Cover art by azureflamearts on Tumblr
The cage. A large, chain link dome that covered a large circled off area where warriors would duel. Stands for audiences to cheer, boo, and screech in surrounded it except for two areas that allowed for entrances and exits of the warriors. The sky a bright blue and everything filled to the brim with anticipation. A woman, with a spiky ponytail to the right with shining steel armor adorning her body. A man, unlucky to battle her on such a day. One area of the stand, taller than the rest, where a king and queen sat. Their brutish demeanors clear. What the man looked like didn't matter for he would soon be smashed down to nothing but dust.
The woman extracted a mace from her stomach. The audience cheered as the craftsmanship shone from the weapon. The king stood, causing the audience to cheer even louder. His hand rose, then fell to begin the battle.
Her hand twisted to hold up the mace as the two charged towards each other. Her face filled with rage, annoyance, and disgust. She swung the mace towards the man and down he went. The sound of bones cracking and a body falling to the dry, dirt ground. The sound of the crowd shouting a single name and title.
"PRINCESS MOMO!"
The messenger ran into the throne room. His hair a dark green mess and satchel on his side being jostled. A beauty of a castle with stone walls and sophistication throughout. Large windows were adorned with velvet curtains and gold streamed through the glass to create pictures of great triumphs. A throne was in the back center of the long room with guards stood still on the sides of a lengthy red carpet that ran to the throne.
Upon the throne sat a king with his head held high. His mouth carried a heavy frown and sharp gaze that bore into the messenger's head. A golden crown rested on his hair along his dark red hair that caught the sunlight just right to gleam and glow. Flames flew off of his body into the air. A red cape adorned his body as a sword lied next to his right hand against the throne. The messenger kneeled a bit away from the king. Green lightning around him was beginning to fade away from his hurry. His lip quivered.
"Rise and speak, Midoriya." the king gestures for him to stand.
He did so, but did not dare to look the king in his eyes. "King Enji, the Yaoyorozu island kingdom has announced that their princess's hand in marriage is free for any man who wishes to take it."
"That sounds strange. The princess would never agree to such. She is too much of a feisty character." the king stroked his beard, deep in his own thoughts.
"Your highness, there is a catch to the announcement." the messenger took a deep breath in before finishing his message. "If one wishes to take her hand, they must defeat her in a duel first. The past contenders are already piling up in hospitals and around their kingdom. She has already defeated over a hundred men and has killed a few who went too far." his breath hitched.
"Ah, this is a perfect opportunity." he flashed a rare smile. "Call my advisors and Prince Shoto to the royal armory, please." King Enji stood from his throne. "I'm going for a walk."
Shoto sat in his room with a book open in his hand. His room was large and circular due to him being in one of the castle towers. Bookshelves lined his room with a large bed near the back wall. A large balcony overlooked an endless field where grasses and daisies grew. A fireplace sat across from the bed on the opposite wall. It was extinguished with ashes thrown about, as if someone were annoyed with it. Shoto was at a desk made of dark wood that made the room seem unfriendly. Hues of blue and red adorned the room's decorations such as paintings and other knick knacks.
The window doors of the balcony opened to the evening's warm air. It had been a tiring day with horseback riding, training, and studying. His father had piled on numerous tasks for him to complete and he was growing sick of it. His half white, half red hair was dirty from the tasks, but he didn't care to clean himself at the moment. Shoto's eyes scanned the page he was reading. The crisp, clean air of the mountains swarmed through the cavern. One could eye the bare stones being eaten away by the wind. The sheer power could blow one past the hills and back to the valley. It nawed at your soul. A stab, a strangle, a never ending duel between one and the elements.
His reading was interrupted by a knock at the door. It was timid, quiet, almost like a whisper of a knock that only one person Shoto knew could do. He closed the book, leaving it on his desk. Shoto strode across the large, circular room to the door. Why would he come at this hour?
"Midoriya?" he opened the door to find the messenger.
"Your highness, King Enji calls for you in the royal armory. Please be prompt with your arrival." his head was held down low in a bow.
"Get up." Shoto sighed.
Midoriya stood up tall and looked him in the eye. "I know you've been disagreeing with your father, but I think you really should go."
Shoto leaned against the side of the door's frame and crossed his arms. "Why?"
"Princess Momo Yaoyorozu has come of age to be wedded."
"I've heard of her before. That kingdom is full of barbarians. She doesn't seem like the type to easily find a husband." he frowned.
"Well, I think your father is considering sending you to the Yaoyorozu islands to make her your bride."
His frown deepened. "I'd never agree. My heart is not wooed well by women nor am I a wooer of women."
"Your father would think otherwise." Midoriya moved out of the doorway to allow Shoto to walk out.
Shoto grabbed a sword in its sheath leaning on a cabinet and wrapped it around his waist as he walked. Midoriya followed him with a hand over his satchel strap.
"What are you planning on saying to him, Shoto?" he asked curiously.
"I'm not there yet." the prince picked up his pace.
The two crossed grand halls and large windows as they walked. Guards would spot the prince and the messenger and clear the path for them. Their faces stoic, but concerned for the prince's attitude.
"The royal armory is quite far from the castle. Will you be taking your horse?"
"Yes, though I need you to send a message to my brother." Shoto made an abrupt stop.
"Prince Dabi?" Midoriya blinked at him confusingly. "He is across the kingdom with your mother currently. That will be a few days trip if I were to go now."
"Exactly."
He took a deep breath in. "Your highness…" Midoriya took out piece of parchment and a pen. "What is your message?"
"Tell him, the wind is howling through the mountains." he could feel Midoriya's confused stare at his back."That is all. You may go." Shoto began walking again.
"Shoto!"
The prince turned back to him.
"Good luck."
The two nodded to each other and parted ways.
Shoto felt the wind through his hair. His horse, a white mare, was the most powerful in all the kingdom. Fast and strong as she jumped over logs in the road. He clenched his fists around the leather reins as night began to fall. Going out with no guards with him was a bit stupid, but he needed this. A ride alone with only him and his horse. The forest was quiet with only the rustle of bushes or flap of wings from the animals.
The prince was headed toward the mountains where the royal armory was located. A stream of magma was located in it many years prior. Miners dug around it and found it a wonderful source of heat. Blacksmiths began to move into it to use its unique properties. Shoto's father took over it once he realized the usefulness of the volcano. Guards surrounded the armory while master blacksmiths worked in it from dawn to dusk. It was far from the capital city or the royal palace, but was expertly protected. The materials from the mines in the mountains proved invaluable for the country.
Walls surrounded the opening of the royal armory. Shoto came to a large gate where four guards were stationed. Two were on the ground on each side of the gate while two others were on their respective sides up in towers above the gate. One called up to the tower guards, allowing the prince access to the royal armory. He rode his horse until he came to the entrance into the inner mountains. A guard took his horse's reins and guided the mare away as Shoto went off to find his father.
The temperature rose as he entered the armory. The heat enveloped him, though not like a hug. It was scorching. He heard the clang of hammers upon metal and the rush of ashes out of furnaces. He felt the air warm even more behind him and he turned to greet flames.
"Hello father."
Momo's hands shook violently. Her final duel of the day was done, but she knew there would be more tomorrow. I must cement our kingdom's strength. I cannot allow my emotions to get the better of me. It's okay to kill…. Her thoughts trailed off as she sat in her room. It was relatively small with a simple bed to the side. Two bookshelves lined her walls with weapons lying throughout. A window was open to the night air. It was so cold, for fall was coming soon and snow liked to settle in early.
The princess was sat on her bed. Her hands had blood on them from the duel. She didn't know what to do. Should she wipe the blood off? Yes, she should've done that much earlier. However, she couldn't. All she could do was stare as it began to dry and cake. The mace she had created was lying on the ground in front of her. Her armor still on, dirty and scratched. She didn't know what to do.
Her kingdom was on the verge of war with the Todoroki Kingdom. Their mastery over the elements of fire. The eldest prince denied the crown and past it off to the youngest of the Todoroki royalty. Prince Shoto, a product of King Enji and Princess Miyuki from the Yukiko Kingdom. His powers of half ice and half fire were rumored to be unstoppable.
The message of her coming of age had probably already reached the prince's ears. He was older than her by 2 years and she knew he would be coming. If he were to win, she would go with him to his kingdom and become his queen. Her life on the islands would be over. Her freedom to roam with her bow and arrows, shooting them into trees. Her freedom to sail across the sea waters then return home by nightfall for dinner. That would all be gone if he were to win. If she were to win, war would break out. The Torodoki Kingdom would win the war for sure and take her and her kingdom. Her people, though strong, and father, though strong willed, would not last in a war with the other kingdom.
Momo sat on her bed. She racked her brain on possibilities and options she had. She could run from the kingdoms and go beyond what are on all the maps she sees. That would end badly for her kingdom still. All the options she thought of were bad. The final solution was one she didn't want to come to terms with. She would have to earn the trust of the prince and convince him to leave their kingdom alone. She would go with him to his kingdom if needed, marry him even. As princess, she needed to confirm that her people would be safe. She was merely a tool to be used in the grand scheme of things.
The princess looked out to the sky. Stars flooded it and she could hear the sea's waves crashing against the island's edge. Her lonely tower that she lived in, away from the main castle where her parents resided. They decided to give her some more freedom to herself before it would all end. When Prince Shoto arrived in a few weeks, Princess Momo's life would not be the same. It will change and forever be changed. Men from all over the neighboring countries would fight for her hand, but none will come close.
A voice shouted from the bottom of her tower near her window. Momo rushed to the window and looked down. A purple hair maiden was there in a plain brown dress and a blonde man with dirt all over him. She waved up to the princess. Momo hurried down the steps of her tower to open the door for her. The maiden was there with a smile. The princess embraced her, relieved to see such a friend. The man stood to the side with a scowl.
"Jirou, it's so late. Why are you here?" she kept her arms around her.
"I brought Bakugou with me. Can we come inside?"
"Yes!" she rushed them in and shut the door, locking it with a key. "Would you like some tea while you tell me why you both are here?"
"No. Don't bother." Bakugou shook his head.
"Momo, we figured out a plan to get you out of all of this!" Jirou clapped her hands together.
"Jirou, I'm afraid there is no way for me to get out of all of this. My father and mother may have allowed people from all over to duel me for my hand, but they only did that so King Enji would not be offended. Once Prince Shoto comes here to duel me and beats me, it's all over." she smiled sadly at the maiden.
"No, there is a way!" she threw her hands onto Momo's shoulders. "You could fake your own death."
"That's the same as running away…"
"Not if you died with lots of people around you." Bakugou put his hands into his pockets and smirked.
"What are you two suggesting?" the princess took a seat on a stool.
"Bakugou hasn't dueled you yet, so in a duel between you two he could fake kill you. Your body would go on to do the burial and we can sneak you out then since Yaoyorozu royalty is buried without the public around." Jirou took Momo's hands and stood her up. The maiden didn't even flinch from the blood drying on the princess' hands.
"Jirou, I have to decline such an offer." she made Jirou let go of her hands and put them together, feeling the blood of a stranger.
"Decline? Is all of this getting to your head, Yaoyorozu?" Bakugou scowled again. "You don't want to marry some stuck up pansy from another country."
"I can't do something like this. I have to marry Prince Shoto for the two kingdoms' fragile peace. I can go with him to his country and improve relations. People there think we're all barbarians, but if I made them think differently then things will be better." she smiled at the two.
"Momo…" Jirou looked at her sadly.
"Hm?"
"Are you sure you want this?"
"Yes." the princess nodded her head to reassure the two.
"Well, you're fucking wrong. You can't do this." Bakugou crossed his arms.
"Bakugou, as your princess, I must order you to let me proceed with what I wish. I cannot be selfish." she shook her head at him.
"Yes, you can. You can't marry that half and half bastard. I hear he's demonic and has already taken multiple mistresses since his coming of age." his scowl unbelievably became deeper.
"I hear he tortures people on a regular basis in his kingdom. People are scared for when he becomes king. Some say he might kill his father just to have complete control over the kingdom." Jirou put a finger to her chin and looked up to think.
Momo laughed. "You two can't go around believing rumors like that. The only people on these islands who have met him are my mother and father."
"Yes, but they've never told you about him before. Everything we say could be true." she put a finger onto Momo's nose to quiet her.
"Oh, you two…." she sighed. "A milkmaid and stable boy who I've been friends with all these years."
"Friends?" Bakugou snorted.
"Friends, Bakugou. Isn't that exciting?" the princess smiled at him.
"I guess." he smiled back.
"Well, it's one more of the last nights before you go off and marry this prince. Let's do something fun!" Jirou shared their smiles.
"Like what?" the blonde rolled his eyes. "Please don't take us to the forest again. I think I still have bush thorns up my ass from that."
"Hey! Don't say that about my adventures!" she slapped his arm.
"Oh, you wanna go tit pincher?!" he yelled at her.
"Don't insult my profession!"
Momo tried to cover her mouth as she laughed. She could live in that moment forever. Her friends, her family, her kingdom all together. This was what she wanted.
A/N: Cover art by azureflamearts on Tumblr
Link to original work: post/167302883175/kamijirou-todomomo-fantasy-au-please-dont
Please support the artist on their amazing artwork. They allowed me to use their art on the Wattpad posting of this fanfic and I simply want to promote them more on both Wattpad and ao3. Have a wonderful day! 3
