How on Earth?
is a Codename: Kids Next Door Fan Fic by RubyWings91. It can also be found here on Ao3.
Summary on FanFiction.Net: AU. Starts near the end of Operation Zero. What would have happened if the plan to launch the moon base at Grandfather had failed? Numbah Zero said there was no way on earth to defeat Grandfather, hopefully he was wrong.
Noted for exploring the relationship between the Unos, and particularly one where Nigel and Grandfather actually meet.
How on Earth provides examples of:
- Abusive Parents: The Unos, at least every other generation.
- Big, Screwed-Up Family: The Unos. Grandfather's grandmother (Nigel's great-great grandmother) isolated him from the entire world for over a year, and forced him to choose which parent he wanted to see more whenever he was allowed a visit. Monty has heard loads of stories like that over the years, and notes that Grandfather must think he is a far better grandparent for allowing Nigel's parents to interact with him.
- Cruel to Be Kind: A distraught Nigel accidentally burns his father. Grandfather forces Monty to show his son the burns so Nigel will be aware of the true scope of the power he now wields.
- Empowered Badass Normal: Grandfather awakens the already badass Numbuh 1's latent fire/shadow powers in Chapter Five.
- Ensemble Cast: While Nigel and Grandfather are ostensibly the main characters, everyone gets a chance to shine in the limelight.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Grandfather, Evil Overlord and all, is genuinely fond of his biological family, including Nigel. He just has a...skewed way of showing it, due to his own messed up childhood.
- Fighting from the Inside: It's implied that a citi-zombified Numbuh 362 isn't completely loyal.
- For Want Of A Nail: A world where Grandfather won.
- Instant Expert: Discussed by Grandfather when Mr.Boss asks whether if awakening Nigel's potential for the Uno family's powers is a bad idea, the former dismissing any concerns due to his beliefs that these powers take time to develop. The only thing Grandfather is worried about is if Nigel will be left alone to his own devices or if Monty tries to take him away from him.
- La Résistance: Those that managed to either avoid or reverse being citi-zombified, led by the rest of Sector V.
- "Not So Different" Remark: When watching videos of some of Nigel's adventures from previous episodes, both Grandfather and Monty note that Nigel can be very vindictive and cruel, not unlike his evil relatives.
- Parental Favoritism: Grandfather's favoritism even extends to his own grandchildren. He is far more fond of his rebellious biological grandson than his obedient, adoptive grandchildren, in an eerie parallel to his relationship with his own sons.
- Puberty Superpower: The reason Monty doesn't have his powers is because he lacked an appropriate trigger to awaken them within the age window. The same thing would've probably happened to Nigel had Grandfather not gotten his hands on him.
- Relationship Upgrade: Wally and Kuki finally confess their feelings for each other and become a couple — or at least as much of a couple as two ten year olds can be.
- Villain Respect: Unlike Father, Grandfather is very appreciative of his biological grandson's many skills and feats. Then again, Grandfather wasn't the one getting his plans constantly foiled.
- Villain Takes an Interest: Nigel is very unhappy that Grandfather has become interested in him. An interest that becomes even stronger when Nigel's powers manifest and he starts showing an uncanny ability to control them.
- Villainous Legacy: Father and Grandfather are just the latest in a long line of supervillains from the Uno family. Monty and his line are the first to reject the "family business", so to speak, something that Grandfather intends to correct.
