Verdant Revolution by KarraHazetail

Summary:

After slipping into a coma from a particularly savage villain attack following an equally savage beatdown from one Katsuki Bakugo it's a full year before Izuku awakens from his coma.

Who could imagine that in that year-long coma Midoriya spent a full eighteen years in another world?

What happens when Izuku comes back with his training and knowledge? When society isn't quite as perfect as he remembers?

Notes:

(See the end of the work for other works inspired by this one.)

Chapter 1: Chapter # 1| Sacrifice of a HeroNotes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

The world isn't a kind place. The world isn't even a fair place. Things happen because someone or something, somewhere, pushed them to happen. Be it the weather destroying coastline with floods and ceaseless waves or a criminal absconding with his loot leaving the battered and broken behind him. There is a reason that all things happen. One Midoriya Izuku had learnt that lesson long before this point and wasn't surprised to be learning the lesson once again. One of their own had betrayed them. A member of the defense militia that was defending the Elysium Installation had tipped the Phurians to their base of operations and their plans. Perhaps the refuge hadn't been with them from the beginning and was merely a wolf in sheep's clothing all along biding their time until they could ruin the hopes and dreams of the resistance. The Captain had always told him that he was too soft towards the rescued civilians. Perhaps she was right on that front. Regardless of what might be the case, now was neither the time nor the place for debates on his actions and the morality of them. The installation was still under assault, and until all of the civilians had made it through the gateway, they couldn't risk falling back from their positions. It was going to be a long day.

…

They were running low on supplies, and except for a handful of the defense militia and the four remaining members of the Black Cats, they were low on manpower as well. The Phurians were pushing them back steadily towards the command center and it was only a matter of time before their defensive line was broken through. The civilians were, finally, almost through the gateway and they would soon be able to blow the installation, leaving nothing but the ashes of the installation in a smoking crater for the Phurian High Command to sift through.

"Stewart," Midoriya called out over the roar of gunfire, bullets ricocheting off the tunnel walls and filling the air with dust. "We don't have all day here. Get those charges set. We need to pull back."

"Unless you want me to set off the facility charges with these and blow us all to hell and back, you'll have to give me a damn second." Steward shouts back to Midoriya, sweat beading on his brow, a bullet pinging off the barricade he was hidden behind to finish the wiring. "And... done. We're all clear sir."

"Everyone pull back to the command center!" Midoriya gave the orders with a practiced precision that came from his years as the second in command of the Black Cats.

"Go Stewart, I'm covering." Midoriya popped his head and rifle out around the corner of the barricade long enough to place several rounds down the hallway. The Phurian soldiers were forced back around the corner lest they take even more losses to their already mounting death toll. Those that weren't lucky enough to step back in time didn't have to worry about anything ever again. Midoriya took the momentary abatement of gunfire to sprint back around the corner, bullets once again raining down around them, and gave Stewart the signal. There was a single moment after that before the explosion went off and the tunnels rumbled almost as if the very mountain was going to come down on their heads in retribution for their actions. The rumbling stopped and everyone took a much-needed breath.

"That will buy us a few minutes while they reroute troops or try to get through the rubble," he muttered. Striding down the tunnel to the command center, Midoriya was struck by a sense of nostalgia. It had been only a couple years since the Black Cats had found the long-abandoned underground installation, but in those years they had certainly called it home and not just their base of operations. The labs where he spent countless hours working on both research and the squadron members augmentations. The armory where the members not only trained but maintained their gear. Even the living quarters held memories, despite how little time any of them spent there.

It is certainly going to be strange to say goodbye to her. But in the end, it's the start of a new beginning. At least those damn Phurians won't be getting her.

Midoriya walked into the command center and looked around for the Captain. The command center was densely packed with electronics. Charts of statistics and graphs of operations lined the walls and a main bank of systems lined one wall just in front of thick plate glass windows that overlooked a glowing sparking gateway through which a plain filled with refugees could be seen. Spotting the captain behind the main system overlooking the gateway, he stepped over and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"How's the evacuation going Rose? Better or Worse than we hoped?"

"Better, I would say." There was a hint of a musical lilt to Rose's voice when she spoke, each word subtly hinting at the origins of her upbringing. Midoriya would have smiled at that lilt. That would be the case were he not familiar with her inflections. As it was, he ended up with a noticeable crease forming in his brow and his mouth turning down into a frown.

"What's wrong. I know that tone and I know there is a but coming."

"Nothing major is wrong. We just sent the last of the supplies we stockpiled through the gate. The field is destabilizing, however, and I'm worried they won't end up where we sent them." Rose spoke softly just to Midoriya, being careful that the second part wasn't overheard. They had enough to worry about without adding the morale of the remaining members of the defense militia onto the pile.

"We can worry about that later. At least the supplies are on the other side. If that's everyone and everything accounted for, let's set the charge timer and get ourselves to the other worldline before som-" Midoriya was cut off by a loud rumble and the clinking of boots outside the door. Spinning on his heel and drawing his sidearm, he just managed to get it trained on the door when five Phurian troopers came through the sealed bulkhead. Pulling the trigger twice, he dropped two and threw his Ka-Bar through another trooper's throat. Rose had spun out of her chair, dropping the other two. Son of a-

"Status!" Midoriya yells out, checking on what remained of his squad.

"All good sir!" Weapon Sergeant Caroline Mayer called back. "Nearly took a few hits but managed to get the civies out the way in time."

"Good. All of you get ready. We're moving to the gateway and getting out of here in just a moment." Midoriya turned back to Rose, prepared to set the timer when he saw the sparking console filled with holes. "Well-"

"Fuck." Rose finished his sentence for him when she saw what he was looking at. "Fuck fuck FUCK. Can not a gods damned thing go right for us today." Kicking the sparking console only causes it to be a now dented sparking console filled with holes.

"Maybe it's our luck finally catching up to us." Mayer snorted at Stewarts' comment before seeing Rose's icy stare. While it was a long-running joke that the Black Cats' own luck would catch up with them, there was a time and place and this was neither. Midoriya took a deep breath, closing his eyes as he came to terms with what he was about to do.

"I've got it. Rose take everyone left and get through the gateway with them. I'll make sure those bastards don't get to follow you." Rose snaps around to stare at Midoriya, eyes wide with shock and a bit of horror.

"My ass you will. You'll never make it out in time. There has to be another way Izuku." Izuku gave her a small, sad smile, already tapping away on another terminal that was still functional.

"We both know I have no choice. A remote bypass is impossible from on this worldline, much less the other because of our own countermeasures. None of us have time to bypass them before the Phurians take full control of this facility. No, I won't be coming with you." Rose opened her mouth as if to argue with Midoriya before closing her mouth and clenching her jaw.

"Please Rose. I need to do this. It was My Project. It was My Work. My Responsibility. Would have liked to see what's the other side myself though. Oh well. I'm sure you'll do fine without me." Rose was about to retort, only to be distracted by another not so distant rumble.

"Fine. Everyone heard the man. Get down the stairs and get through the gateway." Rose picked up her rifle from where it was leaning against the now defunct console, then headed towards the staircase off the right side of the command center. She stopped just before the stairs and looked back to Midoriya. "I'm sorry." Rose's voice cracked in sorrow. Sorrow for losing another Black Cat. Another member of her family. For losing Izuku. For the first time since that day started, he gave Rose her a full, radiant smile that could have blinded someone in another time and place.

"Had to be me. Someone else might have gotten it wrong." Midoriya continued to tap away at the console, watching through the glass as his close friends and family stepped through the gateway. Rose turned and gave him one last look of regret and self-loathing before stepping through the gateway.

It was only a few minutes later when he had finished priming the reactors that he heard the heavy bootsteps behind him. He picked up the detonator and turned with a smile on his face. Through the door stepped General Norwood himself. Six and a half feet of muscle and scar tissue with salt and pepper hair. His generally clean-shaven face had a fine layer of stubble on it and his eyes had heavy bags under them as if he hadn't gotten any rest during the last day either. The man may have been in his mid-fifties, but he was absolutely not a man to be trifled with.

"And what pray tell have I done to warrant a visit from his most magnificent of the high command himself." Midoriya still smiled as the general's eyes locked with his in recognition, his face contorting in disgust and loathing.

"The rat has been chased into its hole and yet, cornered, it still dares ask its superior what it has done wrong." The General rumbles his response, multiple Phurian Troopers coming in behind him and fanning out, each pointing their rifles at Midoriya's chest. "But to answer your question. You needn't worry, as your little rebellion ends here." Midoriya's smile settled into a feral grin.

"Oh, on that General, we do agree." Norwood, finally noticing the switch in Midoriya's hand, cries out. His cries are simply lost as Midoriya closes his eyes and the world flashes to white.

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Beep...

...

Beep...

Midoriya's eyes snap open at the sound. The smell of antiseptics is harsh in the air and his body feels weak as if he hasn't moved in a long time.

What's going on here? The last thing I remember is pulling the trigger on the detonator. That was an explosion with the force of all three of the fusion reactors in the power center, not to mention the charges all over the facility. Nothing should have escaped that blast. In fact, there shouldn't be anything left of the mountain range but ashes. Where am I? How am I alive? Am I alive?

Midoriya looked around, taking in his surroundings for the first time since he had awoken so suddenly. He was in some kind of hospital gown, that much was obvious, and the view outside of the window looked like Japan, but that was impossible. He couldn't be back. Could he? When he looked to his left, he expected to find the IV in his arm leading to some kind of solution and machines. Instead, he encountered a very surprised nurse whose mouth was open in shock.

"Uhm. Hello?" Midoriya asked. The nurse snapped out of it and spoke in Japanese.

"You're awake."

"Well yes, that would be expected if I'm speaking with you." The nurse snaps her mouth closed as she realizes that he was indeed awake and talking to her.

"I need to get the doctors right now." With that, the nurse ran out of the room, leaving the door open in her rush.

Midoriya chuckled at her panic. He would still be here when she got back. Leaning back he started contemplating what had happened. If I really am back in Japan, I wonder if anything has changed.

The doctors came fast after the nurse left the room. Asking him a million questions to verify that he was still all there. Drawing blood, asking questions, drawing more blood, asking more questions. This went on for some time before he realized they were calling him by his name. To them, he is Midoriya Izuku. No one but the Black Cats knew that name. He hadn't gone by that name in years. He really was back in Japan, wasn't he?

It wasn't until his mother busted into his hospital room, tears already pouring down her cheeks, that it sank in that this was real. That he is back in Japan. That he is fourteen again. When his mother wrapped him in her embrace for the first time in eighteen years, that some part of Izuku that he had buried away snapped. In his mother's arms, he broke and sobbed with her for the first time in far too long.

Notes:

Hello everyone! This is my first foray into story writing after reading far too much from this fandom myself. Feedback is appreciated as this will be the first of many chapters to come.