Welcome back dear readers!
I was floored by huge amount of support I have received from old readers who have decided to follow me into the new version. While only a faction of my old audience, I still maintain it was a sacrifice I was willing to accept for the sake of quality control.
Going forward, I'll be going into new details regarding some ideas that went into each chapter (Both new and old) In the commentary section of the chapters.
In addition, I am pleased I can finally to review responses (On the FFN version) again! I used to do these, but they got mixed between rewrites. With the fresh start I can start address comments again which allows go to go more in-depth when comes to concerns or questions regarding the story.
If it becomes too bulky with the amount of reviews I receive, they may be moved down to post-commentary section of the chapter in instead of the beginning. That way we can just get on with the chapter. But for now, they were be placed front and center.
Review Responses
Shinobi scribe of the kage
No comment on possible ships, but I'm glad to see that people are already seeing differences from the previous version.
There is a lot that this prologue foreshadows, including the actual ending. I'm glad to be back and even happier to see familiar names return.
Knight of Wings
I was surprised to see you comment here instead of AO3. (I'm not complaining mind! Just surprised to see you here too!)
There will be a few more clues in future chapters help answer what exactly Yggdrasil is...but I'll leave those for when we start to tackle some of the new chapters that were not in the previous version.
I do mean it when I say there nothing fantastical going on, so yeah, no magic and that's not a spoiler by any means. (This is among the few times I will actually answer something if a review is way off the mark.) I will also reveal that the Yggdrasil scenes are directly inspired by one of my favorite movies of all time. (Unfortunately, the very name of the movie would give away my hand, so I'll stay quiet until the time is right.)
Polish is right, I've done everything in my power to give older chapters a fresh coat of paint so that even re-reading old stuff should still be fun and exciting especially when it comes to the finer details. As for the world building, it much easier when Horikoshi already did a pretty solid job for the most part. I'm honored that out of ten of thousands of MHA fics out there, mine seems to stand out enough to be consider your favorite. Hope I can continue being your favorite as the story continues.
Wilfred Yiow
I'm glad to finally have it out and I hope you look forward to more coming soon!
NatsuUzumaki161
Good lord, it really has been a long time since I started this project back in 2018. (four more years and it will be decade that's nuts!)
Fantasy has always and will likely continue to be my bread and butter, but I always try to explore what else I can do outside of my comfort zones
to get better. Glad you're still with me and hope I can enjoy to entertain you for the time to come.
That is it for today's update, so for now enjoy the updated version of a chapter Izuocha fans know and love.
My Hero Academia Untold: The Knights of Fafnir
Saga I: Dusk
Arc I: Origins
Chapter I: The Knight and Princess
"We do not remember days; we remember moments."
-Cesare Pavese, The Burning Brand
"Mama, is that really how it ends?" Ochako asked sadly as she tried to wipe the tears from her eyes. "Even after everything? Why did Jin have to go?"
Tenma looked at her daughter with a sigh as she finished reading an old classic from the twenty-first century, The Labyrinth of the World Trees: The Knights of Fafnir. (*1)
It had been a favorite of Tenma's growing up and was now used as a bedtime story for her daughter Ochako. It was a grandiose tale of adventure, heroism, and sacrifice with a bittersweet ending that was said to be fated to all who bore the title of The Fafnir Knight. The brave and noble heroes who wore the armor made from the Fell Dragon: Fafnir (*2). A monstrous and twisted creature of Darkness whose powers now served justice rather than evil.
"It is, sweetie, but in the end, his sacrifice is what saved them all. As any brave hero would have done to protect the ones they loved."
"Then why do they keep looking for him? If he's really gone?"
Tenma carefully reached out to gently hold her daughter's hand.
"One of the hardest things to do for someone you love is to let them go, but please remember Ochako: he may have disappeared, but it was never said that he truly died when he completed his mission," Ochako looked at her mother with hopeful eyes. "Jin did something that all previous Fafnir Knights had failed to do...I like to think that they found him safe and sound with Arianna by his side happily ever after in the ending beyond the pages."
It was with this that Ochako finally seemed to calm down. Still engrossed in the story, she asked,
"Ma…will I ever find a knight of my own?"
When met with those bright brown, tender eyes, Tenma giggled. Ochako was only four years old and still too young to understand. Nevertheless, it didn't hurt to humor her for a bit.
"Maybe...if you find someone who is kind and helpful, someone who can make you feel safe like the heroes who protect us all today, then yes. Yes, you could find yourself a knight, even if they don't exist as they used to today."
Tenma ended storytime by tucking Ochako under the covers and gently brushing her bangs away to kiss her daughter's forehead.
"Alright, dear, now it's time to sleep."
With that, the young girl smiled, and sleep soon befell her, not knowing she would find a knight of her own a few months later.
Springtime in Musutafu Park could easily be described as a paradise for the children at play. Sunny, warm, and with a light breeze blowing cool air occasionally, the flowers had returned to bloom after a rather cold and unforgiving winter. Laughing children could be heard throughout the park, with the kids romping on the playground or exploring the small forest nearby.
Among those at play was a small bunch of four young boys, no older than five. They all were official members of the dubbed Bakugou Agency that patrolled the park and kept villains at bay, much to the amusement and smiles of several adults at the park. This included the occasional local Pro-Hero who came by for a "Progress Report."
Each of the boys dreamt of joining the ranks of the greatest of Pro-Heroes. However, two boys, in particular, the leader of the squad, Katsuki Bakugou, and his best friend, Izuku Midoriya, had already jump-started their plans to go to UA Hero Academy.
UA was the academy with the most all-encompassing hero course in the country, having taught some of the world's most famous and prestigious Pro-Heroes! Many alumni included their heroic idol: All Might, the World's Symbol of Peace and Justice.
In the case of young Izuku, however, this was also a matter of family pride.
After all, the boy's parents attended UA during their younger years.
His father, Hisashi Midoriya, better known as Pro-Hero Draco Knight, had met his mother, Inko, who had served as his class Business Course Liaison. The legacy that UA had placed on his shoulders pressured the young lad into feeling like there was nowhere else he could go to study for his dream career. The sooner he was ready, the better his chances of becoming a great hero would be.
"Okay! Break time! Meet back here in twenty minutes!" Katsuki called out to his squad of boys after looking at his wristwatch.
"Right!" The other three boys answered in unison, breaking off to their respective parents. Izuku scanned the park before spotting his mother sitting at a nearby bench, speaking to another woman with chestnut brown hair. Upon walking up to his mother, he waited politely, careful not to interrupt them during their conversation.
"Ah, is that so, Tenma? That is interesting – oh! I'm sorry, my son is here –" Inko turned to her son, "Everything okay, Izuku?"
"Yes, Mom, I'm fine! Can I please have my lunch now?" Izuku asked. His mother checked her phone to see the time and was surprised at how quickly time had flown.
"Of course, honey!" she said with a smile as she began to rummage through the bag on her right until she found the small All Might-themed bento box for Izuku. As Izuku ate his lunch, his mother continued speaking to her new friend until it came time for a checkup.
"I'm sorry, Inko," Tenma interrupted once she realized she couldn't spot her child among the others. "I'm just going to see if I can find my daughter before I get back to you."
"I understand. Please let me know if you need any help," Inko answered her with a firm nod.
While Inko wasn't too worried for herself. The park was known to be very safe. Local pros would often check in during their patrols, ensuring they could step in at any moment, be it a villain or a child with an out-of-control quirk. She understood that it was better to be safe than sorry.
As Izuku finished his bento box, he carefully cleaned it to keep the container.
"That was yummy," Izuku said with a satisfied sigh. "Thanks, mom! I'm going back to play with Kacchan a little more!"
"Okay, but remember, Izuku. We have to go home soon, okay?" She answered while putting the empty box in the bag as the boy walked away. She knew her son well enough that he would keep it as part of the shared All Might collection between him and his father.
"Okay!" He answered back with a wave.
As Izuku returned to his friends, he saw Katsuki alone, looking rather annoyed.
"Kacchan!" Izuku called out to get his attention.
"Hey, Ikun…" He sighed with his hands shoved into his pockets.
"What's wrong?"
"There been a change of plans; Dad says we have to go home," he bitterly answered, clearly disappointed.
"Aw... but we can play again later, right?" said Izuku with a sad smile. The other two boys only played with Izuku because of Katsuki.
"Yeah, but it'll probably be until next weekend. But I'll still see ya' at school tomorrow," Katsuki answered and began to walk away.
"Okay then... bye, Kacchan!" said Izuku as he waved at his departing friend who had just met his father.
Izuku thought briefly about what he should do next now that Katsuki was gone. He still had a good hour or so to play around the park. He could just let his mother know he wanted to leave early.
However, an idea came to mind instead.
The park had a small forest nearby, a favorite spot for Pro-Heroes to patrol for safety reasons. The boys tended to scout the area before playing Heroes on their new patrol route. The group, however, had yet to explore the deeper parts of the forest in the park. Some kids had spread a rumor that a hidden treasure could be found there.
While Izuku didn't care about any treasure, if he scouted the new area and found a new patrol route for next time, then maybe, just maybe, he could take the lead over the squad. After all, he didn't want to remain as Katsuki's sidekick forever. He wanted to be like his father, who owned the hero agency, The Drake's Den.
If he was quick enough, he could scout a new route, go home early, and catch up on the latest Hero news.
'Right! Time to explore!' He thought to himself with a newfound spring in his step.
Izuku walked alongside the forest entrance and quickly hopped off the beaten path. He had already been through here once before with Katsuki's squad before. But never once ventured past this particular rock formation near a small river, where Katsuki had accidentally fallen into during their first visit. Keeping that in mind, Izuku was filled with new determination and approached the formation as a vantage point. Slowly but surely, he climbed up the rock formation, careful not to repeat Katsuki's mistake by falling off or, worse, cutting himself from the jagged edges of the rock wall.
"Ahhh…!"
Just as he got to the top of the rock formation, he swore he heard a noise that made him jump.
'A scream?'
He thought to himself, going silent as his ears perked up. At first, he didn't hear anything, so he closed his eyes and held his breath to ensure he didn't just listen to himself. At last, he heard it; someone was crying nearby from its sounds.
Armed with that knowledge, Izuku jumped off the formation and abandoned his plans for a new patrol route to the wind, as those cries could be that of someone hurt or lost.
Someone who needed help!
As the boy approached the sobs, judging from the direction, Izuku had a solid idea of what could have happened. He moved slowly through the bushes, knowing the river was nearby. If one was not careful here, they could easily fall by walking through the taller bushes that blocked the river from view. Izuku found the edge where the river's mouth formed and began to scan up and down the shallow riverside until he spotted them.
'Bingo!'
A small child, like himself, had indeed fallen in, just like he had suspected. Izuku climbed feet-first into the river bed, carefully avoiding the rocks and fallen branches that plagued the downward path. Once at the bottom, he began his way up to the crying child.
As he got closer, he realized it was a girl around his age.
Suddenly, Izuku's determination fizzled, and he suddenly became very nervous. He was naturally a shy child, but when it came to girls? It always seemed to compound his nerves. Katsuki was always good with talking to others, including girls, provided they didn't annoy or anger him.
Izuku, however, couldn't allow his nerves to get the better of him here, not when she needed help. After all, how could Izuku ever hope to be a great hero if he couldn't talk to a single girl? Izuku slowly approached, and he nervously offered his shaking hand to her.
"Hh-hi, a-a-re you a-alright? Are you h-hurt?" Izuku stuttered, his nervous voice cracking.
The girl slowly looked up at him, making his face heat up.
She was pretty, with chestnut brown hair in a bob-cut with two bangs of hair slightly longer, chocolate brown eyes, and a light blush on her round cheeks. She wore a white dress with pink accents, drenched wet and stained with mud from the river bed.
Her eyes were red and puffy, with fresh tears running down her cheeks; she finally nodded and spoke up.
"I-I-I got lo-lo-lost and fell," she stuttered, mixing in with her sobs.
"I-I hurt m-my leg." She motioned to her right leg with a splattering of bruises, ranging from light to a rather dark one in the middle that bled a little. Seeing her in pain only made him more determined to help as he began feeling a strange, warm sensation in his chest.
His hand stopped shaking and got a bit closer to the young girl.
"Can I help you?" Izuku asked calmly, finding the courage to replicate his idol's trademark heroic smile.
The girl finally stopped crying and even giggled when she saw his face. She reached for his hand, firmly holding it. At the same time, her pinkie finger extended outward to prevent her quirk from activating by accident.
'Soft!' Was all the boy could think when he took her hand.
Shaking that thought out of his head. Izuku slowly pulled her up to her feet until the weight of her injured, bruised leg caused her to fall forward.
"Ah!"
He quickly grabbed her and held her up firmly to stop her from falling back onto the ground, accidentally pulling her into a tight hug. His newfound determination left as quickly as it came, as he was not ready for this amount of physical contact from a girl. He became embarrassed at being considered rude, his face glowing redder than before.
"I'm sorry…." She quietly apologized. That alone was enough to snap himself out of embarrassment.
"It's okay! Hey…do you have a quirk?" Izuku asked, mentally berating himself for not asking her earlier. She could've had a quirk to help them with their current situation. And maybe her quirk could be among the first new entries of his 'Hero Analysis for the Future!' notebooks, which he had recently started writing while he had waited for his quirk to finally manifest.
"I do. It's called Zero Gravity: I can make things lighter when I touch them with all my fingers," she answered. Her mood seemed to improve as she showed Izuku the tiny pink bumps on her small hands.
'Too cute…!'
"That's amazing!" Izuku surprised the girl because no one except her parents had ever reacted to her quirk like that.
"Can you make yourself lighter?"
Meanwhile...
At that very moment, unknown to Izuku, his father, Hisashi Midoriya, had felt a chill run down his spine while eating lunch with a few of his sidekicks. The man felt a strange wave of unchivalrous guilt for reasons unknown to him as he looked around nervously with ramen noodles hanging from his mouth.
"I can, but… it makes me feel sick. But if it helps, I can do it," the girl mumbled, dreading nausea that it came with as a side effect. "What about you? Do you have a quirk?"
"I do, but I don't know what it is yet..."
"Yet?"
"Yeah," Izuku stated slowly. "The doctor told me and my mom that I have a quirk from the tests and stuff they did on me, but they're just not sure what it is or how it works."
"And don't worry about using your quirk," Izuku reassured her. "I don't want you to feel sick!"
Izuku was quickly getting increasingly frustrated with himself, caught in a predicament. Not knowing what else to do, he slowly turned his body around and squatted down, offering the injured girl to be carried on his back. She was caught off-guard but soon realized what he was doing and climbed on, circling her arms around his neck without protest. She relaxed and cradled her head on his back.
Izuku slowly stood up and began his trek towards the rock wall, intending to climb up while carrying her on his back. However, Izuku soon realized how complex and nearly impossible such an action would be. He needed both hands to climb and hold onto the girl on his back.
His growing frustration only worsened. He found himself silently wishing for his father's quirk to appear and make him strong enough to jump over the rock edge without needing to climb up. Even if he had his mother's quirk—a mild form of telekinesis—he would be able to help get her out of the river without having her climb the wall herself.
Instead, he was stuck below, basically quirkless and unable to do much of anything.
Of course, he didn't want to leave the injured girl alone while he went to get help. But Izuku also didn't want her to become sick by making her activate her gravity quirk. The feeling in his chest soon got heavier as he stewed in frustration.
'Come on, Izuku!' He berated himself as he stood by the edge of the riverbed, 'She needs your help!'
It was disheartening and frustrating to him how such an easy task, like climbing out of the river, was now impossible in his current state. After all, a five-year-old has only so much physical strength, especially when carrying another person around the same age and weight.
"You can leave me to get help," the girl said, seeing his face expressing his internal strife. "I don't mind…."
"No!" Izuku stubbornly said, "I'm not doing that!"
"It's okay!" she cried out. Truthfully, she was happy that a stranger cared enough to help her. But it didn't stop her from feeling guilty for seeing him frustrated and helpless, trying to do the right thing.
Izuku was about to give up when he felt that something was off. This feeling that was burning in his chest…was different. It was warm and gentle, yet it had a solid weight. Izuku could feel it wash over him as he closed his eyes.
"Wait!" The girl exclaimed in surprise, "What's going on?!"
Izuku's eyes quickly snapped open. His whole body glowed, the bright light spreading a warm sensation throughout his body like a fire! Then, without warning, Izuku blacked out. Only fleeting moments of fading in and out remained in his memory.
He felt a breeze in the air.
How? Was he flying, or did he jump?
He could still feel the weight on his neck.
The girl, was she okay?
His body felt nearly weightless...as if he were free-falling from beyond the clouds.
Was he dying?
"Izuku…!"
'Mom?'
'Thank you, my knight, ' the girl's voice said, and he felt something soft upon his cheek.
'Knight?'
And finally, there was complete silence.
To say Inko was worried was an understatement for what she had witnessed a few hours ago. She was sure it wasn't as bad as it seemed, but the sight of Izuku falling unconscious was what set off her alarm bells. While riding with the ambulance, she called her husband's agency to let him know what was happening. Thankfully, Ryūko Tatsuma, Hisashi's younger cousin and sidekick, picked up her call and told her that Hisashi was on his way to the hospital.
Once they arrived at the emergency room, Izuku was settled in his room. The hospital staff began running a few medical tests. When Izuku was safely ushered away, Inko finally allowed herself to breathe.
"Honey!" Inko heard her husband's voice from behind. She turned to see Hisashi Midoriya in his makeshift civilian attire. A worn-out, poorly ironed white dress shirt with a hastily made black tie, black slacks, and unpolished brown dress shoes. Inko swore that those shoes belonged to one of Hisashi's sidekicks.
His messy, thick mop of black wavy hair was all over the place and nearly covered his bright, golden eyes. A light shadow of stubble showing was proof that Hisashi had rushed out onto the scene. But he was here, and that was all that mattered right now.
"Oh, Hisashi!" Inko cried, embracing the panicked man rather tightly.
"It's okay, Inko…." Hisashi whispered as he held her close by the back of her head, "Now...what's going on exactly? Ryūko kind of skimmed on the details."
"I think Izuku finally got his quirk, but…after he used it, he fell unconscious…."
"What was it?" Hisashi asked as Inko saw his eyes going wide. She could see the excitement in those bright golden orbs, but it could have been a faint hint of fear.
"It's yours, honey," the woman finally answered. "It looks a little different thanks to Izuku's hair color, but it was definitely Dragon Shift, dear."
As she said that, she watched the man's face slowly process her answer, and finally, he reacted.
"Yes!" Hisashi yelled out as a mountain of ideas was already forming in his head for the near future.
"Honey! Shush!" She whispered loudly at him, looking around the room. "We're in a hospital!"
The hospital staff paused briefly, looking at Hisashi as if he was crazy. After a quick and sheepish apology, Hisashi resumed his conversation with Inko.
"I'm sorry, honey, but trust me, if this is the case, I already know what happened. If it was Izuku using Dragon Shift, then it's most likely that he just wasn't ready for it, and it just drained all his stamina. Now…was he fully armored or only partially armored?"
"Hisashi!"
"What?"
"Are you sure…that he's going to be alright?"
"Yep! I mean...you should've seen what happened to me the first time. I was out for two days! Hahaha!"
Inko, unable to find the humor in her husband's comment, smacked the backside of his head with her quirk.
"Ow!"
"How could you be so casual about it?!" Inko voiced her frustrations at her husband's antics.
"Because I lived through it; powerful quirks tend to do stuff like that," Hisashi explained calmly, aware of why Inko would be so nervous. Hell, he had his own reasons to be worried as well. "I mean, look, he might have some initial memory loss and be a little twitchy for a couple of days, but that's par for the course for heavy transformation quirks! Seriously, can you only imagine what life was like for someone like All Might when he was a kid? With that insane amount of power? He must have been breaking stuff left and right before he got a handle on his powers."
Inko sighed at her husband's response but smiled at the example given.
'Ever the fanboy, right Hisashi?'
"Hello, umm...Mister and Missus Midoriya?" A new voice called out, causing Inko and Hisashi to turn to the person in question. A young nurse with cat ears wearing a set of light-blue hospital scrubs waved at them.
"Your son is awake now. Doctor Nishi said everything looked normal and that the most likely culprit was just exhaustion." The nurse checked her clipboard. "After some food and a bit of rest, he should be good to go. I'll go ahead and get the paperwork started for you to fill out, so we should be able to discharge him today if you'd like."
"Thank you very much," Inko and Hisashi said together as they bowed, relieved at the update.
As the couple entered the room, they could see Izuku on the bed with a small hospital tablet in his hands. Most likely spying on the latest hero news updates. Hearing the door open, the boy looked up and smiled upon seeing his parents.
"Mom! Dad!" Izuku called out as his parents took their seats next to his bedside.
"Hey, my boy, you feelin' better?" Hisashi asked, hoping the doctor or the staff hadn't yet broken the news about his quirk.
"Yeah, I am, but... Mom?"
His mother, who finally could relax after seeing him safe and responsive, tensed up when the look of worry flickered on his face.
"Yes, sweetie?"
"Is that girl okay?"
Hisashi couldn't help but grin, proud of his son's selfless nature. Ryūko had briefly mentioned that Izuku was carrying a young, injured girl when they found him.
"Oh! Yes, of course, sweetie, she's going to be alright," Inko said with a smile that allowed Izuku to relax. "You remember the lady I was speaking with before lunch?"
Izuku paused to think for a moment before nodding in response.
"That was her mother, Tenma. Her daughter just got checked out from here earlier. She's fine; she got her wounds cleaned up and bandaged a short while ago. I think they left to get her some mochi…."
Seeing the opportunity, Hisashi took this chance to break the news.
"So, Izuku!" He resisted the urge to grin even wider as he leaned forward. "It looks like we finally found out what your quirk is!"
Izuku shot right back up, eyes beaming and alert.
"REALLY!? WHAT IS IT?!" Izuku exclaimed with excitement, almost bouncing up and down on his bed.
Hisashi knew how long Izuku had waited to hear this, but he wanted to make him wait just a little longer.
"Oh, I don't know... as I wasn't there, but I believe your mother does," Hisashi teased, putting Inko on the spot. Izuku's head snapped to his mother at a speed that spooked both his parents, making them sweat slightly. After a brief moment, Inko cleared her throat and finally answered the boy's long-awaited question.
"For the short time, I could see it in use...and could finally stop panicking," Inko added under her breath. "I can say with confidence that it was Dragon Shift. You are your father's son, after all, Izuku."
Inko smiled as she saw her son's face glow with happiness. While she was secretly disappointed that he hadn't inherited her quirk. The woman was nonetheless happy for her son. Especially since she knew how much Izuku wanted to be a Pro-Hero like his father and their idol, All Might. For his dream to be a hero. She believed that Dragon Shift would serve him far better than her telekinesis. And with that, Hisashi broke out his biggest smile as he hugged his son, overjoyed at the news that he had finally gotten his quirk.
Izuku, in turn, was very excited, knowing how amazing his father Hisashi's "Armored" form was. But then, he suddenly realized something was off.
"But why can't I remember anything?" Izuku asked sadly. He was disappointed that he couldn't remember such a critical moment in his life.
"Ah! That is an easy one to explain, son. You just weren't ready for it yet. Heck, I could barely remember my first time shifting into armor, which was by accident!" The man explained, reassuring his son. "I wound up asleep for two days afterward, so it's safe to say you're doing much better than me!"
Hisashi laughed as he scratched the back of his head, now fondly remembering his childhood, a rarity for Hisashi. At least this made Izuku feel much better about his situation; it was comforting to know he wasn't alone in the experience. His father continued to explain some of the basics of their shared quirk.
"As you get older and practice with your quirk, you'll build up your energy and stamina. And if you want, we can start training together, just like I always promised."
Izuku was blown away as he absorbed his father's words; training, finally! His plans to get into UA can actually happen! Seeing the pure joy on his son's face, Hisashi knew his answer but asked anyway,
"So… I'll take that as a yes?"
"YES!" Izuku answered with glee without a moment of hesitation.
"Very well, Izuku! Then, from here on out, you are now my page-in-training," Hisashi went forth the motion of an accolade with his hands, 'knighting' Izuku on his shoulders. "When I think you're ready for UA, I'll deem you worthy of making you my squire. And finally, once you graduate, I'll deem you worthy as a knight proper."
Hisashi had dreamt of this moment for ages, ever since he learned that Inko was pregnant with Izuku years ago. The inner nerd had a small passion for Middle Ages European history that helped inspire his hero name, Draco Knight.
Inko covered her mouth as she tried to stifle a giggle.
"I think you may be a bit late for that, Hisashi."
"Eh?"
Inko began to gush as she recounted what had happened.
"The young girl Izuku was helping –oh, Hisashi! You should've seen it! The way they held onto each other. When she explained what had happened, she finished with a 'He shined and turned into my Knight to help me.'"
Izuku instantly began blushing hard; he hadn't been ready to hear that part of her story. But it did make him feel happy, like a real hero.
Her Knight
Hisashi initially looked mildly disappointed before breaking into an even bigger smile that gave way to a hearty laugh.
"Damn! Knighted by a princess already!? You couldn't wait for your old man, could ya' Izuku? Hahaha!" He said with a faux expression of feeling hurt plastered on his face as he clutched his broken heart. "That is adorable. Did you get the girl's name, Inko?"
"I believe…Ochako? I was speaking with her mother, Tenma(*2)... Tenma Uraraka? I know she's from out of town and was only here with her husband on a local business trip," Inko sighed happily. "It's a cute name, isn't it? Ochako, the little Tea Girl."
Hisashi pondered for a moment upon hearing that familiar name.
"Uraraka?"
It took a moment until Hisashi, where he had heard that name.
"Ah... I wonder if she's related to Kenji?"(*3)
Kenji Uraraka was among the various Damage Assessment Managers, also known as DAMs, among Pro-Heroes. Kenji was a tough but fair man who had helped get Hisashi out of a jam from paying damages after one particularly nasty fight with a villain. Thanks to him, Hisashi's record was saved during the next review phase of the semester, and he secured his placement as Rank Sixteen, up from Rank Twenty-One after a particularly nasty incident with the villain.
"I think I still owe him a drink," Hisashi said as he remembered the kind-hearted man.
"Izuku, since you did such a good job today, how about when we get home? I'll make your favorite." Inko asked in a singsong voice.
Oh boy! It was as if today couldn't get any better for Izuku. First, he finally got his quirk, and that was awesome. Next, he saved a pretty girl like a real hero, and she even called him Her Knight. And now, he was getting to eat Katsudon made by his mother. The only thing that could have made today even better was if he had personally met All Might. Who would then offer a sidekick position exclusively just for him? Yeah, that would have been the perfect day for Izuku.
Instead, he simply settled for what he got today; Knighthood and a clear path to becoming a Pro-Hero.
Author's Commentary
*(1) 新・世界樹の迷宮:ファフニールの騎士: (Shin Sekaiju no Meikyū: Fafuniiru no Kishi) Labyrinth of the World Trees: The Knights of Fafnir: This is the literal title of the Japanese version of Etrian Odyssey. So, this is a fun Easter egg I made for hardcore fans of the series.
*(2) Fafnir: So I am no expert when it comes to Norse Mythology. So when I had originally started writing the story, I only knew that Fafnir was a dragon. However, as I did more research I found some...rather interesting parallels to my actual plans for this story. (Call it a coincidence, but I'm not going to stare a gift horse in the mouth.) It actually ends making the Fafnir name far more fitting than what I originally accepted. I'm not going to reveal those details here because...spoilers duh. But any Norse Mythology fan who is more familiar with the Fafnir story might already have an inking of what that means as we go further down the story.
*(3)Tenma and Kenji: The name of Ochako's parents have yet to revealed even at this point in the story. So I decided to create some placeholder names for the time being, and these names are also another Easter egg.
I named Ochako's mother after Tenma Tsukamoto from the anime School Rumble. (It's an old favorite of mine!) This is because Tenma was also voiced by Ochako's English Voice Actress, Luci Christian. As for Ochako's father, the name Kenji also comes from the same series as the main male protagonist, Kenji Harima, voiced by Brandon Potter, who would also go on to be the voice of Gunhead in the MHA English dub!
While the TenmaxKenji ship I loved sunk in the series. I still wanted to pay a small homage to that lovable series with this story. In this new version of chapter one, I wanted to emphasize Ochako's importance and ensure the readers understand that she is billed equally to Izuku in this story. Honestly, it's my biggest complaint about the Canon series; I wish Ochako had more screen time. There wasn't much changed from the remaster, save for a couple of fixes here and there and one tiny retcon to make things more consistent.
This chapter was my real start of my fanfiction career. This chapter while modified several times throughout the years, is also the chapter that has changed the least when it came to the overall story. The beginning of the Izuocha partnership for this story. Still my favorite ship, and if giving the chance could likely write an endless amount of fluff pieces for these two lovable muffins.
(If you want me to write an Izuocha collection of one-shots this is your time to let me know...give me a reason...please...)
Anyway! I think that about covers everything for me me today. Hoped you enjoyed the new version of this chapter.
See ya'll next Monday, 3/18/2024
As always with love,
-ZX