Summary: (Gender Bender) Izumi Midoriya, had been prepared to live her life as the damsel in distress. That is until All Might saw the great potential in her bravery to save her friend and gives her what she needed to become to hero she'd always dreamed to become.

Midori the Rabbit

Chapter 1: The Dream

Izumi Midoriya and Katsuki Bakugo had been childhood friends. She like many others admired him for his natural bravery, toughness and of course his amazing explosive quirk. When she'd first seen it her eyes had gone bright as stars and she leaned in close to admire the pretty fireworks pop in his hand.

"You're so lucky, Kacchan. When I get my quirk I hope it's as bright as yours." She said beaming a smile at him as they walked side by side to catch butterflies.

"Won't matter what you get. Nothing is better than mine!" He boasted proudly puffing out his chest. "One day I'm gonna have my own agency and lots of people are gonna wanna be MY sidekicks."

"I'll definitely be one!" She smiled pumping her fists. "I'll become a hero too and I can join your agency."

"Sure, why not?"

"Really?" She grabbed his arm laughing. "You promise, Kacchan?"

"It's a promise, Midori."

Midori, it was an affectionate nickname he'd given her when they'd first met... but he rarely called her that anymore. Looking back on it, Bakugo wondered if he had jinxed it from the start.

Not two day later he walked into class to find Izumi crying and surrounded by the other students. The teachers were doing their best to comfort her, but the laughs and pitying voices of the others kids just urged the tears on more.

When those tear filled eyes found his in the crowd her cute face crinkled up and she broke through the crowd of kids to hug him.

"Kacchan! Kacchan tell them! I can be a hero even without a quirk!"

"Calm down, Midori. What are you talki-" then it hit him. "You're quirkless?"

"That's right!" One of the other kids snickered. "Isn't it pathetic."

"It is not!" Her bottom lip trembled. "Sensei, tell them! Tell them I can become a hero."

"Now, Now, Midoriya-chan. A hero's job is dangerous without a quirk. I'm sure there's something else you can do. Something special that only Midoriya-chan can do." The teacher tried to comfort with realistic choices, but at four years old all Izumi could think was that her dream and her promise to Bakugo was shattering at her feet.

She continued to cry about it later even on the playground. She made a little sand castle as Bakugo shouted to his other friends. He glanced over his shoulder at her and gave a loud sigh crouching down in front of her.

He wished she wouldn't make that face, all pouty and trembling, her curly pigtails hanging loose like drooping ears.

"Tch, how long you gonna cry over it, Midori? You're quirkless, get over it."

"B-But Kacchan..." Izumi sniffed her big green eyes meeting his. "What about our promise?"

"We only made a promise that if you become a hero I'd take you on as a side kick. Since you're not gonna be a hero the promise doesn't exist." He stood up and put his hands on his hips. "Geez you made such a scene, cowering in a corner like a scared little rabbit. Baka Usagi."

"Bakugo! Let's start the game already! I wanna go on an adventure!" One of the boys said.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming!" He shouted over his shoulder.

"C-Can I go? I wanna play!" Izumi got to her feet even as the boys laughed.

"A quirkless cry baby like you can't play hero agency."

Bakugo sighed in agitation as he saw Izumi's face crinkle up again. He thought about it and then slapped his fist into his palm. The small explosion that emitted had Izumi squeaking in surprise.

"AH! I got it! I know how Baka Usagi can play." He tugged on her pigtail grinning. "She can be the villain's victim. Every hero needs a victim to rescue after all." He put his hands on his hips humphing out proudly. "What do you say, Usagi? You wanna be the victim I rescue."

"If it means I still get to play, I guess that's okay... but are you really gonna keep calling me Usagi?"

"Why not? You're small, timid, and helpless just like a rabbit. It's the perfect nickname for you!" He ruffled her hair "Alright, It's decided! Let's go play Bakugo Agency!" He lead the way letting his hands spark with power as the other boys followed behind. Though she didn't care to be compared that way Izumi followed behind. She wasn't helpless... just quirkless... there's a difference... wasn't there?

She thought about it later holding her All Might doll and looking at the video on the computer screen. All Might was hers and Bakugo's favorite hero. He always saved the day with a smile on his face. A smile like that could make the world believe that everything would be okay.

"Mama... He saves everyone with a smile no matter what trouble they're in. He's such a cool hero..." She slowly turned in the chair to look at her mother. Hope and need burned in her, fresh tears welled up and threatened to spill. If anyone knew what she was capable of, her mother did. Her mother had to believe in her. "Can I be...a hero too?"

Her mother stepped forward, with such sad eyes... and when she ran to her, wrapped her arms around her and merely said, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Izumi felt the last shred of hope shatter with her dream.

~10 years later~

Izumi scrolled through the news on her phone. The fight from this morning was on every station and news blog. The debut of the mighty Mt. Lady had been flashy and insanely cool. She'd gotten a front row seat of the event and had written what she could down in her notebook.

Ever since she'd found out she was quirkless she decided to be as useful as she could. She studied heroes like crazy, watching their powers, searching for weaknesses, and techniques to use against them. She theorized and strategized who would win in a one on one fight, and wrote it all down in meticulous notes.

That wasn't the only thing she'd done to prepare herself either. She'd done everything she could to make up for her being quirkless. She begged for martial arts lessons, watched countless fights, and specials on TV involving heroes, and even went as far as to put in for an application to U.A. the best High School for heroes in the world.

She smiled at the thought. She was different than the little girl that had cried and followed behind the others so obediently. She'd grown up. Her hair was curly and long reaching mid back, her eyes bright and shining green orbs that took in all her surroundings, and while she was not particularly athletic or physically strong, she had long arms and legs that were good for grappling and defense, or so her sensei had said.

She sighed suddenly at the memory. Her Dojo sensei had been very patient with her... but in the end she'd only stayed with him for two years. She'd gotten most of the basics before financial situations forced her to drop out. Still what she did learn she would have to put into practice. With that and the knowledge in her notebooks, she smiled and stroked the smooth cover of the notebook in question, maybe she had a chance to be accepted to-

"Whatcha got there, Usagi?" She let out a squeak as hands slammed down over her notebook making her jump and look up.

"K-Kacchan!?"

He picked it up and flipped it open. His brows narrowed and he brought the folder smartly on top of her head.

"Ow! That Hurt!" She pouted up at him.

"Baka Usagi, you still have all these stupid thoughts in your head. What's this that you want to go to U.A? Do you have a deathwish?" He punched the folder making it burn up and she gawked.

"What are you doing? No!" She ran to the window where he'd tossed it and turned teary eyes to him. "Why do you gotta be so mean to me? " She gasped when he got in close trapping her between him and the window in a gesture all too familiar. He liked to keep her trapped and cornered.

"You didn't answer my question, Baka Usagi." His hands sparked making her flinch. She trembled and whimpered. "Why are you applying to U.A? You're lower than the rest of these class losers, you're quirkless. What makes you think you can get into a school like that?"

Still trembling Izumi slowly lifted her eyes to his face as tears threatened to spill.

"I... I want to go with you to U.A... Maybe I won't get into the hero course.. But I could join another... business or general studies...I won't know unless I try. Kya!" She jerked away from the window as Bakugo let out a series of explosions around her and had her skidding to the ground and on her knees.

"If you are lucky enough to actually make it in, you'll be ruining the plan for my backstory. I'm supposed to be the only one from this shit town junior high who is strong enough to make it into U.A." He reached down tugging on a strand of her curly hair and sparks pop along his hand. "You don't want to mess it up for me, do yah Usagi?"

"You're cool enough and strong enough to not need a back story like that." She shakily got to her feet and she clenched her hands together. "You'll definitely make it in! I know it! I just want to be with you when you do."

"They don't allow pets at U.A." He tapped a knuckle under her chin. "Even if I wanted to keep you, you'll just get in my way. Now drop out while you still have a chance." He shoved her back till her butt hit the floor. "Don't make me kill you, Usagi. I will murder anyone who tries to get in the way of my goal and that includes you!"

Izumi sat in the classroom alone her legs curled up to her chest as the tears stung her cheeks. Stupid Bakugo. She wasn't anyone's pet... and he could come up with a better back story than this with all the power he's got.

She slowly stood up and twirled a finger in her hair sighing. Ten years and he still didn't notice what he meant to her... why she worked so hard to stay close to him. While it was true she dreamed of being a Hero like All Might, she knew that wasn't the realistic choice anymore. All Might was strong, cool, and always took down villains with a smile. She knew Kacchan was much better suited for that dream.

"Still..." she thought with a sigh. "You can't help what you want."

...and what she wanted was to go to U.A.

It was the top hero school in the country, if any place could draw out her hero potential it would be them. On top of that it's the same place All Might had graduated from... and the same school Kacchan was going to. She had to at least try.

She walked down and retrieved her notebook. She flipped through it, thankful that most of the damage was external and the writing inside still legible. Bakugo really had changed since they were kids. She supposed the change had gotten gradually worse from the moment he'd gotten his quirk. He was so proud, so confident, and so... boasting when it came to his strength.

When he found out she was quirkless he'd let her tag along, but never the way they were before. She was a victim to him... a damsel in distress. Every time she tried to prove she could handle herself, he made sure to shove her back into place.

Baka Usagi...

"Baka...Go... Bakago! BAKA BAKA BAKA!" She shouted it as she walked through the tunnel and laughed with it. "Bakago BAKA!"

"A cute little shield..." a dark voice spoke from the shadows silencing her laughs and made her jerk around.

"What?" She screamed as the villain rushed her and she instantly surrounded by his green inky body. She kicked and screamed, but his thick mucus form swallowed her cries as it forced its way down her throat. She tried to grab on but her fingers slipped right through.

"Easy now, it'll only hurt for about 45 seconds... sorry about this cutie, but I never expected HIM to show up in this little town." He laughed.

Her lungs began to burn as she forced herself to try and breath through the thickness. Tears slipped down her cheeks as she mentally screamed for somebody, anybody to come help her. The lid of the sewer popped open and a figure jumped out his body silhouetted in the opening of the tunnel.

"It's alright now young girl, for I am Here!" All...Might? She barely got a glimpse of that fearless smile, before the world around her went black.

When she came to she groaned and slowly sat up. Her vision blurred before focusing on the grand shining pillar before her. A rush of excitement and disbelief flooded and she jerked to her feet.

"All Might!"

"Thank Goodness! You passed out, but you seem to be fine now. Not to worry, young lady. Our villain has been apprehended." He produced a large soda bottle with the villain trapped inside. Stunned and star struck Izumi could only stare and flush at him. It was the real deal, it was All Might! He was the hero both she and Bakugo had looked up to all their life. The Number One hero, the symbol of peace and justice... the-

"Autograph!" She stumbled around looking for her notebook and she scrambled to pick it up. She gasped as she saw he had already signed it and she squealed with delight and turned around bowing low and clutching the notebook to her like a precious gem.

"Thank you so much, All Might! I will treasure it forever! As will my children and my children's children and-"

She lifted her head watched him turn signaling with his hand that he was about to leave. She didn't know what possessed her to rush forward, but she ran and snagged him around the waist hugging him even as he jumped to the air. She screamed and clung on for dear life as her feet left the floor, her shoes kicked off leaving her in only socks. She blushed bright red as her skirt flared around her knees.

"Hey, come on kid your enthusiasm is too much let go!"

"Are you crazy!?" She turned her fearful eyes up to him. "If I let go I'll fall!"

"Ah, point taken... ah shit." All might muttered under his breath and he had to wipe at the spot of blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.

~Elsewhere~

Bakugo drank heavily from his can of soda. God he was pissed off. What the hell had that stupid rabbit been thinking applying to take the test for U.A? He'd known her long enough to know that once she got an idea in her head you had to pry it out with a crowbar. He'd have to find some kind of suitable punishment to make her give up on the ridiculous notion.

Frankly he was sick of her following him over a stupid promise they'd made as kids. Hadn't he told her multiple times that the promise was irrelevant now? She had no quirk, she could not become a hero, that was that. She was gonna get herself killed trying to do the impossible.

"Stupid Rabbit..." He set the can a flame and crushed it in his hands.

"Hey, Bakugo chill out. She's just a stupid girl." His friend and classmate told him.

"Yeah I think you overdid it with the notebook..." The other said lighting a cigarette. "You made her cry. You're never gonna get a girlfriend if you keep this up."

"Who needs a girlfriend when you've got a pet... even if it is a stupid one that keeps getting out of its cage." He tossed the can in the trash and looked down at the bottle of muck at his feet. He sneered and sent the bottle skittering. Stupid litterers.

"That being said don't you think you should be nicer to her. What's she's doing is stupid, sure, but one of these days that cute rabbit of yours is gonna go off and find a different owner."

"Like hell she would!" Bakugo sneered. Usagi was his, she was a pain in the ass who kept getting in trouble, but she was HIS. No way he'd let some other kid play with her.

"Whatever... hey let's go to the arcade."

"Yeah, sure... and damn it put that cigarette out! If you get caught it'll end up on my record too you idiot!" He snarled turning his back to face his friends... and presented the opening to be snatched up by the waiting villain.

~Izumi~

Failure, disappointment, and just plain sadness swelled up in her heart. She knew the reality of it all, she wasn't stupid. She knew it was impossible... but even so, she'd let the hope that had died when she was four, resurrect and build over the last ten years. Now to hear All Might say it, to have it spelled out for her with no pulled punches. Her heart was breaking all over again.

~Flashback~

They'd landed on top of a building, Izumi's stocking feet stumbled some as she tried to keep her knees from buckling from the flight. Her hair was windblown and tangled around her face, and her clothes rumpled. She could barely believe she was in the presence of All Might.

"Thank you... I'm sorry I don't know why I did that. I guess...I wanted to ask you... I wanted to ask you a question."

"I'm afraid I don't have time for questions right now young lady. The hero's life is busy work and I must move on."

"No wait please!" She took two steps forward before falling to her knees and whimpering. "All Might please. Do you think it's possible for a quirkless person like me to become a hero?"

"Hmm?" He knew how had to hurry, his time was running out. Her words though struck a chord. "Quirkless?"

"Yes..." She bowed her head her hands over her heart. "It's been my dream since I was a child. I want to become a hero,and stand by my best friend. I'd nearly given up... but a part of me always hoped that I could still do it... I want to be a hero who faces down foes with a fearless smile, just like you!"

She raised her head, but what she saw in front of her wasn't the shining pillar of justice and peace... but instead of a skinny man with sunken cheeks and big black eyes.

"WHA? What the... All Might... where? I don't understand!"

"I am All Might..." The man spoke even as blood spewed from his lips. He watched that pretty freckled face of hers go pale in disbelief and he sighed. Sitting down he looked her straight in the eye and prepared to tell his story.

"A fearless smile... huh?"

~End of Flashback~

"Heroes risk their lives everyday, and some villains can't be beat without power. You want to become a hero? Not without a quirk."

The reality of that, the simple pure truth of that, was a bitter pill to swallow. She recalled him pulling up his shirt, showing the gruesome battle scars from a deathly fight not even the media had been aware of. THAT was the reality of the job. Pain tightened in her chest.

"Dreams are good to have, kid. Just make sure your dreams are attainable."

"I knew that... I've always known that... but still." She sniffled and wiped her tears away jolting as another explosion rang out. She looked at the crowd piled together in the alley and saw the smoke. She'd seen it atop the building after All Might had left. This is where that villain had appeared. Damn it, she'd come here without even realizing it. Enough was enough, Izumi! You know that right? You-

She saw the damage, saw the fire and the warped green blob. It was the same villain as before, the one who had attacked her. Her eyes widen in realization. Wasn't he... wasn't he the one that All might... Oh god. She covered her mouth as she fought back the tears. When she'd grabbed him the bottles must have fallen and the villain got loose. It was all her fault!

"What wrong with the heroes? Why aren't they doing something?"

"They can't, the villain's taken a junior high student hostage. Apparently it's been that way for awhile."

Izumi's eyes went wide and wild. She pushed forward enough to see the raving mass of green muck and trapped there was a boy. In her head she kept screaming for someone to hurry. She knew how painful and how frightening it was to be engrossed by that monster was. The fact the kid had lasted that long amazed her.

Please... somebody... help him!

The blonde hair tilted up and she saw the face. Tears and panic sprang to her eyes when she saw Bakugo struggling against the villain's hold. His normally fierce face struggling against the pain. He was a jerk, she knew more than anyone, but he was strong. He could pull through this, he could hold on until the heroes saved him.

Please... she thought with tears falling down her face. Please someone save him!

You're lower than the rest of these class losers, you're quirkless

Do you have a deathwish?

Baka Usagi!

... You Promise, Kacchan?

It's a promise...

She saw his eyes open... the crimson orbs filled with fear and panic.

..Midori.

She couldn't think, couldn't stop herself from moving. She pushed through the crowd her eyes fixated on Bakugo. With the element of surprise she was able to rush through the crowd and out into the flames. She heard people screaming at her, telling her to stop but she just kept running.

She saw the movement, and panic spewed as she tried to think of how to counter against the villain. She had to get to Kacchan! She had to get to him fast. She thought of her notes, of the techniques she studied and memorized. Thinking fast she swung her backpack off and flung it. The villain jerked back and she was able to duck under his reach and her hands buried into the muck. Her uniform smudged and her hands yanked and pulled trying to find some part of Kacchan to yank out.

"Baka Usagi!" He panted out cursing at her even as her hands found his waist and tried to yank him free. "The hell are you doing? Run! Get out of here!"

"I can't! I can't!" She tugged and choked on the sobs shaking from her lips. " My body it just moved on its own! I can't leave you here! I just can't!" Those big green eyes, shining with tears looked up at him and she tried to smile at him around the fear and panic in her throat. "You looked like you were asking for help. I just couldn't stay put."

His eyes widen as they stayed on hers and her choked as the grip tightened and her hands slip away. She screamed his name and felt her hands continuing to dig.

"Little pest! Be Gone!"

"STOP IT!" Bakugo shouted his quirk exploding. He heard Izumi scream and jerked his head. His eyes watch as she fell back on the ground and the villain's hand raise to strike her. "NO!"

Izumi looked up screamed and curled up preparing for the strike... she heard the thunderous boom of connection... but didn't feel pain... She slowly lifted her head and her eyes widened.

"All Might!"

The tall blonde hero, despite the hurt and fatigue on his form, stood proudly and intimidating in the uproar. His body blocking the blow that would have surely crushed her underfoot. His smile always unwavering.

"I'm pathetic...Even though I admonished you. I wasn't putting what I said into practice." He pulled back yanking Bakugo free with one hand and used his free one to power up.

"Pros are always risking their lives!" He tasted blood but let the adrenaline and power rush through him. He set loose his attack with great fury. "DETROIT SMASH!" With one mighty swing the villain was scattered like a puddle. He held tight to Bakugo and caught Izumi in the other to keep them from blowing away like the villain.

As the panic of the event died down, he took a moment to soak in the glory. Rain pattered around them like the applause from the crowd. However his mind wasn't on the aftermath of his own power... but of the sacrifice one girl had given to save her friend. He looked down at the young girl who had fainted from the excitement, curled in beside her classmate.

Her words, her bravery, and her intelligence in the heat of the moment, reminded him so much of his predecessor. Perhaps it was fate that he had stumbled upon her. He knew that this girl had the potential to become someone special. And with his help she would make that dream of hers a reality.

First Chapter of the new series! Not much changed here, but I promise as the story continues you'll see a lot more twists in comparison. Hope you like and will continue to read!

Next Chapter: First Steps