Starlight, Starbright (MHA AU Fem MC)

[AzureAurora]

Starlight, Starbright (MHA AU Fem MCI)​

A girl without a power, desperately yearning for one. A family kept secret, found when needed most. An Anomly that shines in the most unlikely of places.


What happens to a world of heroes and villains, when a bundle of sunshine walks in with some magic rocks?

​

AN: Greetings and Salutations! I keep on discarding stories like two chapters in and move on to some new idea, I have been doing this for the past two years. So, I'm kind of hoping to break the cycle by writing whatever. I've got |some| ideas about where I'm going with this, but I'm open to suggestions. This is ultimately practice, to have fun, and maybe a few chuckles along the way.

This is technically my first posted fanfiction, so constructive criticism is appreciated. I also run on affection and engagement, so feel free to drop a comment! That helps a lot :>

Chapter 1: A mage is made.​

​

The orange dyed twilight of dusk settled upon the world, rays of hold warmth spreading through streets, parks, and homes- it shined into the attic of one home that stood out among the rest. For in the topmost room of that home, candles were lit, emitting a faint glow beyond that of sunset.

Within, a mop of red hair could be spotted, a girl of short stature sat cross legged amidst boxes and pallets. Knicknacks, and trinkets, priceless memories, and junk that was supposed to be discarded before she was even born.

Solid green eyes squinted in focus as slender fingers, soft and speckled with long faded cuts, searched through a set of meticulously organized and lightly dusted belongings.

"Come on, Gramps…" The woman's voice murmured, even as her breathing picked up, ever so slightly.

"Aunt Isadora said you were some kind of researcher, that has got to mean the occult, right? so that means you must have had something really cool to help me, right?" She muttered, as another pile of books was placed beside a growing stack.

"Presence of the Soul, Quirks and Spirituality, Animism in the modern age, Tinctures and Tonics, Field Journal No. 18…" With each displaced book, an eyebrow began to twitch.

"Spirit stuff and Quirks? No legendary sword? No elixir of eternal life? None of these will help me pass!" The woman whined, as she dropped the last book with a displeased 'whumf'.

A second object quickly followed suit- A small wooden box tucked into the corner of the attic clattered to the floor, a bronze latch undone. But In the crack of the lid left ajar… there was a hint of light.

"On the name Iroas Procelia… I take back everything bad I thought about you, gramps. You were really cool." The newly dubbed Iroas whispered, as if her grandfather were laughing.

As she slowly pushed the lid of the box open, a faint creak filled the attic space, which was promptly enveloped by a cerulean glow. For within was red velvet padding… a set of crystals, and a vial.

The glass vial was lined with bronze filigree, half filled with a pool of deep blue and silver. A mix of swirling cerulean liquid, and practically glowing silver flecks that seemed to shift and change shape with every breath she made.

Iroas lifted it out of the box with trembling fingers. The vial was warm to the touch, and it seemed to shift in her grip, in constant motion.

"I hope this isn't part of the sky." She mumbled, unable to draw her gaze away from the pool of what she could only call magic that rested in hands. They trembled slightly, and she was utterly terrified of spilling a single drop of it.

The tiny rational part of her tried to guess at what it was, of course. Some kind of beverage? Why is it Glowing? A radioactive thing? Wouldn't it have been discovered as a hazard to health ages ago? Wouldn't she have gotten sick?

Not that my Aunt would have even gotten a cough from radiation poisoning. Stupid Quirk. I want that!

Iroas shook her head, dispelling the thoughts of illness and envy, and the tightening knot in her stomach that immediately followed thereafter.

"Don't question the magic, Iroas! Just believe!" She whispered aloud, the same words she repeated every evening- ever since she was a child.

Every night she dreamed of change and yet woke up the same. But today… with the vial in her hands? It almost seemed… real.

For within the depths of the luminescent pool… it felt like a universe in and of itself, something far, far deeper than her eyes alone could see. As if there was another world, right beneath the surface… except there wasn't. Because she was holding the bottom.

"I think Gramps was a wizard…" Iroas spoke, voice faint, as she placed the shimmering liquid back into the box.

Next came the crystals, no larger than a matchbox, the first one fit snugly in her palm. Her best guess was a topaz gem of some sort, that hummed in tune with her heartbeat.

But then… she felt it.

The static of her carpet, and squire's soft fur.

The rumbling of thunder on a stormy evening, bundled up with her aunt.

The smell of rain and the exhilaration of her last swimming competition, back when she was small.

Each breath brought a new sensation, and a deep sensation of longing.

And- the gemstone resonated.

Iroas wasn't entirely sure of what had compelled her, but it was like another hand rested over her own- and urged her forward.

Her other hand came up, pointed at the wall. And with the fragile hope drawn together after a hundred disappointed nights, Iroas drew on her will.

Please. Don't be powerless anymore.

The fear sat heavy in her stomach, but she pushed on- and she felt it.

A crystal clear note vibrating into her very bones, alongside the senasation of static clinging to her skin, to her muscles, to her eyes, and to her very thoughts.

It hummed like her favourite song, played from the back of those summer rides in her aunt's car.

And it sprung into her fingers, teal sparks of light flittering between her digits, a single arc, and then a second, and then sphere the size of a firefly.

"G-Gramps… I miss you so much." Iroas whispered, even as her eyes grew hot, and she felt her cheeks become damp.

It was the greatest gift she could ask for.

Heart pounding in her throat, she placed the crystal down. The spark dispersing into tiny motes of light.

But some part of her knew that it would return. She need only listen once again.

Iroas picked up the second shimmering gemstone. It was clearer then the other one- about the same size, and the colors within seemed to shift with every moment that Iroas looked at it.

Some kind of Opal?

She kind of wished she paid closer attention to her grandfather's rambling, but well… she didn't know he was a wizard at the time, okay? What does rocks have to do with magic!?

Everything, apparently.

Iroas took it into her hand, and focused once more…

And this time, the feeling was immediate.

It slipped into her veins like liquid gold, smooth and warm, as if she took a bite of distilled sunshine. It pooled in her stomach, a lake of radiance like the sun over the water- and it went even deeper. She felt the warmth spread through her- her muscles, her bones, her skin, her veins, her eyes, her thoughts.

Each touch was gentle- invigorating, even. The cold chill disappeared in the wake of the warmth. The pain filled thrum of her neck vanished in its passing, and the slight blur of the lights reflected in her emerald gaze snapped into crystal clarity.

And in that moment, as everything was different and yet nothing had changed- A thought came to Iroas, unbidden and yet undeniable.

A single thought- a plea, an ideal.

No one should feel helpless, or alone.

That warmth surged like a placid pond whipped into a tidal wave, and every drop that lingered in every pore, collected in a swirling storm of possibility, of potential- it spun into crystalline fractals, solid starlight. And at that moment... Iroas felt a hug.

A pair of arms hung over her slender shoulders. A head against hers. She couldn't see anything, on all accounts she was alone, but her breath hitched her chest. Because at that moment? She wasn't.

"… I love you, Gramps." Came a whisper, as a beautiful sea of colors filled the attic that night.

…and one Iroas Procella almost missed her flight to Japan.

--- Starlight, Starbright ---



​

Iroas couldn't help the awe radiating through her entire body, the goose bumps and the butterflies. The anticipation and the dread. The sheer feeling of excitement tremored within her breast, humming with every breath, in and out- mired with the anxiety that swirled within her stomach.

Emerald eyes stared up at the words emblazoned atop the entry way of a rather thick gate.

"You'll be great, honey!" Came the motherly voice of Isadora Procella, an arm wrapped around Iroas' slender shoulders.

"A-Auntie! I know! I'm a Procella after all. I-I got this!" She stammered in mortification- her pale lightly freckled cheeks erupted into a blush- all the way to the tips of her pointed ears. She could feel people staring, damnit!

"Hah, you're just like your grandfather. Talking about the family line and all that… no matter what, I'm proud of you honey. You know that right? I know my sister would be too. Just… give yourself some grace." The woman cupped Iroas' cheek with one hand, forcing their eyes to meet.

Isadora Procella's golden eyes shimmered with an otherworldly approval, even in a comfy pink sweater and a pair of comfortable slacks- she never failed to draw attention.

Iroas swore she just saw a man walk into a telephone pole behind her.

That was 'Faerie' for you. Truly a fearsome quirk.

"I-I know. But you don't need to worry about me anymore. I'm going Plus Ultra, right?" She did her best to put on her bravest smile! But it came out all wobbly.

Her aunt just giggled- the nerve!

"I know sweetie, new quirk or not- knock em dead, okay? We'll go out to eat tonight, my treat." With a kiss on the cheek, she sent Iroas off with a wave.

Trudging into the den of the beast…. The very academically inclined principle beast, that is.

U.A University, the most well-known hero institution in the world. A hand lifted to adjust the purple scarf resting on Iroas's neck.

"It's just the most prestigious university in the country, no pressure." Iroas thought, although the pit in her stomach very much disagreed with her- as it at her navel like a ball of frozen lead. Cold and very heavy.

Well- she wouldn't be acing any tests if she never showed up- so she took one step forward, and then another. Her blue coat rustled slightly in the breeze, as she reached into her pocket, and her fingers brushed the crystals held within.

Her slender fingers wrapped around shimmering topaz, and sparks of teal shimmered between her fingers. A tingling warmth that spread up her arm and resonated in her chest.

"I'm not just a girl with dreams anymore. I can do this." Iroas promised herself, and the crystal in her grasp almost seemed to thrum in silent agreement.

"After all, who else has magic on their side?" She continued, hyping herself up as she entered the open door, and followed the throng of young adults clad in a variety of different clothing styles- mostly workout gear.

"Excuse me, Pardon me, Lovely morning, isn't it?-" Of course, they were also currently pushing up against Iroas in their excitement to make it to the gathering point for the practical exams.

Thankfully her grades were high enough to apply in the first place, considering her initial goal for the practical course. But if she had to look at another math text book again, she'd probably cry.

Instead, the practical was about getting into action! Heroes throwing haymakers! …Not that she could actually throw a fist- but since when did wizards need to have proficiency in unarmed?

The redhead was so caught up in her thoughts about the logistics of a noble wizard being able to dominate fistfights that she didn't quite notice her incoming collision with a blonde in the crowd.

Two bodies met, and both went tumbling to the floor- an immediate ripple within the sea of impatient would-be-heroes.

"Ah! Sorry! I mean- uhm, Gomenasai!" Iroas squeaked, as her body came to rest atop that of another, slightly taller girl. Vibrant Liliac met flustered emerald, before a smile rested on the face of the woman beneath her.

"Woah! Hey there, it's no trouble- a little fall isn't enough to keep me down! You okay, red?" The woman spoke with an easy confidence that made Iroas immediately envious.

Why couldn't she be cool, damnit?

"I-I'm fine! Just surprised, I was pretty deep in thought myself! Bear Claw?" Iroas felt her cheeks grow hot, as she pulled herself off of the blonde woman, and patted herself off.

Digging into her carry-bag, she pulled out a plastic wrapped confectionary with ease. And the shine in the eyes of her new… acquaintance? was only matched by the size of her grin.

There goes a piece of my stash… save my cool points, oh humble pastry!

"Hell yeah, a friendly face and a sweet taste? Sign me up! The name's Lyra Vale, nice ta meet'cha." She replied with a grin, swiping the treat in the same motion she tamed the forest of blonde hair behind her.

"I'm Iroas Procella! I haven't expected to hear someone else from across the sea, so to speak." With a nervous smile, she held up her phone.

"We need to get going- but first! Contacts. We better be friends after that- you've taken my sweets, and that's a pact of friendship, no takesies backsies!" Within the moment Lyra blinked, her attention flitting back to her from the treat, eyes wide- Iroas tapped her phone against hers.

"There! See you later, friend!" She exclaimed, before immediately setting off into the tide of people once more- cheeks still alight.

"Why was she so pretty!?" Even her smile made Iroa's stomach flutter in her chest.

… it made the anxiety so much worse.

She wanted to get in with her, damnit!

… now where was she supposed to go?

--- Starlight, Starbright ---



​

Iroas had found herself on a bus, bound for the sprawling cityscape constructed in the back of the campus. Truly- this place had no real issue when it came to budget, the expenses alone for the grounds must have been INSANE. Then again- it is considered the best in the world for a reason, no?

But her attention lingered on the test she thought she was supposed to take minutes prior. Turns out- that was for the engineering course. The relief she felt when she realized that she wasn't supposed to answer the question about calculating the speed of an unladen swallow hero? It was immense.

She was a wizard, for crying out loud! Since when would heroism involve math? It's about doing the kind thing- isn't it?

The only math she ever used was measurements for helping her aunt in the kitchen! And even then- she hardly used the measurement cups anymore. Truly, her gut was the only thing she needed when it came to what she put in her mouth.

… that could've come out better.

Brushing the odd thought aside, Iroas glanced down at the crystals in her hands. Flecks of teal light swirled her palm. Both gemstones clicked against one another with a gentle snap. The Opal seemed to hum in tandem with the Topaz- as if they were made for one another.

And in a way, she supposed they were. Her grandfather had kept them in the same box after all. For what she hoped was her inheritance. He could've at least said he knew magic. Why could he have a quirk and be a wizard!?

…

That must have been how he pulled those chocolates out of my ears, the hack.

A huff of righteous indignation gave way to a muted smile.

I hope you're watching, gramps.

Another breath, and she focused.

Hmmm… Opal and Topaz don't quite ring right. I should come up with names for them.

Iroas bit her lip, as her gaze glanced away- towards the rest of the people on the bus.

A man with a perpetual grin and a lithe frame held his elbows outwards- odd protrusions whirring as white material- tape? Whirred, emerging and retracting repeatedly.

A girl with vibrant brunette hair pressed her fingers together repeatedly. Her eyes shut in concentration. Every blink or so, she drifted off her seat, and back down again, jumping in place with each breath.

A man to Cerise's left seemed to be deep in thought. Both hands interlaced together, as he stared ahead. A quiet rumbling sound reverberating through the floor of the bus, like the whirr of a car engine.

There were more- many more, with how crowded the bus was- but Iroas tore her gaze away as she felt the familiar pang of unease in her stomach.

So many cool quirks- trained since they could walk.

The observation sunk into the marrow of her bones like iron rods, rigid and cold. But despite the doubt- the warmth of magic continued to flow through her fingers.

"It's okay Iroas. You won't know until it's over." She smiled, an expression that felt far more forced than it did a few minutes before.

…maybe a little more practice couldn't hurt.

With that thought, Iroas pointed her finger upwards- towards the ceiling, and she pushed.

Small teal motes of light bloomed and gathered like fireflies in the night, coalescing around the tip of her finger, they connected, like tiny links of a chain. And from the flickering lights- a sphere took shape.

Or well… a rough sphere, anyway. It was a little off.

"Come on." She mumbled to herself, brows furrowed, as she willed the bolt into shape.

"Good Morning Listeners!" A sudden voice called out, and Iroas bolt popped like a balloon, along with her concentration.

"Ah! Uhm- G'morning!" She squealed, before realizing she answered in the wrong tongue.

Iroas looked up- into the grinning face of a man at the end of the bus, with a… microphone in his hand. Slicked back blonde hair hair rustled slightly in the breeze of the open door, and he raised a hand upward.

"It's time to get moving, listeners! Because today we separate the heroes from the hopefuls. Lets hop to it!

Oh… the bus had already stopped. It was time.

Iroas wrung her hands around her jacket.

She really hoped magic was enough.

--- Starlight, Starbright ---



​

Everyone stood at the gates of the massive faux city. The blocks of fake cityscape sprawled out before them, a faithful recreation that made things truly feel like a second city inside of a first. An urban matryoshka doll of sorts- one that kind of hurt Iroas' head to think about.

And yet, it was time- it was here, and she could feel the anticipation thumping in her chest. She rocked back and forth on her feet, and took in deep breaths of the cool morning air.

Magic is enough. Magic is enough. It has to be enough.

The mantra continued- reverberating inside of her mind, like the stoking of a fire, the warmth of her mana reacted, filling her with it's tingling heat.

The man from before stood next to a rather pretty woman with pink and indigo hair and purple eyes at the podium of a stage, adjacent to the gate.

"Alright Everyone, we've got over eighty contestants here today. And unfortunately, there are nowhere near enough spots for everyone. Which means that we're going to have to pick the best from the lot. You'll be eliminating robot villains for points." The woman spoke with a calm cadence, her gaze scanned the crowd, and locked eyes with each contestant.

"They scale in size, one point for the smallest, three for the largest. If you can move, you're free to keep fighting. But if at any point you wish to forfeit for your own safety, hold both arms upwards and they'll leave you be." She continued, before she took a breath.

"Know your limits, watch your surroundings, and apply yourself." She concluded with a nod.

Iroas blinked a few times… it was good advice, but was that supposed to be encouraging? She hoped so.

"But watch out for the obstacle! It's a giant deterrent that doesn't provide any points on defeat- so it's best to be avoided." The blonde man chimed in, finger guns pointed with reckless abandon.

"This has been Present Mic, and Lady Nagant. We'll be keeping an eye on all our Listeners- so stayed tune for the excellent commentary, everyone!" The newly dubbed Present Mic declared, as a hand swept to the gate.

"And Begin! There's no time to waste, you're burning daylight!" He exclaimed- as the massive iron gate swung open.

A chorus of gasps and exclamations resounded throughout the crowd of people- for the man with glasses charged ahead. Literal… ENGINES? Strapped to his legs, burning exhaust as he rushed past.

The smell of.. oranges? Graced Iroas' nose, before she gasped- and she took off after him. All but caught into the stampede of test-goers. Although the different streets and buildings ensured that the mass split up.

The girl from before tapped herself once more, and took off into the air. The man with the odd elbow protrusions shot off into the skyline, swinging from tape strand to tape strand.

And some short guy… a kid? Ran off, even as he screamed rather loudly.

"For my Harem of Hero Babes- nothing's too tall a challenge!" He roared, whilst he tossed purple balls from his scalp haphazardly. He ended up with a few of the attendees trapped, including a poor man with purple hair, within his oddly sticky balls. And- then he tripped over... animated gloves?

Iroas… decided to run in the opposite direction of… all that chaos. Just to be safe- because he didn't sound really… inviting, she'd say.

Thus she sped off in the same direction of the floating girl, and rounded a few corners. The wide road seemed to narrow a little, opening up alleyways and empty buildings.

"TARGET FOUND." A robotic voice called out shortly into Iroas' search- and her blood ran cold.

A glance to the side- and a scream- Iroas backpedaled as an eight foot tall robot in heavy metal plating and green paint, bust through the wall of a bakery.

"H-Hey! That was a perfectly good bakery!!" She yelled, even as she snapped up her fingers and pointed them at the looming machine.

Come on, Come on, Come on. It's now or never.

Iroas took a deep breath, brows furrowed once more, as she drew in the energy from the crystals in her hold.

Memories flickered in her minds eye. Sensations grew more pronounced, as if she had grabbed onto a live wire. But power thrummed in her hands.

Shape it, push it, hold it…

The teal light followed her thoughts, a surge of teal motes flowing together, tightening into a ball at the end of her finger. A rush of preparation thrummed through the energy beneath her skin.

It's ready.

All that was left was to call out it's name- and so Iroas cried out, as her arm flicked forward.

"Gilded Bolt!"

The surge of magic reacted- and that sphere of crackling energy shot forward like a bullet, it smashed right into the core-camera of the one-pointer. It crushed the helm of the machine with a loud tearing of metal.

The light flickered once, twice, and went dim.

"H-Hah! I did it!" She cheered, one hand holding onto her pounding heart.

"And Candidate Procella takes a decent shot. A single one pointer 'scout' is defeated. Do keep going." Lady Nagant… approved? from beyond sight, her voice traveled over the cityscape.

W-wait… that was a one pointer?

Iroas' joy turned to trepidation, as she turned to face the street… absolutely crawling with robots.

Uh oh. This is not going to be very fun, is it?

Iroas didn't have much time to ponder on her trepidation, as a pair of the bots, one pointer 'scouts' like before, locked onto her.

"TARGET FOUND" They spoke in unison, a monotone voice that served as a warning, and Iroas' heart quickened in her chest.

"Listener Bakugo is on a rampage! Ten points and climbing!" Present Mic's voice resonated through the city, bringing motivation and dread in equal measure.

How was someone THAT fast?

Iroas bit her lip, narrowed her eyes, and held her hand out once more.

"Come on, this is just like the ten-layer lasagna. Keep Faith." She murmured to herself, as the well of possibility thrummed in her breast and the magic within rushed up her arm like a warm breeze.

Teal light converged once more, a sphere took shape, and she fired the shot straight ahead. Ducking backwards as one of the robots took a swing at her.

The bolt shot passed the first robot, and struck true against the second. The gleaming projectile buried into the face plate of the second robot, leaving it crumpled inward, and collapsed on the ground.

However, even as it deactivated, she rolled to the side, a gasp passed her lips as the first robot's treads rolled past her, and it began to slowly turn.

Her heart leapt into her throat, and she was struck with a single question.

How was this considered safe in the slightest!?

She had no clue. And it only incentivized her further to not get hit by these ridiculous machines.

Her hand rose once more, but this time she had something else in mind. She focused on the second stone, and shaped it through the memory of sheer emotion. That yearning she had felt in that attic two nights prior.

Instead of movement, she grasped onto desire, and her mind tugged. The flow of liquid gold in her veins began anew, this second surge of power converged into pressure.

"Aether Hold!"

A shimmering aurora of color billowed outwards from her- the cone of color swept over the machine, and it's mechanical form seemed to shudder. Wheels whirred to a halt, and a raised fist went still with a quiet groan.

A third bolt took care of it rather swiftly.

"Iroas Procella commands a machine to halt. How intriguing." Lady Nagant commentates, as Iroas slowly pulled herself back to her feet.

"Hah… how many points did I need to pass again? Twenty? That kind of stamina's insane!" Iroas whined to no one in particular, even as the newly named Aether faded away.

Iroas managed a 'and stay down', before fishing a water bottle out of her carry bag.

This thing's brutal.

"DIE!" A loud voice roared from several streets away, followed by a cacophony of explosions.

… maybe less brutal then that guy.

Iroas took a long swig of water, and tried to regain her composure.

"I'll make it. I have to make it" She promised herself, as the thrum of magic reverberated through the stones in her grasp.

The Gilded stone of lightning crackled once, as a new bolt formed in her hand.

And so, she walked forward.

Chapter 1 End!

So- there's chapter 1! Did ya like it? Does it need some work? Let me know what you think!

Next is the Zero Pointer, and some reactions from the cast!
Hope you enjoyed :>

 

[AzureAurora]

Chapter 2: Subtlety is not a spell.



​

Iroas's heart pounded a mile a minute, it roared in the back of her head, as she continued to run through the winding streets of the artificial city. Those emerald eyes of hers would dart from one side of the street to the other, as the smell of smoke and the sound of crushed metal resounded through the cityscape.

"There- Oh, Come on!" Iroas' pleased cry turned into a whine of frustration, as the latest target was reduced into a pancake with plenty of Iron- before she could even form another bolt!

It turns out that getting points wasn't quite as easy as Iroas expected. And that was not for a lack of trying. The issue? There were too many people around!

Oh, it was fine earlier- but all that destruction was starting to add up. There were more smoldering wrecks then there were fake cars!

Every time she locked on a robot- someone swung around the bend, and then there was no target at all!

Either the engine guy would kick them into bits- or some blonde guy screaming obscenities would leave them as craters in the ground! Hell, Iroas nearly got crushed by one falling from orbit!

Just what were those families feeding them!? Protein Shakes for Super Powers?!

"Thirty Five Kills! Listener Kirishima is a battering ram! Hot on Listener Bakugo's heels!" Present Mic's cheerful tone spread throughout the city. Followed by a chorus of disbelief.

"T-Thirty Five? W-what's he doing, eating them for lunch?" Iroas stammered, an eye twitched, as the screech of torn metal only grew louder.

I've only gotten twelve. Will I ever catch up?

The thought was as unpleasant as a bucket of ice water to the face.

But how am I supposed to find them if everyone keeps reaching them first!? It's not like I've got a radar!

Iroas immediately paused, she blinked a few times and stared down at the gemstones in her grip.

But I've got magic, don't I?

Iroas took a deep breath, and closed her eyes, one gemstone in either palm. Sparks crackled across one arm, and a cloud of teal coalesced into an aurora across the other.

"Canidate Jirou shatters a 'Vanguard'. Excellent method of attack. Three Points. Please be advised, contestants, there are seven minutes left." Lady Nagant's analysis swept across the cityscape once more- her voice seemed to be everywhere at once.

Iroas' shoulders tensed as she was warned, and terrified.

Seven Minutes!? I'm almost out of time!

The urgency of the task lingered in the back of Iroas' mind, and her already tense calves ached at the idea of more aimless running. But what if… she didn't need to?

If I'm not fast enough, I'll just have to find the ones no one else can.

Her will drew the power of both stones together, as they raced up her shoulders and met at her heart- the core of herself.

Iroas closed her eyes.

A pool of sunlight was struck with lightning- and instead of clashing… the bolt swallowed the sun.

Static met Sunshine. Motion met Soul.

Gold and teal sparks crackled in the air for a moment, before it pulsed outwards and Iroas felt herself expand.

The sensation of the ground beneath her feet, and the blood that pooled in her toes. The chill of the morning breeze that caressed her face, the tingle of the gemstones in her hands, they didn't disappear, so much as… become distant.

What she saw? It made her gasp, as a smile fixed itself onto her face once more.

For she saw, felt, knew was a sea of swirling lights that flashed and faded around her. Flittering between brilliant hues and muted tones. Every step she made release a shimmer of brilliant teal dust that billowed out around her.

That's… me?

But beyond the strangely touching affirmation-glitter, she could see shining lights drifting within the sea, all enshrouded in different colors and sensations.

But what really mattered were the ones that were grey. They crackled with monochrome sparks. They tasted of iron, smelled of acrid smoke, and felt hollow.

The only other sensation she passed by was one of complete and utter hunger.

It was the… weird short kid from earlier. She might need to uh… clean her soul after this.

But-! She could do this. She could pass!

… Iroas promptly walked into a nearby lamp-post.

"Ow! Right… E-eyes were closed…"

She really hoped that no one saw that.

--- Starlight, Starbright ---



​

The faculty viewing room was quite packed that morning. Which was only to be expected- given the sheer importance of the hero course to U.A. as a whole. Now while they'd never say that it was the most important course out loud, there were plenty of reasons it merited more attention than the rest of them.

"Power Loader, mind pointer three oh' four. There's a invisible lass behind em'" Pro Hero Snipe's voice cut through the sound of clicking controls and humming display monitors, showcasing a comprehensive view of the entire test, courtesy of U.A's thorough camera suite.

"Heard, Snipe." Power Loader spoke over the clicking of buttons from an utterly ridiculous number of controls plugged into bracers around his arms.
Despite how cumbersome it appeared, he managed to change the trajectory of the errant robot with ease.

"Remind me to deduct half a point from 2H for that mishap, I don't think the sensors picked up her signature properly." The man continued moments later, having already moved onto another robot to turn what may have been a significant injury, into a clean 'near-miss'.

Nedzu smiled from his chair, and adjusted his red tie with a pleased hum, as the screens continued to flit between different angles. They provided an excellent showcase different students which preformed at their utmost to pass.

"We truly have a good selection of student prospects this year, don't we?" He spoke aloud, his paw pointed towards the monitors.

"Durability becomes courage." He pointed towards a young man with spiked red hair, who seemed to become a hardened version of himself, fists punching holes into a two pointer 'archer' torso, leaving it slumped over and sparking.

"Resourcefulness becomes power." He gestures to a second monitor, where a young woman with two jack-tipped tendrils sprouting from her earlobes tore pieces of metal from downed robots, and launched them into a three pointer 'Vanguard' from a distance.

"And power is tempered with kindness." Nedzu's attention lingered on a third monitor for a moment, where a rather stocky young man with a pointed head reminiscent of a mountain peak had commanded a swarm of birds to distract a pair of one pointer 'Scout' robots while he pulled that poor purple haired young man out of the trap of sticky-balls that was launched by another at the test's beginning.

"You did dock points for foul play, yes?" Another voice cut in at that moment, and turning his gaze to the side, Nedzu regarded the towering form of All Might. Whose intense gaze seemed to linger on the unfortunate trap for a moment longer.

"Of course, Mister Toshinori. While we don't begrudge our candidates for making mistakes, blatant disregard for others without attempts to rectify it is hardly heroic. Skills and caution can be taught, but attitude is less of an acquired skill." Nedzu inclined his head, before turning his gaze to another one of his newer teachers.

"How about you, Miss Tsutsumi? What's your thoughts on the candidates, given all the work you've done in your career?" Nedzu questioned Lady Nagant, taking note of how her eyes never left the screen, even as she responded.

"They're unrefined, wasting movement, and hesitating too often. But… there is potential there. They really want to pass this; I can give them that." She responded after a moment of thought, a finger tapped against her chin.

"I'll say! They truly are hero hopefuls after my own heart! I can feel the recklessness of youth from all the way over here!" Midnight exclaimed with a flick of her signature crop, the crack echoing across the room.

"Reckless is a good word for it, for sure." Came the voice of pro hero Eraserhead from the sleeping bag in the corner, a pair of red eyes peering out from within. His tone was heavy with the weight of sleep, but his words were still as sharp as a knife.

"That one, bottom right. What's her quirk?" He continued, a single hand snaked out of the bag to punctuate his question, pointed at the monitor in question. Where a single young woman could be found making her way towards a rather out-of-the-way three pointer- tucked within a back alley.

"I've kept an eye on her. So far she's done energy projection, and some kind of… command on the test robots. She's candidate… seventy-two. Iroas Procella, a foreign student with… no quirk on file." Lady Nagant spoke after a moment, as she glanced between the tablet in her hands and the monitor in front of her with a furrowed brow.

"She's quirkless?" All Might echoed several moments after the pro heroine's statement settled in, the momentary silence only punctuated with the clicking of Power Loader's cumbersome control console and the occasional beep of a robot flagged as 'destroyed'.

"I think she means was, Toshinori. I don't think we've all been experiencing a hallucination- have we?" Midnight took that moment to look over her costume and make sure that she was not in fact leaking any of her quirk anywhere. And there was not a single tear to be seen.

"It's not too late to take your offer to put me to sleep, is it?" Eraserhead's voice returned a moment later.

"It is." Was Nemuri's quick response.

"Damn it." He sighed and slid down onto the floor, still within the sleeping bag.

The group of teachers stared at the girl with pointed ears and no pupils, as a well-timed shield-bash from the three pointer left her rolling across the ground. Within that moment, a shimmering yellow gem clattered across the floor and the teal sphere of energy in her hand blinked out of existence.

"Interesting. Zoom in on her screen for me, please." Nedzu requested, his eyes laser-focused onto the recovering form of Iroas.

The screen took over the other monitors, showcasing a closer view of Iroas as she scrambled to her feet and retrieved the gemstone with all haste.

"There." He spoke once more, a paw pointed at her left arm, and the sparks of teal energy that returned as soon as her fingers wrapped around the topaz.

"Principal Nedzu, I'm thinkin' it might be that er' late activation thing some quirks get." Snipe said after a moment, as he snapped his fingers a couple of times, definitely in search of a certain word.

"Niche Activation? That's an excellent theory." Nedzu replied after a moment, as he tapped at his desk with a paw.

Not everyone had a simple and flashy quirk after all. Some were self-evident, some were permanently active, and some had requirements so exact or downright strange… that they were never actually activated.

Like a quirk that required being struck by a lightning storm, or one that would exclusively control an animal that was already extinct. There was no way of knowing what it actually was.

"Those gemstones she's holding onto might be a focusing lens or power battery. Her quirk might not be suited to being used by her own body- which is why she never managed to activate it before hand." He continued after a moment, to the general agreement of the rest of the room.

"I can't imagine having my power locked away behind something so expensive… no wonder she never figured it out till now… poor thing." Nemuri spoke after a moment, her shoulders sagged downwards as the weight of such a thing came to mind.

"That means this listener came in here barely understanding how her quirk works, right?" Present Mic put the pieces together, eyes wide behind his trademark shades.

"Young Procella certainly seems to be adjusting alright." All Might's voice boomed, a mix of disbelief and… something else that was rather hard to place.

"Explains the lack of preparation. Another Reckless Hero Type, huh?" Lady Nagant said after a moment. Her voice sounded rather… wistful, as the screen returned to it's normal size.

"Indeed! Such courage is to be commended and would be right at home in our halls. But we'll see how far her, and everyone else's, courage truly extends in a moment. Power Loader? I'm engaging the Zero Pointer!" Nedzu announced with audible delight, a laugh emerging from his snout as his paw pressed down on a giant red button in the center of the table.

"He's having a lot of fun, isn't he?" All Might turned to Present Mic as all the sound in the room was drowned out by nigh Maniacal laughter.

"Yeah… this is one of his favorite parts of the school year." Present Mic replied a moment later. "He just needs to get it out of his system."

And with that, the ground had begun to shake.

--- Starlight, Starbright ---



​

Eighteen Points.

The count sat in the back of Iroas's head like the blade of a raised guillotine- she couldn't stop thinking about it. She was so close to passing! She just need a little more time! A two pointer, two one pointers, anything!

But it seemed like the robots were truly and utterly tapped out- and not even her new sight trick could find any more of them.

I really need to come up with a name for that. Somehow I don't think 'spooky ghost eyes' is really on brand.

Iroas shook her head.

Focus! Names don't matter if I can't pass!

She was taken out of her thoughts by the rumbling of the earth, and the figure looming over the buildings at the end of the street.

"I uh… guess I did say anything.." Iroas muttered to herself, as the towering figure of the Zero Pointer immediately drew all eyes towards it.

And thus, everyone around her begun to scream and run in the opposite direction. And Iroas? Well, she truly didn't blame them for doing so. She could feel the fear clamping down on her throat- and the way her lungs struggled to breathe.

Her trembling fingers clamped down on the gems in her hands even harder… and yet she couldn't turn around. She couldn't look away- and she couldn't stop staring.

Not at the Zero Pointer- not at the towering monstrosity of dark green metal, black components, and that baleful glowing red eye. But rather- at the rubble in it's path, and at the woman that was trapped beneath said rubble.

It was the girl with Brunette hair from earlier. Iroas didn't know her name, but she seemed nice enough… and she seemed trapped.

She was trying to free herself, both of her hands arching back over to tap against the large chunk of concrete pressing down on her- but whatever she did to send things sky high didn't seem to be working.

And that terrified Iroas. Because she looked up, their eyes met… and the young Procella grit her teeth.

"Ugh, I'm going to really feel this in the morning!" She whined, even as she took off towards the Zero Pointer, stumbling to make her way past the retreating figures of all the other attendees who were actually being smart and avoiding the obstacle, like she was supposed to do in the first place!

But well, at the end of the day…

Iroas' couldn't possibly imagine those eyes going dim. She just couldn't.

"I told Aunt Isadora I'd be going Plus Ultra, didn't I?" She muttered to herself, as she finally cleared the horde of people- leaving her with a clear shot of the terrifying machine, as well as the woman laying between her- and it.

I need to slow it down, topple it over- or something. Otherwise… things won't go great.

With that in mind, Iroas reached out once more- even as her muscles ached and the growing familiar thrum seemed… sluggish. Not from the crystals… but from her.

Ugh. Limits- of course I've got them too. That's great.

Even as she griped in her own head, she raised both of her hands upwards- an aurora forming a ring around her, as she pulled in everything she could.

The small arcs of energy magnified, flickering between teal and gold, as it began to compress and push together.

Static meets Soul. Motion meets Connection.

The bolt of lightning caught the sun- but Iroas grit her teeth and refused to let it expand her mind. She wanted the bolt to grow.

And that's exactly what it did.

The sphere of teal energy flickered gold, as it began to swell. It was slow at first- no larger than her own fist. But then the ring of multicolored light began to shrink, swirling and collapsing into the sphere- and it grew.

The size of a basketball, a volleyball, her head, and then her torso.

The energy buckled in her hands- fighting and twisting around, growing more and more restless, the more she piled on.

The Opal, the Aether stone seemed to shift to match it's sibling, the more Iroas drew. And the Topaz, the Gilded stone seemed to react to Iroas' anxiety.

The more nervous she got, the more her hands would shake- and the harder the lightning in her veins would push.

The bolt reached around… half of her in size before it felt like she collided with a metaphysical wall. She was sweating, trembling, breathing heavy. All the energy buzzing through her body felt like she had consumed fifteen cups of coffee at once- followed by getting hit with several hammers.

Things were getting hazy, colors swirling in her vision- and she could barely think with all the noise going on in her head. It was a cacophony of sensations and memories flashing with each moment- but something stood out.

Aunt Isadora's tired smile as she sat with Iroas every night her mom never came home.

The weight of a warm, rough hand on her shoulder and the baritone voice of an elderly man going on and on.

I want to make them proud.

And with that desire, she stared up into the baleful light above her- for she couldn't see anything else in that moment…

And she let go.

Thunder roared throughout the sky as a sphere of crackling lightning and shimmering soul rocketed forward from Iroas' position. It blasted Iroas to the floor, as it smashed into the faceplate of the Zero Pointer.

Arcs of teal energy snapped at the metallic figure, and the golden core detonated. Sending a wave of force right into the face plate, and with a loud groan, the entire thing toppled backwards, crashing into a building with tremendous force.

And yet… it left the trapped contestant completely unharmed.

And Iroas, pale faced and trembling- lay on the floor. A collapsed heap. Breathing but very much unconscious. With two shimmering crystals laying right over her heart- breathing in tandem with her.

Chapter 2: End.

AN: Thanks for reading! Admittedly writing a different POV was a little challenging. Ironically I think getting into the headspace of cannon characters is a little harder? Hm. Either way- I hope y'all enjoy!

Please let me know your thoughts! I also welcome any and all questions! :3

 

[AzureAurora]

Chapter 3: Full Disclosure



​

Iroas's eyes fluttered open to that terrible off-white of a sterile hospital room, or well- a clinic at least. Three medical cots lay side by side, only divided by privacy curtains and small side tables with shelves of who-knows-what, topped off with several protein bars, and bottles of water.

There was the terrible smell of antiseptic cream and ethanol, only eased by the smell of lavender and an open window. As beige curtains fluttered with the breeze blowing through.

It rustled Iroas' hair, and she sucked in a sharp breath as she recalled where she was supposed to be.

"The exam!" She squeaked, eyes wide, as she tried to sit up- only to be stopped by a cane tapped against her midriff.

Iroas turned her head and peered down at the elderly woman standing at her bedside.

"Calm down dearie, the exam's already over. You pushed yourself far harder than you were used to- and burned yourself out." The short woman said, as she stepped onto a stool beside the table.

"I-it's over? So you mean… I failed?" Iroas whispered after a moment, her hands balling into fists on her lap.

Her insides felt like molten lead, being stirred by thoughts of self loathing.

Even after I get a literal miracle, I still mess up, huh?

A flick to the forehead made her blink.

"Ow!"

The old woman just sighed.

"Now, now- none of that. I don't approve of what you did to yourself, I meant what I said quite literally. But your heart was in the right place, and this university measures that too. Nothing is as simple as it seems." The woman continued, before taking a water bottle, and putting it in her hand.

"Drink. You've got family waiting outside, and I'm sure you would rather want to eat a warm meal then one of the bars I keep here." She huffed and stepped back down to the ground.

"You may leave once that bottle is empty, young lady." She sniffed once and opened the door to leave the room.

"Oh, and Miss Procella?"

Hearing her name, Iroas forced herself to look up, even as the mire of anxiety gnawing at her filled her throat like cement.

"That girl. She called you her hero." The woman took her leave, after dropping that bomb into Iroas' lap.

Iroas froze, eyes wide- staring at the spot the woman was moments ago.

Not a failure.

Those five words resounded in her mind repeatedly.

Not a liability.

The glittering gemstones on her lap grew warm, even through the blankets.

Not something to be discarded.

Her next breath was stilted, labored, choked.

Nor someone to be abandoned.

Even as Aunt Isadora's arms wrapped around her, she stared at that spot.

What I did mattered.

She felt her shoulders tremble, and her eyes grew hot.

"I'm so proud of you." Isadora said, as she held Iroas' head against her shoulder.

Even as tears soaked into the fabric of her warm, soft, sweater.

They saw me.

"They told me what happened. You really did go Plus Ultra, Iroas." Isadora spoke softly, as Iroas's hands clung to her back.

Thank you.

She truly meant that, but whether it was for the woman's words, her aunt's support, or her grandfather's legacy?

She didn't know for sure.

"Would you like to get out of here? Your phone's been kind of blowing up for the last half an hour, and I promised to treat you."

Those words Brought Iroas out of her thoughts, and she wiped at her face with her sleeve.

"I- uh, yeah. Sounds Good. I'm… starving, actually." Iroas said, and she found that she truly meant it.

"Great, and you can tell me all about how things went. Their summary isn't nearly as good as those stories of yours." Her aunt said with a laugh, giving Iroas' shoulders a squeeze and letting go.

"A-Auntie! I'm not that good!" She complained, even as she was helped off the bed, wincing slightly.

I'm going to be feeling this for a few days.

All that running around did her no favors.

She tried not to think about what would come next. For now- she had a story to tell, and a stomach to feed.

--- Starlight, Starbright ---

​

"So this let you wreck something the size of a house and my dad had it locked away somewhere?" Isadora Procella questioned with a raised eyebrow over the coffee table.

They got some pastries from some nice bakery in the mustafu prefecture- Iroas didn't really pay attention to the name of the place, she was far too hungry to really question where she was taken.

It had taken a bit of courage, but she decided that sharing everything with Aunt Isadora was probably a better move than keeping her in the dark. Besides… she trusted her- she was one of Iroas' only friends after all.

And isn't that depressing?

Isadora was currently holding one of the two gemstones in her hands. The opal one, specifically- since Iroas didn't want her accidentally denting the wall of their new place, if it worked for Isadora too.

A small part of her still hoped it was just her quirk, and everyone was wrong about it. But what were the chances that her grandfather secretly had two quirks and only shared one of them with each of his descendants? That felt less likely than magic in her mind.

Iroas had taken a bite of her rather lovely crepe, strawberry and nutella, just after her aunt asked the question, which had given her a moment to process it- and just what exactly she planned to tell her.

"Well, Yeah! Although it was both of them- they seem to be kinda… connected in some way? Or at least the Opal can do that. I'm sure gramps put them both in the same box for a reason." Iroas finally responded, cutting another strip of the desert for her next bite.

"There's also the weird vial but I didn't take that with me for the exam. He'd probably roll in his grave if I dropped it and shattered it. I've never seen whatever was in the vial before- so I don't think I can get it replaced at Hero-Mart." She finished the explanation with a bite, and a pleased hum.

I should probably see if she can actually use it, no?

Iroas deliberated on it for a moment, before placing her knife and fork down.

"Say, Auntie- want to try using it? That one didn't really do any damage or anything by itself, so it should be safe." Iroas spoke after a moment.

"Hm? Oh I suppose I am rather curious. I've always accepted my quirk, even though it isn't flashy." She blinked a few times, and her gaze dropped down to the shimmering opal.

"Although I admit that it'd be nice to see what all the fuss is about." She finished, with an indulgent smile. The kind of smile a mother gives a toddler that wants another push on the swings.

Iroas felt her eye twitch.

You haven't gotten sick for a single day in your life, receive constant marriage requests, and discounts with a smile. Do you NEED something flashier?

Iroas took a deep breath.

It's fine, it's fine. I have power now, don't worry about it. This is just a test.

"Alright, I'd like you to focus for me then." Iroas bent over the table, gently pushing her aunt's croissant to the side.

"Hold onto the stone tightly, and breathe in." Iroas picked up the Topaz Stone, following her own advice. She thought back to the night in the attic- it was only a few nights back, so it was easy enough to picture.

"Oh?" It took a few breaths before her aunt said anything- although the curious tilt to her voice gave Iroas the impression that she felt the tingling.

"I want you to try and tug on the gemstone. Don't think too hard, just imagine pulling on a string. If you start remembering things, let it happen." She followed her own words once more- as she felt the tingle turn into static.

The scent of stormclouds, and the feeling of a breeze on her skin was followed by the familiar thrum of energy. The lightning made her bones vibrate.

I wonder why it's so simple to do. It's almost feels like the gems WANT to be used, doesn't it?

"I-I feel it!" Her aunt stammered, and Iroas cracked her eyes open.

Isadora's left hand held onto the gemstone, as honey golden mist swirled across her fingers, slowly changing into shifting hue of vibrant colors. Her eyes, which seemed to faintly glow with the same light, shifted down to look at Iroas' hand.

Iroas' hand sparked with the same teal energy from before.

"As far as I can tell, that one connects to things. The mind? The soul? Something like that. This one is about movement and action." Iroas couldn't help but smile at the expression of pure wonder on her aunt's face.

She followed the urge once more- that feeling of instinct from the night in the attic, and she held out her hand.

Hesitantly, Isadora placed her hand over Iroas' own, the sparks interlaced between their fingers, as it lit up the prismatic mist.

Lightning Met Soul. Connection met Motion.

It felt odd, only holding one piece of the pair- but as their eyes met, she tugged on warmth emanating from her aunt's hand- and she could feel Isadora tug onto the topaz gem.

For a moment, things overlapped.

I- We- You-

Iroas saw herself- and Isadora at the same time. She had sore limbs, slumped against the table- and picture-perfect posture.

She saw Aunt Isadora's face grimace, and she felt her hand give her a squeeze. It was confusing but… heartening.

Because there was no fear.

It took a moment to figure out which hand was her own- but Iroas let go, and the double vision snapped back into the pair of eyes she had grown up with.

"Uh- Wow." They both spoke at the same time- before they broke into giggles.

"So I uh- guess it's official. We're both wizards?" Iroas offered with a weak smile. She… wasn't as heartbroken as she expected to be- but well, her aunt did so much for her, that it was only natural they shared this too.

"You're the wizard, dear. I just wanted to feel it myself. And I just did! It's very nice, but I think I'll stick to baking and smiling, thank you very much." The reply was punctuated with a hand on Iroas' head.

… ruffling her hair. Damnit!

"H-Hey!" Iroas stammered, even though the smile on her face refused to disappear- she didn't have it in her to scowl.

"Thank you for telling me dear, it means a lot that you'd entrust me with this. Remember, quirk or no quirk, you're still my niece, and my number one in the kitchen. Just… let me know if you figure out any tricks for my goods, hm?" Her smile turned a little mischievous at the end as she put the opal on the table, and picked her croissant back up.

"I, yeah. If I figure something out, I'll let you know." Iroas pocketed the gems, and picked up her knife and fork again.

"That reminds me, it'll be a week before the results come in. Would you mind helping this old lady set up shop?" Isadora sweetly asked her, just as she took another bite.

Iroas froze, and slowly looked up.

Auntie. You literally look like my big sister. What are you talking about!?

"Ish uhm-" She swallowed. "I want to train-"

Isadora's smile turned a bit sharper- and Iroas shivered.

"But I don't mind helping out too! If I can have afternoons free?"

The pleased nod she got in return was a huge relief.

'Faerie' may not make her into a literal fae, but I'd like to stay on her good side- just in case.

Hell hath no fury like an aunt scorned, it seemed.

"More Tea, Sweetie?"

"Yes please."

With that note, a pleasant silence settled over the two of them.

--- Starlight, Starbright ---



​

Iroas sat atop her bed, a black cat nestled atop her lap, as a stack of books sat on the foot of her bed. She was currently thumbing through the pages of 'Field Journal No.18' – The same one from that night.

"I don't know, Squire. Would it be the first journal, or the last one?" She asked the purring cat on her lap. Green eyes stared up at her- half lidded with all the interest of watching paint dry.

"I guess I won't know till I read em all, huh?" She grumbled, although one hand did momentarily slip down to give her companion ALL the scritches.

"I wonder if I could make you a familiar? Not if you would become a ghost, though. I can't cuddle a ghost." She whined to no one in particular, she received a mewl in return, a half hearted noise that might have belonged on a squeaky toy.

"Mmhmm." If his reply was enlightening- she definitely didn't catch it.

I wonder if we have any hot cocoa yet?

It was certainly cozy enough to merit such a delightful drink- but Iroas shook her head.

"Focus, Damnit!" And with that- she looked down at the journal- and the meticulous cursive within it, and she sighed.

"At least it's in English…"

Let the reading begin!

Chapter 3: End.

AN: Sorry it's not super long. Still not feeling 100%, going to get my neck checked on wednesday for the headaches. As long as I keep going, right? I'll be working on the RWBY AU next, should get chapter 1 going by Friday! Then I'll see which clicks more, and try to update em both intermitently.

Hope y'all don't mind the slow pace so far. ^^