Drageria

Ch.17: A Calm Before the Storm

Today Izuku and Eri were kicked out of the castle…..well not exactly kicked out per say. More like….. encouraged to go out on their own accord. Since they had been cooped up in the castle for some time since they came and Tachibana felt as though they needed to get out and actually explore the country they lived in. Unsurprisingly, both children were apprehensive about the whole thing. Izuku did want to deny the offer as much as Eri did, but he was also still too shaken up from what he saw a few nights prior to actually fighting back. The only thing he could do was try and persuade him.

"Are…..Are you sure about this?", Izuku asked apprehensively.

"Of course I am, why wouldn't I be?", Tachibana assured him.

"I….it's just…..", Izuku weakly fought back.

Tachibana sighed and asked him, "You two are still apprehensive about going out and meeting new people, right?", Eri hid her face while Izuku diverted eye contact, confirming the man's suspicions. "Well you're never going to be able to get over that if you don't push yourself out of your comfort zone, right?", he prompted them.

"I guess you're right.", Izuku admitted while shuffling his feet.

"Of course I am, child.", he boldly exclaimed before tossing Izuku a small sack filled with something inside. "Now take these and go buy yourself something nice."

"What's….this?", Izuku asked while opening the sack and seeing that it was filled with some kind of coin.

"Money of course. Our currency is called Drappies. They're made of gold.", Tachibana explained.
"GOLD!", Izuku exclaimed in shock and amazement as his eyes glittered at the wealth he carried.

Tachibana raised his hands and calmed the boy down from his excitement, telling him, "Woah Woah, hold on to their big eyes. Don't get so excited. Gold is in such abundance here that its only use is our currency or decoration. It's worth is no more than the US dollar.", he told them before saying under his breath, "Back in 1950."

Izuku deflated a bit, now knowing the immense wealth he carried was no different than some shiny bus tokens, and giggled at the bag in his hands. The baggie was partially filled to the top and stretched at the seams! It was stuffed! Even though it wasn't worth much, it was still a lot of money, and he asked the Dark God, "Can we have this much?!"

Tachibana waved it off and told him, "This is barely a drop in the bucket for me. Go have fun and explore, but don't stay out too late."

"O-Okay, we will.", Izuku finally agreed.

In one part because he did need to go out and explore, and another part is that he honestly wanted to get away from Tachibana and let himself process all that had happened and clear his head to think about it. So he pocketed the money and readjusted Eri in his arms while walking out of the castle foyer.

"Bye Bye Tachibana.", Eri waved from over Izuku's shoulder.

Tachibana smiled as he waved back and called out, "Have fun and don't forget to be back by dinner. Oh! And not too many sweets!"

The two of them were then led in a carriage and pulled off away from the castle and down the mountain towards the town below. Tachibana stood by the entrance, smiling and waving them off until they both finally disappeared from sight. Tachibana gave a small yet sad and relieved sigh at seeing them leave.

Rappa, who was next to him the whole time, told him, "You sound like a dad."

Tachibana gave another small sigh of nostalgia and replied back, "It comes with having 6 plus kids."

Several Minutes later, at the Base of the Mountain

Once the carriage had finally stopped at the entrance of the town, Izuku was helped out with Eri still sitting in his arms. The young teen had to shield his eyes for a moment since it had been some time since he was on the outside. Once his eyes adjusted he was once again set in awe before the town! In his previous half-dead state, first coming to this country, he really didn't get a chance to truly appreciate the beauty yet simplicity of this place. The shapes of the houses with cobble roads, delicate plants, and trees in every space possible, street lights and window plant box, stands selling goods, gurgling fountains, and chirping birds. Children laughing and playing, vendors and engineers all shouting and stringing up good sounds. Dogs barking, and many other strange creatures ran and flew about, or pulled people in carts or on their backs. The people, their clothes, and the way they walked and talked with one another were just so casual, unlike where he came from.

Everything was always so congested and smothering to the point you'd think you couldn't breathe in such a space! And the constant expectations put on any one person, from family to friends, and even random people on the streets. It was like some sick game of blending in and not being seen! Being different was the worst thing someone could do. But here was different, these expectations and invisible eyes didn't linger here. Everything was open and free and….different. That's what made this place seem like heaven, it wasn't the same at all, it was new, and Izuku loved that.

Not just the scenery was nice to look at and immerse yourself in, but so were the people. Izuku had lost count of how many smiles and greetings he got from other people, complete strangers mind you! Something that had never happened! Even when he was distracted and bumped into a few people, going to profusely apologize as he normally does, the people would just wave it off and not tell him off or tell him to watch it. He never received any sort of angry backlash or ire from anyone here! It was like experiencing night and day for the first time!

Hey meandered around the streets going from place to place viewing every site color and sound he could. Absorbing everything around him like a dry sponge, when you realize something about himself, or at least he did one his body shouted it aloud. His stomach rumbled for food and so too did Eri's. So he decided to stop sightseeing for a bit of food.

Going to one of the many lines of vendor stalls he followed his nose to a familiar scent, freshly baked bread. He looked at the stock and was floored to see loafs so big! One was more than enough to feed him and Eri! So after snapping himself out of his shock he purchased a loaf from the kindly-looking man with gray hair. Before he could wolf the bread with the girl in his arms, his nose caught the scent of something else amazing! Once again he followed it and found a stand selling cheese. Once more he purchased some from the woman at a butter churn behind the counter and was quickly alluded by another smell. Before he knew it, Izuku had all the ingredients to make a sandwich; bread, cheese, salted meat, tomato, something that looked like mustard, and even two berry-infused drinks of water for the two of them. Izuku finally took a seat at a bench with Eri in one arm and all the food items under the other. Once he sat the two of them down he set to making the sandwiches, which were hard with a knife to slice the things that needed it. So using his fingers he managed to pry the ingredients apart and put them together into a sloppy broken thing that at least looks like it can be eaten.

The two of them took their mess sandwiches and indulged in the fresh flavors! Izuku couldn't help but hum with delight at the taste! Sure it was nothing special as it could be a sandwich he had any other day, but all this was freshestes anyone could ask for! Eri was also enjoying it just as much as he was. She wolfed it down without remorse and nearly inhaled her drink. Izuku did want to correct her, but he was acting no different.

When the two of them finished their meal, a cat jumped into their bench and began to rub against the two of them. Excitedly and curiously, Eri tried to pet the cat who jumped off and bounded away. The young girl hopped off her seat and chased after it, only to stop short of her inquisitive chase. The cat ran through a group of playing children and upon seeing them she froze up. The children all stared at her and some began to run up to her, making joyous noises. Eri shook like a frightening dog and scampered right back into Izuku's arms where she hid her face.

Izuku wondered why she had such a reaction, then immediately remembered what she went through and mentally scolded himself for wondering. But he knew that couldn't be the only thing, so he thought a bit more and quickly realized that Eri had no interactions with kids her age or even knew about them. Then there were her trust issues and timid nature. And to wrap it all up wasn't used to positivity. Izuku looked back at the children that tried to come up to her, only to see their awkward and dejected expression as they walked away and continued their game of ball.

Izuku knew that Eri needed to make friends and be with people her age, it wasn't healthy for her in the long run. Eri was still young and needed to grow and develop. She needed to break free of her old cycle so she could at least heal from her trauma. Izuku knew this, he knew she needed to get out of her comfort zone to better herself, and to be honest…..he needs to do a lot of that himself. But first things first, he needed to push Eri in the right direction.

He looked down at the frightened girl and petting her head he told her, "It's okay Eri, they weren't gonna hurt you. They just wanted to play.", Eri said nothing as she loosened her grip from around his collar. "I'm sure you were scared as they all just rushed up to you so suddenly. But they meant no harm."

Eri still said nothing except to turn her head to where now her check was laying on his shoulder and not her whole face. Izuku couldn't see it, but he could tell she was pouting.

"Say, why not go play with them?", Izuku offered, putting his plan into motion.

Eri froze up in his arms, whipping her head up to meet his eyes, she shook her head violently while exclaiming, "No no no! I don't wanna! I wanna stay with Izuku!"

"Eri.", Izuku prompted her.

"No!", Eri rejected.

"Eri.", Izuku tried again with a sweeter tone.

"No no no!", Eri doubled down while shaking her head.

"Eri, just listen to me please.", Izuku pleaded with a sigh, making the girl pout and look away from him, but remained silent. "I know you're scared of new things and most of all people. So am I. But you can't just run to me or Tachibana when you're scared, cause we're never gonna be there for you 24/7. Sometimes you have to just go out there and do it.", he told her while swinging a fist around his body in a motivational way.

Eri did seem to consider all this as she anxiously admitted, "But-But-But I'm…scared. And what if I can't do it?"

Izuku sighed passionately while stroking her cheek, pushing her hair from her face as he explained as best he could, "You'll never know you can do it if you don't try, and the same goes for being scared. Sometimes you have to face that fear, and when you do, it slowly becomes less scary. And in some ways, that's half the fun of it. Never knowing what'll happen and then being surprised by the result.", Izuku took a breath, feeling the weight of his own words slammed into him like an explosion from Bakugou. After he calms himself down, he looks at the inquisitive girl and offers, "But you'll never get there if you don't try. So will you give it another shot?"

Eri went silent once more. Thinking deeply in thought. Her hands clenched tight, her eyes focused on the ground, and her eyebrow furrowed. She sat on Izuku's lap for several minutes, thinking it all over. She then let out a pitiful-sounding sigh and said, "Okay."

Izuku smiled and put her back on the ground while pushing on her back, saying, "That's the spirit. Now go out there and have some fun."

Eri took a few steps forward before stopping and looking back. Izuku smiled while gesturing her off. Eri took a deep breath and tensed her body up as she slowly walked towards the group of playing children. Izuku watched every step she took, feeling his blood pressure rise every time she would halt for a minute. Always afraid she'd get cold feet and turn around, and then start from square one again. But to his happy surprise, he saw he finally made it over to the other children after watching her walk for what seemed like a country mile.

He watched with bated breath as the children once again approached her and semi surrounded her! They seemed to talk for a bit, or rather the improved leader of the children packed talked while Eri just stood there like a deer in headlights. Izuku sat while nearly tearing at the seams of his pants as cold sweat collected on his forehead, looking like he was ready to burst! After a very stressful and anxious time of just watching from the sidelines and not knowing what was going on, the child leader smiled at her while grabbing Eri's hand!

Izuku was ready to jump up and raced over there to keep Eri from going out of control, already regretting his decision to talk her into this! But was pleasantly surprised to see the opposite happen. The children all started to run off with the young girl and in a matter of moments, Eri was learning the ropes of their game and began to run around with them! Smiling and laughing just as hard and loud as they were! Izuku felt relief wash over him. He slumped into his seat and relaxed while thanking whatever deity was out there who helped within this desperate time.

As he sat on the bench, slumped in on himself and feeling emotionally drained, something began to lick him. But this wasn't like the semi-wet licks of a dog or the bristly licks of a cat. This was a full open mouth, slippery wet tongue licking that went all around his face, fully blinding him! If that wasn't bad enough, for whatever reason, there were two of them! As he tried to push away from whatever was doing a cross between a lick and attempting to eat his face, a very loud voice yelled out and scared off whatever was slobbering him to death.

"Hey! Go on get! Get! Go back to the herd! Sheesh! Little rascal.", Shouted the voice followed by the crack of a whip, and the complaining moan of the creature as it left him. "Sorry bout that stranger. I was moving them from field to field when something spooked them and a few ran off. They're harmless so long as you don't agitate 'em.", Said the voice to Izuku as he attempted to clean his face off.

When he could finally see past the slobber, he saw a man that looked like your typical farmer. Overalls with boots and a long sleeve shirt topped off with a large straw hat and bullwhip in his hand with a piece of straw in his mouth. He had graying black hair and calm yet focused green eyes.

Izuku looked over to what was kicking him to death and stopped in shock as he saw what it was! He pointed to the animal and asked, "What are….they?"

Not too far from him, eating some potted plants, was what looked like a cow with two heads! It was white with sickly-looking green spots arranged in different patterns, with extremely uneven features! Both heads sat at different heights, had different-sized horns, and six legs, and each half had a different body proportion. The head on the right was lower and leaner, while the left was higher and wider! This thing looked like it couldn't even and shouldn't even function properly! And yet there it was walking, eating, and breathing normally.

The farmer laughed and asked, "Ah, so you're new here I reckon?", Izuku nods as the man flicks his hat back and explains, "Well these are Doppler Bovine, part of the Double Livestock we keep exclusively here in Drageria."

Izuku just stared up at him with confusion at his 'explanation' and the farmer sighed, seeing as he wasn't getting through to him.

He adjusted his hat and asked, "You don't have a clue as to what I'm spouting, do ya?", Izuku shook his head and the farmer spat out the straw before explaining, "Double Livestock are a subset of creatures that resemble modern-day livestock and have two heads. The Double Bovine is one of them, and can produce both milk and meat."

Izuku raised an inquisitive yet doubtful eyebrow at this and asked, "Wait, how do they do that?"

The farmer then laughed as he placed his sweaty arm around his shoulder and pointed over to the Double Bovine while saying, "Well looky here. He He. You're bout to see for yourself, stranger."

Izuku looked over to the misshapen creature and saw something both amazing and horrifying unfold for his eyes! The cow began to split apart from one another! What should've been a greatest scene of blood and gore as the creature writhed in agony on the ground, turned into something more like clay being pulled apart and then reformed into a new shape. Within a few seconds, there were two totally normal-looking cows that had green spots and three horns. One was far larger and fatter than the other, while the other was smaller, leaner, and had uttered. Both animals shook their skin as if getting away from the after effects.

Izuku stood there in horrified yet intrigued flabbergasted shock as he babbled, "Huh-wha-?"

"It's like one of them single-celled organisms. It divides and makes more of itself. We keep the smaller ones with udders for milk and the bigger ones without 'em we slaughter for meat. Then the milk half will grow a new meat half.", the farmer explained.

"That's crazy!", Izuku exclaimed.

The farmer nods in agreement and says, "Yep, Drageria has plenty of strange critters. I've been here my whole life and haven't had the chance to see 'em all yet. Some are even Legendary if you catch my meaning.", he adjusts the straps of his overalls and follows up with the last bit of sage advice. "There's lots to see here, stranger. Be sure to see as much as you can.", he told the boy, a slight glint of a glimmer in his eye.

Izuku digests the meaning of his statement and replies in a low tone, "I'll….be sure to remember that."

"Welp, I gotta get these puppies into the pasture.", the farmer says while pulling up his straps and cracking his bullwhip, making the two cows saunter off. Just before leaving, the farmer says over his shoulder, "Y'all have a blessed day, stranger."

"Uh, yes! Thank you! You too, uh sir!", Izuku stammers out as he watches the man and the very strange creatures walk off.

Izuku leans back once more, head laying on the back rest of the bench, eyes closed, dead empty, and absorbing all the sounds around him. Completely entranced in a blissful enrapturement of relaxation and noise. Unfortunately, this was soon cut off by another noise that was directed at him.

"Heeeeeeeeey!", called a voice that seemed to be too close for him. Izuku opened his eyes and while whipping his head up he saw a woman with eyes like a serpent and scales sprouting from her arms and legs. He looked at the woman confused and wanted to say something to her, but couldn't as she spoke first. Asked him, "Say I know you. You're one of the kids who got taken to live with Lord Tachibana in his castle, right?"

Izuku nervously looked around, as if hoping there was some other person she was talking to, but no. She was talking to him, and after making sure he was her target he nervously replied, "Um….yes?"

"No way! Really? That's awesome! What's it like, castle living and all?!", she asked excitedly.

Unnerved and a bit on edge, Izuku stayed guarded and only vaguely replied to her whirlwind of questions, answering, "It...big."

"I'm sure. What about the inside, what's it like?!", She continues on.

"A really shiny museum….I guess.", Izuku answers while slowly scooting away from her.

"What about his kids!? I hear they are something else if you catch my drift.", She stated with a suggestive tone and glint in her eye.

Disturbed by this, and seeing she had no idea, he informed her, "Well their literal dragons, sooooooooooo…"

Before he could finish, the woman butted in and exclaimed like a rabid fangirl, "What's Lord Tachibana like?! Oh! Is he as hot as everyone says?!"

Seeing that she definitely wouldn't let this question go even if he tried to change the subject. So he decided to at least que her in on one thing in detail, if only to slip away.

"Tachi-I mean Lord Tachibana is very nice to look at, he is very handsome, and he is built like a Greek god.", He explained.

"Huh?", She asked, confused by his description.

Without thinking he blabbered out, "Well, I mean, we bathed together and-."

Before he could finish, the woman practically lunged at him, grabbing his shoulders firmly, and exclaiming with a serious yet steamy expression on her face, "Spare me no details! Tell me everything!"

"I, um-!", Izuku stammered out, feeling fully uncomfortable and freaked out, internally begging for an escape.

Luckily his prayers were answered as someone else came up from behind and Yankee the woman away from him! Lock her in an arm bar and slap her on the back of the head with their free arm.

"Befficia, there you are! I don't know what you're doing this time but quit bothering this kid with your crazy little fantasies!", A woman yelled while slapping the serpent woman, now known as Befficia. The woman, who looked like a bat, saw Izuku sitting in his seat completely unnerved and frozen. She studied his features for a few seconds before having a realization, greeting him, "Oh hey there. Long time no see kid."

"Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh….", Izuku babbles out, unsure if the woman knows him.

Seeing his confusion, she reminds him, "Don't you remember? From the census?"

The light of realization washes over his eyes as he says back, "Oh right! Sorry about that."

The bat woman waved it off and retorted, "It's no problem. I should be apologizing for my dumb friend here.", She stated while motioning to Befficia, who was trying to struggle free. She then comes close to Izuku and whispers, "She's got the hots for Lord Tachibana and isn't subtle about it.", At this, Befficia complains, but the bat woman shuts her up quickly. The woman then takes note of Izuku's discomfort and says while walking back to give him space, "Well I can take a hint, and I can see that you're 'busy' so we'll just go.", just before she leaves with her crazy friend, she looks over her shoulder and offers, "But if you're ever around town again, let's meet up and chat, yay? I still wanna introduce you to my other friend and his son."

Izuku forces a smile and replies, "S-Sounds nice."

While in her winged grasp, Befficia complains out loud, "Come on Lilith! I wanna knoooow! This is a once in a lifetime opportunityyyyyyyyy!"

"Let's go Befficia!", The bat woman, now known as Lilith, shouts while forcefully pulling her away.

Just as Izuku slumped into his seat once more, sighing with relief, hoping to finally get some relaxation, he was disrupted once more. However this time the voice sounded very familiar.

"Heeeeeeeeey! Over here!", Called out a voice Izuku recognized. He turned his head and saw the same red-headed teen he met in the census tent. "Hey, dude! It's been a while since I've seen you, how've you been?", The teen greeted him with a smile.

Izuku peeked up at the familiar face and said, "Oh hey! You're from the census tent. Um…. sorry I don't think I caught your name.", He apologized.

The boy smiled, winked, and pointed to himself with his thumb while introducing himself, "The name's Ejiro Kirishima! Nice to be reacquainted with you!"

"Izuku Midoriya. Nice to be reacquainted with you too.", Izuku introduced himself.

"So what brings you here?", He asks while taking a seat next to him.

"Well….", Izuku trails off, wondering how much he should honestly tell him.

Though before he could finish, he interpreted him with a slap to his chest and pointed out into the street he exclaimed, "Hey dude, look over there! It's that girl from before!"

After getting the knocked-out air back into his lungs, he looked to where he was pointing and saw the girl with the black ponytail from before, moseying around the shops.

"Oh yeah, it's her. She looks busy though, maybe we should-.", Izuku tried to veer him away from what he expected him to do, but he did it anyway.

With a loud voice, he called out over the roar of the crowds while waving his arms, "Heeeeeeeeey! Girl with the ponytail! Over here!"

Izuku felt shame and embarrassment rise in his throat with a mix of anxiety! He tried to hide his nonchalant face away, but it didn't help with so many eyes now on the two of them! The girl looked over at the two of them, and after recognizing them she walked toward them. Even after so much time and so much that happened to him, Izuku was still just as nervous around girls or even being approached by one as the day was dim.

Once she was within speaking distance, she cordially greeted them, "Well hello you two. It's nice to see some familiar faces again. If I'm not mistaken, you're Kirishima and Midoryia."

"That's right! And you're…..Mimi, right?", Kirishima greeted back, trying to remember her name.

"Momo Yaoyorozu. But Momo or Yamomo is fine.", Momo corrupted him.

"Well well well.", another voice wurley interjected into their conversation. All heads turned and saw yet another familiar face approach them. "Isn't this just the strangest meeting of secondary characters?", said a boy with crazy purple hair.

"Oh hey! Your Shino.", Kirishima tried once again and failed to remember names.

"Shinso. Hitoshi Shinso.", Shinso corrected him with a click of his tongue and an irritated tone.

"I can't believe we all have met again! What are the odds?", Kirishima exclaimed with excitement.

"There is only one small yet crowded town, I think it was bound to be inevitable.", Shinso told him with sarcasm.

"Still with that sarcastic attitude, I see.", Kirishima paled at his attitude, in a dead voice.

Shinso opened his mouth to retort, but fell off quickly. Opting to rub the back of his head he complained, "I'm too tired to think of a witty comeback.", he then looked at the green haired teen and asked him, "Hey, Midoriya, right?", Izuku pointed his attention towards him as he followed up, "You're living in that castle with the king, right?"

"I am.", Izuku replied, saying more casually.

Before Shinso could comment on it further, Kirishima excitedly butted in and half shouted into his face, "Dude! I couldn't believe my ears when I saw that happen! Your sis, then that Tachibana God dude who was so manly scary, then he fixed your sis and turned into a normal manly dude, and then he just wished you and your sis away to his castle! I still question if I dreamed it all up!"

"I honestly couldn't believe my eyes either when it all went down. Speaking of such, what is castle living like?", Momo added in herself, with a tone of disbelief and impression.

"And why are you even down here? Kinda thought once you got a taste of the better life you'd never step foot down here from your perch.", Shinso inquired with an irritated yet slightly hidden jealous tone.

"Do you always have to be so suspicious and bitter towards everyone?", Momo scolded him.

"It comes with experience.", Shinso shot back casually.

Izuku thought for a little bit, and knowing he could trust them a bit more than most, he described it as best he could without divulging too much. Telling them, "Well….I gotta say it's really….lavished. I have a room that's the same size as my apartment, a whole wardrobe, free reign of the whole castle, tons of servants, it's…..a lot."

"Wow! You sound like you're living the royal life.", Kirishima stated with an impressed tone.

"Apart from the time I nearly got eaten by a dragon and killed by a knight.", Izuku tried to say under his breath.

But the tail end of it was captured by Momo who worriedly asked, "What was that?"

"Ah nothing.", Izuku panickily said back.

"What's the castle like? It seems pretty boring on the outside.", Shino asked him.

At first, Izuku started his explanation somewhat reserved before getting more and more excited and open. Telling them, "Well it is a mountain. But the inside is something I can't even describe in words! It's huge and beautiful! And Lord Tachibana is so nice! Despite-.", Izuku caught himself just before he was about to spill about Tachibana's…..eating habits.

"Despite, what?", Momo inquires once more, now suspicious.

In a bid to fix his mistake, Izuku tried to brush it off by changing the subject, while trying to hide the anxiety in his tone. "Nevermind. Say, how have you guys been doing?", he finally asks all of them a question.

Kirishima, unsurprisingly, goes first and excitedly tells him in a non-boasting manner, "Pretty good all things considered. I've been helping out with the construction in the new towns. I may not know much about construction, but I'm still pretty strong! Progress has been going super fast since one of the people that arrived here with us actually used to own a construction company. I think they're called the Uraraka Construction Industry or something."

As he explained this, Izuku took note of his attire, or in his case, lack of. Kirishima was wearing work pants and boots with gloves shoved into his back pockets, along with a rag tied around his head to catch sweat. He did stink of sweat and dirt and other things Izuku couldn't describe. He had scuff marks on dirt marks all over his body and clothes, while also not wearing a shirt of any kind, having it tied around his waist.

Next was Shinso who told him simply, "I've been jumping between odd jobs here and there. People are much nicer here, I gotta say."

Shinso was dressed like many of the other towns folk around, though he wore darker colors. He still had the old-timey-looking attire which seemed like something a courier would wear to run around and deliver messages.

Then it was Moo who told him her side, saying, "It's certainly nothing like my previous life, but I've learned to adapt. I'm sort of in a similar position as Shinso, but instead, I'm pulled around between lots of artisans who need me to produce the materials that they work with."

Like the other two, Momo was dressed in very old-fashioned clothing, looking like that of a barmaid, with mixtures of cloth and leather, and sturdy-looking knee-high boots. The most revealing part of her outfit was the leather corsets that held her bust up and the white blouse that exemplified it more so. Leading Izuku to avert his gaze out of respect.

Izuku then gave a small sigh of relief and told them before degrading with each sentence, "I'm glad to hear you guys are doing so well. Honestly, I was a little worried and ashamed of myself. I mean…..you guys have been sleeping outside and working hard, while I was sleeping in a plush bed and being waited on hand and foot."

Seeing the green-haired teen slowly degrade and slump into his self-shame, Kirishima interrupted him and assured him, "Don't feel ashamed dude. Life is full of wins and losses. And you simply won this time around."

"Fortune favor is weary, I suppose.", Momo agreed with a shrug.

"Plus there is the little fact about your sister's super destructive quirk.", Shinso reminded him, to which Izuku mentally slapped himself. "Speaking of such, why is she even down here and not being monitored by that Lord Tachibana guy?", he asks him while looking over to where she was playing with the group of children.

Izuku smiles satisfied at seeing her smile and laugh, then informs them, "Eri is in a stable state right now. Her quirk only acts up when she's agitated. Plus Lord Tachibana kind of kicked us out."

"What!?", they all shout in shocked unison.

Izuku realizes his mistake and follows up, apologetically saying, "Ah sorry sorry! I should have been more descriptive. He made us go outside and 'touch grass' so to speak."

A sigh of relief emitted from all their mouths, and each one of them had a different reaction to being put at ease.

"Oh, well that makes way more sense.", Momo said while placing a hand on her chest.

"Dude I almost had a heart attack!", Kirishima exclaimed while clutching his chest and coughing out a breath.

"Choose your words carefully you idiot.", Shinso scolded him while giving him a bonk on the head.

"I'm sorry I'm sorry.", Izuku apologized while rubbing his now throbbing head. Once things had settled between the four of them, Izuku admitted, "You know, I'm glad I've been able to get along with you guys. I've never been able to hold a decent conversation with any person before."

Kirishima looks confused by his statement before recollection dawns over him and he says, "Oh yeah you said you were-OOF!", Before he could finish that sentence Shinso scree fast and stomped down hard on his foot to make him shut up

Izuku gives a slight giggle at the aid of his defense and says in a meek yet happy tone, "You know, You're probably the first set of people I think I've ever come this far to truly call a…a friend.", Izuku quickly realizes what he has blabbered out, and upon seeing the reactions of the three other teens, he feels all his good vibes immediately drain out of him. Feeling panic wash over, he frantically begins to babble out in an apology to save face, "I'm sorry! Was that too soon!? It was too soon, wasn't it? Oh, I'm such an idiot! You guys probably think I'm so stupid, don't you! You're probably freaked out of me right?! I'm sorry I'll just keep my mouth shut! Ill-!"

Before he could continue his self-divulgence misery, Kirishima cuts him off roughly and exclaims, "Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa! Slow down there! None of us are saying anything like that!", Izuku clams up and stares at the teen not knowing what to say for his follow-up reaction. Fully expected some sort of negative outcome. Kirishima then sighs and tells him, "You may not have been the first friend I've ever had, but I certainly can call you one."

"I also consider you a friend. So please don't beat yourself down.", Momo adds herself with an understanding tone.

At first, Shinso was quiet. The only thing he did was look down at the ground with his hand on the back of his head, an expression on his face that couldn't be explained. Almost as if he was having some sort of internal conflict.

Eventually, the purple-haired boy sighs loudly and admits, "Honestly…..I'm in the same boat as you, Midoryia."

Izuku looks between the three teens with tears welling up in his eyes And in a small tone he says, "You guys.", After choking down sobs and wiping away his moist face, he says, "Thank-."

Before he can finish that thought, a very loud horn blares out of nowhere! Cutting off their conversation, causing everyone to jump to their feet, and making all activity in the town cease! The loud horn blared out three more times in a row before everything went silent.

Everyone in town was quiet or softly whispering to one another.

The three teens looked around wondering what the heck was going on when Shinso asked what they were all thinking, "What the heck is that?!"

"Um, daily news messenger, perhaps?", Momo theorized unconvincingly with a shrug.

Before their conversation could advance any further, what sounded like a man talking through the previous horn called out to the town. The Horn cryer appeared to be stationed out on the docks, As one tall tower stood above all the rest with a large horn on a platform.

"Attention all residents! Please evacuate the docks at once! A ship has been spotted 10 mi off of shore! I repeat, evacuate the docks at once! A ship has been spotted 10 mi off the shore!", The man shouted out through his horn, repeating the same statement a few more times.

At this point, a small crowd began to form around the teens, while others tried their best to make distance from the slowly growing crowds. The small tidal wave of people that inadvertently began to surround them, began to move closer towards the docks as if trying to see what the heck was happening. Also at this time the group of children that were playing had dispersed and ran off toward their parents. Among them was Eri who ran back into Izuku's arms.

"A ship?", Izuku questions as he adjusts his hold on the little girl.

"Are we getting more people?", Kirishima asked his group, only for an older-looking gentleman to answer his question.

"No, we aren't. Lord Tachibana always makes an announcement when he does that. This is something else.", The man informs the group of teenagers, as he looks out towards the docks with the crowding and dispersing people.

"What could that 'something else' be?", Shinso asks while also trying to see past the horizon, as the horn man repeated his announcement.

Suddenly Momo lets out a sharp gasp and exclaims, "Impossible!"

The three boys turn their heads to the girl and see that she is looking through a pair of high-powered binoculars. No doubt she had created it with her quirk.

"What is it, Yamomo?", Izuku asks, already regretting his inquiry.

"Can you see the ship?", Kirishima asks her.

"Why did you gasp?", Shinso asked with a suspicious and anxious lining in his tone.

Momo takes several seconds, as if to make sure she was seeing it right, then confirmed, "Yes I can see the ship, and it's not just any ordinary ship that's accidentally come into Drageria's waters.", The three boys all look at one another confused by her vagueness before looking back at her as she follows up, "It's a heavily armed naval vessel from….Japan."


Hey guys, hope you liked this chapter. Unfortunately the next one is going to be quite long so it may take some time, also I wanna do chapters for my other stories, and I may have to break it up. So just be patient for chapter 18. Invasion.