Upon reaching the scene, Izuku saw police officers holding back civilians while firefighters battled the roaring flames. The air was thick with panic—people screamed, cried, and begged for help. One man in particular was shouting desperately for his family, still trapped inside the burning building.
Then, Izuku noticed a faint glow emanating from the locket brooch pinned to his chest. The purple light pulsed rhythmically, almost as if it were alive. "What is this?" he muttered in confusion.
"It's the Miraculous responding to a powerful emotion, master!" Nooroo explained urgently. "You must transform and kamikotize someone—grant them powers to save the people inside the building!"
Izuku hesitated, his heart pounding. He wasn't sure if he was ready for something like this. But as he looked back at the inferno consuming the building, realizing the people trapped inside might not have much time left, his resolve hardened. "What do I have to do, Nooroo?"
"All you have to say is, 'Nooroo, light wings rise!'" Nooroo replied, his voice filled with anticipation.
Izuku sprinted into a nearby alleyway, clenched his fist, and called out, "Nooroo, light wings rise!"
A surge of violet energy burst forth, engulfing him in luminous butterfly motifs. His school uniform dissolved into shimmering indigo light, replaced by a regal, deep-purple suit traced with elegant silver accents.
A long, split-tailed coat unfurled behind him, its inner lining glowing with hues that shifted like butterfly wings in motion.
Sleek gloves formed around his hands, polished shoes materialized at his feet, and a silver-trimmed mask settled over his face, sharpening his gaze. His green hair darkened with streaks of midnight purple, and in his right hand, a black cane tipped with a silver handle appeared, thrumming with energy.
When the transformation settled, Izuku stood tall, his coat fluttering like living wings, embodying both grace and determination.
"Whoa," he whispered, glancing at his reflection in a puddle. The person staring back at him looked nothing like the timid boy he once was. "Amazing."
Before he could process the transformation further, a butterfly fluttered down to land on a nearby rooftop. Without thinking, Izuku leapt toward it—and to his shock, soared high into the air, landing gracefully on the roof. His eyes widened. "I have a Quirk now."
A brief smile crossed his lips, but he quickly shook it off when he saw the flames below surge higher.
"No time for surprises. People are in danger!"
He closed his eyes and focused, searching for a heart burning with determination. Within moments, he sensed someone whose emotions blazed with the desperate desire to save others. Acting on instinct, he cupped his hands around the butterfly, infusing it with violet energy. His voice echoed, calm yet commanding.
"Fly away, my Kamiko, and magnify the glimmer of hope that shines in Allan Gavroche's heart."
The glowing butterfly flew off toward its chosen target.
Down below, Allan Gavroche—a dark-skinned boy who had recently moved to Paris with his little sister and mother—was struggling against the police barricade.
His voice broke with emotion as he begged the officers to let him through. He wanted nothing more than to save his family trapped inside, but the police held him back for his own safety.
In that moment of anguish, the Kamiko landed gently upon the green flat cap on his head.
"Mercury, I am… Mightyfly," Izuku declared, realizing he had already chosen a name for himself. "I grant you the power to save your family and everyone trapped in that building—with incredible speed. With this gift, you can become a hero. Do you accept?"
"I do, Mightyfly," Allan replied without hesitation.
A flash of light engulfed him. When it faded, Allan had transformed into the superhero known as Mercury. His skin had turned a vibrant green, streaked with white lightning-bolt markings that ran along his arms and legs, converging across his torso. Several luminous white dots accentuated his form—two on his knees and two between his pectorals and collarbone. His palms and the soles of his feet gleamed white, and his hair and eyebrows had turned the color of lightning. His eyes were completely white, glowing with newfound power.
The crowd recoiled at first, startled by his inhuman appearance. Police officers raised their weapons, uncertain whether to trust this new figure. Panic began to ripple through the onlookers—until Mercury spoke.
"Do not be afraid. I'm here to save those people," he said firmly, his voice resonating with conviction. "Please, step aside. They're running out of time."
The officers exchanged uneasy glances, then reluctantly lowered their weapons. If this strange being could save lives, they had to let him try. As the crowd calmed, Mercury vanished in a blur of motion.
In mere seconds, he darted in and out of the burning building, carrying survivors to safety faster than the eye could follow. Each rescued person was quickly tended to by paramedics, the crowd breaking into cheers and gasps of relief.
"This is amazing!" Mercury exclaimed as he dashed back inside one final time. He reappeared moments later in his apartment, where he found his mother and sister unconscious but alive. He let out a deep, trembling breath, tears of relief welling in his eyes. "Everything's gonna be alright now, Mom, Sis."
As Mercury finished rescuing everyone trapped inside the building—double-checking each floor to make absolutely sure no one was left behind—he began running around the structure at blinding speed.
The winds generated by his motion swirled around the flames, suffocating them. Within twenty seconds, the fire was completely extinguished.
When Mercury finally landed back on the ground and took a step back, the crowd erupted into cheers, their voices rising in a wave of gratitude and awe.
"I did it," Mercury said softly, overwhelmed by relief and joy. He had saved not only his family but everyone in the building—and even managed to put out the fire.
"You did it, Mercury. Thank you for saving those people," Izuku's voice echoed in his mind through their telepathic link. "I now release you from the power I gave you."
As the Kamiko emerged from Mercury, the energy surrounding him dissipated, and Allan returned to his normal form.
Dazed, he glanced around, trying to comprehend what had just happened. The memories of his heroic deeds as Mercury rushed back to him, leaving him breathless.
Before he could process it all, the crowd swarmed him, shouting questions and praises—how he gained those powers, who he really was—but the overwhelming attention and stress made him faint on the spot.
From the rooftop above, Izuku watched the scene with a quiet smile. The rescued civilians were safe, and Allan lay unharmed, surrounded by grateful people. The Kamiko fluttered back to him, dissolving into violet light as it entered the silver handle of his cane.
Izuku opened the compartment, allowing it to settle inside, then closed it gently. Turning his gaze toward the night sky, he smiled at the bright, glowing moon, his heart swelling with a new sense of fulfillment.
"Is this what it feels like to be a hero?" he murmured, feeling something stir deep within him—a spark he hadn't felt in years.
A spark of true heroism.
"This is amazing."
Seeing that the people were safe and the danger had passed, Izuku leapt from the rooftop. He began to run and jump between buildings, laughing freely as he moved with exhilarating speed and agility.
Every leap and roll felt natural, as if his body had been waiting its entire life for this moment. The freedom of motion, the rhythm of his breath, and the wind whipping past his face all filled him with uncontainable joy.
When he reached the Eiffel Tower, he began scaling it effortlessly, springing from beam to beam until he reached the top. Standing there, with his heart pounding from adrenaline and wonder, he gazed out over the glittering city of Paris.
The golden lights stretched endlessly across the horizon, shimmering beneath the stars. He had never left Japan before—never imagined he would see such a breathtaking view. For a moment, he simply stood there, mesmerized.
Then, a faint beeping came from his locket brooch.
Realizing what it meant, Izuku placed a hand over it and said, "Nooroo, light wings fall."
A soft violet glow enveloped him as he transformed back into his civilian form. Nooroo hovered beside him, his tiny eyes gleaming with joy and relief to finally be used for good.
Izuku sat on one of the metal beams of the tower, legs dangling over the edge as he admired the beauty of the city below.
"Did you see what I did, Nooroo?" Izuku said, his voice filled with awe. "I saved people by granting that person an ability. I may not have been the one to save them directly, but I still feel… happy. What is this feeling?"
"A hero's feeling, master. You did well," Nooroo replied warmly. His voice then softened as he began to look faint. "But I'm hungry, master. Kwamis need to sustain their energy."
"That explains why the locket was beeping like a warning," Izuku said, rummaging through his bag. "Oh, I still have some Pocky chocolate sticks. I hope you'll like them."
Nooroo eagerly accepted the treat, nibbling on it with delight. "Hmm. Japanese snacks are wonderful, master."
"Yeah," Izuku chuckled lightly, his smile tinged with melancholy. "Too bad I probably won't find any more of them here. So enjoy that while it lasts."
He looked back toward the city, his eyes reflecting the soft glow of the lights below.
"I wish my mom could see this. I wish she could see what I did. I became a hero… and the people down there were smiling."
Nooroo felt the sadness hidden behind Izuku's words and spoke gently. "She would be proud, master. I can tell she's a caring soul."
Izuku took out his iPod, staring at it silently before pressing play. But the moment the familiar sound of his mother's voice began, his throat tightened.
He couldn't bear to hear her last words. With trembling hands, he paused the recording and placed the device back into his bag.
"What was that thing that consumed my reality?" he whispered. "I need answers."
"And you'll find them, master," Nooroo said softly, having finished his snack. "But right now, we have an important duty ahead."
Izuku nodded, his expression firm once more. "I know. Protecting this city from crime." He smiled faintly, looking out at the Paris skyline. "I don't have anywhere else to go, after all."