Dragon Rider
Chapter 1:
A/N:
Welcome to Midoriya Izuku Dragon Rider! This story was originally on AO3, and as the original author I felt I should add it here so I could listen to it with text to speech. This story had some technical issues in the transition from AO3 to , but they're being fixed now, and most likely already are if you're reading this A/N. I do have a patrat, where you can support me and my work. I use the same name on AO3, here, and patrat, so look me up at /Tireddiver, if you'd like to support. There are no extra chapters or anything, cause I don't want to hold the work hostage or anything, it's just so you can support me as an artist.
Italics- thoughts
Bold- the ancient language
Bold Italics? - thoughts in the ancient language
==Dragon Rider==
Midoriya Izuku once again found himself crying in the woods behind the park. He had just wanted to play with his friends. But Kacchan had just scoffed at him.
"Come back once you get your quirk you loser," Kacchan had sneered.
Everyone else had gotten their quirks. He was the only one without one. He just didn't understand why he didn't get to have his. They were starting school, real school, next week. If Izuku didn't have his quirk by then, he was scared of what the others would think. He was scared what that would mean.
Izuku tried to wipe away his tears. He'd always been quick to cry and stopping the tears once they came was all but impossible. He threw on a big All MightTM smile and did his best to laugh, but it sounded more like sobbing.
As he quieted back down, another sound began to mix with the soft sound of his sniffling. Izuku couldn't figure out which way it was coming from. It was like it existed all around him. Izuku closed his eyes and listened as hard as he could.
The sound reminded Izuku of the songs his mom would hum to him. It was soft and soothing. He found his tears dried and he felt a lot calmer. There were words. Gently spoken as they were Izuku couldn't make any of them out. They sounded strange and unfamiliar though.
"H-hello?" Izuku called out into the woods around him.
The singing cut off instantly. The sudden silence was startling and Izuku worried he had upset whoever had been out there.
"I-I'm sorry," he called out again. "I didn't mean to scare you. I-I'll just go."
Izuku turned to head back to the park and his mother. She'd probably been worrying about him anyways. He shouldn't stress her out anymore than she already was. She wouldn't tell him what was wrong, but he knew there was something.
Wait youngling, the voice spoke. It still sounded weird. It was as if she had spoken directly into his thoughts. I am sorry… It has been a long time since anyone has spoken to me…it…surprised me.
"That's okay," Izuku responded. He still didn't know where he was supposed to be looking. He found himself spinning around the trees and looking for any sign of who was speaking. "My name is Midoriya."
I am Saphira, the voice told him.
"How are you doing this?" Izuku asked, finally admitting that Saphira was not anywhere near him. "Is this your quirk?"
No, Saphira informed him. It is rather hard to explain.
Izuku pouted. "That's what grown-ups say when they think I'm too dumb to understand," he sulked.
Saphira laughed at him. The sound was much deeper than a normal laugh, it vibrated inside his head all funny too.
I do not think you are dumb young one, Saphira assured him. It is only that my situation will be rather strange for one such as yourself.
"Why?" Izuku asked with a curious tilt of his head.
Saphira huffed a sigh at him. Come young one, she commanded him. Find me and I will show you.
Images began to fly through Izuku's mind. Trees and rocks and small paths. All of a sudden it was like he knew the woods better than ever. He knew where to go to find Saphira. Izuku ran off into the woods as fast as he could.
==Dragon Rider==
Izuku stumbled into the clearing. It had been a lot further than he had thought. The sun was already setting, but he had finally made it. Looking around, Izuku couldn't help noticing that the clearing was beautiful. It was a circular area with no trees around. The grass had grown lush with the ample access to sunshine and a few flowers had grown up as well.
"Saphira?" Izuku called as he walked further in. He stumbled a little as walked. The ground slopped down towards the center of the clearing gently enough that he hadn't noticed.
I am here young one, Saphira spoke to him.
"I don't see you," Izuku said as his eyes swept the clearing again.
There was something resting in the middle of the clearing. It was nestled in the grass so Izuku hadn't seen it on his first look around. He made his way over and knelt in front of it.
He found that it was not one, but two things. The first, the larger of the two, was a shimmering green stone. From the little light that did shine on it, Izuku could see a rainbow of other colors flickering across the surface. The second, was a glittering blue gemstone. Its shape was smooth, rounded into a perfect oval. It reminded Izuku of a sapphire, but it was much larger and clearer than any sapphire Izuku had ever seen. It seemed almost to glow.
Now you see me, Saphira chuckled. As she spoke the flickering light that came from within the sapphire seemed to pulse and grow brighter.
"You're the sapphire?" Izuku gasped.
In a manner of speaking I suppose, Saphira chuckled. Though this is what I am, this is not all that defines me.
"I don't understand," Izuku said with a shake of his head.
Saphira laughed. It wasn't the mean taunting laugh Kacchan would give him if he admitted that he didn't understand something. It was like she was laughing more at herself.
I would be surprised if you did young one, Saphira told him. Even in a world as strange as your own the magic of dragons is not easy to understand.
"D-dragons!?" Izuku exclaimed. He fell back on his butt and into the soft grass. "You're a dragon!? That's so cool!"
Thank you young one, Saphira chuckled again.
"So then how come you're in a gem?" Izuku asked nervously. His mom always warned him against asking too many questions, but if Saphira was a dragon then he really wanted answers.
This gem is my heart, Saphira told him. She didn't sound upset at his question which helped Izuku calm back down. My body died long ago, in a battle unlike any that had come before it. Though my body fell, my heart survived. I have spent many eons as you see me. And when the time came that a guard was needed for a desperate mission, I was chosen.
"A guard?" Izuku repeated. His eyes flickered to the stone that Saphira rested with. "For the stone?"
I see that I was not wrong, you are not dumb, Saphira teased. Yes, young one, I am here to guard the egg and ensure its mission is completed.
"But how can you guard the stone if you're trapped in your heart?" Izuku wondered.
I am not so helpless as you might think, Saphira told him. It felt like she was smirking. None may find this place unless I allow them. Even if someone were strong enough to ignore my protections then they would find themselves facing my wrath.
Izuku didn't need to ask if that would be enough a second time. The emotion and power that Saphira put into her words were such that Izuku had no more doubts.
"S-so what is its mission?" Izuku asked as he looked to the stone. It was a desperate attempt to change the subject.
He must find his rider, Saphira told him. Her voice had regained its gentle nature, for which Izuku would be eternally grateful. Processing her words though, Izuku blinked.
"He?" Izuku realized.
Yes, young one, Saphira confirmed. It is not a stone as you call it. It is an egg. A dragon's egg. And the wyrmling who sleeps inside is ready to hatch, but he is waiting.
"For his rider," Izuku repeated. "A human?"
Perhaps, Saphira mused with a mental shrug. Izuku didn't fully understand how he could tell what she was doing. There are others, but they seem to be…absent from this world.
"How will you know when you find the right one?" Izuku asked. "How does he know?"
He will decide in his own time, Saphira told him. All I can do is listen and wait.
"Wow," Izuku whispered under his breath.
Indeed, Saphira laughed. Now young one, would you like to see if he would accept you?
"W-wha!?" Izuku screamed. "Me! But but-"
It is why I brought you here young one, Saphira cut him off with a gentle smile, Izuku again had no idea how he knew that she was smiling. There is something to be said for destiny. Your presence in these woods might be coincidence, or it might be fate.
"What do I do?" Izuku asked in wonder.
Place your hand against the egg, Saphira coached him. Then we shall see.
Izuku crept forward and once again leaned over Saphira's heart and the egg. The egg was huge now that he knew what it was. It was maybe fifteen centimeters tall and ten wide. It would take both hands to lift it if he tried. Instead, he took a deep steadying breath and placed his hand against the egg as Saphira had told him.
The first thing Izuku noticed about the egg was the warmth. It felt like he had placed his hand on the outside of the oven. Its surface felt incredible hard to the touch too, but Izuku could feel scale like ridges beneath his palm.
"H-hello," Izuku stammered. If there was a dragon inside, he didn't want to be rude. "M-my name is Midoriya Izuku. I hope we can get along."
Izuku waited. The wind rustling in the trees was the only sound as he looked for any sign from the egg. Nothing happened though. Izuku felt his heart clench in disappointment. He sighed in defeat. Of course, the dragon wouldn't choose someone like him. Why would it?
Izuku was about to remove his hand from the egg when he felt it shift beneath his fingers. His eyes lasered back in on the green surface as he watched it shake once again. A crack sounded out and a split appeared beneath his palm. Izuku removed his hand on reflex.
Just as his hand pulled back a head burst through the egg. The dragon was the same lush green color as the egg. Its head was so tiny, no bigger than a walnut, but he was beautiful. Izuku stared and the dragon stared back at him, emerald eyes meeting forest green ones.
The dragon crawled his way out of the egg. Izuku was too fascinated to look away. The dragon's four legs were each as thick as its slender neck, which wasn't more than a few centimeters. Tiny spikes descended his back, each one so thin that Izuku could hardly see them. The dragon's wings were furled up against its sides, but the slightly lighter color of the webbing was still visible.
"H-hello," Izuku stammered.
He reached his hand out while keeping palm up, the same way his mom had taught him to do when he wanted to pet a dog or a cat. The dragon leaned its head forward and sniffed at his palm. After a moment he placed his nose in the center of Izuku's hand.
The pain was instant. It was like the time he touched the stove, but it was so much worse. The burning was paired with another sensation, one like he had dunked the rest of his arm in ice water. It only lasted a moment, but Izuku screamed regardless.
He clutched his palm close to himself, the tears falling as he cradled the burnt appendage.
He felt a strong sense of worry. It was strange. It was like he was feeling the emotion, but that it wasn't his own. Or maybe that it didn't start with him? Looking up he found the dragon watching him, far closer than it had been before.
The dragon leaned forward and licked his cheek. The tiny tongue tickled as it flicked across his cheek.
"I'm okay," Izuku sniffled.
Well done young one, Saphira commended him.
Izuku startled. He had forgotten about the other dragon. The green dragon seemed to jump too, its head snapping towards the blue gem where it lay on the ground by its now empty egg.
"T-thank you," Izuku said remembering his manners. "What was that?"
That was the bond, Saphira told him. Izuku looked down at his hand. There was now a silvery mark where he had felt the burning. It was a spiraling thing with ridges along the outside. It was right in the center of his palm. The mark is the gedwëy ignasia, and it is both the mark of your bond and your mark as dragon rider.
"S-so what now?" Izuku asked.
Now? Saphira paused as though she were thinking about it herself. Now, we shall go with you.
==Dragon Rider==
"Mom!" Izuku cried as he ran out of the woods and back into the park where he had last seen his mother. It was late now. The sun had gone down a while ago. The park was lit by the flashing of red lights though.
Izuku saw his mom standing beside a man in some kind of blue uniform. She looked like she'd been crying.
"Mom!" Izuku called again as he ran towards her.
Midoriya Inko, Izuku's mother, looked up and saw Izuku running at her waving excitedly.
"Izuku!" Inko cried hysterically. She threw herself at her son and scooped him up into her arms. "Where have you been!? I was so worried! Are you okay!?"
Izuku looked up into his mom's face to see that while the tears were still streaming down her face, she wore a stern expression.
"I'm sorry mama," Izuku laughed as he buried his face in her shoulder. "But I had the most amazing thing happen!"
"Wha-?" Inko wondered.
"Young man," the man next to them interrupted her. "You shouldn't run off from your mother. She was very worried about you and as a result we had to waste our time when nothing was wrong."
"Now wait just a minute," Inko demanded of the man, who Izuku could now tell was a police officer. "Waste your time? Just what exactly do you think you job is?"
"It's not chasing after little boys whose mothers can't keep them in line," the officer complained as he jabbed a finger at Izuku.
Before either Izuku or Inko could voice their complaints at the officer, the dragon snaked its head over Izuku's shoulder and snapped at the offending finger.
"What the fuck!" the officer exclaimed as he snatched his hand away.
"Izuku?" Inko asked weakly as the dragon crawled its way off of Izuku's back and curled up around his neck.
"I was trying to tell you!" Izuku exclaimed happily, his anger at the officer instantly forgotten as he remembered his day. "I met a dragon!"
"I-I can see that," Inko nodded weakly. "But umm…"
Izuku looked up at her with a big smile and the words died in her throat. He could see she was worrying about something.
"What is it mama?" Izuku asked curiously.
"N-nothing Izuku," Inko said with a shake of her head. She plastered a big smile to her face. "It must be a part of your quirk sweetheart. It just took me by surprise is all."
"It's not a quirk mama," Izuku told her.
Inko gave Izuku a curious look before she shook her head. "Well, we'll just have to go to the doctor and see what he thinks then," she sighed.
==Dragon Rider==
Izuku was laying in his bed that night with the dragon curled up on his chest. His mom had made an appointment with a quirk doctor in the morning. His mom hadn't listened to him when he'd tried to explain everything. She just smiled and nodded the whole time he talked. When he was done, she had ruffled his hair and said something about the imagination of children.
Izuku turned his head, careful not to disturb the sleeping dragon, and looked at Saphira's heart where he had placed it on his nightstand. The light that glimmered within still shone and pulsed as he watched it.
"Saphira?" he whispered.
Yes, little one? Saphira responded instantly.
"What if no one believes me?" he asked her.
Then no one believes you, Saphira answered.
"Is that okay?" Izuku asked. "I mean, you're dragons."
This world is a strange one Midoriya, Saphira mused. But it is not the way of dragons to worry about the views of others. The only thing that matters is that you understand the truth of the bond between you and him. You belong to each other, but neither of you are the others master. You are partners bound together in a relationship of give and take.
Izuku thought about that as he stroked the dragon's back, careful to avoid the needle-sharp spikes. "Does he have a name?" Izuku wondered aloud.
Not yet, Saphira laughed. You have not named him.
"I get to do it?" Izuku asked.
In a manner of speaking, Saphira confirmed. Though he will have some say in it. He will let you know if he dislikes what you come up with.
"Did your rider name you?" Izuku asked.
Saphira was quiet for a moment. Izuku watched as the light emanating from Saphira's heart seemed to flicker. Izuku wondered if he'd get an answer.
Yes, young one, Saphira confirmed though her voice was much more solemn now. It took him several tries. He was not the most eloquent of humans when we first met.
"You sound like you miss him," Izuku whispered.
Every day my heart calls out for him, Saphira sighed. The bond between a dragon and their rider is unlike any other. The two of you shall become one and then you will understand.
"I'm sorry," Izuku said sadly.
Do not let my sorrow weigh on your heart young one, Saphira told him. I have come to peace with Eragon's passing. And it will be a long time before either of you will come to know my pain. For now, you should sleep. In the morning we shall worry about his name and the things to come.
Izuku let his head sink back into the pillow and continued to stroke the dragon's back. He thought of everything Saphira had said. Everything about this was so strange, but he could not find it in himself to worry about that. He felt like it was the start of something. He felt excited.
==Dragon Rider==
Good morning young one, Saphira's voice greeted him as he opened his eyes.
It was too bright and too early. With a groan he rolled over in his bed. He could afford five more minutes. A sharp pain on his ear had him bolting upright.
"Ow!" he yelped as he grabbed his ear.
Izuku looked back down at his pillow and found the dragon watching him from beside where his head had been. Forest green eyes sparkling with intelligence looked at him. There was something in them that Izuku couldn't quite recognize. He felt a sudden sense of hunger, but it felt strange again. Combined with the fact that he knew he wasn't hungry; he came to a startling realization.
"Is this your hunger?" Izuku asked the dragon.
The hunger grew stronger. Izuku looked to Saphira's heart where she sat on his nightstand. Her glow was more muted than he had seen it before.
"Well let's go get you something to eat," Izuku sighed. He got out of bed and the dragon scaled his pajamas and curled around his neck once again.
Izuku walked out of his room and to the kitchen where he found his mom placing two bowls on the table.
"Great timing honey," Inko laughed. "I was just about to come get you."
Izuku sat down in front of his bowl. Breakfast wasn't anything fancy, it never really was in the Midoriya household. It was an egg over a bowl of rice. Izuku cut off a piece of the egg with his chopsticks and held it up to the dragon. The dragon took a sniff before his jaws lashed out and devoured the small bite in an instant.
"Izuku, sweety," Inko voiced. Izuku looked up at his mom to find her staring at him with concern in her eyes. "Should you really be feeding it?"
"He was hungry," Izuku shrugged groggily.
He cut off another bite of egg and gave it to the dragon. He ended up feeding the entire egg to the dragon before it scampered off of his shoulder and onto the table. He watched as the dragon as it sat on the table and began cleaning its claws with its tongue.
Inko huffed as she put her own egg in Izuku's bowl before returning to the kitchen to make herself another.
"Are you ready to come up with your name?" Izuku asked curiously as he took his first bite of egg.
The dragon looked at him with a tilt of his head.
"Well I feel bad just calling you dragon," Izuku explained. "Saphira said we should come up with it together."
Izuku felt a sense of excited curiosity, a lot like how he felt when he saw a new hero. He took it as confirmation that the dragon was ready.
"You're such a pretty color I thought we could call you after that," Izuku told the dragon. The positive emotions that rolled off the dragon made him smile. "Okay, then how do you feel about Forest?"
The dragon gave an indignant huff.
"Guess not," Izuku sighed. "Well your scales shine like little gemstones but they're a lot lighter than emeralds. What about Jade?"
The dragon raised its head a little higher at that. It seemed to bask in not only the praise but in the name as well.
Seems to be a good fit, Saphira's voice rang through his mind.
Izuku spewed rice across the table. His mother, who had returned only moments gave him an exasperated look.
"Are you okay Izuku?" she asked. "What happened?"
"Just swallowed wrong," Izuku coughed. "Sorry."
Izuku got up and ran to the kitchen for a paper towel to clean up. Jade hopped after him, launching onto and climbing up his sleeve as he left the room.
"You two are gonna be the death of me," Izuku muttered with a shake of his head.
The sound of two very different laughs rang through his mind. Izuku found he couldn't help but smile himself.
==Dragon Rider==
"Well I can honestly say that your son has the strangest quirk I've ever seen," the doctor laughed. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say it wasn't a quirk at all."
"What do you mean doctor?" Inko asked as she put one arm around Izuku. He held Jade in his lap as the two adults spoke as though he wasn't in the room.
"Well from what I can tell your son is quirkless," the doctor told her. "Has the toe joint and all our tests indicate a lack of activation of his quirk factor. But between the dragon, the mark on his hand, and the clear connection between the two of them there's no denying that this is his quirk."
"So what happens now?" Inko asked.
"Well we'll mark him down as having a companion quirk I suppose," the doctor shrugged. "It doesn't seem to have wrought any changes besides the mark itself. We'll have to keep an eye on him to know for sure, but I doubt we'll see anything. This type of quirk rarely changes much after its manifestation."
Inko sighed in relief. "So the dragon isn't going to grow?" Inko asked hopefully.
"Probably not," the doctor shook his head. "It might grow a little, but more than likely it will stay proportional with your son."
Izuku wanted to speak up. But each time he'd tried to explain that he had found Jade in an egg and not through some sort of psychic manifestation they just wrote him off. He doubted they wanted to hear his thoughts on Jade's growth. He was also still coming to terms that the doctor just told him he wouldn't be getting a quirk at all. He had Jade though, and he thought Jade was cooler than any quirk.
"Seeing as your son is unable to de-summon the dragon, I'll write a letter that can be filed with the police for a permit allowing it to accompany your son in public," the doctor said as he wrote something down on his clipboard. "It'll take a few minutes to get all the information down. I'll have one of the nurses bring it to you and then you'll be all set."
"Thank you, doctor," Inko said as she rose from her seat to bow. "That is very kind of you. You've been a great help."
"And if anything else changes please feel free to come back and we can take another look," the doctor told her. He left the room without a single word spoken to Izuku.
==Dragon Rider==
The changes started the next day. The first change was rather simple really, Jade began to fly. Izuku had known it was only a matter of time, Saphira had told him stories of her flying, but it still came as a surprise when he walked out of the bathroom to a flying green lizard slamming into his face.
His mom hadn't seemed too bothered by the change. At least not until Jade had flown into the fridge when her back was turned. Jade had made it through two thirds of their pork before she'd caught him. After that she'd insisted that the dragon hunt if he were hungry.
Each night Izuku opened his window and Jade would go hunting. Jade would send Izuku images and memories of the kills that he was proud of, including several large birds of prey that he had caught at the park where they had met. Jade was eating very well. Which may have caused the next change.
Despite what the doctor had told Inko, Jade was growing. Not only was Jade growing, but he was growing fast. By the end of that first week he was more than double the size he had been when he had hatched. He was still incredibly slender, but he already weighed enough that Izuku couldn't pick him up anymore. Inko was taking this less well.
"He's so big," she had commented at dinner one night. Jade was resting his head on Izuku's lap as the boy ate his dinner.
"I know," Izuku nodded proudly. He scratched the base of one of Jade's spikes. "He's already over a meter long from nose to tail!"
"But the doctor said he wasn't going to grow," Inko murmured.
"Jade's a dragon mom," Izuku groaned. "He's just young. He's gonna grow lots and lots!"
Izuku's words sunk in and Inko's eyes went wide. "H-how big do you think dragon's get Izuku?"
"Hmmm," Izuku thought about what Saphira had told him. Dragons were immortal, they grew their entire lives too. "I don't know but probably as big as a house, easy."
Inko seemed to pale at that.
"Is everything okay mama?" Izuku asked with a tilt of his head. He took another bite of Katsudon as he watched his mom.
"F-fine honey," Inko stammered. "I just need to think some things through. Don't worry."
"Okay then," Izuku nodded. He finished his Katsudon and stood up. "I'm gonna head to bed. I'll see you in the morning!"
Izuku dashed away, Jade right behind him. They left his mother staring after them, neither really noticing the way her eyebrows knit together in concern.
Izuku hurriedly got ready for bed and got into his room. He looked at Saphira's heart again. She hadn't spoken to him in a few days and he was starting to get worried. The light that glimmered within her heart was dimmer than it had first been too.
"What if she doesn't wake up?" Izuku asked Jade.
The dragon placed his head in Izuku's lap. Izuku felt Jade's presence in his mind. He shared Izuku's worry, but he had a hope that was missing from Izuku's thoughts.
"I'm sure your right," Izuku sniffled. "I'm just so scared. What if she's sick?"
Jade huffed at him, Izuku could feel he was offended.
"Dragons can get sick too Jade," Izuku told him as he shoved his head away.
Izuku knew that he only succeeded because Jade let him. Jade had proven that he was more than strong enough to overpower the five-year-old boy on multiple occasions.
I appreciate your concerns young ones, Saphira's voice rang out. She sounded tired. But I promise you have nothing to worry about.
"Saphira!" Izuku nearly shouted as he snatched her heart off of the nightstand. The light within had brightened, if only a little bit. "You're okay!"
Jade added his agreement mentally, a satisfaction radiating within Izuku's mind.
I am fine, Saphira assured them. I have been awake for a long-time young ones. It is not a dragon's nature to remain watchful as I have done over the centuries since we came to this land. I need to rest, to recover now that you have been found.
"Oh," Izuku murmured. "I'm sorry if we woke you."
You did not, Saphira laughed. Tired as I am, I still have a responsibility.
"A responsibility?" Izuku asked.
You two are to be riders in this land, Saphira sighed. I will have to see to your training. The next time I awaken we will begin. Be ready.
And just as quickly as she'd awoken, Izuku felt Saphira's presence recede and the glow from her heart dim once again.
==Dragon Rider==
Izuku's first day of school came two days after Saphira's promise of training. The female dragon had not made any indication of waking again. So Izuku was instead trying to focus on school. He was incredibly nervous, but the note from the doctor had gotten him a permit that allowed Jade to stay with Izuku 24/7. It didn't dispel his fears, but it helped him face the day.
Izuku's mom dropped them off at the front gate of the school.
"Be good Izuku," Inko reminded him as she knelt down. "And keep Jade out of trouble. Okay?"
"Okay mama," Izuku nodded. "I'll try!"
"That's my sweet boy," Inko smiled. She stood up and Izuku turned to head through the gates.
Other students, most of which Izuku didn't recognize, were heading into the school too. A lot of them would point at Jade when they saw him trailing behind Izuku. Excited whispers followed them as they made their way through the courtyard, into the building, and all the way to their classroom.
Izuku was starting to feel horribly self-conscious with all the attention he and Jade were receiving. None of the other students could pass by without staring now. Izuku hurried up and opened the door. He stepped inside to find the teacher directing a student to their desk.
She turned and smiled when she saw Izuku waiting in the doorway.
"Well come on in," she called. "I'm Mrs. Tanaka. I'm going to be your teacher for the year."
"H-hello," Izuku stammered. He gave a small bow, Jade copying the motion behind him. "My name is Midoriya Izuku and this is Jade."
Mrs. Tanaka eyes widened as she took in the dragon that was half hidden behind Izuku. She had to shake herself out of a daze before she continued. "I see," Mrs. Tanaka said. "The principal warned me you had a companion quirk. Will he be okay sitting beside your desk?"
"Yes ma'am," Izuku nodded.
Mrs. Tanaka led Izuku over to a desk by the window. He put his bag down and sat in the seat, Jade situating himself underneath the seat itself, his head wrapping around to rest in Izuku's lap. Izuku smiled down at him and began scratching him beneath the jaw.
"Deku?" a familiar voice asked in shock. "What the fuck is that?"
Izuku looked up to find the Bakugo Katsuki, Kacchan, standing next to Mrs. Tanaka, who looked appalled at his language. But Kacchan had always been like that. He took after his mom, Izuku's Aunt Mitsuki, who cursed even worse than he did.
"Hey Kacchan!" Izuku greeted him with a smile. "This is Jade. He's my dragon."
"How the fuck did you get a dragon?" Kacchan snapped.
"Bakugo," Mrs. Tanaka scolded the boy. "While I understand Midoriya's quirk is surprising that is no excuse for that kind of language. If you curse in my classroom again, I will have no choice but to send you to the principal's office."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Kacchan waved her off. He stomped past Izuku and towards the seat she had been leading him to.
Izuku felt a wave of displeasure roll through his mind. He looked down at Jade, but the dragon was still resting there with his eyes closed. Whatever had bothered him apparently wasn't enough to get him to move away from Midoriya's scratches.
A few more students trickled in, Mrs. Tanaka showing each one to their seat. Once every desk was filled, she moved to the front of the room.
"Hello everyone," she addressed them. "Allow me to introduce myself once again. My name is Mrs. Tanaka and I will be your teacher for the year. I hope we're all going to get along swimmingly. We're going to start the day with introductions. You'll all come up, one at a time, and introduce yourselves. You can tell us something fun about yourself too."
As the students went up a pattern was instantly clear. Every student who went up gave their name and their quirk. No one offered anything else as their fun fact. There were a lot of really cool quirks in the class. Though no one else seemed quite as excited as Izuku was. Only a few kids really got more than one or two comments on their quirks.
When Kacchan went up, he gave a demonstration of his quirk. The loud popping and bright display earned him a scowl from Mrs. Tanaka but more comments than anyone else had received from the class. They all loved it.
Finally, it was Izuku's turn. He walked up to the front of the class and did his best not to shake from nervousness. He felt Jade nuzzle into his hand. It helped, if only a little.
"M-my name is Midoriya Izuku," Izuku introduced himself. "This is my dragon Jade."
"What's your quirk?" One of the other kids called out.
"Umm," Izuku hesitated.
"Jade is Midoriya's quirk," Mrs. Tanaka jumped in to explain. "He's what's called a companion quirk."
Several voices began whispering around the classroom. Izuku felt negative emotion spike through him once again. This time when he turned to Jade, he found him looking down at the ground. Izuku felt an instant his stomach drop.
"I-it's more complicated than that," Izuku shook his head.
"I'm afraid we need to move on Midoriya," Mrs. Tanaka told him with a gentle smile. "Maybe another time."
She shooed Izuku back to his seat before he got a chance to explain.
The rest of the students went up and introduced themselves. Izuku found he couldn't pay attention. Jade had placed his head back in Izuku's lap, but he refused to look up at the boy. Izuku could feel the tears pricking at his eyes.
Saphira had said that dragons don't concern themselves with the opinions of others. All that mattered was Izuku and Jade's bond. Which meant that it was Izuku that Jade was mad at, didn't it? He hated the thought that he had upset Jade. It made his stomach tighten into a knot that he just wanted to go away.
"Wonderful," Mrs. Tanaka smiled as the last student returned to their seat. "Now we have just enough time to go over some Kanji before we head outside for recess."
==Dragon Rider==
Izuku and Jade were the last ones in the classroom. Mrs. Tanaka had led the others outside to the playground. Izuku still hadn't gotten out of his seat. He needed to speak to Jade.
"I'm sorry Jade," Izuku said. He could feel the tears that he had fought away earlier begin pouring down his face. "I shouldn't let them talk about you that way."
Jade lifted his head out of Izuku's lap, his forest green eyes looking at Izuku's sadly. Izuku felt the dissatisfaction Jade was stewing in.
"I'll do better," Izuku promised. "I know you aren't just a quirk."
Jade rolled his eyes at Izuku.
"What?!" Izuku gasped defensively. He was apologizing!
Jade fixed him with a very pointed look that had Izuku shrinking in on himself.
"Is that not what's wrong?" Izuku asked nervously. What else could it have been? What had he done?
Jade huffed at him. He lowered his head and pushed the top of it into Izuku's chest. Mine, a voice rumbled in Izuku's mind. It was soft and firm, and it made Izuku's skin tingle to hear.
Izuku was left utterly stunned. He couldn't stop staring at Jade. "You spoke to me," he whispered.
Jade rolled his eyes at Izuku once again.
"How long could you do that?!" Izuku exclaimed.
Jade crawled out from under Izuku's seat and made his way towards the door. About halfway he brought his head back around to look at Izuku, who was still staring dumbfounded after him. Jade huffed once before turning his head back and continuing towards the door.
"W-wait!" Izuku called after him. He practically launched himself out of his seat to follow.
Izuku caught up to Jade in the hall and the two of them headed out to the playground together. Mrs. Tanaka seemed shocked when Izuku walked out the door. After a quick excuse about him using the restroom Izuku and Jade were sent to join the others.
They were almost instantly surrounded by the other kids, all of whom had questions.
"Can I ride him?" A boy with metal hair asked.
"He isn't big enough to ride yet," Izuku told him with a shake of his head.
"Can he breathe fire?" Yelled the girl who didn't have to blink.
"Not yet," Izuku said with another shake of his head.
"So basically, you got yourself an overgrown iguana," Kacchan called out.
"Hey!" Izuku exclaimed as Jade snarled from beside him. Several students backed away from the dragon.
"What a shitty quirk," Kacchan sneered. "It can't even do anything."
"Shut up!" Izuku screamed. Jade barred his teeth at Kacchan, but the boy didn't seem to care about either of them.
"Come on guys," Kacchan said as he spun around. "Let's go play heroes where you can see a real quirk in action."
Several of the boys followed Kacchan as he stormed away. The crowd around Izuku, even those that didn't follow Kacchan, dispersed too. Izuku was left all alone with Jade.
"Don't listen to them Jade," Izuku murmured as he hugged the dragon's neck.
Jade just huffed and nuzzled his face into Izuku's shoulder. Izuku felt Jade trying to send comforting emotions to Izuku, but Jade's own anger was bleeding through.
The rest of recess, after they'd both calmed down, Izuku spent teaching Jade all the words he knew. He had no idea how much Jade could talk, but he was only a week old so he figured he could help. If the curiosity Izuku could feel through their link was any indication, then Jade was interested. Jade listened intently to everything Izuku told him, but he didn't speak to Izuku again.
After that, the school day was fairly simple. Mrs. Tanaka called them back inside and they learned multiplication tables and about the origin of quirks. Time flew by, and before Izuku even realized it was the end of the day, he was headed outside to wait for his mom.
"That wasn't so bad," Izuku chuckled as he and Jade looked around the gathered adults. "What did you think of our first day of school?"
Jade huffed at him and rolled his eyes.
"Come on you were just gonna sleep at home too," Izuku teased him.
Jade just bumped his head into his hip, causing Izuku to laugh at him.
Izuku couldn't find his mom in the crowd outside the gate, so he walked back towards the school to wait for her. Once he was through the gate, he heard the telltale sound of Kacchan's explosions.
Izuku turned his head towards the noise and found Kacchan, and two other boys from their class, all standing over a boy Izuku didn't recognize. When Kacchan raised his hand to smack the boy on the floor, Izuku's body reacted.
Izuku shoved Kacchan away from the boy, both hands smacking into his shoulders. Kacchan stumbled back several steps, arms flailing everywhere to keep himself from falling on his butt.
"What are you doing Kacchan?!" Izuku screamed at his friend.
"What the hell Deku?" Kacchan seethed.
"You were being mean!" Izuku yelled back. Jade pressed against his side, further blocking Kacchan from the boy he had been attacking. "You can't use your quirk to hurt somebody Kacchan, that's what villains do!"
"What the fuck did you just call me?" Kacchan asked angrily. His palms were popping with small explosions. "I was putting this quirkless freak in his place, but it looks like I need to remind you too! You're all beneath me!"
Kacchan lunged forward as he yelled, his palm reaching forward to blow Izuku away. Izuku spread his arms wide, protecting the boy behind him from the blast. He closed his eyes and tried to brace himself. But the hit never came.
Izuku peaked through his eyelids and saw a wall of green scales before him. Jade had jumped between Izuku and Kacchan. He was standing on his hind legs so that he towered over all of them. His wings were spread wide, flapping with so much power that Izuku's hair was ruffling. When he slammed back down onto all fours, Izuku could see that the wind had knocked Kacchan back several steps and knocked his friends on the ground.
"What?" Kacchan sneered. "Gonna hide behind your little pet?"
"He's not a pet!" Izuku snapped. "And we're not gonna let you hurt anybody! Because that's what heroes do!"
"Like you could ever be a hero," Kacchan laughed. "You might as well be quirkless without your little lizard."
"So what?" Izuku asked angrily. "Who cares!? God everybody is so obsessed with quirks! Well if having a quirk makes somebody like you then I don't want one!"
"Ha!" Kacchan barked. "Spoken like a true quirkless loser."
Jade snarled angrily at Kacchan's words. His displeasure clear through Izuku's mental connection with him. He bared his teeth, razor sharp and a half an inch long.
Kacchan took a hesitant step backwards, eyeing Jade wearily.
"Whatever," he huffed. He turned around and stomped past his friends who were still cowering on the ground. When they saw their last line of protection was gone, they scrambled after him.
Izuku turned around to help the boy he had been protecting. He was surprised to find that the boy had run off.
"Oh well," Izuku sighed. "At least he didn't get hurt."
Jade huffed beside him.
"What?" Izuku asked as he turned to face him.
Jade tilted his head to the side and looked at Izuku curiously. With a roll of his eyes he turned around and began walking towards the gate again.
"Hey wait!" Izuku called as he chased after the dragon. "What is it?"
==Dragon Rider==
That night at dinner they were having Katsudon again. He loved his mom's Katsudon. She couldn't cook a whole lot of food, but she knew how to make Katsudon like a pro. As he was digging in his mom was just watching him.
"Izuku," she began, but she paused and took a deep breath. "Izuku honey we're moving."
Izuku looked up, a little surprised. "Why mama?" he asked.
"Well sweetie, if you're right and Jade is still growing then he's not going to fit in the apartment much longer," she explained. "We're going to need someplace with more room."
"Okay," Izuku nodded. "That makes sense."
Inko bit at her lip. "I found a place I think might work," she told him. "It's a house so it'll be a lot more spacious. It's on a big lot so you'll have lots of room to play with him, and it's right up against a forest too so he'll be able to hunt for food."
"That sounds great mama!" Izuku exclaimed excitedly. He was bouncing in his seat now.
"It's a bit far away," Inko warned him seriously. "You wouldn't be able to continue at Aldera Elementary."
"That's okay mama," Izuku said. "I didn't really make any friends yet."
"If you're sure," Inko sighed. "I'll put the offer down in the morning."
"When would we be moving?" Izuku asked. He wanted to see the new place!
"As soon as possible Izuku," Inko told him. She eyed Jade's head, still resting in Izuku's lap. It was about the size of a pear now. "I don't want Jade to get so big he's accidently destroying things in the apartment."
"Yay!" Izuku cheered.
==Dragon Rider==
As soon as possible turned out to be the day after next. Inko kept Izuku home to help her pack. The two of them put everything in boxes as quick as they could. They loaded it all into a truck that Inko had rented to help with the move. The only thing left in the apartment at the end of that day was a pair of futons that the two slept on that night.
The drive out to the new house took a few hours. It was on the other side of the prefecture, away from the big cities. The houses started getting further and further apart as they drove. By the time they reached the new house, the houses were so far apart that they couldn't see any of their neighbors.
The house itself was two stories. It looked a little old, its light blue paint chipping in a few places, but it didn't look like it was falling apart. It was in the middle of a big field with only a big red barn behind it. Further back was a line of trees that must have marked the forest his mom told him about.
"This is so cool!" Izuku exclaimed as he strained against his seat belt to get a better look.
"I'm glad you like it Izuku," Inko laughed at him.
"Jade look," Izuku said as he pointed to the trees. "There's the forest! I bet you can hunt all kinds of stuff in there!"
Jade, who was currently wrapped entirely around him, raised his head, and looked to the trees. He seemed to think on Izuku's words before curling back up again.
He still hadn't spoken to Izuku since that moment in the classroom. It was honestly a little frustrating at times, but Izuku's ability to feel his emotions helped him understand Jade most of the time.
Saphira too had been silent. He worried about her, but at least now he knew she was just resting. He hoped she wouldn't mind the move. Hopefully, it would be a good thing for her too.
Izuku sprinted out of the car the moment they were parked. Jade leapt out right behind him, taking instantly to the air. Izuku chased after him as they ran around and looked at everything.
The house had lots of windows, a few of which had cracks running through them. There was only one door on the front, but there were two on the back of the house: one normal door and then a big glass sliding one.
The barn had only one door, but it was huge. The barn was the same height as the house, and the door was easily taller than the entire first story of the house. It was painted a dull rusty red color, the paint chipping even worse than the house, but it gave the building a kind of rustic charm that Izuku loved.
"Izuku," Inko hollered from the car. "Come help me unload."
"Coming mama!" Izuku called back as he raced over.
Together they started unloading the moving truck. Inko showed Izuku which room was gonna be his, it was about the same size as his old one, but its window was much bigger. Izuku ran back to the car after he'd put his first box down. Inko was moving around boxes in the back, sorting them into different stacks.
"Where does this one go mama?" Izuku asked as he bent down to pick up another.
Inko looked up at him. "Oh Izuku, that one's gonna be heavy," Inko warned him.
"Really?" Izuku asked as he picked it up. "It doesn't seem so bad."
Inko watched Izuku with wide eyes as he brought the box over to her.
"What's wrong mama?" Izuku asked with a tilt of his head.
"N-nothing sweety," Inko stammered. "You're just stronger than I thought. My little boy is growing into a strong young man."
Izuku smiled widely at that. "Thanks mama!" He exclaimed. "So where should I take it?"
"Take it to the kitchen for me please," Inko told him.
Izuku nodded and ran off with the box. Together they quickly unloaded the truck. Once they were done, Inko got started unpacking and Izuku went back to exploring with Jade. The two of them spent a lot of time playing in the woods. The densely packed trees made a great place to explore.
==Dragon Rider==
It was over a week after their move before Saphira awoke again. In that time Jade had doubled in size again. He was now over two meters long and his body was larger than a big dog's. His mom had forbidden Jade from even trying to fly in the house, not that Jade could have spread his wings to their full length inside anymore. Izuku found he could comfortably sit on Jade's shoulders now, but if he sat there for too long then his legs started to chafe.
Hello young ones, Saphira's voice rang through Izuku's mind as he laid down for the day.
"Saphira!" Izuku yelled as he pushed off of Jade to sit up straight. They'd switched around the last few nights, Izuku using Jade as a pillow instead of the other way around. Jade's scales were hard, but the warmth was really nice.
Jade huffed at the sudden loss of weight.
"How are you feeling?" Izuku asked her.
Better, Saphira chuckled. She seemed to think about something for a moment before she asked, Are we not in the same place?
"My mom thought it was a good idea to move somewhere bigger for Jade" Izuku explained.
A wise decision to make, Saphira complimented. Though this room will not work for much longer.
"It won't?" Izuku asked sadly. He was only just starting to get use to sleeping in the new space.
No, Saphira confirmed. You will want to find someplace much larger if you wish to continue to rest together.
Jade wrapped his long neck around Izuku and placed his head in his lap. Izuku absentmindedly began to scratch at the base of his neck spines.
"I'll have to talk to mom," Izuku murmured. Maybe they could set up something in the barn?
Tomorrow we shall begin your training, Saphira said, breaking Izuku from his thoughts.
"I-I'm starting at the new school tomorrow," Izuku told her.
That is fine, Saphira dismissed his concern. Your training will take place afterwards.
Dragon Rider==
The new school wasn't all that different from the first one, though it was a good deal smaller. There was just the one class of students in each year. When the teacher had introduced him to the class, he had told the other kids that Izuku had a companion quirk, not even calling Jade by name, which still irked Izuku.
The other kids were okay. They were interested in Jade, but they kept treating him like he was a dog. After the third or fourth time Izuku and Jade decided to just keep their distance.
That afternoon when Izuku got home, he ran straight upstairs and grabbed Saphira's heart. He brought her to the backyard and sat down with her. Jade settled next to him, his head resting in Izuku's lap.
Izuku, you are young, even by the standards of humans, Saphira told them.
"Oh," Izuku murmured.
It is not a bad thing, Saphira assured him. It only means that we will have to take our time and be cautious with your training.
"Okay," Izuku nodded.
Physical training will remain light until you are old enough to handle more strenuous exercises, Saphira went on. In the meantime, we shall focus on the many other aspects of your training.
"Like what?" Izuku asked.
We will start with preparing your mind, Saphira explained.
"My mind?" Izuku wondered.
Your mind, Saphira confirmed. The same way you touch upon Jade's consciousness or I touch upon yours, you can reach out to all the life around you.
"Wait but I don't do anything to talk to Jade," Izuku shook his head. "He's just always there."
Saphira's mood seemed to shift. Her attention turned to Jade, and a sense of disapproval spread through him. Izuku could feel Jade's discomfort but he did not fully understand why.
"Is something wrong?" Izuku asked nervously.
Saphira heaved a sigh greater than any he had heard from her. No Midoriya, Saphira told him. But Jade has done you a disservice.
Izuku's eyes went wide. "No!" he exclaimed. He hugged Jade's head close to his chest. "Jade wouldn't do that!"
I am sure he did not mean to, Saphira comforted him. He could feel Jade shrinking away from Saphira's words. But it does not change what has happened.
"W-what happened?" Izuku stuttered. He didn't really want an answer. He really hoped Jade didn't do anything too bad.
Jade has remained in constant contact with your mind, Saphira explained. As a result, you have not had as much exposure to the concept I am describing as you ought to have had.
"S-so what now?" Izuku asked hopefully. That didn't sound so bad.
We will have to start at the beginning, Saphira sighed. I will have Jade remove his presence from your mind.
Jade's displeasure made his desire not to well know, but a mental glare from Saphira was enough to dissuade him from disobeying her.
I will remove myself as well, Saphira continued. We shall allow you a moment to reacquaint yourself with the feeling of your own, singular, consciousness. Then we shall take turns brushing against your mind so that you may become acquainted with boundaries of your mind scape.
"Okay," Izuku nodded.
Izuku gasped as suddenly he was alone again. He hadn't felt it before, but now that his mind was empty of anyone but himself, it felt all too lonely. The space Jade had occupied before felt like a void now.
Izuku instantly reached towards the void, driven by a desire to feel whole once again. He found just a trace of Jade's mind. It was as though there was an invisible line that connected their minds together, a path that he could follow. It was a bond between them. Oh! It was probably their bond.
Izuku reached along the connection and felt Jade's mind. Where before Jade had been in Izuku's mind, now he was in Jade's.
"Whoa," Izuku gasped. He spoke in both his mind and with his voice.
Saphira's surprise and Jade's satisfaction were instant.
I suppose that is a promising start, Saphira huffed. Though perhaps I will need to add exercises in independence to your training.
Izuku blushed. "Sorry," he murmured. "I didn't mean to."
It's fine young one, Saphira assured him. Your bond with Jade means that it is easier for you to reach out to him. Still it is impressive that it took you so little time. We can only hope that it is aptitude and not luck.
Saphira had Izuku practice reaching out with his mind. First to her heart after she had withdrawn from Izuku and Jade's minds, and then searching for his mom while she was still inside the house. It took him several tries. Stretching his mental reach that far was taxing. Sweat formed on his forehead and he thought he was getting a headache, but he pushed through.
He finally felt her after about ten minutes of stretching out. He brushed against her consciousness and gasped. He quickly pulled away before she could figure out he was there.
Good, Saphira praised. Now I want you to speak to her.
"Is that okay?" Izuku asked. "She doesn't know about you."
I will protect your thoughts so that you do not overshare, Saphira told him.
"Okay," Izuku nodded.
He brushed against his mom's mind once again. This time though he didn't shy away. He pushed his way into her mind and felt her thoughts.
Let's see, she mused. I need to go grocery shopping. Crap. How am I gonna afford that? Maybe I can just buy some rice for now. Oh, but Izuku's a growing boy. I can't just give him rice.
Izuku flinched mentally. He probably wasn't meant to hear that.
"Mom!" Izuku called out before he heard anything else.
"Izuku?" she asked aloud. Though Izuku couldn't hear the words, he still knew they were spoken.
"Yeah mom," Izuku confirmed.
"Baby, where are you?" Inko asked as she moved around the kitchen.
"I'm in the backyard with Jade," Izuku told her.
"Wha-?" she gasped.
Izuku watched as she pulled the curtain in the kitchen aside and looked out at him. He waved back at her.
"Pretty cool right?" Izuku asked happily.
"P-pretty cool," Inko stammered. It was weird seeing her lips move and hearing her voice in his head rather than with his ears.
"I'm gonna go back to training mama," Izuku told her.
"B-be safe," she called as Izuku pulled back and left her mind.
Well done, Saphira complimented as she fully rejoined his mind. You will find that unless you speak most will not feel your presence in their mind. I will train you to erase your presence entirely so that even those who could feel you will no longer be able to tell.
"What else will you teach me?" Izuku asked curiously.
I will teach you to erect defenses so that you may protect your thoughts from others, Saphira told him. There are unlikely to be many in this world who can reach into your mind, but the powers of this land are strange. It is better to be safe. I will also teach you how to destroy and weave through the defenses of others and to search their minds for answers. I will teach you how to wield a sword, fire an arrow from a bow, and fight when your weapons have failed you. I will teach you the ancient language, in which no lie can be spoken. I will teach you leatherwork and perhaps one day metalwork. I will teach you to hunt and to kill so that you may feed and protect yourself. I will teach you the history of the riders, from the first Eragon to the end of Alagaesia. And, perhaps most importantly, I will teach you to fly.
Izuku was amazed. There was so much to do! He wanted to get started right away.
"That's awesome!" he cheered. "I can definitely be a hero with your teachings!"
Izuku's reaction caused a sense of surprise from her, and a familiar questioning feeling from Jade.
There were many dragon riders who were considered great heroes, Saphira told him. But I do not know much about the heroes of this world.
"Heroes are awesome!" Izuku told her excitedly. "They keep everyone safe from villains and save them from disasters! They make sure people feel safe."
Very noble, Saphira commended. How do these heroes come to be?
"They go to school for it," Izuku explained. "The very best heroes go to UA University."
And if you don't? Saphira asked.
"Don't what?" Izuku asked back.
If you don't go to this school, she clarified.
"Well you can't be a hero without going," Izuku told her. "That would make you a vigilante."
And? Saphira laughed. What is a vigilante?
"Well it's someone who does hero work illegally," Izuku explained. "They're criminals."
Saphira was quiet for long enough that Izuku was shifting in the grass uncomfortably. He could feel her thinking on his words deeply.
You plan to go to one of these schools? She finally asked him.
"Yeah," Izuku nodded. "I want to go to UA."
And when would you go? Saphira questioned.
"Well it's a college," Izuku told her. He counted on his fingers. "So I'd apply in twelve years."
Good, Saphira sighed. By then your training should be complete. It sounds like this hero school is the best way for you to preform your duty as rider and dragon. You shall attend it once you are ready.
"Duty?" Izuku asked.
As the riders of this world, it is your duty to protect and serve the people, Saphira explained. It is good that there are others who will help you in this. First, we must make sure that you are ready for the task.
"R-right," Izuku nodded.
==Dragon Rider==
That night, dinner was rather awkward. The meal only consisted of a bowl of rice each. The two of them sat at the table in their new kitchen, Jade resting his head in Izuku's lap as always. His mom had been giving him strange looks throughout the entire meal. It didn't really help Izuku as he tried to work up the courage to talk about what was on his mind.
"M-mom," Izuku began as she finished her bowl of rice. "What do we do when Jade is too big for my room?"
Inko didn't miss a beat before she responded. "I thought we might get him set up in the barn," Inko said.
Izuku sighed in relief. "Really?" he asked excitedly. It was almost too good to be true.
"Of course," Inko smiled. "It was a big part of what sold me on the house."
"That's so cool," Izuku crowed happily. "We'll have so much space! I doubt Jade'll outgrow it before we get into UA."
Inko's eyebrows knit together as Izuku spoke. "We?" She asked. "Izuku, sweety, you don't want to sleep in the barn with him, do you?"
Izuku looked at his mother with a smile. "Of course!" he laughed. "Me and Jade can make it super cool!"
And despite everything in her saying that she couldn't let her son sleep in a barn, she couldn't find it in her to say no to him.
"T-there was something else t-too," Izuku stammered nervously.
"Oh?" Inko asked. She ruffled his hair from her seat. "No need to be so nervous sweetheart. You can talk to me about anything."
"W-well I'm trying to train to be a hero," Izuku told her.
"I know sweety," Inko smiled. "And I'm so proud of you. My big strong boy, you're going to be an excellent hero one day."
"But I think I need some stuff," Izuku explained. "I want to make a saddle for Jade, and a bow, and I need a lot of notebooks to keep track of everything, and maybe some targets-"
Inko's sigh cut him off. Izuku looked at his mom to find her with her head in hands.
"M-mom?" Izuku asked nervously.
"I'm sorry Izuku," Inko whispered.
Izuku got up and walked over to his mom. He wrapped her in a hug, his short arms not quite making it all the way around her. "What's wrong mama?"
"We can't afford any of that Izuku," Inko told him. "I know I shouldn't tell you this, it isn't something you should have to worry about, but money's tight sweety. The money your dad sends is paying for the house, but there just isn't a lot let over. It's enough for some groceries, but that's it. I-I'm looking for a job, but there isn't a lot in this area."
Izuku hugged his mom tighter as she broke down in sobs, no longer able to hold herself together. Izuku didn't know what to do. His mom had always been quick to cry, but normally he would just hug her and that would help. This time it just didn't seem like enough.
"It's okay mama," Izuku comforted her. "W-what if I got Jade to go hunt for us? Or we could start a garden." Izuku was rambling, but he could hear his mom's sobs quieting so he didn't stop. "Maybe we could use Jade's poop to help. They say stuff like that is supposed to help plants grow. Its pertiliser."
"Fertilizer," Inko corrected him with a wet chuckle. Her arms wrapped around Izuku and dragged him into her lap. She buried her face in his hair, her tears all but stopped. "Oh, what did I do to deserve such a smart boy for a son?"
"So you think we should try?" Izuku gasped.
"We can try," Inko nodded.
==Dragon Rider==
Inko had gone out and bought seeds for the garden that same day. Together the two of them selected a big patch of earth in the backyard and got to work. They pulled all the grass and weeds up from the earth. They put a fence around it to keep out all the animals from the woods. Jade tore up the earth with his claws to make it easier to work with too. Inko had to go collect his poop from the woods, the dragon refused to poop in front of them. But finally, they had spread out the fertilizer and planted the seeds.
The garden proved a near instant success. By the end of the day they already had several plants sprouting through the black soil. Inko hadn't believed Izuku when he told her. She'd had to see it to believe him. It turns out dragon poop is really good fertilizer.
Inko was more hesitant to take Izuku up on his offer to have Jade hunt for them. Izuku assured her it would be okay, but she wouldn't hear it. So as the days went on and their garden began to produce veggies for them, the Midoriya's adopted a mostly vegetarian diet.
The garden helped with the finances a bit. It wasn't a lot, but it was enough that his mom managed to get him some scrap leather from one of the farms nearby. Saphira had coached him on how to cut the pieces and shape the leather. He'd sewn it all together into a rough saddle, which now sat on Jade's shoulders.
It is not bad for a first time, Saphira told him. It should hold up long enough for you to hone your skills.
Should? Izuku asked with a quirked eyebrow.
I will not let you fall, Jade assured him, his gentle voice still sent chills through Izuku. He'd started speaking more, Izuku thought it was due to the constant back and forth of information that their mental training sent between the two.
Okay, Izuku breathed. He could do this.
Izuku climbed up into the saddle. Jade's shoulder now stood the same height as Izuku, so Izuku had to use Jade's knee as a step to reach it comfortably. Once he was settled in the seat he strapped his legs in the way Saphira had instructed him.
Now this saddle is one made for speed, Saphira told him. Jade has been practicing aerial maneuvers. We will start small, but the goal is to get you comfortable in the saddle even through the strongest of twists and turns.
Yes master, Izuku nodded.
Ready? Jade asked. His excitement and pride were seeping through their connection. The single word was enough that Izuku was starting to feel giddy himself.
Yes, Izuku smiled.
The moment the thought left his mind Jade's was running through the backyard. Izuku could feel the muscles moving beneath him and the wind whipping around them as Jade beat his powerful wings. Izuku grabbed onto the spike in front of him as Jade took to the sky.
Izuku screamed in joy as the ground fell away beneath them. Flying was unlike anything he had ever experienced. He hadn't experienced all that much to be fair, but Izuku thought that he could travel the world a thousand times over and he would never find anything as amazing as flying.
Izuku could see for miles as they continued to climb. He hadn't realized just how great the forest behind their house was. Even as they leveled out and the house below them looked no bigger than a toy, he still could not see the end of it. On the other side he could just make out the scattered properties far in the distance.
Hold on, Jade warned.
Izuku could feel what Jade was planning. His grip tightened on the spike in front of him as Jade spun in the air. The single spin had almost been enough to cause him to lose his grip, but it was over quick enough that he managed.
Well done, Saphira praised him. Many riders struggle in the beginning.
Thank you, Izuku thought as he gasped for air. He hadn't realized he was holding his breath until she had spoken.
Now the real test will begin, Saphira informed him. Prepare yourself.
==Dragon Rider==
Hours later they finally landed. The world was spinning and Izuku's legs felt like jelly in the saddle, but he had never had so much fun in his life. Izuku unstrapped his legs and slid out of the saddle. He collapsed the second his feet hit the ground. He might have been able to get up, but the ground felt so good.
Jade slammed down into the ground next to him. The dragon was panting, his wings drooping tiredly around them both. The heat rolling off of Jade's body soothed the aching chill that filled Izuku's limbs.
Well done you two, Saphira praised them. Now let us continue.
Izuku halfheartedly glared at the saddlebag her heart currently resided in.
Do not give me that look, Saphira chuckled. You must take the saddle off of Jade and see to its maintenance. Your gear is only as dependable as you are to it.
Yes master, Izuku groaned as he pried himself off of the earth. He went about undoing all of the straps of the saddle. Jade moved as little as possible, probably more due to his exhaustion than helpfulness.
While you work, we will begin your lessons in the ancient language, Saphira told them.
Why are we learning this master? Izuku asked. It didn't seem like the most useful of things to be focusing on.
The ancient language is a powerful tool Izuku, Saphira explained. The magic of Alagaesia runs deep through its words. No lies can be spoken in the language. But it is also a part of the history of the riders. It is a part of your legacy, and it is your responsibility to carry it forward and ensure its survival.
Survival? Izuku thought.
I do not know the final fate of Alagaesia, Saphira sighed. Nor will we ever. I was sent to your world because it was believed that the riders could not stand against the oncoming storm. The riders wanted to ensure that even in some small way, they could continue on and continue to do good.
I understand, Izuku nodded. How do we begin?
I will teach you the words and their forms, Saphira told him. Then we shall practice. When you are ready, we shall speak only in the ancient language.
Yes master, Jade and Izuku nodded together.
==Dragon Rider==
That night Izuku noticed something in the mirror as he was brushing his teeth. His ears, which used to be perfectly round, had the barest hint of a point. He'd freaked out instantly. Spitting the toothpaste out, and quickly rinsing his mouth, Izuku sprinted out of the bathroom and to his room.
My ears are pointed! He shouted mentally as he grabbed Saphira's heart from the bed side table. Jade raised his head off of the bed to look at Izuku.
Quiet down young one, Saphira groaned. I was asleep, not dead.
My ears! Izuku insisted.
Hmm, Saphira hummed. She looked at him through Jade's eyes. Indeed. Your ears are pointed now.
Is this supposed to happen? Izuku asked in exasperation. This felt like a much bigger deal to him than the way Saphira was speaking of it.
In a sense, Saphira mused. The magic that binds a rider and their dragon is a result of an old treaty. That treaty was between Elves and Dragons. As time went on, other races were added to the treaty. Humans first. Then eventually Dwarves and Urgals. Through the bond a rider becomes stronger, more agile, more perceptive, and ageless. Riders would often find that they experienced physical changes over time. Humans would develop elvish features, such as pointed ears. The Drawvish riders stood taller than any of their fellow Dwarves. An Urgal rider's skin would grow pale and smooth.
Whoa, Izuku gasped. So then is this it? Izuku's hand reached up and began playing with the small point.
I do not know, Saphira shrugged. Normally the changes would take longer to appear.
I wonder if its because of quirks, Izuku mused. Humans had to become a lot more adaptable to keep from hurting themselves with their quirks.
Perhaps, Saphira agreed. Or perhaps it is because you are the only rider in this land. The magics which bind dragon and rider exist solely in the two of you. Such concentrated magics could be having greater effects than have ever been experienced before.
So I might change more, Izuku sighed.
Only time will tell young one, Saphira comforted him. For now, you should sleep. We have much to do and you will need your rest.
==Dragon Rider==
The next five months were filled with intense training. They continued to train Izuku's skill at mental fortification and infiltration. Izuku became more and more comfortable in the saddle and Saphira pushed them with harder techniques. Jade was apparently built for speed and maneuverability that few dragons could hope to match, though the way Saphira phrased it made Izuku think she had been built much the same.
The ancient language was something that Jade and Izuku had spent many long hours working on. Izuku had filled more than a few notebooks with words and explanations of the grammar. The thing that helped the most though was speaking with Saphira. She would lace her words with images and intentions that made it perfectly clear what the words meant, even the ones that Izuku hadn't learned yet. They had already made the switch to communicating solely in the ancient language.
Saphira had started teaching Izuku how to wield a sword. Or at least that's what she insisted she was doing. Izuku would swing a stick around in the backyard. He felt ridiculous. But the entire time Saphira would watch him through Jade's eyes and coach him. She would tell him to tuck in his elbows or to not extend so far. Each day he got a little better, and each day she pushed him a little harder.
Today, Saphira began. We are going to be doing something different.
Yes master, Izuku nodded as he sat down in the grass, his training stick resting in his lap. Jade sat a fair distance away and watched as he lounged in the sun.
Throw away your sword, Saphira commanded him.
Izuku furrowed his brow a little in confusion but he followed her instructions. He threw the stick towards the woods. It flew a good fifty feet away before landing in the grass.
Now retrieve it, Saphira instructed. Izuku made to stand. I did not say to get up.
How am I supposed to retrieve it without getting up? Izuku asked.
You can and you will, Saphira told him.
Izuku's brow furrowed further. It couldn't be a lie. You couldn't lie in the ancient language, even in thoughts. So there had to be a way.
Izuku held out his hand and tried to summon the stick. It was something he had done before, when he was experimenting to see if he had his mom's quirk. Maybe Saphira had felt the quirk within him? He focused, looking for some sort of tug or pull, anything that could bring the stick to him. But all he felt was the careful gazes of both Saphira and Jade.
Izuku huffed and did his best to ignore them as he continued. Maybe if he reached out with his mind? He pushed beyond his own consciousness and out into the field. He felt the grass and the insects. He felt all of the life, but the stick was long dead. He couldn't feel it where it lay.
Izuku bit at his lip. Maybe there was a trick? He looked over to where Jade was laying in the grass. The dragon watching him in turn.
Jade? Izuku asked.
No Izuku, Saphira sighed. This is your task. You must do this yourself.
Izuku growled in frustration as he turned back to the stick. He wracked his brain for anything he could do, but the task was impossible. It had to be impossible. But it wasn't. Saphira had told him it wasn't. Maybe he was the issue. Maybe he just wasn't good enough. He felt a white-hot something bubbling within him.
No. He refused to believe that. Jade had chosen him. He may not have had faith in himself, but he trusted Jade. So Izuku would believe in himself because Jade did. The white-hot bubble filled him to the brim at the thought.
"Come here!"Izuku shouted in frustration.
Miraculously the stick flew to his hand. The impact stung, but Izuku was far too amazed that it had worked to pay much attention.
How? Izuku gasped.
Magic, Saphira answered. Others may have provided a more poetic explanation, but I am not one for such things. As a rider, you have access to magic. You're limited only by your knowledge of the ancient language and the strength of your body. Jade will be able to provide strength to bolster your spells as well.
So the ancient language is magic? Izuku asked.
Yes and no, Saphira chuckled. As I have told you magic runs deep in the ancient language, but the power and the intention must come from the spell caster. The words alone are useless and the same spell can have drastically different results if the spellcaster intends them differently. It is not riders alone who can access magic, but I have seen no others in this world with the ability.
You said I was limited by how strong I am? Izuku asked. He had a million questions, but Saphira had always encouraged him to ask them one at a time, breaking him of his rambling habit early.
The energy must come from somewhere, Saphira explained. If you try to do something that you would be unable to do yourself, then you will die.
Oh, Izuku thought.
That is why you must know your limits, Saphira told him. We will work on this.
Yes master, Izuku nodded.
==Dragon Rider==
Magic was something Izuku loved learning. Adding it into his training was grueling, but it was rewarding work. Saphira taught him how to cast wards to protect himself, how to silence any noise that he made, and a million other things that Izuku never would have thought possible. She told him that as long as he could say the words, then he could attempt anything, but she warned against attempting anything too difficult without a failsafe and she warned him against risky phrasing. Apparently, many riders had caused unintended harm due to a poorly worded spell.
She had him perform a thousand tasks, both with and without magic, to understand his limits. He knew the largest stones he could lift and how long he could hold them. He knew how long he could produce a flame and how hot it burned. He knew how far he could run and how fast.
Now Saphira had him working to find how many arrows he could fire in a row. His mom had bought him the bow a few months ago with the savings the garden provided. It was a simple wooden thing, but it was supposed to have a high draw weight. It was supposed to work for a few years. So when Izuku pulled back another arrow and the bow snapped in his grasp, he was more than a little frustrated.
Damn it, Izuku cursed.
It is fine Izuku, Saphira sighed.
It's not, Izuku snapped. We could barely afford this one. What am I supposed to do now?
We will make one, Saphira told him.
What? Izuku asked, his shock instantly dispelling his anger.
You will make one, Saphira huffed. I did not see this happening so soon, if ever, but here we are.
What happened? Izuku asked.
It seems we were right, Saphira explained. Your body is reacting more than is usual to the changes of being a rider. Your strength is great enough that you can no longer handle a human bow.
So what kind of bow will we be making? Izuku wondered.
I will teach you how the elves sing their bows into being, Saphira told him.
Sing? Izuku asked.
Yes, Saphira nodded mentally. Magicians have often found that songs were incredibly useful in shaping more complicated magics. You could accomplish the same task without them, but it is easier to lose focus or for your intentions to shift. The song helps the caster remain focused on their task.
So I will sing about a bow, Izuku thought, though his doubts were clear in his mind.
You will sing of growth, Saphira told him with a huff. You will sing to the trees and ask for them to shape themselves to your desires. You will sing strength and pliability into the wood itself as it grows. And you will be rewarded with a bow.
Yes master, Izuku bowed. He had seen the image in Saphira's mind that accompanied her explanation. He knew what to do, at least in theory.
Izuku walked to the edge of the forest, to one of the thicker trees. He knelt by its roots and looked up. The tree was massive, easily twenty meters tall. Its thick truck decorated with knots and sap. Its bark was a beautiful chocolatey brown.
Izuku sighed. Jade pressed his presence against Izuku's, letting him know he was there. Izuku reached for the white-hot bubble of magic that was within himself. He allowed the pool of energy to fill him, burning through his veins. Only once he had a firm grasp on it did he begin to sing. He sang a slow song with long notes so that he could take his time.
"Ancient tree, of forest old,
I beseech thee, though I bring no gold,
I offer growth, and new life sprung,
Grow strong for me, as I have sung."
As Izuku sang, a new branch sprouted from an old knot. The green sprout quickly thickening and growing into a large branch. Izuku could feel the drain on his energy instantly. His eyes went wide in surprise, both at the instant growth and the drain, but he continued to sing.
"Ancient tree, of forest green,
I beseech thee, shape it lean,
A curve of wood, to bend with strength,
Grow it for me, grow long in length."
Izuku felt his breath growing heavy. The song was growing strained. The branch was beginning to look like a bow, curving into the familiar shape. He was close to finishing, but he didn't know if he had the strength. Before he could give up, Jade joined his mind more fully with his own. Jade's strength filled Izuku and continuing was easier.
"Ancient tree, of forest large,
I beseech thee, I give this charge,
You've done your task, grown me a bow,
I have one last ask, let it go."
As Izuku's song finished, the bow clattered to the earth. Izuku sighed in relief as he stopped the flow of energy into the tree. He picked up the bow and held it gingerly in his hands.
The bow was the same chocolate brown as the bark of the tree. Its surface was smooth and shiny. The grain of the wood flowed up the length of the bow. It was beautiful. It filled Izuku with a warm sense of pride and accomplishment.
Well done young one, Saphira praised him. I did not know if you would succeed, but you have accomplished something quite difficult here.
Thank you master, Izuku panted. He wiped the sweat from his brow. What will we do about a bowstring?
I will show you how to sing one from the vines, Saphira told him. But that will wait for another day. We've done enough for today.
Yes master, Izuku sighed. He laid back in the grass and relaxed.
The sudden weight of Jade's head smacking into his chest knocked the wind out of him.
I'm glad you like your new stick thrower, Jade teased him.
Thanks for your help, Izuku groaned. I don't know if I could have done it without you.
You don't have to, Jade smiled. He looked at Izuku with one giant forest green eye. We are one. My strength is yours, and yours is mine.
I don't know if that's exactly a fair trade, Izuku laughed. You're a lot stronger than me.
Jade rolled his eye and settled further into Izuku's chest. Izuku reached up and scratched under the curve of Jade's jaw, taking great pleasure in the rumbling that came from his dragon.
==Dragon Rider==
Izuku was meditating in the backyard, sending his consciousness outside the confines of his mind and feeling the life around him. Over the years he had extended his reach, now from the middle of the backyard he could reach out over a hundred meters into the forest.
The plethora of life within the forest was overwhelming. Izuku would always find himself focusing on one creature or another. He knew Saphira was disappointed. She kept telling him to focus on all the life around him, but no matter how much he focused there was just too much.
So he was trying to let go and take in everything. Which was why he could feel it when a creature rocketing towards him entered his perception range. Izuku's eyes flew open and he grabbed his bow off the ground. He drew an arrow just as whatever it was slammed into the earth by the forest.
Izuku ran up to the newly formed crater, Jade running right beside him. He pointed the arrow straight at whatever it was. The dust meant it was nothing but a shadow to him.
"Away," Izuku commanded.
The dust blew away and revealed the creature, but Izuku couldn't believe what he was seeing. Crouched in the crater was All Might. But he wasn't the larger-than-life hero that Izuku was used to seeing on TV. He was injured, barely keeping himself standing as he tried to staunch the bleeding wound on his right side.
"All Might?" Izuku asked as he lowered his bow.
"Fear not citizen," All Might wheezed. "Such a wound-" All Might cut off as a wet cough ripped through him, blood splattering on the earth before him. "Such a wound is nothing to a hero of my caliber."
"Jade, help me," Izuku called out as he rushed into the crater.
He ran up to All Might and threw one of the hero's massive arms over his shoulders. Jade slipped his neck beneath the other arm and together they carried the hero out of the crater.
We need to get him to the barn, Izuku told Jade.
Should we wake Saphira? Jade asked.
Izuku hesitated. I don't know, Izuku admitted.
She knows more about healing, Jade reminded him.
Jade was right of course. Izuku couldn't fight him on it. He just hated to wake her. She was still putting in a lot of effort to their training, and there were days where she would sleep and entrust them to keep up their training. But they needed her.
Izuku nodded. Go get her, Izuku told him. We may need her strength.
Jade slipped out from beneath All Might, trusting Izuku with his full weight.
"Where is he going?" All Might gasped.
"To get help," Izuku answered. "Do not speak if it is painful. Your wounds are serious."
All Might looked around the backyard. He seemed to stare at the forge and the tanning racks. "What is this place?" he asked.
"This is my home," Izuku laughed.
By the time he reached the barn, Jade had returned, Saphira's heart held in his teeth.
Who is this young one? Saphira asked.
This is All Might, Izuku told her. We have to help him.
We will young one, do not worry, Saphira assured him.
Jade pushed open the sliding door of the barn and helped Izuku bring All Might over to the pile of pillows that made up their bed.
"I thought he was getting help," All Might coughed weakly.
He did, Saphira said, speaking to All Might directly. Izuku this is a grievous injury. We will need to work quickly.
"A telepathy quirk?" All Might asked. His eyes scanned the room for signs of anyone else. "I'm sorry, I need to get to a hospital."
All Might tried to get to his feet, but Izuku pushed him gently back down onto the pillows.
"There's no time All Might," Izuku told him. "You'll have to trust us."
"Trust a child and someone I cannot even see?" All Might asked tensely.
"Yes," Izuku nodded. "Now I need you to lay still. I need to focus."
All Might stopped fighting Izuku and laid his head back on the pillows.
Master, Izuku called.
You can do this Izuku, Saphira assured him. Take it slow. You'll need to stop the bleeding and assess the damage before we can heal him fully.
Izuku took a deep breath. Jade's presence in his mind providing him with the stability and confidence he needed to continue. When he began to sing, he sang to the tune of one of the lullabies that his mom used to sing to him.
He sang for hours. He sang of life and healing, of the body and its beauty. In his mind he held a picture of All Might, full once again in all his glory. It didn't take long for Izuku's strength to fail him, but Jade was there. Together they continued to work. The damage was extensive. All Might's insides had been torn to shreds. His stomach was gone, most of his lung too, and he was missing large chunks of muscle. They worked to weave the hero back together.
They couldn't have done it without Saphira's help. She filled gaps in Izuku's knowledge. He had studied biology, preparing for the day he might need to do something just like this, but he'd never done anything this extensive. She wordlessly pushed his magic towards the right spots, correcting small mistakes in his task without breaking his concentration. And when Jade's strength began to fail, the ancient dragon allowed him to pull upon her reserves as well.
At long last he finished the healing and let the song die out. Keeping his eyes opened proved a monumental task. He sagged against the pillows, panting heavily.
You did well young one, Saphira praised him.
"T-thank you master," Izuku rasped weakly.
Sleep Izuku, Saphira commanded. You've earned it.
Izuku would have loved to argue, but he didn't have the strength for it. All he could do was mumble weakly before his eyes were closed and he was asleep.
==Dragon Rider==
Toshi's fight back to consciousness was strange. He had had close calls before, but never had he experienced anything like this. In the darkness of his unconscious mind, he could hear the ethereal singing. It was so beautiful. It filled him with a sense of calm tranquility, one that he fought against with all of his willpower. He needed to be awake. Give in and he might never wake up again.
Toshi forced his eyes to open, but he did not know if he was dreaming or not. The singing was still there. Just as hauntingly beautiful and strange. It was coming from a boy with green hair, his long, pointed ears and angular features making him look as otherworldly as the song he was singing. He fell back into the blackness before he could see anything but the boy.
The void of blackness was all encompassing. It was so hard to focus on anything, and still the singing followed. Toshi latched onto the song like a lifeline. He tried to understand the words, but the harder he listened the less they made sense. The melody was familiar though. It reminded him of his childhood. It made him feel safe.
Toshi pried open his eyes again. He didn't know how much time had passed. The boy was still beside him, still singing. Toshi tried to reach out for him, to wordlessly ask for help. An enormous, scaled head pushed his arm back down. A giant green eye fixed him with a look that told him that he was not allowed to move. Toshi fell back once again; confused and concerned but unable to fight it.
Still, he fought against the dark abyss that tried to hold onto him. Still, he fought against death, because Toshi could not die here. There was too much still to be done. Too many people who still needed him to save them. So, he fought, and he struggled, and he pushed. Toshi had won every fight, what was one more? Who was death to claim victory over him?
Toshi flew upright. His hand went instantly to his side, to the bloody wound that had crippled him. But the pain was gone. The bleeding had stopped. Toshi looked down, and through the bloody tatters of his costume he saw nothing but smooth skin. There was not even a scar.
Toshi's eyes scanned around the room. Even in the dark Toshi could tell it was huge. The ceiling was nearly ten meters above and the room was wider and longer than that. The room was filled with a strange mismatch of things. There were bookshelves and a desk, racks filled with all kinds of deadly weapons and armors, and a TV and speaker system.
When Toshi spotted the boy asleep against the edge of the cushions, kneeling with only his head resting against the soft pillows, he went to wake him. He could tell Toshi what was going on. His hand had only just begun to move when a voice stopped him.
I would prefer if you let him rest, the voice said. It was a deep voice, almost impossibly so, but it was soft and gentle in a way.
Toshi opened his mouth to respond, but once again the voice stopped him.
You do not need to speak, the voice told him. Think and I will hear, Izuku is a light sleeper.
How does that work? Toshi wondered.
Simple, the voice chuckled. I read your thoughts and allow you to hear my own.
That's quite the quirk, Toshi thought.
Indeed, it would be, the voice agreed.
Who are you? Toshi asked. Where are you?
Movement drew Toshi's eye from behind the boy. What Toshi had written off as a mass of pillows or blankets began to shift. An enormous head, easily the size of Toshi's body, snaked its way towards him. Eyes so green that they almost glowed in the darkness fixed themselves upon Toshi.
I am Jade, the voice, Jade, told him. You are in our den.
Toshi was frozen. This thing was as close to a monster as he had ever seen. It was clearly dangerous. But it was intelligent. He wasn't just some muscle headed buffoon. He knew better than to jump straight to violence.
Good, Jade complimented, he moved his head back down, laying it beside the sleeping boy. I'd hate to have to kill Izuku's favorite hero.
Izuku? Toshi thought instinctively upon hearing the unfamiliar name.
My human, Jade explained. Midoriya Izuku. He is the one who has healed you.
Then I owe him a thank you, Toshi sighed. He rubbed at the spot where All for One had driven his fist, malformed by what was surely over a hundred different quirks. That wound probably should have killed me.
It nearly did, Jade told him. Izuku worked for many hours to save you.
Where is he? Toshi asked as he looked around. He thought there had been another voice, another telepath. He barely remembered though. He'd been losing a lot of blood.
He is here, Jade laughed. Once he was done, he did not have the energy to move. He collapsed where he had worked. Seeing as you were using the bed, I could not move him.
The boy? Toshi nearly screamed. But he is a child?
Yes, Jade agreed. He did well to accomplish something so difficult. We were not sure if he would be able.
Toshi wondered about the second voice. If the boy had been the one to heal him then who was the second telepath.
Our master, Jade said, answering his unintended question. She has returned to her slumbers, entrusting me to watch over Izuku and monitor you.
Monitor? Toshi asked.
We were unsure in what state you would awaken, Jade explained. If you had been violent, then I would have stopped you. But you are not. You were only tired and confused. And now that I have answered your questions, you should sleep.
But- Toshi began to argue.
You may ask your questions in the morning, Jade cut him off. I'm sure Izuku is very excited to speak to you. He will be more than happy to answer you. Now sleep.
How can I sleep when I do not even know where I am? Toshi asked.
No answer came. Toshi looked to Jade's head where it lay next to the boy, but his eyes were closed. Toshi had no choice. He laid himself back down in the bloody mess of a bed, sure that he wouldn't get any more rest, and instantly fell back asleep.
==Dragon Rider==
The next time Toshi woke up it was much more peaceful. Sunlight streamed through the open door. The room was much the same as it had been last night, though now he could see the blood stains that led from the door to where he lay. The only other difference he noticed was the missing presence of the boy or the dragon, Midoriya Izuku and Jade he remembered.
Toshi climbed out of the mountain of cushions he was using as a bed. The tatters of his costume clung to his chest from the dried blood. He pulled off the top of the ruined outfit, leaving on only the bloodied pants. The blood, combined with the unblemished skin of his chest, was all the proof he needed that none of it had been a dream.
The sound of swishing steel caught his attention. He walked over to the open barn door and looked out. The boy, Midoriya, he reminded himself yet again, was out in the grass. He held a sword in his hand and moved through several strokes with practiced ease. Toshi felt his eyebrows furrow as he took in the site.
The boy couldn't be older than ten. He'd guess younger. So, what was he doing with what looked like a very real sword. Even if he did seem to be well practiced with it, he was far too young to be dealing with something so deadly.
The dragon was nowhere to be seen. It was just the boy.
"Excuse me," Toshi called out.
The boy whipped around to face him. Toshi almost laughed at how fast the movement was, but it wasn't panicked, it was smooth and graceful.
"Good morning," Midoriya greeted him. He gave a small bow. "How are you feeling?"
Midoriya began walking back towards the barn, kneeling to pick up a leather scabbard and put away the sword as Toshi answered.
"I feel good as new," Toshi laughed. It was his trademark over the top laugh, with a big smile that showed off his teeth.
"That's good," Midoriya nodded. He picked up a bundle of cloth before he stood back up and walked over to Toshi. "These should fit you," he explained as he handed the bundle to Toshi. It was a plain shirt and a pair of pants, incredibly similar to the ones the boy was wearing, but a half dozen sizes larger. "Once you are changed you may speak to me about what is bothering you."
With that Midoriya left him. Toshi watched as he walked over to a garden and began pulling fresh fruit and vegetables off of the vines and out of the earth. He went back to the barn and changed as quick as he could, which was quite fast given that he was a pro hero. By the time he reemerged though, Midoriya was seated at a table that had been set up off to the side. Toshi headed that way.
"Jade warned me you still had questions," Midoriya said as Toshi sat down in the only other seat. He pushed a wooden plate loaded with fresh apples and apricots his way. "I will be happy to answer them, but please eat. You need to regain your strength."
Toshi nodded and picked up a slice of apple. He ate it, marveling at how crisp and sweet the fruit was, and thought of what he should ask first.
As he thought, he looked around. This place felt so unreal. There was the old farmhouse and the barn, those at least made sense. The other things that filled the field, less so. Off to the side were wooden racks with animal pelts stretched across them. There was a giant stone furnace and an archery field. It felt more like a renaissance fair than someone's home.
"What is this place?" Toshi found himself wondering out loud.
"This is my home," Midoriya laughed. The boy's laugh was as other worldly as his appearance. It was soft, sounding almost musical in its beauty.
"But why is it-?" Toshi finished his question by gesturing towards the strange menagerie of things around them.
"Is it so strange?" Midoriya asked with another laugh.
"Who are you?" Toshi wondered aloud. He tried not to blush when he realized he had spoken aloud. Everything was just so strange.
"I am Midoriya Izuku," Midoriya answered, his laughter dying down and being replaced with a kind smile.
"The dragon," Toshi began.
"Jade," Midoriya reminded him gently.
"Right, Jade," Toshi nodded. Best not to offend the boy. "He said you were the one who healed me."
"That is not a question," Midoriya smiled.
"Did you?" Toshi asked.
"Yes," Midoriya answered simply. He pushed another plate of fruit to Toshi, who was amazed to look down and realize he had finished the first one.
"How?" Toshi wondered.
"I wove the energy to heal you into you and allowed your body to grow whole once more," Midoriya told him. It answered less questions than Toshi liked.
"So that's your quirk?" Toshi pushed. "Energy manipulation."
Midoriya shook his head. "No," he laughed. Toshi felt himself frown, and apparently Midoriya saw it too because he chose to continue. "Do not worry too much All Might."
Toshi looked down at Midoriya, at the strange child, and he found that despite all the oddities that surrounded him, Toshi did not have it in him to distrust a child. Much less interrogate him.
"You're so young," Toshi remarked.
"I am," Midoriya nodded. "But again, that is not a question."
"I'm sorry Midoriya but this is all a bit strange," Toshi sighed. "Is there anyone else here? What about your parents?"
"My mother works late most nights," Midoriya told him. "She is unaware that you are here at the moment. Though she will likely wake soon if you would like to speak to her."
Toshi considered it for a moment. He owed this boy his life, but he probably shouldn't be going around spreading that info. If people knew how close to death he had come, then the pillar that held society's peace would begin to crumble. On the other hand, Midoriya seemed so mature. That was rarely a good sign in one so young.
"Yes," Toshi agreed. "I think that would be a good idea. I must thank her for her hospitality, even if she was unaware that she was providing it."
"Would you like tea while we wait?" Midoriya asked.
"That would be nice," Toshi said with a nod.
Midoriya smiled and left him at the table. He was back moments later with two cups and a steaming kettle. As they waited for the tea to steep, Toshi took in Midoriya's home once again. He found that it was peaceful. The sound of the birds flittering in the forest as the wind rustled the trees filled the air. There was no sound of traffic or villain attacks. It was wonderfully refreshing. He couldn't help but wonder if this was what retirement would feel like.
"Izuku?" A groggy voice called from the house. Toshi turned and felt his mind short circuit. Standing in the doorway was a beautiful woman, with long green hair and soft features. Her robe, and the fact that she was still rubbing sleep from her eyes, hinted that she had only just woke up. "Do we have a guest?"
Toshi stood from the table and cleared his throat. "Hello Mrs. Midoriya," Toshi greeted her with a bow.
The woman's eyes went wide as she took in Toshi at his full height. "A-All Might!?" she gasped.
Toshi laughed. "Yes, it is I, All Might!" he crowed.
The woman fainted, falling backwards into the waiting arms of her son. Toshi hadn't seen him move. He brought the woman over to the table and sat her down in the seat he had been occupying. He smiled at Toshi when he saw him watching with concern.
"Don't worry All Might," Midoriya assured him calmly. "My mother has always been easy to startle. She'll wake up soon."
"R-right," Toshi agreed awkwardly. He sat back down and noticed the problem. "There are only two seats. Can I help you grab another one?"
"There are only the two All Might," Midoriya told him. "It is alright, there are chores that need seeing to. Will you watch over my mother for me?"
"Of course," Toshi nodded. "She is in good hands."
Midoriya gave him a gentle smile. "I know," he chuckled. With a bow he excused himself and returned to the barn.
Toshi tried not to stare at the woman across from him. She was just as beautiful up close. Her face was exceptionally kind looking. Her laugh lines and crows' feet a testament to how much she must smile. As her eyes fluttered open, he marveled at how lovely a green they were.
"A-All Might!" she shouted out again, sitting bolt upright in her seat.
"Hello Mrs. Midoriya," Toshi greeted again.
"I-it's Ms. actually," she stammered.
Toshi smiled at her. "Ms. Midoriya," he corrected himself with a small bow.
"Forgive me," Ms. Midoriya said as she bit at her bottom lip. "B-but what is the number one hero doing all the way out here? Or for that matter what are you doing at my house?"
Toshi laughed. It wasn't the overly loud laugh that he was famous for, it was his real laugh. "A fair question," Toshi sighed. "I'm afraid I ended up here after a villain attack."
"A villain?!" Ms. Midoriya exclaimed. "Is he safe? Is he okay?"
"Young Midoriya is fine," Toshi assured her. Her panic disappeared almost instantly as she sagged in relief. "He said he was going to get started on some chores, but he asked that I keep an eye on you."
"That boy," Ms. Midoriya sighed. She sounded exasperated, but fond as well. It was nice to hear and it helped assuage Toshi's concerns, if only a little.
"He seems like a good kid," Toshi agreed. "He helped me with my injuries and allowed me to sleep in your barn."
"You were injured?" Ms. Midoriya worried. Her eyes scanned his form. Taking in his clothes. She furrowed her eyebrows and scowled when she saw them. "He made you clothes?"
"He made these?" Toshi asked in surprise.
Ms. Midoriya sighed. "Yes," she nodded. "Izuku does what he can to help out. He learned how to make clothes and he's quite good at it. But it means that he didn't think he could salvage the clothes you arrived in. Was it that bad?"
Toshi flinched at the woman's astute analysis. "It wasn't good," he confirmed. He rubbed at the spot where his wound had been. "Your son's quirk is really something."
Ms. Midoriya stared off at his words. He followed her gaze towards the barn where young Midoriya was carrying out the bloody pillows and throwing them in a growing pile. Once he had collected all of the pillows, he stood in front of the bloody pillows. Toshi's eyes went wide as suddenly all the blood flowed out of the fabric and into the earth. Midoriya then began carrying the pillows back in.
"I don't understand how he does it all myself," Ms. Midoriya confessed. "One day he just ran into the kitchen all excited. He said some funny words and all of a sudden the vegetables started to float off of the counter."
"So what is his quirk?" Toshi asked.
"The doctor said it was a companion quirk," Ms. Midoriya told him. "He said that Izuku would never have a power of his own and that Jade would stay the size of a house cat."
"A house cat?" Toshi asked in disbelief.
"That's how big he was when Izuku first got him," Ms. Midoriya chuckled. "Came stumbling out of the woods in the dead of night with the tiniest dragon climbing him like a jungle gym."
Toshi couldn't help but laugh at the image.
"At the time it was like my prayers had been answered," Ms. Midoriya told him. "He was a bit of a late bloomer. I was so scared that he would never get his quirk."
Toshi stayed quiet. He knew better than most what it was like to be quirkless. He could only imagine it got worse over the last thirty years.
"So no," Ms. Midoriya shook her head. "I don't really understand his quirk. I can't tell you what it is or how it works." A weak smile spread across her face. "But it makes him happy. Jade makes him happy. And that's all that really matters to me."
Toshi smiled. "It sounds like you're a good mother Ms. Midoriya," Toshi praised her.
"Call me Inko," Ms. Midoriya told him. "It's easier."
"Thank you Inko," Toshi bowed.
==Dragon Rider==
"You boys have everything?" Inko asked as Izuku strapped the saddle onto Jade. It was a big improvement from the first one he had made all those years ago.
"We should be all set mom," Izuku assured her as he pat the leather bag at his side. He turned around to find his mother tearing up as she watched them.
"Oh! I just know you're going to get in," Inko cried. She rushed forward and threw her arms around Izuku. "You'll be safe though, won't you?"
"Of course, mama," Izuku laughed.
"And you keep him safe," Inko told Jade as she sent a glare over Izuku's shoulder.
Yes ma'am, Jade laughed. Always.
"Good," Inko sighed as she hugged Izuku tighter. She shoved Izuku away, throwing him towards where Jade was waiting for him. "Now you two get going or you're going to be late."
"Was that a challenge?" Izuku laughed.
"No, no it was not," Inko huffed.
"I don't know," Izuku teased. "What did you think Jade?"
It sounded like a challenge, the dragon agreed, he bared his fangs in a cheeky grin.
Izuku laughed as he leapt up into the saddle. Jade didn't hesitate. His massive wings spread and with a single powerful swoosh the two of them took to the air.
"I better not see you boys on the news!" Inko called after them seriously. Izuku could see her jabbing her finger up at them, but he could also see the smile that stretched across her face.
Jade roared into the heavens as Izuku let out a joyous whoop. Jade made it over the trees and stopped holding back. The wind whipped across Izuku's face as they raced over the trees.
Remember not to push yourself too hard, Izuku reminded him. We still have to take the exam when we get there.
I am still a dragon Izuku, Jade huffed. I was made to fly.
I know, Izuku laughed. So you better not try and blame the flight when I beat you.
Jade's rumbling laughter reverberated through Izuku. Izuku sat back in the saddle and enjoyed the feeling of flying. Even after all these years it was a unique joy in his life. He still took every opportunity to be in the air with Jade.
The forest beneath them gave way to suburbs, and the suburbs gave way to the busy streets and packed buildings of the city. It had been years since Izuku had been here. Musutafu was the place he had been born, but it wasn't at all like he remembered.
You have never seen it from skies, Jade chuckled.
Izuku was ready to craft a witty comeback, but the two of them felt a presence that stopped it dead. Whatever it was, it was angry, and it was flying towards them, fast. Izuku's head whipped around and found a large gray dragon coming straight at them.
Move! Izuku called.
Jade tucked his wings close and spun down into a dive. They narrowly avoided the gray dragon's claws as it reached out at Izuku. Jade twisted his body back, flapping his wings to slip back up and behind the other dragon. Izuku held on tight to the spike in front of him as Jade whipped around.
As Jade grabbed onto the other dragon, his claws and teeth grabbing at onto it, Izuku was amazed they didn't start plummeting towards the earth. It was only then that he noticed the red qipao it wore.
Shit, Izuku cursed. He threw his mind out towards the dragon as it began to shout.
"Stand down!" the Dragoon Hero: Ryukyu called. "You're under arrest for public quirk use without a license."
Jade shoved the other dragon away, the two hovering steady in the air. Izuku couldn't help but compare the two dragons. Ryukyu was larger than Jade, if only a little, but her scales failed to cover her face or her upper arms.
"I'm sorry Ryukyu," Izuku apologized, speaking aloud and to her mind to ensure he could be heard. "I have a permit that allows Jade to travel with me."
"A travel permit is not the same as a license to fly him around and scare people," Ryukyu demanded.
"We can't exactly take the subway," Izuku laughed.
"And where exactly are you headed?" Ryukyu asked angrily. "Why not leave your dragon at home?"
"We're headed to UA," Izuku told her. "We're taking the entrance exam today."
Ryukyu growled in frustration. "Fine," she snapped. "But I'm escorting you there and you're showing me this permit when we arrive."
"Yes ma'am," Izuku nodded.
Ryukyu flipped around in the air, gracefully folding back over herself, and began leading the way towards UA. Jade followed after her.
She's slow, Jade commented impatiently.
She's holding back, Izuku pointed out. She caught us in the air.
She started from in front of us, Jade huffed making Izuku laugh.
Ryukyu looked at him over her shoulder, but she didn't say anything.
We're attracting more attention, Jade told him.
Izuku looked through his eyes and saw the people on the ground looking up. Some were just pointing; others had their phones out.
Mom's not going to love that, Izuku groaned.
Nothing we can do about it now, Jade shrugged.
Izuku sighed. Jade was right. All he could do was sit back and enjoy the chance to be in the air with Jade.
The rest of the flight passed quickly. Ryukyu kept them away from the taller buildings, something Izuku knew he and Jade probably wouldn't have bothered doing. It didn't take them out of their way, but it was significantly less fun.
As they landed outside the gates of UA, Ryukyu shrunk back down to her normal form.
Izuku slid out of the saddle. There were a lot of other students making their way into the campus. Lots of them were staring at Jade or Ryukyu. Some had gone so far as to stop and watch.
Thank you, Izuku sighed as he pat Jade's shoulder. He turned to face Ryukyu, pulling his wallet out of his bag. He fished out the companion quirk permit and brought it over to her. "Here you go ma'am."
Ryukyu snatched the card from him. After a quick once over she gave Izuku a stern look. "This permit is for a small companion," she told him.
"Sorry," Izuku laughed. "He was a lot smaller when I was five."
"You need to get this updated," she sighed as she handed him back the card. "I'll put out a notice that you'll be flying back out of the city later. But if I see you flying after that without the proper documentation then I'll have no choice but to arrest you."
"Yes ma'am," Izuku nodded.
Ryukyu huffed and walked away, weaving through the crowd of students that had steadily grown around them. Izuku laughed at the absurdity of it all, to think he'd get stopped by someone as high profile as Ryukyu just to double check his permit.
"Come on Jade," Izuku called as he turned back to the gate.
The crowd parted for them, a lot of the students rushing to get out of the way of the several ton dragon.
So, was she cute? Izuku teased as they walked through the gate.
Izuku could feel Jade's exhausted glare on the back of his head.
What? Izuku laughed. I'm just curious.
No, Jade sighed. The half-dragon was not cute.
That's a shame, Izuku frowned.
A sense of shared sadness filled the pair as the continued towards the building. As they reached the steps that led to the double doors, they realized the problem.
I will wait out here, Jade chuckled as the mental image of the dragon trying to fit through the admittedly already over sized doors passed through their mental link.
You'll draw a crowd, Izuku warned.
Good, Jade beamed. They may appreciate my beauty before they fear my might.
You're incorrigible, Izuku grinned as he watched Jade move over to the side of the building. He struck a proud pose, thrusting out his chest, as he brought a claw up to his mouth to clean. Several students were already starting to move towards him.
Izuku just shook his head and made his way inside. The auditorium was easy enough to find. His seat, less so. As he checked in, they handed him a testing ID with his seat number and testing field displayed. The problem was that the auditorium was absolutely massive. Izuku ended up wandering for several minutes before he found his seat.
As he sat down the girl in the seat beside his turned to face him. She had a brown bob with two long strands framing her face and she was all bundled up in a peacoat.
"Hello," she smiled.
"Hello," Izuku nodded back.
"I'm Uraraka Ochako," the girl introduced herself.
"Midoriya Izuku," Izuku offered in turn. "It's nice to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you too!" Uraraka exclaimed. "I'm so nervous. Are you nervous? It feels this is a good thing to be nervous about."
"I'm not nervous," Izuku chuckled. "I've worked hard, and I plan to do my best."
"Oh man that's so cool," Uraraka laughed. "You must have a really powerful quirk to be so confident."
"No," Izuku shook his head. "Not really."
The lights began to dim around them.
"Crap! Guess we're getting started," Uraraka said.
The two quieted down as Present Mic took the stage. He explained how the exam would be run. The applicants would be unleashed into a mock villain scenario. Their goal was to defeat as many villains and acquire as many points as possible. Present Mic was in the middle of explaining the types of enemies, having already covered the one, two, and three pointers when a boy near the front stood up and interrupted him.
Izuku rolled his eyes at the boy's over seriousness.
He's like a robot, Jade pointed out.
What do you mean? Izuku asked with a quirked eyebrow.
Look, Jade instructed as the boy began chopping his hand through the air and rambling about the importance of concise information.
Point taken, Izuku laughed.
Present Mic eventually got everything back on track and finished explaining about the zero pointer, a dangerous robot worth no points. Once he was done, he sent the students out to the busses that would take them to their testing fields.
You should take the bus, Jade told him.
Planning your dramatic entrance? Izuku sighed.
Always, Jade promised.
==Dragon Rider==
Tenya prided himself on his readiness. This was the most important test of his life. Today he would prove that he could be a hero, just like his brother. He was ready. So, it was very frustrating that no one else seemed to be taking this seriously. Present Mic's forgetfulness in explaining the zero pointer had already annoyed him. The boy stepping off the bus in loose flowy pants and sandals really set him off.
Tenya approached him. He wasn't deterred by the boy's lithe frame or the fact that he stood several centimeters taller than him.
"Excuse me!" Tenya proclaimed as he grabbed the boy's shoulder. The boy turned to him; his angular features raised into a look of surprise. "You are dressed entirely inappropriately for this exam. If you are ill prepared, I recommend you leave at once."
The boy looked Tenya up and down, his green eyes taking in the Ingenium brand track suit that he had had tailored to fit him despite the exhausts on his calves.
"My clothes will not impede me," the boy assured him. He was soft spoken, but his voice still had a firmness to it.
"Your shoes are a safety hazard!" Tenya demanded. "You could trip and get in the way of the other applicants!"
The boy lifted his foot and showed Tenya the sandals. He was surprised to see that the leather straps went around the other boy's heel and up his calf, securely fastening the shoe to his foot.
Before Tenya could point out that they still did nothing to protect his foot from danger, a sound like a hurricane and the winds to match slammed into the group of students. Tenya had to put one foot back and brace himself not to be blown away. He shielded his eyes and watched as an enormous green dragon slammed into the earth directly behind the boy. One of the other applicants screamed. It wasn't Tenya who screamed, right?
"Is this part of the exam?" someone asked in disbelief.
Is this boy bothering you Izuku? A deep voice rumbled. It was incredibly strange, as though it was spoken directly into Tenya's thoughts. Apparently, the other students heard it too because there were several startled exclamations.
"No Jade," the boy shook his head. With that he turned and started walking towards the gate, the dragon close behind him.
Tenya went to complain about the clear attempt to distract the other applicants when Present Mic hopped up by the gate.
"GO!" he screamed, his voice amplified by his quirk. The gate slammed open beside him.
Tenya was blown back another half step as the dragon launched itself over the crowd with a mighty flap of its wings. Tenya and the other applicants stared after it as it let out a roar that shook the very earth they stood on. It made it through the gate at the same time as the green blur that streaked across the ground beneath it.
"They've got the right idea!" Present Mic laughed. "There aren't any count downs in real life. Now, go, go, go!"
==Dragon Rider-
Izuku and Jade had separated the moment they were through the gate of battle ground Beta. They were a team, a perfect unit of cooperation, but Izuku's request for a bow and a sword had been denied. He could have sat atop Jade's back and cast spells to destroy the robots, but that didn't sound as fun. So, they chose instead to divide and conquer. And if there was a bit of healthy competition, then so be it.
Thirteen, Jade bragged from across the battlefield.
Shut it, Izuku laughed as he leapt atop another three pointer. He wrenched the head off the robot, throwing it away as he jumped back down. Twelve.
Izuku ran down another street looking for any other robots. He came across a boy with yellow hair cursing as a pair of two pointers cornered him. Izuku ran straight at the two pointers, leaping as he came close. He kicked off the near one and shoved it into the other. He landed beside the other boy.
"Come on," Izuku commanded as he grabbed his hand. He raced away, dragging the blond boy away from the two pointers. Once they made it back to the main street, he let the boy go.
He was already racing away when the boy shouted a thank you after him. Izuku couldn't help but smile hearing it.
==Dragon Rider==
Of course Izuku would waste time keeping the foolish two-legs from hurting themselves. This was the third fool Izuku had saved, and Jade could tell it was slowing him down.
It is my duty as rider and hero to help others, Izuku sighed when he felt Jade's judgement across their bond.
What was it you told me? Jade growled. Fine, but you better not try and use it as an excuse when you lose?
Jade clawed through another robot as he swooped low to the earth. He did not concern himself with the different types of robots. Prey was prey and he was a predator.
Fourteen, Jade told Izuku.
Wait you aren't tracking points? Izuku questioned. Jade felt Izuku's spark of realization. You're relaying the number of robots you've destroyed!
Yes, Jade grinned. Are you not?
Jade felt Izuku tapping into his magic. Twelve, Izuku snapped. Ignore the points all you want; I'm still going to win.
You can try little warrior, Jade laughed. He let another roar as he flew higher into the sky. He scanned the battlefield, feeling elation like he'd never felt before, and looked for more prey.
==Dragon Rider==
Twenty-five, Izuku called out as he sent a rock through the head of another three pointer. Jade might not care about the points, but Izuku knew they needed as many points as possible to pass. He had tried to focus on taking out three pointers, but he'd taken down a lot of two pointers and a couple one pointers too.
You worry too much, Jade sighed. All you need to concern yourself with is the fact that I have twenty-six.
Izuku growled in frustration. He needed another big group, but they'd mostly been dispersed at this point. He was about to turn and run off when the ground began to rumble beneath his feet. For a moment he looked around for Jade, what he found instead was a robot so large it was almost comical.
The zero pointer had been unleashed. A twenty-story tall robot was currently smashing its way through buildings as it worked its way down the main street.
That seems excessive, Izuku sighed.
It looks like fun! Jade exclaimed. Izuku could hear his roar clear across the battlefield.
Don't, it's just a distraction, Izuku reminded him. He could feel the disappointment. He was already turning away to find more points when a grunt of pain came from where the debris was falling. Izuku turned around and could just make out the face of the girl he had sat beside in the auditorium, Uraraka.
Jade! Izuku called as he took off towards Uraraka.
I'm coming Izuku, Jade answered him and Izuku could feel the effort he was putting into making it in time.
Izuku wove between the river of applicants moving the opposite way, barely slowing as he passed them. A few students shouted in surprise as he tore past them, but he didn't care. He made it to Uraraka's side in seconds.
It wasn't good. A giant chunk of concrete had fallen directly atop of her. She was still awake, but she was clearly in pain. She locked eyes with him, pain and desperation clear in her expression as she took ragged wheezing breaths.
"Try not to move," Izuku told her as he looked her over.
Pinned as she was, it wouldn't be safe to try and move her. She'd need healing almost as soon as the weight was gone, and Izuku didn't have time to do it. Not with the zero-pointer barreling down upon them.
Izuku could feel Jade approaching. As the dragon swept low, close to the earth, Izuku leapt into the air. He grabbed hold of one of Jade's neck spikes. He didn't have time to make it into the saddle, so instead he just held on.
Jade's roar echoed through the air as the two flew straight to the giant's head. The collision was almost enough to knock Izuku free, but his grip held. Jade took a deep breath and Izuku had just enough time to turn his face away as Jade bathed the giants head in white hot flames. When he could look again the metal had melted away, but the behemoth was still moving.
Through the hole melted in the robot's head Izuku could see thick metal wires. He didn't hesitate, simply acted. His body filled with the white-hot energy of magic and he spoke.
"Come," Izuku commanded.
The tearing and ripping sound of the wires flying to Izuku's outstretched hands was grating. The robot grinding to a halt once they came free though was satisfying.
"Twenty-six," Izuku sighed. His joy was short lived though as he remembered Uraraka pinned to the street below them.
Jade moved before Izuku could say a thing. He plummeted back towards the earth as fast as gravity could take them. Enormous green wings spread at the last moment, the deceleration so fast that Izuku's grip on Jade finally gave out and he tumbled to the hard pavement.
He was on his feet in an instant. His eyes whipped around, searching for Uraraka. He found her, another applicant, a boy with gravity defying purple hair, was trying to lift the concrete off of her. Uraraka was still awake, still struggling to breathe beneath the weight.
"Here," Izuku called as he walked up. He was panting hard. "Let me help."
The boy stared at him for a moment before shuffling to the side to make room for him. Izuku fit himself beside the boy and lifted. He knew better than to try and leverage it, the weight might have just crushed her legs if she was pinned wrong. Instead, he made sure his grip was strong, locked his wrists, and lifted the entire slab parallel to the earth. It was heavy, but not undoable.
"Let's just toss it aside," Izuku grunted.
"R-right," the other boy nodded.
Together they threw the slab of concrete away. It landed with a resounding thud a meter away from them, splitting down the middle from the impact. The purple haired boy stared after it, but Izuku was already kneeling by Uraraka's side.
"It's going to be okay," Izuku told her. He rolled her as gently as he could onto her back. He ripped her tank top down the middle, exposing her sports bra and the growing bruising on her ribs.
"Hey!" the boy shouted. "What the fuck are you doing man?"
"I needed to be able to see the damage," Izuku explained. His eyes never leaving Uraraka as he assessed her injuries. He looked her in the eyes. She was still breathing, but he could see the panic in her eyes.
"You broke several ribs and one of your lungs has collapsed," he explained. "I'm going to heal you."
You don't have the energy, Jade told him gently.
"It doesn't matter," Izuku snapped at him. He glared at the dragon where he stood, watching them from where they landed. "We have to do this."
Very well, Jade relented with a bow of his head. I am here.
"Thank you," Izuku nodded.
He let the bubble of magic within him come to the surface once again. This wasn't a difficult healing, but he rarely got practice with this type of magic. It didn't help his confidence that Saphira had chosen to stay at home, meaning he and Jade were on their own. He took a deep breath. He focused on what he was doing. And he began to sing.
It wasn't a fast song, but it was filled with the desperation he felt. The result was a strange, rushed feeling that he hoped didn't seep into the healing.
"Make this body whole,
Fix that which broke,
Close every hole,
Don't let her choke.
Jade was right. He'd used more energy during the exam than he'd thought. He could feel where his energy stopped feeding the spell as Jade took over. He only hoped that Jade had more strength than he did.
The spell was working. Uraraka's breaths were already growing deeper and the bruises were less prominent. The pain was no longer twisting her features. But they needed to finish it.
"Ensure she is well,
Soothe all her aches,
Leave no tell,
Whatever it takes."
Izuku panted as he finished the song. The bruising was gone, and her breathing was smooth once again. He let his eyes rest as he sagged backwards.
"Whoa," the purple haired boy exclaimed as he caught Izuku.
"Sorry," Izuku offered weakly. He opened his eyes and looked up at the concerned face of the boy. "I'm okay. Healing like that takes a lot of me."
"T-thank you," Uraraka gasped as she sat up.
Izuku's eyes turned to her. She was rezipping the jacket she wore to cover herself back up. "Sorry about your shirt," Izuku told her with a weak bow.
"Don't worry about it," Uraraka shook her head.
A sudden gust of wind ruffled their clothes and hair, and there before them stood All Might, he carried a small old woman in his arms. When he saw Izuku there he seemed to sag in relief. He set the woman down, who instantly rushed to Uraraka's side.
"Young Midoriya," he sighed. "It is good to see you."
The woman, who Izuku could now recognize as Recovery Girl, started fretting over Uraraka, which meant Izuku could round on All Might with all the rage that was boiling in his gut on full display. In his anger it was as if all his exhaustion was gone.
"I wish I could say the same," Izuku snapped. He felt his eyebrows furrowed in a glare. "What the hell Toshi?"
"Now Young Midoriya," Toshi defended as he took a step back. "We got here as fast as we could."
"Y-you know All Might by name?" Uraraka gasped.
"Who let that thing loose without having a safety net in place?" Izuku demanded, he could explain later.
"UA's never had any serious injuries during the exam," Toshi told him.
"Well that record died today," Izuku cut him off before he could continue. "I want to speak to whoever's in charge."
"I'm afraid you can't just demand such things Midoriya," Toshi sighed, but Izuku wasn't listening.
As he walked over to Jade, he turned his head to Uraraka. "Uraraka," he called. "I'm leaving you in Recovery Girl's capable hands. She should be able to help get you home."
"T-thank you," Uraraka managed through a mouthful of candies that Recovery Girl was continuing to give her.
Izuku leapt up onto Jade's extended knee and into the saddle. He didn't bother to strap his feet in.
"Now Midoriya," Toshi warned him.
"Bring him," Izuku said aloud.
Gladly, Jade laughed, projecting the word into the mind of everyone present.
Jade leapt into the air with a mighty flap of his wings. As he surged forward, he snagged All Might, one arm in each of his powerful front claws.
"Midoriya!" Toshi screamed as they took off towards the main building. "Put me down!"
Izuku just shook his head.
You're angry, Jade pointed out.
Yes, Izuku nodded. I am right to be.
Maybe, Jade agreed. But you do not have much strength left.
I have enough, Izuku told him as they began to descend towards the front steps of the building.
Izuku was pleased to see a welcoming party for them. Jade tossed Toshi not all to gently towards the group as he landed before them. Izuku scowled as he recognized what this was. It was a show of force. Izuku leapt from the saddle undaunted.
"Who is in charge here?" Izuku demanded.
"That would be me Mr. Midoriya," a small white animal in a tailor fit custom three-piece suit, President Nedzu, stepped forward.
"Nedzu," Izuku scowled. "I would have expected better from someone of your reputation. I believe you owe me an explanation."
"We don't owe you a thing," Vlad King snarled as he stepped up behind the President. "Just who do you think you are kid?"
Nedzu sighed, whether in disappointment or relief Izuku couldn't tell, but Vlad King's words had already had their affect. Izuku was pissed.
"I,"Izuku seethed, "am the one who just saved the life of the applicant you almost murdered."
Izuku let his words sink in. Several of the other heroes were clearly taken aback, both at Izuku's ferocity and his words. Vlad on the other hand just scoffed.
"Recovery Girl was already on the way with All Might," Vlad reminded him. "That girl would have been fine."
"She had a collapsed lung," Izuku informed the man. His voice dripped with the loathing he was beginning to feel for him. "Not only that but several broken ribs were piercing it. Recovery Girl's quirk speeds up the healing process, but it can't fix that. Even with All Might there, she would have suffocated in minutes."
"And we're just supposed to take your word for it?" Vlad asked with a barked laugh.
"Yes," Toshi finally spoke up. Izuku hadn't seen him pick himself up. "Young Midoriya has one of the most powerful healing quirks I have ever seen. If he says that she would have died, then I believe him."
Several murmurs broke out at hearing the number one hero back up Izuku. Izuku had to take a deep breath and calm himself. It wouldn't do to go attacking pro heroes.
"So, let me ask again," Izuku said through clenched teeth. "What happened?"
Nedzu stepped forward once again, leaving a rather shaken looking Vlad King in his wake. "I'm afraid a mechanical issue led to the zero-pointer causing more destruction than intended," he sighed. "While nothing like this has happened before, it does not excuse us from our responsibility. You have my deepest thanks for saving Ms. Uraraka's life."
"I don't want your thanks," Izuku told him. "I want to know that this isn't going to happen again."
"You have my word," Nedzu bowed. "We will be removing the zero pointer from the exam and looking at a full rework of the application process."
"Good," Izuku nodded. He turned around and returned to Jade who was watching him with curious eyes.
What? Izuku asked.
You would have made a good dragon, Jade told him.
Izuku rolled his eyes as he climbed back up into the saddle.
"That's it?" Vlad King demanded as he seemed to snap back to reality. "We're just gonna let him go? He just threw the symbol of peace at us?"
"I'd love to see you stop him," Toshi laughed loudly.
Izuku couldn't help but smile. The way Toshi said it broke through the last dregs of his anger and left him feeling exhausted.
"Hey Toshi," Izuku called back down. All Might looked up at him with his trademark smile on his face. "You know my mom's gonna want to have you over for dinner now that you're back in town."
"I wouldn't miss it for the world!" Toshi cheered. He either didn't know or didn't care about the strange looks the other heroes were giving them. Izuku just laughed to himself, Jade taking to the air as Toshi and Nedzu waved.
As they flew over the gate and back into the city Izuku slumped against Jade's neck.
Sleep little warrior, Jade told him. You've earned your rest.
Izuku just nodded as he slipped away into sleep.
==Dragon Rider==
"Izuku!" Inko yelled from the back door. Izuku looked up from the smithy and towards his mom. She wore her favorite blue sun dress and a giant smile. "He's here!"
"I'll be there in a second," Izuku hollered back before he returned to his work.
His hammer struck at the plate of metal he was shaping. As the hammer provided the beat, Izuku sang. Saphira had taught him how. He sang strength into the metal so that its strength would be far greater.
Once he had finished fixing its shape, Izuku dunked the red-hot metal into a barrel of water. The water hissed and steamed as it cooled the plate. Pulling it out, Izuku inspected the now dark steel. It was as close to perfect as he would be getting. He added it to the pile.
Izuku closed the door to the furnace and pulled off his work gloves before heading to the house. His mom and their guest, none other than Toshi, had already moved to the table in the yard. The sound of his mother's laughter brought a smile to his face as he approached.
"She didn't," Inko laughed with a shake of her head.
"I swear to god," Toshi laughed. It wasn't his All Might laugh; it was just as big and loud but it was filled with so much more mirth. "Just wait. I got them to include it in the video."
"You didn't!" Inko exclaimed as she fell into another fit of laughter. "Oh, he is gonna love that!"
"Who's going to love what?" Izuku asked curiously as took the third seat at the table.
Both Toshi and his mom jumped as he interrupted them. He had to fight not to roll his eyes at the way they both blushed.
Toshi cleared his throat. "Ah young Midoriya," he greeted Izuku. "It is a pleasure to see you again."
"Likewise," Izuku nodded. "But you didn't answer my question."
Toshi coughed awkwardly again. "Yes, well," he held out a sealed letter. "I got Nedzu to agree that I could deliver your results."
"Oh," Izuku chuckled as he took the envelope from Toshi. "Thank you Toshi," he bowed.
"Go on Izuku," Inko urged him impatiently. "Toshi won't tell me how you did."
"Okay mama," Izuku laughed. He shook his head at their antics as he opened the envelope.
A silver disk slipped out and onto the table. Instantly a holographic Nedzu was projected above their plates.
"Greetings!" the hologram cheered. "Am I a rat, a dog, a bear? Who knows! What matters is I am Nedzu, the President of UA University and I am here with your results Mr. Midoriya."
"The President himself," Inko gasped.
"Your strategy for the exam was commendable," Nedzu continued. "By separating, you and your companion managed to acquire quite the multitude of points. Even if we scored you separately, you each would have earned a place in the Hero Course."
"Combined you shattered the record," Toshi informed them.
"Indeed," Nedzu nodded. It felt like he'd been nodding to Toshi. "Your combined score was 110. That score alone was more than enough to earn you first place in the exam."
"Oh my baby!" Inko cried as she threw her arms around Izuku in joy.
"And that's not all!" Nedzu cheered. "For you see Mr. Midoriya there is a second part to the exam. One kept secret so that we can measure the heart of our contestants uninhibited."
The 3-D hologram switched to a flat video feed of Izuku during the exam. It showed him pulling students away from dangerous situations when they got in over their head, it showed him taking down the zero pointer, healing Uraraka, even Jade throwing Toshi down before the line of faculty.
"You went out of your way to assist those in danger," Nedzu told them happily as the hologram returned. "Even going so far as to insist that we hold ourselves to a higher standard. You inspired us. And you inspired those around you."
The hologram switched to a video feed once again. The blond boy he had saved had hoped back into the fight with renewed vigor. The boy with purple gravity defying hair had followed him towards the zero-pointer only after seeing him rush to Uraraka's aid. And finally, it showed Uraraka, she was speaking to Present Mic.
"Please," she begged him. "He saved my life. I don't know how, but he did. He deserves to get in, let him have some of my points if he needs them. He just has to get in."
The hologram of Nedzu returned once again.
"You see?" Nedzu asked. "Your actions were those of a true hero and as such you have been awarded with 200 hero points!"
Inko screamed out loud in shock.
"I'm sure your mother is very proud," Nedzu laughed. "I will let you return to your dinner. Move in will be Friday of next week, I have included a single day license to allow you to fly with your companion to campus. Now come Mr. Midoriya, to your hero academy."
The hologram died out and Izuku sat there in shock. He probably would have sat there for hours if not for the sudden noise of his mother bursting into cheers.
"Oh Izuku you did it!" she cried as she did her best to crush the life out him with her arms.
"Indeed," Toshi laughed. "The highest score ever recorded too."
Hearing that his mother burst into a fountain of tears, clutching Izuku even closer.
"Careful Inko!" Toshi warned as he grabbed the plates off the table and held them high above the deluge of salty tears. "We don't want you to flood dinner!"
==Dragon Rider==
Izuku was laying back in the grass, staring up at Jade flying in the night sky. He could only tell where the dragon was by the absence of the stars. He probably would have fallen asleep like that, but he could feel Toshi making his way towards him.
The large hero sat down in the grass next to him, resting on his arms as he looked up. Izuku watched out of the corner of his eye, never bothering to turn his head.
"You should be very proud of yourself young Midoriya," Toshi told him. "Your mother and I both are."
"Thank you Toshi," Izuku said with a soft smile. "That means a lot."
"Are you excited?" Toshi asked.
"Yes," Izuku nodded. "And no."
"No?" Toshi laughed softly. "What is holding you back?"
"I worry," Izuku sighed softly. "My mother will be all alone in this big house."
"Your mother is a strong woman," Toshi assured him. "You do not need to worry for her."
"But she is my mother and so I will," Izuku told him. "I know what you're thinking Toshi. I know why you were at UA."
Izuku waited to see if Toshi would say anything, but when his silence was all that followed, he continued.
"It's okay to want to retire," Izuku said. "But it's okay to live a little now too. She doesn't need someone to take care of her, but she could use some company Toshi."
"R-right," Toshi agreed hastily.
"Just don't break her heart," Izuku warned him as he closed his eyes.
"Never," Toshi promised.
==Dragon Rider==
Izuku and Jade touched down just outside the gates of UA. It was move in day, and tomorrow they'd start at UA. It might not have exactly been the beginning of their training, but it was still a big step towards their goals.
"Mr. Midoriya," the chipper voice of the President called out.
"President Nedzu," Izuku bowed.
"And I do not believe I have been introduced to your companion," Nedzu chirped. He turned to Jade. "Greetings. I am President Nedzu."
I like this one, Jade projected to them both as his rumbling laugh filled the air. I am Jade.
"A pleasure," Nedzu bowed. "Now All Might warned me that you two are accustomed to lodging together. Would you like to continue this arrangement?"
"Yes," Izuku nodded.
"Perfect," Nedzu smiled. "Then follow me please."
Nedzu turned and led them through campus. The main part of the campus was relatively small. The classroom building was front and center when you walked through the gate. Inside were all of the classrooms, the auditorium, and the cafeteria. The dorms were clustered by year, each on a different side of the green behind the classroom building. Nedzu led them to the first-year dorm cluster, and then to the first building.
"Welcome to Heights Alliance," Nedzu told them with a wave of his hand. "These are the dorms for class 1-A. I went ahead and had Cementoss put in a special addition on the roof. Let me know if anything needs adjusting."
"Thank you, President Nedzu," Izuku bowed.
"Think nothing of its Mr. Midoriya," Nedzu dismissed his thanks with a wave of his paw. "Ensuring that every student here at UA is well taken of is my job as President. You and Jade are now under my care and I take that very seriously."
"Okay sir," Izuku nodded.
"Now go, go," Nedzu laughed. "I have places to be and people to scare. Relax and make yourself at home."
"Yes sir!" Izuku agreed with a single nod. He hurried over to Jade and hopped back up into the saddle. Come on Jade. Let's go check out our new home.
Gladly, Jade hummed. His massive wings spread out and the two took to the air.
