Izuku.

Izuku!

Izuku stood up. He was in the cavern once more.

All Might, glowing and golden, stood dutifully in front of the pedestal that had once held his great blade.

His great smile widened as Izuku stared at him. "All Might!"

Izuku! You're back.

Izuku laughed and ran to him, jumping into his arms. All Might's gentle laugh rolled in his ears, and he patted the boy's back heartily.

It's good to see you again in person, Izuku.

Izuku laughed and leaned back to look up at his guide.

"I'm so happy to see you! But…how am I back here again? Wait, don't tell me. Is this all in my head?"

All Might laughed.

Of course. But that doesn't mean it's any less real. Here.

Izuku reached up, his hand and All Might's touching. He felt warm flesh, and the gentle movement of All Might's fingers. This was no dream, and yet it was.

"I can't believe it. This place, this was all real. The cavern, the sword's pedestal! But…how are you able to still live inside the sword?"

All Might laughed.

Indeed, you deserve to hear a more detailed explanation. I am able to live in the sword due to the power we share. It is alive. Inside, the past wielders dwell, waiting for the moment when you unlock the blade's full power and are able to wield it.

Izuku reached to his waist in amazement, pulling the sheathed blade out of its holster. It was glowing, the golden blade seemed to pulse with a life of its own.

As Izuku pulled the weapon free, it shone brighter. Izuku pulled his hand away from his eyes, only to have them widen like saucers.

Words were etching themselves upon the sword's length and they glowed a deep blue. They were written in a language he could not understand. Izuku looked at the last few words that carved themselves into the blade.

All Might reached to the sword, and ran his fingers along the words. To Izuku's amazement, the words slowly rearranged into the common tongue, and he read them aloud.

"In order to become a warrior, one must understand one. In order to be a warrior, one must go beyond…"

The last words flowed like honey, etching themselves into the blade.

"…Plus Ultra."

Izuku looked up. "All Might…what does Plus Ultra mean?"

All Might opened his mouth to respond, but he suddenly flipped about. "…"

Izuku yelped as All Might shoved him back.

You're not alone. But listen. You know what to do. I trust in you.

Izuku woke to a pair of glinting green eyes and a snarling face.

A cougar. And a huge one at that.

Izuku took a chance to glance about and find that his friends were in similar situations.

Todoroki was holding his sword in a defensive motion, tip held threateningly at a snarling pair of cougars that had backed him and Ochako into a corner. Her staff was mangled in the dirt.

The animals weren't ordinary beasts.

They'd been touched by the primal magic the Master had warned them about.

Iida was tense, surrounded by three cougars that were snapping at his limbs. They growled and hissed, yet came no closer.

"Izuku! We're surrounded! We've got to fight!" Todoroki yelled, pointing a finger at Izuku.

Izuku jumped to his feet, drawing his blade.

He fell to the ground with a yelp as the sword's weight dragged him down.

Todoroki stared in shock as Izuku dragged himself to his feet, and attempted to drag the sword up.

Izuku strained. But the blade would not lift.

"Todoroki…! It won't budge!"

All Might! Why-?!

I cannot help you with this. They have decided your destiny, for now.

Do your best! I trust in you.

Todoroki's face looked strained. Izuku could read the emotions across his face clear as day. He wanted to help Izuku, but he would be putting Ochako at risk.

Izuku was on his own. He had to think of a plan, fast.

In one fluid motion, he dropped low to the ground when a nearby cougar's claws dug into the ground. Correctly assumed, the cougar jumped at the air where he'd been standing.

His feet kicked upwards, catching the cougar in the stomach. It yowled wand flew into the cave wall, yowling wetly. It hit the wall with a thud. Ochako whooped admirably.

The distraction drew all cat eyes to Izuku. Not paying attention to the prey in front of them.

Perfect.

Todoroki jumped forward, his sword flashing. A cougar fell to the ground, its head severed. Ochako clapped her hands together, shouting. "Detonatio!" The cougar in front of her screeched in pain as its fur burst into flame, popping and cracking.

Izuku dodged the attack from a snarling cougar by inches. Its face screwed up, teeth dripping with drool.

Dodge!

Izuku rolled underneath the cat's pounce. He felt the cat's claws rake his shoulder and winced. In seconds he was back on his boots, eyes narrowed and blood boiling.

He would not die here.

Geralt was rolling about with another cougar. He was far bigger than it, and in seconds his teeth were buried in the cat's neck. The dying yowls of the cat were silenced by Geralt's howl of anger. The wolf flung himself at a cougar that was sneaking up on Ochako.

Iida was…fast. He moved with such agility that the most you saw was a flash of silver and big cat blood splattering the cave floor.

As quick as it came, it was over.

Geralt nosed the dead cougar in front of his paws, snorting when he'd made sure it wouldn't get up and bite anyone. Ochako ran a hand through his fur, pressing a kiss to the wolf's head.

"Thank you, Geralt. Good boy."

Todoroki smiled. "Good job, everyone." His eyes turned serious, however, when they landed on the sheathed blade lying upon the cave floor.

"Izuku. What happened?"

Izuku shook his head. "I…I don't know. The sword…it was so heavy. I don't know why." Todoroki sheathed his sword and walked over to the sheathed sword.

He reached down.

And picked the sword up as simply as if it were made of wood.

Izuku stared. "Wh-What?! It was heavy! So heavy, I'm telling you." Todoroki gave him an eye. "…that's not funny, Izuku. We could have all died." Izuku raised his hands in fear. "No. No, I wasn't trying to be funny! I'm telling you." Iida frowned. "I thought that you would act better than this, Izuku."

Izuku could only frown at the ground, his eyes guilty. "…I can't…" Todoroki looked pointedly at him. "Never mind…sorry." Todoroki sighed and turned away. "We could all have died. But you just had to be immature, at a time like this."

He looked away and began to pack his things. "I assume we should start heading out again. Do you agree, Izuku?" Izuku reached down to grab his sword.

It was heavy. As heavy as he'd felt earlier. What was going on..?! If his efforts were noticed, they'd believe him even less. And if he insisted on the truth, they'd only get suspicious…and start thinking…and thinking might lead to…!

All Might….! Please…do something!

Izuku gasped. The sword was lifting. Very slowly…but it was lifting.

In a few moments it slid back into the red-bound sheath.

You…?

It is heavy, even for me. You are not alone.

Todoroki offered Izuku Winter's reins. As he passed, he threw him a disapproving glance as Izuku grasped the leather reins. Izuku could only bite his lip.

I'm sorry, young Midoriya. But the other wielders have decided that using the power when you have shown you are unprepared physically…cannot be tolerated.

….But they don't know what they're doing, All Might. My friends…they're losing trust in me. And I can't tell them anything…!

….Forgive me, my boy. I have immense gratitude for you working so hard to keep my secret safe, despite personal hardship. But remember, your life is your own. You must make decisions for yourself. Do not let my judgement decide what you do, for yourself. In this case…

Izuku felt pressure on the blade, for a moment. It suddenly jolted forward, up to where Ochako was packing her things.

She looked up at him, and then back down. Biting her lip.

Izuku could only scruff his feet. "Ochako…I…" Ochako held up a hand. "Just…don't. Please." She stood, and walked after Todoroki and Iida, who had begun to march across the plain. "I just…need to be…alone, for a while."

Izuku felt his heart tear. "Yeah…alright." He slung himself on top of Winter. The horse began its march.

The warm sun did nothing to melt the cold ice in Izuku's heart.