Chapter Text
Drums were pounded upon, and chords were plucked. The ceremony was starting with a loud performance of echoing vocals and a vivace tempo of instrumental beats. Dancers twirled and jumped, thumping their feet to the ground and clapping their hands up high in the air. All who brasked in the event wore smiles or whispered small blessings upon the night’s event. All but one. Instead, this one shook with fear and dread over the whole purpose behind this very ceremony.
The ceremony took place every year in his village. On a night where the stars twinkled and the moon was at its fullest. Every year they would sing, dance, and praise, but most importantly, an offering was given to the mighty beasts who dominated every creature known to mankind.
Dragons.
Any enemy of a dragon had a death wish, or was simply idiotic. But humans always found ways to make use of their scenarios. So every year, the village would offer a grand celebration as they gift off one of their own citizens to the dragon race. A human of fair beauty and perseverance would be helplessly presented to an alpha dragon, which in turn grants the village protection from any outside threats.
This year, Izuku Midoriya would be the offering. A shy and timid boy who was still shaking from his soon to be fate.
He sighed as he slumped low in his chair. Izuku was sat in front of a large mirror, watching the cheerful festivities continue on through the reflection.
Currently, he was being tend to by the village’s courtheir. A woman with long coal black hair, and sky blue eyes. Just below her left eye was a beauty mark. The woman was none other than Kayama Nemuri, or as he referred to her as Miss Nemuri just simply out of polite manner. She ran a brush through his wild green garden of curls. After thoroughly detangling his strands of hair, she ruffled her right hand through his locks of green, making his hair grow wild once again.
“Wild curls seem to be more of your style. It makes you look so cute that i could just eat you right up,” she chuckled not realizing her phrasing in enough time before the boy shuttered in place. Kayama waved her hands mindlessly before clamping them together to form an apology. “Forgive my words, what I meant is that you look easy on the eyes. I mean just look at all of those freckles, they look like constellations,” she remarked while dragging her right pointer finger across his round soft cheeks and over the bridge of his nose. The gesture certainly did make him relax enough for her to draw away and continue his grooming.
No one really knew what happened to the offerings after they were taken into the grasp on the dragons. Unfortunately, it was definite that the skeleton bodies found outside the village boundaries did indeed belong to the past offerings. All rotted down to the bone, but still wore the clothing and jewelry worn as a further attraction for the beasts, still adorned the bodies. The very thought of it all being his future almost brought him to tears. However, Izuku would not let his tears stream. He would brave through this event no matter how dark his outcome will be.
Kayama finishes taming his curls and starts to now apply a moisturizer to his face and skin. The pleasant aroma of roses now rolled off his skin. The aroma reminded him a lot of his mother. Most would think that she smelled of sweet fruits or smoked meats since she worked mostly in the kitchen. But whenever she had free time, mother Inko Midoriya would tend to her small outdoor garden. That garden was just as bright with colors as was her pure soul. Now that soul lays at rest in peace along with Izuku’s father. He figured by now that it was for the best. Izuku could never imagine his mother’s reaction at hearing about her son’s upcoming role, or at least he didn't want to imagine it now. Now was far from a perfect time to think about anymore depressing matters.
Kayama motioned for Izuku to stand from his seat and follow behind her. They both entered into a small house like building, which only consisted of two rooms. One for storage, the other for putting the final touches upon the offering. He was ordered to change into more suitable clothes. Izuku slid a pair of prussian blue bottoms that fit snug around his waist. Next, Miss Nemuri assisted Izuku with sliding into what seemed to be a plain white button up top. She came to his front to button up the shirt with slim pail fingers, then flipped the collar to bend down to his shoulders. Kayama then left the boy to search through some drawers. During her search, Izuku took a peek out the window, the sky now a gold orange blending into pinks and purples. His time was soon. The rattling of beads caught his attention as he turned to face the ravenette holding two bracelets and one intrucet necklace. She looped a bracelet onto each wrist and then clasped the golden chand behind Izuku’s neck.
“Alright we don’t have long, but please tell me what you think.” Her heels clicked into the wooden floor boards in the house as she backed away from the younger male. Izuku now turned to find a hanging mirror reflecting his appearance. His fern green eyes stare, and only stare. Not taking in every detail that the courtheir worked hard on, but instead taking the time to take deep breaths. In. Out. Repeat.
“Soo, what do ya think?” The question was his waking call out of his small break. This was it for him. It was now the time to face his responsibility.
“It works,” he sighed out. Kayama nodded then took his left hand into her palm and smoothed the other over top and encased his left hand. No more words were said. Just a calm atmosphere that Izuku didn’t expect. He could almost fall asleep, but duty calls as all the music comes to a halt.
“That’s your cue, make us proud.” A genuine smile appeared on her face as she guided the smaller male out the door and into the streets. People had parted a way for the two to walk the short journey to the front for the village. The drums begane a slow beat midway through the path. Once at the Village’s front border wall, Midoriya was on his own.
In.
Out.
Repeat.
Izuku focused on his next objective. In Front of him stood a tall wooden ladder, that reached past the top of the wall where a pedestal with two pillars side by side. In between those pillars was the very space where Midoriya would stand tall, wrists tied by rope connected to a simple circle on each pillar. One shaky step carried after another as he ascended the wooden steps. Far too soon, he found himself on the very pedestal that tied him down to his fate. Two more men followed up behind him to tie his bounds. On his right stood a man with long blonde hair, and mustache to go along with it. To his left stood a man with a tired expression and baggy eyes. Facial hair running along his chin and mustache line while his black hair drooped in front of hi face and to his shoulders. The ropes held him tightly in place, so even if he tried to lean forward and fall the great height, the ropes held him in place.
The two men then left after a few practice tugs on his wrists. His body forming a cross facing the thick forest trees. The drums started to pick up their rhythm, now indicating that the ceremony was coming to its climax purpose. A small draft of wind blew, brushing across his skin and making his curls dance in the wind. The atmosphere was chilly, and dark besides the many burning torches and bonfires set ablaze through the village. The drums only beating faster and faster to match up with Izuku’s racing heart.
The small breeze suddenly shifts, coming from up and behind Midoriya. Unlike the breeze from earlier, this one had a much stronger force, causing Izuku to lean forward. Knowing his clumsy self he would have fell down the boundary wall if it weren’t for the ropes wrapped securely around his hands. Following after the strong draft of wind, a full-throated roar vibrated through the town. Green eyes scanned the night sky above, spotting a large figure casted in the night’s dark shadow. The figure glided down into the pine rich forest. Common black crows cawed as they flew away from the shaken trees.
Izuku was balancing in between hyperventilating or ceasing to breathe at all. His chest rose occasionally to release a heavy breath and intake a deep breath of air. His eyes blown wide as they followed the high pine trees tremble and part for the creature he can definitely assume to be the very beast of tonight’s honor.
The ground quaked as two front claws appeared from out of the forest. The nails were sharp to the point, connected to five scaled fingers. The scales traveled further up the front limbs of the dragon, seeming to be a blonde yellow. The front arms stepped further, revealing the Dragon’s front and long neck, curled downwards. The neck uncurled upwards, showing the face of the fierce menace. The eyes a bright ruby red, snout elongated from the face but more rounded at the muzzle’s end. A perfect row of teeth serrated teeth, peeked out from the under lips of the dragon, as it seemed to snarl in attempt to intimidate.
And consider Izuku intimidated. His body shuddered at the whole sight coming closer and closer. The dragon lifted onto hi hind legs and perched it’s arms onto the wall. His head drew near Izuku, making his fear grow and claw inside his body to move away. However, the greenette stood still, shoulders inching up and down with every heavy breath he withdrew and took in. His body did however begin to quake as a rough finger of the dragon’s right claw came in contact with the side of his leg. It dragged gently up the boy’s side, stopping at his shoulder. The finger curled over and grazed his back. If the beast applied any more pressure, Izuku was sure he would be impaled right in front of all the citizens. The dragon closed their eyes as their snout touched Izuku’s chest and sniffed through their nostrils.
Izuku bit his lip to keep in a whimper. He felt like he could shatter at any moment in the presence of such a large creature. He could lay on the dragon’s head and still have plenty of room to spread his arms and legs. The overall size and features alone were enough to cause armies to withdraw and surrender. And yet it stood in front of him, taking in Izuku’s scent and poking around his body with little pressure to it’s one nail.
The ruby orbs opened once more and stared directly at the male’s freckled face. The beast distanced away from Midoriya, but now wrapped it’s right hand around the human’s whole body, only leaving past his shoulders to poke out of the strong clasp. Then, the climax of the ceremony finally happened as the dragon pulled Midoriya forward, snapping the restraints around his wrists.
The dragon has taken it’s offering.