Chapter Text
A small gasp left the dark cloaked figure as she turned to face the wolf and his rider.
“Ochako?”
A giggle left the imp seated on Bakugou’s back. “Oh, ho! What an honour that you remembered my name…”
A small hum of a growl left the hooded figure’s lips. “It would be unwise to forget.” The head turned towards the wolf and he could make out the hint of a steely gaze. “Was this the one you were searching for?”
His ears perked as the imp shifted behind him. “I was expecting more, but… I guess he will have to do since there aren’t any other options right now.”
Bakugou growled slightly until the figure kneeled down to his height, a slight gasp leaving her once more. “You were imprisoned? My apologies for your circumstances.”
The imp hopped on his spine with a sing song voice. “Big bad wolf has no idea what is going on, or even where he is. I think you should tell him what you’ve done, Twilight princess.” The wolf could feel the grin radiating from the creature on his back, ears perking once more as the weight of the last word reached his consciousness. Princess?
He leaned back to a sit, gazing at the feminine figure cloaked before him. A princess… He sat a bit straighter as the woman seemed to deliberate with herself before finally speaking to him. “Please listen to my story, there isn’t much time. This was once a great land where the power of the gods is said to rest. The kingdom of Hyrule was invaded by a king of twilight, transforming this blessed land to one of shadows.”
She sighed, the memories of that defeat in her steel eyes. “The Twilight King took control decisively. I chose this curse of darkness to save the people of Hyrule from death. As the light faded, the people of the land became nothing more than spirits, unaware of what has truly transpired except a nameless fear. However, even though the twilight reaches over the realm, I remain its princess as a reminder of my failure.”
The wolf’s ears perked high as the maiden lifted her hood from her face. The imp gasped behind him as she lost her grip from his sudden movement. Stunned he could only stare at the ruler in front of him. Silver eyes gazed back at him, a crown with a familiar crest perched over long raven hair. Her regal stance held the sorrow of ages as she drew to her full height.
“I am Momo Yaoyorozu.”
Beside him, the imp piped up. “Don’t be so gloomy! Is it really that bad to have perpetual twilight? It’s actually quite nice for us!”
A frown tugged at the princess’s lips. “Ochako, this is no time for humor, especially when the twilight king’s court has been searching for you. Will you tell me why?”
The creature floated to the air, finally leaving his back to a moment of peace. “How would I know?” She exasperatedly shrugged. “If you have any ideas, I’m all ears.” The wolf’s scarlet eye followed her, watching the worry hide behind false giggles.
A thud in the distance startled all of them, the princess kneeling once more. “You need to go. I sent my two trusted advisors out to the world to find any means to help. Should you cross paths, please assist them in bringing the light back to Hyrule.”
A weight dropped onto his spine once more, eliciting a small growl. He felt the imp shift a bit behind him, tugging him towards the door. With a final wave, the princess retreated under her hood as Bakugou begrudgingly trotted back through the door to the roof.
Now they were back under open sky, there was much to think about. The imp darted in front of him in a prance before looking back towards him with a mischievous smirk. “So wolfie, do you know where we are? Hyrule castle perhaps? Anyway, I guess I did promise to help you. Maybe send you back to where you first landed in twilight?”
She tapped her fingers on her chin before giving him a toothy smile and he wished he could really say what what was on his mind. “Hmm.. But do you think it’s wise to go back? Not forgetting anything important?”
She spun around to his surprise until he was standing face to face with Midoriya. He wore the same smirk the imp only had moments before. “Don’t you want to save them? The small humans that you failed to protect?”
Bakugou’s thoughts turned to anger as he saw his brother’s face remind him of his defeat. In a moment, the imp took the form of Mina, tapping her chin once more. “If you do, then lil’ Ochako would be happy to help... for a price! You would have to do exactly as I say, like a servant.”
He couldn’t take this anymore. He growled deeply and readied his pounce. As he sprang, she snapped her fingers and he froze in mid-air, teeth bared at the irritating imp.
With a flash of tooth, she was back to her normal form. “Take some time and think it over.” A cold and foreign feeling invaded him, as if he were suddenly swallowed by some inky mass.
In a flash, he felt solid and warm once more as his feet landed in water below. Glancing around, he recognized where this was... the spirit spring he fell unconscious.
Bakugou’s thoughts whirled out of control until the sing-song voice of Ochako called out to him. “Oh! I forgot to mention that even though we are back in the world of light, you’re still a wolf. I wonder why?”
He twirled around, searching for the imp to find nothing but a soft weight. He headed to the worn path before a shadow of the imp rose in front of him. “Well what to do now? You thought was gone? Think again, because you can’t just run off and save your friends how you are.”
The wolf snorted in irritation. “Look wolfie, you can’t enter twilight without my help no matter what, so you have no choice but to do what I tell you.” She giggled excitedly. “I want a sword and shield before I’ll pull you though. Think you can manage that?” With a wink, she slipped back into the shadows before he could launch himself at her.
Of course she was right... maybe the villagers might help him? Maybe Toshi? Regardless, he needed to sort out his head. He couldn’t save anyone when he could barely help himself, and the faster he could get this imp to work with him, the faster he could save Midoriya.
Night closed in fast as he ran towards the village. Before long he rushed by his treehouse, barely avoiding a club to the face. Several monsters hissed and growled at the wolf, shuffling around and surrounding him.
Soon a flurry of claw and fangs erupted, ripping and tearing into the monsters until they lay dead on the dirt. Panting, the wolf trotted towards the village, wary of more.
“Wait!”
A tiny voice squeaked at him. Unsure of its source, he twirled around. “Over here!” A small squirrel bounded up to him as he gaped in shock. It talked??
“Thanks for taking care of those monsters! They were terrorizing the forest and village after the children were taken away.” The rodent’s bushy tail bobbed behind it as it pointed towards the trail leading to the spring. “Be careful going into town. All the humans are upset and might not like you, even if you do smell like the Bakugou kid.”
Before he could snap out of it, the squirrel bounded off towards the tree line and he could only stand there for a moment to let his words sink in. Children? As in all of them?
The wolf bolted in the direction of town, running the fastest he was able while the chain around his paw clinked with every motion. He couldn’t dwell on the fact he was talking to a tree rodent... all that mattered were the children.
The pathway of trees teetered out as he reached the village, branches snapped and scorched on the ground. Smoke rose from patches of charred buildings. Homes scattered into pieces as if something heavy barrelled through... Every direction of the town he knew and called home, claimed by destruction. He stared in horror.
A twig snapped behind him, the only sound louder than the erratic beating of his heart. The only warning he received before the sound of steel slashed through the air.
Yelping, the wolf jumped back in the nick of time, watching the blade swipe inches away from his nose. Bakugou growled at the figure in the darkness, a silhouette moving in the light of a nearby lantern. The scent of blood hung heavy in the air.
“Back, foul beast! You won’t win again!”
He recognized that voice. Wait!
The plea came out as a low whine before the figure lunged at him again. Dodging, the wolf edged closer towards the lantern and the swordsman followed, panting and wheezing hard.
As the light finally reached the lithe older man, Bakugou’s heart faltered at the sight.
His hero, his mentor, and his father... covered in blood-stained bandages with barely enough energy to stand and swing a sword. Gasping, the man buckled under the exertion, sword plunging into the ground. He grasped it like his last lifeline as the wolf edged closer.
Toshi’s face contorted to rage and hatred, scowling at the creeping wolf that merely whimpered in return. Bakugou had only seen this face of his caretaker like this once.. when he was defending the boy from the village elder council. His sharp blue eyes pierced through him like icy daggers, shredding his soul.
Time stopped as the wolf watched his pillar of strength slump to the dirt, hissing sharply with pain. Worry filled the boy, lunging towards the man he called father. Eyes filled with regret and sadness closed, bracing for the inevitable.
He felt the wounded swordsman flinch as his fur brushed him, tension melting away to shocked numbness when Bakugou did the only thing he could think of. He licked his arm, despite the heavy taste of copper that came with it.
The wolf shuffled closer, pressing himself against the prone injured man. A weak and shaky hand found his snout, pulling it closer towards him. Electric-blue eyes gazed at the wolf once more, softly searching.
A sharp intake of breath, “Katsuki?”
Bakugou acknowledged Toshi best he could, giving a small bark and lick. Behind him, his tail thumped the earth on its own. The swordsman cradled the wolf’s head between his palms, rubbing his face in the same comforting way he did when the boy was younger.
“I thought you were taken with the other children… My gods, what sorcery did this to you?” The man pushed himself up to lean on a nearby tree, getting a better look at his son. A whine slipped by him as he turned his head, filled with thoughts of failure. He wished he could change what happened, if only he realized the danger sooner.
A gentle caress brought the wolf back to face Toshi. “I don’t blame you for what happened. No one was prepared, not even myself. I’m so relieved you are alive. Those men were powerful and I feared the worst.” He felt his father’s arms snake around his mane, pulling him into an embrace.
A gentle push and the wolf was face to face with the bleeding man once more. “Listen closely, Katsuki. The children are still alive, and I want you to find them.” Toshi coughed violently, wheezing before continuing with bated breath. “I don’t have much time, but I believe in you, my son.”
A tear rolled down his face, and Bakugou could feel his own eyes get watery as he headbutted the swordsman. A mournful sound escaped his snout, the warrior slouching slightly. “I know everything looks lost for now… but I’ve seen your potential… your drive. No matter what form you are… you are a fighter and protector.”
Toshi’s blue eyes stared into his with a look so sincere. How could he live up to this?
More coughing… more fresh blood, a sickly copper stench. No, no, no.
Bakugou grew more panicked as the smell grew stronger, whining and whimpering increasing in volume.
His father’s hand found his muzzle, what little strength he had, he soothed the poor beast. “Young Katsuki, I love you my boy.” He gently rubbed the wolf’s face. “Now... you need to go before the villagers find you. They won’t think twice… and you have a much greater purpose than staying here.”
He watched as the old man lost his strength, as his eyes closed, as his breathing grew shallow. Emotion overwhelmed the wolf, howling towards the sky in anger, in sadness, in mourning. It wasn’t fair.
The glint of steel peeked at him from the corner of his vision… The sword to be presented to the Hylian kingdom. The wolf wrapped his jaws around the hilt, struggling until he finally pulled it from the ground. Sword in mouth, he looked back at Toshi… a smile on the man’s face.
His shield lay on the ground beside him, probably dropped when he fell. It had the crest of the village, a memento of the previous protectors. Toshi told him about these warriors many times, reciting some of his own battles with them.
Shouts came from the non-burnt buildings, a small swarm of lanterns exiting the mayor’s house. The wolf saw the glint of steel among the flames and they were headed this way. Looking back at the man slumped against the tree, Bakugou froze. Overcome with so many emotions.
It all crested into another howl, louder than the last. The lanterns stilled in the distance, but only for several moments.
In a split moment, the sword in his jaws grew weightless and disappeared, as did the shield in front of him. He felt a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry… I hope he finds peace. But he is right, we need to go…”
As much as he hated the imp, she was probably the only one who wasn’t out to kill him and for now, that was the only thing he could cling to. She patted his side again. Even as a shadow, he could sense the sympathy radiating from her.
With a heavy heart, he padded off towards the woods until he felt the fastly familiar weight of someone on his back. By the time he heard the collective shouts of the elders, they were long gone and sprinting under the coming dawn filled with longing and sadness.