“Hey. Uh, Johnny?” Danny said awkwardly, “What does it mean when one of the older ghosts calls you their favored and why does it freak people out?”
Johnny 13 gave the halfa a bewildered look, “Dude. Didn’t you listen to Death? At all?”
“Death?” Danny scrunched his face, “What do you mean? I don’t…”
“Wait.” Johnny straightened, “You’ve talked with Death, right? She explained-?”
Danny shook his head, confused, “Was I supposed to?”
“When you first died, she’s supposed to appear. She gives a whole spiel and then transfers a bunch of information.” Johnny frowned, “She did it for Plasmius, so it’s not a halfa thing.”
“Oh.” Danny looked down, “What if… What if someone died and came back a few times very quickly? Would that… Would that cause any problems?”
Johnny stilled, horrified, “Ok. Look, do you want to talk about your death? Because I’m not asking if you don’t, but...”
“I guess…” Danny said, “So you know that my parents made the portal, right?”
“Yeah.” Johnny said.
“They’d been trying to do it for a long time. Plasmius actually worked with them for a while back when they were in college. It’s why all of their tech is similar in design.” Danny explained, “They built the thing, plugged it in, turned it on… and nothing.”
“But it works now.” Johnny frowned.
“Yeah. It does.” Danny nodded, “But remember my friends? Sam and Tucker?”
“The edgy emo and the computer geek?”
“As Sam’s friend, I am obligated to inform you that she is goth not emo… but yes, those two.” Danny smiled sadly, “My mom and dad were upset. They left the house and Jazz was working her shift at a library. The whole house was empty and I was… you know. A normal teenager home alone.”
Johnny snorted at that, “Ah yes. A completely normal teenager
“Yeah, yeah. The point is, the first thing I did after being left home alone was call my friends over.” Danny rolled his eyes, “Told them what happened and… It was Sam who suggested we go down there first — she’s always been into ghost and occult stuff — and look around. Tucker was down, because it was tech even if we didn’t think most of the tech would work. He wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity to mess around with it. Jazz had given me some lectures on lab safety — my parents don’t usually follow it themselves — and I had a bad feeling so I put on the Hazmat suit.”
“That’s not a superhero costume you came up with?” Johnny asked, eyes widening.
“No, um. It’s a hazmat suit. The only way I changed my form was the insignia and even then that was Sam’s idea.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, but um….” Danny paused, “We wound up standing outside the portal. It wasn’t working or anything, but there was a big spooky metal hole in the wall. You know, the kind of thing you’d expect in sci-fi movies. Sam dared me to go in and I was nervous. That bad feeling just intensified, but again — fourteen. I wasn’t being smart about it. So… I went into it. I kept going and it was dark. I was turning back when I tripped and I flailed. Accidentally hit some button that was on the side and it turned on.”
Johnny took a sharp breath.
“And um. Did you know that the portal takes a lot of electricity to start up?” Danny joked weakly, “Took three blocks worth. Um, lots of ectoplasm, too — from both the zone and the artificial stuff my parents use.” He shuffled, “So um, turns out both those things can revive and kill people. So I just kind of — died and revived a lot until it turned on and basically spat me out into the lab.
“That’s - Kid…”
“So um, maybe since I was dying and reviving so much death didn’t have a chance to fill me in? Honestly, would have like the heads up.” Danny said sheepishly, “I didn’t even understand what had happened until ghosts started coming through the portal.”
“Seriously?”
Danny shrugged, “I mean, I kind of suspected. I was falling through floors. It was hard to ignore, but I didn’t know - My parents are good inventors, but not the best scientists and it made things hard to figure out.”
“What? You bought that whole non-sentient BS?”
“No.” Danny shook his head, “I just didn’t buy any of it — and I mean none of it. I wanted nothing to do with the whole thing. The whole town thought my parents were crazy, they were always in the lab working, and I only ever saw them briefly once or twice a day. Don’t get me wrong. They’re still my parents and I love them, but… they have two big priorities. Their work and their kids. Their work is just… a higher priority to them.”
“Oh.” Johnny cringed, “Oh. Kid…”
“So yeah. Life sucks. Death sucks… but I really need to know what to do and why Ember is freaking out over me being called ‘favored one’.”
“Uh, right.” Johnny paused, “Well, it’s like old ghost language. Um. Basically, it’s like being called a really, really close friend or adopted family. Kind of like… ‘hey, this is my person that I love and protect’. It’s platonic unless they specify otherwise.”
“Huh, okay.” Danny blinked, “That makes sense, but why would Ember freak out?”
“Well… who called you that?”
“Oh! Clockwork and Pandora call me that when I visit.”
Johnny blanched, “What?”
“And now you’re freaking out, too.”
“You’ve been just- Kid! Are you just casually talking to them?”
“Um, yeah? They said it was okay?”
“Do you know nothing about the hierarchy of the- Wait. No. You didn’t get to talk to Death. Of course you don’t-“ Johnny sighed — covering his eyes, “Okay, so do you know what the ancients are?”
“I thought that was just a saying.”
“No, it’s not-” Johnny pinched the bridge of his nose, “The Ancients are the most powerful spirits in the Zone. They’re ghosts, but they resemble ideals more than they do a person most of the time. Practically gods. The ancients are Undergrowth, Frostbite, Nocturne, Pandora, Clockwork, Vortex, and Pariah Dark. Thing is… where most ghosts plateau at a certain power level the ancients can just keep growing in power. Clockwork is one of the strongest — so strong, the Observants bound him to their will.”
“Yeah, I heard about that, but he’s really nice, you know.” Danny smiled, “And he makes really good cookies really fast.”
Johnny stared at Danny for a long moment, “Danny. Do you not hear yourself right now? He’s basically the god of time.”
“Yeah, but if he didn’t want me to visit, I wouldn’t be able to find him.” Danny shrugged, “So he told me if I can see the clocktower, I’m welcome to come in.”
“Kid…”
“Besides. I’m friends with half of those guys and they’re cool.”
“Wha- How many ancients do you know?”
“Um… All the ones you just listed? I’m friends with Frostbite, Pandora, and Clockwork. I fought Undergrowth, Vortex and Nocturne before, but Nocturne likes me now. Um, Undergrowth doesn’t like me, though. Loves Sam, though… Um, obviously I know who Pariah Dark is after the whole thing in Amity-“
Johnny stilled, “Wait a minute… Kid. I need you to answer me honestly here… Did Pariah ever mention a challenge when you fought him?”
“Well, um. I guess? He was all formal speak, though, so…”
“Kid.” Johnny said very slowly, “Did he ever issue a challenge or accept a challenge from you?”
“… Um. He did say that he accepted my challenge or something, but wasn’t that just fight-talk or…”
“I think I get it now.” Johnny sighed, facepalming, “Just… maybe don’t tell people about this and consider asking one of the ancients allies you have about what Pariah accepting your challenge means for you.”
“For me? What-“
“Just… give it some thought.” Johnny paused, “And- Well, I can talk to Ember for you, yeah?”
“Thanks.”
—
Danny curled up on a sofa as Pandora embraced him with three arms and ran her fourth hand through his hair.
“Pandora.” Danny said softly, “Some of my friends say you, Frostbite, and Clockwork are ancients.”
“They are correct.”
“I didn’t know what ancients were.”
“I noticed.” Pandora laughed a bit, “But you’re a sweet child. You helped me get my box back and did not demand my favor. Perhaps it was selfish not to tell you, but I didn’t want to distress you. You are a kind and humble soul. Is it such a surprise I wish to continue seeing you?”
“You thought I would stop if I did?” Danny asked, confused, “I mean, sure my other friends were shaken up by it, but they don’t know you. Why would I be afraid when you’re so nice?”
Pandora blinked and then smiled warmly — a little laugh pulling from her throat. Oh, the innocence of such a young spirit, “Why, indeed? I suppose I didn’t give you or myself enough credit, did I?”
Danny shrugged, “I don’t have room to judge people for being different anyway. I’m a halfa. Pretty sure that’s even rarer than being an Ancient, right?”
“I suppose that is true.” Pandora smiled, “There are only a few halfas and none are quite like you. There will only ever be one of you.”
“Does this have something to do with why I never got to meet death?” Danny asked, confused, “That’s the only thing I can find that seems all that different-“
“In a way… Yes, but there are many more differences. The main one is that you powers have grown beyond Vlad Masters and they continue to do so.” Pandora said, “You are what we call a ‘Juna Potenco’. Most realms will never have heard of such things, but us ancients do not forget and when faced with a gift like yourself… well, you’ll only see more of us with time.”
“What does that mean? Is it bad?”
“No, no. It is a gift, not a punishment.” Pandora promised, “You are an inspiring soul, favored one, and it seems the realms themselves have seen that.”
“That doesn’t sound right.” Danny pulled away and sat up as he shook his head, “I’m a halfa, but that’s what I am. It doesn’t say anything about who I am. There isn’t anything special about who I am.”
“Everyone else disagrees with that last statement.” Pandora shook her head, “But I will let you in on the secret.”
“Yeah?”
“These are not due to your half spirit nature, but something truly special.” Pandora cupped his cheek, “Danny, do you truly wish to know? As amazing as this is, I am not sure you will be ready for the truth just yet.”
“I’m - I’ve been debating what colleges to apply for, but… I don’t know if any of them will take me now with my grades. I still look fourteen — fifteen at the oldest… and I still feel fourteen.” Danny looked at Pandora with pleading eyes, “So if this would impact my future, I think I’d like to know. Before things get complicated.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Suddenly, everything froze.
Danny looked up to see Clockwork putting a medallion on Pandora while Frostbite gave him a smile.
“I presume you’re here to assist in informing him?” Pandora asked.
“Indeed.” Frostbite nodded.
“Informing me of what?” Danny asked, confused.
“When you went to face Pariah Dark, you stated your intention to fight him.” Clockwork said, “And he accepted your challenge. You fought in single combat, removed the Crown of Fire from his head, and then managed to get him into the Sarcophagus of Forever Sleep.”
“Vlad-“
“Plasmius might have locked the Sarcophagus, but you have repeatedly bested him and even when he has gotten the best of you, it has not been in single combat. However, Plasmius at one point claimed your fight was a ‘fun challenge’. You agreed — officially accepting it as such. When you defeated him, he lost any fragile claim to the throne.”
“Claim to the- Wait. What are you saying?” Danny glanced between them, “What? No. No… you have to be kidding me. I’m just me. I was trying to help, not-“
“Child, your soul was always going to be tied to the zone one way or another.” Pandora said, “Mortality is already a fragile thing, but someone so surrounded by ectoplasm at a young age all while experiencing the struggles you did with your parents absence… it was inevitable that you would be a powerful ghost.”
“But, then, Great One.” Frostbite continued, “You stood fully emerged in the space between worlds and thought of protection and forgiveness — mercy. You did not even consider vengeance or desires of your own. Only the wellbeing of others. It is an act of great sacrifice and not one many can complete so fully.”
“To put it simply, Danny.” Pandora said, “You’re one of us, Juna Protenco. New and young power that will grow infinitely. Though you are far from ancient, you will be with time.”
“An ancient to be.” Danny said distantly.
“The Ancient of Protection, Space, Mercy, and Matter.” Clockwork turned into his newborn form, “The best candidate for king we’ve had in a long time. Though, perhaps I am a bit biased.”
“Does it have something to do with space-time?” Danny guessed, “Because Matter, Time, and Space…”
“Correct.” Clockwork smirked, “Matter tells spacetime how to curve, and curved spacetime tells matter how to move. I guide you and you make changes that I will use to guide you again.”
Dannu blinked, “Oh. I get it.”
“You do?” Pandora blinked.
“That’s domains for you.” Frostbite chuckled and then quickly explained when Danny gave him a confused look, “We all innately understand our domains and their meanings. My domain is progression, society, and advancement.”
“Mine is responsibility, hope, protection, and perseverance.” Pandora revealed.
“Indeed.” Clockwork transformed into the middle aged man again, “But now that you know of your future, we must prepare.” He put his hand on Danny’s shoulder, “Your coronation must happen by the time you turn eighteen. As Ghost King, you will need to learn some diplomatic skills. We will teach you while you finish your human schooling.” Clockwork promised, “You can tell your parents the truth or you can say you are simply leaving for college, but Maddie and Jack Fenton cannot move to the Zone with you. Your sister is welcome. Your friends are welcome, but unfortunately…”
“I understand.” Danny lowered his head, “I don’t think I’ll tell them just yet. Maybe I’ll leave a note or a video, but…”
Clockwork’s eyes glazed over briefly — clearly checking the timeline.
“That is a good idea.” Clockwork nodded.
“Okay.” Danny swallowed, “I can’t -”
“No.” Clockwork said, “Honored as these two would be, they have their duties and people. They cannot. I am both bound by the Observants and a little too prone to acts of selfishness. It is too much power for me. No. It must be you.”
“You’re not selfish. You helped me.” Danny tilted his head, confused.
Clockwork chuckled guiltily as Pandora made a face and Frostbite shifted awkwardly.
“There is a reason people fear me, Danny.” Clockwork seemed more amused than anything by the sudden awkwardness, “I appreciate your trust in me, but I was not so good or kind in life. I hold domain over regret and retribution as well as time. It is a position I earned after giving and getting both in equal measure. I am not a protective spirit by nature. I am one that seeks justice and sometimes revenge.”
“I don’t get it.” Danny frowned, confused.
“Soon, you will.” Clockwork said grimly, “But for now… Trust me when I say all is as it should be.”
“Okay.” Danny said, “I trust you.”
“Now, time in.” Clockwork said. When Danny tried to give him the medallion he shook his head, “No, hold onto it. I believe it goes without saying, but do not lose it.”
“I know. I won’t.” Danny promised.
“Good, now… I believe you have some friends to talk to?”
“Er, right!” Danny said and rushed off.
“He doesn’t know who you are?” Frostbite turned to Clockwork, “And you haven’t told him?”
“… He’ll learn during his studies.” Clockwork admitted begrudgingly, “And it’s best that he come to me after he processes the information than during.”
“Just remember, Kronos.” Pandora glared as she handed over her medallion, “One wrong move-“
“Yes, yes, I am very aware of your opinions of me, Keeper of Hope.” Clockwork held a hand to Frostbite, “Shall I take you back to your people?”
“Er, yes.”
“Good, then-“
“Hey! I was not finished-“
“TIME OUT!”
Pandora sighed as they disappeared, “Ugh. He is always such a petty menace. One of these days…”
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Love Beyond Mortality CHp 8
(Filthy Pride pt3)
“Why can’t I have the blue-haired soldier guy!?”
“Because you already claimed his brother!”
“You’re really gonna separate them!”
“Oh please you don’t really about that, so yes I am!”
“Hot head!”
“Know-it-all Bitch!”
“Picky asshole!”
“Alright alright you two, now who are you picking to be your main?” Asked Allmight, both of the younger gods huffed at each other rolling their eyes.
“Oh, I told you already Allmight” Stated Momo, Allmight nodded.
“Ah that’s right Yuu’s found you one already! Good good, now what about you Young Bakugou?”
“Ugh I don’t fucking know, none of them looked strong enough to even begin to hold my power for even a millisecond, weak couple of pansies.” He grumbled out, Allmight then reminded him of the boy that caught his eyes during the tournament.
“Oh but what about that young green-haired boy with the butterfly clip?”
“What about him?”
“I saw how you looked at him during his final flag capture and you seemed invested.”
“Yeah, he was cool or whatever, looked like a scrawny rat though.”
“And! I know his family, his father used to be a prime devotee to a goddess I knew. If I’m right about this then he should have no problem absorbing your power with a little bit of training.” This seemed to intrigue Katsuki's side eying Yagi with interest.
“Oh really?” Allmight nodded and sat down in front of him with a smug smile.
“Yes, I recognize that Butterfly clip anywhere, and I’m sure you could feel the energy practically radiating, no meer mortal could withstand its energy without such an ability. Not many mortals are born with it either!”
“Fine fine, I guess I’ll take the weakling.”
“Good, I shall let him know as soon as possible.”
“Oh Izuku, I’m so proud of you!” Cheered Inko, she tackled him in a hug when her son had come home, and as promised Katsudon was made just for him! Izuku was beaming with pride even if he was soaking wet, caked in blood, while wearing shredded clothes. He had made it through! He had gotten the last flag! Now all he had to do was wait to hear back. He let his mother fix up any injuries he had sustained, changed his clothes after cleaning himself up, and ate his katsudon happily.
It had taken a few days before the delivery man said there was a hologram for him. Upon opening it Izuku was greeted by a hologram of Allmight.
“Hello young mortal! If you are receiving this hologram, you have been selected as a prime devotee to the god of war and the sun!” Izuku almost passed out right then and there hearing the hologram’s message. He did it! He really did it! He’s been accepted! He made it!
“MOM I MADE IT!” He shouted vibrating with excitement as he ran to his mother to show him the message. Inko looked shocked but congratulated him, of course, they celebrated his achievement. However there was still a feeling in Inko’s stomach she could never get rid of. She truly was proud of her son for this accomplishment, this was a huge deal! That didn’t stop her from being terrified of losing him, that didn’t make her feel better about him going off to fight in a war potentially! She worried that he would be taken advantage of and used, but. She couldn’t stop him, not now, she wouldn’t do that to him. Not when he’s worked so hard and fought for his life to get here! She knew from watching Hisashi in their younger years. She was grateful the goddess he worked with was understanding and kind-hearted. Yet Inko knew not all were like her. Inko spent many nights praying to the goddess to look after Izuku, lend him her strength if anything was possible!
Izuku had been curious about when he’d meet the sun god face to face and when training would start but he had not received any word until one morning.
Bang bang bang
There was a hard knock on their home and workshop door early in the morning. Izuku was preparing himself and his mother breakfast before school, while Inko prepped her shop for reopening. She put down her broom and walked over, she figured it was just an emergency client though when she opened the door she couldn’t have been any more wrong!
“Miss Midoriya Inko, good morning!” Allmight greeted with a bright smile on the other side of the threshold, Inko looked up at the god wide-eyed. She quickly gathered herself and smiled back while stammering out a return.
“Oh! King A-Allmight, go-good morning to you too! Wh-what brings you here?”
“Oh, no need to call me that, you know my name dear. And I’m sorry for the unexpected visit but I figured young Bakugou -the god who your son has been chosen by- should meet you and him in person.” Allmight then pulled Katsuki into the frame by his shoulder, he didn’t seem all to pleased to be there but not angry, more so indifferent. He did seem like a teenager so that sort of behavior wasn’t uncommon immortal or not.
“Ah I see, um well come on in, sorry for the mess, I was cleaning up not long ago.” She replied sheepishly while stepping to the side allowing the two gods inside her home.
“It's not a problem, this place is rather tidy, I see you’re still helping out the citizens like before.”
“Oh yes, it's never a dull day with this job but it's enjoyable, it keeps me on my toes.”
When the two entered Izuku couldn’t hear them over the roaring stove’s fire and sizzling of meat in the frying pan but he could sense them. A warm fiery energy, giving off a low frequency like a sleeping volcano. And another that gave off the feeling that a storm was coming.
“Who’s at the door, Mom?” Izuku asked, the energy grew stronger and stronger and the sound of the floorboards creaking as if more people had entered.
“Allmight and the young god who selected you!” Izuku almost froze in place, his head whipped around to see both Katsuki and Allmight standing just a few feet from the kitchen! Izuku was too stunned to speak, these two gods were in his home! It wasn’t until Inko asked if they wanted anything to eat, offering that it wouldn’t be of much trouble to do it that Izuku snapped out of it.
“That would be lovely if you don’t mind, the boys have quite a few things to get done.”
Izuku furrowed his brows and asked if he was still going to school or how it would affect his schooling.
“Don’t worry, you wont have to worry much about your school attendance, teacher wise they do not make much of a fuss about it.” He didn’t know how true that really was, when he did return to school after the tournament many of his teachers seemed surprised he even came back. Some muttered about how it was a shame he had survived in contrast to some of his peers who went and never came back! Many of his teachers and peers questioned whether or not he chickened out due to his comeback but he had the scars to prove it. He did not tell them that he had received an acceptance message so if his attendance waned they’d figure it out soon.
Izuku pushed his worries from his mind as he added more meat, rice and eggs to his pan while the others talked at the table close by.
“Inko its been quite some time since I’ve visited you but must I say you have a wonderful son! The strength he already has around divine energy is incredible!” Complimented Yagi, Inko smiled and told him he gets it from his father. Yagi brushed it off and added to it.
“From what I can tell he may get it from you! Your affinity to the divine and immortals is just as strong as your tolerance for their energy.”
“R-really?”
“Oh yes usually both parents need to be able to handle this sort of energy for it to be passed down to their offspring when the threshold is this strong, it couldn’t have been just Hisashi alone.” Izuku was curious about this he had heard in passing about divine energy and how some people did not do well around it, even the smallest amount of an sudden uptick would cause some sot of negative reaction for some. This posed a problem for serious devotees who would die trying to call upon their god’s power or have to suffer some sort of agonizing pain whether it was mental or physical.
Once breakfast had been served Izuku seated himself across from Yagi and Katsuki.
“So what’s your quirk?” Asked Katsuki, Izuku felt his blood run cold, his heart stopped and his face paled at his question.
“What is it shitty or something, ya look like I just killed your sheep.” Katsuki was blunt and hard in his tone, Izuku was praying for the ground to swallow him at this moment. He knew that one day they’d ask about if he had a quirk or not though he wished it wouldn’t be so soon! Well there went his dreams, right down the toilet, he’d certainly reject him now!
“i-I…I don’t have o-one.” He answered timidly, Katsuki raised furrowed his brows for a second as if he were trying to register what Izuku had just told him. Izuku was waiting for it, to be burned, to be hit, laughed at, called cruel names, anything!
“Ugh, alright, that might make this somewhat easier.” What?
“Wh-what?”
“You not having a quirk, yeah not fucking ideal but means there’s just different shit to work on, means I don’t need to make you balance a quirk and my powers. Just means I’m gonna have to whip your scrawny ass into shape.” His heart began to beat again, his blood finally making it back to his brain, and his fear slowly dissipated. Inko was still there to ground him with small back rubs.
“He’s been through a lot when it comes to people finding out he’s quirkless, hence the anxious reaction.” She explained, the all-fathering god nodded in understanding and looked to Izuku.
“As gods, we’ve had to learn and adapt our approach to things as you mortals grow and evolve like customs, physical changes, religious changes, structural the list goes on!” This seemed to ease Izuku’s anxiety, there really was a possibility of him becoming a devotee!
“Y-Yagi….I-I know I sound like a mother hen here but I’m sure you can understand my fear when I say this….I want Izuku to do what makes him happy but I don’t want to lose him.” Inko stated shakily, Yagi flashed a loving smile at her and took her small hands in his. Blue eyes meeting bright green.
“Your son is in good hands, he has a fighting spirit, one that won't rest until he gets what he wants. Hisashi would be beyond proud of him. Izuku will be alright, dear, I promise."
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