Fanfic / A Gentle Twilight

People told Izuku time and time again he could never be a Hero without a Quirk. Izuku refused to believe them... right until All Might himself told him so. It almost made him give up.

Almost. When his best friend finds himself in trouble, Izuku's determination to save him draws the notice of the Unconquered Sun, who Exalts him as a Twilight Caste Solar. Izuku is still Quirkless. The only difference is that he now has a power. Different, but still.

"This is your power." Sol Invictus said. "Use it well." This is exactly what Izuku intends to do.

A gentle twilight is a My Hero Academia/Exalted Crossover fanfic by Elia14, in which Izuku is Exalted as a Twilight Caste Solar following his attempt to rescue Bakugo.

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Tropes contained in A gentle twilight:

• Accomplice by Inaction: Aizawa's reasoning for Cursing the entirety of Aldera save Izuku and the girl he was defending. When they most needed it, neither the teachers nor the students came to help them. As far as he is concerned, all of them are guilty.
• Adaptational Early Appearance: Eraserhead, Sir Nighteye and Nezu appear as early as Chapter 2. His Purple Highness has yet to appear in the main branch of the Manga. Lemillion appears in Chapter 3 fighting a hog-headed Villain. Twice appears in Chapter 7 as a civilian and Exalts at the end of the chapter.
• Adaptational Heroism: In canon, Twice was a Villain and a staunch supporter of the League. Here, thanks to Izuku's influence, Jin is chosen as a Night Caste Solar and begins a strong friendship with the teen.
• Adaptational Superpower Change: goes without saying. In addition of their Quirks - or lack thereof - several people are also Exalted.
  • Eraserhead is a Chosen of Endings
  • Sir Nighteye is a Chosen of Secrets
  • His Purple Highness is a Chosen of Serenity
  • Nezu is a Waning Moon Caste Lunar
  • Izuku is naturally a Twilight Caste Solar
  • Lemillion ends up inheriting One for All
  • Stain is revealed to be a Day Caste Abyssal
  • Jin Bubaigawara (Twice) becomes a Night Caste Solar while fighting him
  • Present Mic happens to be a Waxing Moon Lunar with a cockatoo totem
  • Tsuyu turns to be a No Moon Lunar and Gama's modern self
  • Hitoshi Exalts as a Sidereal of Journeys during the Entrance Exam
  • Bakugo becomes a Dusk Caste Abyssal.
  • Denki, Mina and Eijiro turn to be Dragon-Blooded with an Air Aspect, Water Aspect, and Earth Aspect, respectively.
  • Mezo Shoji hides the fact he is a Lunar, most likely with an octopus totem. Unfortunately, Izuku is unable to figure out his Caste.
• Adaptational Villainy: Rather than joining U.A., Bakugo becomes an Abyssal following Aizawa's Curse ruining his life.
• Arc Words:
  • "Once, there was a stripling (...) Light shines brighter." Each chapter begins with a short poem in the style of the Maidens' Scriptures and give Foreshadowing to the chapter.
  • "By Will or by Force": the two ways by which Japan's society will be changed. Izuku is the Will, and commonly refered as such by other Exalted characters.
• An Arm and a Leg: During the fight with Stain, Jin loses a hand protecting Michiro. Sadly for Stain, it confirms to Jin that he is indeed the original. Then the Unconquered Sun Exalts him...
• Arranged Marriage: Rinan was in one with Cynis Falen Belladona, with whom he shared a Friendly Rivalry. Sadly for everyone, it fell through after he became a Solar.
• Atomic F-Bomb: Eraserhead delivers a rather literal one through Sidereal magic, by uttering a Curse so absolutely profane it dooms Aldera and everyone tied to it except Izuku and the girl he was defending to see their accomplishments undone. It manifests by his anima banner tearing apart Aldera's Fate in the Loom and reweaving it in something deadlier.
• Awesomeness by Analysis: standard for Twilight Solars, but Izuku still manages to figure not only that Lemillion's golden lightning is a separate strength-enhancing Quirk (One for All) but also that he received it recently. Eraserhead informing Sir Nighteye of the fact sends him in a panic. He later figures out Yuga received his Quirk from someone through his knowledge of Quirks and anatomy.
• Beware the Nice Ones: Izuku is a sweet teenager and a Friend to All Living Things. He is also a Solar Exalted with all the perks and flaws involved. As Bakugo and his cronies discovered, messing with him is asking for trouble.
• Body Horror: The Deathlord called The Maiden in Bleeding Garments of Skin looks Exactly What It Says on the Tin. Her body is flayed and her dress is made of her own still-bleeding skin.
• Bullying a Dragon: Bakugo and his cronies knew Izuku had received a new power from someone that made him better at whatever he tried his hand. That didn't stop them from literally doing that by forcing him to watch a girl he had helped be beaten down. Since Izuku is a Solar Exalted, the results were predictable.
• Cluster F-Bomb: Izuku is usually polite. Under Limit Break, however, he delivers an angry, insult-laden rant to his classmates and teachers after bearing the eight bullies that were tormenting him and the girl.
• Combat Medic: Izuku plans to be a Rescue Hero focused on tending his comrades on the field, much like Recovery Girl. He is also studying Arms of the Unconquered Sun and Swaying Grass Style.
• Dance Battler: After Izuku proves to be skilled at breakdance, Michiro and Aizawa both agree teaching him Swaying Grass Style is a good idea. In the past, Mikumo was this as well thanks to his knowledge of the Style and used it to deadly effect against Peleps Taguro.
  • Downplayed with Lookshy, who uses group dances like the Madison to run coordination drills, as Amilar Sun-Dancer demonstrates.
• Dreaming Of Things Gone By: Every chapter, Izuku dreams of his past self, Mikumo, and his and his companions' journey through Creation.
• Dressing as the Enemy: Downplayed. Mikumo dyes his hair and tints his eyes green so people will mistake him as a Wood-Aspected Dragon Blood, which his talents in medicine further support. It doesn't always work.
• Familiar: Eraserhead occasionally employs Kuroi, a bakeneko Youkai as one.
• Fate Worse than Death: Stain muses that the Maiden loves when Dragon-Blooded die and he himself loves killing Pros. When he kills a Dragon-Blooded Pro, they turn their soul into soulsteel after celebrating.
• Friend to All Living Things: Izuku is gentle-hearted and doesn't hesitate to use his medical skills to patch a stray cat's leg. That said stray cat turns to be a bakeneko is a different story...
• Frog Men: Downplayed with Gama the Green Guide, Mikumo's Lunar mate. Having a Frog Totem, Gama naturally has frog traits like wider eyes and longer, oddly-bend legs while peppering his speech with "Ribbit!", but his appearance remains mostly human. The same applies to Gama's modern self, Tsuyu.
• Gone Horribly Right: Aizawa Cursed Aldera and all its people - except Izuku and the girl he was defending - to see their accomplishments come undone. Unfortunately for everyone, it ruined Bakugo's life so thoroughly he became an Abyssal. Oops ?
• Go Through Me: When Stain appears to "test" Izuku, Michiro steps between them even though he knows the Hero Killer's reputation and is absolutely terrified.
• Grievous Harm with a Body: while under Limit Break, Izuku uses Bakugo as an improvised club to great effect, even throwing him in their homeroom teacher.
• Groin Attack: Mikumo against Peleps Taguro ends with the Twilight faking being struck, then nailing Taguro between the legs with a springing kick. Gama somehow hears brass bells ringing when it happens...
• Happily Adopted: Eraserhead and Present Mic adopt Hitoshi shortly after the Entrance Exam, both because they had been talking about it for some time and because Hitoshi is a Sidereal like Eraserhead. The two make clear to their new son they intend to be Good Parents to him.
• Happily Married: Aizawa and Yamada are married and even considering adoption.
  • Mayfly–December Romance: Downplayed. Aizawa is a Sidereal Exalted whose lifespan has a strict limit of 5000 years. Yamada is a Lunar whose lifespan is somewhere around 3000 years, so twenty centuries less than his husband. They still love each other.
• Improv Fu: As he demonstrates in Cinder Falls, Mikumo is skilled at it. He tricks one group into falling through a weakness in the roof, lures a hellboar into bowling into another group and finally dumps a trunkload of wine barrels right on top of the last.
• Kick Chick: Being a Frog-totem Lunar - and Gama's modern self - Tsuyu is as good at kicking as Izuku.
• Lady and Knight: Stain and The Maiden share this dynamic. He finds her hopelessly beautiful and serves her faithfully and, in turn, the Maiden genuinely likes Stain and is a Benevolent Boss toward him.
• Le Parkour: Back in Creation, Rinan and Rayne were both skilled at it, though Rayne had an advantage on her brother thanks to being Air-Aspected. In modern times, Izuku is being taught by Michiro, who is himself an Air-Aspect Dragon-Blooded.
• Like Brother and Sister: Mikumo and Gama are mates, but their relationship is that of siblings rather than lovers, each calling the other "Brother."
• Love Epiphany: Kidale realizes he has fallen in love when he sees Mikumo defeat Peleps Taguro, the Dragon-Blooded who nearly killed him near Chiaroscuro.
• Martial Pacifist: neither Izuku nor Mikumo enjoy fighting, but that doesn't mean they can't. Mikumo beats two Wyld Hunters when they attack the village he was staying in while Izuku learned to make himself more durable while goading Bakugo and his cronies to attack him instead of their targets.
• Master Poisoner: The hat of House Cynis, and Cynis Wisel Argento is no exception. Sadly for him, the Abyssals who killed his family were immune to anything he had. After Exalting and becoming Fivefold-Tarnished Silver, he made a point of devising poisons specifically to kill Deathknights.
• The Medic: Mikumo / Ledaal Catala Rinan, even before his Exaltation. Becoming a Solar gave him a massive skill boost and allowed him to get rid of the poison killing his father... at the cost of alienating his entire family. Izuku has started studying medicine to become one as well.
• Moon Rabbit: Izuku / Mikumo's Anima Banner is a jade rabbit with golden wings and eyes. Their focus on medical skills means to evoke the image.
• Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: During his fight with Izuku, Michiro and Jin, Stain cuts the later's hand. Unfortunately for him, Jin had agreed to let Izuku dislocate his shoulder to see if he was the real one. Survviving the loss of his hand confirms the fact, which allows Jin to Zerg Rush the Hero Killer moments after Exalting.
• Odd Job Gods: Five-Branched Golden Path is the god of Decision and Change and works directly under Mercury, the Maiden of Journeys.
• Screw This, I'm Outta Here: after the Fall of Creation, the survivors took one look at what remained of it, told the just-healed Primordials they could have it, packed everything and left for greener pastures aboard Autochthon.
• Seers: Sir Nighteye already had Foresight. Here, he is a Chosen of Secrets, Sidereal Exalted whose very duty is to manage knowledge. Naturally, he has Charms that allow him to see the future - and he, Eraserhead and His Purple Highness use "Of Truths Best Unspoken" to see what tragedies await Izuku.
• Spared by the Adaptation: in the UDON Comics, Kidale ended accidentally dying at Demetheus's hands. In the fic, Mikumo and Gama were nearby and used the confusion to take him with them and patch him up.
• Stalker without a Crush: Eraserhead spends several days observing Izuku from a distance, in order to gather information on the teen to better befriend him.
• Stern Chase: Mikumo / Rinan's family has reluctantly sent a Wyld Hunt after him because, no matter how close they used to be, he is still a Solar, ergo: an Anathema. Mikumo has spent the past year running from them.
• Superhero School: Rather than the classical Hero Academy like U.A. or Shiketsu, this is Izuku's answer to alter society's status quo. Those schools would help people train their Quirks - which he rightfully points is a part of their user like an eye or a limb - and provide them with a licence confirming that yes, they know how to safely use their Quirk. Golden Path approves.
• Surprise Jump: upon being told Izuku figured a good deal of the truth behind One for All, Sir Nighteye jumps from his seat in a panic.
• Survivor's Guilt: Eraserhead still feels guilt over Shirakumo's death. When reuniting with his mentor, he asks him why Oboro had to die instead of him, as Aizawa considered him "better than me, in all the ways that matter".
• Teen Genius: Rinan was an un-Exalted graduate of the Heptagram. Let me repeat: un-Exalted. Graduate. Of the Heptagram. Those who succeed are extremely rare because of the school's curricullum and the overwhelming majority of Dragon-Blooded Dynasts. He did it thanks to his above-average medical skills.
• That Man Is Dead: As is custom with Abyssals, Bakugo casts away his name upon becoming a Dusk Caste, instead taking the name King of Explosive Murder.
• "The Reason You Suck" Speech: delivered by, of all people Venus, the Maiden of Serenity to the HPSC when she calls them out on attempting to enforce their "perfect society". Bakugo later tries to give one to Izuku about how he is naturally powerless and doesn't deserve his Exaltation. Izuku answers with Unstoppable Rage.
• This Is Unforgivable!: Eraserhead, upon witnessing Izuku being driven to Limit Break and losing his mind, decides Aldera is beyond saving and utters a Curse that thoroughly ruins the Fate of the school and anyone bound to it except Izuku and the girl he was trying to protect.
• Two Roads Before You: as Golden Path explains, Izuku has the choice between assuming his role as the Will of Change, or ignoring it and watch as the Force of Change makes society collapse. When Izuku notes it doesn't sound much like a choice, Golden Path retorts that the choice is very real. Both decisions are an option, and refusal can even work at times. But, indeed, if Force wins, it won't be pleasant. Izuku chooses to assume his role.
• Unstoppable Rage: Izuku's bullies decide to teach him a lesson on powerlessness by forcing him to watch a girl he previously protected being brutally beaten. Izuku summarily enters Limit Break and uses Bakugo as a club to get rid of them, eventually throwing the explosive blonde at his homeroom teacher.
• Verbal Tic: Being a Frog Totem Lunar, Gama naturally peppers his speech with "Ribbit!", not unlike Tsuyu. Given Tsuyu is Gama's modern self, it falls straight into Generation Xerox.
• We Do the Impossible: The Solars are so noteworthy for this people even have a saying: "Impossible simply means a Solar hasn’t tried hard enough yet."
• What You Are in the Dark: Faced with the Zero Pointer, which he can't affect with his Quirk, while it looms over Ochako and everyone but Izuku and Tsuyu is running away, Hitoshi decides to do the only thing he can and distracts it while the pair rescues Ochako. He Exalts as a Sidereal of Journeys in the process.
• You Can't Fight Fate: Japan's society is going to change one way or another. It is literally written in the Loom of Fate and, given its current status, the gods all firmly intend on making it happen. The biggest question is how.
• You Can't Go Home Again: after Exalting as a Solar , Rinan is forced to flee from home since his family is forced to send a Wyld Hunt after him. None of them like it, as not only was Rinan quite close to his family, he also Exalted to save his own father.

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