It had rained for hours, and a deep fog had settled along the land. Harsh, frigid wind buffeted the trees and bushes, anger almost present in its wake. Geralt dug his paws into the dirt path, struggling to walk alongside Winter, his ears lowered to ward off the wind. Deku pulled his cloak tighter around his neck, gritting his teeth. The wind was fierce and strong, signaling the coming winter.

Winter is arriving faster than I expected. It's not common.

Deku nodded.

Yeah. Something's…wrong.

"Deku?"

Deku turned around. Todoroki was gripping Winter's reins, staring ahead into the fog. His eyes were uncertain. "This is bad weather. It's only going to get darker. We can barely see ten feet in front of us as it is. We should find a place to rest and wait out the night." Deku looked behind them. Ochako was flat against Sakura's back, her cloak pulled around her face. Iida's face was hidden by his helm, but his halting steps spoke of his exhaustion.

He nodded and looked around, using a hand to block the wind. "We should go a bit farther. There's mountains of rock to the left of us. There could be a overhang, or cave." Todoroki nodded at him. "C'mon. We're finding some shelter." Ochako mumbled in response and Iida saluted.

Deku had been correct. A couple of minutes later, a rocky overhang was in sight. The party was eager to crowd in and make themselves comfy. The inside of the overhang was well-shaped and wide, allowing ample room. Todoroki walked Winter into the back of the cavern and fixed his reins to a protruding rock. Deku hopped up and started walking towards the front of the cavern. They needed a fire.

"Deku, don't worry about it. I'm going to get some wood."

Todoroki clutched his cloak around him and walked back out into the storm.

Deku smiled. He'd always been thoughtful. He looked back to where Iida was unpacking his things and laying out his bedroll. He'd removed his helm and let his blue hair free. As he affixed his glasses to the front of his nose, he grinned. Deku looked to where his eyes lay, and his heart nearly melted.

Ochako had let the dogs out. Quite literally.

The puppies crawled all over her, nipping at her cloak and rolling on her sleeping bag. She giggled as they yipped and yapped away. Sakura looked over them, a warm glow in her eyes. "Hee-hee-hee! No! Stop, that tickles!" Geralt ended the play-fight by jumping on the dog pile.

Todoroki had walked back in to everyone laughing like idiots.

He was sorry to drop the bad news.

"The wood's wet. It'll take time for it to light. A lot of time."

Ochako groaned and the pups huddled around her, yipping worriedly. Deku sat up, shaking droplets from his green curls. "What?! No! We're so close to getting home! Now we'll die of hypothermia before we even get there!" Todoroki looked up with a sudden grin. "Ye of little faith. Of course…there could always be a little magic." He lay down the soaking logs and arranged them. Immediately after, he drew Iceborne and lay it upon the logs. "Igni!" The sword became a blaze, and easily lit the logs aflame.

Ochako gasped in awe and Deku nearly dropped his jaw. "Todoroki; you're using your fire! But…I thought you hated it! You never wanted it!" Todoroki sighed and sat down. "That's true. I did. But…when I saw what Bakugo had done to Momo, and what he planned to do to you guys…I knew that what you told me earlier was right. I just needed the right moment. And then I saw you."

Deku looked at him in shock.

"You've been brave. Far more worthy of the title than any knight I've ever seen. You showed me that power is given to those to be used. For good. I can make my father's power something I can be proud of. Momo told me I could do it; you proved you could, and thus I could." He nodded at Deku. "Thank you. I'm honored to be in your party."

Deku could only smile. "Thanks, man."

Todoroki sighed and raised a eyebrow. "I expected a "Thank you," or a "I humbly accept your compliments."

"Yeah, well, that's you, buddy. I find my style…ahem…breaks the ice."

"Oh, my Gods."

Ochako laughed happily. "I'm so happy for you, Todoroki. These powers will make you a legend! You'll be the coolest king of all time!" Iida nodded. "You'll be very well-respected, I'm sure of it."

"Behind me. I'll be the greatest knight of all time."

"Bro. Get a life."

"Oh, I'm living my best one."

Iida and Ochako shook their heads as Deku and Todoroki began to roll about, tussling. Ochako grinned and got up, walking over to Winter and reaching into his saddlebags. From the bags she drew a pot, ladle, a thick slab of wood, and vegetables in a cloth bag.

Deku stared at her. "How did you even fit all that in there?! Ochako gave him a sly grin. "Talent." Deku rolled his eyes with a chuckle. "I guess so." Todoroki raised an eyebrow quirkily. This led to Deku chucking some dirt at him.

"Calm down and stop throwing stuff, Deku! I need to cook. That means silence and concentration." Deku sat up like a lightbulb turning on. "You can cook?! Since when?"

Todoroki shushed him. "Dude!" Ochako waved him down. "It's OK. I actually couldn't cook really well before. Momo taught me the basics." Todoroki's eyes softened. "That was kind of her."

Ochako sighed. "I miss her. And Jiro. And everyone else back at the village."

There was a brief silence as the party tangled with memories.

Ochako clapped her hands, and shook everyone out of their stupors.

"Well, enough moping! If she were here she'd bop us all over the head for whining and then feed us till we had to roll everywhere for the next week! So let's do just that. I'm starving anyway!"

Deku stood up. "Let me help."

Ochako went red but she allowed him to assist. While Todoroki constructed the tripod to place the pot over the fire, Deku clumsily chopped vegetables (with Ochako's help) and added them to the pot. Ochako added water. Geralt went out into the rain and returned with a fat, juicy peasant. That too was prepared, chopped and placed into the stew. Ochako added the vegetables and garnish per Momo's instructions, and soon the stew was fragrant and bubbling.

Geralt enjoyed the leftover bones and skin immensely. He shared the savory treat with his mate and pups. His pups gnawed on the bones until they were worried away.

Ochako fetched a handful of spices from her satchel and sprinkled it into the bubbling liquid. "All done!"

Iida got up in a flash. However, it was less from Ochako's information and more like pure terror. His glasses were askew and it was obvious he'd just woken up. "Mother! The octopus!" He sobbed. "It's teaching a classroom!" With a moment of recognition, his eyes bulged and his face went red. The party stared at him. As his eyes slid into focus, Ochako snorted and laughed into her sleeping roll. Iida huffed as he realized his dream hadn't been a silent one. "Never speak of this again!" The rest of the party burst into laughter. Ochako rapped the pot. "Hah! It's OK, Iida. I just said that dinner's ready." Iida sat up. "Oh. Alright. Thank you very much."

Ochako ladled the stew into the wooden bowls Momo had provided. Iida took his and daintily clapped his hands. "Thank you for the meal." Everyone followed suit. Deku raised the bowl to his lips and scooped out a bite with his spoon. The smell assualted his senses. He was instantly blown away as it entered his mouth.

The stew was rich, yet mellow. Chunks of wild potato and carrot softened by simmering, crisp green onion mixing with the savory chunks of fresh peasant meat that were juicy and tender. The taste of thyme, sage and salt assualted his senses, along with the lingering kick of cayenne.

He swallowed the miraculous bite and smiled at Ochako. "Wow! Your cooking is…crazy good!" Ochako blushed and buried her face in her bowl. "No…I'm OK. This is the one thing I was able to get right…so…!" Iida raised his spoon, nodding in agreement. "Nay. Take that compliment and be proud of it; I never thought we would taste such a thing on our journey home." Todoroki nodded as he slurped away. Geralt and Sakura had their face buried in the large bowl they'd been provided, their pups wagging their tails as they stuffed themselves together and ate heartily.

Of course, all of their faces were wet at the end. Ochako wiped them down with wet towels and dried their fluffy coats by the fire. Sakura ushered them over to a corner of the cave, where the wolf family curled up together and fell asleep.

"That's a beautiful sight."

Todoroki looked over at the wolves, pausing the harsh sharpening of his blade. "It's an example; what families are like." He smiled at Deku. "We are a family. That's what makes our party the best. We may not be bound by blood, but we are bound by experience, happiness, and trust. That in itself is stronger than any enemy."

Deku grinned at him. "Yeah, it really is."

Smiling, he lay back on his bedroll, feeling the stew warm his body. The flames cast a heated glow, casting a spell on his tired mind. The good food and warmth tied together and worked their magic.

His eyes slowly shut. Darkness.

And soon he was back in the cave. The rainbow light coming off the golden water was just as he remembered it. His boots were submerged in the golden lake; yet he didn't care.

All Might stood dutifully as he always did, beside the empty pedestal. Deku grinned and rushed up to him.

"AllMight?"

He turned and smiled with that impenetrable grin.

"I'm here."

"This sure was an adventure, huh?"

All Might laughed and made a X with his arms.

"You can say that. I never want to see a piece of bacon ever again."

"Ha! Neither do I. I can't count how many times we had to go to sleep with that in our stomachs. One day is good, but four? Ugh."

"Do you feel satisfied? Was this a good adventure?"

Deku shrugged.

"I mean…that was an adventure. But I haven't yet reached my goal. I want to be the strongest. So that no one will have to worry about me. All throughout the quest, my friends worried and took care of me. I need to master your power. I need to make it my own; so that I can repay the favor…how much have I got under my belt? In terms of power, I mean."

All Might laughed again.

"Sorry, kid. The most you've got right now is five percent."

"Five?!"

Izuku wanted to wake up and immedietely chuck the scabbard at the rock ceiling.

"But…with the dragon, Bakugo, and the basilisk! I'm sure I summoned more than that in your sword! I blew open a freaking' cave!"

"Hahahaha! You think that's the limit?! Come now. I didn't become the world's greatest adventurer by having simple power like that, no sir."

Deku froze.

"You mean…that wasn't even it?! The basilisk, even?! Your power is even stronger than that?!"

"Way more. If you were to go to one hundred percent with my blade as you are now…hmm. Well, you'd probably implode."

"What?!"

"Nah. Most likely ex-plode. Like… all your little organs everywhere. Your friends would probably bail if the last thing they did for you was clean you off the floor."

"Hey!"

All Might placed a hand on Deku's shoulder. His frivolous air was gone, replaced by seriousness. "Listen. You don't have to be in such a rush. You're young. You'll have time to grow and get where you need to be." Deku looked down at his feet. "But I want to be like you, All Might. I want to be stronger, at my own pace. That's how most people work. They work and therefore get better. At however pace they choose!"

All Might looked down at him. "Sadly, with my power, that is not the case. The Users still have a say in how the power is wielded. If wielded by one that is insecure or fearful, it will not budge. If someone with a cruel heart wields it, its power can be tempered into that of evil."

Deku stepped back.

"Like I was when the sword stopped. I didn't believe in myself when the Users were testing me."

All Might nodded.

"Yes. I have no doubt that they will monitor you closely. You must be vigilant in your mental state. Do not let anger or rage fuel you. I'm sure you saw what that did to the young Clansman."

Deku remembered the rage in Bakugo's eyes, the contempt and hatred.

"Yes."

All Might shoved him.

"Then go. Your friends need you."

And then he awoke.

Guys, I am so sorry for the long hiatus. I've been brainstorming and doing life. Been hard, BTW. I've finally tied down the rest of this fic. Yes, I am going to continue it; I'm not one to give in. Prepare to get your wigs snatched.

California Smash Time. It's going down for real.