guide:

"Normal talking"

"Spoken in foreign language"(in this case English)

'Thoughts'

Flashbacks/Memories

*Techniques*

Chapter 7- Trials and Tribulations

~~~~~

"Stupid Deku. Even with his annoying face gone, he's still able to find a way to mess with my life." A boy with spiky ash blonde hair said to himself with a scowl on his face. He was alone in his room. The sounds of distant crying and nose blowing echoed somewhere within his home. The old hag hasn't stopped crying all day for the past two days.

Katsuki Bakugo can't take it anymore. The sound of his mother's wails were annoying as they were heartbreaking. He never felt like this before in his whole life. He didn't know what it was exactly he was feeling. It wasn't sadness, it wasn't pure annoyance, and it definitely wasn't anger. So what exactly is this feeling that's making his chest feel heavy?

It's been three whole months since Deku stopped attending Aldera Junior High. Hell, he didn't even catch a glimpse of the nerd anywhere in town when he walks home and whenever there was a villain or hero around that loser was never far behind. At first, he was pretty glad that maybe the nerd took the hint and stopped trying to be a hero and transferred schools, that he finally won against that loser. He was really proud about it too. Of course, he didn't tell his mother about the nerd's absence in his life. Why would he? He doesn't need to waste his time talking about some quirkless hero wannabe that looks down on him.

That smugness disappeared a few days ago, when he came home to see his mother crying and being cradled by his dad. Never has he seen his mother so...weak, so...vulnerable, it made him feel bad. When she explained her reason for crying so much, he was shocked so much to the point he was unresponsive.

Auntie Inko is...dead. The nicest and most forgiving woman he's ever known was killed in a villain attack in her own home. Deku was alive and had to be relocated for witness protection and rehabilitation by some government department that seemed too shady. The villain escaped and was still at large. The same day the slime villain incident happened, three months ago. For three months his mother's best friend was dead, her child taken into custody, and no one bothered to tell them, not even the school. Something didn't add up and he knew it.

He knew that the nerd was still kicking somewhere and his mother wanted to visit him but the police nor the school have any information on his current whereabouts only adding up to his suspicion that something wasn't right.

' Ughhh! Why should I even care what that useless Deku is doing?! It's his dang fault for being too weak!' He shouted in his mind. The tightening in his chest intensified and his eyes were feeling hot.

'What the hell is this feeling?!'

He clutched his chest with his right hand.

"Go take a swan dive off the roof..."

Katsuki Bakugo had a suspicion on what it is.

"...and pray in the next life you get a quirk."

Guilt.

~~~~~

Silence.

The common room was too quiet as all the inhabitants of the tavern, save for Merlin and Izuku, waited patiently for their return. The usual sound of plates clattering, stoves burning and people talking were all gone. The tavern was closed for the day much to the disappointment of many hungry people.

The reason for all the eerie silence was the mixed feelings everybody has about their new plan, so nobody wanted to speak up. The plan after all was thought of by Merlin and no one had the place nor wisdom to object her ideas, they trust her and her expertise too much but that doesn't mean they didn't have doubts and second thoughts about it.

After a moment of deliberation, someone finally broke the silence.

"Is this plan of hers really the best way to handle this?" Lance asked the room.

"I mean sure, If it works then he'll be a force to be reckon with...but if it doesn't..." He trailed off not wanting to finish that thought.

"Merlin won't let the worst happen right? I mean he's just a kid." Prince suggested

"Y-yeah, she'll probably stop the test before he hurts himself too much." Flaura assured.

"I don't know too much about this test she has planned but Merlin has helped me control all of my power without hurting me too badly. I'm certain it won't be that bad and they'll be back soon and we can start properly teaching him. Right Gowther?" Gawain asked his comrade for some reassurance.

Said person wore a blank unreadable expression on his face. The shine on his glasses covered his usually expressive eyes. He didn't respond to his name being called but merely fixed his glasses.

"Gowther?"

"The trial he'll be facing...it's absolute hell. Our old captain barely passed it and he had thousands of years of experience. Izuku is just a child...an emotional teenager, and his trial will be even harder. If he doesn't understand what he needs to do, he'll fail and he'll never be able to truly move on with his life."

"Or he could die trying to pass! Is that worth it?!" Lance had a frustrated look on his face.

"Yeah. And besides didn't Meliodas lose control anyway?" Hawk added.

"..."

~~~~~

Merlin opened a door leading to a dark room, gesturing Izuku to follow. They were currently in the basement of the tavern. The boy did so albeit reluctantly. This was so sudden. His talk with Merlin last night ended with too many questions unanswered.

"Why now?"

"What is this power exactly?"

"How did I have it when I was born quirkless?"

"Who exactly is that man?"

"Did I really defeat him with this power?"

"Was he after me for revenge?"

"Did you know he was still out there when you took this power from me?"

"Why did you have to erase my memories of that day?

"Was that all you erased?"

"Why have you never reached out to me before?"

"Was...was I the one responsible for Zuki's death?"

All of these questions in his head for the past three months. Questions he avoided to ask either too afraid of the answer or too accusing to his saviors. After all, their intentions seem good. No one had ever treated him with such openness and kindness. They didn't judge him nor did they berate him. They provided him with everything he needs. They pretty much adopted him. But then again, they said that he had always been a part of them. The tattoo on his left arm proves it. So maybe, they're just doing this out of obligation snot because they really want to. Ugh! There's too much to think about! So many things he needed to know if he only had the guts to ask them. Merlin said that everything will be revealed when he takes this trial, whatever it may be.

The two kept walking in the dark room, with only the sound of Merlin's clacking heels providing a guide for Izuku to follow. The darkness that encompassed them wasn't normal, it was like walking in a void.

'Just how big is this room?'

"Merlin-san, what are we doing here exactly? I thought I was going to do a trial. Why are we in this dark room?" Izuku asked the barely visible silhouette of the woman.

"This isn't a room Izuku. It's a shortcut."

"A shortcut? To where?"

As he said this, a feint glow appeared in the distance and the footsteps in front of him stopped, unfortunately he didn't and ended up bumping into something or rather, someone before falling down and landing on his bottom.

"Are you all right Izuku?" Merlin asked worriedly at the boy.

"Ye-yeah. I-I'm sorry for bumping into you." Izuku replied.

"Well anyway, we're here." Said as the boy dusted himself as he got up from the ground.

Izuku looked around to see where they were. All the darkness from before disappeared and the change of scenery was now visible for the boy. No longer were they in the basement of the tavern, rather they were surrounded by smooth natural stone walls, plants were growing everywhere despite the lack of apparent sunlight, the only source of light was the feint blue glow in the distance.

This scene, this place seemed so...familiar.

...

"Do you know where we are, Izuku-kun?"

The boy gulped. Old emotions were surfacing again. 'This place...this place...' He finally realized where he was.

"This..t-this was her special place, where she...we could relax and escape from the world."

Izuku stepped closer and closer to the source of the glow, the small spring in the center of the cave. The place was the same just like the last time he saw it only that there were more plants than before.

When Azuki died, he came to this cave every chance he could to remember her. A practice which slowly added to his pain and eventually abandoned. He didn't wish to linger so much on those feelings any longer. He wanted to move on but he never truly could when no one else wanted to be your friend.

Merlin walked up to him snapping him from his gazing into the beautiful water.

"I chose this place to do your trial because it's significant to you. It might help you pass. That water contains great amounts of unique magic and this cave shields it's presence from the outside world. From what I can tell, this is the work of Druids." She explained.

"Druids?" He tilted his head.

"Humans who live in isolation from other humans. They are worshippers of the Goddess Clan and they are blessed with the knowledge of Goddess magic as well. As time passed and the clans separated, very few Druids remain and even fewer who remember their culture. Now however, there are none left."

"Your friend, she was of Druid descent."

"Really? She never mentioned anything like that." He was a bit surprised about this especially since Merlin knew about his friend's heritage.

"Most likely because she didn't know as well."

"O-Oh.."

"Enough, your trial awaits."

"What kind of test is this Merlin? I wanted to ask sooner but..." He trailed off, letting his mind wander to his doubts and worries.

'You seemed tense.'

"It's nothing like you've ever experienced. I can't give you the key to finishing it directly as that will affect the effectiveness of the trial. You must find out for yourself what you need to do." She said sternly.

"Mastering your power will be easy, containing it will be your challenge. Do whatever you need to do, just never lose control." She emphasized the last part.

"Umm...how will I know how to control it if I don't have it?" Izuku asked.

"Power is nothing without the influence of its user. If you can control yourself, your emotions, then your power will be nothing more than an extension of you."

"Do you understand?" She raised an eyebrow to the boy.

"I-I think so...But that means this power, it reacts based on my emotions, then all I have to do is to control my emotions and I'll pass, right?" He asked. His uncertainty was being replaced by a small hint of confidence.

Merlin nodded her head in affirmation.

"Then let's do it! If I want to be a hero, I've got to be able to overcome this. And you guys will help me train my power when I get it back like you said, right?." Izuku said trying to reassure himself. Years and years of hardship and pain were about to payoff. He just needs to finish a test and with his analytical mind and recent knowledge on quirks and magic, he was not as nervous as he should be. Merlin assured him that he won't be needing any physical prowess to pass the trial.

Merlin stepped in front of the boy. Her golden eyes locked with his determined emerald ones and she could only ask one more thing...

"Are you sure you're ready to face anything that comes your way?"her tone was serious and hard maybe even cold.

Izuku took a moment to respond. His eyes looked deep in Merlin's own. Her question lingered in his mind stirring up a mixture of worry, doubt, and uncertainty. 'Was he truly ready for anything?' With a deep inhale he answered.

"Yes!"

"Are you certain?"

"Yes! I want to be a hero! And a hero is someone who can climb over any obstacle to win! " His voice was filled with a determination he had never felt before.

"And...and I trust you! I trust you all that you want to help me reach my goal."

Merlin gave a warm smile at the boy's strong will and placed her hands on his shoulders before giving her own heartfelt words.

"Good. I believe you can do it. You are a good person, an excellent student, and I know you will be an amazing hero. It's your destiny and I'll make sure it becomes reality." Her voice was so tender and sincere, it brought Izuku to tears at hearing those kind words.

"Don't cry." She said lightly patting his head.

"S-sorry"

He wiped away his tears and calmed himself down. He had to admit he was nervous but after what Merlin said, what did he need to be worried about? Someone one believed in him again, someone wanted him to succeed.

"Well then, let's get started."

"Hai!"

Merlin closed her eyes and placed the tips of her pointer and middle finger on his forehead. She chanted something he couldn't understand and before he knew it, he was falling into an endless abyss of darkness.

"Good luck Izuku. All will be revealed." Was the last thing he heard before the darkness utterly consumed him.

Toshinori Yagi waited in principal's office of U.A. academy, the most prestigious school know to produce the best heroes. The dream school of every aspiring hero and the place where he himself graduated from. The principal of the school, a good friend of his, was about to give him his schedule and work requirements, of course the schedule itself was very flexible to suit the time restraints the number one hero had both due to being the number one hero and because of his time limit.

The blonde man rested his head back on the chair he was sitting on and took a sip of some warm jasmine tea in his cup. He needed to find a successor soon. Someone who can carry the torch of One for All as the next symbol of peace. That's the main reason why he had applied to be a teacher in U.A. in the first place.

He held the folder containing the profile of a viable candidate recommended by his former sidekick Sir Nighteye. A young man named Mirio Togata. Toshinori had to admit, the boy's statistics are impressive, his academics weren't exceptional but they were commendable, the ratings he had on the usage of his quirk was what stood out the most. From just looks alone, the lad's personality was also clear. The boy looked to be a wonderful candidate for his quirk, so...why didn't he just choose him?

His thoughts went back to about three months ago, to the day of the slime villain incident, to the day he had witnessed the nameless, quirkless boy rush head first into danger which to him, was an act worthy of a hero. He didn't know why, but he felt a particularly strong interest in that boy. Perhaps it was because he could relate so well with the boy for he was powerless as well before he met Nana. Perhaps it was because of the guilt he felt at dismissing his dream to be a hero, but it was the most responsible thing to do wasn't it?

He sighed in exhaustion. He shouldn't get too caught up on what's been done. He hadn't seen that boy since that day and he purposely patrolled around the area where he last saw him in hopes of encountering him again. Alas, that opportunity never arose.

The door of the office opened revealing a small being with white fur wearing a suit.

"Sorry for the wait."

"No need to apologize old friend."

"Well without further ado, shall we discuss your new job details?"

"Yes."

He buried his thoughts about the green haired boy. There's no point lingering in the past. He could only hope that that boy is alright despite his words of discouragement and maybe just maybe, he'll see him in U.A.'s entrance exam in seven months.

~~~~~

thud

Izuku painfully opened his eyes only to shut them again not prepared to see the burning image of the sun directly above him. He was laying on the ground and from what he could tell, he was covered in dirt. His body felt sore and beaten. Where was he?

He couldn't remember anything after falling into an abyss of darkness, only that he continued to fall endlessly before waking up.

Groggily, he opened his eyes, the sun was still shining down on him and his vision was blurry. Why was he so tired?

"That'll teach you to never get in my way again you useless Deku!" A familiar childish voice reached his ears and for a moment he found the strength to sit up only to see the back of three boys running away.

'Deku.'

"Kacchan?" Izuku kept his eyes on a spiky blonde kid's back.

'What's going on?'

"W-wait!"

He tried to stand but came tumbling down on his two little feet. It was then that he finally noticed something completely off...why was he so short?

He pushed himself up from the dirt and stared at his small hands. His shirt was covered in grime and some burns as well. He was a child again?

'This...Is this my trial?'

'Did Merlin send me back in time?!'

Everything felt so real! The sensations he was feeling were real. This couldn't be an illusion or a memory. He could feel the heat of the sun, the pain in his little body, and he could hear the distant calling of his name.

'?'

"Izuku! Izuku! It's time to go home!"

...

That voice...

The boy turned around and his eyes widened.

Hot tears came cascading down his cheeks.

"Mom?"

~End of chapter~