The Green Flame

A New Beginning

10 Years Ago, childhood

Izuku and his friends... well Kacchan and Izumi's friends were parading through the forest with Izuku at the back. Kacchan was being lifted in the air by Izumi while he set off explosion like a floating sparkler. When they were crossing a log over the creek, Izumi lost her footing and focus, and she and the blonde both fell into the water. Their friends were concerned, but they just shrugged it off.

"You idiot, watch where you're going!" Kacchan playfully jabbed at Izumi. "It was your loud explosions that made me lose focus!" she fired back. Their playful banter was cut off when a hand reached out to help them. The hand came from the weakest member of their group. "Are you guys okay? I was worried you got hurt bad." The look in his eyes, the gesture, he was... 'Worried about us!? Like we're weaklings!? Like him!?' ...showing these ingrates kindness they didn't deserve. That was the first time Izuku Yagi had to learn how to block a hit.

Present

Izuku had revisited the same forest he and his childhood friends used to play together in. At first, it was a fun place with good memories. Later, it made him feel hollow, empty. Like he was never meant to be their, unwanted. Now, it slightly angers him, remembering the abuse he had to endure for no reason. Walking past the creek, he went deeper into the forest for a secluded place to learn about his quirk.

He picked up a stick and set it on fire. No smoke, no heat. He tosses the stick into a puddle, but it still burns. 'Flames that don't burn, but affect a person's mental state... like a mix of Dad and mo-... Inko's quirks. So, can I control the flames?' Izuku put down his notebook and raised his hand at the stick. The green flame rose up from the stick. Izuku moved it around, and clenched his fist to put it out. 'Pyrokinisis! I can reuse the fires I've lit, which makes the stamina drawback practically non-existent!'

Izuku practiced by creating large waves of flames, and directing them past the trees in a zigzag motion, circling around and coming back to him. As it turns out, he could also absorb the flames into his body to replenish his stamina. After doing this for a while, he began to feel a headache, the recoil of overusing the pyrokinisis. A cup of water cleared that up though. Izuku then lit his feet on fire and took off into the air. It was a bit wobbly, but he got the hang of flying quickly. His movements were smooth, he used his hands to direct himself. 'Even Izumi and Kacchan didn't get the hang of flying this quickly!'

Izuku's good mood came to a halt almost immediately. He stopped and just hovered in the air with dejected eyes. 'I mean... Yagi and Bakugo.' Izuku slowly descended to where he left his things. He had another move to try. Covering his fist in green flames, he punched a tree. He felt the impact, but his fist was barely fazed. He made the flames burn brighter, and struck the tree harder. He didn't even feel his fist connect, but the tree did. 'These fires are thick! Defensive properties.'

Izuku tried to experiment by placing his hand on his face. It was difficult to breathe, but he learned he was immune to the spine-chilling sensation he inflicts on others. The brighter these cold flames burn, the denser they are, but the faster his stamina drains. The flames he's left to burn can be sustained passively, but these incapacitating fires need more focus and energy. 'I could use this for capture moves! Man, cold flames are great! I wish I got it sooner. But then, I'd still be with them, and they're conditional love...' Izuku shook his head. 'They were never family to me. I don't need them holding me back anymore. I have to focus on getting stronger! I got an easy trial run, but if I get cocky I'll be as good as dead.'

Casting aside pointless thoughts, Izuku spent the day completely focused on his flames. Before he knew, sunset was on him. He put on his metal respirator to hide his lower face, a hoodie to hide his hair and flew off into the city. 'I'm still green. Nothing too big, maybe some alley guys.'