes who save the day with a non physical or offensive Quirks. In the end, Izuku was right. Quirkless can be a hero. At times like these, any person lost the valuable would only dream of having a quirk that can control time. But the fate never makes easy to live on. Without a quirk, Izuku overcome all twist and turns, and people who have amazing quirks want another quirks..that only explains how is the quirkless emotionally tougher, stronger and durable than those who are greedy enough to fault their gifted powers and get jealous of those who have the most flashy powers. People with quirks are no better without one. Izuku proved that countless times.
Picking up her bag Izumi left the room. "MOM! I'M GOING NOW." She shouted and there was cutlery sounds and a thud followed by loud footsteps.
The time Izumi reached downstairs, two chubby yet soft and firm arms envelopes her."My little baby. Please be careful. Make sure everything is safe before you do anything. Promise me you future hero." Inko sobbed and Izumi giggles returning the hug. Ever since Izuku' gone, Inko went overprotective mode. Never left Izumi out of her sight and did whatever unnecessary things to keep Izumi happy and safe. At first it was annoying, then again she treated Izuku the same way and most of all Inko is a loving mother, so it's less surprising to see the adult do all these things.
"I promise mom. 'I'll be back before you know it'." Damn, She regret saying that line.
Inko froze as she heard Izumi saying the catchphrase of Izuku whenever he goes to school. But Inko regained her composure and smiled. "You better be." Inko said letting her go.
"Bye, mom."
"Bye, sweety. If you need anything just call momma, Okay?" Inko instructed giving a kiss on Izumi' forehead.
"Okay, Love you, bye." Izumi waved and ran out of the apartment in a rush.
(AT U.A.)
She stood wide eyed at the building towering over and smiled wide. "You seeing this, Izu?" She muttered with glint of hope in her eyes. She needs to pass the test at all cost.
However, the luck ran out for someone that cross path her. Katsuki Bakugo, was walking, hands in his pant pocket with an unreadable expression. Well, when Izuku passed away, the angry Pomeranian started to keep his quite and he even looked uncomfortable facing her. At the funeral, Bakugo had a solemn face she never seen before. Must have guilt..sadness perhaps and he was fully aware, whoever was allowed to mourn, he is the only one that should not be allowed.
Deku was a foe, a rival for the blonde but when the challenge comes with such a foe dies out, he has nothing else to focus other than being a hero. Sadly, he didn't wanted a path that lacks challenges and Deku' determination and the fire of his dream, Katsuki Bakugo is somewhat lost and didn't have a single clue on what to do anymore.
As he was walking forward, he felt a familiar presence behind him, halting his calm walk. "I..Izumi?" He said turning around to face the greenette. And for a split second, he imagined her as someone important, who' no more because of him. Izumi coldly smiled sending shivers down to his spine.
"Hey, Kacchan." She sneered fully knowing what that can do to the blonde.
Katsuki' eyes shot wide open and his entire posture started to tremble. Izuku was the one who gave him that name and nobody even Izumi never had bothered calling such a silly nickname.
"What? Shocked? Oh come Kacchan, look at me, wearing U.A. school uniform and all. You said you'll kill anyone steals the spot light. In the end you're not the only one from that hellhole enrolling here. Will you still keep that word of yours?" Izumi emphasized the 'kill' part, displaying a hate filled smirk that was oddly terrifying. She'll be a hero no matter what. But she'll make sure to add finishing touches as she ever have to face this asshole again. That'll everyday then.
Katsuki did not dare to speak. His mouth was dry and no sound is coming out but some hot air.
"Will you stand there or do it? I've heard the great Bakugo is a man of his words. What happened? You lost?" She mocked and the rest of the students stopped to see what's going on. "Oh I know. Anger booster." Izumi said gabbing him by the collar while the people gathered around has a puzzled looks and some whispered to one another.
Katsuki could not tear his eyes away from her emerald eyes, which once held a kindness and love now it was only has anger and hatred...towards him. "Kill me or not?" she whispered audible enough for katsuki to hear.
"I..I'm.." He tried to apologize only for pushed back by an enraged Izumi.
"Apologize and I'll have you dead within two minutes." She spat and gave others a threatening look. All students got the warning and minded their own business.
"Pathetic." She said mainly to Katsuki and walked towards the school entrance.
Outta nowhere, something smaller than her came crashing onto her, causing the small figure to recoil in embarrassment. "Oh, I'm so, so sorry. I didn't mean to. Please forgive me." The person was a short brown haired girl who rapidly bowed again and again.
"Hey, calm down. Take breath." Izumi said amused and gave a small smile to assure the small girl. She's a few centimeters shorter than Izumi and wore the same uniform as everyone' wearing.
"I was in a rush. I'm Uraraka Ochako, nice to meet you." Uraraka said smiling sweetly which Izumi thinks, cute.
"I'm Midoriya Izumi, call me Ami if you like." Izumi introduced herself.
"That's a cute pet name." Ochaco complimented.
"My little brother gave me that name. I'm glad you liked it." Izumi appreciate when they complimented her pet name.
"Wow, you have a sibling too. That's great you know." Ochaco said when both girls accompanied each other inside the building."Your lucky."
"I know." Izumi said smiling sadly. 'Were heroes, our past is our burden. When we save people, hide that burden with a smile.' She remember when Izuku said that when she demanded an answer to the few bruises she saw on his arm when they were Eight years old.
(FEW MINUTES LATER- eight months in the mortal realm-)
"But...They are heros. THEY SHOULDN'T DO THIS." Izuku shouted.
Izuku witnessed possibly the disgusting deeds done by, no villains, vigilantes, smugglers even..no, he saw heroes in action, but most unlikely way a true hero should act.
He saw, police and the local heroes involved and supporting villains and in their fight, a small homeless child stuck between and received most lethal wounds and the heroes just left, arguing and betting about paychecks while that poor kid taking his last breath.
Heroes transporting drugs illegally possessing black money as reward by the criminals. Children tormented and few helpless souls stuck as test subjects and the agencies that aware of it neutralizes those who are in their way and to cover up the scene, there stood well payed heroes not even bothering to consider the innocent lives over some filthy money.
And there are children's doing errands unwillingly for some thugs. Innocent women, either adult or not, are victims of rape, abuse and some even living under fear of their 'masters' and Izuku don't want to know what they do with those little girls.
Not so out of ordinary, still bullying, suicide baiting the helpless quirkless people and the heroes patrolling the area didn't payed attention to the pleas for help and all they did was collect their paychecks half an hour earlier than they usually get to their agencies.
There are thousands of pictures flashing in front of him, that made him question the humanity. He knows what the real pain is, and watching these scenes did only alight his fury.
"I believe a certain someone told you to 'consider dream realistically.' This is reality, but the change is, it's no dream. Society can be gruesome, cruel, selfish and I know you have a good taste of it, young Midoriya. But, if you become the spirit of vengeance, innocent life can be saved, while the sinners perish. And I'm aware of you're against taking life, but remember..." The man then turned to look at him. "...if you spare sinners, victims like yourself, the people you saw just now, will suffur forever. Become the rider and terminate the evil. That's a hero should do, not gave them two years of sentences, only to treated like luxury and they eventually escape the weak prison. The soul you gather go to hell, where they belong and suffer their wrongdoings forever." The man finished.
Izuku looked at the man and sighed. "I wanted to be a hero, like them." He stated. But before the man could reply he spoke up. "But, I won't tolerate such cruelty. And as your answer, Mr deal maker, I'll be accepting to become a rider. But, one more thing.."
"Please, voice out your question."
"Why me? Why chose me?" He asked making the man chuckle.
The man clapped his hands two times and in the distance appeared, dozens of figures in orange fire, but as a non living models.
"These are a clear picture of the riders so far. They are not chosen by me nor, gods or demons. They chose themselves. Like, all these riders are some difficult pasts that led them to become the protectors of the innocent and as for you Midoriya Izuku, your dream got you here." The man said proudly and let Izuku examine the figures. All of the are different in size and build but every single one of the had one thing in common. That is, they are burning skeletons.
"Aha that a Rider's hell form and the benefits of it, you can switch your mortal body to the Rider form with an act of will." The man said.
Izuku has to say, they look so cool for a burning skeletons.
"What is the deal?"
"I've explained the true goals of rider and I'll have your soul as a confirmation."
Izuku blinked. Soul?
"Don't worry, your soul will be in the place it deserves and you can do anything you want like when you were alive. And your duty matters too. The world needs a hero. Are you ready to make the deal?"
Izuku sighed. "Well, what's worse could happen to me. I say...
...
...Deal"
Both then shook each others hands. "I must warn you, that your first transformation would be painful, but after that you'll become the strongest." The man said.
It's easier said than done. Izuku wasn't ready for the pain that yet to come. "Rise young hero with power of hellfire." The man shouted.
Then Izuku felt it. In his heart, a painful burning ignited causing a bloodcurdling screech and he fell to his knees when they broke the handshake. Izuku was feeling the the worst pain of his life but the mentality of a broken child suppressed the pain to an extent when he felt his internal organs and flesh started to melt within few seconds and his eyes, nose, better say his whole body let out black smoke.
Eating out his by the hellfire, caused the teen to snap and clawed the air due to the burn on his skull drove him crazy. Screaming, cursing, soon the fire trapped inside of him came out exposing his bones and slowly disintegrating burn veins. His skin slowly separated from the now burnt black skull and evaporates in the heat of the- surprisingly emerald flames.
Then the pain subsides as if it was never there and the power Izuku felt was not only inhuman but he had this feeling that, this form is his own since the day he born. He miraculously now know everything what he can do with his Hell form, like he trained it for an eternity.
"Well well, such a beauty of those flames." The man said helping the burning skeleton to his feet who now had full black outfit consists of, leather jacket with green metallic spikes on the shoulder and black gloves and the jacked also have a leather hoodie. Leather pants and green metallic spiked boots with iron underside. "Unlike the natural beauty of the hellfire, green flames you possess has a beauty of it's own."
The black skeleton with green flames didn't said anything as he revert back to his mortal form.
Izuku then looked at the man happily that he now had a power that nobody can surpass only to notice a few details. He's now wearing the ghost rider outfit, but what gained his attention was he was now taller than he was before. The man kindly showed a full mirror that appeared out of nowhere and Izuku saw his appearance. His once grassy green hair now turned completely white. His emerald eyes have a fiery glow in it that screamed beauty. The eyes are now ready for to use 'penance stare' even in his human form. He looked a bit more ripped and taller than his old self. His round features now sharpened and his presence itself of a walking terror for those of weak willed.
"Thank you." Izuku said now in bit deep voice.
"No, I should say thank you. Now I can go back to other dimensions before my last day, young man."
Now when he became the rider, he's now aware of his powers, abilities and intellect was one of them and that's why he wasn't surprised to hear, there are other dimensions exist.
"Having a better look of your flames, I remember the half of my name, thanks to you." The man said opening a portal. "You'll be in the mortal realm as I exit this portal." The man said and Izuku nodded.
"What is your name, then?" Izuku wondered and the man smiled.
"Remember me as...Blaze." With that everything went black.
I'll be uploading as soon as I can.