«Ah, so it truly is all over. It's hard to believe that everything has come to an end; it's… how was it said? Ah, yes—unthinkable, to measure such a drastic change in routine; going from being a hero all the time to returning to boring classes, where no one recognizes me, where I'm just one more among many.»
Because yes, this is the story of an anonymous hero who traveled across the entire United States facing threats that not only endangered citizens, but even came to put the entire planet at risk. He was a child—yes—and as surprising as it may sound, one who did his job far too well; there was plenty of proof of that, at least his losing streak remained at 0. He possessed an unknown artifact that fell from the stars, a watch made with extraterrestrial technology, born from the mind of the most intelligent being in five galaxies. It granted its user the ability to transform into different alien species, transmitting to the bearer both their biological abilities and their disadvantages.
«I would've loved to unlock more transformations, but it seems it'll be impossible for a while…»
He started with ten: Four Arms, Heatblast, Diamondhead, Ghostfreak, Wildmutt, Grey Matter, Stinkfly, Upgrade, Ripjaws, and XLR8, and then more were unlocked—Cannonbolt, Wildvine, Upchuck, Ditto, Arctiguana, Feedback, Eye Guy. A living arsenal; each species excelled in at least one aspect, granting Izuku an enormous variety of powers—albeit with limitations.
Izuku didn't know it, but the watch was a prototype, a sketch or blueprint of a one-of-a-kind project: an ark with limitless capacity—or at least one that expanded to make room for every existing species in the universe, giving each species on the brink of extinction a chance. But let's not get ahead of ourselves; such a purpose lay far beyond the mind of a ten-year-old boy. To him, it was a tool much like a stick used to hit school bullies who harassed other kids, a tool that helped others—and that was what mattered most.
There was no room for treaties between two forces that safeguarded the Earth (and those who lived on it) and a being from the stars with an unparalleled mind, yet guilty of the same banal mistakes of a species millions of years behind. No, none of that mattered—not before, and much less now—because for at least several semesters, this hero would live in the shadow of what he once was. No longer criminals or aliens; now he would battle school bullies, the indifference of classmates (for he was never as good at making friends as he was at defeating villains), or homework and long classroom lectures that lulled children to sleep.
«Goodbye, Vilgax, my former number one enemy. We meet again, homework—it's time to be a hero.»
And that was the last "encouraging" thought he had before falling asleep, reluctant to do so but forced by his grandfather Max Tennyson, because resting was more important than enjoying the little time left in the Rustbucket before reaching Fuyuki, his home. He gazed one last time at the stars lighting up the window, contemplating the origin of that artifact that had brought him so much happiness—so much excitement and joy, accompanied by a few frustrations, fears, and anxieties—but which had allowed him to save people, to be someone.
He closed the curtains and turned toward his adventure companion, a red-haired girl sleeping peacefully, beautiful and radiant, both the same and different from the first time they had met. He had grown used to seeing her every time he woke up; she joined him at breakfast and in his complaints about his grandfather's cooking, and she had accompanied him in every battle.
«We only have a few days left together. After this, I'll be alone again. She'll return to the United States; with her intelligence she'll be the best in her class and become popular, she'll have many friends and fall in love with someone just as outstanding as she is—because she's no longer as cold as before, because this trip changed her, changed us both… But I'll stay the same, alone. Who am I without this watch? Nobody. Detaching myself from this life scares me so much that I don't want to go home; it dulls the longing I have to see Mom again, to sit with her and talk about the things I didn't do this summer—and Toshinori, whom I consider a father.»
«Red hair like the sunset, green eyes like emeralds, short hair and a sharp tongue; one of the smartest girls I know, tough and compassionate, afraid of no one if it means protecting the defenseless. I couldn't have chosen a better adventure partner.»
He didn't want her to wake up and think him strange, so he only took one last look before sleeping. He wanted to remember his only friend, because deep down in his heart, he feared that these vacations wouldn't be as memorable for her as they were for him; he feared that once she returned home and went on with her life, she would forget him like everyone else.
Soon he closed his eyes, arms behind his green hair, squeezing his bright eyes shut with such force—filled with negative expectations—that the freckles on his cheeks were pulled upward. And just as he closed them, he gave in to sleep; with it came peace and tranquility, because in the world of his subconscious there was no day when vacations ended. In his youthful, heroic mind, those days were eternal: they fought villains, ate beneath a starry sky, and defeated evil again and again, all in an endless cycle.
And at the very end, as he was about to wake up, he saw himself holding hands with the girl he had met just a month earlier, and shame overwhelmed him for even thinking such a thing—because he saw the future, one where they weren't together but everyone around them was happy, even her. Everyone except him, because he was alone.
«Even if it hurts, I think I can be satisfied with that ending.»
—Good morning, sleepyhead. It's time to wake up.
—Gwen?— He wondered if it was possible he was still dreaming, where time froze and they stayed together; the disappointment came instantly.
—What time is it?—
He lifted the blankets covering his body; for her, that was the best answer.
—Time to wake up, we're almost at your house, dummy.
—S-stop, i-it's fine, I'm getting up, stop pulling the blankets!—
Despite his complaints, he smiled. This was something he was going to miss too.
—Hm, alright, I'll wait for you for breakfast.— She placed a hand on her hip and pointed at him with her finger, glowing with a blue spark that brushed aside the messy hair covering his eyes. —That's better. Maybe you should cut it; who knows, a good makeover before classes start might be a good way to begin.—
—Y-yeah, c-classes, the best thing in the world—h-homework and t-that stuff, I can't wait.—
—Seriously?— She snorted, amused. —Wow, sarcasm. I never would've expected that. You've surprised me, dummy.—
—W-well, I learned from the best, n-nerd.—
The girl threw a pillow at him, laughing, but he dodged it and went straight into the bathroom. He looked at himself in the mirror and sighed, regretting having slept—it felt as though time had skipped ahead; he could've used last night to explore the city near Fuyuki.
«Well, Grandpa would've caught me anyway. I spared myself a good scolding.»
He took the toothpaste and applied it to the brush, then brushed his teeth the way his mother had taught him—first the outside, then the inside, firm but gentle strokes—then took some water and rinsed, taking the chance to wash his face and comb his hair under the warm stream. When he was done, he looked at himself once more, patted his youthful cheeks, and encouraged himself.
«Relax, it's just a few months. We'll see each other again—it's not the end of the world.»
He left the bathroom and approached the table. Sitting across from him was Gwen, a small book in one hand and a slice of toast in the other, flipping pages with her mind, almost automatically.
—That's a really cool trick, you know that, right?—
This time it was her turn to blush; seeing it on someone else was gratifying.
—I-it's nothing advanced, if that's what you think, but yeah, it's very useful, as you can see.— She paused to chew and set the book on the table, then took some orange juice.
—You can do the same with Four Arms. I can't fall behind.—
—Too bad about the space, I would've loved to do it.—
Izuku smiled and began eating breakfast, cheerful despite everything. Then he noticed that the Rustbucket had stopped and, consequently, that the driver had left his seat.
—Hey, Gwen, where's Grandpa Max?— he asked curiously.
Gwen stopped looking out the window and focused on Izuku, still chewing her toast, so she just shrugged, then replied:
—He went outside to answer a call. It seemed important.—
«Yeah, otherwise Grandpa wouldn't step out for a normal call. But what could make him nervous at this point? After everything we've been through together, there shouldn't be room for lies.»
—Do you have any idea?—
—No… but I'll admit it, I'm curious too.—
She looked at him; for a moment, their thoughts aligned.
«Eavesdrop.»
But no—they refrained from doing so. Maybe before, when neither of them had such a strong bond. Not now, after everything they had lived through. They settled for waiting until their grandfather decided to tell them himself, so they just kept eating, chatting about trivial topics—strategies, magic and extraterrestrials, conspiracy ideas, and more—until the conversation touched on the topic that worried Izuku the most.
—G-Gwen, w-what are you going to do when you go back home?— he asked hesitantly.
She took a moment to think, humming as she lifted the glass for the last sip of orange juice. She smacked her lips and spoke:
—I don't know.— she revealed. —If you'd asked me before, the answer would be simple: study until I finished high school with the best grades, then go to college, choose a career and graduate with honors, then keep studying nonstop.—
She lifted her gaze, her eyes softening.
—But you changed those plans.—
The boy blushed intensely; even the tips of his ears turned red, and she smiled, amused.
«D-don't tell me she's going to say we should run away together.»
—I want to study magic, but seriously. Do you remember Charmcaster mentioning something about a Clock Tower?— she asked, and despite his disappointment, Izuku nodded with interest. —Well, I want to try to enter that world. The possibilities it offers amaze me, and honestly, I don't see myself returning to my old life anymore. I want to be strong enough to keep fighting by your side.— she admitted, embarrassed.
Izuku was left speechless—and relieved. He didn't want to leave behind the magic and adventures they had lived; on the contrary, he embraced them. In part, he already knew this, because the person they had met in the future was an adult version of Gwen; he worried that something might have changed. He also scolded himself—he had focused on what troubled him, but hadn't thought about what troubled her.
He looked at the watch on his wrist for a few seconds. A bulky, black, technological, sturdy device rested there—black with white tubes, two green buttons, and a dial on top bearing an hourglass symbol. Then he looked at her as he raised his wrist.
—I think it goes without saying, but without you I never would've won all the fights we had; every time the watch failed or malfunctioned, you showed up to save the day… Yeah, sometimes I tend to try to solve things on my own, but it's not because I don't believe you can do it—it's just that I didn't want you to be in danger. Many times I was inconsiderate; you could've handled it without trouble, so I apologize.—
Gwen looked at him, surprised, then smiled softly and sighed.
—I know, Izuku.— she said. —You don't have to apologize for wanting to keep us safe, but I'm glad you believe we can support you when you feel helpless. My wish doesn't come from insufficiency—it comes from wanting to stay by your side. These vacations are about to end; we won't see each other for a long time. You'll keep growing, you'll learn to use the watch better and better, you'll unlock new forms and grow stronger. When that time comes, I want to be able to keep up, stand beside you with pride, and share the burden.—
—…T-thank goodness. I w-was worried you'd want to go back to your normal life.— the green-haired boy confessed. —I-I would've m-missed you too much.—
They both ended up blushing—two children barely brushing against the meaning of love, for now simply cherishing the bond they had formed.
The door opened, and Max Tennyson—a retired Plumber (a kind of space police, at least that was how he'd summed it up for the kids)—entered. He looked tired, stressed, and aged.
—Good morning, Grandpa. Is everything okay?— Izuku asked for both of them.
—Good morning, Izuku.— he replied as he sat beside him, running a hand through his green hair. —Yeah, I wouldn't say everything's wrong, but there have been changes of plans. Xylene called me.—
—Wow… it's been a long time since we've heard from her. What did she need?— Gwen asked.
—I can't say much for now—not because I don't trust you, but because simply mentioning what's going on could affect you.— Max commented distractedly; he seemed indifferent. —As you can see, it's already affecting me. It's like an effect rooted in those who know of its existence—almost imperceptible, as if a dense fog clouded your thoughts, forcing you to look away.—
—T-that's d-dangerous.—
—And impressive, I must say. But if you're worried, it's because whoever's emitting it is quite dangerous, isn't that right?—
—Of course. Yes, it's quite dangerous—and ancient, I'd say.—
He took the glass of orange juice he'd left there, now a bit warm from being in the wrong spot; sunlight from the window hit it directly, melting the refreshing icy structures floating in an orange sea. For a brief moment, a curious image came to mind—an orange pom-pom. He shook his head and swallowed hard.
—It's managed to go unnoticed for a long time; it was probably one of the first aliens to fall to Earth. Worst of all, it could've stayed that way if the Omnitrix hadn't been launched in an emergency; while falling from space, the device detected a strange reading in a small town.—
—A-an alien operating since time immemorial, unnoticed by the Plumbers, acting right under their noses, with the ability to influence people's perception… T-that's very concerning. S-shouldn't we do something?— Izuku asked, growing increasingly worried about the townspeople's safety. Internally, he scolded himself for thinking—expectantly—that if they returned to the United States right now, he could enjoy the trip a bit longer.
—For now, no. Xylene and I are going to scout the outskirts of the town. She's also worried about the existence of this "unknown agent."—
—B-but Grandpa!…— He was silenced by Max's raised hand.
—I understand you want to help, and I'm proud of that, but this time we can't take risks. Its influence over those who know of its existence is strong; I think it might affect adults more than children. If that's the case, you'd be facing an unknown enemy alone.—
Even so, he sighed, knowing a wave of protests was coming.
—But since I know you won't be satisfied with waiting, I propose this: two weeks. Give me just two weeks to solve this mystery. I'll gather some information about the species inhabiting that town, and then we'll all go together to face it.—
With no other option, the kids accepted reluctantly.
—B-but I start classes already. H-how will I convince Mom to let me go?—
—Relax, Izuku. Leave it to me. We'll treat it like one last weekend getaway.—
When they finished breakfast, they continued their journey; Max drove while the kids washed the dishes. From time to time, they threw him questions about the alien, but his answer was always the same: "I don't know, who knows, probably."
—Oh, by the way. Gwen, for these two weeks you'll stay at Izuku's house. Once I'm back from the investigation, I'll come get you.—
—Try to enjoy the time you have left, because in a few days—much to my regret—everything will return to routine.—
«I hope I cleaned my room. I don't want Gwen to see the mess I left when we rushed out… But I have to admit it—a new adventure to end the vacations sounds exciting…»
—Awesome! I've always wanted to see Fuyuki!— she exclaimed, then turned to Izuku. —Do you think you could show me around the city?—
—O-of course. You don't even have to ask.—
«Even though I haven't gone out much, so I don't really know areas beyond my comfort zone; maybe it's a good opportunity to change bad habits.»
—Great. Japanese culture is wonderful—I wish I could stay much longer.—
—Y-you can come whenever you want!— he exclaimed nervously, blushing, then cleared his throat. —I-I mean, you're always welcome to visit. It's not like I'm busy when I'm not in hero mode.—
—Is that so?— she asked softly. —Thank you very much, Izuku. I'll bother you in the future.—
Max smiled, watching as that barrier separating his family slowly crumbled.
«Since James's death, nothing has been the same… Maybe if everything had been different, this trip could've been repeated every year. I could've enjoyed every birthday and summer together.»
Sadness struck him immediately; it still hurt to remember his son James's absence—Izuku's father. That event had shattered his family; Inko returned to her hometown, Fuyuki, Japan. She never overcame his death, retreating into the church and living solely for her son. She thought it would be easier if she cut communication with Izuku's paternal family, but everything became more bittersweet—the boy grew up without knowing his cousin, without truly knowing his grandfather until just a few months ago, when he contacted Inko and finally had the conversation left pending since the tragedy.
It was Toshinori—his closest friend, practically a brother, and Inko's stepfather—who intervened to make that long-awaited talk happen. It was hard, yes, but in the end, the persuasion of both was enough; Izuku traveled with them, and it was the best decision in the world.
«The new generations are already on our heels, old friend.» He remembered telling Toshinori excitedly. «Izuku has an innate talent for being a hero—it's incredible to watch him learn with every encounter. He'll become a powerful man, but I don't see him blinded by power. Gwen, on the other hand, has developed enormous talent with magic. I knew she had a large number of magic circuits from your words, but the incredible progress she made in just a few days left me astonished. Maybe it's her heritage—I don't know for sure. For now, I won't reveal anything. No, it's nothing dangerous; it's simply a case of an unregistered alien. It happens more often than you'd imagine, so there's no need for you to come. I see this time as a way to catch up with Xylene as well. But I'd like to ask you something—you were planning to tell Izuku the truth, weren't you? I understand. From my side, I think he's more than ready. If you have time, teach Gwen too. I think together they could face anything… It's almost nostalgic, isn't it?»
He resigned himself internally. Time passes far too quickly, and there are so many moments to regret; from the bottom of his heart, he hoped Gwen and Izuku wouldn't repeat his mistakes.
«Muscles wither, skin wrinkles, and our abilities diminish. Izuku, Gwen—our worries are similar. I fear the day we can no longer keep up with the new generations; but even so, passing the torch doesn't feel bad at all…»
A sign welcoming foreigners greeted them: "Welcome to Fuyuki," shining with blue letters on a white background. The Rustbucket calmly crossed the streets, drawing the attention of every curious Japanese passerby, puzzled by the scrap heap moving smoothly through traffic.
«Home, sweet home… Fuyuki, sorry for the delay. Your agent of solitude has returned home—ready to face every delinquent in the area.»