Wish Upon a Star 1 (MHA Star and Stripe SI)

Brave New World

“What Quirk do you think you have?” My little sister asked for the umpteenth time from the seat across from me. Her name was Jennifer Bate, and she had brown hair like my own (a trait that had followed me across lifetimes) as well as inexhaustible energy. Almost literally so, as the test the doctors had put her through had determined that more than the excessive energy a regular four year old would have, little Jennifer had extra energy provided by her Quirk. It might have more capabilities than just that; heck, for all we know the extra energy might just be a side-effect, a required secondary power or the like to fuel her actual Quirk.

“No idea,” I responded with a shrug. We had just gone to the doctor’s office, but much like they had determined when we’d checked out the status of my Quirk two years ago, they determined I had one, but none of the tests I’d run through had revealed any hint about what my Quirk could be.

“How can you be so casual about this! Quirks are like, the coolest thing ever, and you’re the coolest person I know, so I’m sure your Quirk will be like, like,... double cool!!” I chuckled at her enthusiasm and ruffled her hair, causing her to pout slightly at me..

“Double Cool huh? Might be a good name for a Quirk if I register it.”

“Cathy dear,” Mom said, turning from the passenger seat to stare at me. “Registering your Quirk is the law. Don’t become a criminal so early in life.” She was wearing a purple blouse with her sunhat sitting in her lap since we were inside a car. Her frizzy brown hair was tied in a loose ponytail and had very pale skin.

“Understood loud and clear, I’ll wait till I’m in double digits before I become a criminal.” My dry response earned a snort from Dad in the driver’s seat, which in turn got him a light smack on the shoulder from Mom.

“Don’t encourage her, dear.” Her reprimand did nothing to change his mind, Dad just chuckling.

“Our little girl is a firebrand, that’s for su- whoa!” He exclaimed as a shadow fell over us. Eclipsing the sunlight, a large shape was hurtling down towards us. They were a large heteromorph with six arms and wide mouth full of sharp teeth, aimed straight at our car.

“Don’t stop, just crush them!” I heard the villain cry, his words carrying through the open window. We have to get out of here, but there’s no time! Fuck, if I didn’t have my seatbelt on I might be able to throw myself out the door in time, but now this is going to be the thing that causes me to die. Again! How is it that I only got seven years in this new world?

I didn’t have more time to focus on how unfair it was, but not because I got crushed to death. Instead it was due to all my attention being taken away by the man who had interposed himself between us and the villain. With one mighty punch, the blond blur hit the one trying to kill us, his fist digging into the villain’s gut.

The force of the blow tossed the villain down the road, sending them crashing heavily far away, a few cars exploding from the impact. “Everything is fine,” the man began, rising up from his crouched position to show off his impressive height, which would put most basketball players to shame, with the physique of a bodybuilder underneath a varsity jacket. His yellow hair was short save for two tufts that stuck up in the front, blowing in the wind. No way. It can’t be… is it him?

Turning around, his identity was confirmed by his bright blue eyes and big smile. “Because I am here,” All Might finished. Whoa. I knew he was in the world and that we’re well before canon, but I still didn’t expect All Might to save us.

I could see why he had (or would have, at any rate) so many fans. There was a charisma and sense of determination to the man that made his words stick, could make even panicked civilians in the midst of danger feel safe, just by his presence. A feeling that generally stuck with us even as he leapt after the villain, joining a friend on a custom motorcycle as they chased down the fleeing villain and his buddies.

Why does that feel familiar… oh, this is the movie! Or rather, the intro to the first movie, really just showing off David Shield. Nothing much happened here. But wait, isn’t this where he saved Star and Stripes as a kid? Wow, that’s crazy, I wonder if she’s somewhere… here… My gaze which had been roaming across the street stopped and I turned it to the mirror.

I didn’t have blond hair or was ridiculously buff, even had a pair of thin rimmed glasses sitting across my face. But all those things could be changed with time, or even more easily, with possibly the strongest singular Quirk in the entire setting: New Order.

Scrambling to my feet, I undid my seatbelt and exited the car, ignoring the cries of my parents as I stepped onto the road. No one was moving in the traffic, with cars still overturned and burning, so there was no risk to me as I ran a few meters ahead, holding my hand out in front of me. Technically I don’t need to do this, but feels dramatic and fitting for my first time, if it works.

“Air,” I began, and I thought I felt it still for a second, even before my first command. “Smother all flames within a hundred meters.”

The effect was instantaneous, the fires burning on the street sputtering out and dying in just a few seconds. There was silence, and then clapping, delighted cheers from my sister which triggered a few claps from the other witnesses, realizing that I had been the one to snuff out the flames.

“You unlocked your Quirk! What is it? I told you it’d be amazing!” Jennifer exclaimed excitedly as she ran up and hugged me, joined by my parents who were holding me close, switching back and forth between praise of my abilities and scolding me for running off like that.

I stood there in shock, staring at my hand at the possibilities and danger it- no, all of me, my power as a whole - represented.

I wondered in the past, about if I should play a role in the future, thinking it to be far separated from me. My Hero Academia has a plot that could definitely be improved, but also one that  could end up far worse than it had too. At the end of the day, most of the main characters survived and the bad guys were gone. Disrupting that unnecessarily seemed risky. 

I think I would have still, a few discreet messages to Nezu or the like, but still. Not something I was involved in. But I am, even if it was a small, poorly written part. I am Cathleen Bate, better known as Star and Stripe.

… Man that name is dumb. Like, couldn’t she at least add an ‘s’ to the end of those words??

A/N: Behold, a plot bunny that had a tight grip on me! I’ve had plenty of ideas about MHA Self Inserts (it’s a good setting for it) but this is one that revolves pretty much entirely around one of the most mysterious Quirks in the setting.

New Order is not an instant win button, with several limitations that we see from it’s brief appearance in canon, but it has a bunch of potential. Cathleen seems like a good person, but a bit too-focused on All Might, so I thought it’d be fun to see what someone who was a bit less of a musclehead could do with a low tier reality warping Quirk. Anyways, hope you enjoyed this quick introduction to the idea.