Sorry for the huge delay in content, everyone.

On the 27th of March, 2021, my Nan died of a massive stroke. She had been rushed to hospital one day, the next she had the stroke, the next she was dead. It all happened so quick, and it's taken me a while to want to really write again.

It's been a stressful and upsetting time, but I like to think the worst is behind me, now. It especially put me off writing A Little Faith, because Izumi really isn't in a good place in that story at the moment, and being in a bad place myself I didn't want to write something like that.

Also, please refrain from reviewing solely to leave condolences. Not to sound like a jerk or anything, but I don't want it to seem like I'm sharing this to get a lot of comments. I won't mind condolences, in fact I'd appreciate them, but if you don't also have something to say about the chapter, please don't review. I just wanted to explain my absence.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this short chapter.

Divine Pulse Deku Part 0. Izuku awakens his quirk. Sothis falls asleep.

Divine Pulse Deku: Part 0

It had been an ordinary day. The Bakugou Hero Association were on an excursion into the woods, and Izuku was allowed to come along! Kacchan had been a bit mean lately, even coming up with the name Deku, but Izuku was glad Kacchan and his friends were letting him play with them regardless.

They were crossing over a gap when it happened. Izuku's heart leapt into his throat as he watched Kacchan slip on the fallen tree. His best friend was falling head first into a stream. He could get hurt!

He didn't even think about it. He jumped after his friend, crying out his name. But Kacchan had already landed safely, and that rock was approaching very fast. He was going to land face first on it!

Izuku screwed his eyes closed. If he died, at least he died trying to be a hero—

"Honestly! What are you accomplishing with that little stunt? It's like you're trying to get me killed, you fool!"

Izuku opened his eyes, and gasped. He wasn't falling towards the rock anymore. He...he didn't know where he was. Getting to his feet, Izuku looked at his surroundings, mouth falling open. He was in a huge chamber. Looking behind him, he felt almost woozy realising how high up he was, a very steep staircase his only way down.

"Excuse me! Are you listening to me?"

Izuku turned around at the sound of a girl's voice. On a small dais was a large, stone throne. Sitting on the throne was a girl who looked a few years older than himself. She lounged in her seat, head resting on a delicate hand. Her hair was long and green, the same shade as her eyes, and her ears were very pointy and prominent.

She nodded as she got his attention. Then, she sighed. "Well, it's fine. After all, if you don't know the value of your own life, you're not going to protect it very well, are you? Course not." She slid herself off her throne, standing at her none too impressive full height. "Well then, I guess it's up to me to guide you from now on, right? You can call me Sothis."

"S-Sothis?" Izuku said. He was totally lost by this point.

"I did not have a name...until just now. And just like that, it came to me. How odd." She narrowed her eyes, reading something in Izuku's expression that she clearly didn't like. "That look upon your face… Did you think me a child? A mere child who didn't even have a name? Phooey! That 'child' just saved your life! And you look even younger than myself!"

"N-No, I d-didn't think anything like that!" Izuku said, waving his hands in protest. "E-Erm, a-actually, where are we?"

Sothis shrugged. "I do not know. I woke up in this place. And just in time, might I add! You threw yourself into a river to save just one young boy. Yet all is well, as I have stalled the flow of time for now. You would have died had I not intervened."

Izuku's jaw dropped. "Y-You stopped time?! I-Is that your quirk?"

Sothis folded her arms with a frown. "Hm. I do not hear your gratitude. Perhaps I should force you to leave?" Izuku gulped, his mind soon putting together that he'd likely die if she did that. He gave a deep bow. "There now. Is gratitude so much to ask? I did deem you worth saving, after all. Though, it is only momentary. However did I manage that…"

Izuku raised himself from his bow. His hands came together, his fingers tangling together. "U-Um...what now?"

"When time begins again, your head will collide with that rock, and you will surely meet your end. How rude of you to drag me into this!" Sothis shook her head with a huff. "Now, what to do…"

Izuku's finger's stopped their fiddling, and his hand came up to his chin. "U-Um, if you can stop time...maybe you can turn time back?"

Sothis perked up, her long hair bouncing around her head. "Of course! I must turn back the hands of time! Yes… I do believe it can be done." Sothis raised her hands, and an intricate gold circle with various symbols in it appeared in the air before her. "You really are quite troublesome. I cannot wind back time too far, at least not for now, but all is well. You are aware of what's to come. That boy will be fine, so you do not need to leap off after him. Now, go."

The space around Izuku began to warp. Without the chance to even cry out, Izuku was sucked through a vortex, and in a flash of light he found himself back on the fallen tree. Izuku watched in a daze as Kacchan fell, but his friend was quick to get back on his feet.

W-What just happened?

"Honestly, is it that hard to understand? Although, hmm, I do believe I understand what is going on now. Yes… I do believe that I am what you would call...a quirk."

Izuku gasped, his eyes opening wide. A quirk? Was she his quirk? He had a quirk!?

"That is what I said, isn't it? Still," she yawned, and the sound echoed through Izuku's head, "it seems that little situation has made me...quite sleepy…"

"S-Sothis?" Izuku said, but he got no response.

"Oi, Deku! Stop standing around! Don't think we won't leave you behind!"

Izuku snapped out of his daze. He wanted to tell them about what just happened, but Izuku had the feeling that with Sothis asleep, he wouldn't be able to prove anything. He tried to turn back time himself, closing his eyes tight, but nothing happened, proving himself right.

"Deku! Stop acting like a weirdo! Or else you can go home!"

Izuku shook his head. "C-Coming, Kacchan!"

For now, despite Izuku's overwhelming excitement he said nothing. He didn't want them to not believe him. He'd wait until he had his new quirk diagnosed by a specialist. Until then, Izuku ran after his friends and left Sothis to sleep.

Maybe with Sothis by his side, Izuku would become a hero as great as All Might! He couldn't wait!