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Chapter Text

Izuku remembers. He remembers the first time he ever saw the mysterious boy. He remembers how he wandered into the forest, as the sky was filling with dark clouds and the air was growing cold. He remembers how the slight wind caused him to clutch onto his jacket more. He remembers how it felt to find a boy his age, if not a little older, perched upon a rock in a clearing Izuku has only been able to find once or twice again after the other left.

The sky was clear that earlier day, and the sun was warm. Izuku Midoriya was on a special mission for his mother, Inko Midoriya, looking for special herbs in the forest surrounding his village. He heard the soft sound of his feet hitting the summer-grown grass, his green eyes reflecting the color of the moss coating the forest. However, as the young boy wandered deeper into the forest, the path growing darker as light failed to strike through the dense canopy, and the air grew colder from a breeze that had picked up, and his worry grew.

This… wasn’t anywhere that Izuku remembered Momma had ever brought him…?

Mumbling filled his own ears and the area around him as he walked, but like the visibility of one’s own nose, it was blocked out naturally by his mind. Was it a cloud that covered the sun, is that why it is getting darker? Is a storm coming in? His momma said not to go too far into the forest… is this too far? What if monsters appear? He remembers what that “knight” (as he called himself, though Izuku thought that he wasn’t very nice to be a knight) had told him about the forest, about the darkness. Monsters lurked in the darkness. Wild people lied in the mountains on the other side of the forest… so did dragons. Do they come into the forest too? Was he going to be eaten by a monster or a wildling-

That’s when he saw him. That’s when Izuku noticed the break in trees, though it was no clearing, but it was enough. The boulder sat, speckled with patches of dim light… accentuating the ash blond of the boy who sat in it. It caught Izuku off guard… why is there another boy here? That must have been muttered aloud, for the boy who was at first facing away from Izuku turned and looked at him with his eyes… His eyes were stunning. The red, shadowed slightly by his lashes, stared at him as if Izuku were staring into a living incarnation of a fire.

However, this blissful wonder didn’t last long for the young green-haired boy. The one in front of him stood, and started shouting in something he didn’t understand – is that a language? Izuku spoke Common, but what this boy was intimidatingly shouting was closer to the garbled shouts of faraway armies.

Izuku’s hesitance, as well as lack of cowardice and growth of curiosity gave the blond boy reason to calm his anger. However, this silence was soon filled as Izuku quickly began asking questions: Who are you? Can you understand me? Do you know common? What were you speaking? Where are you from? The green-eyed boy felt compelled to speak to this stranger, feeling pulled towards him without a definite source. That of course is something Izuku wouldn’t figure out until years later. The excitement, however, that built up in Izuku masked the fear and discomfort provided by the ever-darkening sky, and the colder wind.

Instead, the young blond boy with fiery eyes simply stared at him, as Izuku continued with his outburst. Yet, the blonde’s temper fell short, and eventually he got off the boulder, walked up to the blabbering kid (who fell silent as he drew closer), and pointed a thumb to his own chest. “Katsuki Bakugou,” he bellowed, before pointing towards the other.

It took Izuku a moment before he realized what the boy had meant, and a smile erupted across his features, before shouting “Izuku Midoriya!” Izuku watched as the boy – Katsuki – studied him. He watched as the other’s features contorted into what could be considered a sneer, but was then taken as a scowl. Katsuki simply looked to Izuku, before with disapproving shake of his head and a slightly smug look filling his brazen eyes. Saying a simple “Deku,” while softly pushing on Izuku’s chest with a finger with a light chuckle, Katsuki looked at him with satisfaction. Izuku watched in curiosity, understanding that Katsuki just gave him a nickname… it’s not very nice, yet before he could focus too hard on that, he pointed back at Katsuki. With a blindingly bright smile, he said cheerfully, “Kacchan!”

Katsuki’s face had contorted in what looked like confusion, then surprise, before anger. But, whatever outburst was about to erupt from him was quickly halted by the deafening clap of thunder that rolled over their heads and shook their cores. Both children were made dreadfully aware of their current situation. Izuku looked towards the sky in time for a cold drop of rain to splat directly on his forehead. Yelping in surprise, Izuku covered the spot and looked downwards for his new companion.

Katsuki, apparently not in the mood to wait around, was growling and shouting while covering his head and running towards the rock. Izuku called out for the boy, running after him, but Katsuki disappeared behind the rock Izuku had just found him sitting upon. He ran around the rock, bumping into the blond as he rounded the corner and apologizing. This wasn’t getting either of them out of the rain, so why did Kacchan go back here?

Well, that’s what Izuku was going to wonder, until the green-haired boy laid his eyes upon a red horse-sized… lizard? No, lizards were small, there was no way this thing was a lizard. Izuku was afraid of going any closer, as he watched the reptile (?) lift its head, it’s bright orange eyes being revealed as it’s nictating membrane moved back after its eyelids opened. Izuku was awestruck, what sort of animal was this?

Katsuki had given Izuku a slightly annoyed look when he was walked into, but now confidently walks towards the creature, holding out it’s hand and saying “Ayldrei,” and motioning towards himself. In an instant, the scarlet-scaled creature rose to its feet, revealing feet ending in sharp black talons, and walked towards the young blond boy. It was much larger than Katsuki, standing around the same for an Warmblood horse ((measured at the shoulder for about 68-70 inches/171-177cm)), compared to Katsuki’s full height ((about 42 inches/106 cm)).

 Izuku let out a startled squeak, stumbling back a few paces, and watching as the – wait, are those wings? Is this what a dragon looks like?! He’s heard stories of how ferociously disgusting beasts; that dragons would slaughter whatever the deemed food, having zero care for what species it was. Yet, looking at it now, he was having a hard time seeing where those fables took root.

The dragon, Ayldrei?, walked up to Katsuki and spread its wings. Though the scales were a deep scarlet, the wing’s membrane strayed to a darker ash/soot gray. The color was mirrored in its horns across its body: protruding from its back, the end of its tail, the joint on its wings, as well as obviously on its head and nose. However, the color also faded into the dragon’s scales near it’s black talons, and as the overlapping smaller scales transitioned into the wider belly plates. The belly plates were a lighter gray, and the dragon’s eyes were a blazing orange. Izuku has never seen molten rock before, but as the blacksmiths and adventurers describe it (“lava”, they call it), he thinks that the dragon’s eyes were filled with them.

Katsuki walked up to the dragon, smirking and pet it’s head, before shifting to hide under one of its wings. Looking over his shoulder, Katsuki’s happy expression transitioned into annoyance once more, as the boy slightly yelled a “Deku!!” His yell was immediately followed by a clap of thunder, and though this startled the blond, he wouldn’t let it show… Much like how he motioned to the dragon, Katsuki pointed at the earth beside him.

Izuku’s attention snapped to Katsuki when hearing the noise, yet he yelped when hearing the loud boom. Deciding then that the supposed horror of a dragon was now insignificant in comparison to the dangers of a thunderstorm and the worsening rain, Izuku ran to the side of his new friend. Katsuki watched him as he ran, standing silently besides the burgundy dragon, as it chose to settle in its new spot.

The rain came down harder as time passed, Izuku sitting down next to his new friend as he watched the dragon settle. Katsuki got his attention, calling a soft “Deku,” before motioning to the scaled creature, and saying “Ayldrei.” Izuku looked between the dragon and Katsuki for a moment before softly smiling and nodding. “Ayldrei,” he attempted at saying, and instead said something closer to “add-ree,” earning a laugh from his companion. Bashfully looking away, Izuku chuckled softly and watched as the rain hit around them, the slope that held the boulder up was allowing for the water to avoid pooling near them.

The sound of the water hitting the dragon’s wing membrane was like nothing he’s ever heard, as Izuku leaned softly against the shoulder of Katsuki, being lulled into a sleep from the warmth the crimson dragon emitted.

Chapter Text

It was then that Izuku woke up, his body covered in a cold sweat. An overwhelming sense of loss weighed down on his heart, and the green-haired boy tried to remember what his dreams consisted of. Yet his attempts came up futile.

A warm smell greeted Izuku when he had finished dressing, and was opening the door to his room, ready to greet his mother. When he spotted his mother sitting at their small table, with what looked like a small roasted bird on a small platter in front of her, he suddenly remembered what day it was today. He was turning sixteen years old, and today was the day he was leaving on his journey to become a knight!

Smiling, Inko watched her son as he hurriedly came to sit down at the table, greeting him happily with a “Good morning, Izu-kun!” Izuku sat down, his hands already beginning to slightly tremble from the excitement that the rest of the day will bring. He can’t believe he forgot about his journey starting today!

Sharing his excitement with his mother, as well as calming her worried about her son’s adventure, Izuku spent all morning eating, packing, and getting ready for what is to come. He packed his clothes, Inko packed him food. He polished and fixed his old shoes, re-lacing them up. Inko helped him with his jacket, fixing holes and patching patches again.

The rush ended a little after noon, as both Inko and Izuku sat down in a huff. Looking around, the two had packed up a bag full of food and clothes, with a few cooking supplies hanging from it. Along with was a newly sharpened dagger, a hidden pouch of coins, a rolled tent and blanket, as well as a few candles and fire starter. He was ready to go on an adventure!

Only... one thing was missing. If he was going to become a knight, he needed a sword.

Izuku got up and went to a nearby cupboard, grabbing something from high off the top shelf. It was wrapped in a dust-coated fabric, and carefully Izuku set it down and unfolded it. Inside was a simple steel blade with a leather wrapped handle, and a small brass hand guard. It was nothing fancy, but it was something that his father gave him after the legendary All Might traveled through their town of Kilead.

All Might is now a little more than legendary, as new knights and warrior heroes are coming to take his spot as a Number One Hero. Wielding his ever-faithful One For All longsword, the strong fighter was able to defend the Central Kingdom of Esirea from the nightmarish creatures of the northern Dark Forest that lined the daunting Dragon’s Spines mountain range. However, as legend goes, All Might was terribly wounded in the battle, and was unable to continue fighting. The hero traveled through the land searching for someone to take One For All, and wield it to once again save the kingdom, but that someone never appeared.

One Year, All Might suddenly disappeared. He was last seen in Izuku’s home town of Kilead, which is a valley bordered by the mountain ranges The (Dragon’s) Spines and the Oln Highlands. Rumor has it that the legendary hero was attacked by the Golden Dragon, as well as the wildlings of the Spines in the Dark Forest, and killed. However, no one has been able to prove this theory, and the ending still plagues everyone’s thoughts on adventuring.

Looking up to his mother as she approaches him, Izuku softly smiles and wipes down the sword and the leather sheath, before grabbing it and attaching it to his belt. With a warm hug with his mother, Izuku began putting on his pack and boots, and headed for the door.

“Izu-kun, wait!,” he heard from behind him, and before he could fully turn around Izuku was hit with a crushing hug, and heard his mother sniffling into his chest. “You be safe,” she worriedly said, “And remember if you get hungry you have to look for foods you know for sure aren’t poisonous, and stay away from creepy strangers, you have to watch out for some of them, and-“

“Mom,” Izuku said fondly, already beginning to cry himself as he hugged his mom back. “I promise I’ll be safe... but I must get going if I am going to make it to the Capital before dark… We’re lucky that Kilead is so close to Ilragorn. I promise I’ll use the main road, too!”

That seemed to calm Inko down, as she looked up to her son and smiled with a nod, letting go. However, she handed him a small amulet, a bird crafted out of white quartz. It was sitting atop a very detailed and precious handkerchief. Izuku smiled, knowing that these were something passed down in his family as good luck charms, and he took them from her tearfully.

Sniffling, he wrapped up the bird in the handkerchief and put it inside the inner pocket on his vest, thanking and hugging his mom again, before turning and heading out the door. Waving happily, he wished his mother goodbye, and started on his journey to become a legendary knight like All Might.

Izuku’s journey began joyfully, as he left his village of Kilead, and watched as the trees began to envelop his view as he headed down the road. Yet as continued down the road, the day began to darken, and a breeze raced through the grove and past Izuku, carrying a feeling of dread with it. This was not the “Happy Little Elf” adventure he was expecting. The green-haired boy looked around, his eyes skittering along the trunks of the trees and the weeds in the underbrush fretfully, realizing how alone he was now.

With his years of practice and training (running, working, lifting bales of hay and bags of flour), Izuku was no longer so skinny and frail as he was when he met All Might ten years ago, but now much stronger and physically ready for a fight. Mentally though? No way.

He’s not sure how long he had been wandering down the road toward the capital Ilragorn, but as the path darkened and the wind picked up, his fear grew in par. However, he was not ready for what the wind carried in its next gust.

What sounded like a girl’s scream ripped through the grove and straight towards Izuku with the cold wind.

Green eyes widening, Izuku rushes forward, grabbing onto the hilt of his dagger. Turning quickly around the bend, he catches a glimpse of a large pinkish hat and cloak, as well as the shining silver of armor, before he feels his foot catch on something and he is plummeting to the ground. He can hear the clatter of his pans and pots on his pack, as well as the tumble of whatever else as he lands, and his heart sinks in embarrassment.

Lifting his head from the dirt, he looks up shyly to find a worried girl looking to him and extending her hand. Smiling bashfully, Izuku took her hand with a thank you, standing up and brushing himself off.

“Are you okay? You took a nasty fall there!” says the girl, who Izuku notices now is wearing a pink mages hat, and a cloak, with brown hair and a beautifully rounder face, and brown eyes. She is gathering some of Izuku’s thinks that fell to the ground, and quickly Izuku apologizes and helps her, “Yes! I am! Thank you for helping me, I’m sorry I fell down, I heard a scream and was worried so I came to see what was-“

“Oh, hah, I’m sorry!” the, what Izuku assumes is a mage, says, “You see, I thought I saw a bug, but Iida had kicked a rock into the brush…” This is when Izuku noticed there was someone else here, and looked over to find a tall man with a knight’s armor on. Eyes widening, Izuku bowed while holding what he’s yet to put in his pack, apologizing and saying a hello. Looking up to the two of them and smiling, he says “I’m Izuku Midoryia…! I am traveling from Kilead to Ilragorn.”

“Oh really? We’re traveling back from the Giris Kingdom! My name is Uraraka Ochaco, and this Iida Tenya! Prince Todoroki wanted Iida to go do something important or whatever, and I wanted to come! But, we’ve gotten lost without our map to Ilragorn,” Uraraka says happily, motioning to herself and Iida when talking. At the mention of a map, Iida stiffens up and turns a very tight gaze towards Izuku, “Do you happen to have a map?”

Izuku blinks at them a bit blankly for a moment, before sparking up and nodding. Setting down the items in his arms carefully on the ground, Izuku shouldered off his pack and dug through it. Soon enough he pulls out a map, and blinks when Uraraka snatches it out of his hand. Smiling with a light laugh, Izuku packs his bag again, reorganizing it, before putting it on and joining the two in looking at the map. He points to a spot outside of Kilead, on a line that is before the Oln Highlands.

“I haven’t experienced an incline yet,” Izuku says, “So we’re somewhere between Kilead and the Olns…”

Nodding in agreement, Iida looked around and hummed to himself, before turning and looking down the road. “You came from in front of us, and you said you were heading to Ilragorn,” he says, “So we must have been going backwards.”

Looking up at Iida, both Uraraka and Izuku nod. Uraraka hands the map back to Izuku with a smile, “Would you like to join us to Ilragorn, Midoryia? It’s the least we can do because of how you helped us.”

Nodding quickly and agreeing, the green-haired boy happily joins the two. However, the wind has not ceased, and the sky grows darker, so they head out quickly in order not to get caught in a storm before reaching the city.

On the way, Izuku explains how he is aspiring to be a knight, but all his life he has been told he can’t be one because he is not a noble. Yet, after meeting All Might, he has committed himself to finding someone to teach him. Midoryia also finds out that Uraraka is a mage, or a sorcerer, who specializes in herbal potions, low-level spells (specifically with levitation), and a slight bit of card divination. Iida, he finds out, is a noble knight of the Iida house that is under the Royal Family Todoroki, and that they normally don’t get lost this easily.

As the sun begins to set, the three emerge from the thick forest after a hike uphill, to find the lavish city of Ilragorn, the capital of the Esirea Kingdom, ruled by King Todoroki Enji, with his son Prince Todoroki Shouto. Houses are lit, as darkness falls, providing a sense of fireflies amongst the forest, as the city sits upon one of the highest summits in the Oln Highlands.